Traditional Medicinal Plants Associated Knowledge and Practiced by Tribal Communities of Kolli Hills, Namakkal, District of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu, India, is known for its traditional healing techniques from the time immemorial with its rich surrounding forest. But in the recent past as elsewhere on the Globe these tribal communities were also losing  interest on this traditional healing technique due to advent of modern medicine. However the needs of document is important for the existing medicinal plants and associated knowledge. Hence the present study is aimed to enlist the available medicinal plants, present status of its knowledge and use across Kolli Hills. It is observed that 203 medicinal plants representing 81 families in which Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae and Rutaceae were dominated used by tribal Malayali communities in Kolli Hills. The interviews was conducted  above 50  and > 25 years old people with filed knowledge for use of medicinal plants. However, among fourteen panchayats such change among the people was minimal Alathurnadu, Chithurnadu, Dundaninadu and Peraikkarinadu, Moderate in Devanurnadu, Edapulinadu, Thinnanurnadu and Thiruppulinadu panchayats and Maximum in Ariyurnadu, Bailnadu, Dundurnadu, Selurnadu, Valappurnadu and Valavanthinadu panchayats. Hence there is an urgent need to know the value of medicinal plant and their importance for medicinal propertied.