Abstract

ETHNOMEDICINAL STUDIES ON SOME PTERIDOPHYTES OF KANJAMALAI HILLS, SALEM DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU, INDIA

C. Alagesaboopathi* and G. Subramanian

Abstract

The present study was undertaken during the year 2015 July to June 2016 for the noted of medicinal utilizes of Pteridophytes in Kanjamalai Hills of Salem district, Tamilnadu, India. The examine pointed to identifying the Pteridophytic plant species utilized for the popular health of the native populace of the investigation locality. The indigenous knowledge of the village dwellers, village herbalists, herbal practitioners, elder people and their traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal uses were recorded through personal interviewed and questionnaire during field visits. The survey lead to documentation of 14 medicinal Pteridophyte plant species belonging to 7 different families. The research thus underlines the potential of ethnomedicinal investigation and the necessity for documentation of traditional information of these medicinal plants for further research. The present research is the first of its kind among the rural people in Kanjamalai Hills region.

Keywords: Kanjamalai Hills, Ethnomedicine, Traditional healers, Pteridophytes, Tamilnadu.