Abstract

TRADITIONAL DRUG DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANT OF ASTERACEAE IN NILGIRI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

Mugendhiran S.*, Sheeja B. D. and Shashikanth J.

Abstract

The Nilgiri hills are situated in the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Asteraceae is one of the largest families having medicinal and aromatic plants in Nilgiris. There are annual, biennial or perennial herbs, under shrubs, shrubs. This paper includes the database on various aspects of medicinal plants of the family Asteraceae. The Asteraceae plants are also used to traditional drug development. In the present study, a total number of 42 medicinal and aromatic plants belonging to 36 genera. The database on various aspects include species richness, medicinal uses and altitude of different species which comprises wild species and domesticated ones. Many species have been grown in homesteads and become part of traditional home remedies. A limited number of species are commercially cultivated though a few more have potential for large-scale production like Chrysanthimum parthenium (L.) Pers., Cynara scolymus L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Helianthus annus L., Tagestus erecta L.

Keywords: Aromatic, Asteraceae, Medicinal plants, Nilgiris, Western Ghats.