Traditional uses of medicinal plants among the rural people in Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Abstract

To elucidate the medicinally important herbs and their role in the health cares of the villagers living in Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu, India. Interviews and detailed personal discussions were conducted with the herbalist and local people to identify plants and collect the medicinal informations for 12 months (from June 2009 to May 2010). The medicinal important plants were botanically identified. Totally 71 species of 61 genera belonging to 36 families were reported with ethnomedicinal values. Leaves are the mostly used part to prepare medicine. Generally fresh parts are used. Attention should be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinally important plants.