Medicinal plants and their utilization by villagers in southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Abstract

Medicinal plant survey was carried out in remote villages of Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts of Tamil Nadu. Of many plant species traditionally used by the villagers, 59 plant species belonging to 53 genera from 28 families of medicinally important plants were identified and their uses are described. Among the species, Azadirachta indica, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Erythrina indica, Gloriosa superba, Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, Phyllanthus amarus, Sesbania grandiflora, Tamarindus indica, Tridax procumbens, and Vitex negundo are used in their daily life. While Aloe vera, Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Emblica officinalis, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Gloriosa superba, Moringa oleifera, Ricinus communis, Sesamum indicum, Sesbania grandiflora, Solanum americanum, Tamarindus indica and Zingiber officinale are commonly cultivated.