DOCUMENTATION OF ETHNOMEDICINAL AND ETHNOVETERINARY PLANTS USED BY PALIYAR TRIBES, KURANGANI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS, THENI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

A study on medicinal plant utilization in area revealed that the communities commonly used for maintaining their primary healthcare. The ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary documentation in the Kurangani forest of Tamil Nadu state was made for a period of two month from January to March 2021. The forest is a tropical evergreen with high species richness where the temperature and rainfall data indicates that it is suitable vegetation for the inhabitation of great number of species. In order to sort out health disorders or diseases based on the plants prescribed there are 8 ailment categories were classified. In present study, totally 50 plant species for ethnomedicine and 25 species of ethnoveterinary were encountered through the knowledge of indigenous tribal communities, Paliyar of Kurangani forest. Most of the treatments in both ethnobotany and ethnoveterinary practices with the use of herbs particularly leaf parts were perceived. For medicinal purposes, the family Malvaceae contributed majorly 5 species followed by Solanaceae with 4 species, Euphorbiaceae and Zingiberaceae contributed 3 species and afterward other family species solely mentioned for different ailments. In ethnoveterinary medicine documentation, 3 species belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae which is predominant, subsequently 2 species belong to Zingiberaceae. The mode of preparation and dosage, mode of application, duration of the treatment for each ailments have documented. This study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Kurangani tribal people, providing basic data for further research and protection of minority medicine. Thus, conservation of medicinal plants by local communities is emphasized in present study to avoid further loss. Moreover, phytochemical and pharmacological investigation is recommended with due consideration to frequently used medicinal plants.


INTRODUCTION
India is one of the twelve mega-biodiversity countries in the world having rich vegetation with wide varieties of plants [1]. In India, medicinal plants are widely used by all sections of the population with an estimated 7,500 species of plants used by several ethnic communities and it is known that India has the largest tribal population in the world after Africa. With enormously diversified ethnic groups and rich biological resources, India represents one of the great emporia of ethnobotanical wealth. Even today, tribal communities in India still collect and preserve locally available wild and cultivated plant species and practice herbal medicine to treat a variety of diseases and disorder [2].
Ministry of Tribal affairs presents a list of tribal communities in India for each state and Tamil Nadu contains 36 types of tribal communities distributed in different districts in the forests and adjoining areas. It is estimated that tribal people of Tamil Nadu accounts 1.05% of the total state population and 0.77% of the total tribal population of the country. Out of 17,500 species of flowering plants described from India about 5640 species are recorded in Tamil Nadu [3]. World Health Organization estimated that nearly 80% of the earth's inhabitants still rely on ethnomedicine, as the mid-1990s, upwards of 80-90% of humans toughly to rely on ethno-veterinary care for livestock [4].
India has great heritage of medicinal plants. India is basically agricultural country; domesticated livestock's are backbone of farmers. To maintain these livestock there is phenomenal increase in the demand of herbal traditional medicine in developing country like India. Ethno-veterinary medicine practices cover the knowledge, skill, methods and belief about health care found among the members of community. Ancient records on animal health care are found in Vedas, puranas like Ashwapuran, Garudapuran and Hastipuranam which devoted to animal husbandry [5].
From the vedic period till the end of 19th century, much of the veterinary practice in India was based on the experiences gathered through generations and improved through informal experimentation this traditional system of medicine also referred to as ethno-veterinary medicine [6].
Ethnoveterinary medicine is mainly concerned with folk beliefs, knowledge, skills, methods and practices which are used in the healthcare of animals. It comprises traditional surgical techniques, traditional immunization, magico-religious practices and the use of herbal medicines to treat livestock diseases [7]. Ethnoveterinary medicine has become an elemental factor of primary health care, especially for marginalized and poor communities living in remote rural areas. Ethnoveterinary medicine often offers less expensive options than conventional medicines, products are locally available and more easily accessible, and are generally less toxic [8]. Knowledge of ethnoveterinary practices is declining due to inadequate documentation and verbal passage of plant heritage verbally. Documenting indigenous knowledge is important for the conservation and use of biological resources [9].
Indian government has inaugurated the plan to develop the Agriculture and farmers' welfare through Animal husbandry, Dairying

Study area
Theni District lies at the foot of Western Ghats and is situated between 90º 53´ and 10º 22´ north latitude and 77 º 17´ and 77 º 67´ east longitude. The general geographical information of the district is diversified by several ranges and hills. The vegetation is classified as southern tropical forest in the plains and foot hills, dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests and evergreen forests in the high altitudes. In the present study, ethnobotanical and ethoveterinary surveys were carried out in Kurangani hills village of Theni District.

Tribal communities in the study area
The tribe found in the study area called Paliyars and Muthuvars. Compared to various tribal communities in Tamil Nadu, paliyars constitute a small group. The Paliyar tribals inhibit a narrow strip of Western Ghats in the hilly regions of Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Thiruneveli and Virudhunagar Districts of Tamil Nadu and Idukki District of Kerala. They are also engaged in seasonal collection of minor forest products such as honey and bee wax. They cultivate edible plants such as tapioca, banana, millets, and cash crops such as pepper, coconut, arecanut and cashewnut. [10] The fieldwork in the villages of Theni District took place between January to March 2021. The tribal settelements were located through field surveys in this region. A total of five tribal practitioners were identified to get the ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary information through direct interviews/oral conversations. A field datasheet has been prepared to record the plant details with ethnomedicinal information gathered from the traditional healers. The information has collected through questionnaires and discussions among the informants in their local language (Tamil). The questionnaire allowed responses on the plant prescribed, part of the plant used, medicinal uses for each part, mode of preparation (i.e., decoction, paste, powder, and juice), form of usage (either fresh or dried) and additional plants used as ingredients. Information on local name of plant, plant parts used for curing, method of preparation.

Meteorological data
The climatic data for the study area was collected in Bodinayakanur Taluk Office, Theni district, for a period of three months from January 2021 to March 2021. The maximum temperature is ranging between 30°C to 35°C. Similarly the minimum temperature during the study period is ranging between 21°C and 28°C. The annual rainfall of the study area is 883mm. Most of the rainfall occurred during the period of south-west monsoon (July) as it is generally most effective part of Western Ghats. The relative humidity of the air was between 65% and 89%.

Documentation of indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge
The present study revealed the use of 50 species of plants distributed in 48 genera belonging to 31 families which were commonly used by most of the Paliyar traditional healers for the treatment of different types of ailments.
In present study it has been identified that tribes regularly use 25 Herb species, 10 Shrub species, 5 Climbers species and 10 Tree species. The prominent family is Malvaceae which contributed 5 species, followed by Solanaceae with 4 species and followed by Zingeberaceae and Poaceae with 3 species (Figure 4). For each reported species, the botanical name of the plant, family, local name (Tamil), life form, parts used, ailments treated, method of preparation, mode of administration and its medicinal importance (Table 1) are provided.
Among the different plant parts used for the preparation of medicine and veterinary, the herb is predominant and leaves were most frequently used for the treatment of different ailments ( Figure  2, 3 and 4). The preparation methods of categorized as raw material (raw plant), decoction, paste, juice, oil, gel, latex and soup. In these different methods of preparation, raw material is frequently used in this documentation by Paliyar tribes of Kurangani hills.
The     Loganathan and Selvam (2018) reported that a total of 82 plant species and belonging to 40 families in Vathalmalai Hills of Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu [12]. They are most frequently used plant parts leaf and most of the medicine prepared in the form powder and paste. The important disease cure for cold, diarrhoea, chicken pox, smallpox, cough, headache, and stomach ache. In a previous report, a total of 86 plant species belonging to 75 genera and 45 families were reported with ethnomedicinal uses. In terms of the number of medicinal plant species, Acanthaceae and Cucurbitaceae are dominant families [13]. In another report, a total of 65 plant species belonging to 37 families are described among Paliyar tribes in Theni district along the method of drug preparation, mode of administration, probable dosage and duration of treatment for skin diseases [14].
An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information on the use of medicinal plants in Southern Western Ghats of India (Madurai district, Tamil Nadu). A total of 60 ethnomedicinal plant species distributed in 32 families are documented in this study. The medicinal plants used by paliyars are listed with Latin name, family, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses. Generally, fresh part of the plant was used for the preparation of medicine [15].

Documentation of indigenous ethnoveterinary knowledge
The present investigation indicates a high level of consensus of traditional Ethno-veterinary medicine knowledge of medicinal plants within paliyar's community. The results of this study shows that a large number of medicinal plants are traditionally used by the tribal community of Kurangani hill for the treatment of various ethnoveterinary diseases or health disorders of animals. In this study, 25 plant species are reported and arranged alphabetically by the botanical name. Vernacular names (Tamil), parts used, ailment and their administration have also been tabulated ( Table  2 & Figures 3 and 4).
In a previous study carried out in southern districts of Tamil Nadu, ethnoveterinary medicine for the treatment of 44 veterinary health hazards is enumerated. A total of 113 plant species belonging to100 genera and 46 families are used by rural peoples in the treatments including anthrax, bone fracture, bloat, bronchitis, blackquarter, corneal opacity, dog bite, enteritis, foot and mouth diseases. The medicinal plants are listed with their scientific name, family, local name (Tamil) and mode of utilization [16]. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in selected sites of Villupuram district. Twenty six plant species belonging to fourteen families were documented in the present study, to cure different diseases in animals [17].
These observations would serve as data base to formulate plant derived compounds in herbal veterinary drugs which could serve as better alternative to allopathic medicines that cause side effects in livestock. The study focuses the adoption of folk medicines for immediate action on animal care along with livestock related social realities.
The use of plants among the Paliyars reflects their interest in ethnomedicine and further investigation on these species may lead to the discovery of novel bioactive molecules. In the case of safety and effectiveness, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs. At the same time the traditional healers are dwindling in number and there is a grave danger of traditional knowledge disappearing soon as the younger generation is not interested to carry on this traditional work.

CONCLUSION
The ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary documentation in the Kurangani forest of Tamil Nadu state was carried out. This study highlights the need for more comprehensive documentation of medicinal plants used for treating different ailments and it is providing basic data for further research and protection of minority medicine. The traditional medicinal systems of indigenous cultural communities are sources of knowledge for bioprospecting which is most important by linking this ethnomedicinal knowledge with modern medicine system. More ethnobotanical studies should be encouraged before the traditional knowledge of indigenous people vanishes. This wealth of traditional knowledge of tribals should be transmitted in its entirety to the younger generation and make its importance to reach wider. Our results reinforce the need for complete documentation of indigenous traditional knowledge related to various ailments before it becomes lost and forgotten. It is also essential to recognize the role of indigenous knowledge for future drug discovery and development, sustainability and conservation of plant genetic resources and making tribal youths aware about its benefits and opting this as a carrier option.