A comparative note on the ethnomedicinal plants used by the Kattunaikka and Paniya tribes of Nilambur forest, Malappuram district, Kerala, (India)

Abstract

\n BackgroundAn ethnobotanical survey was conducted to explore the indigenous knowledge of the Kattunaikka and Paniya tribes of Nilambur forest, Malappuram District, Kerala, India and to highlight the uses of the diverse flora. Ethnobotanical inventory of an area contain raw data, abundant of idea and application of knowledge of certain people and it is an important area that deserves serious attention. This study aims to record the traditional knowledge of the tribal inhabitants Kattunaikka and Paniya of Malappuram district, Kerala state, India.MethodsData were collected through questionnaire survey, interviews with key informants (knowledgeable elders, religious leaders and other individuals), and field observations. Interviews and discussions were conducted in Malayalam (the local language) using a checklist of topics. The collected specimens were cross-checked for their local names with the help of key informants and development agents. The specimens are preserved in the CMPR Herbarium. Medicinally important parts of some plants were collected and preserved in Formalin Acetic Acid (FAA) solution for further reference. Each species were checked for its Ayurvedic uses with the help of available literature like Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India and other books [13] and similarity and dissimilarity in uses were analysed.ResultsThis paper provides information about 79 medicinal plant species used by the two tribes to manage 38 ailments / conditions, either as single plant remedies or in combination. Of the 79 species recorded, 64 species (81%) were found to be used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine and 65% for similar conditions. One point of interest is that there was not even a single species commonly used by the two tribes as single plant remedy for a similar condition or ailment.ConclusionThe indigenous knowledge of these tribal traditional healers has been disappearing due to lack of followers for this valuable knowledge, as well as their migration to places outside of the forest. Use of plants among the two tribes reflects their interest in ethno-medicine and further investigation on under-explored species may lead to the discovery of novel pharmaceutical products.