Ethnomedicinal Plant Utilization by the Irular Tribe in Attappady, Palakkad District, Kerala, India: A Comprehensive Checklist
摘要
The study focuses on the traditional medicinal plant species used by the healers of the Kulukkur area of Attappady Hills, Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Quantitative data on the most common medicinal plants with high ethnomedicinal value for the whole plant part were collected from the informants through field studies and interviews to document their indigenous knowledge. The research aims to compile a list of medicinal plants used by the Irular tribes as a foundation for further examination of pharmacological properties and validation of traditional healing methods. A 2-year field survey was conducted in the selected region through interviews with Irular traditional healers. A total of 48 species addressing different categories of diseases were quantified in a checklist that was developed. The plants belong to 30 different families, the most dominant family being Leguminosae (6 species), followed by Asclepiadaceae (4 species) and Euphorbiaceae. The ethno-medicobotanical information and traditional uses of medicinal plants to conserve disappearing traditional knowledge systems were evaluated. The collected data were analyzed through use value (UV). The study explores botanical resources for primary healthcare and emphasizes their potential for future applications.