Natural products used by the Kanikkars of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

An attempt has been made to identify folklore medicinally important plants frequently used by the Kannikars tribal residing in the part of Kanyakumari Wild Life Sanctuary of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. Kannikars are the dominant tribal group in this region. The survey was conducted in eighteen Kannikars settlelment of Pechiparai Panchayat. Through general conversations with traditional healers the details of medicinal plants used, mode of treatments, methods of preparation and type of administration was collected and documented. About 38 plants belonging to 22 families are documented. The wild plants found in this region are used for treating skin diseases, fever and other ailments including bites of snakes, spiders and scorpions are enumerated in the present paper. Kannikars are mostly using the leaves of plants followed by roots sometimes the whole plants, seed and fruits. The common diseases treated by the herbal practitioner were asthma, digestive problems, animal bites and skin diseases. Most of the plants are belonging to Fabaceae followed by Asteraceae and Acanthaceae.