ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED FOR WOUNDS AND SNAKE-BITES BY TRIBALS OF KINNERASANI REGION, A.P., INDIA

USHAKUMARI J.¹, RAMANA V.V.², REDDY K.J.³*
¹Department of Botany, Singareni women’s college, Kothagudem, A.P., India.
²Department of Botany, Singareni women’s college, Kothagudem, A.P., India.
³Department of Botany, Singareni women’s college, Kothagudem, A.P., India.
* Corresponding Author : ushakumarij@yahoo.com

Received : 21-03-2012     Accepted : 09-04-2012     Published : 12-04-2012
Volume : 3     Issue : 2       Pages : 79 - 81
J Phcog 3.2 (2012):79-81
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.9735/0976-884X.3.2.79-81

Kinnerasani region of A.P., India is rich in ethno botanical plants. The tribal population existing in and around the area depend on ethno medicinal plants in the area and near by forest for various diseases. They use more than two hundred plants for various purposes. The present study deals with 56 plant species used by them for wounds, boils, snake, scorpion and dog bites. These plant species are listed alphabetically with their botanical names, vernacular names, families and ethno medicinal uses.

Ethno medicinal plants, Kinnerasani region, wounds and snakebites.

Local health traditions are gradually declining and there is a possibility of the traditions being lost completely. Hence an attempt was made to document the ethno-medicinal plants of the Kinnerasani area. Kinnerasani is a part of the famous Dandakaranya in Khammam dt. 12 km from paloncha lying on the right bank of Godavari. It was declared as Wild life sanctuary in 1977. It has several villages around it. 10 villages were selected for the study and the elderly people were interviewed. The tribals mostly belong to lambadas. More than 200 plants are documented during the survey of which ethnomedicinal plants used for wounds and poisonous bites are presented in the paper [9] .

Field trips were made during 2002 to 2010 for collection and documentation of ethnomedicinal plants of Kinnerasani bioregion. The information was collected by personal interviews with local people, village head accompanied by forest staff, ayurvedic doctor and NGOs. The herbarium was collected and preserved as per standard procedures. They were preserved and deposited in the college herbarium.

The plants used for wounds and poisonous bites are listed alphabetically with vernacular names, family and ethno medicinal uses [Table-1] . In Kinnerasani area, 56 plants are reported for wounds and poisonous bites. They belong to 36 families. Among them 9 are weak stemmed, 16 are herbs, 10 are shrubs and 21 are trees. [Fig-1] Annuals are 21, 35 are bi or perennials [Fig-2] . Leguminosae (of B&H) is the dominant family followed by Asteraceae and Acanthaceae. Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Moraceae, Combretaceae, Rutaceae, Euphorbiaceae family members are equal in numbers. Three species are used as whole plants, two as underground portions, two as stems, 23 as leaves, one as flowers, three as fruits and seeds and 22 as bark [Fig-3] . Among them 34 are common, 15 are vulnerable, 2 are rare, 4 are cultivated and one is exotic [Fig-4] . The majority of tribes in the area lambadas. As Kinnerasani has industries in the viscinity, they are mostly employed as industrial workers. Some collect forest produce like tuniki (beedi leaves), chilla seeds, modugu leaves, honey etc. ITDA extend several schemes to help them. Some are agricultural labourers. Hospitals are available in the neighbourhood. So, they depend on allopathy medicine for different ailments. However, for first aid purpose and less dangerous problems like wounds they still depend on traditional medicine. Further, most of the plants used by them for these wounds and poisonous bites are only external and available in their vicinity. The traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge is to be conserved by documentation for future usage. Otherwise, there is danger of loss of valuable indigenous knowledge. Around one-third plants used are vunerable, conservation steps are to be initiated by ex-situ as well as in situ methods.

The first author is the team leader for FRLHT survey for selection of MPCA during 2000 in the area and the data presented in the paper is part of it. The authors are thankful to Forest department staff and local authorities for their help and to the management, correspondent and principal, S.C.W. College for according permission and the facilities provided.

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	Fig. 1- Habitat wise Distribution
	Fig. 2- Lifespan wise Distribution
	Fig. 3- Useful Part wise Distribution
	Fig. 4- Status wise Distribution
	Table 1- List of plants used for snakebites and wounds in Kinnersani area