Ethnomedicinal plants used to cure diarrhoea and dysentery in Pachalur hills of Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, Southern India.

ABSTRACT

The people residing in Pachalur hills in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu mostly depend on the vegetation around them for the prevention as well as the treatment of diseases and ailments. Information on ethnomedicinal uses of plants, their doses and mode of administration have been collected from the local traditional medicine practitioners (Vaithiyar) as well experienced men and women. The paper deals with 54 ethnomedicinal plants of 52 genera belonging to 31 families used by the villagers for diarrhoea and dysentery in Pachalur hills. Most of these plants are commonly available in natural sources and some were obtained from local dealers. Isolation of active principles, pharmacological investigations, and the potent anti–microbial activity should be studied on these medicinally important species. Attention should also be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinal plants.