Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by the Rural People of Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu

Ethnomedicinal plants are exploited for the treatment of several diseases and disorders such as jaundice, arthritis, ophthalmic diseases, skin diseases, dysentery, hypertension, gout, boils, bronchitis, asthma, diarrhoea, tooth, stomach and head aches, hemorrhoids, piles, snake and insect bites, leprosy etc. The present study was initiated with an aim to identify and document the indigenous knowledge of Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu. Field studies were carried out for a period of seven months, August 2017 to February 2018. A total of 100 plants species distributed in about 86 diverse genera and 47different families were identified. The vernacular name, botanical name, family, part (s) used, phytochemical constituents and their medicinal uses were recorded. Among them 88 plant species belonged to dicot families and 12 plant specimens belonged to monocot families. As a result, a wide array of medicinal plants are available at Dharmapuri District that needs to be explored for phytochemical and pharmacological activities. At the same time suitable measures should be taken for the conservation of these valuable plants.