Table 1 Ethnomedicinal plant species, plant parts used and ailments cured by the Paliyar tribes in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu, India

Asthma

Solanum trilobatum L.

Thoodhuvalai

Solanaceae

Juice of leaves is taken orally for seven days.

Adhatoda zeylanica Medicus.

Adathodai

Acanthaceae

Leaf paste is taken orally.

Cold

Adhatoda zeylanica Medicus.

Adathodai

Acanthaceae

Leaf powder is mixed with water and taken orally in the morning.

Boswellia serrata Roxb. Ex Colebr.

Kungiliyam

Burseraceae

Powdered resin is sprayed on burning charcoal & the smoke is inhaled.

Plectranthus coleoides Benth.

Omavalli chedi

Lamiaceae

Juice of leaves is taken internally.

Solanum trilobatum L.

Thoodhuvalai

Solanaceae

Juice of leaves is taken orally for seven days early morning until cure.

Terminalia chebula Retz.

Kadukkai maram

Combretaceae

Powdered fruit is mixed with water or cow's or goat's milk and taken internally.

Vitex negundo L.

Notchi

Verbenaceae

Fresh leaves are boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled twice a day.

Cough

Adhatoda zeylanica Medicus.

Adathodai

Acanthaceae

Leaf powder is mixed with water and taken orally in the morning.

Terminalia chebula Retz.

Kadukkai maram

Combretaceae

Powdered fruit is mixed with the water or cow's or goat's milk and taken internally.

Vitex negundo L.

Notchi

Verbenaceae

Fresh leaves are boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled twice a day.

Diabetes

Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees.

Siriyanangai

Acanthaceae

Leaf powder is mixed with cow's or goat's milk and taken orally.

Costus speciosus (J. Koen.) Smith.

Koshtam

Zingiberaceae

Powdered leaves are taken internally with cow's milk.

Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex Roem. & Schult.

Sirukurinjan

Asclepiadaceae

Powdered leaves are mixed with cow's milk and boiled rice, kept over night and taken internally twice a day.

Diarrhoea

Cipadessa baccifera (Roth.) Miq.

Pulippan chedi

Meliaceae

Paste of leaves is mixed with the cup of water or milk and taken orally.

Dysentery

Acalypha fruticosa Forsskal.

Chinni chedi

Euphorbiaceae

Decoction of leaves taken orally.

Eye infections

Alangium salvifolium (L.f.) Wangerin.

Alinji

Alangiaceae

One or two drops of fruit juice is poured in the eyes.

Fever

Adhatoda zeylanica Medicus.

Adathodai

Acanthaceae

Leaf decoction is taken internally twice a day until cure.

Hemidesmus indicus H.f.

Nannari

Asclepiadaceae

Decoction of whole plant is taken internally.

Terminalia chebula Retz.

Kadukkai maram

Combretaceae

Powdered fruit is mixed with the water or cow's or goat's milk and taken internally.

Vitex negundo L.

Notchi

Verbenaceae

Fresh leaves are boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled twice a day.

Headache

Ceropegia candelabrum L.

Perun kodi

Asclepiadaceae

Paste of leaves is applied on forehead.

Pergularia daemia (Fors.) Chiov.

Veli parutthi

Asclepiadaceae

Fresh leaves are boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled.

Vitex negundo L.

Notchi

Verbenaceae

Fresh leaves are boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled twice a day.

Heel cracks

Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Thanneer vittan kilangu

Liliaceae

Paste of tender and mature leaves is applied topically on the heels before going to bed.

Drymaria cordata (L.) Roem. & Schult.

Kodi charai

Caryophyllaceae

Paste of leaves is applied over the heels before going to bed regularly till cure.

Rubia cordifolia L.

Kalutharupan chedi

Rubiaceae

Root paste is applied topically on heel before going to bed.

Jaundice

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban.

Vallarai

Umbelliferae

Juice of leaf is mixed with equal amount of goat's milk and taken orally for seven days.

Menorrhagia

Hemidesmus indicus H.f.

Nannari

Asclepiadaceae

Paste of root is mixed with water or cow's milk and taken internally twice a day.

Nervous disorders

Bischofia javanica Blume.

Romaviruksha pattai

Bischofiaceae

Paste of stem bark is applied externally on the affected parts.

Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth.

Vettukaaya pachilai

Acanthaceae

Leaf paste is mixed with the powdered black gram, crushed onion and white yolk of one egg and the mixture is applied topically over the fractured bones.

Euphorbia antiquorum L.

Sathura kalli

Euphorbiaceae

Stem latex is applied topically on skin to get relief from body pain.

Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex Roem. & Schult.

Sirukurinjan

Asclepiadaceae

Paste of leaves is applied externally.

Phlebophyllus kunthianum Nees.

Kurinji chedi

Acanthaceae

Fresh leaves and bark are heated with gingelly oil and applied externally on affected part of the body.

Piles

Gmelina arborea Roxb.

Perungilai/Kumilamaram

Verbenaceae

Juice of root bark is taken internally.

Pimples

Acalypha paniculata Miq.

Paruva thazhai

Euphorbiaceae

Leaf paste is applied over pimples regularly once a day until cure.

Poison bites

Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees.

Siriyanangai

Acanthaceae

Paste of leaves is applied externally on bitten site of scorpion and snake.

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees.

Periyanangai or Nilavembu

Acanthaceae

Paste of leaves is applied externally on bitten site of scorpion sting and snakebites.

Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr.

Nangilai

Asclepiadaceae

Paste of leaf and root is mixed with equal amount of root paste of Rauvolfia serpentina and applied externally on the spot of snakebite. Leaf juice alone is also taken internally to cure snakebite.

Skin diseases

Acalypha fruticosa Forsskal.

Chinni chedi

Euphorbiaceae

Leaf and root paste is applied topically on the affected places.

Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) Wallich.

Saetthupun thazhai

Lamiaceae

Paste of leaves is applied over the affected places.

Balanophora fungosa Fors and Fors. var. indica.

Vaer chedi

Balanophoraceae

Paste of the whole plant is applied over the infected part of the skin.

Clematis gouriana Roxb. Ex. DC.

Attumeesai chedi

Ranunculaceae

Paste of leaves is applied topically on affected part of the skin.

Excoecaria crenulata L.

Vellai thillai

Euphorbiaceae

Paste of the stem is applied on the affected part of the skin.

Lobelia heyneana Roem. & Schult.

Upperi chedi

Lobeliaceae

Leaves and flowers are mixed with water and the paste is applied on skin till cure.

Mahonia leschenaultii (Wight & Arn.) Tak. ex Gamble

Mullu kadambu

Berberidaceae

Powdered stem bark is boiled with gingelly oil and applied over the body before bath.

Stomachache

Acalypha paniculata Miq.

Paruva thazhai

Euphorbiaceae

Juice of leaves is taken orally.

Dioscorea oppositifolia L. var. tomentosa.

Nurulai/Valli kilangu

Dioscoreaceae

Paste of rhizome is taken internally.

Elatteria cardamomum (L.) Maton.

Yelakkai

Zingiberaceae

Dried fruits are taken internally with food.

Hemidesmus indicus H.f.

Nannari

Asclepiadaceae

Fresh leaves are taken internally.

Plumbago zeylanica L.

Chitthira moolam

Plumbaginaceae

Powdered root is mixed with goat's milk and taken internally.

Solanum nigrum L.

Mana thakkali

Solanaceae

Fresh leaves are cooked with onion bulbs and cumin seeds and taken along with food regularly.

Terminalia chebula Retz.

Kadukkai maram

Combretaceae

Powdered fruit is mixed with water or cow's or goat's milk and taken internally.

Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.

Kindu mullu

Rutaceae

Decoction of leaves is given internally.

Throat infection

Acorus calamus L.

Vasambu

Araceae

Dried rhizome is rubbed on stone with water and one or two drops of watery paste are given orally to the children for clarity of speech. Increased dosage will affect speech.

Piper nigrum L.

Milagu

Piperaceae

The dried seeds are taken orally.

To increase lactation

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.

Paalooram pattai

Apocynaceae

Powdered stem is mixed with water and given orally to the mother.

To increase resistance power

Alpinia calcarata Rosc.

Arathi poo

Zingiberaceae

Dried rhizome is mixed with water and two drops of juice are given orally to children.

To induce fertility

Carmona retusa (Vahl) Masam.

Kurangu vetthilai

Boraginaceae

Juice of leaves is taken internally for three to four months.

Toothache

Solanum erianthum D.Don

Malai sundai

Solanaceae

The ripened or unripened fruits are boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled once or twice a week through mouth.

Solanum surattrense Burm. f.

Kandankathiri

Solanaceae

Fresh or dried fruits are kept in fire and the smoke is inhaled with mouth.

Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.

Kindu mullu

Rutaceae

Powder of root and stem bark is used as tooth powder.

To reduce delivery time pain

Plectranthus coleoides Benth.

Mudupattan or Omavalli chedi

Lamiaceae

Leaf juice is taken internally by pregnant women.

Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth.) Sant. & Wagh.

Kari indu

Caesalpiniaceae

Decoction of leaves is taken internally by pregnant women.

To stimulate appetite

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson.

Valukai keerai

Acanthaceae

Fresh leaves are cooked with cumin seeds and onion bulbs and taken orally with food.

To stimulate Hair growth

Bischofia javanica Blume.

Romaviruksha pattai

Bischofiaceae

Stem bark is mixed with coconut oil and applied over head.

Plectranthus coleoides Benth.

Omavalli chedi

Lamiaceae

Juice of leaves is boiled with coconut oil and applied on head.

Sida acuta Burm. f.

Pilla valatthi chedi.

Malvaceae

Paste of leaves is mixed with coconut oil and applied on head regularly for killing dandruffs and also for strengthening hair.

To stupefy fish

Catunaregum spinosa (Thun.) Tiruvengadam

Karangai maram

Rubiaceae

Crushed unripe fruits are used.

Sapindus emarginata Vahl.

Poondi kottai

Sapindaceae

Unripe fruits are crushed and thrown on the running and stagnant water.

Menstrual disorders

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees.

Periyanangai or Nilavembu

Acanthaceae

Leaf juice is taken orally during menstruation to prevent excessive bleeding.

Wounds

Acacia caesia (L.) Willd.

Nanjupattai

Mimosaceae

Bark is ground with water and applied topically over the affected part.

Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.

Sarayapattai maram

Mimosaceae

Paste of fresh bark is applied topically on cuttings until cure.

Anisomeles malabarica (L.) R. Br. Ex. Sims.

Paei miratti

Lamiaceae

Paste of stem is mixed with coconut oil and applied over the affected places.

Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth.

Vettukaaya pachilai

Acanthaceae

Paste of leaves is mixed with limejuice and applied on cuts.

Clausena dentata (Willd.) Roem.

Anai thazhai

Rutaceae

Paste of leaves is applied over the affected parts.

Cryptolepis buchananii Roem & Schul.

Paalkodi/Karunkodi

Asclepiadaceae

Stem latex (5 – 10 drops) is applied on the affected places.

Plectranthus coleoides Benth.

Omavalli chedi

Lamiaceae

Paste of leaves is applied over wounds till cure.

Solanum nigrum L.

Mana thakkali

Solanaceae

Fresh leaf paste is applied externally on cuts.

Sonchus oleraceus L.

Kaalaadi pachilai

Asteraceae

Leaves are ground with the equal amount of leaves of Smilax zeylanica and applied externally on the cuts once a day till cure.