Table 3 Irulas medicinal utility of the flora in the Kodiakarai Reserve Forest (KRF)

Acanthaceae

Auduthoda

Extracts of root, bark, leaves, and flowers used for cough. Dried leaves emhaled for rapid recovery from asthma. Fresh flowers kept over the eyes to relieve eye pain.

Amaranthaceae

Achyranthes aspera L.

Nagarasi

Extract of leaves along with palm jaggery fed to new born babies. Inflorescence scratched against mother breasts to increase lactation.

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.ex Schult Celosia argentea L.

Kannupila & Pannaipoo

Whole plant harvested from the forest or sacred groves during festival day (Farmers Thanksgiving Day), which is used spiritually for healing sour necks of bull.

Aristolochiaceae

Aristolochia indica L.

Perumanthikodi

Root tubers ground with a little water, mixed with rice or cow's milk to cure a fever.

Arecaceae

Borassus flabellifer L.

Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb.

Panai

Injai

Toddy tapped from the inflorescence. Brushes and ropes prepared from leaf sheaths. Leaves used for thatching.

Meristematic portion of the stem eaten by pregnant women from 9th month onwards for relief from abdominal pain.

Asclepiadaceae

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br.

Sirukurinjan & hakarikolli

Tender fresh leaves and dried powder are used to cure diabetes. Cooked leaves may also be used in meals to treat diabetes.

Asteraceae

Tridax procumbens L.

Vettukayapoondu

Leaf juice applied on wounds to stop bleeding.

Caparidaceae

Capparis sepiaria L.

Capparis zeylanica L.

Thoratti

Adandai

Root pulp applied on small wounds and scratches.

Leaves mixed with pepper, tamarind and garlic into a paste, which is consumed to increase appetite.

Cucurbitaceae

Trichosanthes cucumerina L.

Peyppadal

Ripe fruit contains a mucilaginous exudate, which is applied directly on forehead to treat headaches.

Caesalpiniaceae

Cassia auriculata L.

Avarai

The leaves, flowers, fruits, stems and roots are used to maintain hygiene of the skin and scalp. Every year, the first day of the month of crop harvest is celebrated as the thanks-giving day for the "bull".

Ebenaceae

Diospyros ferrea (Wild.) Bahk. Var. buxifolia

Veeraii

Fruit improves blood circulation.

Euphorbiaceae

Acalypha indica L.

Kuppaimeni

Decoction of leaves used for ear pain, snake bite and scabies.

Excoecaria agallocha L.

Thillai

Latex applied on wounds for antiseptic.

Jatropha tanjorensis Ellis & Saroja

Katamanukku

Latex heals wounds.

Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn.

Kizhanelli

Raw branchlets and leaves eaten for 7 days for curing jaundice.

Fabaceae

Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex. Del.

Karuvelam

Paste of tender leaves used to control dysentery. Gum powder mixed with the white of an egg, and applied on burns or scalds.

Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.

Vagai

Oil extracted from the seeds smeared on wounds for healing or on the lesions of lepers.

Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.

Kazhchikai

Seeds are made into a paste to treat a hydrocele

Canavalia lineata (Thunb.) DC.

Kozhiavarai

Roasted seeds of Mucuna and Canavalia are mixed in equal proportion are boiled and made into a paste, which is soaked in a large container of water. The water is changed periodically for 15 days to remove the poisons. The water is changed until it removes the last trace of yellow colour. The mixture is dried and the white powder is eaten directly with flour or suguar or chilly powder. It cures several disorders and ensures good health.

Clitoria ternatea L.

Sangu pushpam

Paste of flowers applied to cure infection of eyes and for headache. Entire plant used as antidote for snake bites. Flowers offered to Gods.

Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.

Poonikali

See 'Kozhiavarai ' Canavalia lineata (Thunb.) DC.

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

Pongan

Seeds ground into paste and applied externally for knee and hip joints for rheumatic disease.

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers.

Averi

Decoction of roots with ginger consumed to relieve headache.

Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Correa

Poovarasu

Yellow extract of fruit used for decorating houses.

Gentianaceae

Enicostema axillare (Lam.) Raynal

Vellarugu

Secondary roots used as tooth brush to cure toothaches.

Lamaceae

Geniosporum tenuiflorum (L.) Merr.

Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link

Nilathulasi

Thumbai

Paste of the plant mixed with limestone and applied to catfish bites.

The thick roots are used as a tooth brush. Continuous use of a special preparation of this plant for 40 days makes one resistant to some snake poison. Flowers used during religious festivals.

Liliaceae

Scilla hyacinthina (Roth.) Macbr. Contr.

Narivangayam

Bulbs used as substitute for onion.

Loranthaceae

Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Etting

Ottai

Fruits edible.

Marsileaceae

Marsilea quadrifolia L.

Aarakeerai

Leaves used as green vegetable.

Meliaceae

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

Veppam

Tender leaf and bark extract consumed to eliminate stomach worms. Leaf twigs with leaves are tied or hanged in front of the house entrance to keep away evil spirits.

Minispermaceae

Tiliacora acuminata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thoms

Perunkkattukodi

Used as rope or binding bundles fuel woods.

Sapotaceae

Mimusops elengi L.

Magizhamaram

Irulas name for this tree's flower is "Magishampoo". Irulas collect this flower from the forest and store them after they have been dried in the shade.

Tinospora cordifolia(Willd.) Miers

Seenthil

Stem and aerial roots ground into a fine powder and consumed with tea or milk. It is used to cure many ailments.

Myrtaceae

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

Naval

Bark used for diarrhoea. The extract of bark mixed with goat milk and immediately consumed to stop diarrhoea.

Orchidaceae

Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw.

Ottai

Aerial root juice used as ear drop for relieving pain.

Pandanaceae

Pandanus fascicularis Lam.

Thazahi

Silt roots used for making fibers and brushes. Fruits occasionally used as vegetable.

Poaceae

Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Moongil

Arugampul

Young shoots used as food. Stems used to build huts and spiritual ceremonies.

Branches dipped in hot oil are used for a head-bath or as a body coolant.

Rhamnaceae

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

Elanthai

Fruit edible. Powdered bark applied to old wounds.

Rubiaceae

Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirveng.

Kattukoyya

Fruit is cooked with other vegetables.

Rutaceae

Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.

Surai

Decoction of leaves and stems used to controls fever. Fresh fruits eaten to reduce fever and headache.

Salvadoraceae

Azima tetracantha Lam.

Salvadora persica L.

Sankan

Vagai

Leaves ground into pulp with water, the extract is used to treat a fever.

Decoction of fruits and roots used to reduce rheumatic pains. Root used as tooth brush. Fruits commonly eaten.

Sapindaceae

Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

Sapindus emarginatus Vahl

Mudakkathan

Poovanthi

Whole plant used for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Wet ground nuts paste used for body wash as a surfactants

Sapotaceae

Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard

Pala maram

Latex applied on teeth and gums for toothaches. Fruits collected in large quantity and traded in local market for rice, chilli, tobacco, etc.

Scrophulariaceae

Peplidium maritimum (L.f.) Asch.

Parupu-keerai

Leaves and tender stems consumed as food.

Simaroubaceae

Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.

Pekalathi

A tonic prepared from the bark and leaves for healing after child birth.

Solanaceae

Solanum anguivi Lam.

Kandan kathiri

Tender fruits cooked as vegetable and consumed for treating colds, coughs and fever. The tender leaves are made into a paste to treat intestinal worms.

Tamaricaceae

Tamarix indica willd.

Kattuchaukku

Extract of leaves used as laxative.

Verbenaceae

Gmelina asiatica L.

Vitex negundo L.

Kumalai Nochi

Fruits used as substitute for soap.

Leaves repel mosquitoes. Leaves boiled in water, which is used a bath to relieve body pain.