Bioscience Discovery, 9(3):438-447, July - 2018

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Research Article
Medicinal plants used for the treatment of dermatological ailments by the Kani
tribe of Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamilnadu, India
J Celin Pappa Rani1* and S Jeeva2
1
Department of Botany and Research Centre, Holy Cross College, Nagercoil (Autonomous), Nagercoil,
Tamilnadu, India - 629 002
2
Department of Botany and Research Centre, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamilnadu,
India - 629 003.
*Email: celinpapparani@gmail.com

Article Info Abstract

Received: 01-04-2018,
Revised: 06-06-2018,
Accepted: 07-07-2018
Keywords:
Dermatological ailments,
Kani tribe, Kanyakumari
Wildlife Sanctuary
The aim of this study was to document traditional medicinal plant knowledge used in
treating skin disease by Kani tribe residing in and around Kanyakumari Wildlife
Sanctuary, Tamilnadu, India. Semi-structured open-ended interviews were
conducted among 100 tribal community members. The field survey was carried out
during the years 2014-2016. Data collected included plant parts used, mode of
preparation of each medication, mode of utilization, the disease each plant helps to
cure and local name. A total of 90 medicinal plants belonging to 83 genera and 44
families used for the treatment of 21 skin related ailments. The Use Value (UV) of
plants was calculated. The present study revealed that Kani tribal people is mainly
dependent on wild medicinal plants for treating skin disease.

INTRODUCTION conducted in 48 tribal settlements of Pechiparai

Medicinal plants play an important role in
and Keeriparai Forest Ranges which include the
the survival of ethnic communities, who live in southern tip of Western Ghats. The survey was
remote villages and forests (Jain, 1991). Since time
conducted through semi-structured open-ended
immemorial human society has developed amidst, interviews based on standard ethnobotanical
and in close association with, the plant life (De,methods (Martin, 1995; Alexiades, 1996). Semi-
1980). India is endowed with about 49,000 plant structured interviews permit in-depth information
species (Hajra and Mudgal, 1997) and of these 8000and spontaneous remarks by respondents (Hardon et
are known to have medicinal properties (Tiwari, al., 2001). Data collected included local name, plant
2000). Skin disease like scabies, eczema, parts used, mode of preparation of each medication,
leucoderma and other skin related diseases are mode of utilization and the disease each plant helps
treated completely with plant derived drugs. The to cure. Interviews were conducted in Tamil. Data
information from tribal groups play a key role in the
collected through direct interviews were directly
novel drugs from plant (Katewa et al., 2004). The documented in field notebooks as preliminary data.
main aim of the present study was to document the Plant collection and Identification
traditional usage of medicinal plants for treating Plant samples were collected by walking in
skin related ailments by the Kani tribe living in the forest. Some of the plants were identified in the
Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary. field itself. Photographs were taken. During
collection the taxa were classified according to their
MATERIALS AND METHODS habit: herb, shrub, tree, liana and climber. Plant
In order to explore the medicinal knowledge of samples were collected for the preparation of
Kani tribes, an ethnobotanical survey was voucher specimens.
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 J Celin Pappa Rani and S Jeeva
Voucher specimens were deposited in the
Department of Botany and Research Centre, Scott
Christian College, Nagercoil. The Angiosperm
Phylogeny Classification (APG 111, 2009) was
followed to classify the taxa. The plant specimens
were identified with the help of local and regional
floras (Gamble and Fischer, 1956; Nair and Henry,
1983). In order to check the spelling, eliminate the
use of older synonyms and ensure uniform
nomenclature all plant names were verified using
The Plant List (2013).
Data analysis
Use Value
Use Value (UV) indicates the species that
are considered most important by a given
population. It is calculated by using the formula
UV = ∑U/n,
where U is the Use Reports mentioned by the
informant and n is the total number of informants.
UV ranges from 0 to 1. UV is high when there are
many Use Reports for a plant and low when they
are a few (Philips et al., 1994).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Medicinal plant diversity
The present study identified a total of 90 medicinal
plants belonging to 83 genera and 44 families used
for the treatment of 21 human skin related ailments.
Of the 44 families, 42 belonged to angiosperms and
2 were pteridophytes (Lygodiaceae and
Pteridaceae). Among angiosperms, dicotyledons
were represented by 35 families, 73 genera and 79
taxa, monocotyledons by 7 families, 8 genera and 9
taxa; pteridophytes by 2 families, 2 genera and 2
taxa. Of the 90 dicot taxa, 34 were Polypetalae
belonging to 32 genera and 17 families; 25 were
Gamopetalae belonging to 23 genera and 10
families and 18 were Monochlamydeae belonging
to 8 genera and 20 families. Monocots were
represented by 9 taxa belonging to 8 genera and 7
families. The best represented family was
Leguminosae (12 taxa) and Euphorbiaceae (10
taxa). Members of the Leguminosae hold significant
medicinal properties and have been widely used as
components of pharmaceutical products (Gao et al.,
2010). Chew et al. (2011) assessed the antioxidant
potential and antibacterial activity and classes of
phytochemicals of some of the medicinal members
of bean family. Similar studies carried in Uttar
Pradesh found the medicinal plants used for as
herbal medicines to be from Euphorbiaceae and
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Tharu tribal people use Euphorbiaceae members for
treating skin related ailments (Tripathi and
Srivastava, 2010).
Habit of medicinal plants
Kanis use herbs predominantly for
medicine preparation. Of the 90 ethnomedicinal
plants, 37 (41%) were herbs followed by trees and
shrubs 20 (22% each), climbers 8 (9%) and lianas
5(6%). Herbs have been used as medicine since
time immemorial in all cultures (Muthu et al., 2006;
Barnes et al., 2007; Jeeva and Femila, 2012;
Shrestha et al., 2016). Another factor favouring the
herbs is their ease of collection and immediate
availability (Voeks, 1996). Shrestha et al. (2014)
implied that usually in the higher altitudes zone,
herbs and shrubs take dominance over trees. The
higher percentage of herbs used as medicine could
be because Kani tribal settlements are situated in
high altitudes regions. The findings are in line with
those of studies carried out in India and elsewhere;
the Santal tribe of West Bengal prefers herbs for
medicinal preparation (Shah et al., 2016; Santana et
al., 2016). Tribes of Tamilnadu also prefer
herbaceous plants: Malayalis (Sivaperumal et al.,
2009; Xavier et al., 2015).
Plant parts used for medicine preparation
Kanis use all parts of the plant for medicine
preparation. Among the plant parts used, leaves,
solely or in combination with other plant parts, are
used. This is followed by the bark, fruit, root, seed,
stem, bulb, inflorescence, flower and whole plant.
Leaves are the most frequently used plant part,
accounting for 56 taxa (62%), followed by bark 9
taxa (10%), fruit 6 taxa (7%), root and seed 5 taxa
(4% each), rhizome and stem 3 taxa (3%), bulb 2
taxa (2%) and flower, inflorescence and whole plant
1 taxa (1% each). Leaves can be collected easily
from the forest (Giday et al., 2009). The high use of
leaves might be attributed to the fact that they can
be easily obtained in large quantities when
compared with other plant parts (Passulacqua et al.,
2007). Another reason is that using leaves is very
easy when compared with using other plant parts.
Leaves are the most vulnerable parts of plants and
therefore contain more bioactive secondary
compounds to help them defend themselves from
herbivores (Bhattarai et al., 2006). Gathering of
leaves is more sustainable than that of underground
parts, stem, bark or entire plant (Giday et al., 2003).
Leaf is the major site of photosynthesis and is the
most metabolically active part of the plant. They are
the sites of various biochemical reactions, leading
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 Bioscience Discovery, 9(3):438-447, July - 2018
to the production of secondary metabolites, which
contribute towards their medicinal value (Balick
and Cox, 1996; Ghorbani, 2005). In most other
studies, leaves are the preferable plant part used -
Findings was substantiated by Policepatel et al.
(2013) reported that inhabitants of Karnataka region
use leaf as the major plant part for treating skin
ailments Kurumba tribes Nilgiri also use leaf for
treating skin ailments (Deepak and Gopal 2013)
Mode of preparation and application of medicine
Kani tribes prepare medicine in different
forms. Paste and oil are mostly applied topically on
the affected skin area. They are grouped into 7
categories. Of these, most commonly used method
of preparation was paste [59 taxa (66%)], followed
by oil [17 taxa (19%)], resin [5 taxa (6%)], juice [4
taxa (4%)], latex [3 taxa (3%)] powder [1 taxa
(1%)] and boiled [1 taxa (1%)]. Preparation of paste
was more preferred for the treatment of skin related
diseases; Paite tribe of Manipur (Devi and Das
2015) Yanadi tribe of Andhra Pradesh (Sudha et al.,
2016) Chak, Marma and Tripura tribe of
Bangladesh (Faruque et al., 2018). Kanis prefer
three types of application of medicine: topical, oral
and inhalation. The most common route of
application is topical [87 reports (97%)], followed
by oral [2 reports (2%)] and herbal bath [ 1 reports
(1%)]. Topical mode of application is mainly
followed by the Kanis mainly for treating skin
ailments. The finding that the topical mode of
application of medicine is predominant among
Kanis for treating dermatological ailments is
concordant with, findings among various tribes in
India and elsewhere: tribal communities of North-
West frontier province, Pakistan (Abbasi et
al.,2010), Malayali tribes of Kolli hills (Xavier et
al., 2015). Topical mode of application provides
better action and also enhances the remedial power
of the herbal medicine (Mahmood et al., 2012).
Ailments treated
A total of 21 human skin related ailments
were treated with 90 medicinal plants. Abscess,
boil, burns, carbuncle, chronic wounds, crack foot,
cut wounds, eczema, erysipelas, foot corn, fungal
infection, itching, leucoderma, pimples, ringworm
infection, scabies, skin disease, swelling, thorn
pricked wounds, whitlow and wounds were the
ailments treated by the Kani tribes by the wild
medicinal plants. Nineteen plants for treating
scabies, 12 for treating wounds, 6 each for treating
cut wounds and pimples, 5 medicinal plants each
for treating burns, crack foot, fungal infection and
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itching, 4 for treating abscess, 3 each for treating
boil, leucoderma, skin disease and thorn pricked
wound. 2 each for treating ringworm infection,
swelling and whitlow, 1 for treating carbuncle,
chronic wounds, eczema erysipelas and foot corn.
Tribe living in remote areas mainly depend on
medicinal plants for treating skin disease, this may
be due to the inaccessibility to modern medicine
and ready availability of plant medicines (Deepak
and Gopal, 2014; Wet et al., 2013). In the present
study, Chaemocrista klenii ranks first with the use
value of 0.31 used by the tribe for treating scabies
and oil applied topically over new born babies
cures all skin diseases.
Ageratum haustonianum with the use value
of 0.30 has commonly used by the tribe for healing
cut wounds.
Conclusion
The present study revealed that, the study
area has immense diversity of medicinal taxa which
are being used for treating various ailments
including skin problems which routinely face
during daily life. The medicinal plants used by the
tribe must be subjected to pharmacological studies
for the discovery of new drugs.
REFERENCES
Abbasi AM, Khan M, Ahmad M, Qureshi R,
Arshad M, Jahan S, Zafar M, Sultana S, 2010.
Ethnobotanical study of wound healing herbs
among the tribal communities in Northern Hiamaya
ranges district Abbottabad, Pakistan, Pak J Bot,
42(6): 3747-3753.
Alexiades MN, 1996, Collecting ethnobotanical
data: an introduction to basic concepts and
techniques. In: Selected guidelines for
ethnobotanical research: A field manual, edited by
MN Alexiades, (The New York Botanical garden,
New York),Pp 53–54.
APG III, 2009, Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III:
An update of the angiosperm phylogeny group
classification for the orders and families of
flowering plants, Botanical J. Linnean Soc, 161 :
105–121.
Balick MJ & Cox PA, 1996. Plants, people and
culture: the science of ethnobotany (Scientific
American Library publication, New York, USA)
Pp. 1-238.
Barnes J, Anderson LA & Phillipson JD, 2007.
Herbal medicine (3rd Edition, Pharmaceutical Press,
London), Pp. 1–23.
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 J Celin Pappa Rani and S Jeeva
Table 1: Medicinal plants used for the treatment of dermatological ailments by Kani tribe of Kanyakumari
Wildlife Sanctuary

Mode of Use
Sl. Vernacul Parts preparat Ethnomedicinal Ailment Value
No Binomial name ar name Habit used ion preparation treated (UV)
Leaves made into paste is
Kuntimu Climb applied over skin cures
1 Abrus precatorius L. thu er Root Paste swelling. Swelling 0.01

Leaves ground into fine paste

Acalypha fruticosa applied topically cures fungal Fungal
2 Forsk Sirusinni Herb Leaf Paste infection in tongue. infection 0.18
Ageratum conyzoides Leaf paste applied to cut
3 (L.) L. Vanthan Herb Leaf Paste wounds for healing wounds. Wounds 0.3
Ageratum Karu Leaf paste applied to cut
4 houstonianum Mill. vanthan Herb Leaf Paste wounds for healing wounds. Wounds 0.27
Alpinia galanga (L.) Peraratha Rhizome paste applied on the
5 Willd. i Herb Rhizome Paste skin to cure scabies. Scabies 0.07
Latex from bark is applied
Alstonia scholaris Mukkam topically over thorn pricked
6 (L.) R. Br. palai Tree Bark Latex wounds. Wounds 0.04
Fruit paste applied topically
Anamirta cocculus (L Kakkili over the skin to cures itching Ringworm
7 .) Wight & Arn. kodi Liana Fruit Paste caused by ringworm infection infection 0.09
Fruit (50 g) are boiled with
Kottaipa coconut oil (1 L) and applied
8 Areca catechu L. ccu Tree Fruit Oil topically over burns. Burns 0.2
Aristolochia tagala Karuda Climb Root paste applied topically
9 Cham. kodi er Root Paste over boils. Boils 0.02
Leaf paste applied externally Scabies
Azadirachta indica Veppa over scabies and eczema. and
10 A.Juss. maram Tree Leaf Paste eczema 0.15
Baliospermum
solanifolium (Burm.) Nagadha Leaves paste applied over cut
11 Suresh nthi Herb Leaf Paste wounds. Wound 0.13
Narayana Leaf ground into fine paste and
Begonia malabarica sanjeevi/E applied topically over the
12 Lam. nam koli Herb Leaf Paste wounds in the legs. Wounds 0.02
Bryophyllum Leaf paste rubbed topically on
pinnatum (Lam.) Chodakk the skin two times a days to
13 Oken u chedi Herb Leaf Paste cure burns. Burns 0.03
Seed paste applied on the
Caesalpinia bonduc Kazhanc Climb infected portion of the skin Leucoder
14 (L.) Roxb. hi er Seed Paste cures leucoderma (Vitiligo). ma 0.11
Leaf paste applied topically
Cajanus cajan (L.) over tongue to cure fungal Fungal
15 Millsp. Thuvarai Shrub Leaf Paste disease. infection 0.04
Leaf paste applied topically
over infected area three times
Calophyllum daily cures ringworm Ringworm
16 inophyllum L. Punai Tree Fruit Paste infection(Chethupun). infection 0.04
1. Latex from leaves applied
externally over the infected
area cures wounds. 2. Leaves
are boiled in water, wrap the
leaves in a cloth and
fomentation is given over the
Calotropis gigantea affected parts cures blood clots Wounds
17 (L.) Dryand. Erukku Shrub Leaf Latex formed by injury. and injury 0.04
Canarium strictum Thellima Resin exudate powder boiled
18 Roxb. ram/ Tree Bark Oil with coconut oil, rubbed over Itching 0.03

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 Karuppu skin cures itching.
Kunthiri
gam
1. Leaf paste applied topically
to cure scabies.2. Boil a
handful of leaves in 50 ml of
Mul illa coconut oil. This oil is applied Scabies
Chaemocrista klenii thottal topically over new born babies and skin
19 W &A. vadi Herb Leaf Paste cures all skin diseases. disease 0.31
Cheilosoria tenuifoli Kinnatu Leaves made into paste rubbed
20 a (Burm. f.) Trevis. poondu Herb Leaf Paste on the skin cures scabies. Scabies 0.09
Chromolaena Leaf paste applied on the
odorata (L.) Aana wounded region to stop
21 R.M.King & H.Rob. puchadi Herb Leaf Paste bleeding. Wound 0.05
Nai
kadughu/ Fruits ground into fine paste
Vek and applied topically cures
22 Cleome viscosa L. kadughu Herb Leaf Paste abscess. Abscess 0.05
Fifty grams of fresh leaves are
Clerodendrum Peruvila ground into paste. This paste is Cut
23 infortunatum L. n Shrub Leaf Paste applied over cuts and wounds. wounds 0.13
Leaf paste applied topically
Climb over finger to cure whitlow
24 Clitoria ternatea L. Kakalam er Leaf Paste (Finger abscess). Whitlow 0.09
Coconut oil applied topically
Infloresc over head cures fungal Fungal
25 Cocos nucifera L. Thenai Tree ence Oil infection. infection 0.25
1. Handful of leaves ground
into paste tied it over thorn Thorn
pricked area. Thorn will fall out pricked
in the following day. 2. Leaf wounds
Commelina Vazhaipa paste applied used to cure and
26 benghalensis L. chai Herb Leaf Paste whitlow whitlow 0.25
Ten grams of stem boiled along
Coscinium with 50 ml of coconut oil. This
fenestratum Mancalk oil is applied topically over
27 (Goetgh.) Colebr. odi Liana Stem Oil burns. Burns 0.01
Crassocephalum
crepidioides (Benth.) Leaf paste is applied on the cut Cut
28 S. Moore Banthan Herb Leaf Paste wounds for stop bleeding . wounds 0.06
Nachu
kurichan/ Fruit ground into paste show in
Nervala fire applied topically over
29 Croton tiglium L. m Tree Fruit Paste finger to cure whitlow. Whitlow 0.06
Rhizome (10 gm) made into Scabies,
paste applied over skin to cure itching
Curcuma aromatica Kasthuri all types of skin diseases like and
30 Salisb. mangal Herb Rhizome Paste scabies, itching and eczema. eczema. 0.08
Rhizome paste applied
topically over cut wounds
31 Curcuma longa L. Manjal Herb Rhizome Paste enhance quick healing. Wound 0.23
Whole plant paste boiled with
coconut oil. This oil is applied
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb Moodila Climb Whole topically on the skin to cure
32 . thazhi er plant Oil scabies. Scabies 0.03
Cynodon dactylon Arukamp Leaf paste is rubbed on skin to
33 (L.) Pers. ullu Herb Leaf Paste cure pimples. Pimples 0.03
Bark ground into paste and
Dalbergia sissoo DC. rubbed over the affected parts
34 Etti Tree Bark Paste of the skin for curing scabies. Scabies 0.03
Equal proportion of leaves and
pilamanja is mixed and ground
well. The paste obtained is
Ummath applied twice a day cures
35 Datura metel L. ai Herb Flower Paste pimples. Pimples 0.03
36 Diploclisia Erumathr Liana Leaf Oil Tender leaves crushed into Scabies 0.02
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 glaucescens (Blume) an Kodi paste are boiled along with
Diels coconut oil. This oil is applied
topically over the skin to cure
scabies.
Drimia indica Kattu Bulb made into paste applied Boils and
37 (Roxb.) Jessop ulli Herb Bulb Paste over boils/ abcscess abscess 0.15
Bulb made into paste and
Eleutherine Vishanar applied topically over burns
38 palmifolia (L.) Merr. ayani Herb Bulb Paste prevent swelling. Burns 0.14
Entada rheedii Parandai Cotyledon paste is applied
39 Spreng. kodi Liana Fruit Paste topically to cure pimples. Pimples 0.02
Leaves made into paste is
Eryngium foetidum Rasa applied topically over skin
40 L. chedi Herb Leaf Paste reduces itching Itching 0.09
Euphorbia Andavay Leaf paste applied over cut Cut
41 heterophylla L. u keerai Herb Leaf Paste wounds. wounds 0.01
Milky latex from the stem
Chittirai applied externally two times /
42 Euphorbia hirta L. paladai Herb Stem Latex day cures pimples. Pimples 0.05
Euphorbia pulcherri
ma Willd. ex Poo Leaf paste applied over cut Cut
43 Klotzsch kazhi Shrub Leaf Paste wounds. wounds 0.01
Leaves (50 gm) boiled in 100
ml coconut oil. This oil is
Evolvulus alsinoides Vishnu rubbed on the skin for 30 days
44 (L.) L. kranthi Herb Leaf Oil cures scabies. Scabies 0.02
Resin obtained from bark is
Arasa applied topically in legs to cure
45 Ficus reliogiosa L. maram Tree Bark Resin crack foot. Crack foot 0.01
Kalpoo/ Handful of leaves with raw rice
Flacourtia indica Kodikara ground, made into idli and
46 (Burm.f.) Merr. i Tree Leaf Powder eaten for curing abscess. Abscess 0.02
Leaves boiled in water. Bathing
Gluta travancorica B Manchar this water cures all skin Skin
47 edd. u Tree Leaf Boiled diseases. disease 0.12
1.Paste of bark applied in legs
Kaivam / to cure cracks. 2. Roots ground
Valampu into paste and applied topically Crack foot
ri over the affected area to cure and
48 Helicteres isora L. edampuri Shrub Root Paste whitlow (finger abscess). whitlow 0.15
Murukoo Leaf paste applied on the cut
Hemigraphis di wounds ensures quick healing
49 colorata W. Bull. pachilai Herb Leaf Paste of wounds. Wounds 0.05
Leaves are ground to paste.
Paste is applied to the wounded
region to stop bleeding. / paste Wounds
Hibiscus surattensis Mullu Climb applied topically cures and
50 L. urinchu er Leaf Paste whitlow (finger abscess). whitlow 0.1
Extract obtained from the
Hyptis suaveolens(L.) Natha leaves is applied topically over
51 Poit puchadi Herb Leaf Juice burns. Burns 0.06
Young leaf bud made into fine
Indianthus virgatus Kattu paste applied topically over Thorn
(Roxb.) Suksathan & kuvai thorn pricked area. Thorn will pricked
52 Borchs. kizhanghu Herb Leaf Paste fallout in the following day. wounds 0.02
Handful of leaves made into
paste mixed with coconut oil.
This oil is applied on the skin
53 Indigofera tintoria L. Avari Shrub Leaf Paste to cure scabies. Scabies 0.14
Leaves paste is applied on the
Jasminum Pitchi skin before bathing cures
54 grandiflorum L. poo Climber Leaf Paste pimples. Pimples 0.03
Kuzhuve Paste from young leaves
55 Jatropha curcas L. tti Shrub Leaf Paste applied topically cures wounds. Wounds 0.06
Kingiodendron Kuyavu Resin exudate from bark
56 pinnatum (DC.) maram/ Tree Bark Resin applied topically cures crack in Crack foot 0.03

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 Harms Madayan foot.
samprani
Leaves paste applied topically Abscess
Marutha over affected area cures finger and crack
57 Lawsonia inermis L. ni Shrub Leaf Paste abscess and crack foot. foot 0.1
Soak handful of young leaf
buds in coconut oil for three
days. This medicated oil is
Leea indica (Burm. f. Nekku applied topically on the skin to
58 ) Merr. maram Shrub Leaf Oil cure scabies. Scabies 0.03
Vettukay
Lygodium flexuosum a Leaf ground into paste applied Cut
59 (L.) Sw. pacchilai Herb Leaf Paste topically over cut wounds. wounds 0.12
Mallotus tetracoccus Malaiam Leaf paste applied topically
60 (Roxb.)Kurz. anakku Shrub Leaf Paste over skin to cure boils. Boil 0.1
Thottal Leaf paste is rubbed on the
61 Mimosa pudica L. vadi Herb Leaf Paste skin to cure scabies. Scabies 0.04
Athimant Seed paste applied over the
62 Mirabilis jalapa L. harai Herb Seed Paste foot cures foot corn. Foot corn 0.03
Mussaenda glabrata Leaves made into paste and
(Hook.f.) Hutch. ex Velliman applied topically over the skin
63 Gamble dnthai Shrub Leaf Paste cures swelligs. Swelling 0.01
Leaf paste is applied on the
Myxopyrum serratum Aram skin before bathing to cure
64 A.W. Hill. pacchilai Tree Leaf Paste itching. Itching 0.06
Nilanara Root (50 g) boiled in coconut
kam/ oil applied topically over
Naregamia alata Moranch affected part cures chronic Chronic
65 Wight & Arn. ari Shrub Root Oil wounds. wounds 0.07
Leaves (25 g) boiled with 50
ml neem oil. This oil is applied
topically over skin for curing
66 Nerium oleander L. Arali Shrub Leaf Oil skin diseases like scabies. Scabies 0.01
Ocimum tenuiflorum Leaf paste applied to cure
67 L. Thulasi Herb Leaf Paste abscess. Abscess 0.04
Handful of leaves boiled with
50 ml coconut oil. This oil is
Ophiorrhiza mungos Kallooro rubbed over skin to cures
68 L. tti Herb Leaf Oil scabies. Scabies 0.01
Leaves made into paste and
Peperomia pellucida Thirume applied topically over cut Cut
69 (L.) Kunth ni Herb Leaf Paste wounds. wounds 0.01
Leaf ground into paste applied
Climb topically over skin to cure Leucoder
70 Piper betle L. Vetrillai er Leaf Paste leucoderma. ma 0.03
Leaves 100 gm boiled in 1 litre
Plectranthus coconut oil. This oil is applied Scabies
amboinicus (Lour.) Navarap on the skin to cure scabies and and skin
71 Spreng. acchilai Herb Leaf Oil skin allergies. allergy 0.04
Handful of leaves made into
paste and boiled in (100 ml)
Portulaca wightiana Acchivar coconut oil. This oil is rubbed
Wall. ex Wight & i on the skin to cure erysipelas
72 Arn. pacchilai Herb Leaf Paste (swellings and itching). Erysipelas 0.03
Resin applied topically over
Pterocarpus tongue of new born child cures Fungal
73 marsupium Roxb. Vengai Tree Bark Resin fungal infection in the tongue. infection 0.01
Fruits ground into paste and Pimples
Amanak rubbed on the skin to cure and
74 Ricinus communis L. u Shrub Seed Paste pimples and itching. itching 0.05
Sansevieria Marul/ Leaf show in fire and extract is Thorn
roxburghiana Schult. Naga taken, extract is applied thorn pricked
75 & Schult.f. pachhai Herb Leaf Juice pricked wound. wound 0.03
Flowers ground into fine paste Itching,
Saraca asoca (Roxb.) boiled with coconut oil and eczema
76 Willd Asokam Tree Bark Oil applied externally cures and 0.03

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 itching, eczema and scabies. scabies.
Resin from bark applied for
Semecarpus Champar seven days to cure crack in
77 anacardium L. F. akai Tree Bark Resin legs. Crack foot 0.03
Leaf paste applied on the
affected area over the skin.
Senna alata (L.) Yanai Bath after one hour cures Leucoder
78 Roxb. thavarai Shrub Leaf Paste leucoderma. ma 0.04
Senna occidentalis Peythava Leaf paste is applied topically
79 (L.)Link rai Herb Leaf Paste on the skin to cure scabies. Scabies 0.1
Juice extracted from 50 gm
leaves is mixed with 20 ml
coconut milk . Two drops of
the pure filtered extract is
given orally to the new born
child cures all types of skin Skin
80 Senna tora (L.)Roxb. Thagarai Shrub Leaf Juice diseases. diseases 0.04
Strychnos nux- Young leaf buds ground into
vomica L. Kanchira fine paste applied topically Fungal
81 i Tree Fruit Paste cures fungal infection in head. infection 0.2
Chembar
ankai/Th Resin obtained from the bark
Strychnos potatorum etthamko applied topically over crack
82 L.f. ttai Tree Seeds Resin foot. Crack foot 0.02
Wood (100 g) boiled in
coconut oil . This oil is rubbed
83 Tectona grandis L.f. Thekku Tree Stem Oil over skin to cure eczema. Eczema 0.01
Kuravan
Kanda
mooli/ Leaves boiled with coconut oil.
Thottea siliquosa Kuttilai This oil is rubbed on the skin to
84 (Lam.) Ding Hou vianai Shrub Leaf Oil cure scabies. Scabies 0.05
Muriam Leaf paste is applied on the cut
Tridax procumbens pacchilla wounds for healing the
85 (L.) L. i Herb Leaf Paste wounds. Wounds 0.11
Ventilago Bark boiled with coconut oil .
maderaspatana Vembad The oil is rubbed on the skin to
86 Gaertn. an Liana Bark Oil cure scabies. Scabies 0.03
One drop of pure filtered
aqueous extract of leaves
applied to the tongue of new
born baby to cure all type of
Volkameria Chaghuk skin diseases in new born child. Skin
87 inermis L. upi Shrub Leaf Juice (Checappu) disease 0.04
Leaf ground into paste applied
topically over cut wounds and
Withania somnifera ( Ammukr also cures carbuncle (severe
88 L.) Dunal a Shrub Leaf Paste abscess). Carbuncle 0.12
Tender leaves (50 gm) are
boiled along with 50 ml
coconut oil, boil untill oil turns
black. This oil is applied over
Wrightia tinctoria skin for curing scabies (itching
89 R.Br. Vepalai Tree Leaf Oil and small raised red spots). Scabies 0.1
1. Leaf crushed into paste
applied topically over skin
cures itching 2. Leaves (100
gm) are boiled with 1 L
coconut oil. This oil is applied Itching,
90 Ziziphus rugosa Lam. Thoddali Herb Leaf Paste on the skin to cure scabies. scabies 0.07

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How to cite this article

J Celin Pappa Rani and S Jeeva, 2018. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of dermatological ailments
by the Kani tribe of Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamilnadu, India. Bioscience Discovery, 9(3):438-
447.

http://biosciencediscovery.com 447 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online)