Table 1.
Medicinal plants used by traditional healers from Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu
| Botanical Name, Voucher Specimen Number and Family | Local Name (Tamil) | Method of preparation and Medicinal uses |
| Acanthaceae | ||
| Adhatoda vasica Nees (T464) | Adathodai | Leaves are ground with the flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and taken orally to treat asthma. |
| Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wallich ex Nees (T465) | Nilavembu | Leaf paste is applied topically at the bitten site of snake, beetle and scorpion. Powdered leaf is mixed with cow or goat's milk and taken orally to treat diabetes. |
| Asystasia gangetica (L.) T.Anderson (T224) | Valukkai keerai | Leaf powder is mixed with coconut oil and applied topically to heal wounds (burns). |
| Aizoaceae | ||
| Trianthema portulacastrum L. (T466) | Saaranai | Decoction of roots is taken internally to treat Constipation and asthma. |
| Amaranthaceae | ||
| Achyranthes aspera L. (T65) | Naayuruvi | Leaf paste is applied topically to treat cuts and Wounds. |
| Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.Ex Schult. (T412) | Siru peelai | Juice of whole plant is taken orally to treat cough, sore throat and wounds. |
| Anacardiaceae | ||
| Mangifera indica L. (T472) | Maamaram | The latex from leaf and stem bark is used to treat heel cracks. |
| Odina wodier Roxb. Fl. (T475) | Uthiyam, Odimaram | Juice of leaves is taken orally to prevent white discharge in women. |
| Annonaceae | ||
| Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites. (T490) | Nettilingam | Juice extracted from the fresh stem bark is taken orally to treat indigestion. |
| Apocynaceae | ||
| Catharanthus roseus G. Don. (T474) | Nithyakalyani | Whole plant is powdered and mixed with cow's milk and taken orally to treat diabetes. |
| Nerium oleander Sol. (T481) | Arali | Juice prepared from the stem bark is boiled with gingelly oil and two drops are poured into ear to treat ear pain. |
| Rauwolfia tetraphylla Linn. (T354) | Nagamani | Paste of the whole plant is mixed with castor oil and applied topically to treat skin diseases. |
| Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. (T355) | Veppalai | Juice of seeds taken orally to treat indigestion. |
| Araceae | ||
| Acorus calamus L. (T476) | Vasambu | Dried rhizome is ground in water and the paste is given orally to children for clarity of speech. |
| Asclepiadaceae | ||
| Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. (T225) | Sirukurinchan | Leaf powder is mixed with cow's milk and taken orally to treat diabetes. The root powder is taken orally and also applied on the bitten spot to treat snake bite. |
| Hemidesmus indicus Linn. R. Br.Muell. (T237) | Nannari | Juice extracted from the whole plant is taken Internally to keep the body cool. |
| Wattakaka volubilis Cooke. (T298) | Kurinjan | Leaf paste is applied topically to treat rheumatic pain, cough, fever and severe cold. |
| Asteraceae | ||
| Eclipta prostrata L. (T334) | Karisalanganni | Leaf powder is mixed with coconut oil & applied on the hair regularly for healthy and black hair. |
| Sphaeranthus indicus L. (T501) | Kottaikkarantai | Leaf, flower and seeds are ground into paste and applied topically to treat skin diseases and piles. |
| Tridax procumbens L. (T10) | Vettukayapundu | Leaf paste is applied topically on cuts and wounds |
| Boraginaceae | ||
| Coldenia procumbens L. (T19) | Cheruppadai | Juice of leaf is taken orally to prevent white discharge in women. |
| Heliotropium indicum L. (T498) | Thelkodukku | Paste of whole plant is applied topically to treat wounds and skin affections. |
| Caesalpiniaceae | ||
| Cassia absus L. (T477) | Karunaikanam | Seeds are ground into paste and applied topically to treat skin diseases and headache. |
| Cassia auriculata L. (T24) | Aavarai | Flowers are crushed and mixed with goat's milk and taken orally to prevent white discharge in women. |
| Cassia occidentalis L. (T497) | Peithagarai | Leaf paste is applied topically to treat scabies and to heal bone fractures. |
| Tamarindus indica L. (T100) | Puliya maram | Dried fruits are taken orally to treat eye infections. |
| Capparaceae | ||
| Capparis zeylanica L. (T395) | Kathotti | Root bark is ground with water, boiled and taken orally to treat indigestion. |
| Cleome viscosa L. (T78) | Naikadugu, | Leaf paste is applied topically to heal wounds. |
| Combretaceae | ||
| Terminalia arjuna Roxb.Ex. Dc Wight & Arn. (T478) | Marutha maram, Arjuna maram | Fruit paste is applied topically on wounds. Bark powder is boiled with water and inhaled to cure headache to kill worms in teeth. |
| Convolvulaceae | ||
| Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.) Hall.f. (T479) | Elikkadilai | Decoction of the whole plant is taken internally to treat stomach problems. |
| Cucurbitaceae | ||
| Coccinia grandis (L.) J. Voigt. (T226) | Kovai | Leaf Juice is mixed with butter and applied topically to treat skin diseases. |
| Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Roemer (T324) | Musumusukai | Leaf powder is mixed with boiled rice and taken orally to treat cold and cough. |
| Cyperaceae | ||
| Cyperus rotundus L. (T480) | Korai, Muthakkasu | Paste of dried tuber is applied on breast of women to secrete more milk and applied topically on bitten site of scorpion. |
| Euphorbiaceae | ||
| Acalypha indica L. (T496) | Kuppaimeni | Leaf paste is applied topically to treat skin diseases. |
| Euphorbia antiquorum Linn (T481) | Sathurakkalli | Dried latex is taken internally in low dose to help free motion. |
| Euphorbia hirta L. (T104) | Amman pacharisi | The milky latex is applied topically to treat wounds and lip cracks. |
| Euphorbia tirucalli L. (T495) | Kodikalli | The stem is boiled with water and given to children to treat skin diseases. |
| Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thnn. (T482) | Keezhanelli | Fresh leaves are ground and mixed with a cup of cow or goat's milk and taken internally to cure jaundice. |
| Phyllanthus emblica L. (T494) | Nelli | Fruit powder is mixed with cow's or goat's milk and taken orally to treat cold and cough. |
| Ricinus communis L. (T502) | Amanakku | The leaf juice is taken orally or washed leaves are tied on the breast to increase secretion of milk in women. The oil prepared from the seeds is applied on lower stomach to get relief from stomachache. |
| Fabaceae | ||
| Abrus precatorius Linn. (T03) | Kundumani | Root powder is taken orally along with cow's milk to treat scorpion sting and snakebite. |
| Clitoria ternatea L. (T206) | Sangu Pushpam | Root powder is mixed with water and taken orally to treat indigestion, eye diseases and headache. |
| Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre.(T503) | Punga maram | Juice of root is mixed with equal amount of coconut milk, boiled and applied topically to cure wound and gastric trouble. |
| Lamiaceae | ||
| Coleus aromaticus Benth. (T483) | Karpuravalli | Leaf juice is taken orally by children to treat Indigestion and cough. |
| Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link. (T66) | Thumbai | A bunch of leaves is boiled and the vapour is inhaled to cure head ache and fever. |
| Ocimum sanctum L. (T504) | Thulasi, Tulsi | Leaves are crushed with onion bulbs and the juice is taken orally to treat cough, cold and headache. |
| Lauraceae | ||
| Cinnamomum verum Presl. (T493) | Lavangappattai, Karuvappatttai | Decoction of stem bark is taken internally to treat cough, dysentery and to keep the body cool. |
| Liliaceae | ||
| Aloe vera L. (T484) | Sothukathalai | Sap mixed with oil is heated and the mixture is applied on hair for hair growth and good sleep. |
| Sanservieria roxburghiana Schult. (T505) | Marul | Juice of warmed leaf is poured into ear to treat ear pain. |
| Lythraceae | ||
| Lawsonia inermis L. (T492) | Maruthani | Leaf powder is mixed with coconut oil and applied topically to treat cuts and wounds. |
| Malvaceae | ||
| Abutilon indicum L. (T485) | Thuthi | Leaf juice and root are taken orally to treat dental problems. |
| Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (T506) | Semparuthi | Paste of fresh leaves is applied on the hair for healthy and black hair. |
| Sida acuta Burn. (T491) | Arival manai poondu | Leaf paste is applied topically to heal cuts, wounds and to get relief from headache. |
| Meliaceae | ||
| Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (T552) | Vembu | Leaf paste is applied topically on the body to treat small pox, rheumatism and skin diseases. The young twigs are used as toothbrush to develop strong teeth. |
| Menispermaceae | ||
| Tinospora cordifolia Miers. (T523) | Seendil | Leaf paste is applied topically to treat wounds. |
| Mimosaceae | ||
| Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. (T490) | Velvelamaram | Paste of fresh stem bark is applied topically to treat cuts and wounds. |
| Mimosa pudica L.(T238) | Thottasurungi | Pinch of leaf paste is applied topically to treat cuts and wounds. |
| Moraceae | ||
| Ficus benghalensis L. (T551) | Alamaram | Stem latex is applied topically on heel cracks. Young stem is used as tooth brush. |
| Ficus racemosa L. (T 486) | Athi maram | Stem latex is applied topically to treat heel cracks. |
| Ficus religiosa L. (T550) | Arasu | Dried leaf powder is mixed with water and takenorally to get relief from body pain. |
| Moringaceae | ||
| Moringa oleifera Lam. (T511) | Murangai | The leaf is taken as food and it reduces body heat and to treat indigestion and eye diseases. Flower is taken as food and it gives chillness to Eyes and increases sperm production in men. |
| Myrtaceae | ||
| Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (T489) | Naval maram | Paste of stem bark is applied topically to treat swellings. The ripe fresh fruits are taken orally to reduce body heat. |
| Nyctaginaceae | ||
| Boerhaavia diffusa L. (T522) | Mookaratai | Root paste is applied topically to treat Hydrocele. |
| Poaceae | ||
| Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. (T487) | Arugampullu | Decoction of whole plant is taken orally to keep the body cool. |
| Rhamnaceae | ||
| Zizyphus mauritiana Lam.(T401) | Ilandai | Leaf and bark decoction is boiled and it is used to take bath to treat severe body pain. Dried bark powder is applied topically to treat wounds. |
| Rubiaceae | ||
| Morinda tinctoria Roxb. (T511) | Nuna, Manjanathi | Leaf juice is given orally to children before food for easy digestion. |
| Oldenlandia umbellata L. (T585) | Siruver, Sayaver | The root paste is applied topically to arrest bleeding. |
| Spermacoce hispida L (T591) | Nathaichuri | The seeds are crushed into paste and taken orally to treat stomach problems. |
| Rutaceae | ||
| Aegle marmelos Corr.ex.Roxb (T561) | Vilvam | Leaf paste is applied topically to heal wounds. |
| Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle. L. (T534) | Elumitchai | Decoction of leaves is inhaled to get relief from fever, headache and cold. |
| Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel (T561) | Karuveppilai; Kari-vembu | Juice of tender leaves is taken orally to arrest vomiting. |
| Sapindaceae | ||
| Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (T549) | Mudakkathan | Root is boiled with oil and applied on head before bath to treat throat infection and headache. |
| Solanaceae | ||
| Datura metel L.(T535) | Oomathai | Few drops of leaf juice is poured into ear to treat earache. |
| Solanum nigrum L. (T526) | Manathakkali | Whole plant parts are taken as food to treat cough. |
| Solanum torvum Sw. (T527) | Sundaikkai | Leaf juice is taken orally to reduce body heat. |
| Solanum trilobatum L. (T558) | Thuthuvalai | Unripe fruits are prepared as curry or roasted in gingelly oil and taken orally along with food to strengthen the body. The leaf juice is taken orally to treat cough and itching. |
| Sterculiaceae | ||
| Melochia corchorifolia L. (T110) | Punnakku chedi | Boiled leaf is taken as food to help in free motion. |
| Verbenaceae | ||
| Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn (T181) | Piei nari sangu | Leaf is ground in water and the juice is taken orally to treat fever. |
| Lantana camara L. (T14) | Unni chedi | A handful of flower is ground with coconut oil and applied topically on the head to get relief from headache. |
| Lippia nodiflora Mich. (T560) | Poduthalai | Paste of leaves is applied topically to treat swellings and wounds. |
| Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Vahl. (T515) | Seemainayuruvi | Paste of stem and root bark is applied topically to treat dysentery. |
| Vitex negundo L. (T372) | Notchi | Leaves are boiled in water and the vapour is inhaled twice a day to get relief from headache, fever, cold, and cough. |
| Violaceae | ||
| Hybanthus enneaspermus F. Muell (T520) | Orithal thamarai | Paste of whole plant is applied topically to treat cough. |
| Vitaceae | ||
| Cissus quadrangularis L. (T444) | Pirandai | Paste of stem is taken orally for easy digestion. |
| Zygophyllaceae | ||
| Tribulus terrestris L. (T567) | Nerunchimul | The fruit and root are mixed with boiled raw rice, taken orally to prevent white discharge in women and to treat urinary troubles. |