A Survey on Ethnoveterinary Medicines used by the Tribal Peoples of Kalasapadi Hills, Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu

Objective: This study aims at providing a comprehensive documentation on ethanoveterinary plant knowledge of the tribal people in order to preserve the fost-eroding knowledge and resources of the kalasapadi hills, Pappireddipatti revenue Tk, Dharmapuri. Methods: Field work was conducted from 2015 2016. Moreover 36 informants were interviewed. First, successive oral free listing and semi interviews were performed. The veterinary diseases as described by the informants were categorized according to the symptoms they cause and the organs they affect. Information on the cited plants, informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL) was calculated based on use reports. Results: Utilization of 49 plant species 30 genera under 31 families, has been recorded against livestock ailments. Plant parts, such as leaf, root, flower, bark, resin, and rhizome, are used in the preparation. Among the plant parts, bark is predominately used. Most of the preparations parts of more than one plant as the ingredients, and many of such combined preparations are used for treating more than one ailment. Conclusion: According to the local people, the most often mentioned species have high medicinal potential. At the same time the comprehensive pharmacological investigations of the herbal plants will be helpful in development of new drugs for a particular condition. There is a need to conserve the | Volume – 1 | Issue – 5 | July-Aug 2017 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume Journal of Trend in Scientific and Development (IJTSRD) International Open Access Journal Meenakshi R, Rajkumar R, Selvam K of Life Sciences, Periyar University Salem, Tamil Nadu, India


Introduction:
India is rich in plant diversity and possesses almost 7% of the world's flowering plants. The Eastern Ghats of India are endowed with an extensively rich variety of biological species, geographical formations, and diverse ethnic tribes. Ethnomedicinal studies in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu have been carried out previously by a number of researchers [1,2]. There is abundant undocumented traditional knowledge of herbal remedies used to treat animal diseases in most cultures [3]. Indian therapeutic system adopted observations and rational procedures by the end of the Vedic eara. This led to the foundations of a new medicinal system known as Ayurveda. The knowledge formed the basis for veterinary medicine [4]. In India, ancient literature such as the Vedas, and other written scripuatures like Scand Puran (2350 BC), Cherak and shusrutha (2500 documented the treatment of animal disease by using medicinal plants [5,6] The uses of a protective ointment for human beings, cows and horses have been documented in the Atharva Veda (IV, 9,2) [7]. Traditional ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) prepared by humans, for the purposes of maintaining or India is rich in plant diversity and possesses almost ld's flowering plants. The Eastern Ghats of India are endowed with an extensively rich variety of biological species, geographical formations, and diverse ethnic tribes. Ethnomedicinal studies in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu have been carried out usly by a number of researchers [1,2]. There is abundant undocumented traditional knowledge of herbal remedies used to treat animal diseases in most cultures [3]. Indian therapeutic system adopted observations and rational procedures by the end of the ic eara. This led to the foundations of a new medicinal system known as Ayurveda. The knowledge formed the basis for veterinary medicine [4]. In India, ancient literature such as the Vedas, and other written scripuatures like Scand Puran (2350 and shusrutha (2500-600 BC), have long documented the treatment of animal disease by using medicinal plants [5,6] The uses of a protective ointment for human beings, cows and horses have been documented in the Atharva Veda (IV, 9,2) [7]. veterinary medicine (EVM) prepared by humans, for the purposes of maintaining or International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 @ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume -1 | Issue -5 | July-Aug 2017 Page: 1182 restoring animal health, plays a significant role in several regions of the world especially in areas where cattle is a major source of income for rural peoples [8]. In certain areas, these folk medical prescriptions are endemic and have survived throughout ages from one generation to the next throughout spiritual word of mouth. They do not exist as written knowledge. Indigenous people developed this knowledge through practical experience and skill to solve the problems that they faced on day to day activity [9,10]. The treatment of animal diseases often parallels the treatment of human illness, as do the fundamental concepts [11] and the similar therapeutic plants may be used for both, humans and animals [12]. Especially in mountainous and high elevation areas, cattle is very important for local economies, food and social security, and is often a symbol of prestige [13,14]. Livelihood strategies of rural people heavily depend on livestock farming, particularly in developing countries [15]. Livestock plays a vital role in (Indian) farmer's life. It gives manure, fuel, milk and meat, etc and also generates rural economy and rural employment. Farmers take care of their livestock using EVM. These medicines are cheaper than western drug [16,17]. According to [18], we also determined the frequency index (FI), informant consensus factor (ICF) of the ethno-veterinary diseases and use-value of the plant species. Cattle are considered as the wealth of the tribal people, and their well-being is considered to be very important [19]. As the tribal people are enriched with traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge, the forest resources in their surroundings play a very significant role in their routine life [20], and medicinal plants are the chief source for the primary health-care services of such rural population [21]. Ethno-veterinary medicine (EVM) is defined as the traditional animal healthcare which comprises the folk knowledge, believes, practices, skills, methods, and practices pertaining to health care of animals [22,23]. As the villagers around the globe are having limited access to modern medicine, they strictly depend on the traditional medicine for the health care of livestock. Regrettably, these practices are not properly documented and largely lost because they are passed on generation through verbal communication and dilution due to lack of observation and technical skills. EVM contributes in the management of animal diseases in a cost-effective manner but unfortunately research works, which prove the pharmaceutical efficiency of plants, have not been done so far, or a very little research work has been done [24]. It is an established fact that plants serve as potent medicines for curing various diseases of the tribal community as well as their livestock [25]. As 80% of populations from the developed countries are depend on traditional medicine prepared from the medicinal plants, it is necessary to investigate them for understanding their properties, safety, and their efficacy [26].  [28], their language has been formed by the place where they stayed [1]. The native people of the Kalrayans were called as Vedar (Hunter). The warriors belonging to Karalar community had invaded from Kanchipuram district and settled in Kalrayan hills. The mixed population of Karalar and Vedar communities presently called Malayali and they call themselves as malayala goundars [29]. Some of them are farmers and remaining People depend on works interrelated with agriculture and involved in livestock keeping, poultries, collection of honey, bee wax, and other minor forest products [30].

Data Collection
A systematic and extensive ethno veterinary medicine survey was carried out in Kalasapadi hills during Jan 2015 to March 2016 following the standard protocols for the collection of ethno-botanical data [31,32]. Ethno veterinary information and EVM importance of plants were collected from traditional healers, aged persons, and farmers having familiarity and knowledge with plants by following standard methods such as personal interviews, discussions, and field observations through regular field visits to various hamlets. The information on EVM was cross verified by the communication with traditional healers and other knowledgeable persons, elders, farmers, livestock owners, informants residing in nearby area. The plants of EVM interest were identified and verified with standard flora available [33,34] and the voucher specimens were deposited in Department of Botany, Periyar University, Salem. EVM plants enumerated according to the ailments cured in alphabetical sequence of the botanical name in each ailment with vernacular name followed by family, plant part used, mode of preparation, administration, and dosage required.

Data analysis
The informant or respondent consensus factor (FIC) ( Table. 3) was calculated to estimate user variability of medicinal plants [35,36]. FIC values range from 0.00 to 1.00. High FIC values are obtained when only one or a few plant species are reported to be used by a high proportion of informants to treat a particular ailment, whereas low FIC values indicate that informants disagree over which plant to use [35].
High FIC values can thus be used to pinpoint particularly interesting species for the search of bioactive compounds [36]. FIC is calculated using the following formula [37].Most frequently used plants for different ailment categories based on maximum FL (%) in each ailment category FL= Where Np = number of informants that claim a use of a plant species to treat a particular disease; N = number of informants that use the plants as a medicine to treat any given disease [31]. Informant consensus factor the informant consensus factor (FIC) was used to see if there was agreement in the use of plants in the ailment categories between the plant users in the study area. The Fic was calculated using the following formula [35]. Where Nur refers to the number of use-reports for a particular ailment category and Nt refers to the number of taxa used for aparticular ailment category by all informants. The product of this factor ranges from 0 to 1. A high value (close to 1.0) indicates that relatively few taxa are used by a large proportion of the informants. A low value indicates that the informants disagree on the taxa tobe used in the treatment within a category of illness. Where Nur is the number of individual plant use reports for a particular illness category, and Nt is the total number of species used by all informants for this illness category. The fidelity level (FL) The fidelity level (FL), the percentage of informants claiming the use of a certain plant for the same major purpose, was calculated for the most frequently reported and men, and among respondents [38]. The women learn from their mothers or fathers through routine observations while their fathers' teach the man, in addition to routine observations, since the traditional knowledge in the family or community is passed from male parent to his first-born son [39].

Categories of ailments and informant consensus factor (FIC) for each category
Where, Nur = number of use reports from informants for a particular plant-use category; Nt = number of taxa or species that are used for that plant use category for all informants.
The traditional knowledge of tribal communities of Kalasapadi, west part of the Kalrayan hills, Eastern Ghats of India had high ethno veterinary importance. rous plants and their various parts. Apart from the various plant parts, healers use certain animal products as the ingredients in the medicaments such as pig ghee, egg white yolk, cow dung, cow milk, goat milk, buttermilk, animal flesh, ne. Describes the plants used by its diseases followed by botanical name which it belongs to family name, traditional name, life form, parts use, other ingredients, route of administration, dosage and duration of treatment reparation and dosage by farmers, and validity scores as per prepared questionnaire. The present study revealed 49 plant species belonging to 30 genera and 31 families commonly (Table.1).
The plant species used are commonly available in the special role in veterinary medicine. Various animal conditions were identified in the study area. The present study highlights the EVM knowledge and practices found among the tribes of Kalasapadi hills of the study area. Through the discussion with the native people, we understand the population of cattle has been reduced in the study area. The main factor for this decrease is the profligate returns due to the low productivity and replacement of livestock in the agricultural practices by the machinery. Most of the tribes are aware of the traditional EVM system, but all of them are not practically using them. During the study, we came across the traditional knowledge of Kalasapadi hills on EVM.

Habit and habitat of medicinal plants
Nearly all of the medicinal plants ( Fig. 2) were collected from the wild (89%) and others were from dwelling gardens(11%), the habit of the medicinal plants indicated that most of them trees and shrubs dominate with (57.14%),species followed by herbs (26.53%), climbers (14.28%), and Prostrate herb (2.04%). knowledge and practices found among the tribes of Kalasapadi hills of the study area. Through the ative people, we understand the population of cattle has been reduced in the study area. The main factor for this decrease is the profligate returns due to the low productivity and replacement of livestock in the agricultural practices st of the tribes are aware of the traditional EVM system, but all of them are not practically using them. During the study, we came across the traditional knowledge of Malayali tribes of

Habit and habitat of medicinal plants
Nearly all of the medicinal plants (Fig. 2) were collected from the wild (89%) and others were from dwelling gardens(11%), the habit of the medicinal plants indicated that most of them trees and shrubs dominate with (57.14%),species followed by herbs 6.53%), climbers (14.28%), and Prostrate herb   Dysentery with blood 20 Mastitis 21 All ill health Problems

Plant parts used
The traditional healers of the Kalasapadi hills use various plant fruit, seeds, root, rhizome, whole plant, and by the Leaves predominates (22) all other parts followed by Barks (7), fruits (4), root (3), stem (17), entire plant and rhizome (8 in each), by-products of the plants (7), latex and tender parts (3 in each), flower and thorn (2 in each), and resin (1). In 12 preparations, more than one part of the same plant is used. (Fig. 5)

Mode of preparation and administration
As most of the traditional healers are illiterate, the knowledge on the mode of preparation and dosage of the drugs are learnt only through the long experience of the healer. For the EV health-care treatments, the native people use different methods of herbal preparations and administrations. Paste, juice, fresh parts as such and decoction are the methods commonly practiced in the study area for the preparation of EVM. In addition, some preparations include smoke or vapor forms through processing of materials by boiling, using plant soaking in water (Fig. 5). In some cases, more than one mode of preparations is also carried out.
Mode of administration also varies depends on the disease and materials used. In general, are administrated by following three types, external, and nasal. Oral administra The traditional healers of the Kalasapadi hills use various plant parts such as stem, leaf, bark, uit, seeds, root, rhizome, whole plant, and by-products of the plants for various medicaments. Utility value of the Leaves predominates (22) all other parts followed by Barks (7), fruits (4), root (3), stem (17), entire plant roducts of the plants (7), latex and tender parts (3 in each), flower and thorn (2 in each), and resin (1). In 12 preparations, more than one part of the same plant is used. (Fig. 5)

Fig 4: plants parts used by traditional healers on and administration
As most of the traditional healers are illiterate, the knowledge on the mode of preparation and dosage of the drugs are learnt only through the long experience care treatments, the fferent methods of herbal preparations and administrations. Paste, juice, fresh parts as such and decoction are the methods commonly practiced in the study area for the preparation of EVM. In addition, some preparations include smoke or vapor forms through fumigation, processing of materials by boiling, using plant oils or ). In some cases, more than one mode of preparations is also carried out.
Mode of administration also varies depends on the the medicines following three types, viz., oral, external, and nasal. Oral administration is predominately used in preparations external applications (52 preparations), which include administration in eyes, ears, and fumigation process. ectoparasites, cattle sheds are fumigated regularly with dried and fresh foliages to reduce the insect pests such as ticks, mites, flies, and mosquitoes. In three preparations, both oral and external are carried out and in two spiritual aspects herbal plants or preparations are not administered in any of the three modes. In the case of treating " materials are taken along with all ingredients in small quantities and pounded in Kal Ural The paste material of an orange size is taken in a white cloth, and this preparation is dipped in urine of children below 10 years of age kept in a cup or tumbler. In the unavailability of urine, hot water is also used. However, urine is preferred for the effective treatment. parts such as stem, leaf, bark, latex, oil, resin, products of the plants for various medicaments. Utility value of the Leaves predominates (22) all other parts followed by Barks (7), fruits (4), root (3), stem (17), entire plant roducts of the plants (7), latex and tender parts (3 in each), flower and thorn (2 in each), and resin (1). In 12 preparations, more than one part of the same plant is used. (Fig. 5) in preparations followed by external applications (52 preparations), which include administration in eyes, ears, othadam (fomentation), process. For the control of ectoparasites, cattle sheds are fumigated regularly with dried and fresh foliages to reduce the insect pests such as ticks, mites, flies, and mosquitoes. In three preparations, both oral and external administrations are carried out and in two spiritual aspects herbal plants or preparations are not administered in any of In the case of treating "Kunthu," materials are taken along with all ingredients in small Kal Ural (stone mortar). The paste material of an orange size is taken in a white cloth, and this preparation is dipped in urine of children below 10 years of age kept in a cup or tumbler. In the unavailability of urine, hot water is ine is preferred for the effective treatment. Then, the preparation is taken up

Leaf petiole
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456 @ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com from the cup and extract oozing from the preparation through the cloth is administered as drops in ears, eyes, and nostrils for three times in both sides. Finally, solid material remained in the cloth is administered orally. It is done in early hours or in the evening hours only. This entire process is called as "Nasiam vetuthal," and it is continued for 2 up to cure. In some health problems, the herbal treatment is connected with spiritual aspects. For the processing of the herbal materials, they are using mud pots only and during the preparation, they never keep the utensils or medicinal plants directly in the ground. They hope that this practice may reduce the effica of the drug. Some of the preparations are carried out only in specific days such as Tuesdays, Sundays, or in Amavasai (no moon days) and can be used after 6 months only. For the treatment of udder inflammations, bloating, poison bites, and throat swellings, certain plants are used for the purpose of chanting sacred words to recover from ill health by holding the plant parts by the healers and this process is known as "Paadam Poduthal" (Chanting to recover from ill health). In 1 L of boiled juice, from the cup and extract oozing from the preparation through the cloth is administered as drops in ears, eyes, and nostrils for three times in both sides.
al remained in the cloth is administered orally. It is done in early hours or in the evening hours only. This entire process is called as and it is continued for 2-3 days or health problems, the herbal nnected with spiritual aspects. For the processing of the herbal materials, they are using mud pots only and during the preparation, they never keep the utensils or medicinal plants directly in the ground. They hope that this practice may reduce the efficacy of the drug. Some of the preparations are carried out only in specific days such as Tuesdays, Sundays, or in (no moon days) and can be used after 6 For the treatment of udder inflammations, bloating, poison bites, and throat ngs, certain plants are used for the purpose of chanting sacred words to recover from ill health by holding the plant parts by the healers and this process " (Chanting Manthra In 1 L of boiled juice, about 500 g of Eleasine coracana mixed well while care must be taken to avoid the formation of any solid material. This preparation is boiled for 15 minutes until it becomes gel. This processed material is allowed to cool down and it i directly applied at bearable heat on the sprain area and left for 3 days without washing. It will be followed for 3 to 5 times at 3 days of interval. can be followed to cure rheumatic swelling beings also. For the treatment o Artocarpus hirsutus bark powder is also used instead of E. coracana in another preparation various ill health problems, they are protecting their mobile wealth through some general health management practices such as pos animals, protection from ecto infections, laziness in feeding, low lactation problems, use of antiseptics, and care for insect bites. For the post-natal care, they treat animals consecutively from 2 to 21 days after delivery. The details of plants used for the treatment of various EV ailments, their preparations, administration, and dosages are given in (Table 2). coracana .flour is added and mixed well while care must be taken to avoid the formation of any solid material. This preparation is boiled for 15 minutes until it becomes gel. This processed material is allowed to cool down and it is directly applied at bearable heat on the sprain area and left for 3 days without washing. It will be followed for 3 to 5 times at 3 days of interval. The same procedure can be followed to cure rheumatic swellings in human treatment of the same disease, bark powder is also used instead preparation. Apart from the various ill health problems, they are protecting their mobile wealth through some general health management practices such as post-natal care of animals, protection from ecto-and endo-parasitic infections, laziness in feeding, low lactation problems, use of antiseptics, and care for insect bites. For the natal care, they treat animals consecutively from The details of plants used for the treatment of various EV ailments, their preparations, administration, and dosages are given in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 @ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume -1 | Issue -5 | July-Aug 2017 Page: 1194

Preservatives
Due to the seasonal availability of certain plants, there are some limitations in the practice of EVM. For which, traditional healers are preserving the preparations using certain preservatives, or they follow some procedures to preserve them for offseason uses. For the preservation of their preparations, the healers are using six plant species as ingredients, namely, Allium sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Papaver somniferum and Piper nigrum. These plants are used as ingredients, both for their medicinal values and also for their preservative properties. These plants can be gathered from wild or collected from cultivation. Preparation of herbal drugs in no moon days or in fresh mud pots are notable preservative procedures. Some of the preparations include "Saaru sakkarai" (cooking salt) as one of the ingredients for its preservative property, and the healer will not say the common word "Uppu" for cooking salt. It is concerned with the spiritual aspects.

DISCUSSION
Livestock increasing is the root of the traditional culture in the Kalasapai hills since centuries. The combination of various parts of more than 24 plants along with some preservatives is used for a single preparation in Kalasapadi hills for the treatment of more than one disease, particularly for the treatment of health infection related with "Kunthu." They hope that those combined preparations will recover the efficacy of the medicine. In the current study, 49 species of ethnoveterinary importance were recorded. There was considerable indigenous plant use knowledge among the traditional medicine practitioners of the study area. The results revealed that older traditional medicine practitioners know and use more number of EVM species than younger ones. This may indicate that the indigenous knowledge is declining among the younger generation, but could be attributed to the fact that traditional healers are reluctant to share knowledge or healing practices. This finding is in line with the work done on Mapuche community of Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, by [40]. The study also revealed that 47% of the respondents combine more than one plant in the preparation of medicines. Plant combinations may have a synergistic effect, and could result in more effective treatment of a wider range of worms and their effects. Some (33%) of the respondents mixed plant extracts with non plant materials such as potassium permanganate, copper sulfate, Epsom salts and

CONCLUSION
The traditional culture and indigenous knowledge of tribal in Kalasapadi hills Malayali tribal communities of the study area and they are well experienced in the administration of local herbs for the treatment of veterinary ailments. These plants are widespread, low cost and easily accessible at the time of requirement. But the practice of herbal medicine is being utilized by few "Vaidhyars" and elderly people only. It is concluded that the healthcare system of Malayali tribe of Kalasapadi hills, traditionally depends on herbal practices for their ailments. Moreover, elders and traditional healers have rich knowledge on herbal wealth. The traditional knowledge of the healers helped us in the documentation of the ethnobotanical information. Hence, the documentation of traditional knowledge will help in the field of herbal research and inventory of new therapeutic plants for a particular therapeutic effect. At the same time the comprehensive pharmacological investigations of the herbal plants will be helpful in development of new drugs for a particular condition.