title: An ethnobotanical study of indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the village peoples of Thoppampatti, Dindigul district, Tamilnadu, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study provides significant ethnopharmacological information, both qualitative and quantitative on medicinal plants in the Thoppampatti village, Dindigul district, Tamilnadu, India. There is urgency in recording such data to conserve the traditional medicinal plants. This is the first ethnobotanical study which records the traditional important medicinal plants of Thoppampatti village. To collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnopharmacologic knowledge in Thoppampatti village in order to protect it. This study reports the results of an ethnopharmacological survey on the uses of medicinal plants by inhabitants of the Thoppampatti.
  
  
  METHODS
  The field study was carried out in a period of about one year (April 2012-May 2013) in Thoppampatti village. The information was obtained through open and semi-structured interviews with 48 (27 males, 21 females) knowledgeable local people and traditional healers (THs). The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, use value (UV), relative importance (RI) and Jaccard index (JI) was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 139 species of plants, mostly trees and herbs, belonging to 54 families were identified in this study. This is used to treat 142 diseases and ailments. These ailments were categorized into 18 major categories. Leaves were the most frequently used parts, while decoction and juice are the most common method of preparation to treat various diseases. Based on IUCN Red data the identified medicinal plants include 11 least concerned species, 3 vulnerable species and one endangered species. The most important species according to their use value were Cynodon dactylon (0.79), Azadirachta indica (0.73), Ocimum tenuiflorum (0.71), Moringa oleifera (0.68), Coriandrum sativum (0.62), Abelmoschus esculentus (0.61), Acalypha indica (0.59) and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (0.59).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of the present study, medicinal plants play an important role in the health care of Thoppampatti village inhabitants; they rely on medicinal plants to treat various ailments. In addition, the medicinal plants with high RI values might give some useful leads for further pharmacological investigations. Deforestation and overexploitation of a particular plant species leads to extinction so sustainable utilization of medicinal plants is recommended in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram 624302, Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India. Electronic address: birundhashankari@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Balayogan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sivasankari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram 624302, Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India. Electronic address: anandharaj49@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marimuthu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anandharaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram 624302, Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Perumal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gunasekaran
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019448:Ethnobotany / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
keywords: Conservation; Doxorubicin hydrochloride (PubChem CID: 443939); Ethnobotony; Medicinal Plants; Thoppampatti; Traditional medicine