Field Survey of Medicinal plants in Vembathur Village, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long played an important role in the traditional
healthcare. where indigenous knowledge passed down through generations.
The present study to documented the diversity and ethnomedicinal uses of
plants in Vembathur Village, Thovalai Block, Kanyakumari District, Tamil
Nadu, India. Systematic field surveys, direct observation and interviews with
local residents and traditional healers, were collected and identified using
standard floras. A total of 124 medicinal plant species belonging to 105 genera
and 53 families were recorded, with herb being dominated, followed by trees,
shrubs, and climbers. Fabaceae was the most represented family, while Leaves
were the most frequently utilized plant part. The documented species were
used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments, including dermatological,
gastrointestinal, and respiratory disorders. The study also indicated a decline
in certain species due to anthropogenic pressures and habitat degradation,
highlighting the need for systematic documentation, conservation, and
sustainable utilization of medicinal plant resources.