Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Use of Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India

Murugan Shanmugam Meena, Alagar Jayakalaiarasi, Jesuraj Mariyaraj, Edwin Edward-Sam, Rathinavel Kanthasamy, Ganapathy Vanaraj and Subramanian Mutheeswaran
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Murugan Shanmugam Meena: National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Alagar Jayakalaiarasi: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Santhigiri Siddha Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, 695589, India
Jesuraj Mariyaraj: Department of Botany, Bishop Heber College, Trichy - 620017, Tamil Nadu, India
Edwin Edward-Sam: Department of Microbiology, Division of Virology & Molecular Biology, St. Peters Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India
Rathinavel Kanthasamy: Biologist, District Forest Office & Wildlife Warden, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
Ganapathy Vanaraj: Xavier Research Foundation, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
Subramanian Mutheeswaran: Xavier Research Foundation, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India

Inventum Biologicum: An International Journal of Biological Research, 2025, vol. 5, issue 1, 15-23

Abstract: This study investigates the traditional knowledge surrounding the use of wild edible and medicinal plants among traditional healers in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India. These healers play a crucial role in safeguarding and transmitting indigenous wisdom about local flora with therapeutic and nutritional applications. By employing methods such as structured interviews, participant observation, and field visits, the research catalogs the diversity of plant species, their preparation techniques, and utilization patterns. The findings underscore the richness of traditional knowledge and the indispensable role wild plants play in local healthcare and nutrition systems. This study also emphasizes the urgent need to preserve this heritage in the face of modern challenges, offering valuable insights for future research and promoting the sustainable use of plant resources.

Keywords: Traditional Healers; Wild Edible Plants; Medicinal Plants; Indigenous Knowledge; Sustainable Plant Resource (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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