Open AccessPotential Medicinal Plants used in Ayurvedic System of Medicine and their diversity in Southern Western Ghats of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India
Author(s) -
R Murugeswaran,
A. Rajendran,
Kabiruddin Ahamed,
Arunachalam Chinnathambi,
K. Venkatesan,
Benjamin Thomas
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of ayurvedic and herbal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2454-5023
DOI - 10.31254/jahm.2016.2409
Subject(s) - tamil , traditional medicine , terminology , diversity (politics) , germplasm , ayurvedic medicine , traditional knowledge , ethnobotany , geography , agroforestry , medicinal plants , medicine , social science , biology , botany , ecology , sociology , anthropology , literature , art , linguistics , philosophy , indigenous
The origin of Ayurveda or the Indian science of life is linked with the origin of Universe and developed from out of the various Vedic hymns describing fundamentals, philosophies about the world and life, diseases and medicines. Around 1000 BC, the knowledge of Ayurveda was comprehensively documented in Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. In the present study 197 plant species are identified which are used in the Ayurvedic system and discussed their utilization and the related areas such as Ayurvedic terminology, curative diseases and diversity status etc. Those plants which are falls in the category ofvulnerable, rare and endangered are recommended for germplasm collection and to take up cultivation and propagation activities through modern agronomical techniques. Further the extensive field studies may also help to the discovery of new plant species used in the Ayurveda system of medicine for the betterment of health care needs.