Ethnomedicinal importance of Mangrove species of Pitchavaram

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences ISSN: 2229-3701
_____________________________________________Research Article
Ethnomedicinal importance of Mangrove species of Pitchavaram
Prabhakaran J 1 and Kavitha D 2
1
Botany Wing –DDE, Annamalai University, Annamlai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
2
Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamlai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
__________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Mangroves are world’s most productive ecosystems and support genetically diverse community of terrestrial
and aquatic flora and fauna. They provide innumerable direct and indirect benefits to human beings. The
ethnobotanical informations of true mangroves and mangrove associates were collected from the surrounding
villages of mangrove forest of Pitchavaram, Tamil Nadu. The medicinal uses of twelve species of true
mangroves and six species of mangrove associates were recorded from the present study. All the species
documented in this study being used for treating number of diseases like, flatulence; epilepsy, small pox,
asthma, diabetes, rheumatism, stomach pains, fevers, malaria, cholera. hepatitis etc. The collected
informations were discussed with previous authentic report on antimicrobial activities of mangroves.
Key Words: Ethnomedicinal values, true mangrove,mangrove associates, Pitchavaram.
INTRODUCTION
Mangroves is an ecological term referring to a
taxonomically diverse assemblage of trees and
shrubs that form the dominant plant communities in
tidal, saline wetlands along sheltered tropical and
subtropical coasts. Economically, mangroves are a
great source of timber, poles, thatch and fuel, and
the bark is used for tanning materials; some species
have food or medicinal value (Hamilton and
Murphy, 1988). Mangroves have long been a
source of astonishment for the layman and of
interest for scientist. Mangroves are biochemically
unique, producing a wide array of novel natural
products. Substances in mangroves have long been
used in folk medicine to treat diseases
(Bandaranayake, 1998).
The medicinal properties of mangrove trees
provide a wide domain for medical uses; most yet
to be explored. Nature’s Nurse, Healing properties
are attributed to Rhizophora trees in popular/folk
medicine. Root, leaf and stem extracts of
Rhizophora trees have inhibitory properties,
affecting the growth of various human pathogenic
organisms. Among these are bacteria, fungi and
viruses (Hernandez and Perez, 1978). A physician
in Cali, Colombia, reported to cure throat cancer,
with gargles of mangrove bark (Garcia-Barriga,
1975). Bark of red mangrove trees have been used
in folk remedy for a wide array of diseases (Duke
and Wain, 1981;Morton, 1981). Hence the survey
has been made to document the ethnobotanical
values of mangrove plants in Pitchavaram
mangrove forest,Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Periodical Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted
during February-2010- December -2010 in
villagers and inhabitant of Pitchavaram Mangrove
region for recording first hand information
regarding the medicinal properties of mangrove
plants in the area. The priority has been given to
the elder peoples in the study area for collecting
conventional knowledge about the medicinal uses
of mangrove plants. The collected information was
cross checked with the help of available literature.
The plant species were identified with the help of
regional and local floras (Hooker, 1897; Gamble,
1967;) The method of collection of mangrove
plants, their preservation herbaria and technique for
the collection of ethnomedicobotanical information
followed by the method of Jain and Rao (1977).
The collected informations were discussed with
previous authentic report on antimicrobial activities
of mangroves.
Description of Pitchavaram Mangrove forest
Pichavaram is situated in the southeast coast of
India in the Tamil Nadu State. It is located at about
225 km south of Chennai and 12 km north east of
Chidambaram, (Annamalai Nagar)Cuddalore
district, Tamil Nadu, between latitude 11°20' to
11°30' north and longitudes 79°45' to 79°55' east. It
is an estuarine mangrove situated at the confluence
of Uppanar, a tributary of the Coleroon River.
Fishing villages, croplands, and Aquaculture ponds
surround the area. The mangrove wetland occupies
only 1100 ha. comprising the entire mangrove
vegetation located in the middle portion of the
Vellar-Pichavaram-Coleroon wetland. In India
there are 59 species of mangroves under 41 genera
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International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences ISSN: 2229-3701
and 20 families. In Tamil Nadu mangrove
vegetation is mainly seen in Pichavaram. In Tamil
Nadu there are 22 species of mangroves under 16
genera and 13 families particularly in Pitchsvaram
a total number of 12 true mangrove plant species
are present in mangrove wetland (MSSRF,2004).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The collected ethanaobotanical informations of true
mangrove species of Pitchavaram are .1)Acanthus
ilicifolius L. (Acanthaceae; tamil name-Neermulli)-
used for reducing the poison Snakebite, skin
diseases, Kidney stone, smallpox and ulcer:
2). Aegiceras corniculatum (L.)
Blanco.(Myrsinaceae;Tamil.Name- Narikkandal) -
cure for asthma, diabetes, rheumatism, and as a fish
poison,;3)Avicennia marina (Forsk.)Vierh.
(Avicenniaceae; tamil name-Venkandal)(Leaves)-
treatment of rheumatism, small pox, ulcers, fodder
for livestock; 4).Avicennia officinalis
L.(Avicenniaceae; tamil name-
Karunkanthal)(Leaves)-to treat Smallpox, joint
pain, urinary disorders, bronchial asthma, stomach
disorders, as an aphrodisiac, diuretic,cure for
hepatitis, leprosy,;
5).Bruguiera
Cylindrica L.Blume. (Rhizophoraceae; tamilname-
Pannikuchi)- treatment of hepatitis,;6).Ceriops
decandra (Griff.) Ding Hou.(Rhizophoracea; tamil
name -Cirukandal)- cure for hepatitis,
ulcers,;7).Excoecaria agallocha L.(Euphorbiaceae;
tamil name-Thillai chedi)-as an uterotonic,
purgative, treatment of epilepsy, conjunctivitis,
dermatitis, haematuria, leprosy, toothache, as a
piscicide, dart poison, and a skin irritant, Swelling
hands and feet; flatulence; epilepsy,
antiinflammation,;8).Lumnitzera racemosa
Willd.(Combretaceae; tamil name-Thipparathi)-
antifertility, treatment of asthma, diabetes,
snakebite,;9)Rhizophora apiculata Blume.
(Rhizophoraceae;tamilname-Surapunnai)-
astringent for diarrhoea, treatment of nausea,
vomiting, typhoid, hepatitis, an
antiseptic,insecticide
and
amoebiasis.;10).Rhizophora
mucronata
Lamk.(Rhizophoraceae; tamil name-Surapunnai))
leaves- treatment of elephantiasis, haematoma,
hepatitis, ulcers, and a febrifuge, Bark-powerful
astringent useful in diabetics, hemorrhage,; 11).
Rhizophora lamarckii Mart. (Rhizophoraceae tamil
name-Surapunnai) leaves-hepatitis,12).Xylocarpus
granatum Pierre.(Meliaceae; tamil name –
Somundhiri)-bark-treat fevers, malaria, cholera.
The ethnobotanical values of mangrove associates
are 13.) Clerodendron inerme
Gaertn.(Verbinaceae)(Leaves)-as a febrifugal and
uterine stimulant, a pest control agent and
antiseptic, to arrest bleeding, treatment of asthma,
hepatitis,
ringworm, stomach
pains,;14).Ipomea pescapraeL.-(Convolvulaceae)
(Leaves and
seeds)- treat
headache, jellyfish sting, causes dermatitis,;
15).Salicorniabrachiata Roxb.(Chenapodiaceae;
tamil name-Kozhikal)–Leaves and stem- treat
hepatitis,; 16).Sessuvivum portulacastrum
L.(Aizoaceae; tamil name-Vangaravaasi) treatment
of kidney diseases and fever 17). Sonneratia
apetala- leaves-hepatitis 18).Suaeda maritima (L.)
Dum.. (Chenapodiaceae; tamil name-Umiri) leaves
treat –hepatitis.
According to Bandaranayake (1998) a wide range
of activities has been described to A.ilicifo[ius, in
treatment of paralysis, asthma, diabetes,
rheumatism, possessing Analgesic and antiinflammatory
dyspepsia, hepatitis, leprosy,
neuralgia, paralysis, ringworms, skin diseases,
snake bites and stomach pains, (Agshikar, et al.
1979). It also acts as diureticum, blood purifier and
hair preservative. In "Ihai traditional medicine, the
plant is used for purgative and anti-inflammatory
purposes, while the leaves dispensed with pepper
(Piper nigrurn L.) are employed in tonic pills for
longevity. The plants are also used to treat kidney
stones. (Sangdee,1986). In China and Thailand
,where A. illicifolius is used against cancer
(Graham,et al., 2000). The crude alcoholic extract
of its leaves showed antioxidant, hepatoprotective,
antitumour and anticarcinogenic effects (Babu et
al. 2002). Sonneratia caseolaris, traditionally used
as an astringent and antiseptic, sprain poultices, in
treating piles and in arresting hemorrhage
(Bandaranayake,1998).
A number of mangroves and associates contain
poisonous substances, which also shows biological
activities such as antifungal, antibacterial,
antifeedant, molluscicidal, and pesticidal properties
(Kokpol,1984). Mangrove plants are a rich source
of steroids, triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids,
alkaloids, tannins (Bandaranayake,1995,2002).
Extracts from different mangrove plants are
reported to possess diverse medicinal properties
such as antibacterial, anthelmintic
(Bandaranayake,1988). The mature leaves and bark
extract of A. marina, A. officinalis, B. sexangula, E.
agallocha, L. racemosa and R. apiculata exhibited
more inhibition of S.aureus and Proteus sp.
(Abeysinghe,2010).
Premanathan et al. (1999) reported that the
polysaccharide extracted from the leaf of
Rhizophora apiculata (designated as RAP)
inhibited HIV-1 or HIV-2 or SIV strains in various
cell cultures and assay systems. Alarcon-Aguilara
et al. (1998) reported that extracts of Rhizophora
mangle had anti-diabetic and anti-hyperglycemic
property.
Acanthus illicifolius, Avicennia marina and
Exoecaria agallocha showed significant analgesic
activity (Kokpol et al.,1984; Agoramorthy and
Velu,2007).
A number of mangroves
and associates contain substances which confirm
biological activities such as antiviral, antibacterial
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International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences ISSN: 2229-3701
and antifungal properties(Bandaranayake, 2002 ).
The leaf extracts of Bruguiera cylindrica and bark
of Rhizophora mucronata exhibited antiviral
activity against Newcastle disease, vaccinia and
hepatitis-B viruses. Mangroves are widely used by
mangrove dwellers for bush medicine e.g. A.
illicifolius is used for skin disorders, boils and
wounds. Numerous medicines derived from
mangroves (ashes or bark infusions) can be applied
for skin disorders e.g. Lumnitzera racemosa and
sores including leprosy (Bandaranayake,1999).It is
clear that the informations of traditional knowledge
about the medicinal values of mangroves coincide
with authentic report of antimicrobial property of
mangroves. Hence further study needed to obtain
physical, chemical, biochemical and biological
properties of drugs, drug substances or potential
drugs from mangroves listed above for the
discovery of new medicine to treat various
diseases in human being without disturbing the
mangrove vegetation. In addition, increased human
needs, commercial activities and urban
development demands are leading to the rapid
conversion of mangrove forest vegetation.
Therefore sound management strategies urgently
needed to conserve the mangroves for their
medicinal values.
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