Ethnobotanical Leaflets 10: 198-207. 2006.

Ethno-Medico-Botanical Studies From Rayalaseema Region Of Southern Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India

Dowlathabad Muralidhara Rao ,* U.V.U.Bhaskara Rao,^# and G.Sudharshanam^#

*Natural Products Research Division

Department of Biotechnology

SriKrishnadevaraya University(SKU)Herbarium Anantapur INDIA

^#Department of Botany

SriVenkateswara University

Tirupati,A.P.INDIA

muralidhararao@yahoo.com

rao.muralidhara@gmail.com

Issued 11 August 2006

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with Ethno- Medico botanical Studies of Rayalaseema Region, Andhra Pradesh, India. An ethno-botanical survey was carried out in Seshachalam hills of Chittoor District, Palakondas and Lankamalais of Kadapa District, Errmalais and Nallamalai hills of Kurnool District and some other isolated hill ranges in Ananthapur District are Kalasamudram-Nigidi forest range, Amagondapalem hills and Kikati forest.

INTRODUCTION

Ralayaseema region lies between 12⁰ 41¹ and 16⁰ 21¹ N and 17⁰ 45¹ and 81⁰ 1¹ E. The area bounded on the south by Tamilnadu state on the East Guntur and Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh as also the Bay of Bengal sea cost and west by the Karnataka state, Mahaboobnagar districts as north side. The region accounts or 26% of total area of the Andhra Pradesh state. The district wide split up area is Kurnool, Ananthapur, Kadapa and Chittoor respectively.The area in the Rayalaseema especially covers southern most part of the EasternGhats. The principle hill ranges in Rayalaseema region are Nallamalais, Erramalais, Veligondas, Palakondas, Lankamalais, Horsely Hills and Seshachalam hills. Apart from this there are some isolated hill ranges in Ananthapur district are Kalasamudram – Nigidi forest range, Amagondapalem hills and Kikati forest area.

Tirumala hills which are popularly known as the seven hills Lord Sri Venkateswara are geographically located between 79⁰ 19¹ to 70⁰ 23¹ East longitude and 13⁰ 37¹ to 13⁰ 43¹ North latitude. Quite interesting in the report of occurrence of seven endemic taxa on Tirumala hills.

Climatically the region is characterized by a dry and agreeable climate. The climate is semi-arid and salubrious with many sunny days during the year.

There are no perennial rivers and most of the rivers in this region remain dry for a major art of the year. One of the rivers flowing in this region are the Papaghni, Pincha, Penna, Koundinya, Palar, Ponnei, Arani, Bahuda, Kalyani, Swarnamukhi and Thungabhadra. The main crops in this region are the food crops such as Paddy, Jowar, Bajra and Ragi and commercial crops like Sugarcane, Groundnut and Cotton. All thedry land crops such as Groundnt, Jowar, Redgram, Blackgram etc., depend on the monsoons.

The types of vegetation in Rayalaseema are determined by climatic, edaphic and biotic factors coupled with altitude whenever it is high. The total area under forest is about 22.8% of the total Rayalseema land area. In Kadapa District 30% of the land area is covered by forest. In Ananthapur District only 10.09% is the forest area. Kurnool District has 28.4% of forest in the total land area. Chittoor District has 30.3% of forests in total area. The vegetation of the area under study can be classified into Dry deciduous type, Moist deciduous, Hardwikia binata type, Thorny scrubs type and Dry evergreen forest.

The Rayalaseema region consists of about 9.6 million of population out of which 0.238 millions belong to tribal communities. There are 18 scheduled tribes in Rayalaseema comprising 2.48% of the total population. For the present study the predominant tribes of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh viz., the Chenchus, the Yanadis, the Yerukulas and the Sugalis are selected. The tribes belong to the protoaustraloid racial stock and speak dialects of the Dravidian family.

METHODOLOGY

The Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Rayalaseema region during 1998-2004. The date was collected after discussion with tribal physicians (Natu Vaidyas), aged tribals and further confirmed with experienced herbalists. The specimens are preserved in the herbarium of Department of Botany, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Ethnic communities mostly depend on forest products for their livelihood. The tribal inhabitants from Rayalaseema area collect different non- timber forest products based on their ethnobotanical knowledge pass from their ancient culture and ethnic practices. Many of the tribals depend for their economy mainly on forest products. These are inter-connected with their habits such as gathering of tubers, medicinal herbs, animal and mineral based products. However, due to urbanization and tremendous increase in population there is an urgent need to conserve these ethno-botanical and non- timber forest products for human welfare.

The Ethno-medicinal plants are classified in 32 groups based on their uses.The total 240 species of medicinal plants are enumerated with their uses. The dominant families are Fabaceae (15), Euphorbiaceae (11)Verbenaceae (11) Acanthaceae (10) Rubiaceae (9) Combretaceae (8) Asclepiadaceae (7) species. Non-Timber Forest products 199 species with in 86 families. The dominant families are Fabaceae (21) Species, Verbenaceae (7), Rubiaceae (7) Caesalpiniaceae (7), Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae (6) Speciese. They include important non-timber products and ethnomedicinal products. Under each group the plants are arranged alphabetically and given comprehensive picture for the use of practical plant users of the concerned area.

The diseases wise categorization, ailments for the treatment of which a large number of medicinal plants are used are antidotes (10), stomach-ache (11), jaundice (4), diarrohoea (7), skin diseases (21), ear-ache (9), dysentery (13), wounds (21), boils (11), ulcers (3), fevers (13), rheumatism (6), epilepsy (2), head-ache (11), blood motions (1), tooth-ache (10), asthma (5), psoriasis (1), cold (9), fractures (8), blisters (7), indigestion (2), cough (8), lice eradication (4), eczema (2), anthelmintic (3), constipation (6), stomach disorders (2), menstrual problems (4), leucoderma (5), intestinal worms (4), cuts (8), muscle pains (5), urinary disorders (3), chest pain (1), sores (3), hair tonic (7), bronchitis (4), body-ache (1), joint pains (1), diabetes (3), lactogogue (1), piles (3), helminthiasis (2), elephantiasis (1), vermifuge (1), kidneys (1), throat pain (1), fissures (1), swellings (1), hydrophobia (1), abdominal pains (1), gastric troubles (1), chicken pox (1), intoxication (1).

NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFPS)

Table 1. Medicinal Plants.

S. No.	Species	Family	Part used	Uses
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240	Abrus precatorius L. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet Acacia caesia (L) Willd. Acalypha alnifolia Klein ex Willd Achyranthes aspera L Acorus calamus L Actinopteris radiatus (Sw.)Link. Adhatoda zeylanica Medic Adiantum capillus – veneris L Aegle marmelos (L) Correa Aerva lanata (L) Juss Aerva sanguinolenta (L) Blume Aganosma dichotoma K.Schum. Alangium salvifolium (Lf.) ang.in.Engler Aloe vera (L.) Burm. Alternanthera sessilis (L.)R.Br. Ammannia baccifera L. Andrographis echioides (L.)Nees in Wall Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) WalL Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottl.ex vahl) Wight Anisochilus carnosus.(L.f.) WalL Anisomeles indica (L.) O.Kuntze Annona reticulata L. Annona squamosa L. Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb.ex Dc.) WalL ex GuilL Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Boj. Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. Aristolochia indica L. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Azadirachta indica A.Juss. Bacopa monnieri (L) Wettst. Bauhinia racemosa Lam. Bergia ammannioides Roxb. Bixa orellana L. Boerhavia diffusa L. Boerhavia erecta L. Bombax ceiba L. Boswellia ovalifoliolata BaLet.Henry. Boswellia serrata Roxb.ex Colebr. Brassica nigra L. Breynia vitis-idea (Burm.f.) Fischer Buchanania axillaris (desr.) Raman. Cadaba fruticosa (L.) Druce in Bot. Cajanus cajan (L.) MilL Cajanus scarabaeoides (L.) du Petit Calophyllum inophyllum L. Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br.in Ait Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. Calycopteris floribunda Lam. Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.)DC. Canthium dicoccum (Gaertn) Teijsm & Binn. Capparis zeylanica L. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Carissa spinarum L. Cassia alata L. Cassia fistula L Cassia occidentalis L Cassia senna L Cassytha filiformis. L Catunaregam spinosa (Thumb.) Tirveng. Celastrus paniculatus Willd. Centella asiatica (L) Urban in Mart. Ceropegia candelabrum L Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker in J. Chloroxylon swietenia DC. Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq Cissampelos pareira L Cissus pallida (Wight & Arn.) Planch. Cissus quadrangularis L Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.)Benth. Clematis gouriana Roxb.ex DC. Cleome gynandra L Cleome viscosa L Clerodendrum philippinum Schauer in DC. Clerodendrum phlomidis Lf. Clerodendrum serratum (L) Moon Cat Clitoria ternatea L Cocculus hirsutus (L) Diels in Pfreich. Cohlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn) Engler in DC Costus speciosus (Koenig ) Sm. Crotalaria calycina Schrank Crotalaria laburnifolia L Crotalaria verrucosa L Cryptostegia grandiflora R.Br. Curcuma longa Duchesne ex Lam. Curuculigo orchioides Gaertn. Cycas beddomei W.T.T.Dyer in Trans Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. Datura metel L Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn. Decaschistia crotonifolia Wight & Arn Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees in Linn Dendrophthoe falcate (Lf.) Etting . in denkschr. Dichrostachys cinerea (L) Wight & Arn Dillenia indica L Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. Diospyros ebenum Koen . ex Retz Dodonaea viscosa (L) Jacq Eclipta prostrata (L) L Elytraria acaulis (Lf.) Lindan in EngL & Prant L Emblica officinalis L Eranthemum capense L Erythrina variegata L Erythroxylum monogynum Roxb. Eupatorium glandulosum HBK Euphorbia hirta L Evolvulus alsinoides (L) L Ficus benghalensis L Ficus microcarpa L Ficus racemosa L Ficus religiosa L Gardenia gummifera L Globba bulbifera Roxb. Gloriosa superba L Gmelina asiatica L Gomphrena decumbens Mart.Beitr. Grewia abutilifolia Vent.ex Juss. Grewia hirsuta VahL Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. Habenaria roxburghii (Pers.) R.Br. Helicteres isora L Hemidesmus indicus (L) R.Br.Ait. Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.f.) Moore Holarrhena antidysenterica (Buch-Ham.)WalL Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. Holostemma ada-kodien Schult. Hugonia mystax L Imperata cylindrica (L) Raeus. Indigofera mysorensis RottLex Dc. Ixora pavetta Andr. Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. Jatropha curcas L. Jatropha gossypifolia L. Justicia betonica L Lannea coromandalica (Houtt.) Merr. Lantana camara L Lawsonia inermis L Leonotis nepetiifolia (L) R.Br. Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) wight & Arn . Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link Limonia acidissima L Linociera ramifera L. Linociera zeylanica L. Litsea deccanensis Gamble Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw.Schrad. Madhuca indica GmeL Mallotus philippensis (Lam.)Muell- Arg. Mangifera indica L. Manihot esculenta Crantz. Manilkara zapota (L) P.Royen Maytenus heyneana (Roth.) Raju & Babu Melastoma malabathricum L Melia azadarach L Memecylon umbellatum Burm. Merremia tridentata (L) G.LShah Michelia champaka L Mimusops elengi L Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. Morinda pubescens J.E.Smith in Rees. Mucuna pruriens (L) DC. Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A.Chaval in Compt. Naringi crenulata (Roxb.) Nicolson Nerium oleander MilL Nyctanthes arbortristis L Ochna obtusata DC. Ocimum basilicum L Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Syn. Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. Oxalis corniculata L. Oxystelma esculentum (L.) R.Br.ex Schult. Passiflora foetida (L) R.Br.ex Schult Pavonia zeylanica (L) Car. Pedalium murex L Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov. Perisrtophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees in WalL Phyla nodiflora (L) Greene Phyllanthus amarus Schum. Physalis minima L Pimpinella tirupatiensis BaL & Subr Piper attenuatum. Buch – Ham . ex Miq Piper betel L Piper longum L Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. Plumbago zeylanica L Polygala elongata klein Klein ex Willd. Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre Psidium guajava L Pterocarpus santalinus L Pulicaria wightiana (DC.) Clarke Rauvolfia tetraphylla L Rivea hypocrateriformis (Desr)Choisy Sansevieria roxburghiana Schutt. & Schult. Santalum album L Sapindus emarginatus VahL Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt Semecarpus anacardium. L Senecio tenuifolius Burm. Sesamum indicum L Shorea tumbuggaia Roxb. Smilax zeylanica L Solanum anguivi Lam. Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.). A. Juss. Spermacoce articularis L Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L) VahL Stemona tuberosa Lour. Sterculia urens Roxb. Striga asiatica (L) O.Kuntze Strychnos nux – vomica L Strychnos potatorum L Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn Tarenna asiatica (L) Kuntze Tephrosia purpurea (L) Pers. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.ex Dc) Wight Terminalia bellirica (Goertn.) Roxb. Terminalia chebula Retz. Terminalia pallida Brand. Thespesia populnea (L) SoLex Correa Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T.Andres. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers Toddalia asiatica (L) Lam. Tragia involucrata L Trianthema portulacastrum L Tribulus terrestris L Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm.f.) R.Br. Trichuriella monsoniae (Lf.) Towns. Tridax procumbens L Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. Tylophora indica (Burm.f)Merr. Typha angustata Boy & Chaub. Vallisneria natans (Lour.)H.Hara Vernonia albicans. Dc. Vernonia cinerea (L) Less. Vetiveria zizanioides (L) Nash. Vitex negundo L Wattakaka volubilis (Lf.) Stapf.in Curtis Waltheria indica L. Xemenia americana L. Ziziphus oenoplia (L) MilL	Fabaceae Malvaceae Mimosaceae Eupherbiaceae Amaranthaceae Araceae Actinopeteridaceae Acanthaceae Adiantaceae Rutaceae Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae Apocynaceae Alangiaceae Liliaceae Amaranthaceae Lythraceae Acanthaceae Acanthaceae Acanthaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Annonaceae Annonaceae Combretaceae Convolvulaceae Aristolochiaceae Aristolochiaceae Liliaceae Meliaceae Scrophulariaceae Caesalpiniaceae Elatinaceae Bixaceae Nyctaginaceae Nyctaginaceae Bombucaceae Burseraceae Burseraceae Brassiacaceae Euphorbiaceae Anacardiaceae Capparaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Clusiaceae Asclepiadaceae Asclepiadaceae Combretaceae Fabaceae Rubiaceae Capparaceae Sapindaceae Apocynaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Lauraceae Rubiaceae Celastraceae Apiaceae Asclepiadaceae Liliaceae Flindersiaceae Meliaceae Menispermaceae Vitaceae Vitaceae Eupherbiaceae Ranunculaceae Cleomaceae Cleomaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Fabaceae Menispermaceae Cochlospermaceae Burseraceae Costaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Periplocaceae Zingiberaceae Hypoxidaceae Cycadeaceae Poaceae Solanaceae Periplocaceae Malvaceae Bambucaceae Loranthaceae Mimosaceae Dilleniaceae Ebenaceae Ebenaceae Sapindaceae Asteraceae Acanthaceae Euphorbiaceae Acanthaceae Fabaceae Erythroxylaceae Asteraceae Euphorbiaceae Convolvulaceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Rubiaceae Zingiberaceae Liliaceae Verbenaceae Amaranthaceae Tiliaceae Tiliaceae Periplocaceae Orchidaceae Sterculiaceae Periplocaceae Adiantaceae Apocynaceae Ulmaceae Asclepiadaceae Linaceae Poaceae Fabaceae Rubiaceae Oleaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Acanthaceae Anacardiaceae Verbenaceae Lythraceae Lamiaceae Asclepidaceae Lamiaceae Rutaceae Oleaceae Oleaceae Lauraceae Lygodiaceae Sapotaceae Euphorbiaceae Anacardiaceae Euphorbiaceae Sapotaceae Celastraceae Melastonaceae Meliaceae Melastomaceae Convolvulaceae Magnoliaceae Sapotaceae Rubiaceae Rubiaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Rutaceae Apocynaceae Oleaceae Ochnaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Cactaceae Hydrocharitaceae Oxalidaceae Periplocaceae Passifloraceae Malvaceae Pedaliaceae Periplocaceae Acanthaceae Verbenaceae Euphorbiaceae Solanaceae Apiaceae Piperaceae Piperaceae Piperaceae Lamiaceae Plumbaginaceae Polygalaceae Fabaceae Myrtaceae Fabaceae Asteraceae Apocynaceae Convolvulaceae Sansevieriaceae Santalaceae Sapindaceae Asclepiadeceae Anacardiaceae Asteraceae Pedaliaceae Dipterocarpaceae Smilacaceae Solanaceae Meliaceae Rubiaceae Verbenaceae Stemonaceae Sterculiaceae Scrophulariaceae Strychnaceae Strychnaceae Asteraceae Rubaceae Fabaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Malvaceae Acanthaceae Menispermaceae Rutaceae Euphorbiaceae Aizoaceae Zygophyllaceae Boraginaceae Amaranthaceae Asteraceae Tiliaceae Periplocaceae Rubiaceae Hydrocharitaceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Poaceae Verbenaceae Asclepidiaceae Sterculiaceae Olacaceae Rhamnaceae	leaf leaf bark leaf leaf rhizome leaf (frond) leaf leaf (frond) leaf leaf root root leaf leaf root leaf whole plant leaf leaf leaf leaf, root seed seed leaf leaf leaf leaf, root tuber leaf whole plant tuber leaf root root root seed resin bark seed leaf bark leaf leaf leaf fruit leaf leaf root & leaf root bark root, bark leaf leaf, root leaf leaf leaf leaf stem bark seed leaf tuber leaf gum leaf tuber leaf stem bark & fruit leaf leaf leaf leaf bark root seed leaf bark resin rhizome root seed leaf latex rhizome tuber bark whole plant leaf root leaf leaf bark leaf fruit fruit fruit bark leaf leaf seed root leaf leaf leaf leaf leaf latex root bark stem bark leaf bark tuber tuber fruit root root bark root bark root tuber leaf root leaf (frond) bark leaf root root bark root leaf root leaf latex latex root stem bark leaf leaf leaf latex leaf leaf inflorescence root stem bark rhizome seed fruit gum/resin rhizome fruit leaf & seed leaf seed root bark whole plant root flower stem bark root & leaf root leaf leaf root bark leaf stem bark leaf leaf fruit leaf leaf latex leaf leaf seed latex leaf leaf whole plant leaf root root leaf root leaf leaf leaf seed leaf wood leaf root root rhizome stem bark fruit & seed latex seed leaf seed resin tuber fruits flower root leaf leaf gum leaf root bark seed leaf fruit root leaf gum fruit fruit leaf leaf tuber fruit root leaf whole plant root whole plant leaf leaf leaf rhizome leaf leaf leaf leaf leaf leaf root leaf stem bark	leucoderma jaundice, blood motions skin diseases dysentery tooth infection stomach-ache rheumatism asthma, psoriasis scorpion sting cold head-ache head-ache fever fractures boils, blisters, wounds indigestion skin diseases snike bite & scorpion bite fevers, cuts & wounds cough & cold wounds fever, evil spirits lice eradication lice eradication snake bite boils & blisters tooth-ache, eczema, wounds leucoderma stomach-ache & cold anthelmintic epilepsy throat ulcers constipation & stomach disorders fever stomach-ache fever to promote virility & pregnancy fever toothache diarrhoea rheumatism boils indigestion stomach-ache dysentery tooth-ache skin diseases stomach-ache ulcers, intestinal worms enlargement of liver fever ear-ache burns fever, wounds of cattle eczema & herpes skin diseases fractures constipation, cuts, wounds & boils muscle pains dysentery & diarrhoea rheumatism skin diseases digestive stimulant scarpion sting urinary disorders cold chest pain, stomach-ache to kill bed bugs fevers, headache fish poison lice eradication ear-ache wounds, tooth-ache skin diseases ear-ache asthma constipation headache fractures supernatural forces wounds, cold, cough chicken pox scorpion sting skin diseases cuts & boils paronychia cuts, diarrhoea sores wounds burns constipation skin diseases eye sores wounds, menstrual troubles skin diseases hair wash fracture wounds, ulcers muscle pains hair tonic, head-ache cough asthma & bronchitis body-ache joint pains intestinal worms cold dysentery jaundice, cold boils & blisters wounds diarrhoea skin diseases gastric troubles eye sores, head for cooling effect rheumatism dandruff, wounds cough dysentery stomach-ache diabetes, lactogogue stomach-ache hairwash stomach ulcers wounds & ulcers of cattle dysentery, bronchitis boils & blisters dysentery snake bite, inflammatory swellings piles skin diseases abdominal pains, leucorrhoea & bronchitis ear-ache burns tooth-ache muscle pains bone fracture cuts & skin diseases hair tonic & headache diarrhoea cold , skin diseases skin irritation vomiting, constipation hair wash asthma menstrual disorders bone fracture intoxication hairwash anthelmintic cuts sores worm infestation hard boils, testes in pains wounds helminthiasis leuchorrhea bone fracture, piles terminate early pregnancy wounds dysentery diarrhoea & dysentery skin diseases, elephantiasis fish poison intestinal worms, constipation worm infections, skin diseases fever snake bite ear-ache lice eradication, ear-ache whooping cough fever dysentery cuts & wounds head-ache, skin diseases vermifuge joint pains boils and blisters fractures, snake bite kidneys tooth-ache, jaundice jaundice ulcers tooth-ache, cold & cough bronchitis asthma cough wounds constipation skin diseases throat pain diabetes, intestinal disorders in cattle head-ache fever labour pains head-ache wounds, head-ache hairwash, head-ache boils & blisters fissures emollient & vulnerary tooth-ache, piles evil spirits throat ulcers intestinal worms ear-ache tooth infection cuts & wounds night blindness dysentery diabetes scorpion sting scorpion sting ear-ache, sore legs intestinal worms, dysentery stomach-ache ear-ache urinary disorders cough peptic ulcers swellings irritation stomach ulcers dysentery, influenza blisters & skin diseases partial head-ache stomach-ache & urinary disorders wounds whooping cough, hydrophobia eye sores, wounds diarrhoea epilepsy cooling leucorrhoea skin diseases, anthelmintic abdominal pains rheumatism rheumatism boils inflammations skin diseases cuts

The present study describes the identification and documentation of Ethno-medicinal plants of Rayalaseema region for the first time.

Medicinal values of forest plants were given a special attention because traditional medicines are often cheaper and easier to access for the local people, than western medicine. Although there is growing interest in the cultivation of some NTFP and medicinal plants, the majority will probably continue to be harvested in the wild to some extent in the foreseeable future. The latest and first hand information on the total number of 250 species of medicinal plants with their uses for different ailments and diseases have been enumerated and documented for the present study. The studies reviewed points to the need for much more long-term monitoring. The present study reveals the families of Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Acanthaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae played a dominant role.

The present studies aimed at documenting all Ethnobotanical Products data covering most important eco-sensitive zones of Rayalaseema Forests. The video graphic documentation is more useful in identification of plant species in the field and it may also useful for conservation strategies. Generally, it was noted that Non-Timber Forest Products were under threat, due to decline of forests in various ways and the disappearance of traditional knowledge and values. The endemic and endangered species of Tirumala hills especially Cycas beddomei W.T.T.Dyer, Pterocarpus santalinus. L., Terminalia pallida Brandis, Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. et. Henry, Syzygium alternifolium (Wt.) Walp., Pimpinella tirupatiensis Bal.& Subr., Rhynchosia beddomei Baker and vulnerable plant species Terminalia chebula Retz., have greater significance and need conservation strategies to rescue the plant populations. The further chemotyping studies and biological assays are necessary to develop and discovering new drugs by using this Ethno-medicinal plants data.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors gratefully acknowledged sincere thanks to all forest field staff of the Rayalaseema Region and also Girijan Cooperative Corporation Limited for rendering their kind cooperation during the field work. The help extended by the local people is also acknowledged. DowlathabadMuralidhar Rao is highly thankful to Andhra Pradesh Netherlands Biotechnology Programme (APNLBT), Prof.Pakki Reddy and Prof.T.Pullaiah, Department of Boatany for their help.

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