Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 916-26. 2008. Ethnomedicinal Observations among the Kondareddis
of Khammam District, K.N.
Reddy, C.S. Reddy* and V.S. Raju** Laila Impex R&D Centre,
Unit-I, Phase- *Forest Ecology Division, NRSC, Balanagar,
** Department of Botany, Email: drnarasimhareddy@gmail.com Issued 30 October 2008 Abstract Ethnomedicinal information of Kondareddis
has been collected from Khammam district of Andhra
Pradesh, Key words: Ethnomedicine; Kondareddis; Khammam; Andhra Pradesh; Introduction
With the advent of human civilization, many systems
of therapy have been developed primarily based on plants. Ayurveda,
Homeopathy, Sidda, Unani,
etc. are our traditional systems of medicines. The World Health Organization
has estimated that over 80% of the global population rely
chiefly on traditional medicine (Akerele 1992). Ethnobotanical research
can provide a wealth of information regarding both past and present
relationships between plants and the traditional societies. It is hoped that,
in the future, ethnobotany may play an increasingly important role in
sustainable development and biodiversity conservation (Rajasekaran
& Warren 1994). Interaction with the traditional areas of science,
ethnobotany gives out several interrelated and interdisciplinary subjects
link ethnomedicine, ethnoarchaeology,
ethnobryology, ethnoecology, ethnoagriculture,
ethnonarcotics, ethnopharmacology,
etc. Khammam district lies between 16� 45' and 18� 35' North
latitudes and between 79� 47' and 80� 47'
East longitudes of north eastern part of Andhra Pradesh. The district is
bounded on the north by Chattisgarh and Orissa states, on the south by .
����������� As per Rao
(1997), the climate of Khammam district is
characterized by hot summer and good seasonal rainfall.� The average annual rainfall of the district
is 1044.8 mm.� Khammam
district is endowed with a rich forest resource. More than half of the land (52.6%)
is under forests.�
The region receives a rainfall between 800-1200 mm, with the
altitude ranging from 100-800 m. The mean temperature is above 15� C.� The forest is predominantly dry deciduous. The forests can be classified as dry
deciduous, moist deciduous, riparian, scrub and grassland. The forests of
this district have great potentiality both from the economic and botanical
points of view. The district is one of the timber and non-timber rich forests
in the Andhra Pradesh. According to 1991 census,
the tribal population in the State was 41.99 lakhs.
Of these 5,59,048 Kondareddis
are living in the agency tracts of Khammam
district. Kondareddis
are one of the most primitive tribes of Andhra Pradesh. They call themselves Pandava Reddis. Konda Reddis are largely
distributed in Mothugudem, Chintoor,
Kunavaram, Vararamachandrapuram,
Reddigudem, Gondulur, Edugaraallapalli, Dommapet and Venkatapuram Mandals in Khammam district. The small settlements of Kondareddis are usually perched on hillsides or neatly
tucked in the jungle clearings. In foothills, they live in association with Koyas. Even if they live in the same village along with Koyas, their houses are distanced from Koyas as they treat them inferior in social status. ����������� Physically, Kondareddis
are of small height with sturdy stature. Legs are short in comparison to the
length of the body. The skin colour varies from a
very light copper brown to dark chocolate. The hair is usually wavy but
almost straight as well as curly. Kondareddi women
dress generally with a sari, a small loin-cloth and in some areas a bodice.
In the hills, the women wear short, narrow pieces of saris, which they wrap
round the hips. Men wear a loin-cloth called �Gochi�;
i.e. a narrow shred of cloth drawn between the legs and looped over a twined
cord made of Adda fibre (Bauhinia vahlii).��������������� Their primitive technology is of pre-agricultural
times and characterized by digging stick, bow and arrow. Podu� (shifting)
cultivation is still practiced by Kondareddi. (Haimendorf 1945) ����������� A headman called �Pedda Kapu� is the only chief of the Konda
Reddy village. However, this monolithic leadership structure is quite
democratic in practice. His decisions are governed by the majority opinion of
the family heads in the village. The highest institution of social control is
'�Kula Pedda�. Divorce and widow remarriage are
socially approved. Levirate and sorrorate are in
vogue. Polgamy is permitted while polyandry is
strictly prohibited. ����������� The
staple food of Kondareddis is jowar, which is frequently
substituted with bajra,
ragi and
other millets. Rice is also increasingly consumed, especially by wage-earners
like forest labour. Green leaves, edible fruits,
roots and tubers are collected from forest and eaten after converting them
into curries. During periods of scarcity, wild tuber and roots like �Addadumpa� and �Niluvudumpa�
constitute their diet. ����������� Intoxicating
liquors, both indigenously brewed or purchased
locally are consumed frequently. Toddy, which is tapped by Konda Reddis from Caryota and Borasis trees fills the �cup of joy� for them besides playing
important role in ritual.��� ����������� Sickness,
illness and other situations of travail and tribulations are attributed to
the work of angered malevolent deities. To identify the trouble making deity,
the services of an established spirit medium are commissioned. Diagnosis and
treatment of sickness involve a series of magico-religious
practices besides administering herbal medicine. While spirit medium is
called �Mantragadu�
the native doctor is known as �Vejju�. Interviewing traditional healers for accurate information about
medicinal recipes, their component herbs, and their medicinal and other uses
constitutes an important activity in ethnopharmacological
field investigation (Lipp, 1989). The knowledge and experience of a
traditional healer is considered valuable as it comes from thousands of years
of trial and error and forms the basis of modern medicine and therapeutics. Ethnobotanical
information of Kondareddis is poorly known. The
medicinal plant wealth of Andhra Pradesh by Hemadri
et al. (1987, 1994) contains a mere
list of medicinal plants. Ramarao et al. (1999) again were the first to
brief the phyto-zootherapy of the tribes of Andhra
Pradesh. Reddy &� Raju
(2006)� published a paper on Ethnobotanical
medicine for rheumatic diseases from Eastern Ghats
of Andhra Pradesh, Reddy et al.
(2007) published a paper on traditional knowledge on wild food Plants in
Andhra Pradesh, India. Hardly there are only a few papers published on
ethnobotany of Khammam district. V.S Raju & K.N. Reddy 2006 published paper on Diarrhoea and dysentery of Khammam
district. Upadyay & Chauhan
(2000) noted the ethnobotany of Koyas of Gundala Mandal. Hence, the
present work is under taken to communicate the ethnobotanical
plants of Kondareddis. The present work is gives
additional information on ethnobotanical plants. Material & methods Ethnobotanical exploration trips
were carried out in Kondareddi dominated villages
during 2006-2008. The area understudy was thoroughly covered and the people
were interrogated for information. The informants were chosen because they
claimed to be professional practitioners of the traditional medicine of the
region. Most of the healers refuse to join a local union or even to cooperate
with local physicians because they are afraid that they will be forbidden to
practice. Majority of herbal ingredients used by traditional healers are
collected from the wild directly by these healers. Interviews were conducted
in a place where the informants were most comfortable. At the end of each
interview, specimens of plants mentioned for medicinal uses were collected
and identified. Identification of species made with the help of Floras
(Gamble & Fischer, 1915-1935; Pullaiah et al.�
1997) and these specimens have been housed in the Herbarium of the Laila Research Centre, Enumeration
In the enumeration, the taxa arranged alphabetically. The name of species is
followed by, family name, local name, habit, disease and medicinal uses. 1. Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.��������� ��������������������������� (MIMOSACEAE)����� T: Tella thumma����������������������������������������������������������������������� Habit:
Medium sized tee. Bad breath:
Stem bark decoction gargled daily twice. Insect bite: Leaf paste (10-15g) administered
thrice in course of two hours. Tumors on body: Root powder (10-12g) administered with honey daily twice for until
cure. 3. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa ���������� ����������������������������������� (RUTACEAE)������������� T:
Maredu, Patri��������������������������������������������������������������������
Habit: Medium-sized tree Loose motions: Fruit pulp (one teaspoon) administered daily twice
for two days. 4. Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.� ����� ����������������������������������������������� (AMARANTHACEAE)���������� T: Pindi poolu, Pindi koora��������������
���������������������������������������� Habit:
Much branched herb Drowsiness of body: Root decoction (2 teaspoons) administered thrice a day. 5. Anisochilus carnosus (L.f.) Wall. ex Benth.������ ������������������ (LAMIACEAE) T:
Kodipunju chettu, Peda gandhara������������������ ���������������������� Habit: Annual aromatic herb Deep cuts by iron tool: Tender shoots paste applied daily twice for 3
days. 6. Anogeissus
latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill. & Perr.�� (COMBRETACEAE) T: Tiruman������������������������������������������������������
������������ Habit: Large
deciduous tree Persistent cough: Stem bark (3 inches) chewed and the sap swallowed. 7.
Asparagus racemosus
Willd. ��������������������������������������������� (LILIACEAE)������������ T: Noorumutyalu
chettu, Pilli tigalu��� ���������������������������� Habit:
Climbing undershrub. Cooling agent:
Tuber paste (10-15g) administered with a cup of water daily twice for 2 days. General weakness: Peeled fresh tuber juice (half cup) administered
with a spoon of sugar daily twice for 4 days. 8.
Bauhinia racemosa
Lam.����� ���������������������� ����������������������� (CAESALPINIACEAE)������������ T: Are, Chinna
are����������������������� ������������������������������������������� Habit:
Medium sized tree Diarrhoea: Stem bark (10-12g) paste administered twice a day. 9.
Bauhinia vahlii
Wight. & Arn.��������� ���������������������������������� (CAESALPINIACEAE)
������������ T: Addaku��������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� Habit:
Liana Anthelmintic: Baked seeds eaten daily twice for
two days. Drowsiness of body: Roasted seeds eaten. 10. Baliospermum montanum (Willd.) Muell.�Arg.� �������������� (EUPHORBIACEAE) T: Konda amudam���������������
��� ����������������������������������������������� Habit: Stout herb Jaundice: Root decoction (3 teaspoons)
administered daily once a week. Swellings due to wound: Seed paste applied externally. 11.
Bixa orellana �L.��������������� ���������������������������������������������� (BIXACEAE)������������������������ T: Jabaru
kaya���������������
��������������������������������������������������������� Habit: small tree Insect repellant: Seeds burnt and smoke spread out at home. 13.
Bombax ceiba L.� ������������������������������������������������������������ (BOMBACACEAE)��������������� T: Burugu������������������� ������������������������������������������������ Habit: Deciduous
tree Reddening of eyes: Petals paste with breastfed milk applied
externally. 14.
Butea monosperma (Lam.)
Taubert��������
������������������������� (PAPILIONACEAE)���������� �T: Moduga������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� Habit:
Deciduous tree General weakness: Inner bark of the root paste (20g) mixed with 200g
of wheat powder and made into a bread and administered daily twice for a
fortnight. 15.
Capparis zeylanica
L.�������� ��������� ����������������������������������� (CAPPARACEAE)���������� T: Are donda,
Gaddagoru chetu������������ ���������������������������������� Habit:
Climbing shrub Ulcers: Pinch of root powder administered daily once, till
cure. 17. Caryota urens L. ������������������������������������������������������������� (ARECACEAE)������� T: Jeelugu������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������� Habit:
Tall palm Loss of appetite: Toddy
(3 glasses) administered daily once for a month. 19. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott in
Schott & Endl.�� ���������� (ARACEAE)�
T:
Chama gadda����������������� ���������������������������������������������������� Habit: Tall
tuberous herb General debility: Fresh leaves eaten daily once for a fortnight. /
Leaves used as curry once at alternate day for a fortnight. 20.
Costus speciosus (J.
Koenig) Smith����� ����������������������������� (COSTACEAE)�� T:
Besikadumpa, Kola muti����������� ������������������������������������������ Habit:
Erect herb Ulcers: Tuber paste applied externally. 21. Curculigo orchioides Gaertner����� ���������������������������������� (HYPOXIDACEAE)�� T: Adavi
taadi, Naela tadi����������� �������������������������������������������� �Habit: Small herb Deep cuts by iron tool: Tuberous root
paste applied externally. Jaundice: Tuberous root paste (12 g)
administered daily twice for three days. 24.
Cassia occidentalis
L.������ ����������������������������������������������� (CAESALPINIACEAE)����������� T: Gurrapu
tanthemu������
��������������������������������������������������������� Habit: Undershrub Toothache:
Root paste kept on affected teeth daily once (before going to bed), for until
cure. Insect bite:
Root paste applied over the bite. Body swelling: Leaf paste applied over the swellings. � 25. Celastrus paniculatus Willd.����� �������������������������������������� (CELASTRACEAE)� �T: Maner teega, Teega palleru�������������
����������������������������������� Habit:
Climbing shrub Insect bite: Stem bark paste (10-15g)
administered thrice a day. 26. Centella asiatica (L.)
Urban������������� ������� ����������������������� (APIACEAE)����������� T: Saraswati
aku������������������ ��������������������������������������������������� Habit: Creeping
herb Nervine tonic: Dry leaf powder (One teaspoon)
administered with a cup of milk daily once for three moths. Voice clarity:
Root decoction (3-4 teaspoons) administered daily once, till cure. 27. Cissampelos pariera L. var.
hirsuta (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) Forman
(MENISPERMACEAE)
T: Chiru
boddi, Kuttu veru, Pokka jilledu�������������������� Habit: Slender climber Diarrhoea: Root paste applied on the central part of the
head. Anthelmintic: Fresh root (one inch) chewed and sap swallowed
twice a day. 28. Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels���� ���������������������������������������� (MENISPERMACEAE)� T: Dusarateega, Shibbi teega���������������������������� ����������������������� Habit: Climbing shrub Nervine tonic: Roots (12g) crushed with the 2 long pepper, mixed
in a cup of goat milk and extract administered daily once for a fortnight. 29. Desmodium gangeticum (L) DC. ����������������������������������� (PAPILIONACEAE)������������ T: Dayyam
jada�������������������������������������
��������������������������������� Habit:
Erect undershrub General weakness: Root decoction (half cup) administered daily once
for 3 days. 30. Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.� ����������� ����������������������������������� (DILLENIACEAE)������������� T: Revadi�������������������������������� ������������������������������������ Habit:
Deciduous tree Bronchitis:
Stem bark (4 inches) crushed with a pinch of common salt and the extract
administered daily once for 3 days. Swellings due to wounds: Stem bark (3 inches) crushed with sufficient
quantity of salt and the extract administered daily once for three days. 31.
Elephantopus scaber L.� � ����������������������������������������������� (ASTERACEAE)��������� T: Pipperishi,
Yenugu adugu�������������������������� �������������� Habit: Small herb Pyorrhoea: Root paste with pepper powder used as toothpaste. 33. Evolvulus
alsinoides (L.) L.� ������� ����������������������������������� (CONVOLVULACEAE)�������� T: Vishnu
krantha��������������������������� ����������������������������������������� Habit:
Prostrate herb General weakness: Shade dried whole plant powder (half teaspoon)
administered with honey daily twice, till cure. 34. Ficus hispida L.f. ������������� ����������������������������������������������� (MORACEAE)������� �T: Bommidi, Dandi chettu���������������� ��������������������������� Habit: Small tree Aphrodisiac: Dried fruits (two) eaten with 2 pepper daily once
for a month. 35. Flemingia strobilifera (L) R. Br. ex Ait.��� ���������������������� (PAPILIONACEAE)�
T: Nalla baddu���������������������������� �������������������������������������������� Habit:
Erect undershrub Body swellings: Root
paste applied externally. 36.
Habenaria roxburghii Nicolson ��������������������������������������� (ORCHIDACEAE)��� T: Malleleena
gadda������������������������������ ���������������������������������� Habit:
Terrestrial herb Insect bite: Tuber (12g) crushed with 4 g of pepper and garlic
cloves and the extract administered thrice a day. 37.
Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Wallich ex G.
Don����� (APOCYNACEAE) T: Paala chettu,
Kodisa paala, Istari paala, Gadda paala������������ Habit: small tree
Anthelmintic: Roasted seed powder (10-12g) mixed in a cup of tea
and the extract administered daily twice for 3 days. 38.
Melastoma malabathricum L.�������� ��������������������������������� (MELASTOMACEAE)���� T: Mantram chettu���������������������������� �������������������������������������� Habit: Evergreen shrub Body swellings: Aerial parts powder (half teaspoon) administered
with a cup of water daily once for three months. 39.
Orthosiphon thymiflorus
(Roth) Sleesen�������� ������������������ (LAMIACEAE)������ T: Adavi
sajja�������������������������������� ����������������������������������������� Habit:
Erect undershrub Skin eruptions: Leaf juice used as lotion.� 40.
Plumbago zeylanica L.
���� ����������������������������������������������� (PLUMBAGINACEAE)��������� T: Chitra
moolamu����������������������������� ������������������������� Habit: Undershrub Oedema: Pinch of root paste put in milk for curdling.
After 12 hours the curd administered daily once for a fortnight. 42. Semecarpus anacardium L.f.�������� ���������������������������������� (ANACARDIACEAE)����������� T:
Jeedi, Nalla jeedi���������������������������������� ������������������������������ Habit: Medium
sized tree Sprains: Fruit juice used as a lotion. 43. Terminalia
arjuna (DC.) Wight & Arn. ��� ����������������������� (COMBRETACEAE)�������� T: Eaeti maddi������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� Habit:
Large tree Gynecological disorders: Crushed stem bark (half cup) kept in a cup of water for 5
minutes and then strained. One cup of infusion administered daily once for
fortnight. 44.
Thespesia lampas (Cav.)
Dalz��� �������������������������������������� (MALVACEAE)�� T: Puttangi,
Konda patti��������������� ������������������������������������������� Habit: Undershrub Nervine tonic: Root extract (one cup) administered daily once for
three days. 45.
Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. ������ ����������������������������������� (TILIACEAE)����� T: Arista
chettu, Gaeda titthara���������������������������������� �� Habit: Undershrub Skin eruptions: Leaf paste applied externally. 46. Vitex
altissima L.f. ���������������������� ����������������������������������� (VERBENACEAE)������� T: Nemali
adagu����������������������������������������������������
����������������� Habit:
Deciduous tree Snake bite: Stem bark decoction administered orally. 47.
Wrightia tinctoria R.
Br.������� ������ ����������������������������������� (APOCYNACEAE)����� T: Paala kodisha, Tedla paala������������������������������� ������������������� Habit: Deciduous tree Sore throat, cough: Leaves (2-3) chewed and the sap
spit out. Results and
Discussion ����������� The present study focused mainly
on the plant species used by the Kondareddi tribes
in Khammnam district for various medicinal uses.
The reported plants were arranged according to their scientific name and
family, Vernacular (local) names as recorded during the field work and uses are
presented. During the study period, 40 plant species belonging to 39 genera
and 31 families were identified as medicinal plants. Of these 15 species are
trees, followed by herbs (9), shrubs and undershrubs
(8) and climbers, creepers & lianas (8). Medical administration includes
oral administration of decoctions, poultice and plant parts as paste. The
study shows a high degree of ethnobotanical novelty
and the use of plants among the Kondareddis
reflects the revival of interest in traditional folk culture. Conclusion The tribal people
acquired the knowledge of therapeutical properties
of local plants through times immemorial by trial and error methods and
transmitted this knowledge orally from generation-to-generation. The Kondareddis of Khammam district
still retain their original ethnic culture and traditions.� Depending upon the forest resources
available, their day-to-day requirements of food and medicine are based.
Conversely, the tribal societies are storehouses of knowledge of indigenous
vegetation. But, this knowledge is jealously guarded as secret by
majority.� There is very little or no
documentation of this ethno-medico-botanical knowledge pertaining to Kondareddis of Khammam
district. All the more, several wild medicinal plants are fast disappearing
due to the destruction of forest habitats, invasion of exotic flora and
introduction of new crops. Hence, there is an urgent need for exploration and
documentation of this traditional knowledge in order to determine the
conservation value of the local forests.�
Acknowledgement We are thankful to Shri G. Ganga Raju, Chairman, Laila Group and
Mr. Rama Raju, Managing
Director, Laila Impex,
Dr. G. Trimurthulu, Vice President, References
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