The Significance of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Non-communicable Disease by Kani Tribes in Papanasam, Tirunelveli District

The significance of medicinal plants used by the ethnic group of people (Kani/Kanikaran) of Karaiyar, Papanasam through an ethnobotanical survey for treating Non-communicable diseases (NCD) is documented. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Sample size in the survey covers 30 tribal people (men-13, women-17) to analyse various factors and their relationship to the diseases. The survey has included the age range, diseases frequency, gender stats, occupation, BMI, habits and the medicinal practices used. It is estimated that 67% of people still use traditional means for the treatment of diseases. Major medicinal plants used are indigenous to their geographical area which revealed high esteem of ethnobotanical significance and proven to be an effective and sustainable means of treating Non-communicable diseases.