Keywords

Wildlife sanctuary; Medicinal plants; Ecological functions; Ehanomedicobotany

Introduction

The entire edifice of an ancient Indian medicine presupposes a fundamental identity between man and nature. The cure of diseases and preservation of health are as old as life itself [1]. All the indigenous remedies whither traditional or modern have originated from flokare, rituals, magic and superstition. In other words the therapeutic hints or measures hold the key to the treasures of knowledge in folk medicine and Ehanomedicobotany.

Study area

Sri Penusilanarasimha wild life sanctuary is located in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, The Plateau of Salivandhra Reserve Forest is the highest peak with an elevation of 810 metres. It is characterized by low hills descending on west and east into plains; Yepur and Akilivalasa on the east, Chitvel on the west and ascending sharply towards west as Kokiletikanuma Reserve Forest. It extents an area of 113770.48 hectares (1137.70 Sq.Km). The sanctuary is named after the presiding diety Penusila Narasimha Swamy located inside the Sanctuary. This is located at a distance of 80 km from Nellore town. The Lord Narasimha killed Rakshasa king Hiranyakasipa and imbided Ugrarupa and appeared in many places. Penchalakona is one such place. Chenchu tribes believes that one of the tribe’s women member Chenchulakshmi is queen of Lord Narasimha [2]. There are seven natural ponds representing Saptharishis. This sanctuary is the good habitat for many endangered and endemic species and a sizeable population of panthers. It lies between 79.27.83’East and 14.0.55’ North. Sri Penusila Narasimha wild life sanctuary earlier known as Veligonda Wild life Sanctuary spreads in YSR Kadapa district and Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. This Sanctuary comprises Turupukonda hills and part of Velikonda hills. This area was first proposed as a Velikonda Wild life Sancturay soon after the sighting of Critically Endangered Jerdon’s Courser on the western slopes of the Turupukonda hills [3]. After Ten Years it was declared as Sri Penusila Narasimha Wild lIfe Sanctuaty.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted among the local people who are practicing traditional medicine in different villages of Sri Penusilanarasimha wild life Sanctuary [4]. Frequent field trips were carried out during the different seasons in 2013-2016 (Table 1). The data (Local Name, Habit, Part used, Mode of preparation and medicinal uses) were collected through interviews and discussions among the local traditional healers in their local language (Telugu). The collected medicinal plants were identified taxonomically using “The Flora of Presidency of Madras” (Figures 1 and 2).

Table 1: Sri Peninsula Narasimha Wild life sanctuary.

Figure 1: Habit wise analysis of the study area.

Figure 2: Top ten families of the study area.

Discussion and Conclusion

Wildlife Sanctuary is climax forests and is the only representatives of natural or near-natural vegetation. These are dedicated to deities or ancestral spirits worshipped by local tribes along with surrounding plants and trees [5,6]. These are ecosystems by themselves and perform all the ecological functions.308 species belonging to 92 families are enumerated. Out of 308 species Trees are 118 (38%), Herbs 87 (28%), Shrubs 58 (19%), Climbers 39 (13%), Straglers 6 (2%). Fabaceae is the dominant family in the study area with 20 species (16%) and then Rubiaceae occupies second with 18 species (15%). Euphorbiaceae occupies third with 15 species (12%), Caesalpiniaceae occupies with fourth 13 species (11%) and Asteraceae occupies fifth with 10 species (8%).

There is a famous preventive and curative medicine named after the village called ‘Gonupalli’. A few families belonging to this village are still engaged in preparing this compound drug of powders made of several herbs gathered from the forests surrounding the village and sell it to the needy during the weekly bazaar congregations. The main herbs used in the preparation of ‘Gonupalli choornam’ are: bitters such as Andrographis paniculata (Nelvemu), Encostema hyssopiifolium (Nela gorimidi), supposed to alleviate fevers burning urination and excessive Urination due to diabetes; nerve tonics such as Mucuna pruriens (Doolagondi viththulu), and Curculigo orchioides (Nela taadi guddalu) and ferns such as Adiantum lunulatam (Hamsapaaci) Hemionitis arifolia (Raama baanam) Actinopteris radiate (Mayoora sikha)- supposed to be antiviral and immune-modulators.

Tribel people in penchalakona hill range have embarked on doing special rituals to worship medicinal plants called Gonupalli choornam local parlance [7,8]. For the tribal people linge in far flunge areas of the agency collection of the medicinal plants from forest to prepare the choornam is not only a means of eking of livelihood. But a tradition in vogue since centuries. The tribal people attach great importance to this medicine from both the economic and religious point of view. It is known for its rich medicinal values [9]. However the dwindling forest cover and lack of remunerative price for their non-timber forest produce has become a cause of concern for the tribal people. In an effort to promote the age-old traditional occupation.

References

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3. Dutt UC (1877)Themateriamedica of Hindus,Calcutta.
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5. https://nmpb.nic.in/index.php
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9. Reddy KN, Sudhakar Reddy C(2008) First Red List of Medicinal Plants of Andhra Pradesh, India- Conservation Assessment and Management Planning. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 103-110.