Medicinal
Plants
Medicinal Plants
constitute an important component of the plant resource spectrum
of Kerala. 
Recent analysis shows that out of estimated
4600 flowering plants in Kerala, about 900 possess medicinal values. Of these, 540 species are reported to
occur in forest ecosystems. Over 150 species of plants that
are either indigenous or naturalized in Kerala are used in the
Indian system of Medicine like Ayurveda and Sidha.
The rural folk and tribal communities make use of about 2,000
species of
lesser-known wild plants for various medicinal uses.
About 60 to 65% of plants required for Ayurvedic medicine and
almost 80% of plants used in Sidha medicine are found in the
forests of Kerala.
The major medicinal plants obtained
from the forests of Kerala are Asparagus racemosus, Solanum
anguivi, Desmodium gangeticum, Cissus quadrangularis,
Psuedartheria viscida, Strobilanthes ciliatus, Dysoxylum
malabaricum, Piper longum, Aristolochia indica, Ceasalpinia bonduc,
Tribulus terrestris, Sarcostemma acidum, Baliospermum montanum,
Aristolochia bracteolata etc.
The table below gives further details:
MEDICINAL PLANTS IN KERALA
| Botanical
Name |
Local
Name |
| Acacia
catechu |
Karingali |
| Acorus
calamus |
Vayambu |
| Adathoda
beddomei |
Atalodakan |
| Aegle
marmelos |
Koovalam |
| Alpinia
galanga |
Kolinji |
| Anisochilus
carnosus |
Karimthumba |
| Aphanamixis
polystachya |
Chemmaram |
| Aristolochia
indica |
Karalakam |
| Asparagus
racemosus |
Sathavari |
| Biophytum
spp. |
Mukkuti |
| Cassia
fistula |
Kanikonna |
| Coscinium
fenestratum |
Maramanjal |
| Crateva
magna |
Neermathalam |
| Curcuma
zedoaria |
Manjakoova |
| Cyperus
rotundus |
Muthanga |
| Daemia
extensa |
Veliparuthy |
| Desmodim
gangeticum |
Orila |
| Emblica
officinalis |
Nelli |
| Gloriosa
superba |
Menthonni |
| Gmelina
arborea |
Kumizhu |
| Hemidesmus
indicus |
Naruneendi |
| Heracleum
candolleanum |
Chittelam |
| Holoptelia
integrifloia |
Aaval |
| Holostemma
adakodien |
Adapathiyan |
| Hydrocotyle
asiatica |
Kudangal |
| Ipomoea
pestigridis |
Pulichuvadi |
| Kaemperia
galanga |
Kacholam |
| Malaxis
rheedei |
Jeevakam |
| Azadirachta
indica |
Veppu |
| Moniera
cuncifolia |
Neerbrahmi |
| Mukia
scabra |
Karthoti |
| Neolamarkia
cadamba |
Kadambu |
| Nervilia
aragoana |
Orilathamara |
| Nilgirianthes
ciliatus |
Karimkurinji |
| Oroxylum
indicum |
Palakapayyani |
| Oscimum
sanctum |
Tulasi |
| Phyllanthus
amarus |
Keezhanelli |
| Piper
longum |
Thippali |
| Pongamia
pinnata |
Ungu |
| Pseudarthria
viscida |
Moovila |
| Rauvolfia
serpentina |
Sarpagandhi |
| Rubia
cordifolia |
Manchatti |
| Ruta
graveolens |
Sathappu, Arootha |
| Salacia
fruticosa |
Ekanayakam |
| Salacia
oblonga |
Ponkoranti |
| Saraca
asoca |
Ashokam |
| Sida
cordifolia |
Kurumthotti |
| Stereospermum
colais |
Pathiri |
| Symplocos
cochinchinensis |
Pachotti |
| Terminalia
arjuna |
Neermaruthu |
| Terminalia
chebula |
Kadukka |
| Tinospora
cordifolia |
Chittamruthu |
| Trichosanthus
cucumerina |
Kaipan padavalam |
| Tylophora
indica |
Vallippala |
| Vetiveria
zizanoides |
Ramacham |
| Vitex
negundo |
Karinochi |
| Hemidesmus
indicus |
Nannari |
