Present Situation of Medicinal Plants Grown in Kiranchi, Kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka and Conservation Strategies

Abstract

All cultures from ancient times to the present day have used plants as a source of medicine. Today, according to the world health organization (WHO), as many as 80% of the world's people depend on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. The greater part of traditional therapy involves the use of plant extract or their active ingredients. The paper reviews the status of medicinal plants grown in Kiranchi and their uses in indigenous medicine. The Kiranchi area map was used to locate and count the medicinal plants. The pH of the soil at Kiranchi was 8.4, which was found to be suitable for growing various medicinal plants. A total of 180 species of medicinal plants were recorded. This comprises perennials (75% ), annuals (20% ), and biennials (5% ). Nine poisonous plants were also recorded at Kiranchi. Out of 180 plants, 19 used for diabetic mellitus, 16 for skin diseases, 10 for treating respiratory diseases and 8 for fever. Further, grouping based on morphology revealed herbs (38% ), shrubs (11% ), trees (36% ), lianas (3% ), climbers (6% ), creepers (2% ), cactai (3% ), and holo parasite (1% ) accounted for the total. Based on the usage of plant parts, plants species were grouped as whole plant (30), leaves (60), seeds (16), flowers (13), young pods (7), roots (25), root barks (4), stems (6), dry fruits (14), barks (4), rhizomes (3), gums (2), and galls (1). Out of 180 species, 19 were spinaches. In addition, economically viable medicinal plants such as Solanum virinianum, Acorus calamus, Andrographis paniculata, plumbago zeylanica, and Phyllanthus emblica were also found growing at Kiranchi. Grouping of the valuable and potential medicinal plants used in indigenous medicine into different categories will help to conserve and promote cultivation of medicinal plants and provides database on the existence of medicinal plants to be used by herbalist doctors in Kiranchi. Such in situ conservation should be achieved both by setting aside areas as nature reserves and national parks (collectively termed " protected areas") and by ensuring that as many wild species as possible can continue to survive in managed habitats, such as farms and plantation forests.