Ethnomedicinal Plants from Paderu Division of Visakhapatnam District, A.P, India

Abstract

Paderu division of Visakhapatnam district is the higher altitude zone in the hilly tracts of Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.  It has the second highest tribal population in Andhra Pradesh.  It lies in between latitudes of 17o_501 and 18o – 351 North and longitude of 82o-17’ and 83o-1’ East with a total geographical area of 3, 24,965 ha. The tribal population of Andhra Pradesh is 41.99 lakhs which is 6.3% of the total population. There are 33 tribal groups in Andhra Pradesh. Of these, 13 tribal groups who inhabit this agency area are, Bagata, Gadaba, Kammara, Konda Doras, Khondus, Kotia, Kulia, Malis, Manne Dora, Mukha Dora, Porja, Reddi Doras or Nooka Dora and Valmiki in Visakhapatnam District and whose population is 3, 58,447 according to the 1991 Census reports. All these 13 groups are present in this division.  The present paper deals with about 455 plant species of 354 genera belong to 115 families have been recorded which are potentially used by the 13 tribal groups in this division. Of these 455 ethnobotanical plants, 426 plants are used for ethnomedicine to cure 126 ailments.  The tribal people of this division largely depend on herbal medicines, plants products for primary health care and their daily life.

Key words: Ethnobotanical plants, Uses, Paderu division, Visakhapatnam, A.P, India

S.B. Padal et al. Ethnomedicinal Plants from Paderu Division of Visakhapatnam District, A.P, India. J Phytol 2/8 (2010) 70-91.