India is designated as one of the mega diversity countries in the world wherein the Western Ghats Region is considered as ‘Hot Spot’ rich in biodiversity and endemic species. The Agastyamalai region located at the southern part is well-known for biodiversity and medicinal plants richness as a Centre of Species Diversity, designated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve comprising a major part of the Tirunelveli district and a minor part of Kanniyakumari district situated in the Agastyamalai region. The tribals, Kanis or Kanikkars are inhabited only in the Agastyamalai region. The book contains ethnobotanical data for 352 plants that are used to cure 191 diseases. Of them, new uses of plants which are not recorded in earlier literature include 299 plants used to cure 169 diseases including 47 endemic and threatened plants. The work exposes the indigenous knowledge of the Kanis. The leads given in this book are useful to discover and develop drugs after throughput scientific screening. The book is the first of its kind dealing with the knowledge of Kanis in depth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR E. Harrison Prem Kumar
Dr. E. Harrison Prem Kumar has published four papers, described two new varieties, rediscovered four endemic and threatened plants. He has more than 12 years of teaching experience and 7 years of research experience and presented many papers in national level conferences.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR M.B. Viswanathan
Dr. M.B. Viswanathan, is a senior faculty member and a renowned taxonomist in Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tamil Nadu, India. His published works include 51 research articles in the refereed national and international journals and has contributed chapters for twelve books. He has discovered 8 new species (7 in Angiosperms and 1 in Pteridophytes), 3 new varieties (2 in angiosperms and 1 in Fungi), reported one new record to India, 8 rediscoveries, 14 taxa as new records to the Eastern Ghats, amended descriptions of two endemic species and solved nomenclatural confusions for 4 species. New medicinal plants to the reported literature include 478 medicinal plants. Understanding the importance of ethno/traditional medicines, he has engaged himself in recording them and has been in the forefront for discovery and development of drugs out of the leads from ethno/traditional medicine. To date he has contributed 12 research articles on Phytochemistry and Antimicrobial studies and 3 in Pharmacology. He has shared expertise to publish CAMP Repots (Conservation Assessment and Management Plan) on Threatened Medicinal Plants and Orchids, Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Ethnobotany in Tamil Nadu, two books were edited an one Pamphlet published. He is a recipient of three awards for three of his research papers presented in International and National Conferences. He has presented research papers in 17 International and National Conferences herein three of them received Best Paper Awards. He has organized Refresher Courses for Botany faculties in Tamil Nadu, conducted Workshops, raining Progammes, and served as Resource Person/organizing committee member in seminars/conferences/workshops. Involved in several Research Projects, he has produced 3 Doctorates and has been guiding 7 Research Scholars for Doctoral Programme. He is serving as Referee for 2 International Journals and a Member of Board of Studies in 2 Universities. He has visited Italy and Sri Lanka to participate in International Workshop and presented a Research Paper. He is a recipient of F.I.A.T. and G.E.B. He has 22 years of research experience and 14 years of teaching experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR N. Ramesh
Dr. N. Ramesh is serving as Research Coordinator, Consultant and Advisor in Medicinal Plants Research at Sri Kaliswari College, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. Previously, he was Senior Lecturer in Ponniah Ramajayam College, Thanjavur. He has to his credit twenty research papers in the refereed journals wherein he has reported phytochemical and antimicrobial studies for 12 medicinal plants including reporting of luteoforol for the first time in Euphorbiaceae, described 2 new varieties and rediscovered three endemic and threatened plants. He has presented research papers in several International and National Conferences and has more than 12 years of research experience and 5 years of teaching experience.
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