Table 1 Uses and properties of ethnomedicinal plants collected for antimicrobial screening

Acalypha fruticosa Forsskal Euphorbiaceae

Chinni chedi

Decoction of leaves prepared in water is taken internally to treat dysentery.

Root and leaf paste is prepared in water and applied externally to treat skin diseases.

Stomachic and attenuate

Albizia procera Benth. Mimosaceae

Usila maram

Leaf powder is mixed with coconut oil and applied on hair for better growth.

Insecticide

Cassia alata L. Caesalpiniaceae

Seemai agathi

Root powder is mixed with lime juice and applied topically on the affected places to treat skin diseases.

Antiparasitic, astringent, purgative

Cassia auriculata L. Caesalpiniaceae

Avaarai

Whole plant is powdered with the leaves and stem of Tinospora cordifolia and mixed with cow's milk and taken internally to treat diarrhoea.

Flowers are crushed and mixed with goat's milk and taken orally to treat venereal diseases

Conjunctives, refrigerant, anthelmintic, stomachic

Cassia fistula L. Caesalpiniaceae

Sarak-kondrai

Leaf paste is prepared in water and is taken internally with sugar to treat stomachache.

Stem bark and leaves are mixed with coconut oil and made into a paste and applied topically over the affected places to treat skin diseases

Astringent, purgative, anthelmintic, diuretic, laxative, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, cathartic

Diospyros ebenum Koenig. Ebenaceae

Beedi elai chedi/Karunthumbai

Fruit powder is mixed with honey and the fruits of Trichopus zeylanicus, Terminalia bellirica, Phyllanthus emblica and rhizome of Curculigo orchioides and taken orally to stimulate body stamina.

Astringent

Diotacanthus albiflorus Benth. Acanthaceae

Kodi-urinchi

Leaf paste is prepared in water and is applied topically on affected places of wounds and on heel to treat heel cracks.

Bitter

Elephantopus scaber L. Asteraceae

Aanai chuvadi

Powder of whole plant is mixed with the leaves of Toddalia asiatica, Vitex negundo and Naravelia zeylanica and applied externally to treat rheumatism.

Cardiac tonic, febrifuge, astringent and alternative

Olax scandens Roxb. Olacaceae

Kaattu pavalam

Decoction of stem bark prepared in water and is taken internally to treat fever and cough.

Febrifuge

Pavetta indica L. Rubiaceae

Pavattai

Root powder and dried fruits of Piper nigrum are mixed with water and taken internally to get relief from indigestion.

Laxative, tonic

Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backor ex.K. Heyne. Fabaceae

Malai porasu

Paste of stem bark prepared in water is applied topically to treat wounds.

Alternative

Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth.) Sans & Wagh. Fabaceae

Karu indu

Decoction of leaves prepared in water is taken orally by pregnant women during delivery to reduce delivery pain.

Tonic

Punica granatum L. Punicaceae

Maadhulai

Dried fruit coat is ground and mixed with water and taken internally to treat stomachache and diarrhoea.

Astringent, anthelmintic, aphrodisiacs, laxative, diuretic, stomachic, cardio tonic, refrigerant

Solanum xanthocarpum Burm.f. Solanaceae

Kandan-kathiri

Dried or fresh fruits are kept in fire and the smoke is inhaled through mouth to treat tooth ache

Leaf paste prepared in water is applied topically on forehead to get relief from headache.

Pungent, digestive, astringent, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge

Syzygium cumini Skeels. Myrtaceae

Naval pazham

Leaf juice is mixed with honey or milk and taken orally to treat diabetes.

Young leaves are mixed with goat's milk and ground into a paste and taken internally to treat indigestion.

Fresh fruits are taken orally to treat stomachache.

Astringent, stomachic, diuretic, tonic and anti-diabetic

Syzygium lineare Wall. Myrtaceae

Malai naaval

Fruit powder prepared in water is made into paste and taken internally with the fruits of Ficus racemosa, leaves of Hybanthus enneaspermus, rhizome of Curculigo orchioides, Caryota urens & seeds of Cissus quandrangularis to strengthen the body.

Diuretic, stomachic, tonic and astringent

Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall. Apocynaceae

Kundalam paalai

Leaf and stem powder is mixed with the stem bark of Ficus racemosa, Ficus benghalensis, Madhuca longifolia, Strychnos nux-vomica and fruits of Carica papaya and taken internally to induce abortion and applied externally to treat skin diseases.

Anthelmintic and narcotic

Toddalia asiatica Pers. Solanaceae

Milagaranai

Leaf paste prepared in water is taken internally to treat stomachache. Powder of bark from stem is used as tooth powder and also used to treat toothache.

Aromatic-tonic, stimulant, antiperiodic, pungent, stomachic