STUDIES ON THE MEDICINAL PLANT BIODIVERSITY IN FOREST ECOSYSTEM OF MAHADEVPUR FOREST OF KARIMNAGAR (A.P.) INDIA

The Reserve Forests of Mahadevpur Karimnagar East Division, spread in a geographical area of 3.5 lakh kilometers and are deciduous type. The soil is red and the topography is plane type. The Ethno-medico-botanic survey was conducted in this area from April to August 2007. Thirty plant species were collected in consultation with the medicine men, village vydhyas and other local informants of this area, which are of immense medicinal value. The information on the folk medicinal uses of plants was gathered through direct field interviews with herbal healers and village medicine men. Voucher specimens were made in to herbarium and deposited in the Ethno-botany research centre, Department of Botany, Govt Degree & PG College for Women, Karimnagar SRR Govt Degree and P.G College Karimnagar, Govt Degree College Huzurabad Karimnagar and University PG. College Kakatiya University Warangal. Along with the voucher specimens, various plant parts like roots, tubers, barks, leaves, flowers, seeds were also collected and shade dried for lasting the active principles and antimicrobial properties of the medicinal plants. Some note worthy plant species which are used in the treatment of various diseases are Aristolochia indica (birth control), Gymnema sylvestres (diabetes), Phyllanthus amarus (Jaundice), Abrus precatorious (Leprocy, Skin diseases), Acacia nilotica (Anthrax), Aegle marmelos (Skin diseases), Hardvickia binata (Dog bite), Gyrocarpus jacquini (Leucorrhoea), Plumbago gelanica (Leucorrhoea), Gloriosa superba (Rhematism,Gonorrhoea), Strychnos nux-vomica (Leprosy). Very rare plants noticed in this area with immense medicinal values are Croton oblongifolium, Hildegardia populifolia, Euphorbia fusiformis, Curcuma neilghirrense, Decalepis honitoni, Abelmoschus moschatus, Asperagus recemosus. The information on the medicinal uses of plants, administration doses, botanical names, local names along with cultivation and conservation methods are discussed in this paper.