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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Annamayya District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors
Ramanjaneyulu K, Dr. G Sudarsanam
Abstract
Ethnobotany plays a significant role in
understanding the traditional relationship between humans and plants,
particularly the utilization of medicinal plants in healthcare practices. The
present ethnobotanical investigation was carried out in Annamayya District of
Andhra Pradesh, India, to document the traditional medicinal plants used by
indigenous and rural communities for the treatment of various human ailments.
Extensive field surveys were conducted between 2021
to 2023 in different villages, forest regions, and tribal habitations.
Ethnomedicinal information was collected through personal interviews, group
discussions, and semi-structured questionnaires involving traditional healers,
tribal elders, shepherds, and knowledgeable local informants. The study documented a total of 84 medicinal plant species belonging to
47 families. Herbs constituted the dominant life form, followed by shrubs,
trees, climbers, parasites, and epiphytes. Leaves were the most frequently
utilized plant part, followed by roots and whole plants. Herbal remedies were
prepared in various forms such as decoctions, pastes, juices, powders,
extracts, oils, and infusions. Oral administration was found to be the
predominant mode of treatment, while topical applications were mainly employed
for wounds, skin diseases, swellings, and rheumatic disorders. The documented medicinal plants were used for treating a wide range of
ailments including fever, asthma, jaundice, diarrhoea, dysentery, cough,
gastrointestinal disorders, wounds, skin infections, reproductive disorders,
urinary complaints, and body pains. Several medicinal species such as Andrographis
paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Phyllanthus niruri, Tinospora
cordifolia, and Tridax procumbens were frequently cited because of
their high therapeutic importance and effectiveness in traditional healthcare
practices. The study highlights the rich ethnomedicinal knowledge prevailing among
rural and tribal communities of Annamayya District and emphasizes the urgent
need for proper documentation, conservation, and scientific validation of
medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge systems. The recorded
medicinal species provide valuable baseline information for future
phytochemical, pharmacological, and biodiversity conservation studies.
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Pages:241-251
How to cite this article:
Ramanjaneyulu K, Dr. G Sudarsanam "Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Annamayya District, Andhra Pradesh, India". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 241-251
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