ETHNOMEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE OF TRIBE-KATTUNAYAKANS IN NILAMBUR FORESTS OF MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA
The present study on the Kattunayakans tribes of Nilambure forests, Malappuram district of Kerala reveals that, there are about 90 potential medicinal plant species spreading over 47 families were utilized by these tribes to cure various ailments. The present study also concluded that, Kattunayakans are the one of the major tribal group inhabited in the Nilambure region. Moreover they have best knowledge about the uses of a good number of plant species for curing various ailments as well as their nutrional requirements.