Navas M Kunju

• M Sc, Ph.D, LL. B, FNSE, FIAAT
• State Medicinal Plants Board Kerala; Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute

The success of a nation relies on its ability to transform biodiversity and natural resources into sustainable wealth, utilising science and technology in an ecologically responsible and economically rewarding manner. Biodiversity is a crucial resource for creating value-added products such as food, medicine, cosmetics, and other commercially valua...

It is worthwhile to note that almost all human civilizations over millennia in different parts of the world evolved their own culture and tradition based on the environment they lived, some of which would have imbibed, inherited and incorporated other culture and traditions and added medicines and food habits known as traditional medicines and trad...

Traditional knowledge generally refers to experiences of long standing traditions and practices of certain regional, indigenous or local communities. It is getting eroded rapidly due to changing living habits of the people. There is an urgent need to document the remaining invaluable information for the welfare of people now and protect for posteri...

Traditional knowledge (TK) refers to the tradition or culture of respective countries of the world. TK is sometimes specifically focused on information belonging to different ethnic communities of the world, especially that of tribal people. It is often restricted to location-specific knowledge of common people, including ethnic communities residin...

Traditional festivals represent an expression of culture and lifestyle resulting from the local climatic, agricultural and economic principles. Kerala, which is endowed with amazing range of festivals is renowned for the food specially made in these festivals. Thiruvathira is one such festival celebrated with much fervour and gusto. In this study,...

The morphological and anatomical characterisation of ten medicinally and economically important species of Curcuma L. from South India namely, C. aeruginosa (neela-kua), C. amada (manga-inchi), C. aromatica (kasturi-manjal), C. aurantiaca, C. caesia (kari-manjal), C. haritha (karpura-kua), C. longa (manjal), C. montana, C. zanthorrhiza (manja-kua)...

In the present study, the preliminary phytochemical analysis and the estimation of phytochemical constituents were carried out in coded plant 222 leaves. Cold extraction method was used for the preparation of the leaf extract using ethanol as solvent. Phytochemical screening of the coded plant 222 leaf extract showed the presence of carbohydrates,...

India is considered as the home land of the most diverse and richest traditional and folk knowledge systems because of its unique cultural expressions which are directly or indirectly connected with environment, ecology, biodiversity, etc., ranging from coastal, desert and plains to mountainous regions. The diversity that occurs in the flora and fa...

Ethnobiology is the scientific study of the way living things are treated or used by different human cultures since time immemorial. Presently, due to modernization, urbanization, deforestation, etc., the Traditional Knowledge (TK) accumulated over the millennia are fast disappearing from all walks of life along with the knowledge providers. This g...

Traditional Knowledge (TK) is the basis for the food, health and economic security of millions of people and has been developed and transpired through generations in the form of healing arts, agricultural practices, cultural values, local languages, customs and customary practices for the well being of the communities. TK also refers to experiences...

In the present study, the hepatoprotective effect of the leaf ethanolic extract of coded plant (Code No. 222 **) against ethanol-induced hepatic injury and oxidative stress in Wistar albino rats was evaluated. The animals were divided into different groups and treated with 222 leaf ethanolic extract (125 mg/kg) for twenty days. Silymarin, the stand...

The hepatoprotective effect of the leaf ethanolic extract of coded plant (Code No. 222 **) against D-Galactosamine induced hepatic injury in Wistar albino rats was evaluated in the present study. The animals were divided into different groups and treated with 222 leaf ethanolic extract at different doses (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) and Silymarin (100...

Abstract In this part, the protective effect of the ethanolic leaf extract of coded plant (Code No. 222*) was evaluated against paracetamol (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in Wistar rats. In toxin control paracetamol treated group, elevated levels of serum enzymes are indicative of cellular leakage and loss of functional integrit...

In the present study, the antidiabetic effect of the ethanolic leaf extract of coded plant (Code No. 222 *) was evaluated against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. There was a significant increase in blood glucose levels of STZ (50 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats compared to normal control group of animals. The oral administration of coded p...

The practice of Kalaripayattu is a very popular traditional martial art of Kerala. This is an art and cultural expression practised in the southern most part of India, especially in Kerala for conditioning the spiritual, mental and physical faculties of an individual to lead a healthy long life. It is still practised through guru-sishya parampara....

‘Bala’ is a popular drug in traditional medicine especially in Ayurveda and Siddha. This drug is extensively used in the treatment of neurological and urinary problems, asthma, chronic dysentery, rheumatism, piles, phthisis, insanity etc. Different forms of this drug are mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit medical texts under the denomination of Panc...

Idukki, the mountainous district of Kerala State has the maximum diverse tribal communities and second highest proportion of tribal population in Kerala. The unique and diverse traditional food culture that still exists among different tribal communities namely Muthuvan, Hilpulayan, Mannan, Oorali, Malayarayan, Ulladan, Paliyan, Malayan, Malavedan...

Ethnobotany refers to the field of study that examines the interaction between human societies and the plant kingdom, especially how indigenous people perceive, manage and utilize the plants around them. Ethnobotanical documentation can be seen as a model to preserve the oral traditional knowledge and a way to make it available for the present and...

Abstract Folk medicine or traditional medicine is one of the natural health care systems have been practicing by all human cultures from the beginning of civilization. Biodiversity existing in each area also plays an inevitable role in the development of such healthcare practices. The organized healthcare systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani etc. a...

Folk medicine or traditional medicine is one of the natural health care systems have been practicing by all human cultures from the beginning of civilization. Biodiversity existing in each area also plays an inevitable role in the development of such healthcare practices. The organized healthcare systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani etc. are develo...

Abstract Traditional and folk practices in Kerala is directly linked with the Traditional Knowledge system prevailed in the coastal area known as Kadalarivu, knowledge from the plains known as Nattarivu, and the knowledge from the hilly and forest areas especially from the tribal communities known as Kattarivu. These knowledge systems are directly...

Abstract This scientific study was carried out based on traditional knowledge related to a medicinal plant (Code No. 222*) disclosed by a traditional healer after signing Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Contractual Agreement including non-disclosure agreement with Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI). The claim...

International seminar on Advancements in Angiosperm Systematics & Conservation - 2015 O-T4-107 CHARACTERISATION OF THE RAW DRUG ‘BALA’ FROM SOUTH INDIAN MARKET AND COMPARISON WITH GENUINE DRUG Mathew Dan, M. Navas & P.G. Latha Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode P O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India- 695 562. em...

The genus Sida L. of Malvaceae is represented by about 200 species, widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions. In India, there are 20 species of Sida, of which 19 are present in South India. S. beddomei, S. cuneifolia, S. fryxellii and S. ravii are endemic to south India. Thiruvanananthapuram district showed maximum diversity in th...

Introduction Anatomical studies of the root of four Sida species, S. rhombifolia, S. alnifolia, S. scabrida and S. rhomboidea, coming under Sida rhombifolia complex (Malvaceae) were carried out and compared. The genus Sida is the botanical source of the controversial Ayurvedic drug ‘Bala’. Nearly five species of Sida including S .alnifolia are used...

Description on 25 medicinal plants with clues for identification and various photographs. Glossary of Technical terms included. pages 131.

Traditional Knowledge has been used for centuries by indigenous and local communities in healthcare. It is an important factor for sustainability of natural resource management. The women folk of the country play a vital role in the use and mobilization of such biodiversity based knowledge system. The efficacy of this knowledge is time tested and c...

The medicated oil prepared with the whole plant of Acrotrema arnottianum Wight, (Dilleniaceae) is used by the Malavedan tribe of Kerala to prevent excessive hair fall and baldness. As a promising ethnomedicinal plant, systematic and detailed pharmacognostical studies as per the standard procedures were carried out. There are no previous reports on...