Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Practices of the Villagers of Usilampatti Taluk of Madurai District, India

This study is aimed to document the medicinally important plants used in the treatment of cattle diseases by the villagers living in Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Interviews and detailed personal discussions were conducted with the traditional healers and local people to identify the plants and their medicinal information for 12 months (from September 2010 to August 2011). The medicinal important plants were botanically identified and voucher specimens were maintained in our Department herbarium. The investigations recorded 73 plant species belonging to 39 families were reported to have ethno-veterinary medicinal values. Leaves are the mostly used part to prepare medicine. Generally fresh parts are used for preparation of remedies and used for oral administration. Attention should be made on scientific validation and proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinally important plants in animal health care.