Abstract

Kani tribal communities of Kerala meet their healthcare needs by using herbal products and preparations based on traditional knowledge for first aid remedies to treat cough, cold, fever, head ache, poisonous bites and some simple ailments. Bryophytes are transitional nonvascular plants amphibians which prefer to grow in dampy conditions. Related with the taxonomy or medicinal use, this group was poorly documented. In this juncture, a survey was carried regarding medicinal utility of lower plant group – bryophytes among the Kani tribes. In the present study a total of 35 medicinal bryophytes belonging to 3 groups have been documented. These plants were used to treat various diseases like liver, cardiac ailments, skin allergies, inflammation, diarrhoea and sterility. Marchantia polymorpha, Rhodobryum giganteum, Ceratodon purpureus and Bryum argenteum ranks the priority in terms of usage. Oral interview with local inhabitants and vendors suggests that the ethnic practice is still strong. The efficacy and safety of all the reported ethnomedicinal bryophytes needs to be evaluated for phytochemical and pharmacological studies including toxicity studies.