Traditional Medicinal Plant Knowledge of the Paliyar Tribe in Kadayanallur Forest Region

Background: Ethnomedicinal practices serve as a foundational pillar for primary healthcare and economic stability among rural and indigenous populations in India. The Paliyars are a nomadic dravidian tribal group inhabiting the biologically diverse South Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Due to rapid urbanization, deforestation, over-exploitation, and a lack of formal institutional transmission among the younger generations, this valuable indigenous knowledge system is facing a critical risk of extinction. This study systematically documents the traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Paliyar community within the Kadayanallur Forest Region to facilitate cultural preservation and future pharmacological validation.