Enumeration of Botanicals of Flower, Fruit and Seed Origin Occurring in the Siddha Book Gunapadam by Murugesa Mudaliar

Background

Siddha medicine, with its origin in Tamil Nadu, depicts Tamil culture and way of living. The basis of Siddha medicine is the literary works by Siddhars (physicians who practiced Siddha medicine). Such knowledge is documented after exhaustive practice and experience and is entirely written in Tamil scripts. The main reason for the system being undisclosed through the years is the language barrier. With the efforts of Indian Government, through bodies like Ministry of Ayush, the native/alternative systems of Indian medicines were revived with modern strategies and campaigns. Consequently, they are gaining popularity and awareness among people in India and around the globe. The Siddha system of medicine recorded its popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and was one of the integrative therapies prescribed by Ministry of Ayush. With this growing popularity of Siddha, it is absolutely necessary to make information about medicinal herbs recorded in Siddha system of medicine accessible to the public so that researchers and the public can redily obtain reliable data on these herbs. This study is designed to list out all flower, fruit and seed origin raw drugs mentioned in the book Gunapadam (Mooligai Vaguppu) authored by Murugesa Mudaliar. This book was chosen as it is a most referred book on medicinal plants mentioned in Siddha system, followed as text book in Siddha curriculum and it is also a scheduled book in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Results and Discussion

This enumeration is planned as an effort to list out the incredible medicinal plants resources documented in Siddha system of medicine. After a thorough analysis, a total of 96 flower drugs, 126 fruit drugs and 188 seed drugs are listed with their valid botanical names.

Conclusion

This compilation will serve as an exclusive catalogue of botanicals derived from flowers, fruits, and seeds, as documented by Murugesa Mudaliar in the Gunapadam under the Mooligai vaguppu (vegetable section). It is intended to provide a valuable reference for scholars and the public engaged in exploring new therapeutic agents from the Siddha system of medicine.