KATTAKADA: Echan Kani (57), who introduced the rare medicinal plant Trichopus zeylanicus (Arogya Pacha) to the world was found dead in a cave inside the forest last Saturday.

Echan Kani is a resident of Kuttichal Chonampara settlement in the Agastya forest area of Kottur. He went missing on the second of this month. The forest officials, relatives and locals who searched the forest found the decomposed body when they checked the rock gorge due to a bad odour.

According to reports, Echan has been staying aloof from his family for a long time. Neyyardam police said that the cause of death will be known only after receiving the post-mortem report. In 1987, Kuttimathan Kani, Mallan Kani, and Echan Kani showed the scientists of the Palode Botanical Garden, the Arogya Pacha plant, found only in this forest region. The plant is known for its immune-boosting power, liver-protecting, anti-fatigue, and DNA-protective properties.

The botanical garden along with Arya Vaidya pharmacy has produced a drug called 'Jeevni' using Arogya pacha and distributed the profits to the Kani tribal community.

Arogya Pacha was cultivated with the help of the Kani Community Welfare Trust, which was formed under the leadership of Kani. Echan Kani is also a Life Executive Member of this Trust. The Trust received the UN Equator Initiative award in 2002.