Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar District, Assam (India)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3360

Keywords:

Assam, Ethnobotany, Mishing, Sivasagar, Traditional knowledge

Abstract

Ethnobotany plays a significant role in traditional medicine practices. The present study aims to enlist the ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar district, Assam, India. The study was conducted from March 2021 to March 2022 to record the ethnomedicinally important plants used by the Mishing community. In the present study, 109 plant species were used in different ethnomedicinal practices which belong to 55 families and 101 genera. Out of 55 families, Asteraceae is dominant with the highest number of medicinal plants (8 species, 7.33%). In the survey, the symptomatic diseases category showed the highest agreement with an FIC of 0.64%. The most commonly used plant parts for medicinal treatments were leaves (68 species, 62.38%). In comparison to other plant parts, the utilization of leaves causes less distress to the plant ensuring sustainability and its further conservation. It is concluded that the Mishing community of Sivasagar (Assam) District uses various medicinal plants to cure different diseases as their primary source of health care. This will be a significant contribution to the herbal and pharmaceutical industries for the welfare of mankind.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Priyakshi Buragohain, Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Gopinath Bordoloi Nagar, Guwahati-781014, Assam, India

 

 

Barnali Das, Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Gopinath Bordoloi Nagar, Guwahati-781014, Assam, India

 

 

References

Cox PA. Will tribal knowledge survive the millennium? Science. 2000;287: 44–45. https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.287.5450.44

Leonti M, Sticher O, Heinrich M. Medicinal plants of the Popoluca, México: organoleptic properties as indigenous selection criteria. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2002;81(3):307–315. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00078-8

Leonti M. The future is written: impact of scripts on the cognition, selection, knowledge, and transmission of medicinal plant use and its implications for ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2011;134(3):542–555. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.017

Kayani S, Ahmad M, Sultana S, Shinwari ZK, Zafar M. Ethnobotany of medicinal plants among the communities of alpine and sub-alpine regions of Pakistan. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2015;164:186-202. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.004

Rana VS, Sharma S, Rana N, Kumar V, Sharma U, Modgill V, Prasad H. Underutilized fruit crops in North-Western Himalayan region under changing climatic scenario. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 2023;70(1):37-69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-022-01470-y

Matu EN, Staden JV. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of some plants used for medicinal purposes in Kenya. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2003;87(1):35-41. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(03)00107-7

Mall B, Gauchan DP, Chhetri RB. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by ethnic people in Parbat District of western Nepal. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2015;165:13–17. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.057

Pasquini MW, Mendoza JS, Sanchez-Ospina C. Traditional Food Plant knowledge and Use in Three Afro-Descendant Communities in the Colombian Caribbean Coast: Part I Generational Differences. Economic Botany. 2018;72(3):278–294. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12231-018-9422-6

Phumthum M, Balslev H. Use of Medicinal Plants among Thai Ethnic Groups: A Comparison. Economic Botany. 2018;73(1):64–75. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12231-018-9428-0

Tomasini S, Theilade I. Local Knowledge of Past and Present Uses of Medicinal Plants in Prespa National Park, Albania. Economic Botany. 2019;73:217–232. 10.1007/s12231-019-09454-3

Dixit S, Tiwari S. Investigation of anti-diabetic plants used among the ethnic communities of Kanpur division, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2020;253:112639. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112639

Qamariah N, Mulia DS, Fakhrizal D. Indigenous Knowledge of Medicinal Plants by Dayak Community in Mandomai Village, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Pharmacognosy Journal. 2020;12(2):386–390. https://dx.doi.org/10.5530/pj.2020.12.60

Tabuti JRS, Dhillion SS, Lye KA. Traditional medicine in Bulamogi Country, Uganda: its practitioners, users and viability. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2003;85(1):119–129. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00378-1

Mao AA, Hynniewta TM. Floristic diversity of North East India. Journal Assam Science Society. 2000;41(4):255–266

Sajeng AL, Rout J, Nath M. Traditional tribal knowledge and status of some rare and endemic medicinal plants of North Cachar Hills District of Assam, northeast India. Ethnobotanical leaflets. 2008;12:261–275

Barbhuiya AR, Sharma GD, Arunachalam A, Deb S. Diversity and conservation of medicinal plants in Barak Valley, Northeast India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2009;8(2):169–175

Mao AA, Hynniewta TM, Sanjappa M. Plant wealth of Northeast India with reference to Ethnobotany. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2009;8(1):96–103

Panmei R, Gajurel PR, Singh B. Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by the Zeliangrong ethnic group of Manipur, Northeast India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2019;235:164-182. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.02.009

Dutta BK, Dutta PK. Potential of ethnobotanical studies in northeast India: an overview. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2005;4(1):7–14

Ali ANMI, Das I. Tribal situation in northeast India. Studies of Tribes and Tribals. 2003;1(2):141–148. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0972639X.2003.11886492

Asati BS, Yadav DS. Diversity of horticultural crops in northeastern regions. Envis Bulletin: Himalayan Ecology. 2004;12(2):1–10

Debbarma M, Pala NA, Kumar M, Bussmann RW. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in tribes of Tripura in Northeast, India. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 2017;14(4):156–168. https://dx.doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i4.19

Lanusunep AT, Jamir AN, LongkumerSI ,Jamir NS. Traditional knowledge of herbal medicines practiced by Ao- Naga tribe in Nagaland, India. Pleione. 2018;12(1):11–17. https://dx.doi.org/10.26679/Pleione.30.6.2018.011-017

Mittermeier RA, Turner WR, Larsen FW, Brooks TM, Gascon C. Global biodiversity conservation: the critical role of hotspots. Biodiversity Hotspots. 2011. London Springer Publishers. 3-22 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20992-5_1

Teklehaymanot T, Giday M. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by people in Zegie Peninsula, Northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2007;3:1–12. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-3-12

Das RJ, Pathak K. Use of indigenous plants in traditional health care systems by Mishing tribe of Dikhowmukh, Sivasagar District, Assam. International Journal of Herbal Medicine. 2013;1(3):50-57

Panging SM, Sharma S. Studies on the ethno medicinal and traditional healing practices among Mishing community of Desangmukh Gaon Panchayat, Sivasagar District of Assam, India. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies. 2017;5(54):193-196

Jain SK. A Manual of Ethnobotany. Jodhpur, India. Scientific Publisher. 1987.

Kanjilal UN, Kanjilal PC, Das A, De RN. Flora of Assam. Government of Assam Publication. 1940.

Chowdhury, S. Assam’s Flora Present Status of Vascular Plants. Assam Science Technology and Environment Council, Guwahati. 2005.

Barooah C, Ahmed I. Plant Diversity of Assam (A checklist of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms), ASTEC. Bigyan Bhawan, Guwahati,Assam. 2014.

Phillips O, Gentry AH, Reynel C, Wilkin P, Durand BCG. Quantitative ethnobotany and Amazonian conservation. Conservation Biology. 1994;8(1):225–248

Zenderland J, Hart R, Bussmann RW, Zambrana NYP, Sikharulidze S. The Use of Use Value: Quantifying Importance in Ethnobotany. Economic Botany. 2019;73(1):1-11. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12231-019-09480-1

Trotter RT, Logan MH. Informant census: a new approach for identifying potentially effective medicinal plants. Plants in Indigenous Medicine and Diet. 1986;91-112

Henrich M, Ankli A, Frei B, Weimann C, Sticher O. Medicinal plants in Mexico: Healer’s consensus and Cultural importance. Social Science and Medicine. 1998;47(11):1859–1871. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(98)00181-6

Singh GA, Kumar A, Tewari DD. An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Terai forest of western Nepal. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2012;8:19. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-19

Bhat P, Hedge GR, Hedge G, Mulgund GS. Ethnomedicinal plants to cure skin diseases—an account of the traditional knowledge in the coastal parts of central Western Ghats, Karnataka, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2013;151:493–502. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.10.062

Abbas Z, Khan SM, Khan SW, Abbasi AM. Medicinal plants used by inhabitants of the Shigar Valley, Baltistan region of Karakorum range-Pakistan. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2017;13:53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0172-9

Chekole G. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used against human ailments in Gubalafto District, Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2017;13:55. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0182-7

Umair M, Altaf M, Abbasi AM. An ethnobotanical survey of indigenous medicinal plants in Hafizabad district, Punjab Pakistan. PloS One. 2017;12(6):e0177912. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177912

Kapoor IP, Singh B, Singh G, Heluani CS De, Lampasona MP De, Catalan CA. Chemistry and in vitro antioxidant activity of volatile oil and oleoresins of black pepper (Piper nigrum). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2009;57 (12):5358–64. 10.1021/jf900642x.

Hritcu L, Noumedem JA, Cioanca O, Hancianu M, Postu P, Mihasan M. Anxiolytic and antidepressant profile of the methanolic extract of Piper nigrum fruits in beta-amyloid (1–42) rat model of Alzheimer’s disease. Behavioral and Brain Functions. 2015;11:13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-015-0059-7

Tasleem F, Azhar I, Ali SN, Perveen S, Mahmood ZA. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Piper nigrum L. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2014;7S1:S461–S8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60275-3

Ee GC, Lim CM, Lim CK, Rahmani M, Shaari K, Bong CF. Alkaloids from Piper sarmentosum and Piper nigrum. Natural Product Research. 2009;23(15):1416-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410902757998.

Kaleem M, Sheema H, Sarma D, Bano B. Protective effects of Piper nigrum and Vinca rosea in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2005;49:65–71.

Eleazu CO, Eleazu KC. Physico-chemical properties and antioxidative potentials of 6 new varieties of ginger (Zingiber officinale). American Journal of Food Technology. 2012;7(4):214-221. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajft.2012.214.221.

Sunilson JAJ, Suraj R, Rejitha G, Anandarajagopa K. In vitro antibacterial evaluation of Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa and Alpinia galangal extracts as natural foods preservatives. American Journal of Food Technology. 2009; 4(5):192-200. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajft.2009.192.200.

Katiyar SK, Agarwal R, Mukhtar H. Inhibition of tumor promotion in SENCAR mouse skin by ethanol extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome. Cancer Research. 1996; 56(5):1023-1030.

Jung HW, Yoon CH, Park KM, Han HS, Park YK. Hexane fraction of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus extract inhibits the production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells via the NF-kappaB pathway. Food Chemistry and Toxicology. 2009; 47(6):1190-1197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2009.02.012.

Khaki AA, Khaki A. Antioxidant effect of ginger to prevents lead-induced liver tissue apoptosis in rat. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2010;4(14):1492-1495. 10.5897/JMPR09.397.

Lin RJ, Chen CY, Chung LY, Yen CM. Larvicidal activities of ginger (Zingiber officinale) against Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Acta Tropica. 2010; 115(1- 2): 69-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.12.007.

Kuhad A, Tirkey N, Pilkhwal S, Chopra K. 6-Gingerol prevents cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rats. BioFactors. 2006;26(3):189-200. 10.1002/biof.5520260304.

Dubey RD, Verma S, Rane D, Wani VK, Pandey AK, Paroha S. Comparative studies of anthelmintic activity of Zingiber officinale and Cassia tora. International Journal of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2010;1:1-4

Chang JS, Wang KC, Yeh CF, Shieh DE, Chiang LC. Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) has anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2013;145(1):146-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.10.043.

Baliga MS, Haniadka R, Pereira MM, Thilakchand KR, Rao S, Arora R. Radioprotective effects of Z. officinale Roscoe (ginger): past, present and future. Food & Function. 2012;3(7):714-723. 10.1039/c2fo10225k.

Mao QQ, Xu XY, Cao SY, Gan RY, Corke H, Beta T, Li HB. Bioactive compounds and bioactivities of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Foods. 2019;8(185):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8060185.

Manju V, Nalini N. Chemoprotective efficacy of ginger, a naturally occurring anticarcinogen during the initiation, postinitiation stages of 1,2 dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer. Clin Chim Acta. 2005;358(1-2):60-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccn.2005.02.018.

Kabuto H, Nishizawa M, Tada M, Higashio C, Shishibori T, Kohno M. Zingerone [4-(4- hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-butanone] prevents 6-hydroxydopamine depression in mouse striatum and increases superoxide scavenging activity in Serum. Neurochemical Research. 2005;30(3):325-332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-005-2606-3.

Malla B, Chhetri RB. Indigenous knowledge on medicinal non-timber forest products (NTFP) in Parbat district of Nepal. Indo-Global Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2012;2(2):213–225. https://doi.org/10.35652/IGJPS.2012.26.

Inta A, Trisonthi P, Trisonthi C. Analysis of Traditional knowledge in medicinal plants used by Yuan in Thailand. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2013; 149: 344–351. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.047

Singh H, Husain T, Agnihotri P, Pande PC, Khatoon S. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in sacred groves of Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2014;154:98–108. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.026

Mall B, Gauchan DP, Chhetri RB. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by ethnic people in Parbat District of western Nepal. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2015;165:13–17. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.057

Published

07-06-2024 — Updated on 17-06-2024

Versions

How to Cite

1.
Buragohain P, Das B, Nath M, Sarma PJ, Boro M, Roy S, Nath N. Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar District, Assam (India). Plant Sci. Today [Internet]. 2024 Jun. 17 [cited 2024 Nov. 24];11(sp1). Available from: https://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST/article/view/3360

Issue

Section

Special issue on Ethnobotany