Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 5(4), October 2006, pp. 529-530

Ethnomedicinal plants from Gohpur of ,

B Saikia Department of Botany, Chaiduar College, Gohpur, Sonitpur 784168, Assam Received 6 December 2004; revised 26 May 2006

The paper describes the traditional knowledge related to ethnomedicine of different communities of Gohpur of Sonitpur district of Assam state. Population of the study area is mainly dominated with Assamese, Bodo, Mishing, Napali and Santhal communities. Information was collected on the basis of interview and observation with local healers, generally known as Bej (Vaidya). All together 22 prescriptions were recorded from 20 plant species belonging to 17 families. Key words: Ethnomedicine, Traditional knowledge, Assam, Bodo tribe, Mishing tribe, Napali tribe, Santhal tribe IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/04, A61P1/08, A61P1/12, A61P1/14, A61P1/16, A61P11/00, A61P11/06, A61P11/08, A61P11/10, A61P11/12, A61P17/00, A61P17/14, A61P19/00, A61P19/02, A61P19/10, A61P21/00, A61P29/00, A61P31/00, A61P31/02, A61P37/08

The use of plants and animals as a source of medicine about 603 sq km with estimated population of and food is as old as humanity. By necessity, man has 2,43000. undoubtedly always been concerned with the question of health and survival, and has sought within the Methodology framework of his knowledge solutions to problems of 1 The study was conducted as per prescribed illness . The herbals occupied a distinct place in the method3. The random survey was based on interview life right from the primitive period till date and and observation from local healers. The plant provided information on the use of plants or plant specimens were collected and identified with the help parts as medicine. Today, most of the tribal people of local flora6 and also consulting with the herbaria of use plants as a source of medicine in their own BSI, Eastern circle, Shillong, Meghalaya; Department medical lore. So, scientific observation on folk use of of Botany, Gauhati University, and plants and conservation effort of medicinal plants are deposited in the herbaria of Chaiduar College, essential. Most of them have studied extensively most Gohpur, Assam. of the plants, from North East particularly in 2-5,7-9 Assam . There is no record of ethnobotanical work on Gohpur of Sonitpur district. The present Results and discussion work was undertaken to record the traditional uses of The record of collected plant species with their plants as a source of medicine practiced by the rural local name, botanical name, family, parts used and people of Gohpur. uses are mentioned (Table 1). The traditional Gohpur is situated in the extreme East of Sonitpur knowledge on medicine was recorded from Assamese district (26°21′-26°93′ N & 91°71′-92°37′ E) covering (As), Mishing (Mis), Nepali (Nep), Bodo (Bo) and an area of 79 sqm in upper Assam. Santhal (Santh) communities of Gohpur, Assam. The bound Sonitpur district on the North, Lakhimpur local people of the study area are generally dependent district on the East, Darrang district on the West, and on agriculture and are expert in manufacturing of Brahamaputra river on the South. Topographically, traditional cane and bamboo items. In all, 20 plant the area is low-lying plain land and more or less species belonging to 17 families are recorded. Of the inundated during rainy season. The temperature varies 20 plant species, 12 species belonging to 12 genera from 17°C-37°C. The vegetation is tropical rain are dicots and 7 species belonging to 6 genera are forests and includes semi-evergreen and mixed monocots. The only fern species is Christella deciduous forests. Six rivers flow from northern parasiticus (L.) Lev. A total 22 prescriptions are direction to southern direction. Total land area is recorded which are popularly used by them. 530 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 5, No. 4, OCTOBER 2006

Table 1⎯Medicinal plants and their uses in Gohpur by different tribes

Plant name/Local name/ Family Uses Acacia farnesiana Willd., Leaf juice (50 ml) mixed with 5 gm sugar is given once in a day Tarua Kadam (As), (Mimosaceae) for a week in cough. Acorus calamus L., Boch (As), Bish bildi (Bo), (Araceae) Rhizome juice (20 ml) is given in stomach pain. Aegle marmelos Correa, Bel (As), (Rutaceae) Ripe or roasted fruit is used in dysentery. Alstonia scholaris R. Br. 20 ml latex mixed with water and sugar is used in asthma. Sotiana (As), (Apocynaceae) Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill, Roasted Unripe fruit juice (200 ml) is given once daily on empty Matikathal (As), Rwimdli (Bo), Katar (Nep), Khanthal (Bo), stomach for a fortnight in strangury. Kataki kanthal (Mis), (Bromeliaceae) Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. Powder of 4-5 fruit stalk is applied on gum in toothache. Kathal (As), Belang (Mis), Kothol (Santh) (Moraceae) Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. Akon (As),Akon pat Latex is applied twice daily on wart till cure. Warmed fresh leaf is (Mis), Gogonda (Bo), (Asclepiadaceae) placed to relieve from any pain. Cassia alata L. Kharpat (As) (Caesalpinaceae) Leaf poultice is applied once daily in scabies till cure. Christella parasiticus (L.) Lev.,Bih-logani (As), Leaves are used for rheumatism and in snakebite. (Thelypteridaceae) Citrus aurintifolia (Chirstm.) Swingle, Gol-nemu (As), Fruit (5 gm) preserved in common salt for 3-4 days is given once (Rutaceae) or twice in dysentery. Clerodendrum colebrokianum Walp., Nephaphoo (As), Own For hypertension, 4-5 leaves roasted with 4-5 garlic cloves by (Mis), (Verbenaceae) wrapping in banana leaf are taken empty stomach early morning for a month. Commelina benghalensis L. Tender shoot juice is applied twice daily for 2-3 days on stye. Kana-simalu (As), Commelinaceae) Costus speciosus(Koenig)Sm., Root juice (200 ml) is given for a week in strangury. Jamlakhuti (As), Raja laothi (Bo), (Costaceae) Curcuma longa L., Haladhi (As), Haldoi (Bo), Haldi (Santh), Rhizome juice (50 ml) mixed with 5 gm sugar is given once daily (Zingiberaceae) empty stomach early morning for a fortnight in acidity. Curcuma caesia Roxb., Kalahaladhi (As), (Zingiberaceae) Fresh rhizome paste (50 gm) mixed with Musa balbisiana fruit bark ash is applied once daily till cure in gout, sprains and bruises. Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle, Root poultice is applied on soles and palms in burning sensation Gandh birina (As), (Poaceae) once daily before bedtime for 3-4 days. Dendrocnide sinuta. (Blume) Chew, Root poultice is applied in mumps once daily for 2-3 days. Chorat (As), Pajji (Mis), (Urticaceae) Eclipta prostrata L., Keharaj (As), (Asteraceae) Leaf juice is applied on scalp to prevent premature graying and falling of hairs. Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus (As), (Myrtaceae) Leaf is bruised and the aroma is inhaled in common cold. Vitex negundo L., Pachatia (As), (Verbenaceae) Tender shoots made in to a bundle with a piece of cloth are roasted in water vapour, then the bundle is used as fomentation twice daily over the chest and joints pain for 2-3 days.

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