sign in sign up
<<
Home , Assamese cuisine

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 10 Number 01 (2021) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1001.227

Consumption of Wild Perennial Medicinal by Indigenous People of

Swapnali Borah* and Nilakhi Borah

College of Community Science, CAU, Tura, Meghalaya, India

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Assam is a state of North East India which is amidst of greenery and K e yw or ds varieties of flora and fauna. Since time immemorial the

Assamese consume various green herbs as as well as medicinal purposes. In this community, Ethnic study, district which is known as heart of Assam or middle Assam medicine, Wild was selected for the purpose. Ten housewives from ten various villages of herbs consumption pattern, Perennial of Assam were selected purposively who were involved in medicinal plant & particularly. Five herbs namely Stink vine (Vedai Traditional belief Lota in Assamese), Water pennywort (Xoru manimuni in Assamese),

Article Info Creeping smart weed (Moduxuleng in Assamese), Fish mint (Mosondori in

Accepted: Assamese) and Racaba (Matikaduri in Assamese) also selected for the 12 December 2020 study which are grown wildly and abundantly throughout Assam

Available Online: particularly during spring season. These wildly grown plants are used 10 January 2021 traditionally by Assamese community in many recipes for various ailments.

Introduction effectiveness (D. K Bhattachrjee and P C Borah, 2006). In India this practice of using Human race from the very beginning have herbs goes back to the days of Vedic era. The been depending upon plant and animal Rig Veda mentioned ninety nine, Yajur Veda kingdom for food and many other purposes. mentioned eighty eight and Athrva Veda This dependency of human on plant resource mentioned 28 medicinal plants (Maiti R K et is as old as human civilization. With passing al). on time with experience they could identify Assam, being in the sub tropical humid different plants and herbs and their action on climatic region having an elevation between human health. Almost entire people of the 45 meter and 1960 meters from sea level is a world consume medicinal plants for their heaven for varieties of flora and fauna. It is in inherent medicinal properties and the moist tropical forest region, so naturally

1952

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

Assam is a home for evergreen trees, tropical different varieties of edible herbs found in this canopy trees, deciduous trees, under story area, certain herbs are more popular and trees including shrubs, herbs, ferns and consumed more frequently than the rest. grasses. have been using these plants for various purposes for day to Trans Himalayan indigenous people including day life for ages. For example bamboos, people Assam have some distinctive food reeds, theshing grasses for building houses, habits. Most of the people here eat vegetarian tree wood for furniture and fire, different as well as non vegetarian food. They eat edible fruits, , leaves and herbs for boiled, alkaline and sour preparation, bitter is . In Assam, most of the edible plants and also given a prime place in Assamese food wild vegetation grow in the garden of menu. is also an indispensable item Assamese household or around their with . In the hot and humid climate of homestead (B. Patiri and A. Borah, 2007). Assam traditionally food is used in such a Herbs that grow in Assam and North East way that, it cools the stomach all the time. Region of India have full of nutritional and Therefore food preparations are always milder medicinal values. with less . Often a herbal food preparation is consumed with or dinner. There are many herbs grow in Assam wildly These herbal preparations are cooked which are traditionally consumed by sometime as vegetarian and sometime with Assamese people in their day to day life such fish but rarely with meat. (Arani , 2013) as Stink vine (Vedai Lota in Assamese), Water pennywort (Xoru manimuni in Materials and Methods Assamese), Creeping smart weed (Moduxuleng in Assamese), Fish mint For the purpose of the study ten housewives (Mosondori in Assamese), Curry leaf who were involved in traditional cooking (Noroxingha in Assamese), Creep wood practices were selected purposively from ten sorrel (Tengechi in Assamese), Flame flower villages of Nagaon district of Assam, India (Pirali paleng in Assamese), Verdologo and conducted case studies by following (Malbhog xak in Assamese), Patchouli interview method. Nagaon district is situated (Xukloti in Assamese), Wild pepper (Bon on the middle of the state of Assam, India. jaluk), Mint (Podina in Assamese), Hog weed The geographic coordinates of the district (Ponounua), Chick weed (Morolia in Assam head quarter which is also Nagaon is 26 ese), Racaba (Matikaduri in Assamese), degree North latitude and 92 degree east Water spinach (Kolmou in Assamese), Leucus longitude. Its elevation is 52 meters from the plant (Durun bon in Assamese), Indian Pivet sea level. The topography is filled with hills, (Posotia in Assamese), Lamb squarter plain alluvial river valleys and lots of water (Jhilmil in Assamese), Rosselle (Tengamora bodies including ponds, streams, rivers, in Assamese), Brahmi (Brahmi in Assamese wetlands etc. Nagaon receives an average too) etc. Apart from these herbs, there are annual rainfall of around 2036 mm. It is many more edible herbs growing in these placed in Agro Climatic Zone of Eastern region. In the time of Bohag , a spring Himalaya Region as per Planning festival of Assam celebrated in the month of Commission and Central April, there is a tradition of having a Zone as per NARP (India). Due to its natural made of hundred and one different varieties of geographical location Nagaon is very rich in herbs grown wildly during onset of early natural resources. Entire topography is almost monsoon in Assam. Though there are green with natural vegetations which include

1953

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

different trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. 2013). In Nagaon district of Assam also Stink Among various edible herbs, five most vine is consumed for different purposes, in popular and easily available herbs i.e. 1) Stink post child delivery care of women it is Vine or Skunk Vine (English)/ Bhebeli Lota extensively used as food. For this purpose or Bhedai Lota (Assamese), 2) Lawn Marsh Stink vine paste is prepared from tender Pennywort or Water Pennywort (English)/ leaves and cooked with some indigenous fish Soru Manimuni (Assamese), 3) Creeping species like Climbing Perch or Kawai Fish in smartweed, Chinese knotweed (English), Assamese (Anabus testudineus) Cat Fish or Modhuxuleng (Assamese), 4) Fish mint, Magur Fish in Assamese (Clarius butrachus), (English), Masundori (Assamese), and 5) Snakehead fish or Sol Fish in Assamese Racaba (English), Matikaduri (Assamese) (Channa striatus) or balls and were selected for this study. like etc. and served with steamed rice (Table.1) When there is gastro Results and Discussion intestinal problem like loss of appetite and indigestion Stink vine tender leaves and Stink Vine or Skunk Vine (English)/ is consumed to increase Bhebeli Lota or Bhedai Lota (Assamese): appetite and digestion. More over different preparations of Stink vines are consumed to The scientific name of this is known as boost general immunity. Stink vine deep fried Paederia foetida which is a very popular and balls made with or lentil flour is a widely consumed herb by the ethnic people of popular preparation in Nagaon, Assam and Assam. Belonging to the Rubiaceae family of throughout Assam. Tribes of Tripura prepare plant kingdom, it is a climber found up to the Berma bauti or Gudak using dry fish and elevation of nearly 1800 meter from the sea leaves of Stink vine ( 1997). level in Bihar, Orissa, Bengal and Assam (Nadkarni 1982). It grows up to 6-7 meter Lawn Marsh Pennywort or Water long and climb on other trees for support. It is Pennywort (English)/ Soru Manimuni also available in some other parts of North (Assamese) East India like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and The Scientific Name of this Lawn Marsh Tripura. The unique character of this plant is Pennywort is Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, the stink smell it produces when the leaf or which is a small dicotyledonous plant found stem is crushed. in the Southeast Asian countries. It is traditionally falls in the family of Apiaceae Traditionally the people of Assam and North but recently suggested to place in Araliaceae East India consume this plant in various forms (Chandler 2004) of the plant kingdom. Size of according to their need and ailment. For the leaves are .5 to 2 cm wide and shape is medicinal purpose decoction of the whole round or kidney shaped. Edges of the leaves plant or leaf juice is prepared. Tender leaves are scalloped. Color of flowers is light yellow are used to prepare different cuisine for food. with some purple spots. Stems grow up to 8- Stink vine gives various therapeutic effects 10 cm long. (B. Patiri, A. Borah 2007) mainly gastrointestinal tract disorders including ulcer. Other therapeutic properties Lawn marsh pennywort believed to have very are hepatoprotective, anti inflammatory, good medicinal properties, it contains antitussive, anti arthritics, antioxidant, different minerals, iron and vitamin C. analgesic, and others. (Silpi Chanda et al., Traditionally in Assamese society this herb is

1954

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

used for flu, fever cough, gastrointestinal also prepared from its leaves with salt, sugar disorder etc. Young leaves and shoots are or . It is also cooked with lentil soups cooked as . Normally a paste is which give a unique flavor and taste. prepared from tender leaves and stems then cooked with fishes like Climbing Perch or Fish mint, (English), Masundori (Assamese) Kawai Fish in Assamese (Anabus testudineus), Spotted Snakehead or Goroi Scientific Name of this plant is Houttuynia Fish in Assamese (Channa punctata) and cordata which is a perennial ground cover garlic, black pepper etc., this curry can be plant that grows on the damp and shady soil. prepared without fish too. Chutney can also It falls under the Family Saururaceae of plant be prepared out of Lawn marsh pennywort. kingdom. Stems are soft, grow up to .6 to 1 Some people consume the raw juice too. meter and spread up to 1 meter. Leaves are Paste of raw Lawn marsh pennywort leaves alternate and heart shaped, 4-9 cm long and 3- are topically used in healing wounds 8 cm broad. (Hedrik U.P. 1972). It is a native (Table.1). plant of China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia, (F.Chittendon 1956) found up to an Creeping smartweed, Chinese knotweed altitude of 2500 meters from the sea level. (English), Modhuxuleng (Assamese) Fish mint is said to be good source of Vitamin This is perennial creeper herb that falls in A Carotene and Calcium, it also contains Polygonaceae family of plant kingdom and protein, fat, minerals, iron and fiber. People of scientific name is Polygonum microcephalum Assam are using this particular herb as is. It grows normally in damp or shady places medicine purpose for ages. They believe that throughout China, East Asia particularly it works tremendously against gastrointestinal Nepal and Assam (Manandhar N.P. 2002). disorder like Dysentery and indigestion The plant grows up to .5 m long, size of the (Table.1). Normally it is wrapped in leaf is 5-10 cm long with a shape of oval leaves and put it over burning wood charcoal blade and tip is pointed. Stems are reddish to cook and then mixed with salt and raw green in color and are soft. . The pungent smell of raw mustard oil gives a typical flavor which is Traditionally people of Nagaon district of liked by Assamese people. It is sometime Assam use this herb for medicinal purpose as cooked with Taro (Colocasia esculenta) well as a tasty leafy vegetable. It has got a which is also very popular in Assam. Some sour taste. It is believed to be very good for people eat fish mint raw as dressing. It gastro intestinal ailments like dysentery. It is is also found that the Garo tribe of Meghalaya said to be good for lung ailments like consumes this herb as chutney with dry fish. bronchitis, cough also (Table.1). Racaba (English), Matikaduri (Assamese) Assamese people consume this herb in many ways. Creeping smartweed leaves and fish Scientific Name of this Racaba is curry is very popular in this region. Any type Alternanthera sessilis which is a perennial of fish is used for this cuisine, normally only herb under the family of Amaranthaceae of salt and powder is used without any plant kingdom. It has prostrate stems and other spice. Even without fish this curry tastes often roots come out from the nodes. Leaves good, can be cooked using slices or are 1-1.5 cm long and .3-3 cm wide, elliptical grinded lentil balls. Sweet and sour chutney is in size. Flowers are tiny and white. It is

1955

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

available throughout the world in tropical juice mixed with lemon juice can cure region. dysentery. Mixer of Racaba with yellow wood sorrel and water pennywort is believed to be In many places in South East Asia leaves and good for heart. In Assam this herb is shoots of Racaba is consumed as vegetables consumed in various ways. It can be (Grubben, G.J.H. & Detton, O.A. 2004). It consumed just boiled with water in salt. Curry has diuretic, cooling, tonic and Laxative can also be prepared with fish and properties. It is used for dysuria and which is very tasty and popular throughout hemorrhoids (Tanaka, Yoshitaka, Van ke and Assam. Even without fish, Racaba curry is Nguyen 2007). And also believed to be good prepared with sliced potato which is also for eyes. In Nagaon district of Assam popular among Assamese people Table.1). traditionally Racaba is believed to be good for lactating mother. It is used for toning blood and muscles too. It is believe that Racaba

Table.1 Indigenous wild edible herbs with their botanical name, family, vernacular name, English name, edible parts and medicinal use

Sl Botanical name Family Vernacular name English Edible Medicinal use No. (Assamese) name parts 1. Paederia foetida Rubiaceae Bhebeli Lota or Stink vine Leaves Post child delivery Bhedai Lota or and care of women, Skunk tender Gastro-intestinal vine stems ailments, Musculo- skeletal pain etc. 2. Hydrocotyle Apiaceae Soru Manimuni Lawn Leaves Flu, Cough, fever, sibthorpioides marsh and gastro-intestinal pennywort tender disorder, healing or water stems wound etc. pennywort 3. Polygonum Polygonanceae Modhuxuleng Creeping Leaves Dysentery, lung microcephalum smartweed ailments like cough or Chinese Bronchitis etc. knotweed 4. Houttuynia Saururaceae Masondori Fish mint Leaves Gastro-intestinal cordata or Heart disorders like leaf Dysentery, indigestion etc. 5. Alternanthera Amaranthaceae Matikaduri Racaba Leaves Urinary track sessilis and disorder, gastro- tender intestinal disorder, stems used as muscle tonner, good for lactating mother etc.

1956

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

Table.2 Frequency of wild perennial medicinal herbs consumption pattern of Assamese Family (N=100)

Sl Scientific Vernacular Weekly Monthly Once in Once in .N Name Name Fortnightl two six (Assamese) o y month month

1 Paederia Bhebeli Lota 16 22 43 14 5 foetida or Bhedai Lota 2 Hydrocotyle Soru - - 26 43 31 sibthorpioides Manimuni 3 Polygonum Modhuxulen - 14 41 25 20 microcephalu g m 4 Houttuynia Masondori 20 23 38 17 2 cordata 5 Alternanthera Matikaduri - - - 35 65 sessilis

Fig.1

Hydrocotyle Polygonum Paederia foetida (Bhebeli sibthorpioides (Soru microcephalum Lota or Bhedai Lota) Manimuni) (Modhuxuleng)

Alternanthera sessilis (Matikaduri) (Masondori)

1957

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

Consumption pattern of herbs region started forgetting this tradition. And with time many herbs and their uses are gone Assamese cuisine is incomplete without out of our mind. Therefore it is very much herbal medicinal plant grown widely in essential to give importance on those herbs. Assam. Apart from using as medicine for New scientific research should be carried out. some particular ailments, they consume these The knowledge of these herbs should go to herbs in their too. In this study it was each and every individuals of this region so found that most (43%) of the Assamese rural that they can get the benefit out of these families were consumed Paederia foetida naturally growing herbs and lead a healthy monthly which is followed by 22 percent and prosperous life. families fortnightly. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides was consumed mostly (43%) References on once in two months which is followed by once in six months (31%). Again both Bhattacharjya D K & Borah P C Medicinal Polygonum microcephalum and Houttuynia weeds of crop fields and role of women cordata were consumed mostly (41 % and 38 in rural health and hygiene in Nalbari % respectively) once in a month by Assamese district, Assam. Indian journal of families of rural areas of Nagaon district of Traditional Knowledge. 7(3) (2006) Assam. But 65 percent Assamese families 501-504. https://pdfs.semanticscholar. consumed Alternanthera sessilis once in six org/1ea7/f59b8aee15f6daff26ec3d28c0 months and 35 percent once in two months in 8f52bd85af.pdf their . In further analysis, it was found Chandler G T, Plunkett G M (2004-02-01). that Assamese people have a habit of Evolution in Apiales: nuclear and consuming these herbs in their lunch only. chloroplast markers together in (Table 2) (almost) perfect harmony. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 144 In conclusion, the natural resources have a big (2)(2004). http://europepmc.org/ impact on the entire population living in a article/AGR/IND43622559 particular region in every aspects of life Chittendon. RHS, Dictionary of Plants plus including tradition, culture, health, economy Supplement. 1956 Oxford University etc. People of Assam have been traditionally Press. using these natural edible herbs for centuries. Das P. Wild tribal plants of Tripura tribes. Whoever has been using these herbs regularly Published by Tripura Tribal Cultural are getting benefits in different ways. As for Research Institute & Museum, example first and foremost is health benefit. Government of Tripura,1997. Secondly this practice of consuming natural Grubben, G J H. & Denton, O A Plant herbs leads to decrease in dependency on Resources of Tropical Africa 2. vegetables which we have to buy from the Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, market spending money. And this way we are Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, getting an economic benefit. And thirdly this Wageningen. (2004). practice indirectly decreases dependency on https://www. scirp.org/ medicines too, as consumption of different (S(351jmbntvnsjt1aadkposzje))/referen natural herbs boost up the immunity so less ce/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID chance of falling ill. But nowadays with the =1138411 development of new urban areas and adoption Hedrick U P, Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the of modern lifestyles many people of this World. Dover Publications (1972).

1958

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(01): 1952-1959

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257 Assam, published by the Director Forest 717835_Paederia_foetida__a_promisin Communication, Forest, Assam, (2007). g_ethno-medicinal_tribal_plant_of_ http://103.8.249.31/ assamforest/ northeastern_India publication/wildEdible plantsAssam.pdf Maiti R K, Petriz-Olvera R A, Sanchez- Saikia A, Food-Habits in Pre-, Arreola E, Osvaldo-Ramirez E & Singh International Journal of Humanities V P. Medicinal plant species selected and Social Science Invention 2(6) and confirmed for their efficiency to (2013) 01-05. http://www.ijhssi.org/ cure different diseases, Crop Research papers/v2(6)/Version-2/A02620105 25(3) (2003) 550. .pdf http://cropresearch.org/volume-25- Silpi Chanda, Indira P Sarethy, Biplab De & number-3-may-2003/ Kuldeep Singh Paederia foetida - a Manandhar N P, Plants and People of Nepal, promising ethno-medicinal tribal plant Timber Press. Oregon. (2002). of northeastern India. Journal of https://ethnobiology.org/sites/default/fil Forestry Research 24(4) (2013) es/pdfs/JoE/23-2/Sacherer2003.pdf 801−808 Nadkarni KM, The Indian Materia Medica. Tanaka, Yoshitaka, Van Ke, Nguyen Edible Bombay: Popular Prakashan1982. Wild Plants of Vietnam: The Bountiful https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18643838 Garden. : Orchid Press. ?q&versionId=21887031 (2007). p. 21. Patiri, B., A. Borah, Wild edible plants of

How to cite this article:

Swapnali Borah and Nilakhi Borah. 2021. Consumption of Wild Perennial Medicinal Herbs by Indigenous People of Assam. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 10(01): 1952-1959. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1001.227

1959