Ethnomedicinal Plant Knowledge Among the Adi Tribe of Yingkiong and Mariyang Valley, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Available online at www.ijpab.com Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5432 ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) Research Article

Ethnomedicinal Plant Knowledge among the Adi Tribe of Yingkiong and Mariyang Valley, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Orik Danggen1,†, Jine Mello1,†, Kayut Ering1,†, Anowar Hussain2 and Viveeyan Saikia1* 1Department of Botany, School of Basic and Applied Science, Apex Professional University, Gumin Nagar, Pasighat, 791102, Arunachal Pradesh (India) 2Division of Life Sciences, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, 781035 Assam (India) *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] † Equally contributed Received: 13.08.2017 | Revised: 26.09.2017 | Accepted: 1.10.2017

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to focus on the indigenous uses of medicinal plants by the Adi tribe inhabiting in the Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. Traditional uses and utilization patterns of alleviative plant species were aggregated through conversations with native and old aged ethnic people. A total of 28 species belonging to 20 different families have been reported. Among the families recorded, most of the identified species belongs to Asteraceae, Rutaceae and Solanaceae families. Majority of the plant species are herbs (49 %) and allotment of leaves (60 %) are mostly been acclimated in abating various diseases. The study was conducted in an attempt to preserve and document the vanishing knowledge of ethnnomedicine used by the Adi tribe and may facilitate the pharmaceutical research for developing medicines from plants for ailment of various diseases.

Key words: Ethnomedicine, Adi tribe, Upper Siang, Medicinal plants, Indigenous.

INTRODUCTION health care10. Ethnomedicine pertains to the In India, practice of ethnomedicine has always study of traditional medical practice which is been an integral part among various concerned with the cultural interpretation of communities and tribes. In the tribal society health, diseases and affliction, and additionally using vegetation and its components as drugs addresses the healthcare-seeking method and were widely practiced from ancient periods14,4. healing practices7,9. Studies on traditional knowledge on folk North-East India including Arunachal medicine has accounted that over 7500 Pradesh supports remarkable floral diversity different plant species found in the ecosystem and is one of the richest repositories of are used by various ethnic tribes for primary medicinal plants.

Cite this article: Danggen, O., Mello, J., Ering, K., Hussain, A. and Saikia, V., Ethnomedicinal Plant Knowledge among the Adi Tribe of Yingkiong and Mariyang valley, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6(1): 1504-1511 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320- 7051.5432

Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Therapeutic efficacies of abounding aboriginal health care system. The present study attempts plants for several disorders have been reported to showcase the use of ethnomedicinal plants and during the last two decades, some notable by the Adi tribes in curing various diseases advance has been made in the acreage of that has been enlisted in the Table 1. A study ethnomedicinal analysis on the tribes of was carried out to provide authentic listing of Arunachal Pradesh by various scholars but still plants used in folk medicinal practices, the many tribes are awaited to be explored in plant part used and usage pattern of the plants phrases of ethnobotanical understanding of for various diseases based on field assessment this Himalayan region8 and the Adi tribe is one and documentation. of them. Adi tribe are one of the major tribe and constitutes about 26.52% of total MATERIAL AND METHODS scheduled tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Study area Traditional drug treatments are the mainstay of Upper Siang District is located on the northern healthcare in this region and are known to part of Arunachal Pradesh which stretches out support the treatment of many illnesses such as between 28o18’ latitude and 95o24’ longitude. malaria, jaundice, bacterial infections, The study area cover two circles viz Yingkiong epilepsy, gynecological problems and others. and Mariyang of the district, which covers Due to bare accessories and poor several villages like Simong, Gette, Gobuk, communication, villagers in the remote Dalbing, Damro, Adi Pasi etc. The Yameng localities still rely on the traditional medicines river divides the study area into two parts. The for the alleviation of the local ailments. They upper hilly and mountains tract is thickly mostly use herbals and sometimes blend of vegetated while large patches of evergreen plants, animal and mineral substances forest are found in Lower deposit areas. The accompanying with local rituals. The usage of natural vegetation consists of combined plants for abating various ailments is known to deciduous trees, grasses and bushes of sub- several households and some of them are tropical species. There are three types of forest grown in backyard kitchen gardens. The viz tropical semi-evergreen forest, sub-tropical elderly people as well as medicinal forest and tropical wet evergreen forest. practitioners known as Miri Abu have Mariyang Circle recorded higher dense traditional expertise of the ethnomedicinal vegetation cores in the area. The soil of study plants found in the nearby forest and its area varies from loamy to clayey with thick vicinity. They are good in identification, humus content especially in forested area. extraction, use, preparation and applications of Mountain soil is mostly found in the upper plants and herbs in various kinds of ailments hilly area with wide varieties of rocks and soil locally occurring in the area. They have composition. Vast extensions of alluvial indigenous approach of remedy for different deposit are found along the banks of Simar, kind of diseases with the assist of local herbal Sipit, Siat etc and along the streams in low medications. lying areas. The study area is inhabited by There is abundance of medicinal mainly Adi tribe. The Adi tribe is a major tribe plants for different ailments, but there is lack distributed in the temperate and sub-tropical of proper identification and application in the area in the District East Siang, Siang, Upper treatment of diseases. Proper documentation of Siang, West Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and traditional information concerning plant use Lohit (Figure 1). together with conservation and sustainable Exploration and documentation management of key habitats ought to make Extensive filed survey was conducted in and contribution to safeguarding this rich heritage. around Yingkiong and Mariyang valley of Including that it has provided the discovery of Upper Siang District of the state Arunachal many important drugs of modern day2,3 Pradesh. Various indigenous uses and providing a significant role in community utilization patterns of medical plants species Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2018; IJPAB 1505

Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 were gathered through interviews, group precise information on scientific names, local discussion and conversations with old aged names, habits, plant parts used and their ethnic people, and photographs of the plants medicinal uses are represented in the Table 1. were taken in their natural habitat. Specimens Figure 2 shows photographs of some of the of each of the species were collected and medicinal plants used by Adi tribes. Pie chart herbariums were prepared with standard of plant habit and parts of the plant used are technique5. Results of the present survey have shown in Figure 3a & 3b. Herbs contributed been represented in tabular form with highest with 49%, shrubs 25%, tree 25% and scientific names, family, local name, habit, rest are other of the total recorded medicinal parts used and uses for curing diseases. plant species. Out of the total medicinal plant species collected about 70% of the species are RESULTS AND DISCUSSION harvested from wild, 20% are cultivated Arunachal Pradesh, the land of rising sun is whereas 10% are both cultivated and from the abode of biological and socio-cultural wild. It has also been observed that medicinal diversity (26 major and 110 subtribes) among plants species are grown in home gardens the north eastern states of India. The local according to people needs. Leaves are the inhabitants are mostly dependent on forest and significant plant parts widely utilized which is forest resources and carry rich indigenous contributing 60% of the recorded plant species knowledge on practices of medicinal plant followed by the rest % are the other parts like species for healing various ailments. They roots, rhizomes and whole plants. have a deep belief in their native folklore The remedies are prepared either from medication for treatments and they rely freshly collected plant parts or after drying exclusively on their own herbal cure11. Present according to its uses and are either taken orally study has been carried out to document the use or used externally. Among the recorded pattern of medicinal plant species by the Adi species, few zone medicinal plants uses are tribe of Upper Siang District of Arunachal being precisely explained. The oil of Pradesh. Information was gathered from Zanthoxylum rhetsa commonly known as elderly indigenous people inhabiting nearby Onger is a very useful traditional remedy for the forest areas. The valley is not only rich in cholera. The peel of the fruits, seeds, barks of vegetation also vibrant in various ethno- the stems and roots in addition to oil extracted medical, socio-cultural system since long from the fruits are used for other medicinal time13,1 and in the present study documentation cause. A decoction of the bark is taken of ethnomedicinal knowledge of the Adi tribe internally as a cure for pains in the chest. The of Arunachal Pradesh has been partially fruits are used in the treatment of asthma, attempted. It is these ethnic groups who has bronchitis, heart trouble and tooth ache4. The been in close association with forest and have flower head of Spilanthes paniculata are adequate knowledge on utilization of forest chewed to get relieve from toothache and other resources which are playing a vital role in their mouth related troubles. Leaves are used life style. Reports reveal that these plant externally in treatment of skin diseases. Leaf species might have splendid financial decoction is used as diuretic and lithotriptic. capability in the medicinal plant market. Whole plant is used in treatment of Present study exhibited a total of 28 dysentery11. Tender leaves of Clerodendum plant species distributed over 20 distinct colebrookianum used as vegetable and its families. As observed from results, Asteraceae, boiled leaves are taken against high blood Rutaceae, Solanaceae families were prominent pressure and diabetes. Leaf juice or decoction among others and each of these families is used for curing stomach ailments1. Leaves consisted of three distinct species. Asteraceae of Solanum indicum are consumed as family is one of the highly prevalent group of vegetable and considered good for stomach medicinal plants in Northeast India12. A ailments. Coptis teeta is a rare species of Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2018; IJPAB 1506

Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 flowering plant in the buttercup family. The about 10 minutes, sweetening and then root is a pungent, very bitter that controls chilling. The entire plant is rich in vitamin C. bacterial and viral infections, relaxed spasms, It is safe in low dosages, but if eaten in large lower fevers and stimulates blood circulation. quantities over a length of time can inhibit They are a safe and effective treatment for calcium absorption by the body. Houttuynia ailments such as some forms of dysentery that cordata is used traditionally for pneumonia. are caused by bacteria, improves appetite, gas, The leaf extract is taken during dysentery. The jaundice, tumor, boil and skin inflammation crushed leaves and stems are used in case of conditions1. The perennial plant Aconitum measles, gonorrhea and skin troubles6. It can heterophyllum found in alpine & sub-alpine cause severe allergic reactions. The herb habitats, usually in open places are raditionally Drymarria cordata is used to cure headache, used as source of arrow poison by many tribal malaria etc. Young leaves of Ficus sp. are group. Its use in commercial allopathic system cooked in boiled diluted curd for 40-50 min. of medicines is still largely unexplored. An on slow fire, then mixed with seasoned garlic extract of root is used in some medicines for and spices. Unripe fruits are boiled in water curing diarrhea and as an antidote against for 15-20 min. and mix with seasoned garlic snake bite. The whole plant of Ageratum and spices. Ripened fruits are eaten raw. It is conyzoids is anti-inflammatory and anti- very effective for dysentery1. The roots of allergic. The plant contains 0.7–2.0 % Solanum aculeatissimum are purgative. A essential oil, plus alkaloids and saponin. The decoction is drunk to cure back pain, male essential oils contained in the plant have impotence and flatulence. A root maceration is antibiotic properties. The juice of the plant is drunk to treat snakebites. A decoction of the used to treat cuts, wounds and for blood fruit is administered as an enema to cure clotting6. The bitter annual herb Andrographis constipation. Plants were uprooted and root is paniculata has been proved to have chewed during tooth ache that gives instant hepatoprotective properties. The drug relief. Citron fruit Citrus medica look like a produced from this antihelmentic and liver beg lemon, with very thick skin with very less tonic. It is a blood purifier too. It is a high inner pulp content. Its fruit peel, seed, pulp etc demand species in herbal markets as the whole are used in Ayurvedic treatment. It is widely plant is used in making the drugs. It grows used for treating abdominal colic, digestive very well in open or partial shade habitats in disorders, piles etc. low altitudes. It cures malaria and gives relief Plants here reported overall are used to during cough. The species of Centella asiatica cure various ailments like allergy, bleeding, is eaten as vegetable as well as medicine. The blood pressure, body ache, cold, cough, cuts, stems are slender, creeping, green to reddish- diarrhea, dysentery, fever, headache, jaundice, green in colour, connecting plants to each stomach ache, swells, wound etc. Earlier other. It is used for the treatment of diabetes, studies provide vital clues as to the ulcer, headache, pain killer, dysentery and formulation of potential products for cough11. Although no specific mention of pharmaceutical purposes. This study indicates medicinal use has been seen for Allium that medicinal plants resources of Upper Siang hookeri, members of this genus are in general valley is abundant and the region can be very healthy additions to the diet. They contain suitable agroclimatic zone for cultivation sulphur compounds and when added to the diet associated with traditional folk medicinal on a regular basis they help in reducing blood practices by the Adi tribe. It is extremely cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the essential to encourage and conserve the digestive system and circulatory system. The traditional knowledge with a scope of leaves of Oxalis cornuculata are quite edible improving rural economy of the state as a with a tangy taste of lemons. A drink can be whole. Moreover, scientific impart on made by infusing the leave in hot water for indigenous knowledge is likely to benefit the Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2018; IJPAB 1507

Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 traditional society as well as in conservation of documentation of ethnomedico-botanical useful plants species. Therefore, it is high time knowledge of the tribal people for greater to adopt holistic approach for conservation and benefit of the future generation.

Table 1: List of Ethnomedicinal plants used by Adi tribe of Upper Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh

Scientific Name & Family Habit Local Name Parts used Used for ailments

Aconitum heterophyllum Snake Bite (antidote) and Herbs Emmo Roots (Ranunculaceae) Diarrhea Ageratum conyzoides Herb Namsing Ing Leaves Blood Clotting (Asteraceae) Allium hookeri Herb Iinying Leaves Cold and Cough (Amaryllidaceae) Alocasia macrorrhizos Edible Part Plant Engee Pain reliever of insect Bite (Araceae) (tuber) Amaranthus spinosus L. Antidote in Snake Bite and Herbs Gubor Oying Tender Leaves (Amaranthaceae) Gonorrhea Andrographis paniculata Tree Tagam Leave Malaria and Cough (Acanthaceae) Blumea fistulosa Shrub Rumbdum Leave Diarrhea (Asteraceae) Calamus inermis Creeping Tarra Leaves buds Malaria (Arecaceae) Shrub Centella asiatica L. Golgi Sipum or Herb Whole Part Dysentery and Blood Pressure (Apiaceae) Dolgi Citrus medica L. Fruits & Tree Cingkom Dandruff (Rutaceae) Leaves Clerodendrum colebrookianum Tree Ongin Leaves Blood Pressure (Verbenaceae) Coffea bengalesis Roxb. Shrub Wanco Fruits Stomach disorder (Rubiaceae) Coptis teeta Wall Malaria fever and stomach Herb Diko Roots (Ranunculaceae) disorder Diplazium esculentum Shrub Takang Root Food Poisoning (Athyriaceae) Drymaria cordata L. Herb Pipi Whole Part Headache (Caryophyllaceae) Ficus sp. Tree Takuk Roots Dysentery (Moraceae) Houttuynia cordata Thunb Herbs Roram Tender Leaves Measles and dysentry (Saururaceae) Ixora sp. Creeping Japan-Ing Leaves Stomach Ache (Rubiaceae) herbs Oxalis corniculata L. Relievers Intoxication from Creeping Herb Piak Iip Leaves (Oxalidaceae) wine and Diarrhea. Piper attenuatum Leaves & Creeping Herb Dolopan Liver and Urinary troubles (Piperaceae) Fruits Solanum aculeatissimum Shrub Bengela Thang Roots Tooth ache (Solanaceae) Solanum indicum Fruits and Shrubs Bangko Stomach Pain (Solanaceae) Leaves Solanum nigrum L Shrubs Okomamang Whole Part Digestion, Liver Problem (Solanaceae) Spilanthes paniculata Herbs Marsang Flower or fruits Tooth ache (Asteraceae) Valeriana jatamansi Herb Okung Roots Boils and wounds (Caprifoliaceae) Zanthoxylum hamiltonianum Roots and Tree Ombe Malaria (Rutaceae) Barks Zanthoxylum rhetsa Hair Cleaning, Jaundice and Tree Onger Leaves (Rutaceae) Wart Zingiber zerumbet Stomach Ache, Vomiting, Herbs Kekiir Tubers (Zingibeaceae) Diarrhea and Cough

Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051

Fig. 1: Map of India showing the state Arunachal Pradesh and district Upper Siang. The study circle viz Yingkiong and Mariyang are shown with green and blue color respectively

Fig. 2: Photographs of some of the medicinal plants. (a) Zanthoxylum rhetsa; (b) Spilanthes paniculata; (c) Clerodendron colebrookianum; (d) Solanum indicum; (e) Coptis teeta; (f) Agertum conyzoids; (g) Andrographis paniculata; (h) Oxalis cornuculata; (i) Houttuynia eorcata; (j) Allium hookeri; (k) Drymaria cordata; (l) Aconitum hetrophyllum

Danggen et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1504-1511 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051

Fig. 3: Pie chart showing a) plant species habit and b) plant part used for medicines

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