ORIGINAL ARTICLE Ethnomedicinal Knowledge among Nicobarese Tribes of Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Santosh S Mane1, Chinmay Rath2, Bonthu Susmitha3, Sugriv K Gaur4, Joseph GV Ratna5, Narayanam Srikanth6, Ashish K Tripathi7, Mayur Y Kamble8

Abstract​ Introduction: Car Nicobar is a separate island and an administrative headquarter of . It is 260 km (162 miles) away from Port Blair, i.e., Capital of Andaman and Nicobar [(A and N) Union Territory] having a geographical area of 126.9 km2, i.e., 49.0 sq miles. The Nicobar group of islands is inhabited by the two mongoloid group of tribes, viz., the Nicobarese and the Shompens. They are the sole aboriginals in these islands, who continue to sustain themselves with vigor and vitality and have been flourishing as a vibrant ethnic group. Total population of Car Nicobar is 17,841 including 9,735 males and 8,106 females. They get healthcare facilities through Bishop John Richardson (BJR) District Hospital and subcenters of A and N administration but mostly believe in their traditional remedies for various diseases. Objectives: Documentation of the day-to-day ethnomedicinal practices followed by the Nicobarese tribe of Car Nicobar Island for healing various common ailments. Materials and methods: An ethnomedicinal survey was carried out from July to August 2015 in 15 villages of Car Nicobar Islands of A and N Islands to gather the information on ethnomedicinal practices of Nicobarese tribe of Car Nicobar Island. Observations: During the survey 54 plant species belonging to 54 genera and 30 families which were used as herbal remedies by Nicobarese folk healer of Car Nicobar Islands in 29 common ailments were recorded. Conclusion: The present study, represents some interesting data on potential medicinal plants used by the tribes of Car Nicobar, and the lead obtained from these plants must be screened to determine their therapeutic and pharmacodynamic properties. Keywords: Car Nicobar, Folk healer, Herbal remedy, Nicobarese tribes. Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (2020): 10.5005/jdras-10059-0088

Introduction​ 1Collaborative Research Center for Veterinary Ayurveda, Ludhiana, The Andaman and Nicobar (A and N) islands, popularly known as Punjab, India Bay Islands are 1200 km away from mainland India. The Car Nicobar 2,3,6,7Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, comes under the Nicobar group of islands and is a separate island India and administrative headquarter of Nicobar district. It is 260 km 4Regional Ayurveda Research Institute Endocrinal Disorders, Jaipur, (162 miles) away from Port Blair the capital of these Islands. The Rajasthan, India Nicobar groups of islands are inhabited by the two Mongoloid 5Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, group of tribes, viz., the Nicobarese and the Shompens. Among India them, Nicobarese is the only aboriginal tribe of Car Nicobar Island 8Department of Botany, Botanical Survey of India, SRC, National who continues to sustain themselves with vigor and vitality and has Orchidarium and Experimental Garden, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India been flourishing as a vibrant ethnic group.1 Car Nicobar is a relatively 2 Corresponding Author: Santosh S Mane, Collaborative Research small island having a geographical area 126.9 km and which is a Center for Veterinary Ayurveda, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Phone: +91 remarkably flat island covered with evergreen coconut plantation. 161-2414032, e-mail: [email protected] The climate of Car Nicobar Island is tropical; with 400 mm of annual 2 How to cite this article: Mane SS, Rath C, Susmitha B, et al. rainfall. The administration had provided permanent shelters to Ethnomedicinal Knowledge among Nicobarese Tribes of Car Nicobar all of them who had lost their houses due to the tsunami in 2004. Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. J Drug Res Ayurvedic Sci Apart from that, many essential services including drinking water, 2020;5(1):13–24. power supply, education, telecommunication, electricity services, Source of support: The authors are thankful to the Director General, 3 etc., are also being provided by them. The total population of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, for Car Nicobar is 17,841 including 9,735 males and 8,106 females and financial support and encouragement most of them are Christians and they speak Hindi and some speak Conflict of interest: None English, apart from their mother tongue.4 The healthcare facilities are provided by BJR District Hospital and other subcenters of Car Nicobar. However, most of the Nicobarese people are still having a established at Malacca village, Car Nicobar in 1984. However, prior strong belief in their traditional remedies for numerous diseases. to that medicobotanical exploration was conducted by the CCRAS The Ayurveda Tribal Healthcare Research Project, a unit of the scientists in 1975 and 1980.5 Later on, a monograph on medicinal Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) was plants was published in 1988.6 Apart from that, many other works

© The Author(s). 2020 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and non-commercial reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Ethnomedicinal Knowledge among Nicobarese Tribes of Car Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India on ethnobotany was conducted and published by the scientists of prepared and tentative identification was carried out with the help different disciplines from the A and N islands.7–17 But most of them of the floras.20,21 Final identification was carried out at the Regional are limited to the plant species and their uses in a particular disease Research Centre of Ayurveda, Port Blair, by matching the samples and very few works include extensive information on individual from the Regional Centre of Botanical Survey of India, Port Blair. All folklore claims.18,19 the plants were processed by following the standard procedure.22 The obtained data were analyzed and it is presented with the Materials and Methods​ disease condition and therapeutic use of plant(s) including the For survey of tribal villages of the Car Nicobar Island, prior permission part used, the method of therapeutic preparation, and the route from competent authority was obtained and then entire 15 villages of administration (Table 1 and Figs 2 to 4). Whereas family-wise (Perka, Kakana, , Mus, , Big Lapathy, Small Lapathy, distribution of plant species along with their Sanskrit name, local Arong, Sawai, Mus, Kimois, Tapoiming, , , and Chukchuka) name, use of frequency, percentage, and mention in various systems were surveyed by a team of an Ayurvedic physician, botanist, and of medicine are listed in Table 2. other field staff from July to August 2015 (Fig. 1). In this survey, 20 Nicobarese healers were interviewed and the respective forest areas were visited to collect the plant specimens used as folk medicine. Observations​ Photographs of plants and their location with global positioning The plants were identified by the same local nomenclature or dialect system were recorded. Detailed information about the method throughout the survey and dissimilar dialects for very few plants. of drug preparation and administration was also recorded in a Most of the healers reported the collection of the plant materials structured format developed by the CCRAS. Initially, field notes were before the sunrise. They generally use an instrument called as Sanak

Fig. 1: Surveyed forest area of Car Nicobar Island (Source: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Map+of+Car+Nicobar&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source =univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUnPGggd7VAhWIL48KHXLdDBoQsAQIKA#imgrc=xvrT0Au00jXNqM:)

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Table 1: Plant species used by traditional folk healers of Car Nicobar for various ailments S. no Name of the ailment Botanical name of the plant used Therapeutic use 1 Ajirna (indigestion) • Vernonia patula (Aiton.) Merill. Oral administration of 10 mL of leaf juice twice a day for 3 days. 2 Aruchi (tastelessness) • Vernonia patula (Aiton.) Merill. One teaspoon of leaf juice is given internally in the morning for 3 days. • Melastoma malabathricum L. 3 Ashmari (urolithiasis) 1 • Buchanania platyneura Kurz. 500 mL water added to leaf paste and kept for 10–15 minutes so that it converts into a thick jelly and its five teaspoon are given orally once a day for 3 days. Ashmari 2 • Musa paradisiaca L. 10–15 mL leaf juice added in 1 L of water is given in early morning at an empty stomach for 3 days. • Urena lobata L. • Claoxylon indicum Hassk. 4 Asthi-bhanga (bone fracture) 1 • Morinda citrifolia L. The leaf paste of said plants is added to coconut oil and by boiling it medicated oil is prepared and it is used for local application for 21 days. • Ricinus communis L. • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. • Alstonia macrophylla G.Don. • Ipomoea pes-carpae (L.) R. Br. 5 Atisara (diarrhea) 1 • Argyreia championii Benth. 10–20 mL of leaf juice mixed in 1 L of water and taken orally thrice a day for 3 days. 6 Bala Jwara (fever in children) 1 • Sida acuta Burm.f. Chopped leaves are mixed into around 10 L of boiled water and then on desirable cooling (lukewarm), it is used to take bath. Generally, such medicated water is used for 3–5 days to take a bath. • Physalis minima L. • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. Bala Jwara 2 • Physalis minima L. The paste of leaves is mixed in coconut oil and then it is boiled for 5–10 minutes. On self-cooling, oil is stored in a glass bottle. Before external use, a small quantity of pig fat is mixed into it. • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. • Breynia vitis–idaea (Burm. F.).E.C.Fis. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. 7 Dantashoola (toothache) • Alstonia macrophylla G.Don. Leaf juice added in 1 L of water is used for gargling (Kaval) or paste is used for local application on affected teeth. • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. • Moringa oleifera Lam. 8 Jwara (fever) 1 • Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Muell. Arg. Leaf juice extracted in 1 L of water is used for internal application. Jwara 2 • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. Topical use of leaf decoction and oil prepared with leaf paste. Similarly, leaf juice added in 1 L of water is used orally in a dose of 250–300 mL thrice a day for one week. • Physalis minima L. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. Jwara 3 • Pongamia pinnata (L.) Piere. 10–20 mL of leaf juice is mixed in 1 L of water and then consumed in a dose of 100–150 mL for 3–5 times a day. It is advised to take for 3 days and to prepare fresh each day. Contd…

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Contd… S. no Name of the ailment Botanical name of the plant used Therapeutic use • Astrodendrum malabaricum Dennst. Jwara 4 • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. 10–20 mL of leaf juice is mixed in 1 L of water and it is taken thrice a day in a quantity of 250–300 mL for 3 days and on each day it is freshly prepared. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. • Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. • Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. • Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. • Lygodium circinatum (Burm.f.) Sw. Jwara 5 • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. 10–20 mL leaf juice is added in 1 L of water and it is taken at an interval of 1–2 hours in a quantity of 50–100 mL. It is advised to take for 2 days and to prepare fresh each day. • Annona squamosa L. • Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. • Mentha piperita L. 9 Kamala (jaundice) 1 • Scoparia dulcis L. 10–20 mL leaf juice is mixed in around 250 mL of the goat milk and then it is consumed in the early morning at an empty stomach for 7 days. Kamala 2 • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. 10–20 mL leaf juice is added in around 1 L of water and it is consumed in the dose of 250 mL thrice a day. It is recommended to take for 7 days and to prepare fresh each day. • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. • Annona squamosa L. Kamala 3 • Lepisanthses rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. 10–20 mL leaf juice is added in around 250 mL of the goat milk and it is consumed in the early morning at an empty stomach for 7 days. • Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. • Kaempferia galanga L. 10 Kandu (itching) • Claoxylon indicum Hassk. The leaf paste is mixed in 250 mL of water and then it is boiled and self-cooled. This is applied to the affected or itchy part. 11 Kanthatoda (pain in throat) • Ocimum teuiflorum L. The mixture of leaf paste and coconut oil is boiled to prepare a medicated-oil. One teaspoon of oil is advised to take orally two times a day for a duration of week. • Cleome viscosa L. • Zingiber officinale Rosc. • Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck. • Citrus medica L. • Allium sativum L. 12 Mutrakruccha (dysuria) 1 • Hibiscus tiliaceus L. 10–20 mL leaf juice is mixed in around 3 L of water and it is to be consumed in the dose of 250–300 mL two times a day. It is recommended to take for 3–7 days. • Astrodendrum malabaricum Dennst. • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. 13 Mukhrapaka (stomatitis) 1 • Scoparia dulcis L. The leaf paste is locally applied twice a day for 2 days. 14 Netraroga (ophthalmic disease) 1 • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Br. 2–3 drops of leaf juice is applied topically once a day for 3 days. Contd…

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Contd… S. no Name of the ailment Botanical name of the plant used Therapeutic use • Morinda citrifolia L. Netraroga 2 • Morinda citrifolia L. 10–20 mL leaf juice is mixed in 250 mL of water and then it is used as an eyewash two times a day and for 3 days. • Sida acuta Burm.f. 15 Pakshaghata (hemiplegia) 1 • Jasminum malabaricum var. lawii 500 mL decoction is made from the mixture of C.B.Clarke said plants leaf paste and 1 L of water. It is con- sumed in a dose of 250 mL twice a day and for a duration of 7 days. • Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. • Pajanelia longifolia (Willd.) K. Schum. • Annona squamosa L. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. • Tamarindus indica L. • Glochidion calocarpum Kurz. 16 Shonita Cchardi (hematemesis) 1 • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. 10–20 mL leaf juice is mixed in around 1 L of water and it is to be consumed in the dose of 250–300 mL three times a day. It is recommended to take for 7 days. • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br., Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. • Ricinus communis L. 17 Raktachapa 1 (hypertension) • Alstonia macrophylla G.Don. 10–20 mL leaf juice is added in around 1 L of water and it is consumed in the dose of 250 mL thrice a day for 7 days. • Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. • Clerodendrum paniculatum L. • Annona squamosa L. Raktachapa 2 • Jasminum malabaricum var. lawii One teaspoon of dried leaf powder is used with C.B.Clarke 200 mL of water thrice a day for a duration of 1 month. • Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. • Clerodendrum paniculatum L. • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. • Ocimum teuiflorum L. 18 Raktaj-Pravahik (stools with • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. Add 10–20 mL leaf juice to 1 L of water and take it blood) 1 in a small quantity frequently throughout the day. Generally, it is advised to take for 2 days. 19 Raktatisara (diarrhea with blood) 1 • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. Add 10–20 mL of leaf juice to 100 mL of water and consume it once a day for 3–5 days. Or, prepare a 100 mL hot infusion from one teaspoon dried leaf powder. • Ricinus communis L. • Morinda citrifolia L. Raktatisara 2 • Jasminum malabaricum var. lawii The leaves paste is added to the 1 L of water and C.B.Clarke 250 mL decoction is prepared and it is consumed once a day for a duration of 21 days. • Leea aequata L. • Annona squamosa L. • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. 20 Sarakta-mutrapravritti (haema- • Allophylus cobbe (L.) Reusch. 10–20 mL leaf juice is added in around 1 L of turia) water and the same is to be consumed in small quantity throughout the day. For 3 days. Contd…

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Contd… S. no Name of the ailment Botanical name of the plant used Therapeutic use • Hibiscus tiliaceus L. • Astrodendrum malabaricum Dennst. 21 Sarpa Damsha (snakebite) 1 • Sida acuta Burm.f. Make a paste of leaves in the required quantity and add Toddi and castor oil to it and apply it over the affected part. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. Sarpa Damsha 2 • Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. The leaves paste is mixed in 1 L of water and 250 mL decoction is prepared and it is recommended to consume once a day for 3 days. It is also used locally for cleaning the affected area. • Clerodendrum paniculatum L. • Pongamia pinnata (L.) Piere. • Momordica charantia L. 22 Shirahshula (headache) 1 • Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. The leaf paste is applied in sufficient quantity on the forehead for 3 days. Shirahshula 2 • Claoxylon indicum Hassk. The leaf paste is applied in sufficient quantity on the forehead for 3 days. Whereas, the leaves are also kept under pillow. Shirahshula 3 • Claoxylon indicum Hassk. The topical application of leaf paste as well as internal use of the leaf juice extracted in 250 mL of water. Shirahshula 4 • Citrus medica L. The leaves paste is added to coconut oil and by boiling it medicated oil is prepared and it is used for local application for the duration of 7 days. • Millusia andamanica King. Finet • Ricinus communis L. 23 Sutikopchara (postnatal care) • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. The chopped leaves are added to around 250 mL coconut oil and it is boiled for 5–10 minutes and on self-cooling used for body massage before taking the bath for 7 days. • Mallotus tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg. • Miliusa andamanica (King.) Finet • Clerodendrum paniculatum L. • Ricinus communis L. 24 Sthaulya (obesity) • Jasminum malabaricum var. lawii The leaves paste is mixed in 1 L of water and C.B.Clarke 500 mL decoction is prepared and it is consumed in a dose of 250 mL twice a day. And advised to take it for a duration of 1 month. • Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. • Breynia vitis-idaea (Burm. F.) C.E.C.Fis. • Annona squamosa L. • Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. • Pongamia pinnata (L.) Piere. 25 Tvak Roga (skin diseases) • Claoxylon indicum Hassk. The leaves paste is mixed with coconut oil and by boiling it medicated oil is prepared and it is used for local application twice a day for 7 days. • Lawsonia inermis L. • Vernonia patula (Aiton.) Merill. • Wedelia calendulacea Less. 26 Udarashula (colicky pain in the • Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr. 10–20 mL leaf juice mixed in 1 L of water and abdomen) 1 taken orally thrice a day for 3 days. Udarashula 2 • Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr. Leaves juice is added to 1 L of water and consumed in a dose of 250–300 mL thrice a day for a week. Contd…

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Contd… S. no Name of the ailment Botanical name of the plant used Therapeutic use • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. • Leea aequata L. Udarashula 3 • Abrus precatorius L. Leaves juice is mixed in 1 L of water and consumed in a dose of 250–300 mL thrice a day for a week. • Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. • Tabernaemontana divaricate (L.) R.Br. Udarashula 4 • Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. One liter decoction is prepared by adding leaves paste to 2 L of water and consumed in a dose of 250 mL thrice a day for 3 days. • Phyllanthus amarus Sch. • Jasminum syringifolium Wall. and G. Don. Udarashula 5 • Jasminum malabaricum var. lawii Prepare a one-liter decoction by adding the leaves C.B.Clarke paste to 2 L of water and take 250 mL thrice a day for 3 days. • Clerodendrum paniculatum L. • Annona squamosal L. • Glochidion calocarpum Kurz. • Alstonia macrophylla G. Don. Udarashula 6 • Tabernaemontana divaricate (L.) R.Br. Add leaves paste to one to one and a half liters of water, boil it for 10–15 minutes and take it in a dose of 250–300 mL thrice a day for 3 days. • Pajanelia longifolia (Willd.) K. Schum. • Ricinus communis L. • Planchonia andamanica King. • Antidesma acidum Retz. • Glochidion calocarpum Kurz • Annona squamosa L. Udarashula 7 • Morinda citrifolia L. Add leaves paste to one to one and a half liters of water, boil it for 10–15 minutes and take it in a dose of 250-300 mL thrice a day for 3 days. • Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. • Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. Udarashula 8 • Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. 10–20 mL leaf juice is mixed in 1 L of water and taken orally in a dose of 250 mL thrice a day for 3 days. 27 Vibandha (constipation) • Ricinus communis L. One teaspoon of dried leaf powder with 100 mL lukewarm water is taken twice a day for 2 days. • Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. 28 Vidradhi (abscess) • Annona muricata L. The paste of leaf mixed with pig fat is applied over the abscess. 29 Vrana (wound) 1 • Physalis minima L. Leaf paste is applied topically. Vrana 2 • Wedelia calendulacea Less. Local application of leaf paste with lime in small quantities.

Rojan (mortar and pestle) for making the paste which is made up water is freshly prepared. The decoction is generally prepared by of bamboo or plastic tube. Moreover, they mostly use leaves in boiling the water and reducing the half (Fig. 4). They commonly the treatment and generally odd numbers of leaves are taken. use Narikel Tailam (coconut oil) for oil preparation. This is prepared They make leaf paste and by using Narial Jhali (coconut mesh), the by using the leaf paste and by boiling it on a low flame for 10 to juice is extracted in 1 L of water and this medicated water is used 15 minutes. It is mostly used for external applications. Water is the in the treatment, with different doses. Each day, this medicated most common vehicle used for internal medicine. The people of

Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Volume 5 Issue 1 (January–March 2020) 19 Ethnomedicinal Knowledge among Nicobarese Tribes of Car Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Fig. 2: Therapeutic preparations used by the traditional folk healers of the Car Nicobar Fig. 3: Distribution of number of medicinal plants and number of the formulations used in top 10 diseases

interest. In most of the remedies, either single or in a combination, leaves were used to prepare juice, medicated water, decoction, paste, and oil. The same has been also reported by the other research from ethnobotanical studies of Nicobarese tribe of Car Nicobar and Islands.23,24 It basically shows that they knowingly or unknowingly believe in the conservation and protection of natural resources. The Swarasa (juice) was the most commonly used therapeutic preparation. It is also considered as the first and foremost therapeutic preparation in the Ayurveda, and Vastra (cloth) has been mentioned for its extraction.25 However, on the contrary, Acharya has also told that one can use locally available materials and make alternate arrangements or innovations based on an individual’s rationale and logical reasoning (Yukti).26 Thus, the use of Sanaka Rojan for chopping the leaves and making the paste, and the use of the Narial Jali as a mesh for juice extraction as well as to make a Pottali (paste wrapped in it which is kept suspended in water) in decoction preparation can be considered as unique technique of this tribe. Mostly, leaf juice was extracted in 1 L of water and then used in different doses. However, the textual reference indicates that juice (Swarasa) is Guru (heavy to digest) in nature and to get optimum results it should be freshly prepared and consumed.27 The method adopted by Fig. 4: Percentage of parts of medicinal plants used in the different formulations these folk healers, i.e., juice extraction in water may increase its palatability by diluting its concentration but, its storage for the the old generation of this area had acquired knowledge about folk whole day gives Paryushitatva (Stale). However, this method can remedies from their ancestors and they have further developed it be considered as Upakalpana (secondary) of Swarasa. They also through their observations and therapeutic practices. Now they use coconut oil to prepare oil-based medicines; pig fat, toddi (rice want to transfer this knowledge to the younger generation, but beer), and Samudrajala (seawater) are also used in some of the this new generation shows very little interest in acquiring their preparations as they are commonly available. However, the oil traditional knowledge of healing. preparation method is also different as compared to the classical oil preparation method in which oil is boiled with prescribed Discussion​ Kashaya (decoction) and Kalka (paste) of drugs according to the The Nicobarese tribe of Car Nicobar Islands has a vast knowledge quantitative standard.28 They used to add leaf paste in coconut oil about the surrounding floral diversity; and for many years, they are and boil it for 10 to 15 minutes on low flame and on self-cooling; it using these medicinal plants in the routine treatment of various is used as a medicine for external application. Hence, this method disease conditions. No doubt, they handed over their traditional of therapeutic oil preparation can be adopted in daily practice. knowledge from one generation to another generation by oral Overall 54 plant species mostly representing the local flora of narration, informal training and individual keen observations and Car Nicobar Island were utilized in the studied region for 29 disease

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Table 2: Family wise distribution, frequency, and percentage of plant used in folk formulations Botanical name and Sanskrit name and Frequency of use Quoted in traditional S. no. Family accession number local name (percentage) system of medicine 1 Amaryllidaceae Allium sativum L. (AC2235) Lashuna (S); LASOON 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, H, SR, C, M (N) 2 Anacardiaceae Buchanania platyneura Kurz, Syn. Buchanania MOK (N) 1 (1.92*) - splendens Miq. (AC1259) 3 Annonaceae Annona squamosa L. (AC1352) Sitaphalam (S); 9 (17.31) A, Sd, U, F AMPILLI (N) Annona muricata L. (AC1385) COFI/KOFEI (N) 1 (1.92*) Sd, F Miliusa andamanica Finet and Gagnep. TOPILE/TUMLEI (N) 1 (1.92*) Ep (AC1119) 4 Apocynaceae Alstonia macrophylla G.Don (AC1207) TACHUORO (N) 5 (9.61*) F Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. (AC1327) Nandi Vriksa (S); 10 (19.23) A, Sd, F TUKROTONG (N) 5 Arecaceae Cocos nucifera L. (AC2224) Narikel (S); NARIYAL 4 (7.69) A, Sd, U, F, SR (N) 6 Bignoniaceae Pajanelia longifolia (Willd.) K.Schum. (AC1076) TUMAHA(N) 2 (3.85*) F 7 Cleomaceae Cleome viscosa L. (AC1141) Adityabhakta (S); 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F KULCHING(N) 8 Compositae Wedelia calendulacea (L.) Less. Syn. Sphagneti- Peet Bhringraja (S); 2 (3.85) A, Sd, F, C cola calendulacea (L.) Pruski (AC1220) UREHPENS (N) Cyanthillium patulum (Dryand. ex Dryand.) HOTLIK (N) 3 (5.77*) F, C H.Rob. Syn. Vernonia patula (Dryand.) Merr. (AC1188) 9 Convolvulaceae Argyreia championii Benth. Syn. Argyreia mollis SAMTANONG (N) 1 (1.92*) F (Burm. f.) Choisy (AC1842) Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br. (AC2032) Yugmapatra (S); 1 (1.92) A, Sd, F, C LANAN KAP (N) 10 Cucurbitaceae Momordica charantia L. (AC1716) Karvellak (S); KARELLA 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, SR, C (N) 11 Euphorbiaceae Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll.Arg. (AC1809) Kampillaka (S); 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, H TAMFATO (N) Ricinus communis L. (AC1812) Erand (S); SAMAKLEH 5 (9.61) A, Sd, U, F, H, SR, C, M (N) Mallotus tiliifolius (Blume) Müll.Arg. (AC1332) TAMFATO (N) 1 ( 1.92*) F Claoxylon indicum (Reinw. ex Blume) Hassk. SINGENRO (N) 5 (9.61*) F (AC1586) 12 Lamiaceae Mentha piperita L. (AC2129) MINT (N) 1 (1.92) U, H, M Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (AC1130) Tulasi (S); MISIANGICA 2 (3.85) A, Sd, U, F, H, SR, C (N) Premna corymbosa Rottler and Willd. Syn. HANOH-MISOKO (N) 6 (11.54*) Sd, F Premna integrifolia Linn (AC2152) Clerodendrum paniculatum L. (AC1131) TANGHAVONG (N) 5 (9.61*) F 13 Lecythidaceae Planchonia andamanica King. (AC482) MAKIL (N) 1 (1.92*) Ep 14 Leguminosae Tamarindus indica L. (AC1467) Amlika (S); CHAF/ 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, SR, C IMLI (N) Senna occidentalis (L.) Link Syn. Cassia occiden- Kasamarda (S); 9 (17.31) A, Sd, F, SR, C talis L. (AC1194) MILUM, MAHAROH- AN (N) Abrus precatorius L. (AC1334) Gunja (S); PANNYOO- 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, H, SR, C MO (N) Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (AC1083) Karanja (S); TO-VNGA 1 (1.92) A,Sd, U, F, SR, C (N) 15 Lygodiaceae Lygodium circinatum (Burm. f.) Sw. (AC1577) KUM ROONO (N) 1 (1.92*) F 16 Lythraceae Lawsonia inermis L. (AC1227) Madayantika (S); 1 ( 1.92) A, Sd, U, F, SR, C MEHENDI (N) Contd…

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Contd… Botanical name and Sanskrit name and Frequency of use Quoted in traditional S. no. Family accession number local name (percentage) system of medicine 17 Malvaceae Urena lobata L. (AC1504) Balabheda (S); KASIN- 1 (1.92) A, Sd, F, C RIH (N) Sida acuta Burm.f. (AC1106) Rajabala (S); INMOI 3 (5.77) A, Sd, F, C Hibiscus tiliaceus L. (AC1183) TA-UKU (N) 2 (3.85) A, Sd, F 18 Melastomataceae Melastoma malabathricum L. (AC1035) Tineesh (S); CHINKOT 1 (1.92) A, Sd, F (N) 19 Musaceae Musa paradisiaca L. (AC1857) Kadali (S); TANYUKN- 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, H, SR GO (N) 20 Oleaceae Jasminum malabaricum var. lawii C.B.Clarke Mudgara (S); PAN- 7 (13.46) A, Sd Syn. Jasminum cordifolium Wall. and G.Don RAPO (N) (AC1137) 21 Phyllanthaceae Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. and Thonn. Tamalaki (S); KINFIO 8 (15.38) A, Sd, F, SR (AC1165) HAYOM (N) Antidesma acidum Retz. (AC1177) TUM TAK (N) 1 (1.92*) F Glochidion calocarpum Kurz (AC1481) HINYONYO (N) 3 (5.77*) F Breynia vitis-idaea (Burm.f.) C.E.C.Fisch. Aruni (S); TILNGACHO 2 (3.85) A, Sd, F (AC1489) (N) 22 Plantaginaceae Scoparia dulcis L. (AC1263) TOKOPOOROONTI (N) 2 (3.85*) F, C 23 Rhamnaceae Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. (AC1315) INMOI (N) 7 (13.46*) Sd, F 24 Rubiaceae Morinda citrifolia L. (AC1393) Ashyuka (S); LURONG 5 (9.61) A, Sd, F (N) 25 Rutaceae Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck. (AC1484) Jambira (S); MAK- 1 (1.92) A, U, F, H, SR, C, M LIMONG (N) Citrus medica L. (AC1402) Matalunga (S); ROI- 2 (3.85) A, Sd, U, C LIMONG (N) 26 Sapindaceae Allophylus cobbe (L.) Reusch. (AC1420) CHUVA (N) 1 (1.92*) F Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. CHAMREVO (N) 4 (7.69*) Sd, F (AC1072) Ganophyllum falcatum Blume. (AC1135) SANUK (N) 7 (13.46*) F 27 Solanaceae Physalis minima L. (AC1363) Chirapotha (S), 5 (9.61) A, Sd, F, SR, C LINPOP-MAL (N) 28 Sterculiaceae Astrodendrum malabaricum Dennst. Syn. Ster- FUK (N) 3 (5.77*) Sd, F culia guttata Roxb. ex G.Don (AC1267) 29 Vitaceae Leea aequata L. (AC1806) Kakanasika (S); KIN- 2 (3.85) A, Sd, F HEUT (N) Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr. (AC1144) Chatri (S); TOKITEU 2 (3.85) A, Sd, F NYU (N) 30 Zingiberaceae Zingiber officinale Roscoe (AC1634) Shunthi (S); ADRAKA 1 (1.92) A, Sd, U, F, H, C, M (N) Kaempferia galanga L. (AC1624) Candrani (S); HUYA 1 (1.92) A, Sd, F, C (N) A, Ayurveda; AC, Accession number; C, Chinese; Ep, Endemic plant; F, Folk; M, Modern; N, Nicobarese; S, Sanskrit; Sd, Siddha; SR, Sowa Rigpa; U, Unani *Endemic plants of Nicobar Region conditions. Among them, only two are endemic plants that have formulations. Of the 52 folklore claims, the maximum claim, i.e., been already reported under ethnomedicinal use by the previous eight were recorded for colicky pain in the abdomen followed researchers.29 Moreover, of the remaining 52 plants, 17 have been by seven claims for fever. A combination of minimum two and enlisted under the folk medicine in the database of the Foundation maximum seven plant species were recorded in 36 folklore claims, for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bengaluru.30 whereas the use of the single plant was recorded in the remaining Whereas 35 plants have been quoted in the different Ayurvedic 16 claims. The present study represents the data of 54 potential classical text.31–34 In total 54 plants of 30 families were recorded and medicinal plants. However, it is required to conduct a scientific maximum of, i.e., four plants of each Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, study of these plants to establish their therapeutic efficacies and Leguminoceae, and Phyllanthaceae family were utilized in the pharmacodynamic properties.

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Conclusion​ 14. Kumar K, Kumar B, Selvun T, et al. Ethnobotanical heritage of Nicobrese tribe. J Econ Taxon Bot 2006;30(2):331–567. This ethnobotanical survey covers almost all villages of Car Nicobar 15. Sonali D, Sheeja TE, Mandal Asit B. Ethnomedicinal uses of certain Island, with proper documentation and analysis of folk claims in line plants from bay islands. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge with the concept of Ayurveda. It provides unique information on the 2006;5(2):207–211. medicinal plants used in the healthcare system of Nicobarese tribes 16. Punnam Chander M, Kartick C, Gangadhar J, et al. Ethno medicine of Car Nicobar Island and ultimately it leads to the conservation of and healthcare practices among Nicobarese of car Nicobar-an their great heritage of traditional knowledge. It will definitely pave a indigenous tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. J Ethnopharmacol 2014;158:18–24. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.046. path for the utilization of these plants by conducting further clinical 17. Pandey RP, Rasingam L, Lakra GS. Ethno-medicinal plants of the and pharmacological studies, so that a new drug regime can be aboriginals in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. NELUMBO 2009;51: developed for certain diseases. 5–40. 18. Health Related Demography of the Tribes of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. New Delhi: Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Acknowledgments​ Siddha, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India; We are also thankful to the forest department, Andaman and 2008. 19. Medico-Botany of Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Recent study. New Nicobar Tribal Research Institute (ANTRI), Andaman Adim Delhi: 8. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) for permission and support. We are Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India; 2016. grateful to the tribal council, village captains, and traditional 20. Parkinson CE. 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