Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 13 (2), April 2014, pp. 368-376

Ethnoveterinary used by the Chiru tribes of , Northeast

Ranjana Rajkumari, RK Nirmala1, PK Singh2, Ajit Kumar Das, BK Dutta & A Pinokiyo* Department of Environment and Ecology, University, Silchar-788011, Assam; 1ICAR, Lamphelpat-795004, Imphal, Manipur; 2Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur-795003, Manipur; *PG Department of Botany, DM College of Science, Imphal-795001, Manipur E-mail: [email protected]

Received 13.03.13, revised 27.01.2014

Cattle farming is one the most income generating occupation of the tribals of Manipur, . Chiru tribe of Manipur has been depending on cattle farming for livelihood since long time back. This tribe of Manipur is repository of rich ethnoveterinary knowledge of plants. The study aims at exploring the ethnoveterinary plants associated with this particular tribe. As a result of this study, 36 and genera belonging to 29 families used for treating as many as 17 ailments of domestic animals (cows, dogs, buffaloes, pigs, etc.) have been documented based on ethnoveterinary surveys (PRA and interview-questionnaire methods). The most commonly and effectively used ethnoveterinary plants are Areca catechu L. for treating endoparasite, Bambusa tulda Roxb. and Saccharum officinarum L. for treating retension of placenta, Cannabis sativa L. for treating diarrhoea and dysentery, Achyranthes aspera L. as galactogogue, Elsholtzia communis (Collett & Hemsl.) Diels for treating foot and mouth disease, pachycarpa Benth. for removal of insects, Paederia foetida L. for treating diarrhoea and dysentery, Trigonella foenum-graecum L. for treating haematuria. The ethnoveterinary uses of 5 plant species, viz. Cissus adnata Roxb.for treating bone fracture, Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult. for treating constipation, Millettia pachycarpa Benth. for removal of insects, Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. Gross for treating maggot and Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels for treating haematuria are recorded for the first time. Due to changing life style, this unexplored and undocumented knowledge is at risk.

Keywords: Senapati district, Ethnoflora, Chiru tribe IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00, A61D, A61K

Livestock provides a wide range of services and before documentation. Therefore, the present study is products including animal power and supplementary carried out to document this traditional knowledge. nutrition1. Ancient ethnobotanical literature suggests The Chiru tribe is one of the Kuki Scheduled tribe that tribal and non-tribals has been using wild groups of Manipur inhabiting 3 districts and 13 ethnoflora since long ago for curing various diseases villages, viz. one in Churachandpur district (Charoi and disorders in the domestic animals. The indigenous Khulen), ten in Senapati district (Dolang Khunou, knowledge of the veterinary healthcare acquired by the Nungsai, Bungte Khullen, Lower Bungte, Sadu Chiru, traditional healers is orally transformed from one Thangjing Chiru, Kangchup Chiru, Waithou, Uran generation to other till date. Over centuries people have Chiru and Chawang Chiru) and two in Tamenglong developed their own system of keeping animals healthy district (Lamdangmei and Dolang), of Manipur in and productive using age old home remedies and different geographical regions4. Chiru tribe originated associated medico religious practices which are often from China5. Chiru has rich traditional knowledge and cheap, safe, long time tested and based on local rich culture, in respect of use of several indigenous resources and strength which are but not kept in written wild plants various cultural practices. According to form. This can provide useful alternatives to animal the 2001 Census, total number of population of the health care system2, 3. The Chirus have their own Chiru tribe in Manipur was 4679. system of tribal veterinary medicines but their Ethnovterinary uses of the plants have been studied knowledge is not documented properly. Due to change by some workers in the world6-16 in India17-37 and in in livelihood and environmental degradation the Northeast38-40. However, no investigation has been so traditional knowledge faces the risk of disappearing far done to explore the ethnoveterinary knowledge of —————— Chiru tribes of Manipur. Threfore, the present study *Corresponding author has been carried out. RAJKUMARI et al.: ETHNOVETERINARY PLANTS USED BY CHIRU TRIBES, MANIPUR 369

Methodology analysed to find out total number of diseases, plants used, effectiveness, etc. During the last visits, meeting The study area choosen consists of 5 villages in was set with the key informants and villagers along with Senapati district in Manipur, i.e. Bungte Khullen, the local headmen to share the knowledge of all the key Kangchup Chiru village, Uran chiru village, Lower informants with the villagers and to moderate the slight Bungte Khullen and Sadu Chiru village where Chiru differences in their practices. The plant species used for tribe are most populated. A total of 25 field-cum survey treatment of diseases were collected with the help of tours were conducted throughout this 5 villages during local name and direct visit to nearby forests along with 2009-2011. During the first field visits to each of these the Chiru tribe. The status distribution record is also villages, the headmen of the villages were approached studied during these field visits. The collected plant and set a meeting cum tea party along with the senior species were identified with the help regional floras42-45 villagers of both sexes to short out experienced and and consulting authentic herbarium at Botanical Survey knowledgeable traditional healers of domestic animals in of India, Kolkata and Botanical Survey of India, Eastern the village. Such selected villagers were considered as Regional Centre, Shillong, and D M College key informants. There were no defined practitioners like, of Science, Imphal, Manipur. The names were updated Maibas and Maibis as in case of ethnomedicinal following ISTA list of stabilized plant names. The practitioners in Manipur. Therefore, for this study, 10 herbarium specimens prepared in triplicates were elderly villagers identified and selected by participants in deposited in the Herbariums at Environment and the above meetings-3 from Kangchup Chiru, 3 from Ecology Department Assam University, Silchar, Bungte Khullen, 1 from lower Bungte Khullen, 2 from Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Uran Chiru and 1 from Sadu Chiru, ages ranging from Canchipur, Manipur and Dhanamanjurian Herbarium at 40-70 yrs who lived over 40 yrs in the study area and D M College of Science, Imphal, Manipur. The status of presently practicing their knowledge and experience of the plants were recorded as per an investigation chart ethnoveterinary were selected. Prior Informed Consent formulated for the purpose, regarding the information on (PIC) and agreement on the sharing of information with the species if it is wild (W)/cultivated (C)/or not reference to Traditional Health Practices for Domestic cultivated (nC); rare (R) or common (A). If less than 10 Animals following the norms of NEIFM (North Eastern individual plant species were available around and Institute of Folk Medicine), Government of India, within the village the species was recorded as rare Department of AYUSH had been procured during the otherwise as common. The mode of presentation of initial meetings after explaining the purpose of the study ethnoveterinary information follows a similar pattern, to all the participants, i.e. the headmen, villagers and key i.e. first the name of the disease is described with informants. Proper data was collected using symptom in bracket, local name of the disease, host Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and interview- animals, scientific names of plants used to cure such questionnaire methods41. In this method, informal diseases, local name of the plant species, families in meeting was set with the headman and older people of bracket, used plant part, mode of treatment with doses, the villages in the headmans’ house or community halls dosage form, frequency, duration, curability and or selected practitioners (informants) house. Home visits effectiveness in parenthesis. along with local people were made to collect the data on ethnoveterinary from each of the key informants. The Results key informants were interviewed with pre-set The important and common domestic animals of questionnaires. The questionnaire was composed of this tribe are cow, pig, buffalo, goat, cat, chicken, local name of the health condition, description of the dug, dog, etc. The Chiru tribe generate income by health condition, affected part of the body, causes, raring these animals. The meat of these animals also symptoms, stages, diagnosis features as understood by served as an indispensable food item for the tribe. The healer, prognosis, details of treatment (local name of present study showed that Chiru tribe used several plant ingredient, scientific names, parts used, proportion ethnoveterinary practices for curing animal ailments. used, specification for purification/collection, A total of 36 ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species preparation of medicine in detail), dosage and of different habit (13 , 10 trees, 7 herbs, and administration (quantity, frequency of intake, duration, 6 climbers) belonging to 36 genera and 29 families of vehicle/adjutant, precaution, etc.). Such filled up Angiosperm (Table 1) are being recorded data sheets of all the key informants were compared and used extensively for curing 17 ailments (such as bloat, 370 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 2, APRIL 2014

Table 1— Status of Ethno-veterinary plants in Manipur; nC = not cultivated, W= wild, C= cultivated, A= common, R=rare

Sl. No. Plant species used (habit) and family Local name Diseases/disorders Status record in Manipur 1 Achyranthes aspera L. (Herb), Khujum pere Galactogogue W, nC, A Amaranthaceae 2 Agave americana L. (), Kewa Bone fracture W, nC,R Agavaceae 3 Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (Herb), Dhintakumari Burns on skin C, A Liliaceae Tingkhang panbi 4 Areca catechu L. (Tree), Kwa Endoparasite C, R Arecaceae 5 Artemisia nilagirica (C.B. Clarke) Ramsai Dermatitis W, nC, A Pamp. (Shrub), Asteraceae 6 Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Tree), Neem Removal of insects C, R Meliaceae from hair 7 Bambusa tulda Roxb. (Tree) Sanneibi Retention of placenta W, C, A Poaceae 8 Basella alba L. (Climber) Urok sumbal Cuts and wounds W, nC, A Basellaceae 9 Brassica campestris L. (Herb) Hangam Yoke gall C, A Brassicaceae 10 Cannabis sativa L. (Shrub) Ganja Diarrhoea and W,C, A Cannabaceae dysentery 11 Cassia fistula L. (Tree), Chouhui Constipation W, A 12 Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Herb), Ulendchom Diarrhoea and W, A Apiaceae dysentery 13 Cissus adnata Roxb. (Climber), Kongouyen Bone fracture W, C, A Vitaceae 14 Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (Tree), Champra Bloat C, A Rutaceae 15 Cucurbita maxima Duchesne Mai Endoparasite C, A (Climber), Cucurbitaceae 16 Curcuma longa L. (Shrub), Ai-eng Mastitis C, A Zingiberaceae 17 Drymaria cordata Willd. ex Schutt Tandon mana Constipation W, nC, A (Herb), Carryophyllaceae 18 Elsholtzia communis (Collett. & Chemshongra Foot and mouth C, A Hemsl.) Diels (Shrub), Lamiaceae disease 19 Ficus racemosa L. (Tree), Heipong Retention of W, nC, A Moraceae placenta 20 Jatropa curcus L. (Shrub), Awakege Maggot W, C, A Euphorbiaceae 21 Mentha spicata L. (Herb), Loi hidak Diarrhoea and C, A Lamiaceae dysentery 22 Millettia pachycarpa Benth. Ngavokchar Removal of insects W, A (Climber), Fabaceae from hair 23 Paederia foetida L. (Climber) Ekruijam Diarhhoea and d W, A Rubiaceae ysentery 24 Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. Gross Tharam Maggot W, A (Shrub), Polygonaceae 25 Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. (Tree) Chumprei Maggot C, A Rosaceae 26 Rumex maritimus L. (Herb), Torong khongchak Dermatitis W, A Polygonaceae 27 Saccharum officinarum L. (Shrub), Chu Retention of C, A Poaceae placenta (Contd.)

RAJKUMARI et al.: ETHNOVETERINARY PLANTS USED BY CHIRU TRIBES, MANIPUR 371

Table 1— Status of Ethno-veterinary plants in Manipur; nC = not cultivated, W= wild, C= cultivated, A= common, R=rare—(contd.) Sl. No. Plant species used (habit) and family Local name Diseases/disorders Status record in Manipur 29 Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels (Tree), Hajam Haematuria W, C, A Myrtaceae 30 Terminalia citrina (Gaertn.) Roxb. ex Manahei Anorexia W, C, R Fleming (Tree) Combretaceae 31 Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Shrub) Methi Haematuria C, R Fabaceae 32 Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (Climber), Shagol-hawai Lactogogue C, A Fabaceae 33 Vitex negundo L. (Shrub), Urik shibi Dermatitis W, C, A Verbenaceae 34 Zea mays L. (Shrub), Chujak Lactogogue C, A Poaceae 35 Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Shrub), Thingkhup, Constipation C, A Zingiberaceae 36 Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Tree), Boroi Burns on skin W,C, A Rhamnaceae mastitis, foot and mouth disease, dermatitis, burns, drops of milky latex of leaf is applied over diarrhoea, dysentery, haematuria, maggots, etc.) wounds to cure maggot infection. Applying this commonly found in 6 different types of animals has slow healing effect but it could heal the (cows, oxen, buffalo, pigs, cats and dogs). It was also wounds within 15 days. found that all the elderly persons both man and 3 Diarrhoea & dysentery (loose motion), Eh-che women in the village had sound knowledge and tasch selai buffalo and cow: Cannabis sativa L., deep understanding about the ethnoveterinary Ganja (Cannabaceae) is used. 15-20 fresh leaves medicinal plants as they often used them for curing with 10 gm of goor is given orally to control their common domestic animals. The details of loose motion 1-3 times a day at intervals ethnoveterinary knowledge of the tribe are described according to the severity of the disease regularly below: until cured. It takes about 2 weeks to cure. Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, Ulenchom Diseases and mode of treatment (Apiaceae) and Paederia foetida L., Ekruijam 1 Mastitis (blocking of milk hole), Arunu nor ah (Rubiaceae) are used. Whole plant of about 200 gm areveng-abing of buffalo and cow: Curcuma is given to the cattle with fodder. It controls loose longa L., Aieng (Zingiberaceae) is used. 10 gm of motion and dysentery. Mentha spicata L., Loi rhizome is ground. The filtered juice is mixed hidak (Lamiaceae) is also used. Leaf juice of 20 with mustard oil and the mixture is rubbed on the shoots with a pinch of black salt is given orally tip of the nipple to cure mastitis. It is done 2-3 2-4 times per day until loose motion stops. It times a day for about 5 minutes each time and it is increases digestion and reduces gas formation. continued for a week or until cured. The disease The cattle could be cured within 2 weeks. could be cured within 1 week. 4 Dermatitis (loss of hair from the skin with 2 Maggot (worms on wounds), Qrulung of buffalo infection or white patches and hair loss on the and cow: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch., Chumprei skin), Wunraitong, Vun rai, amo cho of buffalo (Rosaceae) and Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. and cow and oxen: Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn., Gross, Tharam (Polygonaceae) are used. Fresh Ningsheirie, (Sapindaceae) is used. About 5 fruit leaf paste or juice of 20-30 leaves is applied pulps are mixed with 1 litre of water and the externally to the wound for killing maggots. As mixture is used for bathing once per day until the soon as the juice is applied died maggots from the infected portion heals. The cattle could be cured infected part drop down. This is highly effective. within 1 week. Artemisia nilagirica (C.B. Clarke) The leaves of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. are Pamp., Ramsai, (Asteraceae), Rumex maritimus more effective than the leaves of Persicaria L., Torong khongchak, (Polygonaceae), Vitex chinensis (L.) H. Gross. Jatropha curcas L., negundo L., Urik shibi, (Verbenaceae) are also Awakege (Euphorbiaceae) is also used. 10-15 used. Leaf juice of about 30 leaves is applied 372 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 2, APRIL 2014

externally to the affected part 3-5 times per day rice flour and given daily to the infected cattle. until the normal skin is developed. Diseases could Haematuria could be prevented to some extent by be cured within 15 - 30 days according to the reducing the blood content. intensity of the infection. 10 Foot and mouth disease (infection of mouth and 5 Anorexia (lack of appetite or stop eating fodder), hoops), Abai rifit pe of buffalo, cow and dog: Kisak-Kinek jot omak of buffalo, cow, oxen and Elsholtzia communis (Collett. & Hemsl.) Diels, dog andcat: Terminalia citrina (Gaertn.) Roxb. Chemshongra, (Lamiaceae) is used. About 30 ex Fleming, Manahei , (Combretaceae) is used. whole plants are given with fodder to the infected 5-7 fresh fruits are given to eat or mixed with the cattle. The disease could be cured within 2 weeks. fodder. The cattle could be cured within 1-2 days. 11 Cuts and wounds, Popjoy/Fitjoy of buffalo, cow 6 Burning (burns on skin), Amo-mei Kong–onga and oxen: Basella alba L., Urok sumbal, apat of buffalo, cow, dog and cat: Aloe vera (L.) (Basellaceae) is used. Leaf paste of about 10 leaves Burm f., Dhintakumari Tingkhang panbi is applied on cuts and wounds for quick healing. (Liliaceae) is used. Leaf pulp is applied directly The infection could be cured within 1 week. over burned parts. Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Boroi, 12 Bloat (gloating of stomach), Abonar rekhikape of (Rhamnaceae) is used. Leaf paste of 10-15 fresh buffalo, cow and dog: Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f., leaves is applied directly on the burned part. Champra, (Rutaceae) is used. Fruit juice of 3 Burns on the skin could be cured within 15 days. fruits is given to the infected cattle. Bloat could 7 Removal of insects from the hairs, Ariksur pero of be cured within 2-3 days. cow, dog and cat: Azadirachta indica A. Juss. 13 Endoparasite (Discharge of worms in faeces), Neem (Meliaceae) is used. Boiled extract of about Rorukut aom of buffalo, cow and pig: Areca 30 leaves is used for bathing the cattle. Insects catechu L., Kwa, (Arecaceae) is used. 3 nuts are sucking blood died and felt down from the skin. soaked overnight in one glass of water and this 1-2 times bathing killed the eggs, larva along with water extract is given to the cattle. The died worms mature insects. Millettia pachycarpa Benth., are discharged with the faeces. Cucurbita maxima Ngavokchar (Fabaceae) is also used. Stem of Duchesne, Mai, (Cucurbitaceae) is also used. about 1m length is tied around the neck. It About 250 gm of chopped pumpkin flesh with repelled the insects from colonizing on the skin seeds is added to the fodder to control the worms. and hair of the cattle but it cannot kill the insect. 14 Retention of placenta after delivery (placenta

8 Constipation (faeces become extra solid), Tosok remain inside womb after delivery), Anai rubu sejot meying / Avon por of cow and oxen: Cassia chobou of buffalo and cow: Saccharum fistula L., Chouhui (Fabaceae) is used. 4-5 fresh officinarum L., Chu, (Poaceae) is used. 15-20 pods are given to the cattle once a day until fresh leaves are given directly to the cattle. It normal condition is attained. Drymaria cordata helps in easy removal of placenta after delivery. (L.) Willd. ex Schutt, Tandon mana Ficus racemosa L., Theipong, (Moraceae) is also (Carryophyllaceae) is also used. Fresh leaf paste used. 10-15 fresh fruits are given directly or of about 30 gm is inserted in to the annus and mixed with fodder for easy and quick removal of allowed to do motion. This was done when the placenta from the womb. Bambusa tulda Roxb., cattle cannot pass faeces for 2-3 days. After Sanneibi, (Poaceae) is also used. A bunch of fresh inserting the paste faeces discharge easily. leaves are given for easy removal of placenta Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Thingkhup, from the womb after delivery which otherwise (Zingiberaceae) is also used. Rhizome paste of remains for many hours. about 50 gm is inserted in to the annus as in case 15 Yoke gall (wounds and swelling on the neck), of Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. & Schult. and Ring rifit pe / Arek ah por of oxen and buffalo: this allows easy passage of faecal materials. Brassica rapa L., Hangam (Brassicaceae) is used. 9 Haematuria (urine with blood), Amujun ah thisan 10 drops of oil extract from the seed (mustard oil) ajo of cow and oxen: Syzygium cuminii (L.) are applied to the infected portion regularly at Skeels, Hajam, (Myrtaceae) and Trigonella intervals, i.e. when previous application got dried foenum-graecum L., Methi, (Fabaceae) are used. a new application could be done. It cures the About 50 gm of seed is cooked with 250 gm of disease within 2 weeks. RAJKUMARI et al.: ETHNOVETERINARY PLANTS USED BY CHIRU TRIBES, MANIPUR 373

16 Bone fracture, Aruakeh of cow, buffalo and dog: Interestingly, the ethnoveterinary uses of 5 plant Cissus adnata Roxb., Kongouyen, (Vitaceae) and species, viz. Cissus adnata Roxb.for treating bone Agave americana L., Kewa, (Agavaceae) are fracture, Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult. for used. Leave paste of 2-3 leaves is applied on the treating constipation, Millettia pachycarpa Benth. for affected area and kept band aid until cured. It removal of insects, Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. Gross takes 1 month or more to heal. for treating maggots and Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels 17 Galactogogue (increasing the amount of milk for treating haematuria are recorded for the first time. production of cow and buffalo: Achyranthes The distribution status of the 36 ethnoveterinary aspera L., Khujum pere (Amaranthaceae) is used. plants used by Chiru tribe of Manipur is provided in Whole plant of about 2 kg is given to the cattle as Table 1. In this study, of the 36 spp. recorded useful, fodder. It is highly useful. Vigna mungo (L.) 6 spp. are purely wild, not cultivated and common Hepper, Shagol-hawai, (Papilionaceae) and while 30 spp. are common, cultivated or both wild Zea mays L., Chujak, (Poaceae) are also used. and cultivated (Table 1). There are again 6 rare Fresh leaf of about 500 gm and dry grain powder species of which 2 species are found in wild and is mixed with rice flour at usual daily feeding others are cultivated. quantity and given to the cattle, these acts as galactogogue, stimulating milk flow. This is Discussion highly effective and useful. About 20 plants were reported to be used for treating The plant parts used for treatments are whole race horses in Canada13. 73 plants were reported for plants, seeds, fruits, rhizomes, latex, stem and leaves. treating 34 ailments in Alaknanda Catchment of The leaves are the most utilized plant part. Uttarakhand, India and 80% of the population Chiru tribes have developed no well recognized depended on traditional system of treatments28 and 30 mechanism for storage of these ethnoveterinary plants were used in ethnoveterinary practices by tribe medicines. All the preparations are made fresh as and Paniyars in Kerala, India22. Though some plant species when required. This is because most of the plants are are common in their use, the different tribes in different available in their immediate environment and nearby places have developed different methods of treatment. forests as these tribes are inhabited in hilly districts. The Chiru tribe has also developed their own technique Some seasonal plants like Cucurbita maxima for treatment and maintenance of their domestic Duchene and Zingiber officinale Roscoe, the rhizomes animals through several years of practicing and are stored in pits covered by soil of about 1 ft experience. The similar knowledge has also been thickness while fruits of Areca catechu L., Elsholtzia acquired by other tribes of the globe. The use of 31 communis (Collett & Hemsl.) Diels, Sapindus ethnoveterinary plants by Chiru tribes of Manipur are mukorossi Gaertn., Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels, also used for treating the same disease by other tribes Terminalia citrina Roxb. ex Fleming and Trigonella of other states or country 13,17,18,19,20,22,23,24,26,29. The foenum-graecum L. are stored as dried fruits. ethnoveterinary knowlegde of Chiru tribe on 19 species Among the recorded 36 plants, the most commonly of plants (Achyranthes aspera L., Agave Americana L., and effectively used are Areca catechu L. for treatment Aloe vera (L.) Burm f., Areca catechu L., Artemisia of endoparasite, Bambusa tulda Roxb. and Saccharum nilagirica (C.B. Clarke) Pamp., Brassica rapa L., officinarum L. for treatment of retension of placenta, Cannabis sativa L., Cassia fistula L., Citrus limon (L.) Cannabis sativa L. and Paederia foetida L. for treating Osbeck , Curcuma longa L., Cucurbita maxima diarrhoea and dysentery, Achyranthes aspera L. as Duchesne, Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult., galactogogue, Elsholtzia communis (Collett & Hemsl.) Mentha spicata L., Saccarum officinarum L., Syzygium Diels for treating foot and mouth disease, Millettia cuminii (L.) Skeels, Terminalia citrina Roxb. ex pachycarpa Benth. for removal of insects, Trigonella Fleming , Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper, Zingiber foenum-graecum L. for treating haematuria. These officinale Roscoe) is common to those reported from treatments are well established and the tribes have Uttaranchal26,29, on 12 plants (Azadirachta indica A. strong confidence. They could not explain how these Juss., Bambusa tulda Roxb., Cannabis sativa L., treatments are successful. They are very sure that use Cassia fistula L., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Curcuma of these plants at the prescribed dose has no site effect longa L., Ficus racemosa L., Jatropha curcus L., as they witnessed it by practicing for generations. Saccharum officinarum L., Zea mays L., Ziziphus 374 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 2, APRIL 2014

jujuba Mill.), is common with those reported from could be classified in to two categories, one with single Uttar Pradesh19,20,24, on 4 plants (Agave Americana L., use and the other with multiple use based on their Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Zingiber officinale application in the number of different diseases or Roscoe, Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is common with those treatments. reported from Orissa18 on 2 plants (Mentha spicata L.and Paedaria foetida L.) with those reported from Conclusion Canada13, on 1 plant (Basella alba L.) with those Cattle farming play an important role in the reported from Kerala 22 and on 1 plant (Jatropha livelihood of Chiru tribes. This Ethnic group owns curcus L.) with the one reported from Maharastra 23. abundant knowledge about animal husbandry and Frequently for most of the ailments, Chiru tribe used ethnoveterinary plant remedies. In the remote places different plants for treating one ailment e.g. for treating like the Chiru tribe inhabitant villages where modern Maggots 3 plant species (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, medicare facilities are not available, their indigenous Persicaria chinensis (L.) H. Gross and Jatropha curcus knowledge is the only dependable means. In general, L.) are used providing alternatives when one particular the well recognized and very commonly used and plant is not available at the time of requirement. effective healthcare methods could be utilized as However, a particular plant species is not used for these are easy to manage, readily available and cost treating more than one disease or infection. In contrast effective. Due to changes in livelihood and to this other tribes have been reported to use a environmental degradation traditional knowledge faces particular plant species for more than one ailment e.g. the risk of disappearing. There is an urgent need Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. have been used for treating of comprehensive analysis and documentation of anhydrosis, retained placenta, Tendon problems; indigenous knowledge for curing animal ailments. In Momordica charantia L.for as tonic, blood purifier and this regard selection of priority species for conservation skin rashes. There are some plant species which are is required. As already mentioned among the plants used for treating a disease by Chiru but the same plant used by Chiru tribe, there are 6 rare species of which 2 is used by other tribes for treating different diseases. species are found in wild and 4 are cultivated. The two Some such plants include Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. rare and wild species are Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery by Chiru tribe is and Agave americana L. The former species needs to used to cure prolapsed uterus and Jatropha curcus pay attention for mass cultivation as it has got L.used by Chiru tribe for treating Maggot is used for multipurpose use. Of the 4 cultivated and rare species healing of broken joints/bones 17 ; Ziziphus jujuba Mill. viz. Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Areca catechu L., used to treat burns by Chiru tribe is used to treat Terminalia citrina Roxb. ex Fleming and Trigonella chronic wounds17; Azadirachta indica A. Juss. used for foenum-graecum L., proper attention should be given removal of insects from hairs by Chiru tribe is used to to Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and Terminalia citrina treat loss of appetite20 healing wounds 18,22 and for Roxb. ex Fleming as these are more significant and treating leucorrhoea 17; Zingiber officinale Roscoe used well recognized medicinal plants while Areca catechu for constipation by Chiru tribe is used for treating L., and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. are rare because intestinal problem13, mastitis and prolapsed uterus20, they are not commonly cultivated in this region despite saliva from mouth26, diptheria20, stomach ache, of their availability in plenty in the surrounding states pneumonia and paralysis17 and scabies20; Trigonella like Assam, Meghalaya, etc. The plants with multiple foenum-graecum L. used for treating haematoria by uses with records of high effectiveness in treatment Chiru tribe is used for treating respiratory problems13 should be given priority for conservation rather than and pneumonia26; Saccharum officinarum L. used for the plants with single use and less effective. retention of placenta by Chiru tribe is used for treating Conservation of ethnoveterinary plants could be done abdominal pain26 and wound/injury20; Cissus adnata by introducing the priority species in the home gardens Roxb. used for treating bone fracture by Chiru tribe is in particular and by establishing district label used for treating wounds22and foot & mouth disease17; ethnoveterinary Botanical Gardens in general. At the Achyranthes aspera L. used as galactogogue by Chiru same time establishing of a scientific but easy tribe is used to remove urolith in billy goats, to prevent technique for preservation of these plants in the form of myiasis, anthehelminthic in cattle, to expel placenta & readymade medicine would be beneficial for these lochia after parturition46 . Thus ethnoveterinary plants tribes. At the present scenario, it is required to RAJKUMARI et al.: ETHNOVETERINARY PLANTS USED BY CHIRU TRIBES, MANIPUR 375

investigate in detail the active compounds present in British Columbia, Canada, J Ethnobot Ethnomed, 2(31) these plants. The plants with multiple uses and highly (2006) 1-20. 14 Tabuti JRS, Dhillion SS & Lye KA, Ethno veterinary effective could be selected for screening to identify medicine for cattle (Bos indicus) in Bulamogi county active compounds and develope new drugs. Further Uganda: plant species and mode of use, J Ethnopharmacol, research on these plants will surely help in the 88(2003) 279-286. development of effective medicines for cattle farming. 15 Nfi AN, Mbanya JN, Ndi C, Kameni, Vabi M, Pingpoh D, Yonkeu S & Moussa C, Ethno veterinary medicine in the Acknowledgement northern provinces of Cameroon, Vet Res Commum, The authors acknowledged all the informers of Chiru 25(2001)71-76. 16 McCorkle CM, Back to the future: Lessons from tribe inhabited villages in Manipur and are also thankful ethnoveterinary RD & E for studying and applying local to all the Headmen for their cooperation extended during knowledge, Agric Hum Val, 12(2) (1995) 52-80. the study. The Authors are also thankful to Ms Salen 17 Galav P, Jain A & Katewa SS, Traditional veterinary Kim for translation of local names and to the unknown medicines used by livestock owners of Rajasthan, India, Indian J Tradit knowle, 12 (1) (2013) 47-55. referee for constructive comments. 18 Miishra D, Cattle wounds and ethnoveterinary medicine: A References study in Poasara block, Ganjam district, Orissa, India, Indian J Tradit Knowle, 12(1) (2013) 62-65. 1 Maikhuri RK, Eco–Energetic analysis of animal husbandry 19 Sehgal AB & Sood SK, Ethnoveterinary practices for herbal in traditional societies of India, Energy (pregmon Plc, USA), 17 (1992) 959-967. cure of livestock used by rural populace of Hamirpur, (H.P.) India, IOSR J Agric Vet Sci, 3(1) (2013) 2319-2372. 2 Kumar D, The use and relevance of ethnoveterinary practices in sheep, Indian J Small Ruminants, 8(2) (2002) 124-128. 20 Kumar R & Bharti AK, Folk veterinary medicines in the 3 Mc Corkle CM, Back to future: Lessons from Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, India, Indian J Tradit ethnoveterinary RD & E for studying and applying local Knowle, 12(1) (2013) 40-46.

knowledge, Agric Hum Val, 12(2) (1995) 52-80. 21 Kumar R & Bharti AK, Folk veterinary medicine in the 4 Thanga Th & Rajketan Ch, Chirugi wari shingbun - Kangchup Jaluan district of Uttar Pradesh, India, Indian J Tradit Chiru, (Cultural Research Centre), Manipur, 2008, 1-144. Knowle, 11(2) (2012) 288-295.

5 Haokip PS, Zale’n-Gram the Kuki Nation, (Kuki National 22 Binu Thomas A, Rjenjendran V, Aravindhan & Sivalingam Organization, Zale’n-gam), 1998, 1-302. R, Ethnoveterinary medicines of tribe Paniyars in Kerala, 6 Adedeji OS, Ogunsina TK, Akinwumi AO, Ameen SA, India, Int J Biol Technol, 2(2) (2011) 72-75.

Ojebiyi OO & Akinlade JA, Ethnoveterinary medicine in 23 Deshmukh RR, Rathod VN & Pardeshi VN, Ethnoveterinary African organic poultry production, Int Food Res J, 20(2) medicine from Jalna district of Maharastra state, Indian J (2013) 527-532. Tradit knowle, 10(2) (2011) 344-348. 7 Shah GM, Ahmad M, Arshad, Khan MA, Zafar M & Sultana 24 Nigam G & Sharma NK, Ethnoveterinary plants of Jhansi S, Ethno-Phyto-Veterinary medicines in Northern Pakistan, J district, Uttar Pradesh, Indian J Tradit knowle, 9(4) (2010) Animal Plant Sci, 22(3) (2012) 791-797. 664-667. 8 Harun-or-Rashid Md, Tanzin R, Ghosh KC, Jahan R, Khatun 25 Mishra S, Sharma S, Vasudevan P, Bhatt RK, Pandey S, Mst A & Rahmatullah M, An ethnoveterinary survey of Singh M, Meena BS & Pandey SN, Livestock feeding medicinal plants used to treat cattle diseases in Birishiri area, and traditional healthcare practices in Bundelkhand region Netrakona district, , Adv Nat App Sci, 4(1) (2010) of Central India, Indian J Tradit Knowle, 9(2) (2010) 10-13. 333-337. 9 Shikai S, Andreas W & Vernooy R, The Importance of 26 Phondani, P C, Maithuri & Kala, CP, Ethnoveterinary uses of Ethnoveterinary Treatments for pig illnesses in poor ethnic medicinal plants among traditional herbal healers in minority communities: A case study of Nu People in Yunnan, Alaknanda catchment of Uttarakhand, India, African J Tradit , Intern J Appl Res Vet Med, 8(1) (2010) 53-59. Comple Alt Med, 7(3) (2010) 195-206. 10 Deeba F, Documentation of ethnoveterinary practices in 27 Tiwari L & Pande PC, Ethnoveterinary medicines in Indian Urban and peri-urban areas of Faisalabad (Pakistan), PhD perspective: Reference to Uttarakhand, Himalaya, Indian J Thesis, (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan), Tradit Knowle, 9(3) (2010) 611-617. 2009. 28 Satapathy KB, Ethnoveterinary practices in Jaipur district of 11 Farrooq Z, Iqbal Z, Mushtaq S, Muhammad G, Iqbal M Z & Orissa, Indian J Tradit Knowle, 9(2) (2010) 338-343. Arshad, Ethnoveterinary practices for the treatment of 29 Pande PC, Tiwari L & Pande HC, Ethnoveterinary plants of parasitic diseases in livestock in Cholistan desert (Pakistan), Uttranchal-A review, Indian J Tradit Knowle, 6 (3) (2007) J Ethnopharmacol, 118(2) (2008) 213-219. 444-458. 12 Memon AH, Rind FMA, Laghari MGH, Mughal UR, 30 Kumar D, The use and relevance of ethnoveterinary practices Memon N, Gilal RA, Khuhawar & Almani F, Common folk in sheep, Indian J Small Ruminants, 8(2) (2002) 124-128. medicinal and ethnomedicinal uses of thirty medicinal plants 31 Bhatt DC, Mitalia KD & Mehta SK, Observation on of districts Dadu and Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan, Sindh Univ ethnoceterinary herbal practices in Gujarat, Ethnobotany, Res Jour (Sci Ser), 40(2) (2008) 89-108. 13(2001) 91. 13 Lans C, Turner N, Brauer G, Lourenco, G & Georges K, 32 Jain SK, Dictionary of Ethnoveterinary Plants of India, Ethnoveterinary medicines used for horses in Trinidad and in (Deep Publications, New Delhi), 1999. 376 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 2, APRIL 2014

33 Pandey PH, Verma BK & Narain S, Ethnoveterinary plants 40 Borthakur SK & Sarma UK, Ethnoveterinary medicine of Gonda region, UP, India, J Econ Tax Bot, 23(1) (1999) with special reference to cattle prevalent among the 199-203. Nepalis of Assam, India, In: Ethnobiology in Human welfare, 34 Geetha S, Lakshmi G & Ranjithakani P, Ethnoveterinary edited by Jain SK, (Deep publisher, New Delhi), 1996, medicinal plants of Kolli hills, Tamilnadu, J Econ Tax Bot, 197-199. Add series, 12 (1996) 289-291. 41 Martin GJ, Ethnobotany-A methods Manual, (London: 35 Sikarwar RLS, Bajpai AK & Painuli RM, Plants used as Earthscan), 2007. veterinary medicine by aboriginals of Madhya Pradesh, India, 42 Deb DB, Monocotyledonous Plants of Manipur Territory, Int J Pharmacog, 32(3) (1994) 251-255. Bull Bot Surv India, 3(2) (1961a) 115-138. 36 Maikhuri RK, Eco-energetic analysis of animal husbandry in 43 Deb DB, Dicotyledonous Plants of Manipur, Bull Bot Surv traditional societies of India, Energy (Pregmon plc, USA), 17 India, 3(3&4) (1961b) 253-350. (1992) 959-967. 44 Sinha SC, Medicinal plants of Manipur, (Mass & Sinha, 37 Sesbastian MK, Plants used used as veterinary medicine, Manipur Cultural Integration Conference, Palace compound, galactogogue and fodder in forest areas of Rajasthan, J Eco Imphal, Manipur), 1996, 1-238. Taxo Bot, 5(4) (1984) 785-788. 45 Chauhan AS, Wadhwa BM, Singh DK, Singh KP, 38 Maiti S, Chakravarty, Garai S, Bandyopadhyay & Chauhan VS, Chakraborty P, Sanpru R & Dam DP, Flora of Manipur, Vol. Ethno-veterinary practices for ephemeral fever of Yak: A I, In: Flora of India Series 2, edited by Singh, N P, Chauhan, participatory assessment by the Monpa tribe of Arunachal AS & Mondal, MS. (Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata), Pradesh, Indian J Tradit Knowle, 12(1) (2013) 36-39. 2000, 1-600. 39 Saikia B & Borthakur SK, Use of medicinal plants in animal 46 Khan FM, Ethno-veterinary medicinal usage of flora of healthcare-A case study from Gohpur, Assam, Indian J Greater Cholistan desert (Pakistan), Pakistan Vet J, 29(2) Tradit knowle, 9(1) (2010) 49-51. (2009) 75-80.