Shuktani – a New Ethno-Medico Recipe Among the Sylheti Bengali Community of Barak Valley, Southern Assam, India

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol.11 (1), January 2012, pp. 156-160

Shuktani – a new ethno-medico recipe among the Sylheti Bengali Community of Barak valley, Southern Assam, India

Ashish Nath* & G G Maiti** *Department of Botany, G C College, Silchar – 788004, Assam, India, **Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani – 741235, West Bengal, India E-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]

Received 16.07.2010; revised 05.10.11

During the survey of last 10 yrs on ethnobotanical study of Barak valley of Southern Assam may new traditional prescriptions and recipes were known. Shuktani is one of some familiar recipes which is still in regular practice amongst the Sylheti Bengali community of Barak Valley of Southern Assam which is used for several treatments as stomach disorders like diarrhoea, dysentery, indigestions, etc. and as a recipe for women as post parturition treatment, weakness and lactation, etc. Shuktani, a new ethno-medico-botanical recipe prepared with the uses of 35 species of Angiosperms consisting of the leaves of 23, vegetative buds, fruits and seeds of 4 each, stems and flowers of 2 each of the plants in either liquid form or in powdered form. The formulation, preparation along with uses, duration and doses are discussed for the remedy of the different diseases.

Keywords: Shuktani–Ethno–medico botanical recipe, Sylheti-Bengali, Barak Valley, Assam. IPC Int. Cl.8: A01D 7/00, A01D 7/13, A01D 7/35, A01D 7/06, A01D 12/00, A01D 12/01, A01D 12/14

Floristic survey along with the study of medicinal district, Assam. Hajra and Baishya8 presented the plants used by the tribal communities and other ethnobotanical notes on the Miris (Mishing) of Assam inhabitants of Barak valley, Assam was carried out for plains. Nath and Maiti9 had also studied on the folk the last 10 yrs. It was found that there are still present medicines as well as ethnobotanical study of Barak some new information of the ethno-medico-botanical valley, Assam. Nath and Maiti10 also worked on the uses within the different communities and inhabitants Halam tribes of Assam and Tripura State. Tamuli and of Barak valley, Assam. Although many works had Saikia11 had also reported some ethno-medico-botany already been carried out on the ethnobotanical study of Zeme tribes of North Cachar Hill District of of Barak valley, Assam and its neighbouring states Assam. Bhattacharjee12 et al. had studied the folklore but still there are many unrecorded study and for Medicine from the district Kamrup (Assam). Saklani which this survey works were carried out. and Jain13, however, made thorough account in their Borthakur1,2,3 had reported medicinal uses among book as cross-cultural Ethnobotany of North-east the Karbi Anglong, Mikir Hills, for the diseases India, Assam. Barbhuiya et al14 had stressed on the of children and women and the postnatal care of conservation of medicinal plants of Barak valley, women in raditional system of the tribes of Assam. Assam. But still there are many things that have to Dutta Choudhury and Choudhury4 had worked on be studied for North-east Indian states particularly the Ethnobotanical aspects of Reang tribe of Assam. for Assam. Dutta Choudhury et al.5 had studied ethno- There are a few reports as done by Deb15 on medicobotanical uses of Dimasa Kachari community medicinal plants and by Singh et al.16 on ethno- of Cachar district of Assam. Das and Sharma6 medico-botanical study on the state of Tripura. reported the ethno-medicinal plants used by Barman As a general study on the useful plant of India and Manipuri communities of Cachar district, Assam. there are the reports of the uses of plants by So also by Das7 et al. there is the report of the uses of the communities of North-East India as stated by 17 18,19 medicinal plants by the different tribes of Kachar Ambasta and Nayar et al . —————— Barak valley, comprises with the southern most *Corresponding author three districts, viz. Cachar, Karimganj, and HailaKandi NATH & MAITI: SHUKTANI-A NEW ETHNO-MEDICO RECIPE IN SOUTHERN ASSAM 157

of Assam, lies between longitudes 90°15’ and 93°15’ The items, i.e. the plants used for the preparations E and latitude 24°8’ and 25°8’ N covering an area of recipe Shuktani were verified with many old men of 6922 sq km. This valley is surrounded by and women of Sylheti Bengali community. It is also North Cachar Hills district of Assam in the North, further verified those who are prescribing as well as Mizoram in the South, Manipur in East and Sylhet practicing this preparation. district of Bangladesh and Tripura state in the West (Barbhuiya et al.13) It is inhabitated by about Observation 80% Sylheti-Bengali people, (Saklani and Jain12), The recipe, suktani, is prepared by different parts speaking mainly in Sylheti Bengali (a distinct Bengali of 35 species of angiosperms which are consisting dialect) and the rest are the tea garden workers of the leaves of 23 species, vegetative buds, fruits (Tea tribe), Methai, Manipuri, Bishnupriya, Manipuri, and seeds of 4 species each, petioles, stems and Assamese (Chutia), plain tribes like Barhmana, Koch flowers of 2 species each. It is, further, observed that Rajbongshi and Rongmai Naga and the hill-tribes like in case of non-availability of any one plant or more Khasia/Jayantia, Lusai (Mizo), H’mar, Naga, Kuki, than one plant species some substitute species as an Halam, Reang, Tripuri, etc. alternative is also used. As being situated in Southern Assam, in the Shuktani is prepared in two well known forms, remotest corner of the country, the majority of the liquid form and powdered form. The liquid form is inhabitants are still in belief of the traditional system although prepared depending on the availability of all of treatment for the remedy of the various diseases. the required species that is always prescribed or This region is also rich in luxuriant vegetation with recommended to take for both the sexes of all age the availability of various medicinal plants. Most groups in the treatment of stomach disorders like of the peoples are still in practice to collect the diarrhoea, indigestion and the dysentery, etc. On the indigenous plants for their herbal preparation for other hand the powdered form is recommended only many of the traditional health care practices in the for the women after the parturition for general body form of the preparation of local drugs, pills and some strength and for lactation. It is administered to recipes. The Shuktani is one of the prescribed recipes continue for a month or if required for more days. The recommended for the treatment of stomach disorders formulation of the herbal preparation of Shuktani as like diarrhea, dysentery, indigestions, etc. and as a liquid form is made as follows: recipe it is used for setting the general body strength Freshly collected leaves of 23 species of Ananas and the lactation for the women after the parturition. comosus (L.) Merr., Azadirachta india A. Juss., This recipe is not stated in the previous works and Blumea lanceolaris (Roxb.) Druce, Boehmeria thus here stated with the details of plants used which macrophylla D. Don, Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., are consisting of 35 angiosperms plant species with Citrus medica L., Elsholtzia blanda Benth., the plant parts like leaves, vegetative buds, petioles, Glycosmis arborea (Roxb.) DC., Houttuynia cordata fruits, seeds and flowers, etc. Thunb., Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam., Moringa oleifera L., Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L., Ocimum Materials and methods canum Sims., Paederia foetida L., Pogostemon During the survey works in the Barak valley, Assam benghalensis (Burm.f.) O. Ktze., Polygonum many of the ethno-medico-botanical plants are noted microcephalum D. Don, Psidium guajava L., Punica to prepare a recipe, Shuktani, by Sylheti Bengali granatum L., Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex community. As the Shuktani is used for different Corr., Tagetes patula L., Tinospora cordifolia diseases and are commonly prescribed by the older (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thoms., Vitex negundo persons for the treatment and remedy of their own L. and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., all of equal amount family members thus the information is taken from being fresh weight of about 250 gm each, are taken the people regarding the plants/plant parts, preparation together to make a paste. The vegetative buds of of medicine, administration, uses with dose, duration, 4 species as Clerodendrum viscosum Vent L., Psidium etc. Shuktani is prepared by the 35 plants of guajava L., Punica granatum L. and Ziziphus angiosperms and their different parts as presented in mauritiana Lam., being the amount of 20-25 gm Table 1 with their botanical names, respective each, are also mixed together to form a paste. Both families, vernacular names and the parts used. these pastes are well mixed together to form a final 158 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 11, NO 1, JANUARY 2012

Table 1—Plants used for the preparation of suktani (arranged in alphabetical sequence) Names of the plants Names of the Vernacular names Parts used families (Sylheti -Bengali) 1 2 3 4 Aglaonema hookerianum Schott Araceae Bagdar Petiole Alpinia bracteata Roxb. Zingiberaceae Tera Young stem (Scape) Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. Bromeliaceae Anaras Whitish basal portion of leaves Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Neem Leaves Blumea lanceolaris (Roxb.) Druce Asteraceae Agijal Leaves Boehmeria macrophylla D. Don. Urticaceae Rahmi Leaves Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Apiaceae Thankuni Leaves Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm. Lauraceae Taj-pata Leaves Citrus medica L. Rutaceae Sashni-jamir Young leaves Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. Verbenaceae Bhati Young vegetative buds Costus speciosus (Koenig) Sm. Costaceae Keu Young stem Elsholtzia blanda Benth. Lamiaceae Bon-tulsi Leaves Glycosmis arborea (Roxb.) DC. Rutaceae Bon-jamir Young leaves Homolomena aromatica (Roxb.) Schott Araceae Gondhi Petioles Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Saururaceae Ichlapata Young leaves Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. Apiaceae Chuto-kudranik Leaves Moringa oleifera Lam. Moringaceae Sajna Young leaves Nigella sativa L. Ranunculaceae Kala-jeera Seeds Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. Oleaceae Sephali Young leaves Ocimum canum Sims. Lamiaceae Babri tulsi Leaves Paederia foetida L. Rubiaceae Badhali-pata Leaves Piper longum L. Piperaceae Peepoil Fruits Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Golmorich Fruits Pogostemon benghalensis (Burm.f.) O. Ktze. Lamiaceae Rujanto Leaves Polygonum microcephalum D. Don Polygonaceae Chulong Leaves Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Sapri Young vegetative buds Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) Willd. Sterculiaceae Moskondh-phool Flowers Punica granatum L. Punicaceae Anar Young vegetative buds Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir. Papilionaceae Bokh-phool Flowers Tagetes patula L. Asteraceae Ganda Leaves Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex Corr. Malvaceae Parashpipul Leaves Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thoms. Menispermaceae Amburus Leaves Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Papilionaceae Metti, Methi Seeds Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Nisinda Leaves Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. Rhamnaceae Boroi Young vegetative buds form of paste. Mustard oil, 1 to 2 tea spoonful, is mentioned plant materials according to the liking allowed to warm in a thick-bottom frying pan with the of the persons. Sometimes few pinch of rice powder adding of a few seeds (10-15) of Trigonella faenum- is also added to this prepared recipe to make gravy graecum L. and 2-6 dried leaves of Cinnamomum and also allowed to boil. After boiling for sometimes tamala Nees & Eberm. and allowed all of them to turn few (5-10 each) whole flowers of Pterospermum black. The prepared mixed paste is now added in the acerifolium (L.) Willd., Sesbania grandiflora (L.) pan and is slightly fried together, added required Poir., both or which one is available, and nearly amount of water, and also required amount of 12 mm long petiole of Aglaonema hookerianum common salt and turmeric powder to make well Schott and Homalomena aromatica (Roxb.) Schott, mixed recipe. Finally the mixture is boiled together inflorescence scape of Alpinia bracteata Roxb., and and prepared properly. Furthermore, some amount of about 12 mm long young aerial stem of Costus the requirement is added and changed out of these speciosus (Koenig) Sm. are added with this NATH & MAITI: SHUKTANI-A NEW ETHNO-MEDICO RECIPE IN SOUTHERN ASSAM 159

preparation and allow to boil for nearly 10 minutes The preparation although of 2 types, liquid form and more to become a suitable mixed preparation, the powdered form, but prescribed and recommended Shuktani recipe. This liquid form of Shuktani is separately as the powdered form is specially used for severed in hot with hot-boiled rice or alone for the women. regular treatment of stomach trouble like diarrhoea, Shuktani recipe is prepared with many as good as indigestion and dysentery, etc. This recipe is taken 35 medicinal plants of Angiosperms and they are used once in a days in the early morning in empty stomach with their different parts like leaves, vegetative twigs, and prescribed till remedy but usually taken for flowers, etc. probably this recipe, Shuktani, is a month of so. prepared with a good number of medicinal plants and The formulation of powdered form of the Shuktani also the different parts of the plants. The preparation, as herbal preparation is as follow: administration, dose and duration of taking this herbal Fresh leaves of 23 species, of equal amount medicine are long been established and still it is as in liquid form, are taken together with the continued for the remedy and of effective result. few (5-10) vegetative buds of 4 species as Clerodendrum infortunatum L., Psidium guajava L. Acknowledgement Punica granatum L. and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. The authors are obliged to the Principal of G C It is also added with 50-100 fresh flowers College, Silchar and the Head, Department of Botany, of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L., 8-10 fresh flowers G C College, Silchar, Assam for their kind permission of both Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) Willd. and of this study and assistance. The authors are also Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir. All these are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany, slowly sun-dried for a few days and make them University of Kalyani, Kalyani – 741235, Nadia, WB into a finer powder by motar and pastle. Seeds as for his kind help. (10-15 each) of Nigella sativa L. and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and 5-8 seeds of Piper nigrum References 1 Borthakur S K, Less known medicinal plants among the L. are separately fried in iron pan and make each of tribes of Karbi Anglong (Mikir Hills) Assam, Bull Bot Surv them as powder. India, 18 (1-4) (1976) 166-171.

This powder is well mixed with the leaf-powder 2 Borthakur S K, Native phytotherapy for child and women diseases from Assam, North-eastern India, Fitoterapia, 63 and kept in a dry container for further uses. The dried (b) (1992) 483 - 488. powdered form is recommended to take, being the 3 Borthakur S K, Postnatal care of women in traditional system amount of 1 tea spoonful, to the women during post in Assam, Ethnobotany, 8 (1996) 51-53. parturition period. It is prescribed to take daily in 4 Dutta Choudhury M & Choudhury S, Ethnobotanical every meal along with butter (ghee) for their general aspect of Reang tribe of Assam, India, Part 2, Proc. UGC sponsored state level seminar on, Biodiversity of Assam and body strength as well as for lactation. its Conservation, edited by Bhattacharya MK, Mazumder P Both these preparations, liquid form and powdered B & Dutta Choudhury M, Karimganj, Assam, 2002, form, are recommended by the old person, either 151-168. 5 Dutta Choudhury M, Shil S. & Chakraborty G, Ethno- women or men as a general practice and as home medicobotanical studies on Dimasa Kachari of Cachar remedy by herbal medicine. district, Assam, Ethnobotany, 20 (1 & 2) (2008) 128-134. It is further, verified that the peoples of the 6 Das A K & Sharma G D, Ethnomedicinal plants used community are satisfied with this herbal treatment as by Barman and Manipuri community, Cachar district, Assam, J Econ Tax Bot., 27 (2) (2003) 421-429. effective and required results as they want. 7 Das A K, Dutta B K & Sharma G D, Medicinal plants used by different tribes of Cachar district, Assam, Indian J Tradit Discussion and Conclusion Knowle, 7 (3) (2008) 446-454. The medico-botanical study for the preparation of 8 Hajra P K & Baishya A K, Ethnobotanical notes on the Shuktani and the use of that as a herbal remedy is well Miris (Mishing) Assam Plains: Contribution of Indian Ethnobotany, edited by Jain S K, (Scientific Publishers, known among the Sylheli Bengali community of Jodhpur), 1997, 161-169. Barak valley, Assam. However, it is not claimed as 9 Nath A & Maiti G G, Ethnobotany of Barak Valley the uses of the tribal communities of Assam. Among (Southern Assam) with special reference to folk medicine, the Sylheti Bengali community the recipe is well J Econ Taxon Bot, 27 (4) (2003) 964-971. 10 Nath A & Maiti G C, Ethnobotanical study of the Halam accepted and is usually prescribed and recommended tribe of Assam and Tripura, India, J Econ Tax Bot, 33 by the old aged men and women of the community. (Suppl.) (2009) 282-287. 160 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 11, NO 1, JANUARY 2012

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