Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 9(3), July 2010, pp. 510-514

Antidiabetic used in of , Northeast

Mohd Habibullah Khan 1 & PS Yadava* 2 1Environment & Ecology Office, Department of Environment & Forest, Government of Manipur, Porompat, Imphal East 795 010, Manipur; 2Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Manipur 795 003, Manipur E-mail: [email protected],in Received 10 April 2008; revised 2 June 2009

The ethnic communities of Thoubal district in Manipur uses various plants in alleviating various diseases that are inherited from the forefathers through oral folklores. An attempt has been made to document the precious traditional knowledge about the uses of 54 species in treating diabetes by different ethnic communities in the district. Keywords : Traditional knowledge, Ethnomedicine, Meitei , Meitei-pangal , Diabetes, Manipur IPC Int. Cl. 8: A61K36/00, A61P5/00, A61P5/50, A61P13/00, A61P13/02

In the recent years, there is a revival of interest in the Manipur offers immense scope for ethnobotanical traditional system of medicine, where medicinal studies since it is inhabited by numerous aboriginal plants are a major source of biodynamic compounds tribes and the region happens to be the part of Indo- of therapeutic values. The traditional knowledge on Burma Hot-spots of diversity 5. It possesses rich medicinal plants is the main basis for biocultural and diversity of flora and a large number of economic and ecosystem conservation as well as selection of various medicinal plants which forms an integral part of the plant species for further pharmacological, culture of the ethnic communities. Thoubal district phytochemical, toxicological and ecological studies. which lies between 23°45'N and 24°45'N Latitude and Health will not be a problem if man lives with nature 1. 93°45'E and 94°15'E Longitude occupies the bigger According to a WHO estimate, more than 80% of the portion of the eastern half of Manipur valley which is world's population relies on traditional medicinal inhabited by various ethnic communities, i.e. Meiteis , practices for primary healthcare needs 2. Over 75% of Meitei-pangals (Muslim), scheduled castes like Loi, the world population is depending on local health Yaithibi and tribes like Chiru , Gangte , Hmar , Kabui , practitioners and traditional medicines for their Kom , Lamkang, Maring, Paite, Simte, Tangkhul, primary needs 3. Traditional ethnomedicinal studies Vaiphei, Zou , etc. which all have their own tradition have in recent years received much attention due to and culture. All the ethnic groups use different types their wide local acceptability and clues for new or of plants for domestic as well as for the prescription lesser-known medicinal plants 4. The study on the of healing activities to a great extent. In the nexus between the aboriginal or primitive people and investigation, some plant species used by the ethnic their immediate environment has received the communities of the district in diabetes are attention of many researchers. Of paramount impor- enumerated. tance in such studies is the enumeration of several Methodology plants of therapeutic value used by different ethnic Ethnomedicinal information practiced by the communities. The indigenous know-how of the tribal different ethnic communities of the district was need to be studied closely and continuously updated collected through the field visits in the areas inhabited as periodic field survey spread over time. The ethnic by different ethnic communities 6. The collected plant communities of different age groups, different gender material used ethnomedicinally by the ethnic and spread over different zones reveal immense communities were identified 7-12 . After identification, variety in application and mode of treatment. the correct nomenclature were given to the specimens —————— and kept in the herbarium centre of Manipur *Corresponding author University, Manipur. KHAN & YADAVA: ANTIDIABETIC PLANTS USED IN MANIPUR 511

Observation C. didymbotrya Fresen.; Dao pata achouba (Man) After conducting regular exploration trips in all the Uses: Meitei-pangal community prescribes boiled seasons during the year 2000-2003 in most parts of extract of the leaf. this district, the ethnomedicinal information collected Catharanthus roseus (Linn.) G. Don.; on 55 plant species used for the treatment of diabetes (Apocynaceae); Saheb lei (Man); Sada bahar (Hin); are enumerated. For each plant species listed, Latin Periwinkle (Eng) name, local (vernacular) names in Manipuri (Man.), Uses: The Loi community takes the boiled extract (Hin.), and English (Eng.), family, and uses are of the leaf. given. Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban; (Apiaceae); syn. Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa (Rutaceae); syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn.; Peruk (Man); Brahma Crateva marmelos Linn.; Heikhagok (Manipuri); Bel manduki (Hin); Indian pennywort (Eng) (Hindi); Stone apple (English) Uses: Meitei-pangal community prescribes the Uses: The Loi community eats tender raw leaf with extract of Parkia timoriana bark and Ficus glomerata milk. fruits. acidum Retz. (Euphorbiaceae) syn . A. Clerodendrum indicum (Linn.) Kuntze. ghaesembilla Gaertn.; A. diandrum Roth. Heikum (Verbenaceae); Charoidong (Man) (Man); Amari (Hin) Uses: Meitei community gives the extract obtained Uses: The Lois prescribes boiled extract of the leaf. by boiling Clerodendrum indicum leaves along with Ardisia colorata Roxb.; (Myrsinaceae); Uthum Justicia adhatoda leaves. (Man) C. viscosum Vent.; syn. C. infortunatum Linn.; Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities give Kuthap-manbi (Man); Bhat (Hin) boiled extract of the leaf. Uses: Meitei community prescribes the boiled Areca catechu Linn.; (Arecaceae); Kwa (Man); extract of the leaf. Supari (Hin); Betel nut (Eng) Coix lacrymajobi Linn.; (Poaceae); Chaning- Uses: The Meitei community uses boiled extract of angouba (Man); Sankur (Hin); Jobs tears (Eng) the nut. Artemisia maritima Linn.; (Asteraceae); Ching Uses: Meitei community takes the crushed extract laibakngou (Man) of the root. Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities give Cyperus esculentus Linn.; (Cyperaceae); Kaothum boiled extract of the leaves. (Man) Artocarpus lakoocha Wall. ex Roxb.; (Moraceae) Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses the boiled Hari-kokthong (Man); Barhal (Hin); Monkey jack extract of the tuber to relieve thirst of diabetic tree (Eng) patients. Uses: Both Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities longifolia (Burm.f.) Wedd. in DC.; prescribe boiled extract of the bark mixed with (); syn. D.velutina Gaud. U-khajing (Man) common salt. Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses boiled extract Averrhoa carambola Linn.; (Averrhoaceae); of the root. Heinoujom (Man); Carambola (Eng); Rupuanthai Enhydra fluctuans Lour.; (Asteraceae); Komprek (Kabui ) tujombi (Man) Uses: Meitei-pangal community give boiled extract Uses: Meitei-pangal community prescribes the of the bark. extract obtained by boiling the plant cut into pieces at Azadirachta indica A. Juss; (Meliaceae); Neem the nodes. Uses: Neem leaves along with leaves of Justicia Equisetum debile Roxb. ex Vauch.; (Equisetaceae); adhatoda and Zanthoxylum acanthopodium are boiled Lai utong (Man); Horsetail (Eng) and consumed by Meitei-pangal community. Uses: Meitei-pangal community prescribes the Cassia alata Linn.; (Caesalpiniaceae); syn. Senna extract obtained by boiling the plant along with the alata Roxb. Dao pata macha (Man); Dadmurdan root of male Carica papaya. (Hin); Ringworm senna (Eng) Ficus glomerata Roxb.;(Moraceae) syn. F. Uses: Meitei community prescribes the boiled racemosa Linn. Heibong (Man); Gular (Hin); Fig extract of tender leaf. (Eng) 512 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 9, No. 3, JULY 2010

Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses the extract Justicia adhatoda Linn.; (Acanthaceae); obtained by boiling the fruits along with Centella Nongmangkha angouba (Man); Bakas asiatica and Parkia roxburghii bark . (Hin); Malabar nut (Eng) Ficus hispida Linn. f.; Ashi heibong /Perelhei Uses: Meitei community gives the extract obtained (Man); Daduri (Hin) by boiling the leaves along with the leaves of Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses boiled extract Clerodendrum siphonanthus ; Meitei-pangal of the leaf. Meitei, Meitei-pangal and the Maring community uses the extract obtained by boiling the communities also eat the fresh raw fruits. leaves along with the leaves of Azadirachta indica F. pomifera Wall. ex King; Heiba (Man) and Zanthoxylum acanthopodium . Uses: The Meitei community uses boiled extract of Kyllinga triceps Rottb.; (Cyperaceae); syn. the leaf and the fruit. Cyperus triceps (Rottb.) Endl.; Chumthang namthibi Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch.; (Man) (Flacourtiaceae); syn. F. cataphracta Willd.; Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities use Stigmarota jangomas Lour.; Heitroi (Man); Paniala boiled extract of the plant. (Hin) Leucaena glauca Benth.; (Mimosaceae); L. Uses: Kuki and Meitei communities eat raw fruits. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.; Mimosa leucocephala Lam.; Chigongnglei angouba (Man) Glycine max (Linn.) Merrill.; (Fabaceae); Nung hawai (Man); Bhat (Hin); Soyabean (Eng) Uses: Both Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities use leaf decoction. Uses: Dry seed powder, sugar candy or the water Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) Raven. ssp sessiliflora soaked sprouted seed is eaten raw by Meitei and (Mich.) Raven.; Kabo khaji (Man) Meitei-pangal communities. Uses: Both Meitei and Loi communities use boiled Grewia abutilifolia, Vent ex Juss.; (Tiliaceae); syn. extract of the whole plant. G. macrophylla non. G. Don. Ching boroi (Man) Mentha arvensis Linn.; (Lamiaceae); Nungshi Uses: Meitei community uses boiled extract of the hidak (Man); Pudina (Hin); Field mint (Eng) fruit. Uses: Almost all the communities use crushed Hibiscus syriacus Linn. (Malvaceae), Juba kusum extract of the plant mixed with honey. angouba (Man) Meyna spinosa Roxb. Ex Link.; (Rubiaceae); syn. Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses decoction of Lam heibi (Man); Moina (Hin) the leaf. Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities use Hygrophila phlomoides Nees; (Acanthaceae); Ising boiled extract of the fruit. langthrei (Man) Morus indica Linn.; (Moraceae); syn. M. australis Uses: Meitei community uses boiled extract of the Poir.; Kabrangchak (Man); Tut (Hin); Mulberry (Eng) plant. Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities eat Imperata cylindrical (Linn.) P. Beauv.; (Poaceae); the tender leaf cooked with any roasted fish. Imom (Man); Ulu (Hin); Thatch grass (Eng) Musa sapientum Linn.; (Musaceae); syn. M. Para- Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses the extract disiaca Linn.; Lafu (Man); Kela (Hin); Banana (Eng) obtained by boiling the root along with the leaf of Uses: The Loi community eats the cooked Citrus aurantium against thirst in diabetes. inflorescence. The extract of water soaked smashed Ipomea aquatica Forssk.; (Convolvulaceae); inflorescence is also sometimes used by both Meitei Kolamni / Taothrak (Man); Kalmisag (Hin); Swamp and Loi communities. cabbage (Eng) Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.; (Nelumbonaceae); syn. Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses the boiled Nymphaea nelumbo Linn.; Thambal (Man); Kamal extract of tender shoot against thirst in diabetic (Hin); Sacred lotus (Eng) patients. Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses the extract Jussieua repens Linn.; (Onagraceae); syn. J. obtained by boiling the tender shoot along with adscendens Linn.; Ludwigia adscendens (Linn.) Phyllanthus fraturnus . Hara.; Ishing-kundo (Man) Ocimum americanum Linn.; (Lamiaceae); syn. O. Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses boiled extract canum Sims.; Mayangba (Man); Kalatulsi (Hin); of the plant. Basil (Eng) KHAN & YADAVA: ANTIDIABETIC PLANTS USED IN MANIPUR 513

Uses: The Loi community uses the ash of the Uses: Meitei communities uses boiled extract of the petiole mixed with honey. root. Osbeckia nepalensis Hook.; (Melastomataceae); Syzigium cumini (Linn.) Skeels.; (Myrtaceae); syn Yachubi (Man) Myrtus cumini Linn.; Eugenia jambolana Lam.; Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses boiled extract Jamhei (Man); Jaman (Hin); Java plum (Eng) of the tender shoot. Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities uses O. stellata Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don.; Yachubi (Man) boiled extract of the seed. Uses: The uses are more or less similar to O. Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Merr.; (Apocynaceae); nepalensis. syn T. nerifolia Juss ex Steud.; Utong lei (Man); Pile Parkia timoriana (A.DC.) Merr.; (Mimosaceae); kaner (Hin); Yellow oleander (Eng) syn. P. roxbhurghii G. Don; Inga timoriana A. DC.; Uses: Meitei community uses the ash of the bark Yongchak (Man) mixed with water. Uses: Decoction of bark of the plant with Centella Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.; (Rutaceae); asiatica and Ficus glomerata fruits is used by Meitei- Muthrubi tingkhang panbi (Man); Darmar (Hin) pangal community. Uses: Boiled root extract is prescribed by both Peristrophe fera C.B. Clarke.; (Acanthaceae); Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities and also leaf Ishing langthrei (Man); Artilal (Hin) decoction along with the leaves of Azadirachta indica Uses: The Loi community uses boiled extract of the and Justicia adhatoda taken in equal proportion is plant. used by the Meitei -pangal communities. Phologocanthus tubiflorus Nees.;(Acanthaceae); Z. armatum DC.; Muthrubi (Man) Nongmangkha angangba (Man) Uses: Decoction of bark and Zingiber officinale Uses: More or less similar to Z. acanthopodium. rhizome is used by the Loi community. Phyllanthus emblica Linn.; (Euphorbiaceae); Discussion Heikru (Man); Amla (Hin); Emblic myrobalan (Eng) The existing traditions of treating diabetes by 54 Uses: Meitei community eats the cooked tender plant species among the different ethnic communities leaves along with a local fish Ngakha meingangbi residing in Thoubal district have been collected and (Puntius phutunio ). summarized. Every community and locality in the P. fraternus Web.; Chakpa-heikru / Heikruman district had some village priests cum doctors locally (Man); Jaramla (Hin) called, Maiba or Maibi , who apart from practicing Uses: Meitei-pangal community uses the extract magico-religious rituals to combat diseases used to obtained by boiling the plant along with the tender prescribe herbal medicines. It is through the treatment leaves of Nelumbo nucifera. The Loi community uses by the Maiba or Maibi , the people could be cured or boiled extract of the leaves and seeds. so it was believed. They used various plants, animals, P. urinaria Linn.; Chakpa-heigru / Heikruman chemicals and other products for the treatment of (Man); Hazarmani (Hin) various ailments and the scion of their families is still carrying on the tradition. Whether their preparation Uses: More or less similar to P. fraturnus. had any actual effect on the treatment of a particular Scleria terristris (Linn.) Fuss.; (Cyperaceae); Lam disease is still yet not known for certain, but there thangjou (Man) have been instances when people have recovered Uses: Meitei and Meitei-pangal communities use without any side effects. This is evident from the fact boiled extract of the plant. that people living in the rural areas still undergo this Sesbania sesban (Linn.) Merr.; (Fabaceae); syn. S. type of treatment and recovered fully. In the study, it aegyptiaca Poir.; was found that the traditional knowledge about herbs Chuchurangmei (Man.); Jainti (Hin.); Common that were used by the forefathers in alleviating sesban (Eng.) diabetes was acquired mainly by the local Uses: Meitei communities uses boiled extract of the practitioner, the Maiba and Maibi are in the decline. It leaf or tender shoot. is mainly because the younger generation does not Smilax lanceifolia Roxb.; (Smilacaceae); Kwa show much interest in this age old medical practices manbi (Man) due to the advent of modern medicines and excessive 514 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 9, No. 3, JULY 2010

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