Innovative Life Sciences

International Journal of Int. J. of Innovative Life Sciences, 2021; 1 (1): Jan 2021 INNOVATIVE LIFE SCIENCES Available online at International Peer Reviewed Open http://stjosephuniv.edu.in/ijils/ijils.html Access Referred Journal Original Article Open Access

ETHNOMEDICINAL STUDY OF PLANTS IN LONGJANG VILLAGE OF MOKOKCHUNG DISTRICT, NAGALAND, INDIA

Lanuinla *

Department of Botany, St Joseph University, Dimapur, Nagaland, India E.mail:[email protected]

Abstract Studies on ethno medicinal plants have great potential in contributing to an efficient understanding of humanity’s ancient and extensive knowledge of man’s relationship with plants and their uses over the generations. The present study deals with the ethno medicinal plants in Longjang village located in Kubolong Circle of Mokokchung district, Nagaland. The indigenous knowledge of the native plants used as medicinal value was collected from village dwellers, the herbal medicine practitioners and local practitioners through questionnaire and personal interviews. The study was conducted during November 2019 to December 2019, documenting a total of 32 medicinal plants. This study indicates that there is an immense potential for further research of ethno medicine in Longjang village of Mokokchung district and also ensuring the maintenance of the valuable indigenous knowledge associated with medicine plants.

Keywords: Longjang village, Ethno medicine, Nagaland, knowledge, Mokokchung, Asetkong range.

Article History: Received : 27th December 2019; Accepted : 01stApril 2020

15 International Journal of Innovative Life Sciences |Lanuinla (2021)

1. Introduction and the older generations.

Plants and their diverse applications Northeast India has a wealth of have been learned and depended on by humans, medicinal plants and also has India’s richest since the beginning of time. With the course of reservoir of plant diversity and contributes time, this learned knowledge was exchanged around 50% of India’s entire plant diversity and passed on from one generation to other and (Mao and Hynniewta, 2000). According to gradually expanded upon. Although the term Hedge(2000), the region also harbours 40% of ‘Ethnobotany' was not used, the exploration of India’s endemic plant species.Various attempts plants and their uses has been practiced and have been made for exploration of medicinal used by people of all cultures since generations. wealth in different regions of the Northeast In 1895, US botanist John William Harshberger India the Region (Mao, Hynniewta and coined the term "Ethnobotany". sanjappa,2009; Saikai and khan, 2011; Tesutola, Ngullie and Vepu,2017; Rawat and Shankar, A great number of ethnobotanical 1997, 1998; Shankar and Rawat,2013; studies in recent years have been initiated and Biswas,1956; Tiwari et al., 1993; Mahanti, are aiming at finding and identifying new 1994; Kharkonger and Joseph, 1981; Rai and pharmaceutical products. For many centuries Sharma, 1994; Sharma and Sharma, 1994; ethnobotany has played a key and a significant Sinha, 1996; Rawat et al., 1997; Sharma et al., role in the discovery and development of new 2001; Lalramnghinglova, 2003; Mudaiya and drugs for various diseases and ailments. Majumder, 2004; Nair et al., 2009; Shankar and According to World Health Organization, the Rawat, 2008; Rai and Lalramnghinglova, 2010; world population (about 80%) depends on the Islam, 2009,).The pioneering workers of Ethno- traditional medicine for their primary health medicobotany in the state of Nagaland are Rao care. & Jamir (1982), Megoneitso & Rao (1983).

The Indian subcontinent acts as a Nagaland is located in the Northeastern storehouse of medicinal plants. All these region of India and lies between 25º6' N and medicinal plants that are present are used in 27º4' N latitude and 93º20' E and 95º15' E various amount traditional medical treatments. longitude and has an area of 16,579 square kms. India has a rich diversity of medicinal plants, It shares an international boundary with the linked with the tribal & folk knowledge systems country of Myanmar (Burma) to the east and is and is used in traditional medical treatments. As bounded by the Indian states of Assam to the traditional healers and tribal elder’s age and die, northwest and west, Arunachal Pradesh to the their knowledge is dying along with them and northeast and Manipur to the south. The rich hence many of the traditional methods and flora and fauna clearly illustrates the diverse knowledge of medicinal flora are being lost to natural heritage of the Nagaland state and it time. According to the study conducted by comes under the Indo-Burma (Myanmar) Pandey and Bisaria (1997) in Chhindwara, biodiversity hotspot of the world. Blessed with Madhya Pradesh, an immense and a growing diverse and rich growth of natural vegetation in gap in knowledge about wild plant products was the mountainous slopes of the state, where the observed when compared between the younger Evergreen tropical and sub tropical forest covers

8, 62,930 hectares of land or 20 percent of the village located in Kubolong Circle of total land area. Mokokchung district. The average temperature in Mokokchung is 18.0 ᵒC/64.3 ᵒF. About 2029 Mokokchung district is one of the mm/79.9 inch of precipitation falls annually. present twelve districts of Nagaland and has an The village present in the Asetkong range has an area of 1,615 km square and it is inhabited by average altitude of 1100 meters above mean sea the indigenous Ao Naga tribe. The natural level The village selected for the study is vegetation of the district is marked by sub- situated 7 km away from sub-district tropical evergreen rainforests and coniferous headquarters Kubolong and 27 km away from vegetations which are due to high humid the district headquarter Mokokchung. There are conditions and prolonged rains. The about 871 houses and has a population of 3504 physiography of the district shows six distinct people and the local language is Ao Mongsen. hill ranges. Geographically, on the basis of terrain, soil, climate, and the type of vegetation the district is divided into six parallel ranges where each display some slight variation in all these geographical factors thereby influencing the present status of Biodiversity. The central range, Asetkong range, having an average altitude of 1100 meters above mean sea level is one of the ranges in the Mokokchung district and is located between Menung and Milak rivers. It is characterized by the combination of rugged topography, soil condition, warm humid climate and high rainfall.

Longjang village comes under one the 5 2.2. Method (five) recognized villages present in the The survey was conducted in November Asetkong range. As per the 2011 Population 2019 to December 2019. Information regarding Census, the village has a population of 3504, of medicinal uses of plants was collected through which 1804 are males and 1700 are females. direct field surveys and interactive Utilization of the local plants to cure different questionnaires with the traditional practitioners, ailments are based on the past experiences with knowledgeable persons and village elders of the various diseases and their cures and has been Longjang village. Information and consent was passed on within the tribal community from one provided readily once the purpose of the survey generations to other in oral form and there are was told, especially the need to document the no written documentary records. information so that these valuable knowledge do 2. Materials and Method not get forgotten or lost, and are recorded for even future use. The interviews was conducted 2.1. Study site in local Mongsen dialect which was the language spoken by the native and was recorded The study was conducted in Longjang

©2020 | IJILS. All Rights Reserved | 17 International Journal of Innovative Life Sciences |Lanuinla (2021) in an audio format. The scientific name of the used as medicine by the local traditional healers specimen was identified with the help of using and village dwellers. According to the study, the various taxonomic books, journals, plant most medicinal used part of the plant is leaves identification apps and local experts’ followed by fruits, rhizomes, flower, stem, bulb, knowledge. nuts, roots and drupe (Figure 1). Among the 26 families, Lamiaceae was found to be dominant 3. Result and Discussion with a total of three species. Zingiberaceae, The potentialities of ethnomedicinal Solanaceae, Alliaceae, Apiaceae and Rutaceae studies in North East are exponential and the each had two species and the remaining 20 exploration of such plants with medicinal families had one species each (Figure2). benefits is a matter of attraction to the The present study revealed that the researches and is being regularly carried out.. village dwellers and herbal medicine Many of the plants present in the study have practitioners in Longjang village are mainly also been reported by several authors Temsutola using different plant parts and extracts for et al.(2019), and Jamir K and Tsurho (2016) and primary treatment and are used to cure different are used for more or less similar purposes in ailments ranging from like digestion, itching, Nagaland. Other similar exploration of the ringworm, skin irritation, cold, cough, jaundice, medicinal plants and its uses which was more digestion, stomach and intestinal problems. or less similar, were reported in Indigenous Different plant parts in various formulations Medicinal Plants of Northeast India in Human such as infusion, fresh extract, boiling or paste Health: Literary Note by Shankar et al. (2007), are used for the relief. Due to unsystematic Wild Medicinal Plants in the Hill of Manipur, collection and habitat destruction due India by Devi et al (2015),Medicinal Plants of deforestation, jhum cultivation and forest North East by Islam (2009), Ethnobotany and its burning there is acute pressure on natural relevance in contemporary research by Pandey habitat of medicinal plants and is threatened. and Tripathi (2017) and Saikia and Khan (2011) Ensuring to unearth the information of in the medicial plants and uses in upper Assam. ethnobotanical value before some of the plants In the present study, a total of 32 having medicinal/agricultural value become different medicinal plants species belonging to extinctor is necessary for the benefit of 26 families were recorded. Table1 summarizes mankindat large (Dutta and Dutta,2004).Further, the conducted survey plant species along with local inhabitants need to be aware of the description like botanical name, common conservation and cultivation activities for their name, local name, family, part used and their socio-economic upliftment as well as medicinal uses.Almost all the plant parts are conservation of these rich genetic resources. Table 1: List of medicinal plants and its uses by the Longjang villagers in Mokokchung district, Nagaland.

Sl Scientific name Common Local name Family Parts Medicinal use no name used

1 Allium sativum L. Garlic Lasüng Alliaceae Rhizo Reduce high me pressure, cold, flu 2 Aloe Aloe vera Tanülah O Asphodelaceae Lower Skin burn, vera(L.)Burm.f. leaf intestine and gastric problem 3 Ananas comosus(L) Pineapple Jero Bromeliaceae Fruit Digestion Merr. 4 Aristolochia Virginia Nokna Aristolochiacea Leaf Diarrhea, serpnetaria L. Snakker e stomach pain root 5 Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort Antsükna Asteraceae Leaf Juice of the L. leaf is used in liver and intestine problems. 6 Basella alba L. Indian Züa Aobaonü Basellaceae Leaf Digestion, spinach good for stomach and intestinal problem 7 Bryophyllum Air Public-wa Crassulaceae Leaf Diabetes , leaf pinnatum(Lam.)Oke plant,mira are warmed n cle leaf and wrapped in the legs during itching 8 Carica papaya Papaya Mamazu Caricaceae Leaf Used in Digestion, boost immune system, stomach and intestine problems 9 Castanea sativa Chestnut Kozüjang Fagaceae Nuts Wound healing Mill 10 Catharanthus Bright Mozunaro Apocynaceae Leaf Two-three roseus(L.)G.Don eyes leaves are chewed early morning for good health, urine infection 11 Celosia argentea L. Plumed Alosangtsün Amaranthaceae Flower Itching, T.B, cock’s g good for eyes. comb

12 Centella asiatica Indian/Asi Longsokurok Apiaceae Leaf Ringworm, (L.)Urban atic skin allergic, pennywort chest pain 13 Citrus aurantiifolia Lime Hasü Rutaceae Fruit Juice is used in Abdominal pain 14 Citrus maxima pomelo Temben Rutaceae Fruit Digestion 15 Cocus nucifera L. Coconut Narikol Arecaceae Drupe Coconut water is used during fatigue for energy, healthy muscles 16 Curcuma domestica tumeric Süngmok Zingiberaceae Rhizo Used in me treating flu, pneumonia and Bronchitis 17 Emblica officinalis Indian Lozü Phyllanthaceae Fruit Eaten as a Gaertn. gooseberr source of y vitamin 18 Lactuca serriola L. Prickly Maong- Apiaceae Leaf Blood purifier. lettuce chiba-wa Used as leafy vegetables, in chutney etc 19 Ligustrum vulgare Wild Nabongjami Oleaceae Leaf Itching, skin L. privet irritation 20 Mentaa Spicata L. Spearmint Yimra mazü Lamiaceae Leaf Flu, abdominal / common pain, digestion mint 21 Mimosa pudica L. Touch- Aakmesen Fabaceae Leaf Leaf is boiled me-not Naro and the juice is plant used in diabetes, jaundice and diarrhea. 22 Morus nigra L. Black Menaklashi Moraceae Fruit Digestion mulberry 23 Ocimum basillum Basil Nangpera Lamiaceae Leaf Ringworm , L. skin irritation 24 Passifloral edulis Passion Entsülashi Passifloraceae leaf Juice is use in Sim. fruit wound healing 25 Psidium guajava L. Guava Mutram Myrtaceae Leaf Abdominal pain and Diarrhea 26 Punica granatum L. Pomegran Charemtong Lythraceae Fruit Blood purifier ate

27 Ricinus Castor oil Iritong Euphorbiaceae Leaf Painkiller. Leaf communisL. plant is warmed, crushed and mix with mustard oil and is applied on the body 28 Saccharum Sugarcane Moji Poaceae Stem Juice is used officinarum L. for curing jaundice 29 Salvia Officinalis L. Sage Mejensanger Lamiaceae Leaf Juice is a good naro intestine and stomach 30 Solanum Sponge Bento Solanaceae Fruit Increases melongena Gourd blood and cleanses it, good medicine for liver. 31 Solanum Yellow Entsu likok solanaceae Root Juice is good xanthocarpum berried for mouth and night tongue sores shade 32 Zingiber officinale Ginger Süngmok Zingiberaceae Rhizo Used to treat me cold and flu

Fig 1: Bar diagram showing the different parts used for medicinal purpose from the medicinal plants studied.

Figure 1 18 Leaves, 16 16 14 12 10 8 Fruit , 7 6 4 Rhizome, 3 2 Flower, 1 Stem, 1 Bulb, 1 Nuts, 1 Root, 1 Drupe, 1 0 Leaves Fruit Rhizome Flower Stem Bulb Nuts Root Drupe

Fig 2: Pie chart showing the number of plant species belonging to the 26 families from the 33 medicinal plants studied.

Fabaceae, 1 Asteraceae, 1 Asphodelaceae, 1

Myrtaceae, 1 Lamiaceae, 3 Zingiberaceae, 2 Lythraceae, 1

Arecaceae, 1

Apocynaceae, 1 Solanaceae, 2

Crassulaceae, 1 Apiaceae, 2 Basellaceae, 1

Bromeliaceae , 1 Rutaceae, 2

Fagaceae, 1 Alliaceae, 2 Passifloraceae, 1

Phyllanthaceae, 1 Oleaceae, 1 Aristolochiaceae , 1 Caricaceae, 1 Euphorbiaceae, 1 Moraceae , 1 Poaceae, 1 Amaranthaceae, 1

4. Conclusion India having the capability to produce most of traditional knowledge that have been passed on important plants used both in modern as well for generation are now losing its place due to astraditional systems of medicine holds a special advancement and upgradation taking place at a position in the world. The study revealed that fast pace to the more reliable and trusted the village dwellers and herbal medicine scientific approach of making pharmaceutical practitioners are still practicing and involved in drugs. The younger generation are unaware and the use of various plant species as a form of do not favor the value placed by their ancestors medicine. This also helps to ensure the about the herbal use of the plants in lesser maintenance of the valuable indigenous common diseases like digestion, skin related knowledge associated with medicine plants. But problems, diarrhea, cold, stomach ache, minor practice and the use of these valuable injuries etc. However, the old traditional

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