Pallabi Dutta
Abstract
Tribal communities of Assam, India such as the Mising, Bodo, Sonowal-kachari, Rabha, Deori etc. have long relied on the therapeutic properties of plants found in different habitats of Assam. Despite being preserved over time, it faces Anthropocene challenges due to uses of modern medicine, habitat destruction, and the erosion of traditional lifestyles and knowledges. Addressing these anthropocene challenges, a scientific study has been carried out in Dhemaji District, among different ethnic groups for use of indigenous plants in curing different ailments. A total number of 94 plants have been documented for 46 different human health issues. Among these plants, Piper nigrum has been recorded as used in a maximum number of 13 different ailments followed by Drymaria cordata and Leucus aspera respectively. Piper nigrum shows maximum RCF (Relative Frequency of Citation) of 0.290322 whereas Zingiber officinale shows maximum UR (Use Report) of 4, followed by Psidium guava and Drymaria cordata (3.5). 15 plant species showed highest of 1.00 FUV depicting their importance in the study area. A total of 70 plant species out of 94 show 100% FL high frequency of plants use for the treatment of specific disease. The plants with high RFC, UR and FUV have been identified as potential for pharmaceutical research and community healthcare. Such detailed ethno-medicinal inventories are crucial for understanding the bio-cultural diversity that is rapidly diminishing due to increasing anthropogenic pressures. New ethnobotanical report of the use of a plant named Parthenocissus inserta for the treatment of disease vitiligo has been found in the present study.