Ethnomedicinal practices among ethnic groups in Marat Longri Wildlife sanctuary, Assam- A quantitative study
Urmika Phanchopi1, Valentina Teronpi2*, Robindra Teron3 and Ajit K. Tamuli4
1Department of Botany, Namrup College, Parbatpur, Dibrugarh, Assam-786633 (India) 2Department of Zoology, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Adarsha Mahavidyalaya, Behali, Biswanath, Assam-784184 (India) 3Director, Northeastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), High Region, Pasighat, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh-791102 (India) 4Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University-Diphu Campus, Diphu, Karbi Anglong, Assam-782462 (India) *Corresponding author: teronpivalentina@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Ethnomedicine deals with the study of medical practices in cultural societies. Studies on ethnomedicine are very important as it offers a source for the discovery of new drugs. The present work was designed to document plant species used as medicine by local medicinemen and inhabitant in Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam. Data were collected through semi-structured interview method during the year 2020–2021. Forty (40) medicinemen from four reserved forests (Mijungdisa, Disama, Kaki and Inglongkiri) in Marat Longri WS were interviewed for collection of ethnomedicinal information. Plants used in healing practices including the method of formulation and doses were recorded. Data was analyzed using Informant Consensus Factor (Fic), Fidelity Level (FL), Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Use Value (UV). A total of 45 plants prescribed by medicinemen for 18 ailments have been documented. Informants showed high consensus for 45 plants ranging from 0.72 to 1.00, which is indicative of high effectiveness of the ethnomedicine for the disease. One plant Mikania micrantha showed 100% FL suggesting these has great importance for a particular disease. Higher value of RFC (1.00) for 9 plants explains their local importance as therapeutic source. Mikania micrantha showed highest UV2. The study indicated ethnic groups in Marat Longri WS possess valuable traditional knowledge of therapeutic plants and animals as source remedies. Meanwhile, biodiversity of the sanctuary has been greatly threatened by various factors and thus present a case for their conservation.