INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND USAGE OF FOLK BIO-MEDICINES AMONG RONGMEI TRIBE OF TAMENGLONG DISTRICT OF MANIPUR , INDIA

Background: Rongmei tribe (Kooki), are inhabitant of the Charoi Chagotlong village, Tupul, Tamenglong district of Manipur have the traditional knowledge of folk bio-medicine based on diverse plant species for the prevention and cure of certain chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to document and preserve the indigenous knowledge of the Rongmei tribe on folk medicines. Material and methods: The present work was based on methodical field survey conducted between 2010, to 2013. Local people of within 30-70 age groups of both sexes were interviewed and a group discussion (using a structured interview schedule), was held to know about the type of plant parts used in folk bio-medicines, and their mode of use. The interviewers were drawn from a wide array of disciplines (Vendors, Farmers club, NGO’s, scientific societies, etc.), to obtain maximum information in relation to folk bio-medicine. Results: A total of 60 species belonging to 36 different families (ranging from gymnosperm to angiosperm with medicinal benefits), were discussed briefly with significant emphasis on their local name, scientific name, family, parts used; they claimed to cure various ailments from these plants in this mode of folk bio-medicine. The different plant parts used were leaves, fruits, bulbs, bark, roots, seeds, tuber, trunk, flower, shoot, whole plant, rhizome, stem, wood and berries. Based on a life form of the reported plants comprise herbs, shrubs, trees, grasses, bulb, vine, climber, tuber and succulent. Conclusion: Efforts should be made to promote the use of traditional biomedicines within rural communities to preserve the traditional knowledge.


Introduction
Traditional knowledge will always be a valuable resource for future generations.Unfortunately, much of the traditional knowledge has not yet been properly documented and is likely to be lost when the generation that has it passes on without handing it over to the younger generation.Traditional medicine has been in use all over the globe and stems from the use of locally available plants.Tribal communities, mostly use it because of the availability of these plants and its cost effectiveness.Younger generations nowadays are moving to cities in search of education, employment, etc.The tribal communities have not remained unaffected by modernization and the youth do not have the time or interest to acquire knowledge on folk medicine and conserve their biodiversity.This attitudinal inference poses a threat to possible loss of the biodiversity of species used in folk medicine as well as of indigenous technical knowledge (Ong et al., 2012).The young acquire the knowledge for use of the plants from the older generation.These medicinal systems are heavily dependent on various plant species and plant based products.Some species are endemic and are becoming increasingly rare and at the verge of extinction.North-Eastern states are rich in biodiversity.There are plants which are used by tribes which cures a number of ailments.Ethno botany aims at the preservation of valuable traditional knowledge for generations unborn in other communities.Implementing in-situ conservation, promotion and usage of the plants in a sustainable manner helps to utilize the plants effectively.It helps not only in conservation of these traditional medicinally important plants, but also in the marketing of products made from them.

Material and methods
The study was based on the field survey conducted to collect information on traditional knowledge in village Charoi Chagotlong, Tupul area of Tamenglong district in Manipur with the aim of identifying the plants used in the general pharmacopoeia among the villagers.The study was undertaken at the project on the collection, documentation and validation of Indigenous Technical Knowledge of folk medicine/s used within Charoi Chagotlong, Tupul in Tamenglong district.The sampling method employed was random sampling.Manipur state lies between 92 0 58'E, to 94 0 45'E longitude, and 23 0 50'N, to 25 0 42'N latitude.Altitude varies from 750 to 3114 m above mean sea level, draining from North to South.Out of total geographical area of 22, 327 sq km, 90% area is under hill tract and the rest is valley area.The study area (Charoi Chagotlong village) is located on 93 0 29′0″E longitudes and 24 0 59′0″ N latitude with an altitude of 2000 meter above mean sea level.Initially the data were collected from individual farmers and further validated by triangulation method.The Rongmei tribe inhabits this village.During the study more than 15, visits were made to the study site for observation, and participation in group discussion and conversing with the villagers.Information from the villagers were obtained through general conversation, participation, group discussion and triangulation method, guided by a predetermined set of questioners during each visit.The final information was confirmed from key informants Mr. Mankao and N. Kamei of Rongmei tribe, who have good traditional knowledge about folk medicine and the usage of various plant species available in the area.During the study using the method of ethno-botanical enquiry, all necessary aspects of traditional knowledge about folk medicine and usage for every specimen were recorded.The sessions were recorded and transcribed later.Plant specimens were collected using the standard taxonomical procedure, taking specimens with leaves, flower, bark, etc. Photographs of every specimen were also taken and used together with the plant specimens for identification and record (Singh and Singh, 1985;Singh et al., 1989;Martin, 1995;Jain and Mudgal, 1999)

Discussion
During the study, 60 species, including gymnosperm and angiosperm, belonging to different genera and 36 families were collected.The results showed that the Chagotlong villagers use a good number of plants as folk medicine.The people know that these are good for health, prevent and cure various chronic diseases.This could be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals, antioxidants and other forms of medicinal properties in these plants that enhance the immunity of the human body (Craig, 1999;Benny and Vanitha, 2004).Various plant parts used by tribes were considered to be rich in nutrition, antioxidants, and energy etc.These are also rich in vitamins [A (carotenoids), C, K, E], folate, magnesium, calcium, selenium, potassium, zinc, fiber, etc (Blois, 1958;Benzie and Strain, 1996;Obadoni and Ochuko, 2001).The villagers expressed concern at the possible loss of native plant species and indigenous traditional knowledge about the utility and usefulness of different plant species.They attributed it to strong dis-interest shown by the youths in the acquisition of traditional knowledge from the village elders.This decrease in usage of native species of edible plants is likely to continue in the future as more non native edible plants are made easily available to them in nearby shops.Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants can provide leads for further scientific studies on species and genetic diversification with certain desirable traits that can be used or transferred into the modern biomedicine for prevention and cure of certain chronic diseases.It is important not only to put such traditional knowledge on record and conduct further studies, but also to take steps to conserve the species and genetic diversity of folk biomedicine before they are lost to humans.Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society in combating diseases from the dawn of civilization.There has been a widespread belief that the green medicines are healthier and safer (Shamsi et al., 2006).Acorus calamus has a long history of medicinal use in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions (Shamsi et al., 2006).Acorus calamus has been reported against snakebite (Shamsi et al., 2006).Hamayun et al., 2006 mentioned the use of rhizome against snakebite in district Buner, NWFP, Pakistan (Hamayun et al., 2006).Adhatoda vasica was also used in snakebite in the region of the Ayubia National Park, Pakistan (Ahmad and Javed, 2007).The chemo-preventive activity has been attributed to the presence of organosulfur compounds in garlic.In addition, some organosulfur compounds derived from garlic, including S-allylcysteine, have been found to retard the growth of chemically induced and transplantable tumors in several animal models.Therefore, the consumption of garlic may provide some kind of protection from cancer Development (Lau et al., 1990;Ejaz et al., 2003).Artocarpus integrifolia contains homopterocarpin and cycloheterophyllin that act as anti diabetic (Hemma et al., 2011).The Rongmei tribe of Tamenglong district of Manipur used Artocarpus integrifolia in diarrhoea.Averrhoea carambola contains Saponins, Flavonoids, Polyphenols, Tannins and Triterpenoids in various extracts.Its extracts possess significant anti-helmintic activity in a dose dependant manner when compared with the standard drug Albendazole (Azeem et al., 2013).Bauhinia purpurea stems was used for the treatment of sores (of smallpox) (Dey and De, 2010) and for Poisonous bites, female disorders (Khumbongmayum, 2005).Benincasa hispida extract has been used for the prevention of ulcer (Ghosh and Baghel, 2011).However, Rongmei tribe has been using this plant for the treatment of stomach ulcers and jaundice.Bombax malabaricum flower, root, bark was used for infertility, excessive bleeding, leucorrhoea and sexually transmitted diseases (Gupta and Solanki, 2013).B. monosperma exhibited antifungal activity (Sahu and Padhy, 2013), while, its leaves were also used as a tonic, and its bark used in snake bite.As a traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves of pigeonpea have been widely used to arrest blood pressure, relieve pain and kill worms (Tang et al., 1990).It contains substantial amounts of antioxidants, including tocopherols (vitamin E), carotenoids, ascorbic acid, flavonoids and tannins (Larson, 1988).Cannabis sativa has medicinal properties and was used for the alleviation of a variety of illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, Tourette's syndrome, chronic pain, wasting syndrome associated with AIDS/HIV and anorexia (Grotenhermen and Russo, 2002).The extracts of unripe Carica papaya contain terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, and steroids (Aravind, 2013).Centella asiatica has been reported to have been used for various medicinal purposes such as for wound healing, treatment of asthma, ulcers, leprosy, lupus, vein diseases (Kartnig, 1988), memory improvement, as an antidepressant, antibacterial, antifungal, psoriasis and anti-cancer agent (Babu et al., 1995), even though its primary application has been in promoting wound healing.Cinnamomum zeylanicum contains glycosides phytosterols and stem bark used for anti-diabetic (Rao and Jamil, 2011).Dioscorea bulbifera contains flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins.Bulbs were used in antidiabetic (Sougataghosh et al., 2012).Mangifera indica has been used as a protective measure against snakebite, inflorescence of the plant (local name: Aam) is massaged on the hands by the Tharu tribe of Devipatan division in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh (Kumar et al., 2006).Desmodium gangeticum has been demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory (Govindarajan et al., 2007), and antiemetic (Joshi and Parle, 2007), cardio-protective and anti-ulcer effects (Dharmani et al., 2005).Dioscorea is also used as medicines to prevent diarrhoea and diabetes (Lasztity et al., 1998).It is composed mainly of starch, with some proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals (Mignouna et al., 2008).Elaeocarpus ganitrus is commonly known as Rudraksha tree in India.Rudraksha is used in Ayurveda for mental diseases, epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases (Dasgupta et al., 1984).The antioxidant capacity of E. ganitrus is due to the contribution of phenolics and flavonoid components (Kumar et al., 2008).Eringium campestre contains glycosides of kaempferol, isorhamnetin, luteolin and quercetin (Hohmann et al., 1997) and flavanolacyl glycosides (Nebija et al., 2006).Phytochemical investigations of some Ficus species revealed phenolic compounds as their major components (Abdel-Hameed, 2009).Michelia champaca contains linalool, 2-phenethyl alcohol and act as an anti-diabetic (Gupta Summet et al., 2011).S. spontaneum root extract exhibits potent free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity.This might be attributed to the presence of various phyto-constituents viz., alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, glycosides and phenolic constituents (Sathya and Kokilavani, 2013).Marigold flower petals are significant source/s of the Xanthophyll and have a much higher concentration of this pigment compared to other plant materials (Verghese, 1998).The phototoxic properties of Xanthium strumarium has been shown to be stronger than those of psoralen (Srivastava, 2011).Zingiber officinale is used in breathing problem, coughs (Rahmatullah et al., 2010a); Rabies, pneumonia, stomach ache, chicken pox, dyspepsia (Rahmatullah et al., 2010b); Arthritis, gout (Rahmatullah et al., 2010c).The genus Zanthoxylum has a great importance due to its ethnic-botanics, phyto-chemistry and biological activity, and it remains a promising source of various secondary metabolites including benzophenanthridine alkaloids (Yang, 2008;Da Silva et al., 2006).

Conclusion
Rongmei tribal community in Charoi Chagotlong village in Manipur has played an important role in preserving folk traditions.However, the advent of modern civilization has adversely affected the tradition and heritage of the tribal community and thus the younger generations are not exposed to traditional practices.There should be focused efforts to promote the use of traditional biomedicines within rural communities.Modern arena of medication can also provide an opportunity to promote and explore folk biomedicines for prevention and cure of various chronic diseases.In future, the biochemical aspects of folk biomedicine are needed to be analyzed.

Figure 1 :
Figure 1: Percentage of life form (growth habit) of different plant species

Figure 2 :
Figure 2: Percentage of various plant parts used as folk biomedicine

Figure 3 :
Figure 3: Family dominance curve of the plant species used as folk biomedicine

Table 1 :
List of plants used as folk biomedicine by the Rongmei tribe of Charoi Chagotlong, Tupul, Tamenglong district of Manipur