Subrata Sarkar
Abstract:
\r\nThe northeastern area of India is among the most biodiversity hotspots in the world and has a wide variety of tribes with elaborate traditional medicinal plant knowledge. This paper seeks to record, examine and compare ethnomedicinal plant species, as they are used by tribal communities in some of the states in the Northeast regions of India. The collection of the data was done by use of field surveys, semi-structured interviews and group discussions with the traditional healers and the elderly members of the community. The research documents the names of plants, local names, parts utilised, modes of preparation, dosage, globalisation, and disease classifications that are addressed. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, like Use Value (UV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Fidelity Level (FL), were used to evaluate the cultural and trustworthiness of the reported uses. The results emphasise the prevalence of the leaf-based remedies and treatments of the fever, gastrointestinal ailments, skin infections, and respiratory illnesses. Nevertheless, the sustainability of this traditional healthcare system is at stake because of the growing levels of deforestation, modernisation, and deterioration of the intergenerational knowledge transfer. The paper highlights why it is necessary to document, preserve, and scientifically validate tribal medicinal knowledge and ensure its sustainable use in healthcare development.\r\n
