Traditional Tribal Knowledge and Status of Some Rare and Endemic Medicinal Plants of North Cachar Hills District of Assam, Northeast India

An ethnobotanical survey carried out in the district of North Cachar hills, Assam, North East India during the period of February 2006 – November 2006, has revealed 34 species of plants to be threatened in several parts of the country, and in the district itself. More than 6 species of plants are included in the red Data Book of Indian Plants, 5 numbers of species have already been included in the Red Data List of the IUCN. 13 species documented in the present paper have not been reported about its threat status earlier, but are now threatened in the district. These plants are used in various ways such as, medicinal, wild edibles, ornamentals, building materials and other miscellaneous uses in their daily life. Because of the declining population of species like, Taxus baccata, Renanthera inschootiana, Swertia chirata etc., the area warrants conservation in order to preserve them from extinction. The present paper documents on the botanical name, parts used, local name, and also compares the threat status relative to other regions of the country as per IUCN Guidelines

Some Superstitious Botanical Folklore of Different Tribes of North Cachar Hills, Assam (Northeast India)

The district of North Cachar Hills of Assam, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world is endowed with different tribes each with their own traditions, customs and method of healing. Northeast India has been a paradise for ethnobotanical research but the district of N.C.Hills, with its vast ethnobotanical wealth is virtually unexplored. The present study documents for the first time, the superstitious folkloric uses of plants to treat ailments among the different tribes. 16 species of plants has been identified with details on its method of use, disease, parts used, local name and growth forms. The study was conducted through informal interviews after prior informed consent. The study reflects a rich traditional knowledge base of the tribe on ethnomedicine with immense potential for a more detailed study with emphasis on its pharmacological aspects

Traditional use of medicinal plants by the Jaintia tribes in North Cachar Hills district of Assam, northeast India

The study of ethnobotany relating to any tribe is in itself a very intricate or convoluted process. This paper documents the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants that are in use by the indigenous Jaintia tribes residing in few isolated pockets of northeast India. The present study was done through structured questionnaires in consultations with the tribal practitioners and has resulted in the documentation of 39 medicinal plant species belonging to 27 families and 35 genera. For curing diverse form of ailments, the use of aboveground plant parts was higher (76.59%) than the underground plant parts (23.41%). Of the aboveground plant parts, leaf was used in the majority of cases (23 species), followed by fruit (4). Different underground plant forms such as root, tuber, rhizome, bulb and pseudo-bulb were also found to be in use by the Jaintia tribe as a medicine. Altogether, 30 types of ailments have been reported to be cured by using these 39 medicinal plant species. The study thus underlines the potentials of the ethnobotanical research and the need for the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of mankind

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> Ethnobotanical investigations among the <i style="">Lushai</i> tribes in North Cachar Hills district of Assam, Northeast India </smarttagtype>

108-113 Traditional use of plants from the Northeastern part of India has been documented for decades’ altogether. The ethnic community still depend upon their indigenous knowledge for healing their ailments (both intrinsic and extrinsic). The study documents the usage of 31 medicinal plant species belonging to 26 families and 31 genera by the indigenous Lushai tribes of Northeast India. The study was done through structured questionnaires in consultations with the tribal practitioners. The use of aboveground plant parts was higher (79.06%) than the underground plant parts (20.93%). Leaf was used in the majority of cases (23 species), followed by fruit (4). However, different underground plant forms such as root, tuber, rhizome, bulb and pseudo-bulb were also found to be in use by the Lushai tribe as a medicine. About 41 types of ailments have been reported to be cured by using these 31 medicinal plant species. The study thus emphasizes the need to pursue meticulous ethnobotanical research in finding solutions to major fatal diseases and ensure its application in improving human health and medical care facilities. </smarttagtype

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Medicinal plants of North Cachar Hills district of Assam used by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dimasa</i> tribe</span>

520-527<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">A total of 47 plants species have been reported herein to be used in the treatment of diseases like urinary disorder, diarrhoea, malaria, etc. Among the plant types, herbs species were the most frequently used. Ferns and cycad also find usage in their traditional healing system. Notable among the plants documented is the use of a threatened species like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Gloriosa superba as antihelmintics,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Cycas revoluta for urinary problems, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Elaeagnus caudata for miscarriage, etc. A complete account of species, parts used, mode of preparation and dosage for curing diseases like diarrhoea, malaria, jaundice, diabetes, high blood pressure, snakebite, etc. have been investigated in detail.</span

An antioxidant extract of tropical lichen, Parmotrema reticulatum, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7.

This report highlights the phytochemical analysis, antioxidant potential and anticancer activity against breast carcinoma of 70% methanolic extract of lichen, Parmotrema reticulatum (PRME). Phytochemical analysis of PRME confirms the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and ascorbic acid; among which alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids are found in abundant amount. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of PRME revealed the presence of catechin, purpurin, tannic acid and reserpine. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by nine separate methods. PRME showed excellent hydroxyl and hypochlorous radical scavenging as well as moderate DPPH, superoxide, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite scavenging activity. Cytotoxicity of PRME was tested against breast carcinoma (MCF-7), lung carcinoma (A549) and normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) using WST-1 method. PRME was found cytotoxic against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value 130.03 ± 3.11 µg/ml while negligible cytotoxicity was observed on A549 and WI-38 cells. Further flow cytometric study showed that PRME halted the MCF-7 cells in S and G2/M phases and induces apoptosis in dose as well as time dependent manner. Cell cycle arrest was associated with downregulation of cyclin B1, Cdk-2 and Cdc25C as well as slight decrease in the expression of Cdk-1 and cyclin A1 with subsequent upregulation of p53 and p21. Moreover PRME induced Bax and inhibited Bcl-2 expression, which results in increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of caspase cascade. This ultimately leads to PARP degradation and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. It can be hypothesised from the current study that the antioxidant and anticancer potential of the PRME may reside in the phytoconstitutents present in it and therefore, PRME may be used as a possible source of natural antioxidant that may be developed to an anticancer agent

Reactive Oxygen species scavenging activity of PRME and the reference compounds.

<p>(A) Hydroxyl radical inhibition, (B) hypochlorous radical scavenging, (C) superoxide radical inhibition, (D) singlet oxygen radical scavenging. The results are mean ± S.D. of six parallel measurements. **p<0.01 and ***p<0.001 vs. 0 µg/ml.</p

Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and IC₅₀ values of the lichen extract (PRME) and standard compounds for ROS and RNS scavenging.

<p>₅₀ values of all activities are determined in µg/ml. Data expressed as mean ± S.D (n = 6). EDTA represents Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.^# IC</p><p> p<0.001.</p