ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446
(International Journal for Biology, Ecology and Allied Sciences)
Published by
The Society for Biometry, Ecology & Econometrics (BEES), Karimganj, Assam, India 26
Traditional utility of some hepatoprotective plants
used by Bodo tribe of Bodoland Territorial
Autonomous District, Assam H. Boro, M. Rava, R. Ali and S. Das*
Department of Biotechnology, Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, Assam, 783370, India
ABSTRACT
Bodo tribe are native to the state of Assam and other North-east states of India and are
generally very much dependent on the wild herbal medicine for their application in health
benefits. The present study deals with such medicinal plants which are used by Bodo tribe
for treatment of jaundice and liver ailments. Information on medicinal plants and techniques
for preparation of medicine as well as their application were collected through
conversations with Ojha (traditional healers). Standard questionnaires were used for the
purpose. Plants which are most frequently used in hepatoprotection are Paederia foetida L.,
Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees, Averrhoa carambola L., Stephania japonica (Thunb.),
Plumbago zeylanica L., Costus speciosus (Koen. Ex Retz.) Smith, Glycosmis pentaphylla
(Retz.) DC., Ficus religiosa L., Morus indica L., Chlerodendrum infortunatum Gaertn.,
Premna herbacea Roxb etc. 34 different traditional herbal plant from 24 family and 34
genus are found to be most commonly used in addressing the formulation of
hepatoprotective medicines. The result reveals that the tribe used twenty six types of leaves,
nine types of roots, two types of flowers as well as one type of fruit, bark and seed
respectively from the 34 plants discussed in the study. Results revealed the use of single
plant or mixture of different other herbs for making medicine for the same in which
different plant parts are used by different Ojha. Some tribal people utilize herbal plants as a
magico-chemical source for the curing of liver disorder.
Keywords: Bodo community, herbal medicine, diseases, hepatoprotection.
*Email: [email protected]
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INTRODUCTION
India is the largest producer of medicinal
herbs and it is also called as botanical
garden of the world. There is a worldwide
belief that herbal remedies are safer and
less damaging to the human body than
synthetic drugs. Therefore laboratories
around the world are engaged in screening
of plants for biological activities with
therapeutics potential. One major criterion
for the selection of plant for such a study
is traditional healer’s claim for its
therapeutics usefulness1. Since herbal
medicines are safe, effective and inexpen-
sive indigenous remedies it is gaining
popularity among the people in India and
China. There is great demand for herbal
medicine in the developed as well as
developing countries like India, because
of their wide biological activities, higher
safety of margin than the synthetic drugs,
availability and less expen-siveness1.
Since liver is the prime organ playing an
important role in the body, accumulation
of toxic substances in it may be attributed
by different compounds like alcohol,
carbon tetrachloride, various environ-
mental toxins etc., which influences liver
cells and affect liver functioning9.
Selective remedy is available at present in
the modern system of medicine for
candidate liver diseases. Use of such a
remedy is sometimes associated with the
risk of relapses and danger of side effects.
Hence increasing attention is being given
to traditional plants recommended for the
treatment of hepatic disorders2. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO)
about 65- 80% of the world’s population
in developing countries depends essen-
tially on plants and plant derived
compounds for their primary healthcare3.
The Bodos (also known as Boros) are first
classified as the Kacharis8. Kachari race
is the descendent of the Mongolian
race. Bodo(s)/Boro(s) is a generic term
applied to a number of ethnic groups,
predominantly in Assam, speaking
Tibeto-Burman languages or claiming a
common ancestry. The Kachari race was
divided into two main streams after the
two great group of immigrants when
entering the rich Brahmaputra valley8.
The first immigrant entered Assam
through north-east Bengal and western
Assam through the valley of Tista, Dhorla
and Sankosh. The other group of
immigrants entered Assam through
Subansiri, Dibong and Dihang valley8.
The Kochari race has two different
groups: -
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1. The Northern group (1228 AD)-
Boro (Bodo), Rabha, Mech, Dhima,
Koch, Salanimiyas, Chtiyas, Mahali-
yas, Phulgriyas, Sraniyas.
2. The Southern group- Dimasa, Hojai,
Lalung, Garo, Haijong, Tripuri.
Bodo-Kacharis have settled in most areas
of North-East India and parts of Nepal11
.
Udalguri and Kokrajhar of Assam are
considered the centre of the Bodo area6.
Bodo tribes are one of the major tribes of
Assam, more concentrated in the
Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District
area. For many decades, the tribal
community is very much dependent as
well as practicing on folk medicine for
almost any kind of treatment. Jaundice is
the most common kind of disorder in
which Bodo tribes rely heavily on folk
medicine made by Ojhas. Many plants
such as Paederia foetida, Stephania
japonica, Cuscuta reflexa, Premna
herbacea, Averrhoa carambola are
commonly used as a folk medicine for the
treatment of Jaundice which is otherwise
not curable with modern medicines.
METARIALS & METHOR
Study area and ethnic people:
The present study is confined to Bodoland
Territorial Autonomous District, Assam,
India, where elderly men and women
were exclusively selected for the
interview. The ethno medicinal
information was gathered from the
indigenous people of the study area called
Bodo. They reside in remote and
inaccessible forest areas and practice
indigenous phototherapy to treat common
ailments including jaundice.
The geographical location of BTC lies
between 26˚7'12'' N to 26˚47' 50'' N
Latitude and 89˚47' 40''E to 92˚18' 30'' E
Longitude. With more than 29 lakh of
population (2001 census), the area is
inhabited by different tribal groups
constituting around 52% of the total
population4. The district is bounded on
the north by the Himalayan kingdom of
Bhutan, by Dhubri district on the south,
Bongaigaon district on the east and the
Indian state of West Bengal on the west.
It covers an area of 3,169.2 sq. km with a
population of 8, 86, 999 that constitute
about 30% of the total population of
Bodoland Territorial Council5 6
. A
systematic ethnobotanical survey was
carried out in different villages of
Kokrajhar district namely Karigaon,
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ECOBIOS, Vol. VII. (I&II), 2014 29
Doloabari, Sundaari,Khagrabari, Naigaon,
Basbari, Salbari etc. during the year 2014-
2015 for collection of information on
medicinally significant plants being used
by the rural population of the area and the
plants were collected for identification.
The information as well as plants was
collected from the local elderly people,
Kuberaj and Ojha from the survey areas.
Dhubri District
BHUTA
N
Image 1: Showing Bodoland Territorial Area Districts.
B H U T A N
ARUNACHAL
PRADESH
Sonitpur
District WEST
BENGAL
Bongaigaon
District
Barpeta
District Nalbari
District Kamrup
District
Darrang
District
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Image 2: Name of places where plant samples have been collected:
1. Bashbari: Lat: 26˚33’42.6”N / Lon: 90˚16’17.2”E
2. Karigaon: Lat: 26˚33’7.71”N / Lon: 90˚20’34.36”E
3. Tinali: Lat: 26˚29’11.92”N / Lon: 90˚18’32.28”E
4. Khagrabari: Lat: 26˚28’ 3.66”N / Lon: 90˚13’27.13”E
5. Khagrabari1: Lat: 26˚28’3.65”N / Lon: 90˚ 13’27.14”E
6. Salbari: Lat: 26˚23’22.07”N / Lon: 90˚12’46.54”E
7. Sukhanjhara: Lat: 26˚23’26.18”N / Lon: 90˚12’18. 61”E
8. Kokrajhar Main Bazar: Lat: 26˚23’ 55.46”N / Lon: 90˚16’3.06”E
9. Naigaon: Lat: 26˚21’57.80”N / Lon: 90˚22’28.32”E
10. Khargaon: Lat: 26˚24’46.66”N / Lon: 90˚17’8.70”E
11. Bowbazar: Lat: 26˚24’50.00”N / Lon: 90˚16’34.12”E
12. Purana Titaguri: Lat: 26˚26’43.44”N / Lon: 90˚17’16.07”E
13. Choto gendrabil: Lat: 26˚23’0. 58”N / Lon: 90˚17’5.33”E
14. Debargaon: Lat: 26˚28’11. 62”N / Lon: 90˚17’42.92”E
15. Tipkai Doloagaon: Lat: 26˚17’12.59”N / Lon: 90˚1’56.07”E
16. Sundaari (Sidli): Lat: 26˚31’26.79”N / Lon: 90˚27’51.80”E
DATA COLLECTION
The ethnomedicinal information was
collected through general conversations
with traditional healers (elderly men and
women) and questionnaires were used to
gather their knowledge. Details of
medicinal plants used, mode of treatment,
methods of preparation and types of
administration were documented by
interacting with them as well as through
direct observations. Elderly men and
women were selected for interrogation on
the basis of knowledge of herbal medicine
practiced by them. More criteria are given
to the persons:
1. Having a good experience in
preparation of herbal medicine
against the jaundice patients.
2. Having a good knowledge on
traditional herbal medicine.
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3. Who is a traditional healer, having
high experience in handling all
kinds of liver disorder?
4. One highly experienced professor
from botany background was also
interviewed for the availability of
hepatoprotective medicinal plants
and their traditional uses if any.
The questionnaire consists of two major
parts, which are categorized into-
Section A: Open ended questionnaires.
Section B: Structured questionnaires.
Section A: Open ended questionnaires
In section A, the respondents were
allowed to answer in his own words, with
no influence by any specific alternatives
suggested by the interviewer. The
questionnaires asked are as follows:
1. What are the names of medicinal
plants which you use in the
preparation of hepatoprotective
medicines?
2. How these hepatoprotective medi-
cines are prepared?
3. How the medicines are applied on
the patient?
4. How long it takes to get complete
cure?
5. Whether there is any kind of
restriction on application of this
medicine, if any?
6. Any other precaution needs to be
taken during the course of
medication?
Section B: Structured questionnaires
In this section, the respondents were
provided with an easy method of
indicating the answer by providing
appropriate options. He does not have to
think about how to articulate his answers.
The questionnaires following this section
are:
1.Which of the following plant part is
used for making hepatoprotective
medicine?
a. Bark
b. Leaves
c. Root
d. Flower
e. Fruit
f. Seed
g. Whole plant.
h. Stem
2. Is the medicine especially allowed to
take in a particular day?
a. Sunday b. Monday
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c. Tuesday d. Wednesday
e. Thursday f. Friday
g. Saturday h. No restriction.
3. Which time best to take such
medicines?
a. Before Sunrise
b. Before breakfast/Morning
c. After breakfast/Morning
d. After lunch/Afternoon
e. At evening time
f. After sunset.
g. After dinner/Night
h. No restriction/any time.
Information got from the above
experienced persons was recorded in field
notebooks7. The collected plants were
identified by the local people with their
vernacular names, photographed and
sample specimens were collected for the
preparation of herbarium. The voucher
herbarium specimens were deposited and
identified at BSI, Shillong, Meghalaya
(India).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Based on existing information on utility
of medicinal plant used for hepatopro-
tective activity across different commu-
nities, it has been seen that some other
tribes of North-east India also uses
different plants and their parts which are
in common to medicinal plant utilized
by the Bodo tribe of Bodoland territorial
autonomous district. H’mar tribe uses
three different medicinal plants from three
different families: Spilanthes paniculata
DC.(Asteraceae), Curculigo orchioides
Gaertn. (Amaryllidaceae) and Averrhoa
carambola L. (Averrhoaceae) as
hepatoprotective medicinal plants10
.
Riang tribe utilizes five different
medicinal plants from from four different
families as herbal medicine for
hepatoprotective activity10
viz: Ageratum
conyzoides L. (Asteraceae), Scoparia
dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae), Michelia
champaca L. (Magnoliaceae), Curculigo
orchioides (Amaryllidaceae) and
Spilanthes paniculata DC. (Asteraceae).
Dimasa tribe uses ten different medicinal
plants for hepatoprotective activity, viz:
Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. (Mimo-
saceae), Averrhoa carambola L.
(Averrhoaceae), Baccaurea ramiflora
Lour. (Euphorbiaceae), Cajanus cajan
(L.) Huth. (Papillionaceae), Cuscuta
reflexa Roxb. (Cuscutaceae), Ficus reli-
giousa L. (Moraceae), Michelia cham-
paca L. (Magnoliaceae), Oroxylum
indicum L. Vent. (Bignoniaceae), Saraca
asoca (Roxb) de Willed. (Caesalpi-
niaceae), Tinospora cardifolia (Menis-
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permaceae)12
and Alseodaphne petiolaris
Hk.f. Vern. (Lauraceae)13
.
A total of seven medicinal plants from
seven different families used by Garo
tribe for hepatoprotective purpose. These
are Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Cuscutaceae),
Largerstroemia speciosa L. Pers. (Lythra-
ceae), Mangifera indica L. (Anacardia-
ceae), Mussaenda glabra Vahl (Rubia-
ceae), Oroxylum indicum (Linn)
Vent.(Bignoniaceae), Phlogacanthus thyr-
siflorus (Roxb). Nees. (Acanthaceae) and
Terminalia bellerica (Gaerth) Roxb.
(Combretaceae)14
.
In the present study of hepatoprotective
medicinal plants utilized by Bodo tribe, a
total of 34 medicinal plants from 24
families and 34 genus have been found
and documented. The result reveals that
the tribe used twenty six types of leaves,
nine types of roots, two types of flowers
as well as one type of fruit, bark and seed
respectively. For the process of making
medicine, formulations (jaundice) may
depend on Ojha, who may use single
plant or combination of many different
plants for varied disorders. The various
medicinal plants with vernacular name,
scientific name, photos and formulation
for hepatoprotective medicines are
described on table below:
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SL.
No.
Family Plant
parts
Mode of Use Photos
Scientific Name
(Vermicular name)
1 Menispermaceae Whole
shoot.
Leaves are separated and only
shoots are allowed to wear on
neck before going to sleep at
night and must be thrown
early in next morning. Other
advice to take above the
pillow at night instead of
wearing on neck. In 3rd
method leaves are used in
bathing after boiling in water. Stephania japonica
(Thunb.) Miers (Phanel
khuga) 2 Cuscutaceae Whole
plant
This plant is boiled with
water and the patient is
advised to take bath on
Tuesday and Saturday only.
After bathing two times in a
week the patient gets cured
from jaundice.
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.
(Gwmw bendwng) 3 Dilleniaceae Leaves The leaves of Dillenia indicia
L. in combination with the
leaves of other medicinal
plants are collected, washed
and mixed together and
boiled. After cooling the
patient is advised to take bath
after sunset and before
sunrise. Dillenia indica L.
(Thaigir fifang) 4 Verbenaceae Leaves
and Root
The leaves are boiled and
allowed to take bath with this.
In other formulation, the
roots are dried, grounded
with other roots and allowed
to eat.
Clerodendrum infortunatum
Gaertn. (Lwkhwna)
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5
Costaceae Roots Rhizome of Costus speciosus
juice is used as medicine for
treatment of Jaundice. The
juice is allowed to drink in
empty stomach early in the
morning. Its young shoots are
also eaten as vegetables by
Bodo tribe.
Costus speciosus Koen ex.
Retz. (Buri thokon)
6 Rubiaceae Leaves Leaves are collected and
boiled. The boiled water is
cooled and used in bathing. It
is also eaten as a vegetable.
Paederia foetida L.
(Khifi bendwng) 7 Acanthaceae Flower,
Leaves
and
Root.
The leaves along with other
plant leaves are boiled and
the patient is advised to take
bath. Roots (powder) along
with roots of other plants are
mixed with rice grain powder
and was advised to eat 2-3
times a day. Flowers are
edible and are good against
jaundice. Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus
Nees (Barsikha bibar
gwja)
8 Plumbaginaceae Roots. The roots are grounded with
water and after that a white
thread is mixed with it. After
mixing the thread is advised
to put on right hand and the
remaining grounded powder
is applied on forehead only
for 3 hours. More than 3
hours may burn the body
where it is applied. Plumbago zeylanica L.
(Agar sitha)
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9 Hypericaceae Leaves Leaves are boiled in water
with leaves of other
medicinal plants and used in
bath.
Hypericum japonicum
Thunb. (Sona puli)
10
Carryophyllaceae Leaves Leaves are used for taking
bath after boiling with water.
Stellaria media L.
(Na bikhi)
11 Moraceae Bark Its bark is cut 1 inch deep in
V shape and crushed a bit and
deep in the water along with
three tulsi leaves, 2½ black
pepper and kept overnight.
Simultaneously the raw milk
is kept overnight separately.
Next morning the extract and
raw milk is mixed in 1:1 ratio
and allowed to drink. Ficus religiosa L.
(Fakri fifang)
12 Lamiaceae Leaves Leaves are boiled with water
and the patient is advised to
take bath with it. Leaves are
also used as vegetable.
Leucas indica (L.) R.Br.
ex. Vatke (Kansinsha)
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13 Rutaceae Leaves 1 cup of water extract of the
leaves of Glycosmis
pentaphylla is mixed with
rock sugar (misri) to make it
sweet and advice to drink 2-3
times a day and should
continue for 2 – 3 days.
Glycosmis pentaphylla
(Retz.) DC. (Amai fifang)
14 Myrtaceae Leaves Leaves are boiled in
combination with other plant
leaves and allowed to take
bath. Young fresh leaves are
eaten to cure loose motion.
Psidium guajava L.
(Sumfram)
15
Moraceae Leaves
and
Roots.
Its root is cut in small pieces
in such a way that mid
portion of root can be
removed to make it hollow
cylinder. Now in between
every piece of root, red or
white thread is inserted and it
is allowed to put on neck
either on Saturday or
Tuesday. Secondly, leaves
are used in bathing after
boiling.
Morus indica L.
(Gonger thaisib)
16 Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are boiled in water
with leaves of other
medicinal plants and used in
bathing for jaundice patients.
Artemisia vulgaris L.
(Na deona)
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17 Unidentified Leaves The leaves are used in
jaundice. The patient is
advised to take bath after
boiling it.
(Swimakhithangthari)
18 Rutaceae Leaves Leaves are boiled in
combination with other plant
leaves and allowed to take
bath. Young leaves are used
as vegetable. Also used in
anti-pyretic activity.
Murraya koenigii (L.)
Spreng. (Nwrshing)
19 Scrophulariaceae Leaves Leaves are used in jaundice
with the mixtures of leaves of
other plants. The patient is
advised to take bath with this
Boiled water.
Scoparia dulcis L.
(Sini fifang)
20
Saururaceae Leaves Leaves are used in bathing
after boiling with water.
Leaves are also used as
vegetable.
Houttuynia cordata Thunb.
(Maisundari)
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21 Meliaceae Leaves Leaves are also in jaundice
and very much effective
when mixed with leaves of
other medicinal plants. The
mixture is boiled in water and
the patient is allowed to take
bath with it.
Azadirachta indica A. Juss.
(Neem fifang)
22 Oxalidaceae Fruits
and
Leaves.
Ripe Fruits are eaten fresh
and also eaten as curry to
cure jaundice. Leaves are
used in boiling in combi-
nation with other medicinal
plants and the jaundice
patient is allowed to bath.
Averrhoa carambola L.
(Khwidwi or Kambrenga) 23 Moraceae Leaves Leaves are boiled with water
and used in bathing.
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Lam. (Khanthal fifang)
24 Anacardiaceae Leaves
and
Seeds.
Leaves are mixed with other
medicinal plants and boiled
with water and used in taking
bath. Dried Seeds are also
used in jaundice after
grounding and allowed to eat.
Mangifera indica L.
(Thaijwo fifang)
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25
Rutaceae Leaves Leaves are used in jaundice
with the mixtures of leaves of
other plants. Boiled water
used for bathing.
Citrus medica L.
(Nareng lebu)
26 Solanaceae Roots Roots (dried powder) of the
plant along with the roots of
other medicinal plants are
mixed with rice grain powder
and was advised to eat 2-3
times a day.
Solanum indicum L.
(Khunthai nara)
27 Apiaceae Leaves Leaves can be eaten fresh
early in the morning. And
also used in mixture with
other medicinal plants and
boiled. The boiled water is
used to take bath by the
patients.
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Lam. (Mani-muni fisa)
28 Apiaceae Leaves Leaves are boiled in
combination with other
medicinal plants and the
patient is advised to take
bath.
Centella asiatica L.
(Mani-muni gidir)
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29 Acanthaceae Leaves,
Flower
and Root
Powder of root along with
roots of other medicinal
plants are mixed with rice
grain powder and was
advised to eat 2-3 times a
day. Leaves are boiled in
combination with other plant
leaves and advised to take
bath. Flowers are edible &
good against jaundice. Justicia adhatoda L.
(Barsikha gufur) 30
Thelypteridaceae Roots Roots (dried powder) of
Amphineuron opulentum with
the roots of other medicinal
plants are mixed with rice
grain powder and are advised
to eat 2-3 times a day.
Amphineuron opulentum
(Kaulf.) (Bis-dingkhia)
31 Rubiaceae Leaves Leaves are boiled with water
and the patient is advised to
take bath with it.
Oldenlandia diffusa Willd.
Roxb. (Dausri athing)
32 Clusiacceae Leaves Leaves are boiled in
combination with other
medicinal plants and the
patient is advised to take bath
with this water extract.
Garcinia cowa Roxb.
(Thaikha)
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33 Verbenaceae Leaves Leaves of this plant along
with the leaves of other
medicinal plants are mixed
and boiled in water. After
cooling the patient is advised
to take bath with this water.
Premna herbacea Roxb.
(Kheradapkhini)
34 Solanaceae Roots In another formulation, the
roots of the plant along with
roots of other medicinal
plants are grounded together
and are placed inside the
cocoon of Eri worm and the
cocoon is tied around the
neck with red thread and
allowed to put it for one
complete week. Physalis minima L.
(Ganga thofa)
Herbal formulation (in
combination)
1. In one formulation for preparation of
hepatoprotective medicine, the leaves of
Justicia adhatoda, Garcinia cowa,
Centella asiatica, Hydrocotyle sibthor-
pioides, Averrhoa carambola, Artocarpus
heterophyllus, Morus indica, Mangifera
indica, Stephania japonica, Azadirachta
indica,Scoparia dulcis, Murraya koenigii,
Stellaria media, Psidium guajava, Leucas
indica, Citrus medica, Oldenlandia
diffusa, Houttuynia cordata, Hypericum
japonicum, Artemisia vulgaris, Swimakhi-
tangtari, Cleroden-drum infortunatum,
Paederia foetida, Cuscuta reflexa,
Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus and Dillenia
indica are collected, washed and mixed
together and boiled. After cooling the
patient is advised to take bath after sunset
and before sunrise.
2. In another formulation, the roots of
Clerodendrum infortunatum, Physalis
minima, Plumbago zeylanica, Stephania
japonica, Morus indica are grounded
together. The grounded powders of root
are placed inside the cocoon of Eri worm
and the cocoon is tied around the neck
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with red thread. After one complete week,
the cocoon is thrown out.
3. Roots (dried powder) of Amphineuron
opulentum, Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus,
Justicia adhatoda, Solanum indicum and
Clerodendrum infortunatum are mixed
with rice grain powder and was advised to
eat 2-3 times a day.
CONCLUSION
Formulation of herbal medicine for a
candidate disorder varies across the ojhas.
Some Ojhas uses single plant material
(product) and other uses combination of
various different medicinal plants for
curing the same diseases. 34 medicinal
plants from 24 families and 34 genus are
generally used for making hepatopro-
tective medicines. The result shows that
the tribe used twenty six types of leaves,
nine types of roots, two types of flowers
as well as one type of fruit, bark and seed
respectively from the 34 plants discussed
in the study. Exploring this knowledge
will always be beneficial to human kind
as this knowledge may lead to effective
drug discovery. Hepatoprotective
medicinal plants (with special reference to
Jaundice) used by the Bodo tribes of
Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District
coincide with the scientific studies where
most of those plants have been proved to
have hepatoprotective properties by
different researchers. However, bioassay
guided active compound isolation from
those plants and its molecular interactions
are the need of hour.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are thankful to the Bodo people
of Bodoland territorial autonomous
district (Lower Assam) for their co-
operation and helping in the survey as
well as disclosing their valuable
knowledge and also the facility and
counseling of Institutional Biotech –Hub,
Bodoland University.
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