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Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine logoLink to Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
. 2005 Nov 16;1:11. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-1-11

Ethnomedicinal botany of the Apatani in the Eastern Himalayan region of India

Chandra Prakash Kala 1,
PMCID: PMC1315349  PMID: 16288657

Abstract

This paper investigates the wealth of medicinal plants used by the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Apatani have traditionally settled in seven villages in the Ziro valley of Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. The present study has resulted in the documentation of 158 medicinal plant species used by the Apatani group of villages. These medicinal plant species were distributed across 73 families and 124 genera. Asteraceae was the most dominant family (19 species, 11 genera) of medicinal plants, followed by Zingiberaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae and Araceae. For curing ailments, the use of aboveground plant parts was higher (80%) than the belowground plant parts in the Apatani group of villages. Of the aboveground plant parts, leaf was used in the majority of cases (56 species), followed by fruit. Different belowground plant forms such as root, tuber, rhizome, bulb and pseudo-bulb were used by Apatani as a medicine. About 52 types of ailments were cured by using these 158 medicinal plant species. The results of this study are further discussed in the changing socio-economic contexts.

Keywords: Apatani tribe, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya, indigenous uses, ethnomedicinal plants

Introduction

Tribal communities are mainly the forest dwellers who have accumulated a rich knowledge on the uses of various forests and forest products over the centuries. India possesses a total of 427 tribal communities, of these more than 130 major tribal communities live in North East India, which is comprised of the 8 states Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The major tribal communities of the North East India have been categorized into sub-tribes and if these sub-tribes are taken into account the total number of tribal groups reaches up to 300. In general, the tribes of North East India have been categorized into two broad ethnic communities, such as the Khasi and the Jaintia tribe of Meghalaya, who belong to 'Monkhemar' culture of Austoic dialect, and the rest of the tribal groups are basically Mongoloid, who belongs to Tibeto-Burman subfamily of Tibeto-Chinese group [1-3].

In the North East India, each state contains a number of tribal groups. Arunachal Pradesh is one of the states in North East India inhabited by 28 major tribes and 110 sub-tribes [4]. Arunachal Pradesh is the 12th mega biodiversity region of the world [5]. More than 545 species of orchids have been reported from the state, which is the highest number of orchid species known from any single state of India [6]. Such a rich biodiversity in the state has provided an initial advantage to its inhabitants for observing, and scrutinizing the rich flora and fauna for developing their own traditional knowledge. Most of the tribe economies have been historically engaged in subsistence agriculture or hunting and gathering. Over the years, they have developed a great deal of knowledge on the use of plants and plant products in curing various ailments.

A review of the literature reveals that many tribal areas and tribal communities in the eastern Himalayan region of India are either under explored or unexplored with regard to their floral wealth used in curing diseases. The Apatani is one such little studied tribe of Arunachal Pradesh [3]. Therefore, a need was felt to gather in-depth information on the plant species used by this tribal group and suggest that similar studies need to be carried out across the various groups of tribes for comparison as well as for documenting the knowledge which may be under threat due to the influence of modernization. The present paper thus aims to highlight and record in detail the traditional knowledge of the Apatani tribe on the use of medicinal plant species growing in and around their settlements.

Study area: Apatani group of villages

Literally, the word Apatani is composed of two words- 'Apa' and 'Tani'. According to the local language, 'Apa' means display of affection and 'Tani' stands for human race. The Apatani, generally, speak in their own language which has no script. Traditionally, they had settled in seven villages (e.g. Hong, Hari, Billa, Dutta, Hija, Mudang-Tage, and Michi Bamin) those were organized in accordance with the traditional lines of the three forefathers called Nichi-Nitii, Tinii-Diibo-Dre-Hija, and Talyang-Hao. These 7 villages are located in the Ziro valley of Lower Subansiri district in the central western part of Arunachal Pradesh in India between 26°55' – 28°21' N and 92°40' – 94°21' E. The Ziro valley (often called the Apatani valley) lies between the Panior and Kamla (Kuru) rivers at an altitude of 1524 to 2738 m a.m.s.l. The Apatani group of villages is located at 2200 m elevation. The Apatani migrated to the present location from the Talle Valley located in south eastern region [7]. The pattern of Apatani villages is that of string settlements (village houses are in a straight line) and homes are made of bamboo and timber. The Apatani belong to the Tibeto-Mongoloid stock, and trace their descent from one legendary ancestor, the Abotani.

The Apatani believe in indigenous religion called as 'Donyi-Polo' and are patriarchal in social system. The traditional village council, which regulates and administers the community, consists of three bodies namely Akha Buliyang, Yapha Buliyang and Ajang Buliyang. In each of these traditional institutions has one or two persons represent from each clan. Earlier, the Apatani had prominent tattoo marks on the face to distinguish themselves from other communities settled nearby. However, the practice of tattooing has been discouraged in the recent past and now is on the verge of extinction.

In 1991 census the population of Apatani was 22,526 (Table 1). The decadal (1991–2001) growth rate of the Apatani is 8.62%, which is much lower than that of the state (26.21%). The Ziro valley has an area of 1058 km2 of which 43 km2 is under agriculture, and remaining under forests, plantations and settlements. It is bounded with the areas traditionally belonging to neighbouring Nishi tribe. The land holding size varies from 0.02 to 10.00 ha with over 93% holdings consisting of 0.026–3.00 ha. The Ziro valley exhibits a humid sub-tropical to temperate type of climate with 108.1 cm rainfall and a temperature ranges from a maximum of 30.6°C to minimum of 1.1°C [8]. The climatic, altitudinal and geomorphological variations have shaped the two major vegetation types in and around the study area- sub-tropical forests and temperate forests. Sub-tropical forests in the study area are represented by Castanopsis indica, Acer sp., Pinus wallichiana and Pinus roxburghii, whereas, the temperate forests are represented by Quercus glauca, Alnus nepalensis, Castanopsis indica, Pyrus sp., Prunus sp., Populus sp. and Acer sp [9,10]. Many shrub species such as Berberis wallichiana, Viburnum foetidum, Prunus sp., Rubus sp., Spirea sp. and Symplocos sp. occur in the forested areas.

Table 1.

Demographic profile of the Apatani in Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh

Year Population % to state

Apatani Arunachal Pradesh
1961 10,793 3,36,588 3.21
1971 12,888 4,68,511 2.75
1981 16,580 6,31,839 2.62
1991 22,526 8,64,558 2.61
2001 24,650 10,91,117 2.26

Source: Census of India, Part IX-B, Government of India.

Medicinal plants survey

A literature survey was carried out for compilation of existing information on the medicinal plants used by Apatani villagers [2,3,10-14]. In addition, field surveys in Apatani villages were undertaken during May and June 2005 to gather data on the indigenous uses of medicinal plant species by the Apatani. During the survey period, information was also gathered using semi-structured questionnaires on types of ailments cured by the traditional use of medicinal plants and plant parts used in curing different ailments. Cross-checking of data was made with the help of group discussions among different age classes of Apatani villagers that include both the genders of the society. The participant observation method was also employed to understand the methods and techniques adopted by the Apatani in curing diseases. The surrounding forested area and agricultural land of the Apatani villages were also surveyed with local youths and knowledgeable elders for the identification of various medicinal plant species and their indigenous uses. Since there is lack of comprehensive records on floral diversity of North East Himalaya including Arunachal Pradesh, the plant specimens were identified through various floral inventories [10,13,15]. The collected information was analyzed, and correlation was made between different genera and species of the medicinal plants in order to understand the pattern in medicinal plant uses and occurrences.

Results and discussion

The Apatani mainly subsist on agriculture and animal husbandry. Wet-rice cultivation is their most important agriculture practice. One of the Apatani proverbs reads "Tanii hii jebi danii", which means the Apatani depend on wet-rice cultivation. The Apatani have also developed a unique system of fish farming in their wet-rice croplands. They use available natural resources such as bamboo, cane, pine, Phragmites sp. and Castanopsis sp. in order to check the soil erosion, to conserve the soil fertility, to cultivate varieties of rice landraces, and to culture the fish in an integrated manner. Two species of bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii) are also cultivated in private lands by the Apatani for construction of houses and other domestic uses. Bamboo shoots are also consumed by the Apatani as a vegetable. Apong, a locally prepared beer by fermenting rice, finger millet and barley, is an important beverage of the Apatani, which they prefer to consume with mutton. Domestic and semi-domestic cattle also play important role in maintaining the economic status of the Apatani. Possessing a large number of domestic animals is an indication of the prosperity of their respective owner [16]. Mithun (Bos frontalis) is preferred mostly for the meat. In addition, pigs, cows, and multiple varieties of birds and fish are consumed by the Apatani. A number of wild edible fruits and vegetables are also collected by the Apatani from the nearby forested areas to supplement the domestic nutritional requirements.

Traditionally, the Apatani group of villages was not only familiar with the knowledge of medicinal plants but they were also expert traders and met their necessities in exchange of paddy, which was always in excess of their requirements [17]. Earlier, they had no connection with the plains of Assam due to obstructions created by the Nishi who were earning a lot by acting as middlemen between the Apatani and the people residing in the plains. However, the Apatani had occupied a compact area in Ziro valley and were one of the self-sufficient tribes in North East India [8]. Their immediate dependence on nature had developed knowledge which ultimately is reflected in their traditional culture, religion, local belief, folklore, taboos language and dialects. For many centuries, the Apatani had kept alive a self-managed system of folk medicine that was mainly based on herbal remedies [10]. Their ingenuity still reflects their traditional management and sharing of natural resources in a way that there is optimum utilization of such resources [8,18]. The Nishi are one of the neighbours of the Apatani who live at lower elevations and are the most populous tribe in the state. Over the past few decades, the interaction between the Apatani and the Nishi has increased many fold due to migration of Apatani people in search of better education in Itanagar, a capital of Arunachal Pradesh. The availability of motor roads and the invasion of modern civilization have also enhanced the day to day interaction and the exposure of the Apatani to the rest of the world. Such interaction has provided a possible sharing of traditional knowledge of the Apatani with their neighbouring community.

During the present course of investigations, a total of 158 medicinal plant species used by the Apatani group of villages were documented. These medicinal plant species were distributed across 73 families and 124 genera (Table 2). In terms of number of medicinal plant species, Asteraceae was the most dominant family (19 species, 11 genera) of medicinal plants, followed by Zingiberaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, Araceae, and Verbanaceae (Table 3). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.92, p > 0.01) between the number of genera and number of species used as medicine by the Apatani (Figure 1). The invention of maximum number of uses of Asteraceae by the Apatani tribe demonstrates the dominance of Asteraceae around the Apatani group of villages. Asteraceae is the most dominant family of medicinal plants across the North Eastern States of India [13].

Table 2.

Medicinal plant species, plant parts used and ailments cured by the Apatani of Ziro valley in Arunachal Pradesh

Sl No. Species Family Part used Uses
1 Acorus calamus L. Araceae Root Cut, wounds, skin diseases, bone fracture
2 Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Leaf Cut, wounds
3 Allium cepa L. Liliaceae Bulb Eye pain
4 Allium hookeri Thwait. Liliaceae Bulb Eruption of skin, cough, cold, wounds
5 Alocasia forniculata (Roxb.) Schott. Araceae Root Crack of heels
6 Alstonia scholaris (L.) Br. Apocynaceae Leaf, bark Headache, stomach disorder, menstrual disorder
7 Amomum aromaticum Roxb. Zingiberaceae Leaf, seed Fever, abortion
8 Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson Araceae Corn Piles
9 Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees Acanthaceae Leaf Dysentery
10 Anisomeles indica (L.) O.K. Lamiaceae Shoot Bodyache
11 Angiopteris evecta (Forst.) Hoffm. Angiopteridaceae Stem Health tonic
12 Antidesma acidum Retz. Euphorbiaceae Leaf Wounds
13 Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Shoot Skin diseases
14 Artemisia indica Willd. Asteraceae Leaf Bodyache, asthma, skin diseases
15 Artemisia maritima L. Asteraceae Shoot Blood purification
16 Artemisia nilagirica (Cl.) Pamp. Asteraceae Leaf Cough, headache, sores
17 Asplenium nidus L. Aspleniaceae Leaf Ulcer
18 Barleria prionitis L. Acanthaceae Leaf Cough
19 Begonia roxburghii (Miq.) DC. Begoniaceae Leaf Indigestion
20 Berberis wallichiana (Wall.) Brongn. Berberidaceae Fruit, root Indigestion, bodyache
21 Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. Saxifragaceae Root, leaf Cut, wounds
22 Brassiopsis glomarulata (Bl.) Regel. Araliaceae Fruit Cough
23 Buddleja asiatica Lour. Buddlejaceae Leaf Inflammation
24 Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl Verbenaceae Leaf Headache
25 Callicarpa vastita Roxb. Verbenaceae Leaf Indigestion
26 Calotropis gigantea (L.) Br. Asclepiadaceae Root Dog bite
27 Canarium resiniferum Brace ex King Burseraceae Fruit Urinary complaints
28 Capparis spinosa Lam. Capparaceae Root Rheumatic pain
29 Cardamine hirsuta L. Brassicaceae Leaf Indigestion
30 Castanopsis tribuloides (Sm.) DC. Fagaceae Stem Cough, goiter, indigestion
31 Centella asiatica L. Apiaceae Shoot Constipation, gastritis, blood purification
32 Chenopodium ambrosioides L. Chenopodiaceae Leaf Toothache
33 Christella parasitica (L.) Lev. Thelypteridaceae Fronds Cut, wounds
34 Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson Asteraceae Leaf Cut, wounds, headache, fever
35 Cirsium lapskyle Petral. Asteraceae Shoot Indigestion
36 Cissampelos pareira L. Menispermaceae Tuber Health tonic
37 Clerodendrum glandulosum Coleb. ex Wall. Verbenaceae Leaf Blood pressure, fever, cough
38 Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moonb Verbenaceae Leaf Eye disorders
39 Coelogyne pectata Lindl. Orchidaceae Pseudobulb Burns
40 Colocasia affinis Schott Araceae Leaf Fever, respiratory disorder
41 Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) Moore Asteraceae Leaf Indigestion, headache, stomachache, cut, wounds
42 Crotolaria pallida Ait. Fabaceae Root Bodyache
43 Croton roxburghii Balak Euphorbiaceae Fruit Indigestion
44 Curcuma caesia Roxb. Zingiberaceae Rhizome Cough, asthma
45 Curcuma aromatica Salisb. Zingiberaceae Whole plant Blood purification
46 Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. Zingiberaceae Rhizome Cold, cough
47 Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Cuscutaceae Whole plant Purgative
48 Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex Hk. f.) Holt. Cyatheaceae Leaf Bodyache
49 Cyathula prostrata (L.) Bl. Amaranthaceae Shoot Appetizer, dysentery, skin diseases
50 Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw. Orchidaceae Tuber Wounds
51 Dendrocnide sinuta (Bl.) Chew. Urticaceae Leaf Urogenital disorder, toothache, dysentery
52 Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.) Und. Gleicheniaceae Whole plant Indigestion
53 Dicrocephala bicolor (Roth) Sch. Asteraceae Shoot Digestive problems
54 Dillenia indica L. Dilleniaceae Furit Stomachache
55 Dioscorea alata L. Dioscoraceae Tuber Indigestion
56 Dioscorea bulbifera L. Dioscoraceae Tuber Indigestion
57 Dioscorea hamiltonii Hk. f. Dioscoraceae Tuber Dysentery
58 Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. Athyriaceae Fronds Constipation
59 Ecbolium viride (Forsk) Alston Meliaceae Root Rheumatism
60 Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Asteraceae Shoot Cut, wounds
61 Elaeagnus caudata Sch. ex Momiyama Elaeagnaceae Fruit Health tonic
62 Elaeagnus pyriformis Hk. f. Elaeagnaceae Fruit Constipation
63 Elatostema platyphyllum Wedd. Urticaceae Root Vomiting
64 Elsholzia blanda (Benth.) Benth. Lamiaceae Leaf Itching
65 Eluesine coracana (L.) Gaertn. Poaceae Grains Stomach disorder, tonic, cold
66 Eupatorium odoratum L. Asteraceae Leaf Wounds, cut
67 Erigeron bonariensis L. Asteraceae Leaf Nose block
68 Eryngium foetidum L. Apiaceae Seed Madness, headache
69 Ficus benjamina L. Moraceae Stem Stomach disorder
70 Ficus hirta Vahl Moraceae Fruit Wounds, cut
71 Gerbera pilosellioides (L.) Cass. Asteraceae Leaf Rheumatic pain
72 Gloriosa superba L. Liliaceae Tuber Killing lice in hairs
73 Gmelina arborea Roxb. Verbenaceae Leaf Stomach disorder
74 Gynostemma pedata Bl. Cucurbitaceae Leaf Throat ache
75 Gynura biscolor (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. Asteraceae Leaf Intestinal worms
76 Gynura nepalensis DC. Asteraceae Leaf Indigestion
77 Hedychium coronarium Koen. Zingiberaceae Rhizome Bodyache
78 Hedychium dekianum Rao & Verma Zingiberaceae Rhizome Cut, wounds
79 Hedychium spicatum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. Zingiberaceae Rhizome Stomach disorder
80 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Malvaceae Flower Reproductive disorders
81 Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Saururaceae Shoot Freshness, good sleep, heart disorders
82 Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. Lamiaceae Leaf Itching, cough, cold
83 Hypericum japonicum Thunb. ex Murr. Hypericaceae Stem Cut, wounds
84 Impatiens latifolia L. Balsaminaceae Leaf Headache, digestive disorder
85 Impatiens racemosa DC. Balsaminaceae Leaf Digestive disorder
86 Indigofera tinctoria L. Fabaceae Root Wound
87 Jasminum humile L. Oleaceae Root Ringworm
88 Laginaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Cucurbitaceae Fruit Burns
89 Leonotis nepetifolia R. Br. Lamiaceae Seed Burns
90 Lithocarpus dealbatus (Miq.) Rehder Fagaceae Fruit Indigestion
91 Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. Lauraceae Fruit Cough, cold, hair tonic, indigestion, good sleep
92 Litsea salicifolia (Nees) Hk.f. Lauraceae Fruit Bone fracture, stomach disorder
93 Lygodium scandens (L.) Sw. Schizaeaceae Leaf Skin diseases
94 Mahonia napalensis DC. Berberidaceae Stem Itching
95 Measa indica (Roxb.) DC. Myrsinaceae Fruit Indigestion
96 Mikania micrantha Kunth. Asteraceae Leaf Itching, skin diseases, headache
97 Miliusa roxburghiana (Wall. ex Griff.) Hk. f. & Th. Annonaceae Leaf Headache
98 Molineria crassifolia Baker Hypoxidaceae Fruit Diarrhoea
99 Molineria recurveta (Dryand) Hebbert. Hypoxidaceae Leaf Bodyache
100 Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Fabaceae Stem Eye disorder
101 Murraya koenigii (L.) Spr. Rutaceae Leaf Stomach trouble
102 Musa paradissica L. Musaceae Fruit Indigestion
103 Myrica esculenta Ham. ex D. Don. Myricaceae Fruit, bark Indigestion, skin eruption
104 Myrsine semiserrata Wall. Myrsinaceae Seed Skin diseases
105 Oenanthe javanica (Bl.) DC. Apiaceae Shoot Indigestion
106 Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. Bignoniaceae Seed Purgative, headache
107 Osbeckia stellata Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don Melastomataceae Leaf Toothache
108 Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Shoot Appetizer, headache
109 Paedaria foetida L Rubiaceae Stem Gastritis, diarrhea, stomach disorder
110 Passiflora foetida L. Passifloraceae Fruit Respiratory disorder
111 Photinia integrifolia Lindl. Rosaceae Fruit Indigestion
112 Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. Lamiaceae Seed Fever, headache
113 Physalis angulata L. Solanaceae Fruit Gastric trouble
114 Physalis minima L. Solanaceae Fruit Gastric trouble
115 Physalis peruviana L. Solanaceae Leaf Pain in pregnancy
116 Picrorhiza kurrooa Benth. Scrophulariaceae Root Cold, fever
117 Pinus roxburghii Sarg. Pinaceae Seed Indigestion
118 Piper brachystachyum Wall. Piperaceae Seed Cough
119 Piper trioicum Roxb. Piperaceae Root Cough
120 Plantago major L. Plantaginaceae Leaf Constipation
121 Plectranthus japonicus (Burm. f.) Koidz. Acanthaceae Leaf Fever
122 Polygonum nepalense Meissn. Polygonaceae Leaf Indigestion
123 Polygonum perfoliatum L. Polygonaceae Leaf Indigestion
124 Portulaca oleracea L. Portulacaceae Stem, leaf Appetizer
125 Pouzolzia hirta (Bl.) Hassk. Urticaceae Root Constipation
126 Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. Sterculiaceae Flower Earache
127 Rhus chinensis Miller Anacardiaceae Fruit Blood dysentery
128 Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiaceae Shoot Stomachache
129 Rubus calycinus Wall. Rosaceae Fruit Stomach disorder
130 Rubus ellipticus Sm. Rosaceae Fruit Indigestion
131 Rubus paniculatus Sm. Rosaceae Fruit Stomach disorder
132 Rubus roseafolius Sm. Rosaceae Fruit Indigestion
133 Rumex nepalensis Spr. Polygonaceae Leaf Indigestion
134 Saurauria roxburghii Wall. Saurauriaceae Leaf Constipation
135 Schefflera glomerata L. Araliaceae Fruit Indigestion
136 Schizostachium capitatum (Munro) Majumdar Poaceae Shoot Diarrhea, dysentery, stomach disorder
137 Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Leaf Skin diseases
138 Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Ceasalpiniaceae Leaf Low blood pressure
139 Sphenomeris chinensis (L.) Maxon Lindsaeceae Fronds Sprains
140 Solanum kurzii Brace ex Prain Solanaceae Fruit Cough, worms infestation
141 Solanum myriacanthum Dunal Solanaceae Seeds Toothache
142 Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Leaf Liver tonic, indigestion
143 Solanum torvum Sm. Solanaceae Fruit Cough, skin diseases
144 Sonchus asper (L.) Hill Asteraceae Shoot Indigestion
145 Sonchus arvensis L. Asteraceae Shoot Stomachache, gastritis
146 Spilanthus clava L. Asteraceae Leaf Throat pain
147 Spilanthes paniculata DC. Asteraceae Leaf Constipation
148 Stellaria media (L.) Vill. Caryophyllaceae Leaf Itching
149 Stereospermum chelonoides (L. f.) DC. Bignoniaceae Leaf Sprain
150 Strobilanthus helictus T. Anders. Acanthaceae Shoot Indigestion
151 Terminalia chebula Retz. Combretaceae Fruit Cough
152 Toddalia aculeata Pers. Rutaceae Fruit Throat pain
153 Urtica dioica L. Urticaceae Leaf Bone fracture
154 Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less Asteraceae Leaf Indigestion
155 Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. Rutaceae Fruit Dysentery
156 Zanthoxylum armatum DC. Rutaceae Fruit Cold, cough, fever, appetizer
157 Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew. Rutaceae Fruit Stomach disorder
158 Zingiber officinale Rosc. Zingiberaceae Rhizome Cough

Table 3.

Dominant families of medicinal plants used by the Apatani in terms of number of species occupied

Family Genera Species
Asteraceae 11 19
Zingiberaceae 4 8
Solanaceae 2 7
Lamiaceae 5 5
Araceae 5 5
Verbenaceae 3 5
Rutaceae 3 5
Rosaceae 2 5
Urticaceae 4 4
Acanthaceae 4 4

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Relationship between genera and species richness of medicinal plants used by the Apatani in Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh.

Different parts of medicinal plant species were used by the Apatani as a medicine. For curing ailments, the use of aboveground plant parts was higher (80%) than the belowground plant parts. Of the aboveground plant parts, leaf was used in the majority of cases (56 species), followed by fruits. Different belowground plant forms such as root, tuber, rhizome, bulb and pseudo-bulb were also used by the Apatani as a source of curing ailments (Table 4). The whole plant of 3 species [e.g. Curcuma aromatica Salisb., Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. and Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.) Und.] was used as medicine. These 158 medicinal plant species were used in curing about 52 types of ailments, of which the highest numbers of plant species (40 species) were used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as indigestion and constipation. About 19 medicinal plant species were used in curing cough and cold, and 15 medicinal plant species were used for healing cuts and wounds (Table 5).

Table 4.

Patterns in Apatani use of medicinal plant parts

Aboveground plant parts used Number of Species Belowground plant parts used Number of Species
Whole shoot 15 Root 14
 Leaf 56 Tuber 6
 Fruit 31 Rhizome 6
 Seed 10 Bulb 2
 Stem 6 Pseudo-bulb 1
 Fronds 4 Corn 1
 Bark 2
 Flower 2
Total 126 Total 30

Table 5.

Major ailments cured by the Apatani in terms of using the plant species

Ailments Number of plants used
Indigestion 40
Cough and cold 19
Cut and wounds 15
Headache 12
Stomach disorder 11
Skin diseases 11
Fever 8
Body-ache 6
Dysentery 6
Throat-ache 5

Previous studies carried out in North East India have reported 41 medicinal plant species used by the Apatani of Arunachal Pradesh [13]. However, they had selected many North Eastern States and 12 different tribal communities for investigations. Based on their experiences, they had suggested the need of carrying out detailed investigations of each tribe. So far different authors have reported 1350 species of plants used in ethnomedicinal preparations, 665 species of food plants and 899 species for miscellaneous uses from the entire North East India [3]. The present inventory of 158 medicinal plant species as used by the Apatani is one of its kinds in terms of the highest number of species recorded so far used by a single tribe of the North East India. This fact provides a strength to the statements of earlier researchers that North East India is still under-explored and certain areas in the district of Subansiri still remain unexplored [3,10]. Hence, a need for detailed investigations of ethnobotanical knowledge held by each tribal community in North East India is required before such valuable knowledge vanishes. In spite of the rich wealth of bio-resources and potential, development is far from meeting the expectations of local people in Arunachal Pradesh mainly in terms of existing health care facilities and herbal industries. Ethnomedicinal knowledge is also important from a humanitarian point of view in that in long run as this knowledge may help to identify important medicinal uses that can help in curing and healthcare around the world. Attempts should be made to share the benefits arising from such knowledge with its holders. The present inventory of medicinal plants used by the Apatani opens new avenues to scrutinize such a rich natural resource for further analysis in order to develop the potential of herbal medicine.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgements

I thank Director, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, for providing logistic support. I extend my thanks to Dr. Pitamber P. Dhyani, Dr. Drupad C. Choudhury, Dr. Rakesh C. Sundriyal, Dr. Nehal A. Farooquee, Dr. Manju Sundriyal, Mr. Mihin Dollo, and Mr. Rubu Bukar for helping in various ways during the course of this study. Dr. M.S. Rawat is thanked for discussions on the subject matter. I acknowledge the help provided by all the Apatani group of villages during the fieldwork. Dr. Andrea Pieroni and three anonymous referees are thanked for their constructive comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript.

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