Abstract

ETHNO MEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF SOME PLANTS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF CATTLE DISEASES BY THE TIWA TRIBE OF MORIGAON DISTRICT OF ASSAM, INDIA

Abhijit Das* and Rajashree Bordoloi

ABSTRACT

Numerous wild plants growing in the forests are extensively used as folklore medicines to prevent or cure several diseases. These plants are well known to local inhabitants who are still resorting to folk remedies for their primary health care as well as for certain health care of their cattle. The study was conducted in the Morigaon district of Assam, India during the year 2012 to 2015 in the villages, Borchila, Ga-khujuwa, Kahua-ati, Gokhai-khonda and Dalang-ghat. The present research reveals the ethno-medical use of 19 plant species belonging to 18 different families which are widely used by Tiwa tribe of Morigaon district of Assam, India. It has also been found that the leaves, shoots and whole plants were the most frequently used plant parts for the treatment of various veterinary ailments followed by fruits, rhizomes, roots and bulbs. The findings need further clinical research to develop new herbal drugs for the effective treatment of different ethno-veterinary diseases in cattle.

Keywords: Tiwa tribe, medicinal plants, ethno-medical use, herbal medicine, foot and mouth disease.