(international journal for biology, ecology and allied...

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]

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446

ECOBIOS, Vol. VII. (I&II), 2014 27

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: -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_group

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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,

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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.

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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-

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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:

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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)

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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


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


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

ECOBIOS, Vol. 7 (1&2), 2014 ISSN: 0972-6446


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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