Keywords

1 Introduction

The infliction of herbs and herbal preparations particularly those based on a traditional system of medicine are increasing in the daily life of people, as a global community is in the search of effective, comparatively safer and better medicine (Sen et al. 2011). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 80% of the world’s population, especially those who live in rural areas, still depends on herbal medicine for their primary healthcare needs (Ahmad et al. 2006). Traditional local healers abundantly used the natural sources and they conserved the relationship between human society and environments (Sajem and Gosai 2006). Herbal remedies are very popular all over the world as they contain plenty of bioactive molecules to cure the diverse diseases and also considered as safe compared to allopathic medicine (Thirumalai et al. 2009; Verma and Singh 2008; Sannomiya et al. 2007). Ethnic peoples possess immerse knowledge on the usage of biotic resources of traditional medicinal plants (Halim et al. 2007; Uniyal et al. 2006), which helps researchers for better investigation and to find more potent drug formulation based on such information’s (Rana et al. 2010).

Manipur is a state situated in the North East part of India. The total area covered by the state is 22,347 km2 of hill territory. The small state forms a part of the Himalayan mountain system which carries this cup-shaped wonderland inside its series of hill ranges (Singha 2014).The climate of Manipur is largely influenced by the topography of this hilly region. Lying 790 m above sea level, Manipur is wedged among hills on all sides. This northeastern corner of India enjoys a generally amiable climate, though the winters can be chilly. The maximum temperature in summer is 32 °C, while it often falls below 0 °C in winter (Singha 2014; Shankar et al. 2009).

Manipur was chosen after the survey because it is blessed with rich flora and fauna which in turn is used in medicines since ancient times by the native people as well as the people inhibited in this hilly region of the state. In this present study, attempts are being made to document such ethnomedicinal information commonly used for various health problems by the people of Thoubal and Kakching district of Manipur, India.

2 Methodology

2.1 Study Location and Duration

Thoubal district of Manipur lies between latitude 23°45′N and 24°45′N and longitude 93°45′E and 94°15′E, it occupies the larger part of the eastern half of the Manipur Valley, takes the shape of an irregular and triangular with its base facing north. In December 2016, Kakching district came into existence when Government bifurcate Thoubal district. These areas of the state are largely inhibited by a number of communities like Meitei, Meitei-Muslim, Loi, Taithibi, Chiru, Hmar, Gangte, Kabui, Kom, Lamkang, Maring, Paite, Tangkhul, Vaiphei, Zou, Maring, Kukis, and Thadouetc (Khan and Yadava 2010). The present study was conducted in different out in different tribal inhabited localities of Thoubal and Kakching district of Manipur during August 2015–June 2016.

2.2 Investigating Methods

Ethno-medico-botanical information practised by the different communities of these two districts was collected through field survey. Each locality was visited several times and information was collected through interviewing the local informants. The person we are communicated are above 60 years old and have usually been practicing such knowledge in their locality for more than two decades. Briefly, group discussion prior to the survey was made with the local herbal medicine practitioner at each locality to get their consent and to explain the importance of such study. Methods like a semi-structured interview, face-to-face dialogue, group discussion and field observation were made to collect the data on medicinal plants. Information was collected from both tribal and non-tribal medicine men and medicine women of different castes and religions in the study area. Information on the knowledge and practice of those people were collected and documented. Information on the plant species like their local name, parts of the plant used, medicinal importance, mode of preparation and use were collected. All plant specimens were collected during different seasons. Plants were identified using standard manual, available literature and with the help of traditional medical practitioner followed by confirming with expert plant taxonomists.

3 Results and Discussion

Among the 16 districts of Manipur, Thoubal and Kakching districts were surveyed. Traditional healers from Meitei community, as well as other communities, possess rich knowledge on plants which are used in the preparation of traditional medicine. However, a large number of plant species and such knowledge have not been scientifically proven and documented. The plants and herbs are being used for promotion and preservation of health, prevention, and treatment of diseases. A total of 40 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 35 families were documented in the present study. Informants are generally practised in different section of society by using different parts of plants such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits in the form of infusion, decoction, paste etc. Figure 4.1 shows some clicks captured during the survey with folk medicine practitioners.

Fig. 4.1
figure 1

Photograph with traditional healers during the survey

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Among 40 medicinal plants, the usage of above-ground parts of medicinal plant species consistently higher (72.5%) than the underground plant parts (12.5%) followed by whole plants (15.0%) (Fig. 4.2). All these medicinal plants were used by people of the different community of tribes like Maitei, Meitei-Muslim, Maring, Kukis, and Thadou of Thoubal and Kakching district of Manipur for curing of different ailments. The results showed that the shrub was prevalent (45%), followed by tree (22%), herbs (15%), grass (7.5%), aquatic herb (7.5%) and floating winged plant (2.5%) (Fig. 4.3).

Fig. 4.2
figure 2

Percentage distribution of aboveground, underground and whole plant parts

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Fig. 4.3
figure 3

Graphical representation of life forms investigated ethno-medicinal plants

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The eminent families of the medicinal plant used by ethnic people were presented in Table 4.1 with plant name, habit, common name, parts used and diseases. The percentage of various plant parts used as drug revealed in Fig. 4.4 as leaves (40%), whole plants (15%), seeds (10%), barks (5%), shoots (5%), roots (5%), rhizomes (5%), aerial parts (5%), fruits (2.5%), stems (2.5%), flowers (2.5%) and petioles (2.5%).

Table 4.1 List of medicinal plants used by different tribes in Manipur, India
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Fig. 4.4
figure 4

Percentage distribution of medicinal plant parts used as medicine by different tribes for curing ailments

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In Thoubal and Kakching, as in other parts of the state, herbs or plants have all along been used for promotion of health and prevention and treatment of diseases. They were used in most cases as an infusion, decoction, juice, powder, extract and paste from the parts of plants such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, whole plants, barks, seeds, aerial parts, rhizomes, shoots, petioles. Most of the plants are intended as medicine by orally and externally and some of the medicinal plants were intended by both orally and externally. The method of preparation and mode of usage of ethnobotanical medicinal plants were exhibited in Table 4.2.

Table 4.2 Mode of application of ethno-botanical medicinal plants (selected uses)
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It was observed that local informants were from the different socio-economic background and a large number of informants were women. The informants were practising folk medicine more than 20 years in their localities. They were from the diverse field like some are housewife, farmer, a retired teacher, daily worker etc. During the discussion, it was observed that they learned such knowledge from their ancestor and also based on their experiences for years. The survey indicated that the people of the study area largely depend on folk practitioners for daily healthcare need. The study area has plenty of plants to treat a wide spectrum of human diseases. It was evident during the survey that knowledge of medicinal plants was mostly limited to traditional healers and elderly persons who are living in rural/remote areas. This study observed that even though the accessibility of modern medicine is easy, many people still continue to depend on medicinal plants, at least for the treatment of some common and daily life diseases such as cold, cough, fever, pain, dysentery, poison bites, skin problem, toothache, diabetes etc.

4 Conclusion

Results from the survey revealed that plenty of medicinal plants are available in the area of the study and the local tribal healers used them as a medicine for their common ailments since ancient time. A number of phytochemical moieties like anthocyanins, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannin, saponins, carbohydrates etc. present in such plant species may responsible for their curative effect. This study may help towards the conservation of various valuable medicinal plants within the region. Phytochemical and biological screening of different medicinal plants based on such information is a very essential aspect for authors in future. It was also observed during post-study literature survey that a number of plant species were not scientifically investigated and documented, despite the fact that the study area abundantly rich in the medicinal plant and their traditional uses. It thus becomes essential to acquire and preserve such traditional knowledge and diversity of medicinal plant by way of proper documentation and conservation process.