Reported by : Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: A major study conducted by researchers at Nagaland University has highlighted the gradual loss of traditional herbal knowledge among Assam’s Sonowal Kachari community, documenting dozens of medicinal plants that may hold potential for affordable healthcare and future drug development.
The research identified 39 medicinal plant species traditionally used by the indigenous Sonowal Kachari tribe to treat a wide range of ailments including fever, respiratory problems, kidney stones and skin diseases. The findings underline the rich yet underexplored ethnobotanical heritage of Northeast India.
Published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, the study was based on extensive interactions with 180 elderly members of the community, whose medicinal knowledge has largely been preserved through oral traditions passed down over generations.
Researchers noted that herbal medicine continues to play a crucial role as a low-cost and easily accessible healthcare system in rural and resource-limited areas where modern medical facilities are often inadequate.
The study further found that the Sonowal Kachari community commonly uses both traditional remedies and allopathic treatments, suggesting the possibility of developing integrative healthcare models that combine indigenous practices with modern medicine.
According to the researchers, several medicinal plants demonstrated consistent usage patterns for treating common illnesses, making them promising candidates for pharmacological research and future drug discovery.
Emphasising the wider significance of the findings, Jagadish Kumar Patnaik said the study showcases how indigenous knowledge systems can contribute to affordable healthcare innovation while also helping preserve cultural heritage.
“Traditional herbal medicine remains an accessible, affordable and effective healthcare option, especially for rural and resource-limited communities. This work opens new pathways for sustainable medical innovation,” he said.
The research paper was co-authored by Pramod Chandra Dihingia, Wungsim Zimik and Prabhakar Sharma from Nagaland University, along with Deepika Borah from the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Dihingia warned that indigenous medicinal knowledge is rapidly disappearing as younger generations increasingly move away from traditional practices.
“This study underscores the urgent need to conserve both indigenous knowledge and medicinal plant biodiversity,” he said, adding that the researchers have proposed a conservation framework aimed at preserving traditional knowledge and promoting the sustainable use of medicinal plants.
Meanwhile, Sharma said the findings could open new avenues for pharmacological research and natural product-based therapeutics.
Researchers also stressed that scientific validation of traditional remedies could help identify bioactive compounds and support the development of evidence- based plant-derived medicines in the future.
The study further called for equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms for indigenous communities if commercially valuable medicines are developed from traditional knowledge systems an issue gaining increasing importance in global debates surrounding biodiversity and intellectual property rights.