Medicinal plants used by the native inhabitants of Nandikeswar, Jamugurihat in the Sonitpur district of Assam, India

Northeast India is a part of East Himalaya and Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot region with rich floristic elements and traditional knowledge. Nandikeswar is a village in Sonitpur district of Assam where the inhabitants till use and preserve their traditional knowledge of native medicinal flora that they acquired from their ancestors. Present study documents medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge used for treating various ailments of their localities. A total 13 informants including 6 traditional healers (Bej) and 7 elderly people of the village were interviewed. Ethnomedicinal data collected were analyzed and presented in graphs and tabulated form. This study recorded 75 species of medicinal plants belonging to 51 families which were found to be utilized by respondents for treating various ailments. Highest application of medicinal plants was recorded for skin problems (14%), which is followed by cough-cold (11%), hair problems (7%), jaundice (6.66%), etc. Majority of the species were found belonging to Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae family with 5 species each which is followed by Zingiberaceae (4), Fabaceae (4), Rutaceae (3), Apocynaceae (3), Apiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Combretaceae with 2 species each. Herbaceous species were found recorded in maximum number which is followed by trees, shrubs and climbers while majority of the herbal treatment employs fresh leaves.