Ethnoveterinary plants used by Mising, Tai-Aiton and Santhal community residing nearby Nambor-Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary of Golaghat, Assam, India

Abstract

An ethnoveterinary survey was carried out to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in treating domestic animals by three ethnic tribes viz. Mising, Tai-Aiton and Santhal. This paper en-lighten the various processes that are being applied by each community to cure their domestic pets. Interview of informants was conducted using a model questionnaire (Parabia and Reddy, 2002). Specimens were prepared by following standard methodology (Jain & Rao, 1977; and Bridson & Forman, 1998). Plants were poisoned in saturated solution of Mercuric chloride dissolved in absolute alcohol (25g in 1000ml Ethyl alcohol) and then mounted in standard herbarium sheets (41 x 28cm). The identification of plants was done by following a number of floristic literatures. A total of 17 plant species were collected and are cited with their Botanical name, Family, Local name, Tribes, Parts used, Diseases, & Mode of preparation and application. Plants with additional new report to ethnoveterinary by the respective tribes are also indicated. This shows a great potential for research as well as discovery of newer drugs. Phytochemical screening of the plants shall further help in denoting the medicinal properties which will validate the traditional knowledge of the tribal communities. The resourceful knowledge of indigenous plants may be lost forever if not properly documented.