Ethno medicinal value of various plants used in the preparation of traditional rice beer by different tribes of Assam, India

Abstract

Rice beer has always been an integral part of daily life in Assam. Rice beer in Assam is used in religious ceremonies as well as festivals. North–East India is inhabited by many indigenous tribes and as a part of their socio-cultural life, most of these tribes prepare their own household liquors, mostly using rice grains as the substrate. In addition, each of the tribes also prepares their own unique starter cultures to carry out fermentation, and each type is a mixture of different parts of various plant species. The paper reflects the rich ethno medicinal values of the herbs used in the preparation of rice beer. The various plants used by Bodo, Karbi, Ahom, Deori, Rabha, Mising and Sonowal Kachari tribes of Assam in the preparation of traditional rice beer or liquor have been reported in this article along with their ethno medicinal use. This review gives an overview of some important medicinal plants with their medicinal activities which are traditionally used in Assam for preparation of rice beer.