Vol. 5, No. 1 (2015): 931-937
Review Article
Open Access
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Medicinal Plants of Manipur: A Survey
S. Lokhol Singh
1
*, Neema Moirangthem
2
and S. Syamkiran Singh
3
1
Co-Ordinator, Institutional Biotech Hub, Thoubal College, Thoubal
2Junior Research Fellow, Institutional Biotech Hub, Thoubal College.
3Assistant Professor & Researcher, W. Mani Girls’ College, Thoubal.
*
Corresponding author: S. Lokhol Singh; e-mail:
swearmanipur@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The aromatic plants have been used for various purposes for a long time by the several ethnic communities of
Manipur, inherited from the forefathers through oral folklores. An attempt has been made to document the precious
traditional knowledge about the uses of 100 plant species in treating various diseases in the state and which
habitat is more suitable to them.
Keywords:
aromatic plants, ethnomedicine, meitei, meitei-pangal, aboriginal tribes, lois, ethnic
communities, Manipur.
1. INTRODUCTION
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that
80% of the population of the developing countries
relies on the traditional medicines, mostly the plant
drugs, and the local health practitioners for their
primary health care needs [1-3]. Also, modern
pharmacopoeia still contains at least 25% drugs
derived from plants and many others that are synthetic
analogues built on prototype compounds isolated from
plants. Thus, there is a revival of interest to the people
in the traditional system of plant based medicines
particularly for the lesser known plants [4] where they
are a major source of therapeutic values.
The state of Manipur lies between 23
o50’ N to 23
o30’ N
and 93
o10’ E to 94
o30’ E, as a part of the North-East
India and a major part of the INDO-BURMA HOT-SPOT
[5]. The state with a vast number of different ethnic
groups and communities also possess a huge diversity
of economically and therapeutically important flora
which forms an integral part of the communities.
Traditional medicines which are a part of an ethnic
group, a culture and a community have been in
existence since time immemorial in the area. The plant
species used may vary from a domestically grown to
the weeds on the road side to those rare species in the
hills, forests and lakes. These were administered to the
patients orally in their crude form or by mixing with
other species of plants.
In recent times, the survey and study of such
techniques, methods and the plants used have become
very important for our future generations. The
indigenous know how of the tribal communities needs
to be studied closely and documented, based on their
properties, habitats and uses.
2. Methodology
Information of herbal remedies practiced by different
ethnic communities of the state was collected through
field visits [6,7]. The procedure for obtaining the
information differs from person to person and place to
place. The data of the habitats and the uses of these
medicinal plants were collected from the local
medicine–men of different ethnic groups [8-11]. The
plants were grouped according to the habitat they were
found at and their mode of cultivation.
The collected plant species which were used by the
ethnic groups were identified by comparing them with
the published works on the flora of the region, for the
authentic identification. After identification, the correct
nomenclature, common and English names were
written on herbarium sheets and deposited in the
herbarium center of Manipur University, Manipur.
3. Observation:
Different plant species from different families with
different herbal applications were selected and studied.
The studies were based on their habitat as well as their
market availability in and around Manipur. Regular
exploration trips and correspondence with the
medicine man of the different areas were conducted for
the period of 1 year. For each plant species their
scientific name, local Manipuri name and English names
are given along with other data. The plant species were
found to grow both in the hill and valley, usually as
wild. The most common application of most plant
species were found to be for treating injuries/wounds,
dysentery/ diarrhea/ dyspepsia, asthma/bronchitis
and fever/cough.
Table 1:
Habitat and Market scene
Sl.
No. Scientific name/ family Local name English name Habitat Cultivation type Marketing
1. Acanthopanax trifoliatus ,
f: araliaceaea Singli nouree mana Three leaved acanthopanax Hills Wild Non marketable
2. Acorus calamus,
f: araceae Ok-hidak Sweet flag Wetlands, marshy areas Wild and cultivated Non-marketable
3. Adenostemma lavenia,
f: asteraceae Lalu-kok Sticky Valley Wild Non marketable
4. Adhatoda vasica,
f: acanthaceae Nongmangkha Malabar nut Both hill and valley Wild and cultivated Non marketable
5. Adiantum capillus-veneris,
f: adiantaceae Mayur pambi Maiden hair fern Humid area in hills and valleys Wild Non marketable
6. Aegle marmelos,
f: rutaceae Hei-khagok Beal tree Foothills Cultivated in sacred areas Marketable
7. Ageratum conyzoides,
f: asteraceae Khongjai napi Goat weeds Valley, swampy areas Wild Non-marketable
8. Albizia odoratissima,
f: mimosaceae Uil Siris tree Both hill and valley Wild Non-marketable
9. Albizia ndiante, f: mimosaceae Khok Chinese albizia Both hill and valley Wild Non-marketable
10 Alocasia macrorrhiza, f: araceae Hong-ngoo Giant taro Valley Wild/cultivated Non marketable
11 Aloe barbadensis, f: liliaceae Ghritakumar Indian aloe Both hill and valley Cultivated Non-marketable
12
Alpinia allughas,
f: zingiberaceae Pullei Shell ginger
Wet-lands and riversides of both hills and valleys
Wild and
cultivated Marketable
13 Alpinia galangal, f: zingiberaceae Kanghu Greater galangal Valley, Wild and cultivated Marketable
14 Amaranthus spinosus , f: amaranthaceae Chengkruk- thing-khang-panbi Spiny amarnath Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
15 Amaranthus viridis , f: amaranthaceae Chengkruk Slender amarnath Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
16 Aphanamixis polystachya, f: meliaceae Heirankhoi Pitraj tree Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
17 Aralia armata, f: araliaceae Naoseknum Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
18 Argyreia nervosa , f: convolvulaceae Pungding uri/ pung-ding-lei Wooly morning glory Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
19 Artemisia nilagirica, f: asteraceae Laibak-ngou Mugwort Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
20 Azadirachta indica, f: meliaceae Neem Margosa tree Valley Cultivated Non marketable
21 Bambusa arundinaceae, f: poaceae Saneibi Thorny bamboo Both hill and valley Wild and cultivated Non-marketable/ marketable
22 Barleria albostellata, f: acanthaceae Hanu-khulam Grey bush barleria Both hill and valley Wild and cultivated Non-marketable
23 Basella alba , f: basellaceae Urok shumbal Indian spinach Valley Wild Non marketable
24 Benincasa hispida, f: cucurbitaceae Torbot Ash gourd Both hill and valley Cultivated Marketable
25 Bidens pillosa, f: asteraceae Hameng-sampakpi Quick weed Wastelands and road sides Wild Non-marketable
26 Bixa orellana, f: bixaceae Urei-rom, Annatto Hills Cultivated Non-marketable/ marketable
27 Blumea balsamifera, f: asteraceae Langthrei Ngai camphor Both hill and valley Wild and cultivated Non-marketable
28
Blumea hieracifoliav,
29 Blumeopsis flava ,
f: asteraceae Haochak Lettuce hump
Wet-lands and riversides of both hills and valleys
Wild Non marketable
30 Bombax ceiba , f: bombacaceae Tera Silk cotton tree Roadsides, valley Cultivated Marketable
31 Buddleja asiatica , f: buddlejaceae Shamei/ ngamurei White butterfly bush Hills Wild Non marketable
32 Cajanus cajan, f: papilionaceae Mairongbi Pigeon pea/ red gram Both hill and valley Cultivated Marketable
33 Calamus floribundus, f: arecaceae Lee Tiger palm Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
34 Cannabis sativa, f: cannabinaceae Gan-ja Marijuana/ true hemp Both hill and valley Wild/cultivated Marketable
35 Capsella bursapastoris, f: brassicaceae Chantruk Shepherds purse Both hill and valley Cultivated Marketable
36 Carthamus tinctorium, f: asteraceae Kusum-lei Safflower Both hill and valley Cultivated Marketable
37 Cassia bicapsularis, f: caesalpiniaceae Thaonam-nashangbi Money bush, rambling cassia Road sides, river banks Wild Non marketable
38 Cassia fistula, f: caesalpiniaceae Chou-hui Amaltas Foothills Wild Non marketable
39 Catharanthus roseus, f: apocynaceae Sahib lei Periwinkle Both hill and valley Cultivated Non marketable
40 Cedrela toona, f: meliaceae Tairen Red cedar Both hill and valley Wild/cultivate Wood is marketable
41 Celtis australis, f: ulmaceae Heigreng Hackberry, nettle tree Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
42 Centella asiatica, f: apiaceae Peruk Asiatic pennywort Both hill and valley Wild Marketable
43 Chenopodium album, f: chenopodiaceae Monsaobi Lamb’s quarters Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
44 Citrus macroptera , f: rutaceae Heiribob Wild orange Hill Wild/ cultivated Marketable
45 Clerodendrum indicum, f: verbenaceae Ku-thap Turk’s turban Valley Wild Non marketable
46 Clerodendrum siphonanthes, f: verbenaceae Charoi utong Turk’s turban Foot hills, roadsides Wild Non marketable
47 Costus speciosus , f: zingiberaceae Khongban takhelli Spiral ginger Wetlands Wild Non marketable
48 Cuscuta reflexa , f: cuscutaceae Uri –sanamanbi, Akashbell Wild Non marketable
49 Cynodon dactylon, f: gramineae Tingthou Dog-grass Valley Wild/ cultivated Non marketable
50 Cyperus rotundus, f: cyperaceae Sembang kaothoom Nut grass Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
51 Dactyloctenium acgypticum,
f: cyperaceae Pungphai Crow foot Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
52 Datura stramonium, f: solanaceae Sagol hidak amuba Thorn apple/ jimson weed Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
53 Dillenia indica , f: dilleniaceae Heigri Elephant apple Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
54 Drymaria cordata , f: caryophyllaceae Tandal pambi West ndian chickweed Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
55
Erythrina variegate,
f: papilionaceae Kurao angouba Coral tree Both hill and valley
Wild/
cultivated Non marketable
56 Euphorbin hirta, f: euphorbiaceae Pakhang-leiton Asthma weed Valley Wild Marketable
57 Ficus auriculata, f: moraceae Hei-it Fig Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
58 Ficus hispida, f: urticaceae Asi heibong Rough-leaved fig Valley Wild Non marketable
59 Fragaria indica f: rosaceae Heirongkak Indian strawberry Valley Wild Non marketable
60 Fragaria nilgerrensis, f: rosaceae Heirongkak mana ahum panbi Strawberry Valley Wild Non marketable
61
Glycosmis arborea,
f: rutaceae Yong- komla Ban nimboo Humid areas of hills and valley Wild Non marketable
62
Goniothalamus sesquipedalis , f:
annonaceae Leikham Kham Hill Wild Marketable
64 Hedychium marginatum , f: zingiberaceae Takhelli anganba Red bginger lily Wetlands of both hills and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
65 Hedychium spicatum, f: zingiberaceae Takhelli hangamapan Spiked ginger lily Wetlands of both hills and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
66 Hedyotis auricularia, f: rubiaceae Langban koukha Er cao ( chinesse) Wasteland of valleys Wild Non marketable
67 Hibiscus sabdariffa f: malvaceae Shilosougr Red sorrel Valley Cultivated Marketable
68 Juglans regia, f: juglandaceae Heijuga Akhrot Hills Wild Marketable
69 Kalanchoe pinnata, f: crassulaceae Mana-hidak Zakham haiyat Hills Cultivated Non marketable
70 Leucas lavandulaefolia f: labiatae Mayang lemboom Guma Hills Wild Non marketable
71 Litsea polyantha, f: lauraceae Tumitla Maida lakri Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Non marketable
72 Litsea sebifera, f: lauraceae Thang hidak Maida lakri Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Non marketable
73 Melanorrhoea usitata , f: anacardiaceae Khe-u Burmese lacquer tree Hills Wild/ cultivated Wood is marketable
74 Melothria purpusilla f: cucurbitaceae Lamthabi Chirati / musmusa Both hill and valley Wild Marketable
75 Mesua ferrea, f: clusiaceae Nageshor Iron wood Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Wood is marketable
76 Meyna laxiflora f: rubiaceae Heibi May-nuh Both hill and valley Wild Marketable
77 Mikania cordata , f: asteraceae Uri hingchabi Climbing hemp weed Hills Wild Non marketable
78 Mimosa pudica, f: mimosaceae Kangphal-ikaithabi Touch me not Valley Wild Non marketable
79 Muscari commutatum, f: liliaceae Napi Baby breath Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
80 Mussaenda roxburghii , f: rubiaceae Hanulei Sonarupa Valley Wild Non marketable
81 Neptunia oleracea, f: mimosaceae Ishing ikai thabi Water mimosa Valley Cultivated Marketable
82 Ocimum basilicum, f: lamiaceae Naosek-lei Sweet basil Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable/ non marketable
83 Oroxylum indicum, f: bignoniaceae Shamba Broken bone plant Hills and foothills Wild Non marketable
84 Phlogacanthus jenkinsii, f: acanthaceae Nongmangkha-asinba Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
85 Plumbago auriculata, f: plumbaginaceae Telhidak –amuba Blue plumbago Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Non marketable
86 Plumbago zeylanica, f: plumbaginaceae Telhidak –angouba White-wild plumbago Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Non marketable
87 Polygonum posumba f: polygonaceae, Fakpai Knotgrass Foot hills and valley Cultivated Marketable
88 Sagittaria sagittifolia, f: alismaceae, Koukha Arrowhead Wet-lands Cultivated / wild Marketable
89 Scutellaria discolor, f: lamiaceae Yenakhat Bicolor skullcape Hill Cultivated Marketable
90 Solanum nigrum f: solanaceae, Leipung khangnga Indian night shade Valley and foot hills Wild Marketable
91
Solanum surattense,
f: solanaceae Singkhang Yellow berried night shade Valley and foot hills Wild Marketable
92 Thunbergia alata, f: acanthaceae Sambal sana khudop Black eyed susan vine Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
93 Thunbergia grandiflora , f: acanthaceae Sambal khudop Blue sky vine Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
94 Tinospora cordifolia, f: menispermaceae Ningthoukong-li Gulancha tinospora Valley and foot hills Wild/ cultivated Non marketable
95 Tithonia diversifolia, f: asteraceae Lam numitlei Maxican sunflower Valley and foot hills Wild Non marketable
96 Trapa bispinosa, f: trapaceae, Heikak Water chestnut. Lakes and ponds Wild/ cultivated Marketable
97 Xylosma longifolia, f: flacourtiaceae Nong-leishang Dandal Both hill and valley Wild Non marketable
98
Zanthoxylum acanthopodium, f: rutaceae
Mukthrubi-tingkhang-panbi Darmar Both hill and valley Wild/ cultivated Marketable
99 Zanthoxylum alantum, f: rutaceae Ngairong Tejphal Hills and foot hills Wild / cultivated Marketable
Table 2:
Medicinal Uses
Sl.
No. SCIENTIFIC NAME/ FAMILY
M en str ua l/ re pr od uct io n An ti sep ti c W or m Li ver Ca rdi o vas cu lar In di ge st io n M us cl e D ia
betes Lung
H ai r pr ob le m Co ug h, fe ve r Sk in Pi les N er ve K id ney St on e pr ob le m s U lc er Jo in ts Pois on Br ai n O the rs
1 Acanthopanax
trifoliatus, * *
2 Acorus calamus * * * * *
3 Adenostemma
lavenia, * *
4 Adhatoda vasica * * * * *
5 Adiantum
capillus-veneris * * *
6 Aegle marmelos * * * *
7 Ageratum
conyzoides * *
8 Albizia
odoratissima * * * * *
9 Albizia stipulata * *
10 Alocasia
macrorrhiza * * *
11 Aloe barbadensis * * *
12 Alpinia allughas * * *
13 Alpinia galangal * * * * * *
14 Amaranthus
spinosus * * *
15 Amaranthus
viridis * * *
16 Aphanamixis
polystachya * * *
17 Aralia armata *
18 Argyreia nervosa * *
19 Artemisia
nilagirica * * *
20 Azadirachta
indica * * * * * * * * * * * *
21 Bambusa
arundinaceae * * *
22 Barleria
albostellata, * * * *
23 Basella alba * * * *
24 Benincasa hispida * *
25 Bidens pillosa * * *
26 Bixa orellana * * *
27 Blumea
balsamifera * * * *
28 Blumea
hieracifoliav *
29 Blumeopsis flava * * *
30 Bombax ceiba * * *
31 Buddleja asiatica * * * *
32 Cajanus cajan * * *
33 Calamus
floribundus * *
34 Cannabis sativa * * *
35 Capsella
bursapastoris * *
36 Carthamus
tinctorium * *
37 Cassia
bicapsularis * *
38 Cassia fistula * * * *
39 Catharanthus
roseus * *
40 Cedrela toona * *
41 Celtis australis * *
42 Centella asiatica * * *
43 Chenopodium
album * *
44 Citrus macroptera * *
45 Clerodendrum
46 Clerodendrum
siphonanthes * * * *
47 Costus speciosus * * *
48 Cuscuta reflexa * * *
49 Cynodon dactylon * * *
50 Cyperus rotundus * * * *
51 Dactyloctenium
acgypticum * *
52 Datura
stramonium * * * * * *
53 Dillenia indica * * *
54 Drymaria * * *
55 Erythrina
variegate *
56 Euphorbin hirta * * * *
57 Ficus auriculata * * * * *
58 Ficus hispida * * * *
59 Fragaria indica * * *
60 Fragaria
nilgerrensis * * *
61 Glycosmis
arborea, * * * * * *
62 Goniothalamus
sesquipedalis * *
63 Hedychium
coronarium *
64 Hedychium
marginatum * *
65 Hedychium
spicatum * * * *
66 Hedyotis
auricularia * * * *
67 Hibiscus
sabdariffa * *
68 Juglans regia * *
69 Kalanchoe
pinnata * * * * *
70 Leucas
lavandulaefolia * * *
71 Litsea polyantha * * *
72 Litsea sebifera *
73 Melanorrhoea
usitata *
74 Melothria
purpusilla * * * *
75 Mesua ferrea * * * * *
76 Meyna * * * *
77 Mikania cordata *
78 Mimosa pudica * * * *
79 Muscari
commutatum *
80 Mussaenda
roxburghii *
81 Neptunia
oleracea * *
82 Ocimum
basilicum * * *
83 Oroxylum indicum * * *
84 Phlogacanthus
jenkinsii * * *
85 Plumbago
auriculata * *
86 Plumbago
zeylanica * * * *
87 Polygonum
posumba, * * *
88 Sagittaria
sagittifolia *
89 Scutellaria
discolor * *
90 Solanum nigrum * * *
91 Solanum
surattense * * *
92 Thunbergia alata * * *
4. Discussion
The existing tradition of treating different plants used
as medicine in the various ethnic communities of
Manipur has been collected. Each community has their
own medicine man called
Maiba
or
Maibi
who conduct
different rituals for the prescription of these herbal
medicines. Different communities also have different
medium of prescriptions and preparation of these
plants. People living in rural areas still undergo these
treatments. Even without definite proof of their actual
benefits we can find instances when the person
recovers without any side effects. Only a few
individuals still carry on this knowledge for the future
while the younger generation does not believe in it.
This kind of knowledge is considered old-aged by the
young peoples, who get influenced by the modern
medicines, and the practices decline. Excessive
extraction of herbal raw material in the recent time has
also resulted in the decline of availability of some of
these plant species.
5. Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Department of Biotechnology (DBT),
Government of India, New Delhi, for funding; The Principal,
Thoubal College, Thoubal, Manipur for providing laboratory
and equipments and teaching and non-teaching staffs of the
Chemistry Department, Thoubal College, Thoubal for their
maximum co-operation.
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8. Bor NL, Flora of Assam, Vol 5, (Geamineae), (Government of Assam, Shillong), 1940
9. Kanjilal UN, Kanjilal PC, Das A and Bor NL, Flora of Assam, Vol 1-4 (Government of Assam, Shillong), 1934-1940. 10. Sharma BD, Balakrishnan NP and Sanjappa M, Flora of India,
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*****
grandiflora
94 Tinospora
cordifolia * * * * * *
95 Tithonia
diversifolia * *
96 Trapa bispinosa * * *
97 Xylosma
longifolia * *
98 Zanthoxylum
acanthopodium * * * * * *
99 Zanthoxylum
alantum * * * * *
100 Zizania latifolia * * * * * *