Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Uncovering ethnobotanical wealth and traditional medicinal knowledge of the Ao tribe in Dimapur district of Nagaland, India
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Research Articles | Published: 06 August, 2025
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Keywords: Ethnomedicinal, Nagaland, Traditional knowledge, Lamiaceae, Respiratory disorders
Abstract
Medicinal plants constitute one of the oldest and most accessible forms of healthcare, forming the backbone of traditional medicine systems that continue to serve as primary health resources worldwide. This study documents and evaluates the ethnomedicinal practices of the Ao community in Dimapur district of Nagaland, contributing valuable data to India’s repositories of traditional knowledge. Altogether 62 plants from 39 families were recorded through interviews with 23 informants. Lamiaceae with 6 species was the most prevalent family. Herbs, comprising 43.55%, leaves with 43.78%, decoction with 20.79% and internal application with 73.68% dominated among life forms, plant parts, method of preparations and route of administrations respectively. The highest use value (2.61) was recorded for Terminalia chebula Retz., while Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and Terminalia chebula Retz. each with relative frequency citation of 0.78 were the most significant plants. Six species including Rhus chinensis Mill., Terminalia chebula Retz., Parkia speciosa Hassk., Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl., Ocimum sanctum var. Rama and Zingiber officinale Rosc. had fidelity level of 100%. The highest factor informant consensus with 0.84 was observed for respiratory disorders, supported by 70 use reports involving 12 plant species. The current finding contribute to national interest by supporting the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems as well as presents an opportunity for upcoming researchers to prioritize phytochemical screenings, analyse bioactive compounds and investigate the effect of extracts and isolated chemicals derived from these plants for their potential health benefits.
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Author Information
Department of Botany, St. Joseph University, Dimapur, India