S. K. Borthakur

Ethnobotany of the mikirs of India

The Mikirs living in Karbi-Anglong district in northeastern India depend on the natural plant resources of their neighbouring forests for much of their food, all their medicine, and for other material cultural needs and recreation. They, of course, use many plants in their magico-religious ceremonies. The area has remained botanically and ethnobotanically unexplored until the recent studies were initiated in 1976. Many heretofore unknown or little-known uses of plants have been recorded. However, much remains to be learnt from this region regarding the use of plants for human welfare.

Deoxynivalenol induces cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in animal primary cell culture.

Abstract Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum, is widely found as a contaminant of food. DON is responsible for a wide range of toxic activities, including gastro-intestinal, lymphoid, bone-marrow and cardiotoxicity. But, the complete explorations of toxicity in terms of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity as well have not been documented well. Again, the mechanisms through which DON damages the DNA and promotes cellular toxicity are not well established. Considering the above fact, this research article is focused on the effects of DON-induced toxicities on experimental animal model as well as its effects on cellular level via various toxicological investigations. DON treatment showed cytotoxicity and DNA damage. Further, flow cytometric analysis of hepatocytes showed cellular apoptosis, suggesting that DON-induced hepatotoxicity is, may be partly, mediated by apoptosis. Moreover, significant differences were found in each haematology and clinical chemistry value, either (p > 0.05). No abnormality of any organ was found during histopathological examination. Hence, it can be concluded that DON induces oxidative DNA damage and increases the formation of centromere positive micronuclei due to aneugenic activity.

A Survey of Ethnomedicinal Plants Utilized by the Indigenous People of Garo Hills with Special Reference to the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve (Meghalaya), India

The present study documented pharmaceutically important plant resources used in primary health care of ethnic Garo tribes from Eastern Himalayas (Nokrek Biosphere Reserve [NBR], India). In order to document information on medicinal plants and to maximize the collection of indigenous knowledge of Garo tribes, 12 traditional healers were identified using the Participatory Rapid Appraisal approach. Data were collected through open-end interviews with traditional healers, between 2007 and 2011. A total of 157 plant species representing 134 genera and 81 families were found to be commonly used in the treatment of 67 health-problems. More than one-fourth of the plant species were used in the treatment of cough, flu, and cold, which are prevalent ailments in the study area. The leaves, root, rhizome, and tuber were the most commonly used plant parts while decoction was the most common method of drug preparation.