NU study documents Sonowal Kachari herbal knowledge

A Nagaland University (NU) study has documented the rich but rapidly declining ethno-medicinal knowledge of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Assam, highlighting its potential for affordable healthcare and future drug discovery.
The study recorded the traditional use of 39 medicinal plant species based on interviews with 180 elderly knowledge holders from the community.
It focused on plant-based remedies used to treat various ailments, including fever, respiratory problems, kidney stones and skin disorders.
The research, published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, noted the community’s continued reliance on herbal medicine as a low-cost, accessible healthcare option, especially in rural areas, alongside allopathic treatment. This points to possibilities for integrative healthcare models.
NU vice-chancellor Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik described the study as significant for preserving indigenous wisdom and advancing low-cost healthcare solutions. “This important work not only preserves cultural heritage but also opens new pathways for sustainable medical innovation,” he said.
Lead researcher Dr. Pramod Chandra Dihingia stressed the urgent need to conserve both traditional knowledge and medicinal plant biodiversity, warning that younger generations were moving away from these practices.
The team has proposed a conservation framework to support knowledge preservation and sustainable use of resources.
Prof. Prabhakar Sharma, Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, added that the findings could open avenues for pharmacological research and drug development by bridging traditional knowledge with scientific validation.
The paper was co-authored by Pramod Chandra Dihingia, Wungsim Zimik and Prabhakar Sharma from Nagaland University, and Deepika Borah from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Assam.
The researchers noted that this work lays the groundwork for further interdisciplinary studies aimed at validating medicinal properties, exploring bioactive compounds, and developing community-driven conservation strategies.