DIMAPUR: The International University Nagaland (IUN) has launched an ambitious interdisciplinary research initiative titled “Integrated Phytochemical and Clinical Standardization of Naga Ethnomedicine,” aimed at safeguarding and scientifically validating the state’s rich traditional knowledge.
The project seeks to systematically document, chemically map and clinically validate Nagaland’s indigenous medicinal flora for safe integration into modern healthcare systems.
For centuries, Naga tribes have relied on oral traditions of medicine using local plants, roots and barks to treat various ailments.
However, the absence of standardized data has left this knowledge vulnerable to loss and exploitation.
Building on the university’s infrastructure in Naturopathy and Allied Health Sciences, the research team will catalog plant species across climatic zones, extract active phytochemicals in advanced laboratories and conduct pre clinical screenings to analyze antimicrobial, anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
In a joint statement, Registrar Dr. Roopam Bachhil and Prof. Zavise Rume, Director of Academic Staff College, underscored the cultural and commercial value of the project.
Dr. Bachhil said the initiative would create a digital, intellectual property protected repository of Naga ethnomedicine, securing patent rights for indigenous communities while paving the way for standardized naturopathic formulations and rural employment. Prof. Rume added that findings would enrich allied health, pharmacology and botany curricula, with workshops involving traditional healers as vital knowledge partners.
The expected outcomes include standardized natural supplements, ointments and alternative medicines, opening opportunities for local manufacturing and wellness industries.
The university has called upon conservationists, traditional practitioners and village elders to collaborate during upcoming field collection drives.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026