Mizoram is one of the known areas of importance for plant diversity in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot of India. But many remote villages are yet to be documented and need to be explored scientifically for sustainable growth and development. One such village is Khawrihnim, situated at about 23 degrees 41'N, 92 degrees 36'E, at high-altitude. It is a geographically isolated hill with steep terrains with little external influence and a novel site for ethnobotanical research. The present study, therefore, focuses on exploring the ethnomedical knowledge of Khawrihnim village in terms of cultural significance, crosscultural relevance, conservation criteria and potential for pharmacological applications. The study was conducted between 2023 and 2024 through semi-structured interviews and guided fieldwork with knowledgeable local informants. The use reports (UR), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance (RI), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), cultural value (CVe) and consensus index (CI) were calculated using quantitative indices. Conservation status was checked against the IUCN Red List. The study documented total 52 medicinal species of 41 families. Albizia chinensis (UR = 170, UV = 1.545), Alstonia scholaris (RFC = 0.773, CI = 1.636) and Achyranthes aspera (RFC = 0.545, UV = 1.091) were found to be high in medicinal values. It was also observed that the most frequently used part of the plant was the leaf, mostly prepared as decoction. A cross-cultural comparison also indicated significant similarities with the ethnomedical knowledge of adjacent Northeast Indian tribes. Finally, most of the medicinal plants were classified as least concern or not evaluated. However, Cinnamomum verum needs to be addressed because of its vulnerable status. Therefore, this work provides new ethnomedical data for an understudied area and a baseline for the prioritization of conservation and pharmacological evaluation.
Migraine is a common neurological disorder that has a major impact on quality of life. The aims of this study were (1) to determine factors associated with migraine symptoms and (2) to assess the effects of traditional Thai herbal formulation, YaHom Thep Chit, on migraine outcomes among university students in the Northern region of Thailand. A two-phase study design was used. Phase 1 used a cross-sectional design with 396 participants to examine associations between demographic, behavioral and health-related variables and migraine. Phase 2 employed aquasi-experimental design to assess the effects of YaHom Thep Chit on migraine symptoms among a subset of participants. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression analyses. In Phase 1, migraine symptoms were significantly associated with abnormal body mass index (BMI), income, smoking status, sleep duration, energy drink consumption, family history of migraine, and stress (p < 0.05). In Phase 2, participants receiving YaHom Thep Chit demonstrated significant reductions in migraine frequency, duration, intensity, and migraine-related disability compared with the control group (p<0.001). These findings suggest that YaHom Thep Chit may be a potentially effective complementary approach for alleviating migraine symptoms. However, further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
This study investigates the potential of millets to bolster food and nutritional security by analyzing the physicochemical, functional, and nutritional properties of foxtail millet (Setaria italica), barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), and rice (Oryza sativa). It also evaluates the sensory and nutritional qualities of their derived products (laddu, halwa, pulaav). Physicochemical tests showed thousand kernel weights of 3.33 g (foxtail), 2.73 g (finger), 3.43 g (barnyard), and 19.0 g (rice), with thousand kernel volumes of 1.33 mL, 1.75 mL, 2.07 mL, and 8.13 mL, respectively. Nutritional analysis revealed moisture contents of 9.29% (foxtail), 12.85% (finger), 11.40% (barnyard), and 12.08% (rice). Foxtail millet had 10.34% protein, 3.13% fat, 4.32% fibre, and 69.89% carbohydrates; finger millet had 6.80% protein, 1.75% fat, 3.19% fibre, and 71.39% carbohydrates; barnyard millet had 6.89% protein, 3.6% fat, 2.96% fibre, and 71.86% carbohydrates; rice had 6.22% protein, 0.57% fat, 0.23 2.23% fibre, and 81.84% carbohydrates. Sensory evaluations indicated finger millet laddu (8.83 +/- 0.21) and halwa were most preferred, while foxtail pulaav outperformed others. The findings highlight foxtail and barnyard millets' superior nutritional profiles compared to rice, supporting their integration into traditional foods to enhance nutrition and food security.
Poitabhat, traditional fermented sour rice is a probiotic-rich breakfast item integral to Indian culture and common food of Assam. Despite its deep cultural roots and therapeutic value, its consumption is declining due to modern lifestyle shifts and a very limited shelf life of 24-48 h. The aim of this study was to modernize this ethnic food by incorporating a shelf-stable probiotic instant powder through spray drying. The three local rice varieties, namely Joha, Brown and Aijung rice were fermented with a standardized 10% probiotic consortium of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. A solution of maltodextrin (12%) was used to encapsulate the slurry that was then spray dried at an inlet temperature of 80 degrees C. The physical stability of the developed powders was excellent (aw = 0.30-0.33), and hence ascribed microbiological safety. Functional characterization suggested strong rehydrating properties coupled with high solubility (80.11-81.48%) and low insolubility index (0.41-0.48 mL). The morphology observed via., Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was predominantly spherical with particle diameters of 7.79 to 9.53 & micro;m, and the particle size distribution appeared narrow and was characterized as a monomodal size distribution. In addition, the probiotic fortified formulations were found to increase consumer acceptability on a 9-point hedonic scale over control, while retaining and not altering the characteristic flavor profile. The present work successfully converts a traditional ethnic food into a new functional product and serves as a potential approach for the preservation and commercialization of indigenous Indian food heritage.
Plants hold significant cultural and religious importance in rural societies worldwide. The present study aimed to explore the cultural significance and ethnobotanical importance of sacred plants use among indigenous communities of Bhaba valley in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Ethnobotanical insights were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended interviews with 30 local informants, primarily elderly individuals without formal education. A total of 27 plant species belonging to 17 families were documented from the studied area, with most dominating family Rosaceae (5 species), Poaceae (3 species), Pinaceae, Polygonaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae (2 species each).Among plant habits, the herbs were predominant (14 species), followed by trees (7 species), shrubs (5 species) and climber (1). Seeds were the most commonly used plant parts (37.03%), followed by flowers (25.93%), leaves (18.52%) and fruits (14.81%). Notably, Amaranthus caudatus L., Juglans regia L. and Saussurea obvallata (DC.) Sch. Bip. were the most significant species, each exhibiting a Cultural Importance Index (CI) of 1.46. The study emphasizes the intricate richness of traditionally significant sacred plant species within the area, thus highlighting the vital need for their conservation through comprehensive documentation to ensure the sustenance of these customs for posterity.
