Credibility of folklore claims on the treatment of malaria in north-east india with special reference to corroboration of their biological activities

Abstract

Malaria is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity throughout the developing countries. In spite of considerable advances made in the development of anti-malarial drugs to combat the disease, appearance of the malaria parasite resistance to the drugs one after another, has triggered the researchers to search for alternative agents of better quality. In view of the fact that plant folk medicines have immense value in providing clue for development of drug, an ethnobotanic survey of medicinal plants practiced for the treatment of malaria in North-East India, followed by the validity of folklore claims of the plant species was conducted based on the review of reported literatures. Seventy four plant species under 67 genera and 41 families used for the preparation of recipes to treat the disease were included in this communication. For each plant species, botanical and vernacular name, part(s) used, method of preparation and mode of administration of the herbal remedies were provided. Biological activities corroborative of folklore medicinal claims of the plant species were also indicated for the credibility of these folklore claims.