Traditional knowledge for antidiabetic herbs from Majuli Island (Assam), India

A study has been conducted during 2003 -2007 for Medico floristic evaluation and compilation of indigenous knowledge of the people of the River Island Majuli. The people of Majuli are very poor and are not acquaintance with recent scientific developments. The area is also inhabited by a number of communities namely, Deori, Mising, Koch, Kachari, Brahmin, Kalita, Kalibatra, Kayastha, Nath, Chutia, Bengali etc. traditionally using medicinal plants for curing and control of several diseases. About 52 plant species were recorded from villages of two sub-divisions viz. Kamalabari and Garamur of Majuli that used as anti-diabetes. Among the recorded species near about 50% are wild and indigenous. Out of the 52 species almost all were recorded to use as plant extracts. Different plant parts of the species were utilized such as leaves of 16 plant species, fruits of 10 plant species, tender shoots of 5 plant species, seeds of 5 plant species, whole plant of 4 species, rhizome of 4 plants, stem and stem bark of 3 plant, flowers of 3 plant, bulbs of 2 plants and root of 1 plant species. Phytomedicines are commonly practices by the ethnic of Majuli mainly by tribes and Bhakat (Devotee) of Satra and method of indigenous preparation for prevention, curing and control of diabetes reported.