Traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge of 101 indigenous leafy vegetables among the Rabha tribes in Assam, India

Abstract

Traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge (TEK) has received significant attention in recent years for its potential in drug discovery, cultural preservation, health care sustainability, and community empowerment. In this regard, the Rabha community has treasured traditional medical knowledge passed down through generations. Documenting traditional knowledge helps to preserve indigenous cultures and promote cross-cultural exchange. Therefore, the study aimed to document the green leafy vegetables and medicinal plants still used by the Rabha tribes’ community in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area of Assam, India. The information was gathered through semi-structured interviews and conversations with 170 respondents aged 50-75, conducted from March 2021 to November 2023. In this study, 101 indigenous leafy vegetables belonging to Solanaceae (7 species) 2) Apiaceae (5 species) 3) Malvaceae (5 species) 4) Amaranthaceae (5 species) 5) Lamiaceae (5 species) and 6) Brassicaceae (5 species) and 7) Cucurbitaceae (4 species) families were recorded the highest from the studied area. Ethnobotanical indices, such as Use value (UV) and Relative Frequency of citation (RFC), were used. From the study, it is revealed that Sarcochlamys pulcherrima (Roxb.) Gaud exhibited the highest use value (UV), followed by Paederia foetida Linn, Amaranthus spinosus L, and Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. In the study area, a wide range of leafy vegetables were identified as medicinal plants, and they were also consumed as tender leaves. These indigenous leafy vegetables have high nutritional value, which may help people prevent various deficiencies. It was observed that some medicinal leafy vegetables are gradually declining due to various anthropogenic activities. The masses must be made immediately aware of the natural potential of green leafy vegetables to be incorporated into mainstream diets, which is expected to improve nutritional security, reduce malnutrition, and create self-employment. These indigenous leafy vegetables may be studied more rigorously in the near future to develop pharmacological drugs.