About 80% Of The World S Population Of The Developed And Developing Countries Rely On Traditional Herbal Medicine, For The Primary Health Care Because Of Their Great Efficacy And Little Or No Side Effects. Traditional System Of Medicine, Popularly Termed As Folk Medicine Is Accustomed Since The Days Of Ancient Civilizations And Playing A Significant Role In The Health Care System. In Modern Days Also, It Is Also Becoming Popular, As The Tribals And Rural Populations Of Our Country Is Highly Dependent On Medicinal Plant Therapy For Meeting Their Health Care Needs, And Which Attracted The Attention Of Botanists, Plant Scientists, Researchers And Other Active/Interested Workers. The Present Work Is An Outcome Of The Exploration Of Different Cultivated, Non-Cultivated, Forest/Village And Other Areas Of Plains And Hilly Areas, For Over A Period Of Twenty Years And Forms A Distinct Contributions Towards A Herbal Medicines, Based On The Studies/Observations Made On The Utilisation Of Wild Herbs In Medical Therapy In Day Today Life Of Tribal And Non-Tribal Peoples Of The North-Eastern Region, India. Angiospermic And Pteridophytic Plants Only Have Been Considered In The Present Study. For Each Species Correct Nomenclature, Local Names, Habit, Chromosome Number (Where Possible), Flowering And Fruiting Season, Ecological Situations And Medicinal Uses Of The Plants Have Been Discussed Alongwith The Illustrations Of 32 Photos For Easy Understanding Of The Work. Thus, Present Work Provides Excellent Glimpses Of The Traditional Knowledge Of Medicine Of North-East India. The Author Hopes That, The Present Book Will Serve Not Only As Reference Material, But Also As Practical Guide For Herbal Healers, Research Workers, Students And All Others Interested In The Field Of Medicinal Plants.

The author had collected information on many lesser known leafy and other edible plants used by the local tribal communities of N.E. India and compiled it in the form of a 'Status Report of Leafy and Edible Plants of North East India'. He claims to have seen many of these plants in the local markets of North Eastern States. Most of these plants are collected by the locals from the wild and are lesser known outside the region. The author had compiled information on 278 plant species of edible-leafy and other edibles (roots, rhizome, fruits, nuts or young fonds) with finer details. All such plants are excellent candidates for developing valuable functional foods, nutraceuticals or providing valuable chemicals or genes of economic or other interests. The author, who spent a good part of his life in this region was able to observe and interact closely with the local communities. The report compiled by him is, therefore original, authentic and authoritative. This book will serve as an excellent reference source for researchers and well as for those engaged in conservation, bioprospecting and sustainable utilization of biodiversity.

This work is a comprehensive information on the indigenous bioresources of North Eastern India with the scope of bioprospecting for discovery and commercialization of new sources and products and long-term ecological balance. The exploration, conservation and sustainable utilization of bioresources of world’s Megabiodiversity Hotspots are undeniable. North Eastern India is a recognised biodiversity hot spot where the evolutionary forces are at its optimum, making this region as centre of origin for many species. Although little bit exploratory studies have been conducted in this part of the globe but a scientific exploitation of the bioresources is almost lacking. Unscientific exploitation and overexploitation without proper knowledge of the bioresources may lead to imbalanced ecosystem of this mega diversity region. At the same time, very less exploration and exploitation will hamper biodiversity based development. Today, unscientific dramatic changes are underway in this region. Human activities are changing, degrading and destroying the bioresources in an unplanned manner. Scientific bioprospecting of the bioresources will boost the economy while ensuring conservation. This book offers comprehensive information about various levels of bioprospecting of the gene pool of this Indo-Burma Mega Biodiversity Hot Spot, the North East India, which is endowed with huge biodiversity potential for exploration and exploitation for the benefit of humankind. Also, this book highlights the less and merely explored part of the indigenous biodiversity of North East India with explanation towards their better sustainable exploitation for benefit of the people, economy and environment. The novelty of the book lies in expert coverage of the bioresources of this mega-diverse region including plants, microbes, insects etc. with provisions for their sustainable scientific utilization. This book portrays North East India as a melting pot of bioresources which are little explored and also those resources which are still to be explored. The book mainly highlights the bioprospecting approaches for North East Indian bioresources, and thus, it make itself a unique one in filling the knowledge gap that is there regarding the bioprospecting of the biodiversity of this special region on the earth. The book concludes by the ecotourism potential of this region. The target audiences for this book include biodiversity economists who are working on technology and bioresource management issues, and especially on biotechnology and biodiversity, development economists addressing the issues of bioresources in developing countries. These people may be in academia, in government, in non-governmental organizations and in private companies. The other target audiences group is policy scholars in government/public sectors who are interested in issues of biotechnology, IPRs, and biodiversity. In addition, scholars/experts in both development studies and resource management studies form another group of target audiences. Also, the book will be useful for the interaction between developed and developing nations regarding the issues of biodiversity and bioprospecting, as North Eastern India is the hub of Biodiversity.

The book deals with the rich medicinal plant resources of North East India comprising the state of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. It includes a comprehensive analysis on the Diversity, Status, Trade, Conservation and Cultivation of medicinal plants of the area besides giving individual species description of 750 plant species with their traditional medicinal uses. The taxonomic treatment on each species is up-to-date with latest and correct nomenclature and rarity status. Common and local names are given for almost all the species, which will be useful during collection of plant species from the field with the help of local people. The analysis of the trade structure in medicinal plants incorporating the name and description of species, quantum and volume of trade, status of trade and identification of trade related crucial factors are unique and comprehensive.