BEST: International Journal of Humanities, Arts,

Medicine and Sciences (BEST: IJHAMS)

ISSN 2348-0521
Vol. 3, Issue 4, Apr 2015, 17-22
BEST Journals

VASCULAR HYDROPHYTIC MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MORIGAON DISTRICT, ASSAM

MANJU DEORI
Department of Botany, Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam, India

ABSTRACT
Plants which grow in wet places or in water either partly or wholly submerged are called hydrophytes. The present
study is an attempt to highlight the medicinally important vascular hydrophytic plants used by the people of Morigaon
District. For the purpose, a survey has been carried out in different regions of Morigaon District during August 2012 to
July 2014 along with the discussions with fishermen, fodder collectors and local communities nearby the wetlands. They
utilize different hydrophytic plant species for various diseases. This study recorded 34 species of vascular hydrophytic
plants of medicinal value.

KEYWORDS: Vascular, Hydrophytes, Medicinal plants, Morigaon District

INTRODUCTION
The Northeastern region is one of the richest biodiversity areas. The Morigaon District of Assam harbours a good
number of medicinal plant species. Although it is the second smallest district of Assam but it has 183 numbers of wetlands
covering an area of 11658.00 hectors. It is situated between 2605N to 2605N latitude and between 920 - 9505E
longitude . The Brahmaputra marks northern boundary and the killing, kolong and Kapili rivers drain the southern part of
the district. It experiences medium to high rainfall. The temperature is moderate ranging from 13o C to 350 C. The pH of
soil ranges from 4.5 to 6.8.
From the time immemorial human being have used the plant species for the treatment of different types of
diseases. People of the district use different plants traditionally for curing the ailments in their day to day life. Some of
them are vascular hydrophytic . As the modern civilization has now spread to most regions of the world, it has made most
of the primitive societies to break away from their culture and tradition has brought about a disintegration of knowledge
and practices of plants in their daily life. Before these people completely lose their knowledge of medicinal value of plants
forever, there is an urgent need to record such plants through investigation, documentation, systematic study for the benefit
of mankind. Therefore an attempt has been made to conserve and document this vanishing knowledge of the medicinal
properties of the plants used by the inhabitants of Morigaon district of Assam.
Floristic composition works in the North east India have been carried out by some workers, while many others
have worked on medicinal uses of plants of North East India , Assam among tribes of Mikir Hills, Bodo, Mishing for
different purposes. This paper enumerates medicinal uses of vascular hydrophytic plants by the people of Morigaon
District of Assam.

METHODS
To study the medicinally important vascular hydrophytes, intensive field work has been carried out during August
2012 to july 2014 covering almost all the season of the year. Collected specimens were processed through the conventional
techniques (Jain & Rao) and mount on herbaria sheaths for proper identification and preservation. The methodology
followed during field work was based mainly on detailed questionnaires. The Questionnaires were prepared to record the

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Manju Deori

locale name of the plant species, parts used, purpose of uses and method of application etc. The informations are collected
from fishermen, fodder collectors, local medicine practitioners and local communities nearby the wetlands. Tribal markets
or weekly bazaar were also visited to study the plants and plant products sold there.
Plants were identified using some relevant floras, standard literature and by matching the specimens in the
Herbaria of the Department of Botany of Cotton College, Herbaria of the Department of Botany, Gauhati University and
also at Botanical Survey of India at Shillong.

RESULTS
Morigaon District is not only rich in biodiversity but also rich in its cultural heritage. It is a land of multiculture
with large number of ethnic tribes. Tiwa, Bodo, Karbi etc. tribes have their own traditional health care systems. They have
used some particular crude plant extracts to treat patients. During the present study 34 vascular hydrophytic medicinal
plants species were collected from different wetlands of Morigaon District like Doikhuwa, Bormonoha , Charon ,
Muribeel, Udori, Koliajari beel etc.. The information regarding scientific name , local name, family, ecological groups and
medicinal uses for every plant species are enumerated in Table 1. Out of these, 26 species are emergent, 6 species are
rooted with floating leaves, one species is submerged and one species is free floating.
Table 1: Vascular Hydrophytic Medicinal Plants Used by People of Morigaon District of Assam
Sl. No.

Scientific Name

Local Name

Family

Ecological
Groups

Acorus calamus Linnaeus

Bonsh

Araceae

Emergent

Alternanthera philoxeroides
(Mart.) Grisebach

Tita helonsi

Amaranthaceae

Emergent

Alternanthera sessilis
(Linnaeus) DC.

Mati kanduri

Amaranthaceae

Emergent

Centella asiatica (Linnaeus)

Urban.

Manimuni

Apiaceae

Emergent

Sirolia

Ceratophyllaceae

Submerged

Pteridaceae

Rooted
floating

5
6

Ceratophyllum demersum
Linnaeus
Ceratopteris thalictroides
(Linnaeus) Brongn.

Colocasia esculenta (Linnaeus)

Scholl.

Kosu

Araceae

Emergent

Commelina diffusa Burm.f

Kona simolu

Commelinaceae

Emergent

Cyperus corymbosus Rottboell

Ghah bon

Cyperaceae

Emergent

10

Eclipta prostrata Linnaeus

Kehraaj

Asteraceae

Emergent

11

Enhydra fluctuans Loureiro

Alencha

Asteraceae

Emergent

12

Grangea maderaspatana
Linnaeus

Asteraceae

Emergent

13

Ipomoea aquatic Forsk.

Kolmou

Convolvulaceae

Emergent

14

Jussiea repens Linnaeus

Pani khutura

Onagraceae

Emergent

Medicinal Uses
Rhizome used as anti inflammatory,
sudorific, antiseptic, insecticidal. It is also
used in dyspepsia,
epilepsy and dysentery.
Juice of twigs and leaves is used to cure
worm problem. Paste is also applied on
wounds of cattle.
Twig used in leprosy, skin diseases and in
jaundice.
Entire plant is taken as vegetable or in
curries considered to be restorative for
women after child birth. Past also used as
antiseptic in wounds.
Entire plants paste is used in insect biting
and as cooling agent.
Entire plant paste with turmeric applied
over the wounds and skin diseases.
Curry made from corm, stolon flower,
young leaves with petiole used in
encourage in breast milk production.
hemorrhoids, congestion. The curry is
also used as remedy for piles.
Leaves and Stem juice is applied to stop
bleeding.
Paste applied on affected bone for fast
relief of pain.
The aqueous extract of the stem and
leaves is used to cure pain and jaundice.
Paste is also used in wounds and skin
disease of cattle. Leaf juice mixed with
coconut oil is applied to cure white spots
due to burning.
Leaves paste with mustered oil is applied
on chest to cure bronchitis.
Plant paste with cow milk and suger is
used to cure menstrual disorders. Leaf
paste is also used in stomach pain.
Used as antidiabetic. Leaves extract is
used in religious functions with mah
Halodhi. The leaves are purgative and
are used to purifyblood.
Leaf juice is used in skin diseases.

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Vascular Hydrophytic Medicinal Plants of Morigaon District, Assam

Table 1: Contd.,
15

Limnophila rugosa (Roth)

Merr.

16

Leaf paste with leaves paste of Tulsi and

suger is given orally to cure urinary
burning
Stem and leaves juice is used to expel
ring worm.

Bhringaraj

Scrophulariaceae

Emergent

Lindernia antipoda

Kasidorea

Scrophulariaceae

Emergent

Ludwigia octavalvis (Jacq.)

Raven Hel
Mardannia
loriformis(Hassk)Rao & Kam

Pani jolokia,
jui anguli

Onagraceae

Emergent

Leaves juice is used to expel worm.

Digholi kona

Commelinaceae

Emergent

Plant juice is used in eyelid boil

19

Marsilea quadrifolia Linnaeus

Pani tengesi

Marsileaceae

Rooted with
floating
leaves

Leaves juice is used in snakebite. Leaves

paste is also used in diarrhea

20

Monochoria vaginalis Burm.

F.) Presl ex. Kunth

Bhat meteka

Pontederiaceae

Emergent

Roots are used in toothache. Rhizome

and flower are also used in empty
stomach to cure asthmatic problem.

21

Nymphaea nouchalli Burm. F.

Boga bhet,
Shelook

Nymphaeaceae

22

Nymphaea pubescens Willd.

Ronga bhet,
ronga
Shelook

Nymphaeaceae

23

Nymphoides cristatatum (Roxb)

O. Kuntze

Pan chuli

Menyanthaceae

24

Oenanthe javanica (BL) DC

Pan tarori

Apiaceae

25

Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus

Bor puni

Araceae

26

Polygonum hydropiper

Bihlongoni

Polygonaceae

Emergent

27

Polygonum orientale Linnaeus

Bihlongoni

Polygonaceae

Emergent

28

Ranunculus sceleratus Um.

Pani lopha

Ranunculaceae

Emergent

29

Rubus moluccanus

Jetulipoka

Rosaceae

Emergent

30

Rumex maritimus
Sagittaria sagittifolia Linnaeus

Bon paleng

Polygonaceae

Emergent

Pani kosu

Alismataceae

Emergent

32

Spilanthes calva Wall, ex Dc.

Morisha

Asteraceae

Emergent

33

Trapa natans Linnaeus

Pani shingori

Trapaceae

Rooted with
floating
leaves

34

Xanthium strumarium Linnaeus

Agora

Asteraceae

Emergent

17
18

31

Rooted with
Floating
leaves
Rooted with
floating
leaves
Rooted with
floating
leaves
Emergent
Free
floating

Roots used in heart palpitation.Rhizome

is used as raw in dysentery.
Juice of rhizome is used in blood
dysentery
Leaves juice is used in jaundice and skin
diseases.
Entire plant extract is also used in fever.
Entire plant used as bio fertilizer. Leaves
Juice is used in asthma and skin diseases.
Leaves paste used externally to reduce
pain. Whole plant extract is also used as
poison to catch fish in hole.
Concentrate infusion of plants used to
poison fish, juice prescribed for
tubercular swellings and in acidity.
Used externally for rheumatism. Irritating
to skin i.e. causes pain and burning
sensations.
Leaf extract is used in early morning to
reduced headache
Whole plant used to cure stomach pain.
Leaves extract is used as antiseptic and
used as antidote for insect bites.
Tender twigs used in cough.
The seeds are eaten raw as they are rich in
starch. Fruits are useful in vitiated
conditions of liver, burning sensation,
dyspepsia
Seed paste is used to cure pain. Leaves
past used in malaria. The plant is also
burned in time of jak diya in Goru
Bihuas incect repellent.

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Manju Deori

Figure 1: Xanthium Strumarium Linnaeus, 2. Pistia Stratiotes Linnaeus, 3. Ceratopteris Thalictroides Linnaeus
Brongn., 4. Grangea Maderaspatana Linnaeus., 5. Commelina Diffusa Burm.f, 6. Sagittaria Sagittifolia Linnaeus,
7. Marsilea Quadrifolia Linnaeus , 8. Trapa Natans Linnaeus., 9. Jussiea Repens Linnaeus

DISCUSSIONS
Most of the plant species used by the local people for medicinal purposes have vast economic importance. It is
necessary to screen the chemical constituents of each and every species. Immidiate attention on preservation, protection
and conservation measures of rare, threatened and endangered plants and ethno medicinal uses of the district should be
given so as to save the plants from destruction and for the benefit of local people. Many existing hydrophytes which have
assumed the status of weeds can be gainfully utilized for getting useful chemical derivatives of medicinal importance for
direct human benefit. There were no sufficient scientific record of doses of the application . Without proper identification
of phytoactive particles, their nature of action and their strength, the use of herbal medicine is not safe. But vast potentiality
of ethno pharmacological research is there in Assam for establishing a standardized herbal therapeutic system as an
alternative to modern synthetic drugs. In Morigaon District of Assam, there are so many plants whose medicinal value are
not known properly, which may be the source of medicines of deadly diseases like cancer, AIDS, Hepatitis etc.

CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive phytochemical investigation of those studied plants would be a handy work for the invention of
future eco- friendly drug. A serious awareness is needed be raised among the locale people on sustainable utilization and
management of the plant resourses.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is very much thankful to the traditional healers and locale knowledgeable persons who helped the
author to conduct the study. The author is also grateful to the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation LTD., Morigaon
District, for their valuable information.

Vascular Hydrophytic Medicinal Plants of Morigaon District, Assam

21

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