Ethno-medicinal plants use by the Manipuri tribal community in Bangladesh

An ethno-medicinal investigation was conducted to understand the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants being used by the Maninuri tribe in Bangladesh. The present study was done through structured questionnaires in consultations with the tribal practitioners. A total 32 plant species belonging to 26 families and 29 genera were found to use for Curing 37 ailments. Results show that the use of aboveground plant parts was higher （86%） than the underground plant parts （14%）. Leaf was used in the majority of cases for medicinal preparation （17 species） followed by bark, fruit, root/rhizome, whole plant, seed and flower. Among the 32 plant species, they were mainly used to treat dysentery （10 species）, followed by fever and rheumatism （5 species each）; asthma, constipation, wounds and skin diseases （4 species each）; cold ailments, cough and diarrhea （3 species each）. The study revealed that 72% plant species investigated were used to cure more than one ailment. About 75% medicinal plants were taken orally followed by externally （9%） and both orally and externally （16%）. The study thus underscores the potentials of the ethno-botanical research and the need for the documentation of indigenous healthcare knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of mankind.

Petrography and tectonic provenance of the Miocene Surma Group in parts of the Naga-Manipur hills, in and around Nungba,Northeast India

The Miocene molassic Surma sandstones in parts of the Naga-Manipur hills,in and around Nungba,Northeast India have been studied for their tectonic provenance using petrography and heavy mineral contents.The poorly-to-moderately-sorted sub-litharenite to lithicarkose type Surma sandstones display predominance of monocrystalline quartz(av.61%)and include undulose and non-undulose varieties and almost equal amounts of feldspars(av.22%)and rock fragments(av.17%).The heavy mineral suite of Surma sandstones is dominated by transparent varieties(96%)that include garnet,zircon,tourmaline,rutile,staurolite,scapolite,phlogopite,chondrodite,humite,wollastonite,hedenbergite,sphene,chlorite,sillimanite,glauconite,glaucophane,and chloritoid.These heavy minerals characterize the granitic and silicic metamorphic complexes(GM)as well as the basic metamorphic rocks(MT)like greenstones,green schist,and amphibolites relating to passive continental margin setup.The opaque grains constitute nearly 4%of the total heavy minerals.The presence of euhedral,as well as abraded heavy mineral grains,further supports a mixed provenance having substantial contribution from sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.A ZTR index of approximately 45%indicates mineralogically sub-mature nature of Surma sandstones.Based on the light and heavy mineral suites coupled with the type of terrain available in the vicinity of the study area,it may be visualized that the sediment supply was largely made by the Himalaya,the IMR,the Shillong plateau,and the Mikir Hills under the influence of semi-arid to semi-humid climatic conditions.An overall supply from a recycled orogen provenance has been envisaged.

Origin of the Nagas in Manipur

There is no one accepted theory on the origin of the Nagas in Manipur;nevertheless the term“Naga”is not new,and is currently in use in Manipur and other parts of India.The Nagas had no written history till after their conversion to Christianity at the end of the 19th century.Reconstruction of the origin of the Nagas of Manipur is largely dependent on Oral History and Oral Tradition.There is however a kind of consensus that in the distant past,the Nagas of Manipur originated from China,they possess Mongoloid features.The reason for Naga migration into Manipur was the oppression they were subjected to by the Chinese Emperor.In the course of their migration they settled in Burma but ultimately made their way to Makhel,from which place they dispersed to different places in Manipur.To commemorate their origin and dispersal they built a giant monolith at Makhel as a memorial stone.Although the Nagas are divided into many tribes,they follow Naga customary law even at the present time,and the passage of rites of all Naga tribes bears a striking similarity.

Development of Micro Food Processing Sector through Food Processing Entrepreneurship in Manipur

Micro Food processing industry is gaining its momentum in the recent years in Northeast India and particularly in Manipur.This sector plays an important role in connecting the bridge between the agricultural production and the entrepreneurship development.The region bestows by the abundance of unique and rich agro and horticultural produce gives schemes and projects also add to the development of this sector and to the food entrepreneur by providing financial,technical,infrastructural and business support.The state sharing its border with the Myanmar has a significant impact on the food processing industry particularly in terms of marketing and trading aspects.Food Entrepreneurs should enhance their work on diversifying the horizons of the value added products,increasing job opportunities,marketing,training and technical skills etc.which will ultimately help in developing the Micro food processing sector in the state.

Passive air sampling of organochlorine pesticides in a northeastern state of India,Manipur

Thirty-six polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers （PUF-PAS） were deployed over a year during January to December, 2009 at three locations, i.e., Imphal （urban site）, Thoubal （rural site） and Waithou （alpine site） of Manipur, to assess the seasonal local atmospheric emission of selected organochlorine pesticides （OCPs）. The average concentration of HCHs monitored at mountain site during hot season （Mar, Apr, and May） and rainy seasons （Jun, Jul, Aug, and Sep） were 403 and 349 pg/m3, respectively. DDTs had a high concentration with 384 pg/m3 at rural site and 379 pg/m3 at urban site during hot seasons. Endosulfans and chlordane were found high in concentration during hot seasons （260 pg/m3） and low during retreating monsoon seasons （44 pg/m3） at rural site. Most of the OCPs concentrations were high during cultivation period. The OCP concentrations of rainy season were highly correlated （p 〈 0.01） with OCPs of hot seasons. Further, positive correlation （p 〈 0.05） was also obtained between cold seasons and retreating monsoon. Principal component analysis showed a significant correlation among the four seasons and distribution pattern of OCPs in air. Back trajectory analysis by using HYPSLIT model showed a long range air transport of OCPs to the present study area. Present OCP levels at Manipur is an outcome of both local emission and also movement of air mass by long range atmospheric transport.

Ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plant,Justicia adhatoda L.by Meitei community of Manipur,India

Objective:To investigate traditional uses of medicinal plant Justicia adhatoda L.by Meitei community in Manipur.Methods:Surveys were carried out in four districts in Central Valley of Manipur viz.,Imphal East,Imphal West,Bishnupur and Thoubal between 2008-2013 to collect information on the ethnobotanical uses of the species.Local people and Maiba/maibis(men/women healers)in the study areas were interviewed and preparation techniques of medicine and cuisines from the plant parts were demonstrated and photographed.Results:It was found that Meitei community in the study area extensively used Justicia adhatoda L.as ethno-medicine as well as food.Young and mature green leaves were used as traditional medicine in different ways to cure many ailments like cough,fever,asthma and dysentery.The ethnic community used inflorescences and leaves of the plant to prepare different cuisines for good digestion and health.Conclusions:Documentation of detailed ethnobotanical uses of individual plant species is need of the hour and it will help in understanding the in-depth knowledge about the role of species in the society.

Forest fire risk assessment in parts of Northeast India using geospatial tools

Forest fire is a major cause of changes in forest structure and function. Among various floristic regions, the northeast region of India suffers maximum from the fires due to age-old practice of shifting cultivation and spread of fires from jhum fields. For proper mitigation and management, an early warning of forest fires through risk modeling is required. The study results demonstrate the potential use of remote sensing and Geographic Information System （GIS） in identifying forest fire prone areas in Manipur, southeastern part of Northeast India. Land use land cover （LULC）, vegetation type, Digital elevation model （DEM）, slope, aspect and proximity to roads and settlements, factors that influence the behavior of fire, were used to model the forest fire risk zones. Each class of the layers was given weight according to their fire inducing capability and their sensitivity to fire. Weighted sum modeling and ISODATA clustering was used to classify the fire zones. TO validate the results, Along Track Scanning Radiometer （ATSR）, the historical fire hotspots data was used to check the occurrence points and modeled forest fire locations. The forest risk zone map has 55-63% of agreement with ATSR dataset.

印度曼尼普尔邦的民族社会问题探析

曼尼普尔邦位于印度东北部,民族社会问题突出,主要表现在四个方面:族际矛盾与冲突,分离主义运动,妇女儿童境遇,毒品与艾滋病问题。这些问题危害着普通百姓的生产生活,挑战着政府的治理和国家完整性,损害着印度的人权和民主形象,制约着曼尼普尔邦的社会经济发展,成为久治不去的社会顽疾。从目前情况来看,曼尼普尔邦的民族社会问题由于彼此交织、错综复杂,很难在短期内得到解决。