Folk Medicine of North East India and Drug Discovery: Way to Look Forward

Abstract

North East India is a rich repository of flora and fauna. Due to its diverse climatic condition, geographical variation made this region a reservoir of biodiversity. The extensive variety of tribes and their vast traditional knowledge made this area a prime region of scientific investigation. Herbal medicines are growing its interest and widely accepted by the peoples worldwide. Researcher and government policies are also finding interest towards the medicinal plants and traditional knowledge of the tribes. The maximum tradition knowledge is not written in any form and the information passes generation to another. A number of researches, reviews, and systemic surveys were published in the last 30–40 years. Documentation, modification, and scientific investigation with modern tools can open new dimensions in modern disease control. Systemic scientific investigations with modern techniques and knowledge are the important tools for scientific validation of traditional knowledge. Herbal formulations, isolated phytochemicals, and their biological investigations can introduce new strategies for modern health management.