Keywords

Kokrajhar district, Bodo tribe, Frog ethnomedicine.

INTRODUCTION

North east India is not only biodiversity hot spots but is having rich diversity of traditional communities. Such a rich diversity of traditional community and biological resources in the region has endowed with advantage for evolving innumerous ethno-zoological knowledge. The ethno-zoological knowledge of the communities ranges from edible, medicine and therapeutic use. In north east India ethno-zoological knowledge and practises by using animal and their products were studied by earlier workers. The traditional Ethno- method of curing diseases using animals and animal products among the Chakesang tribe was reported from Nagaland [1]. Indigenous knowledge of zootherapeutic use of vertebrate origin by the Ao tribe was also reported from Nagaland [2]. In Assam, the traditional knowledge related to the use of flora and fauna as indicator in predicting annual seasons among Karbi tribe [3]. The ethozoological findings of Amphibian fauna was recorded from Arunachal Pradesh of North East India [4]. Ethnozoological practices by using amphibians and their body parts are still poorly known to the world.

Bodo tribe is one of the major and oldest tribe of Assam, India. They have been using certain animals and their product as their diet and as medicine. Bodo people consume certain species of insects which constitute a significance component of diet among them [5]. Use of certain frogs as diet is a traditional practise among the Bodos. In this study an attempt has been made to provide ethno- zoological information related to frogs of the Bobo tribe.

METHODOLOGY

Kokrajhar district (89o 46′E to 90o38′ E and 29o19′N to 26o54′N) is located in the western part of Assam, North East India in the Northern bank of Brahmaputra river and has an area of 3,169.22 square km. The district has the major population of Bodo tribe. Ethno zoological information related to amphibian was collected by interviewing local people and by distributing questionnaires to certain villagers of the Kokrajhar district. Name of villages surveyed were Khapurgaon, Ramfalbil, Khalaigaon, Aflagaon, Batabari, Dotma, Sumliguri, Bongsigaon, Mailipara, Titaguri, Samgami, Bonorgaon, Taktara, Khazigaon and Parbatjora. The total number of questionnaires distributed was hundred.

Sample of questionnaire

Name: Ananda Narzary,

Age: 62 years

Address: Village: Khapurgaon, P.O.: Ramfalbil, PIN: 783346, District: Kokrajhar Local name of species/frogs used: Ambu bongla.

Parts of the body used: Flesh of thigh

Mode of preparation: Fried in mustard oil.

Mode of use

Traditional food. Medicine for stomach trouble and high blood pressure.

Species recorded in local name were later identified and scientific names follow the website [6].

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Analysis of questionnaires revealed that certain species of frogs were being used as delicious food and as medicine for skin disease (Table.1). Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis and Euphlyctis hexadactylus are used by local people as delicious food. Skin of Duttaphrynus melanostictus is used as medicine in certain skin diseases.

Table 1: Frogs used as medicine and food by bodo tribe of kokrajhar district, Assam (LC- least concern)

Duttaphrynus melanostictus is a ubiquitous species of India. As we recorded, the skin of this frog is used in treatment of skin diseases. Skin of live frog is cut and then it is washed in water. This piece of skin is placed in infected area of finger (in paronychia) or any part of organs (in case of ringworm) and wrapped tightly for 2-3 days and is reported to be fully cured.

Flesh of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus is very popular as delicious food among Bodo tribes and some people believe that it contains some alkaline substances which is good for their health (stomach trouble and high blood pressure etc.). The other two- Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis and Euphlyctis hexadactylus are also popular in the locality as delicious food. We found that flesh of H. tigerinus fetches very high price in local market (Rs. 200 per kg).

The skin of Duttaphrynus melanostictus contains antimicrobial and anticancer peptides [7]. From such molecular study of previous workers and our record on the ethnozoological practises of Bodo tribe by using skin of D. melanostictus for treatment of human skin diseases, give us clear picture that frogs’ skin is a source of medicine for various diseases. The flesh of H. tigerinus was also believed by Bodo people as alkaline medicine for stomach trouble and high blood pressure. Further survey with larger groups may yield more valuable information related to use of amphibian in ethnomedicine.

REFERENCES

1. Kakati LN, Doulo V. Indigenous knowledge system of zootherapeutic use by Chakesang tribe of Nagaland, India. Journal of Human Ecology 2002; 13(6): 419.
2. Kakati LN, Ao B, Doulo V. Indigenous knowledge of zootherapeutic use of vertebrate origin by Ao tribe of Nagaland, India. Journal of Human Ecology 2006; 19(3): 163-167.
3. Teron R, Borthakur SK. Traditional knowledge relating to use of flora and fauna as indicators in predicting annual seasons among Karbi tribe of Assam. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 2009; 8(4): 518- 524.
4. Borah MM, Bordoloi S, Borkotoky A. Ethnozoological findings of Amphibian fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Frogleg 2002; 1(2): 1-2.
5. Das JK, Hazarika AK. Nutritional value of some edible insects in Baksa District, BTAD, Assam. The Clarion: Multidisciplinary International Journal 2012; 1(1): 112-115.
6. www.amphibiaweb.org,
7. Gopal K. Antimicrobial and Anticancer peptides from Duttaphrynus melanostictus. International Journal of Current Biotechnology 2013; 1(1): 19-21.