Kohima: International University Nagaland kicked off a new research project to document and test indigenous medicinal plants. Experts want to verify Naga ethnomedicine using modern science. They aim to safeguard centuries of oral tradition from fading away.
The university team will map flora across different climatic zones. They will pull phytochemicals in labs to check for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This work turns local roots and barks into standardized medical data.
Registrar Dr. Roopam Bachhil and Prof. Zavise Rume claim the project holds massive cultural and commercial weight. Dr. Bachhil said the initiative would "create a digital, intellectual property protected repository of Naga ethnomedicine, securing patent rights for indigenous communities while paving the way for standardized naturopathic formulations and rural employment."
Researchers plan to bring traditional healers into the fold as key partners. They will host workshops and field drives to collect samples. The school intends to turn these findings into local supplements and ointments. This shift could spark new manufacturing jobs across rural Nagaland.
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