Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Eschewing Poisons:An Ingenious Wisdom of Foraging Macrofungi by Karbi Ethnic Group in North East India


Affiliations
1 Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University - Diphu Campus, Diphu, Karbi Anglong 782 462, India
 

This study explores ethnomycological knowledge and management of mycetism by the Karbis of Assam, North East India. Ethnomycological data are quantitatively analysed for factors for informants’ consensus, importance value and use value of 12 remedies used for the management of mycetism. Three layers of defence to avoid mycetism, viz. (i) field identification of edible and poisonous macrofungi using morphoorganoleptic features, etymology and phenology; (ii) selective cooking with various sour herbs, and (iii) use of ethnomedicine are reported here. Ethnomycological study among indigenes has benefits of documenting human culture, languages and protection of their intellectual property.

Keywords

Ethnomedicine, Indigenes, Macrofungi, Mycetism.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Boa, E., Wild Edible Fungi: A Global Overview o f their Use and Importance to People, Non-Wood Forest Products, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2004.

  • Osemwegie, O. O., John, O. A. and Theophilus, D. A., Ethnomycological conspectus of West African mushrooms: an awareness document. Adv. Microbiol., 2014, 4, 39-54.

  • Prance, G. T., The mycological diet of the Yanomam Indians. Mycologia, 1973, 65, 248-250.

  • Aryal, H. P. and Budathoki, U., Ethnomycological studies on some macrofungi in Rupandehi District, Nepal. Banko Janakari, 2013, 23, 51-56.

  • Sarma, T. C., Sarma, I. and Patiri, B. N., Wild edible mushrooms used by some ethnic tribes of western Assam. Int. Q. J. Life Sci., 2010, 3, 613-625.

  • Adhikari, M., Devkota, K. S. and Tiwar, R. D., Ethnomycolgical knowledge on uses of wild mushrooms in western and central Nepal. Our Nature, 2005, 3, 13-19.

  • Baniasad, N., Oghabian, Z. and Mehrpour, O., Hepatotoxicity due to mushroom poisoning: a case report. Int. J. Med. Toxicol. Forensic Med., 2014, 4, 68-73.

  • Verma, N., Bhalla, A., Kumar, S., Dhimany, R. K. and Chawlay, Y. K., Wild mushroom poisoning in North India: case series with review of literature. J. Clin. Exp. Hepatol., 2014, 4, 361-365.

  • Sharma, J., Malakar, M., Sandiguria, E. and Das, J., An expressive study of mushroom poisoning cases in Lakhimpur district of Assam. Int. J. Adv. Res. Technol., 2013, 2, 82-88.

  • Zent, E. L., Zent, S. and Iturriaga, T., Knowledge and use of fungi by a Mycophilic Society of the Venezuelan Amazon. Econ. Bot., 2004, 58, 214-226.

  • Fidalgo, O. and Prance, G. T., The ethnomycology of the Sanama Indians. Mycologia, 1976, 68, 201-210.

  • Santiago, F. H. et al., Traditional knowledge and use of wild mushrooms by Mixtecs or Nuu savi, the people of the rain, from Southeastern Mexico. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 2016, 12, 1-22.

  • Shepard, G. H., Arora, D. and Lampman, A., The grace of the flood: classification and use of wild mushrooms among the highland Maya of Chiapas. Econ. Bot. J., 2008, 62, 437-470.

  • Chauhan, J., Negi, A. K., Rajasekaran, A. and Pala, N. A., Wild edible macro-fungi: a source of supplementary food in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India. J. Med. Plants, 2014, 2, 40-44.

  • Borja, W. O. R., Romero, M. E., Vera, L. P. A., Duran, P. I. H. and Reye, R. G., State of the art of mycophagy in Los Rios, Ecuador. Adv. Environ. Biol., 2016, 10, 288-296.

  • Das, K., Lamo, A., Paul, D. and Jha, L. K., Ethnomycological knowledge on wild edible mushroom of Khasi tribes of Meghalaya, North-Eastern India. Eur. Acad. Res., 2014, 2, 3433-3443.

  • Khaund, P. and Joshi, S. R., Wild edible macrofungal species consumed by the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, India. Indian J. Nat. Prod. Resour., 2013, 2, 197-204.

  • Tanti, B., Gurung, L. and Sarma, G. C., Wild edible fungal resources used by ethnic tribes of Nagaland, India. Indian J. Trad. Knowl., 2011, 10, 512-515.

  • Barthakur, B., Mushroom poisoning, tea community and role of management in tea gardens of Assam. Two and a Bud, 2012, 59, 19-21.

  • National Council of Educational Research and Training, North East India People, History and Culture, Pushpak Press Private Limited, New Delhi, 2017.

  • http://www.assaminfo.com/districts/15/karbi-anglong.htm (retrieved on 9 September 2017).

  • http://karbianglong.gov.in/main-web/forest.htm (retrieved on 9 September 2017).

  • Phangcho, P. C., Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills — A Study on Geography and Culture, Printwell, Diphu, 2001.

  • Bhattacharjee, T., Sociology o f the Karbis, B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi, 1986.

  • Alexiades, M. N., Collecting ethnobotanical data: an introduction to basic concepts and techniques. In Selected Guidelines fo r Ethnobotanical Research: A Field Manual (eds Alexiades, M. N.), The New York Botanical Garden, New York, 1996, pp. 53-94.

  • Cunningham, A. B., Applied Ethnobotany: People, Wild Plant Use and Conservation, WWF, UNESCO and Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, London and Sterling, Earthscan Publications, 2001.

  • Jain, S. K., The role of botanist in folklore research. Folklore, 1964, 5, 145-150.

  • Trotter, R. T. and Logan, M. H., Informant consensus: a new approach for identifying potentially effective medicinal plants. In Plants in Indigenous Medicine and Diet (ed. Atkin, N. L.), Redgrave Publishing Company, New York, 1986, pp. 91-112.

  • Phillips, O. and Gentry, A. H., The useful plants of Tambopata, Peru: I. statistical hypotheses tests with a new quantitative techniques. Econ. Bot., 1993, 47, 15-32.

  • Bahl, N., Handbook on Mushroom, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co, New Delhi, 1984.


Abstract Views: 343

PDF Views: 123




  • Eschewing Poisons:An Ingenious Wisdom of Foraging Macrofungi by Karbi Ethnic Group in North East India

Abstract Views: 343  |  PDF Views: 123

Authors

Prila Hansepi
Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University - Diphu Campus, Diphu, Karbi Anglong 782 462, India
Robindra Teron
Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University - Diphu Campus, Diphu, Karbi Anglong 782 462, India

Abstract


This study explores ethnomycological knowledge and management of mycetism by the Karbis of Assam, North East India. Ethnomycological data are quantitatively analysed for factors for informants’ consensus, importance value and use value of 12 remedies used for the management of mycetism. Three layers of defence to avoid mycetism, viz. (i) field identification of edible and poisonous macrofungi using morphoorganoleptic features, etymology and phenology; (ii) selective cooking with various sour herbs, and (iii) use of ethnomedicine are reported here. Ethnomycological study among indigenes has benefits of documenting human culture, languages and protection of their intellectual property.

Keywords


Ethnomedicine, Indigenes, Macrofungi, Mycetism.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv115%2Fi7%2F1328-1333