Bibha Chetia Borah* and Biswajyoti Bordoloi

Fisheries Research Centre, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India

*Corresponding Author: Bibha Chetia Borah, Fisheries Research Centre, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.

Received: June 20, 2023; Published: July 20, 2023

Abstract

The North East region of India is known for its diverse ethnic groups of population with rich culture and traditions. The ethnic population of the region traditionally developed knowledge and wisdom related to agriculture and allied activities, nutrition and health care by using locally available flora and fauna and other resources. Blessed with vast and varied freshwater resources and rich freshwater fish biodiversity comprising of 422 fish species belonging to133 genera and 38 families the region is recognised as a ‘hot spot’ for freshwater fish biodiversity. The region has the richest small indigenous freshwater fish species (SIFFS) biodiversity of the country comprising of 348 species belonging to 31 families that accounts for 82.5% of the total fish diversity of the region. Highest number of SIFFS are recorded under the family Cyprinidae (115 species), followed by Balitoridae (48 species) and Sisoridae (46 species). Majority of SIFFS are commercially important as food and ornamental fish and plays a significant role in health care of the ethnic population of the region as nutritious food supplement. Some SIFFS are traditionally regarded as having ethno medicinal or therapeutic value and are used in treating different ailments, health care and healing practices by the ethnic people of the region.

Keywords:Traditional Knowledge; Ethnic Population; Fish Biodiversity; SIFFS; ETHNO Medicine; Health Care; Therapeutic

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Citation

Citation: Bibha Chetia Borah and Biswajyoti Bordoloi. “Use of Small Indigenous Freshwater Fish Species as Ethno Medicine in the Northeast Region of India".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 7.8 (2023): 68-72.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2023 Bibha Chetia Borah and Biswajyoti Bordoloi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.