Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus
geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A
Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?

Roy D

doi:10.23880/izab-16000137

International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology Research Article 16 min read

Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?

Roy D^*

^* Corresponding author

ISSN: 2639-216X 10.23880/izab-16000137 Received: February 01, 2019 Published: March 04, 2019

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Keywords

Golden Langur Food Plants Overlap Medicinal Plants Kakoijana Reserve Forest

Abstract

The present study expected to compare the plant food diet of Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) inhabiting in Kakoijana Reserve Forest of Western Assam with medicinal plant species used by humans in the surrounding areas of the park as vegetables with medicinal properties. The diet of Golden Langur was studied by direct observation and Scan sampling method along with the plants used as medicine and food by the local tribes, India from March 2013 to April 2015. A group of 9 Golden Langurs of different age and sex classes was observed to feed on 152 different plant species belonging to 55 families. Among the different plant categories, trees accounts for 76%, followed by climber and shrub each 10%, grass 2%, fern and orchid each being 1% and liana 0.7% .The highest percent of food tree species belonged to the family Moraceae (9%) followed by Fabaceae (7%) and Euphorbiaceae (5%). The Langurs primarily fed on young leaves, mature leaves, fruits, seeds, figs, tubers and flowers during the study period. Semi structured interviews showed that 45 plant species used by locals as medicines, 17 species used as vegetables and two are rare medicinal plants of Assam. The diet species of Golden Langur was compared with other areas and discussed. The similarities between the ingestion of plants by primates and their medicinal use by humans provide a bio-rational for the search of bioactive plants in primate diet.

Introduction

Food and shelter are the vital needs of all living organisms. The appraisal of feeding habits of an animal is of the outmost significance for the correct determination of the carrying capacity of their habitat and for the study Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?

of their population dynamics [1, 2]. To endure and reproduce successfully every animal needs food. The food habit of a species is one of the most basic aspects of its ecology and needs to be understood not only to determine the species’ nutritional requirements, but also to understand how distribution of food resources could Int J Zoo Animal Biol

determine the density, local distribution and social interactions [3]. It has been shown that many different primates species ingest plants containing both nutritional and medicinal value, suggesting that these secondary metabolites could actually be beneficial to the health of the user [4, 5, 6] Food habit studies helps to assess the dietary overlap with other sympatric species. Most primates have a diverse plant based diet, from which they obtain the needed calories and nutrients necessary for survival and reproduction [7, 8] Plants provide more then just nutrients. The major plant dietary strategies are frugivory and folivory, supplementing this with seeds, sap, bark and flowers [8]. Plants also contain a variety of secondary metabolites that have largely been viewed as deterring primates from eat them [9]. It allows us to assess the impacts of anthropogenic pressures like fire and cattle grazing, also natural and manmade changes in the structure and composition of vegetation [2].

Golden Langur Khajuria, 1956 is one of the least studied primate species of North- east India. The Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei is a rare colobine monkey with a very restricted range being confined to western Assam in India, and Bhutan only. Within India, its entire population is restricted to parts of western Assam where it is bounded by the rivers, Brahmaputra in the south and its tributaries, the Manas and the Sankosh towards east and west respectively [10]. The golden Langur is classified as Endangered (EN) [A2c; C2a (i)] on the IUCN Red List 2008 and is listed on Appendix I of CITES. Listed as Endangered because of a serious population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the last three generations (thirty years), inferred from observed reduction in the extent of its habitat; and because its population size is estimated to number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals, there is an observed continuing decline in the number of mature individuals, and no subpopulation contains more than 250 mature individuals. The Golden Langur population has recovered significantly at Kakoijana Reserve forest recently, after the Golden Langur Conservation Project (GLCP) begun by Community Conservation, Nature’s Foster and Green Forest Conservation in 1998 continues to bring locals into the conservation fold.

The study of diet can help to understand the role of a species in the energy flow and nutrient cycle of an ecosystem. It also sets a foundation for understanding of foraging behaviour, population dynamics, habitat use and social organization of a species [11]. Knowledge on feeding preferences and nutritive requirements is essential in planning habitat management. Overlap in the plant food/medicinal use with the plant food of Golden Langur can suggest a new side for the search of bioactive plants in the diet of primates. Further detailed investigation of their pharmacological value is considered necessary. It would be advantageous to have information on the habitat requirements of a species in order to protect and improve these attributes. The present study aims to provide such information for Golden Langur and also aims at increasing our knowledge of the species.

Study Area

Figure 1: Google map of Kakoijana Reserve Forest.

Kakoijana Reserve Forest (KRF) is located in Bongaigaon district of western Assam between 26° 24' N- latitude and 90° 36.5' E longitude with a total area of 17.201 square kms. The region has a tropical monsoon climate receiving an annual average rainfall of about 100 cm with max and min temperature of 36 c and 10 c respectively. Altitudinal variation of KRF ranges between 35 meter and 60 meter above sea level. KRF is bounded on East by the river Aie and on west by river Kujia with its tributaries. Remaining sides of KRF possess paddy fields.

Flora : Shorea robusta, Dillenia sp., Ficus sp.,Albezia sp.,Terminalia sp., etc
Fauna: Binturong, Jungle Fowl, Porcupine, Python, Civets, Barking Deer, Monitor Lizard, Jungle Cat etc.
Primate community: Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) and Rhesus Macaque (Macaca radiata)

Figure 2: Landscape showing the habitat of Golden Langur in Kakoijana Reserve Forest of Assam, a fragmented habitat with adjacent paddy fields.

Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

Figure 3: Percent composition of different food plants of Golden Langur belonging to different families in Kakoijana reserve forest during the study period (Families of different plants arranged based on ranking).

Figure 4: ** Golden Langur feeding on plant parts that are also used by humans in the study area.

(a): 9Golden Langur feeding on bamboo shoot (b): Golden Langur feeding on fruits of Bischoffia javanica (c): Golden Langur feeding on fruits of Tamrindus indica (d): Golden Langur feeding on seeds of Bauhinia purpurea Figure 4: Golden Langur feeding on plant parts that are also used by humans in the study area.

Figure 5: Proportion of different plant categories constitutes food species of Golden Langur in Kakoijana Reserve Forest during the study period (March 2013- April 2015).

Materials and Methods

Information on the food plants was collected through direct observation and indirectly by recording plants fed on by Langur by following their feeding trail. The study was conducted in Kakoijana Reserve Forest from March 2013 to April 2015. Feeding by individuals was observed using scan animal sampling [1] during different time blocks throughout the day (Figure 5). Binoculars were used to make all direct observations. The feeding trails were examined for fresh feeding signs after Langur left the location as Langurs have the habit of discarding half of leaf or fruit they consume. Fresh feeding signs could be easily distinguished from old signs by examining the tip of the branches/twigs and fruits with bite signs. A herbarium of the food plants was made for confirmation of the species identity. Semi structured interviews, field diary and participant observation were used during fieldwork Bernard, et al. were conducted among the different tribes around the forest areas to know the usage of plant species regarding the medicinal use of the plants included in the diet of Golden Langur.

Results

Golden Langurs are diurnal, mostly arboreal and partly terrestrial. Golden Langurs are generally Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

foliovorous and young leaves are major component in its diet followed by mature leaves, fruits, shoot, seeds, figs and flowers. Golden Langurs are selective feeders and feed on variety of food plants throughout its life time. During the study period, it was observed that Golden Langur consumed different plant species from various physiognomic categories. The list of food plants, parts eaten (based on scan sampling) are given in the (Table 1). During the study period it was observed that Golden Langur consumed different plant species belongs to 55 families and 152 species. Terminalia belerica, Lagerstroemia parviflora, fruits of Syzygium cumni,young leaves of Cassia fistula, leaf petiole of Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Delonix regia, ,Hevea brasilliensis, Moringa oleifera, Gmelina arborea, Syzygium sp, Dillenia indica, Mallotus philippinensis, Biscofia javanica, and Bauhinia varieagata were mainly eaten.

S
1	Acacia auriculiformis	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML,FL
2	Acacia pinnata	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML,FL
3	Adina cordiflora	Tree	Gentianales	Rubiaceae	YL,ML
4	Aegle marmelos	Tree	Sapindales	Rutaceae	YL,ML
5	Aglaia elaeagnoidea	Tree	Sapindales	Meliaceae	YL,ML
6	Alangium chinensis	Tree	Cornales	Cornaceae	YL,ML,RFR
7	Albizia lebbeck	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML
8	Alstonia scholaris	Tree	Gentianales	Apocynaceae	YL,ML
9	Amoora Cucullata	Tree	Sapindales	Meliaceae	YL
10	Anthocephalus cadamba	Tree	Gentianales	Rubiaceae	YL
11	Anthocephalus chinensis	Tree	Gentianales	Rubiaceae	YL,ML
12	Antidesm acidum	Shrub	Malpighiales	Phyllanthaceae	RFR
13	Argyreia nervosa	Tree	Solanales	Convolvulaceae	YL,ML
14	Aristolochia sp.	Liana	Magnolids	Aristolochiaceae	YL
15	Artocarpus chaplasha	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,ML
16	Artocarpus heterophyllus	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,ML
17	Asplenium nidus	Fern	Polypodiales	Aspleniaceae	YL
18	Averrhoa carambola	Tree	Geraniales	Oxalidaceae	YL,ML
19	Azadiracta indica	Tree	Sapindales	Meliaceae	YL,ML
20	Bambusa sp	Grass	Poales	Poaceae	YL,ML
21	Bambusa tulda	Grass	Poales	Poaceae	YL,ML
22	Bauhinia bhelli	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML
23	Bauhinia purpurea	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML
24	Bischoffia javanica	Tree	Malpighiales	Phyllanthaceae	YL
25	Bridelia Montana	Tree	Malpighiales	Phyllanthaceae	YL
26	Bursera serrata	Tree	Sapindales	Burseraceae	YL,ML
27	Butea monosperma	Tree	Fabales	Legumes	YL,ML
28	Callicarpa macrophylla	Tree	Lamiales	Lamiaceae	YL,ML
29	Careya arborea	Tree	Ericales	Lecythidaceae	YL,ML
30	Cassia fistula	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML,FL
31	Castanopsis purpurella	Tree	Fagales	Fagaceae	YL,ML
32	Cedrela toona	Tree	Sapindales	Meliaceae	YL,ML
33	Cinnamomum sp.	Tree	Laurales	Lauraceae	YL
34	Cinnamomum tamala	Tree	Laurales	Lauraceae	YL
35	Cissampelos pareira	Climber	Ranunculales	Menispermaceae	YL,ML
36	Cissus quadrangularis	Shrub	Vitales	Vitaceae	YL,ML
37	Cissus rependus	Shrub	Vitales	Vitaceae	YL,ML
38	Dalbergia latifolia	Tree	Fabales	Legumes	YL,ML
39	Dalbergia paniculata	Tree	Fabales	Legumes	YL,ML

Table 1: List of food plants of Golden Langurs identified in Kakoijana Reserve Forest of Assam, India. The list is prepared based

Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

40	Dalbergia sissoo	Tree	Fabales	Legumes	YL,ML
41	Delonix regia	Tree	fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML,FL
42	Dendrobium sp.	Orchid	Asparagales	Orchids	YL
43	Deris indica	Tree	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML
44	Dillenia indica L	Tree	Dilleniales	Dilleniaceae	YL,ML
45	Dillenia pentagyna	Tree	Dilleniales	Dilleniaceae	YL,ML
46	Dillenia sp	Tree	Dilleniales	Dilleniaceae	YL,ML,FL
47	Dioschorea bulbifera	Climber	Dioscoreales	Dioscoreaceae	TUBER
48	Dioscorea alata	Climber	Dioscoreales	Dioscoreaceae	TUBER
49	Dioscorea floribunda	Climber	Dioscoreales	Dioscoreaceae	TUBER
50	Diplazium esculentum	Fern	Polypodiales	Athyriaceae	YL,ML
51	Dolichos lablab	Climber	Fabales	Legumes	YL,RFR
52	Duabanga grandiflora	Tree	Myrtales	Lythraceae	YL,ML
53	Dysoxylum bincetariferum	Climber	Sapindales	Meliaceae	YL,RFR
54	Dysoxylum gobara	Climber	Sapindales	Meliaceae	YL,RFR
55	Elaeocarpus serratus L.	Tree	Oxalidales	Elaeocarpaceae	YL,ML,RFR
56	Emblica officinalis	Tree	Malpighiales	Phyllanthaceae	YL,RFR
57	Endospermum chinense	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
58	Erythrina sp	Tree	Fabales	Legumes	YL,ML
59	Erythrina variegata L	Shrub	Fabales	Legumes	YL,ML
60	Eupatorium odoratum	Shrub	Asterales	Daisy	YL,ML
61	Evolvus alsinoides	Shrub	Solanales	Convolvulaceae	YL,ML
62	Ficus auriculata	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
63	Ficus bengalensis	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
64	Ficus drupacea	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
65	Ficus glomerata	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
66	Ficus heterophylla	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
67	Ficus hirta	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
68	Ficus hispida	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
69	Ficus lepidosa	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	FIG
70	Ficus racemosa	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,ML,FIG
71	Ficus sp	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,FIG
72	Flacourtia jangomas	Tree	Malpighiales	Salicaceae	YL,ML
73	Flueggea leucopyrus	Shrub	Malpighiales	Phyllanthaceae	YL,ML
74	Garcinia cowa	Tree	Malpighiales	Clusiaceae	YL,ML
75	Garcinia xanthochymus	Tree	Malpighiales	Clusiaceae	YL,ML
76	Garuga pinnata	Tree	Sapindales	Burseraceae	YL,ML
77	Gmelina arborea	Tree	Lamiales	Verbenaceae	YL,ML,FL
78	Grewia multiflora	Tree	Malvales	Tiliaceae	YL,ML
79	Grewia sp	Tree	Malvales	Tiliaceae	YL,ML
80	Hemidesmus indicus	Shrub	Gentianales	Apocynaceae	YL,ML
81	Hevea brasilliensis	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,LP,RFR,SEED
82	Hibiscus macrophyllus	Tree	Malvales	Malvaceae	YL,ML
83	Holmskiodia sp	Tree	Lamiales	Lamiaceae	YL
84	Homonoia riparia	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
85	Hoya sp.	Tree	Gentianales	Apocynaceae	YL
86	Ipomea sp	Shrub	Solanales	Convolvulaceae	YL
87	Jasminum officinale	Tree	Lamiales	Oleaceae	YL,ML,FL
88	Kydia calicina	Tree	Malvales	Malvaceae	YL,ML
89	Lagerstroemia parviflora	Tree	Myrtales	Lythraceae	YL,ML
90	Lagerstroemia speciosa	Tree	Myrtales	Lythraceae	YL,ML
91	Lannea coromandelica	Tree	Sapindales	Anacardiaceae	YL,ML
92	Lantana camara	Shrub	Lamiales	Verbenaceae	YL,FL
93	Litsaea sebifera	Tree	Laurales	Lauraceae	YL,ML,RFR
94	Litsea laeta	Tree	Laurales	Lauraceae	YL,ML
95	Litsea monopetala	Tree	Laurales	Lauraceae	YL,ML,RFR
96	Litsea salicifolia	Tree	Laurales	Lauraceae	YL,ML
97	Macaranga denticulata	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
98	Mallotus philippinensis	Tree	Euphorbiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
99	Mangifera indica	Tree	Sapindales	Anacardiaceae	YL,RFR
100	Mangifera sylvatica	Tree	Sapindales	Anacardiaceae	YL,RFR
101	Merremia sp	Tree	Solanales	Convolvulaceae	YL,ML
102	Mesua ferrea	Tree	Malpighiales	Clusiaceae	YL,ML
103	Michelia champaca	Tree	Magnoliales	Magnoliaceae	YL,ML,FL
104	Michelia oblonga	Tree	Magnoliales	Magnoliaceae	YL,ML
105	Microcos paniculata	Tree	Malvales	Malvaceae	YL,ML
106	Mikania micrantha	Shrub	Asterales	Asteraceae	YL,ML
107	Mikenia sp	Shrub	Asterales	Asteraceae	YL,ML
108	Mimosa pudica	Shrub	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,ML
109	Moringa oleifera	Tree	Brassicales	Moringaceae	YL,FL,UNRF,RFR
110	Nyctanthes arbor-tristis	Tree	Lamiales	Oleaceae	YL,ML
111	Oroxylum indicum	Tree	Lamiales	Bignoniaceae	YL,FL
112	Paederia foetida	Climber	Gentianales	Rubiaceae	YL,ML
113	Piper sp	Climber	Piperales	Piperaceae	YL
114	Psidium guavaja	Tree	Myrtales	Myrtaceae	YL,ML,RFR
115	Pterospermum acerifolium	Tree	Malvales	Sterculiaceae	YL,ML
116	Rauvolfia serpentina	Tree	Gentianales	Apocynaceae	YL,ML
117	Rubus sp	Tree	Rosales	Rosalaceae	YL,ML
118	Salmalia sp	Tree	Malvales	Malvaceae	YL,ML
119	Sapium baccatum	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
120	Sapium sp	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
121	saurauia roxburghii	Tree	Actinidiales	Actinidiaceae	YL,ML
122	Schefflera arboricola	Tree	Apiales	Araliaceae	YL,ML
123	Schima wallichii	Tree	Ericales	Theaceae	YL,ML
124	Shorea robusta	Tree	Malvales	Dipterocarpaceae	YL,ML
125	Smilax sp.	Shrub	Liliales	Smilacaceae	YL,ML
126	Spondias pinnata	Tree	Sapindales	Anacardiaceae	YL,ML
127	Stercula villosa	Tree	Malvales	Malvaceae	YL,ML
128	Sterospermum chelonoides	Tree	Lamiales	Bignoniaceae	YL,ML
129	Streblus asper	Tree	Rosales	Moraceae	YL,ML
130	Syzygium cumni	Tree	Myrtales	Myrtaceae	YL,ML,RFR,FL
131	Syzygium jambos	Tree	Myrtales	Myrtaceae	YL,ML,RFR
132	Syzygium kurjii	Tree	Myrtales	Myrtaceae	YL,ML,RFR
133	Tamarindus indica	Tree	Fabales	Legumes	YL,RFR
134	Tectona grandis	Tree	Lamiales	Lamiaceae	YL,LP
135	Terminalia bellerica	Tree	Myrtales	Combretaceae	YL,RFR
136	Terminalia chebula	Tree	Myrtales	Combretaceae	YL,RFR
137	Tetrameles nudiflora R	Tree	Cucurbitales	Tetramelaceae	YL,ML
138	Thunbergia alata	Tree	Lamiales	Acanthaceae	YL,ML
139	Trema orientalis	Tree	Rosales	Ulmaceae	YL,ML
140	Trichosanthes tricuspidata	Climber	Cucurbitales	Cucurbitaceae	YL,ML
141	Tricosanthes anguina	Climber	Cucurbitales	Cucurbitaceae	YL,ML
142	Triwia nudiflora	Tree	Malpighiales	Euphorbiaceae	YL,ML
143	Vatica lanceifolia (critically en sp.)	Climber	Malvales	Dipterocarpaceae	YL,ML,RFR
144	Vigna catjang	Climber	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL,RFR
145	Vigna Sp	Climber	Fabales	Fabaceae	YL
146	Vitis latifolia	Climber	Vitales	Vitaceae	YL,ML
147	Wrightia tomentosa	Tree	Gentianales	Apocynaceae	YL
148	Zanthoxylum rhetsa	Tree	Sapindales	Rutaceae	YL
149	Zea mays	Grass	Poales	Poaceae	YL,RFR
150	Zizyphus jujuba	Tree	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	YL, RFR,UNRF
151	Zizyphus mauritiana	Tree	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	YL, RFR,UNRF
152	Zizyphus oenoplia	Shrub	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	YL, RFR,UNRF

Table 2: List of food plants of Golden Langurs identified in Kakoijana Reserve Forest of Assam, India. The list is prepared based

Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

(YL-young leaf; ML-mature leaf; RFR- ripened fruit; UNFR; unripened fruit; FL-flower) Table 1: List of food plants of Golden Langurs identified in Kakoijana Reserve Forest of Assam, India. The list is prepared based on alphabetical order of plant species. (a-Classification is based on Bentham and Hooker (1962-63), Sasidharan (2004).

Among the different plant categories, trees accounts for 76%, followed by climber and shrub 10% each, grass 2%, fern and orchid 1% each and liana 0.7% (Figures 1 & 2). Thus trees, climber and shrub were constituted 96% of overall composition of food plant species. The highest percent of food tree species belonged to the family Plant Species Category Family Local Medicinal use Recorded in this Study Leaf is used against headache, bark is used to treat stomach trouble Alstonia scholaris Tree Apocynaceae Antidesm acidum Shrub Phyllanthaceae Leaves are used against headache, and appetizer Argyria nervosa Tree Convolvulaceae Anemia, cold and cough Leaves are used Averrhoa carambola Tree Oxalidaceae Fuit used in jaundice Leaf extract is uded to Azadiracta indica Tree Meliaceae cure skin and tooth diseases Infusion of the leaves are used to treat labour Asplenium nidus Fern Aspleniaceae pain Bambusa tulda Climber Poaceae Not known Shoots are used Bark juice is used against menstruation Bauhinia purpurea Tree Fabaceae trouble Bischoffia javanica Tree Phyllanthaceae Bark is used to treat tuberculosis, mouth - - Moraceae followed by Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae (Figures 3 & 4). Of these 152 plant species, 45 plant species were used by the local tribes as medicines, 17 were used as vegetables and two species were listed as rare medicinal plants of Assam (Table 2).

Use as Vegetables by

Remarks

the Locals

- - Leaves are used

as food - as food -

and kidney diseases - - - -

Leaves are used

as food - as food -

- - Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

ulcers and inflamations Butea monosperma Tree Legumes seed, bark and fruit -

Cassia fistula Tree Fabaceae leaf pase is used against Rare medicinal plant of Assam (Bhattacharya et al., 1991) allergy - Cinnamomum againt diarrhoea Cissampelos pareir Climber Menispermaceae Cures ulcer and sinus Stem paste is applied in Cissus quadriangularis Climber Vitaceae bone fracture and wound Hair washed with Dillenia indica Tree Dilleniaceae mucilage for hair growth Dioscorea alata Climber Dioscoreaceae Tubers are used in piles Fruit juice used for indigestion and hair Emblica officinalis Tree Euphoriaceae growth Erythrina variegata Shrub Legumes Roots helps in Ficus bengalensis Tree Moraceae Bud is used to tread Roots and bark are used to cure piles and urinary Gmelina arborea Tree Lamiaceae discharge Plant species Category Family Local medicinal use recorded in this study Grewia multiflora Tree Tiliaceae Bark is used to treat Helps to treat low haemoglobin content in Ipomoea Tree Convolvulaceae blood Lantana camara Shrub Verbanaceae Young leaf extract are used to treat indigestion - - Stem juice is useful in skin disease, cuts and Macaranga denticulata Tree Euphoriaceae wounds Stem juice is useful against gastric problems Mangifera sylvativca Tree Anacardiaceae and ucers Leaf is used against colic, Seed is used as Michelia champaca Tree Magnoliaceae appetizer.

Mikenia Shrub Asteraceae leaves and stem are - -

as spice Rare medicinal

plant of Assam (Bhattacharya et

problems - al., 1991) - -

- - Tubers are consumed as -

vegetables - - comceiving - -

scabies and boils - - Flowers are used as vegetable -

Use as vegetables

by the locals Remarks

bone fracture - - Young leaves and shoots are used as -

vegetable - - - - - -

Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

macarantha used to cure diarrhoe

Mimosa pudica
Shrub
Mimosaceae
Root is use fot treating snake bite
-
-
Leaf extraxt is used to treat blood pressure and
Moringa
Fruit is used as oleifera
Tree
Moringaceae diabetes
Leaf and flower juice
Nyctanthes arbortristis
Tree
Oleaceae used for cough and stomach worm cure
-
Oroxylum indicum
Tree
Bignoniaceae
Seeds are used as
Flowers are used digestive
Paderia foetida
Climber
Rubiaceae
Leaf juice used to cure constipation used as vegetable
-
Piper longum
Climber
Piperaceae leaf extract is used as
Fruits are used as fever
Psidum guajava
Tree
Myrtaceae
Root and bark used for treating diarrhoea
Fruits are edible
-
Used to treat high blood
Rauvolvia serpentina
Shrub
Apocynaceae pressure and mental illness
Unripe fruit along with leaf used to cure gastric
Spondias pinnata
Tree
Anacardiaceae ulcer
Sterculia villosa
Tree
Sterculiaceae
Root extract are used to treat blood dycentry
-
-
Syzygium cumni
Tree
Myrtaceae
Young leaf extract are used to treat diabetes
-
-
Tamarindus indica
Tree
Caesalpiniaceae
Fruit extract is used to
Fruits are used to treat cough and cold
Terminalia bllerica
Tree
Combretaceae
Fruit used to cure gastric ulcer
-
-
Fruit mixed with turmeric used to cure
Terminalia chebula
Tree
Combretaceae loss of appetite
It is a good source of iron and boosts immene
Leaves are used
Vigna catiang
Climber
Fabaceae system
Vitis latifolia
Climber
Vitaceae
Not available
Leaves are used
Wrightia tomentosa
Tree
Apocynaceae
Bark is used to treat kidney stone
-
Ziziphus jujuba
Tree
Rhamnaceae
Bark juice is useful in
Fruits are used to stomach trouble

Table 3: List of food/medicinal plants identified in Kakoijana Reserve Forest of Assam, India.

Discussion

Golden Langur consumed different plant species throughout the study period identified from May 2013 to April 2015. It was observed that during flowering and fruiting season, flowers and fruits of certain plants are also consumed along with its young leaf. Flowers and fruits of Syzygium sp., Moringa oleifera, Gmelina arborea, Roy D and Nagarajan R. Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?. Int J Zoo Animal Biol 2019, 2(2): 000137.

Ficus glomerata, Tamarindus indica, Phylanthus emblica and Spondias pinnata were mostly preferred.

Das, et al. reported 91 plant species as food species for Golden Langur comprising both trees and climbers in Chirang RF [12]. Mukherjee, et al. reported the names of plants utilized by the Golden Langur for feeding and those data were relevant for summer months [13]. In winter months the most preferred plant items were Terminalia belerica, Lagerstroemia parviflora, fruits of Bridelia retusa in Manas sanctuary. Terminalia belerica at Jamduar and Flowers of Salmalia malabarica at Manas [13]. The above results indicate that Golden Langur consumed variety of plants. The number of food species listed varied greatly with forest type, duration of study period and method of foraging data collection. Some of the plants which have medicinal property are used as food as well as ethno medicine by the local community. The present study reveals that the rural tribal people are well versed with the nature and natural resources around them. These people in order to get rid of various problems like abortion, conception, menstrual problems etc., depend on plant products. Such types of plant extracts have also been reported to be used for abortification and reproductive related diseases from other part of the state also. The efficacy of the traditional medicine cannot be judged properly, although the ethnic tribal people use these plants for curing different type of reproductive and in general physical ailments [14, 15, 16]. Due importance should be provided for further research on these medicinal plants for their effectiveness, side effects and mode of action. Overlapping with the usage of these plants as food by Golden Langur with the practice of local tribes as medicines and food gives a general idea of bioactive properties of plants which can be further use to investigate the pharmacological properties of the plant species. A thorough and complete survey is to made for the availability of these plants. The common people must be made conscious about the usage of the plants by Golden Langur in their respective localities. The social forestry may bear an important share for plantation of different medicinal and fruit bearing plants like Amlaki, (Emblica officinalis ), Jamu (Syzygium cumini ) etc. which are the sources of different natural vitamins and minerals and are food sources of Golden Langur too. Moreover, the wise use of the food plant species of Golden Langur by the locals as medicines and vegetables can help to sustain the lives of Primates in the fragmented habitats. The relationships between plants, primates and humans observed in the present study indicate potential bioactive compounds to be examined in future pharmacological and phyto-chemical studies, especially those plants with antiparasitic activity [17, 18]. Both aspects could significantly contribute to improving the quality of life of local communities and to the sustainability of the fragmented forests, especially at the study site. The study gives a real time situation on field information that can be utilized for habitat assessment and management too.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Assam Forest Department for permission to conduct research in Kakoijana Reserve forests of Assam, India. We are highly grateful to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), India for their help in identifying Plant species and A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, Tamil Nadu, India for their support. We thank Nature’s Foster (NGO, based at Bongaigaon, Assam, India) for their moral support. We thank our field assistants for their help in the field.

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Medicinal Plants in the Diet of Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in Kakoijana Reserve Forest, Western Assam, India. A Bio-Rational for the Search of New Medicines for Human Use?

Introduction

Study Area

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgement

References

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