**5. Conclusion**

The state of Assam, popularly known as the land of the red river and blue hills is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. Assam falls in one of the great migration routes of mankind of different groups who over the centuries have come and settled down. Every community has its own traditional rituals, customs and herbal remedies which have been molded by the geographical location and the environmental factors where they reside. The abundant natural resources in encompassing location form the basis for the characteristic food habits and related medicinal practices of each community. By their experience, the knowledge of herbal remedies was transferred to generation after generation as folk medicine.

A study was conceived based on the aforesaid facts with intent to scientifically analyze different folkloric healing practices encompassing various medicinal plants. Subsequently an ethno medicinal survey was conducted across the state of Assam for compiling information with respect to traditional medicine. Thereafter, plants belonging to Costaceae family were selected for scientific validation studies owing to their predominant use among the traditional healers in the surveyed regions particularly in upper Assam for treating ailments like jaundice, diabetes etc.

Three plants belonging to the costus genus were identified *viz. Costus scaber, Costus speciosus* and *Costus pictus* for the study. *Costus speciosus* locally known as 'Jomlakhuti' in Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Tinsukia district; 'Peki jigjig' in Dhemaji; 'Ai-upo'in Karbi Anglong district and 'Buritokon' in Kokrajhar district, the rhizomes, leaves are primarily used for treating liver aliments, diabetes, UTI, snake bite respectively. *Costus scaber* locally known as 'Keuri' in Dhemaji district, the leaves are used in the treatment of snake bite and wound healing. *Costus pictus* locally known as 'Leteki' in Golaghat and Tinsukia district and 'Tui' in Karbi Anglong district, the aerial parts and leaves are used traditionally in the treatment of diabetes, for blood purification and jaundice respectively.

Therefore, it can be safely concluded that species belonging to this genus are traditionally used in the mitigation of various ailments particularly diabetes. Furthermore, *in vivo* and *in vitro* studies are warrented against these species so as to elucidate viable phyto components as a future prespective.

#### **Acknowledgements**

The authors thankfully acknowledges the traditional healers of Dotma, Kokrajhar district; Dhupdhora, Goalpara district; Laipuli, Tinsukia district; Kathkatia village of Silonijan of Karbi Anglong district; Naojan and Baragharia village of Golaghat district; Nagakhelia village and Jokai area of Dibrugarh district; Sissiborgaon, Barmukuli and Majarbari village of Dhemaji district of Assam who helped by sharing their valuable information regarding the methodology of usage of different plant species used in the treatment of ailments. The authors also acknowledge Mrs. Monika Kuli of Barmukuli village of Dhemaji district, Mrs. Sarala Rabha of Dhupdhora of Goalpara district, Mrs. Minu Borah and Mr. Dhruba Borah of Baragharia village and Mrs. Purnima Borah of Jyotinagar, Golaghat district, Mrs. Savitri Sonowal of Jokai and Mr. Anil Bhuyan and Mr. Ripul Bhuyan of Nagakhelia village of Dibrugarh district, Mrs. Kareng Rongpi of Silonijan of Karbi Anglong district, Dr. Pranjit Narzaree, Ms. P. Narzaree of Kokrajhar district for their immense help regarding the collection of information in the conducted ethnomedicinal survey. The conducted study was not funded by any organization whether government, semi government or private funding bodies whatsoever.
