Международный университет Нагаланда запускает проект клинической валидации традиционной этномедицины

International University Nagaland in Chümoukedima launches a project for the clinical validation of traditional Naga ethnomedicine. DIMAPUR — The International University Nagaland (IUN) has launched an interdisciplinary research project titled "Integrated Phytochemical and Clinical Standardisation of Naga Ethnomedicine" to safeguard and scientifically validate the traditional knowledge of the state. The project focuses on the systematic documentation, chemical mapping, and clinical validation of indigenous medicinal plants used by different Naga tribes, with the objective of supporting their safe integration into modern healthcare, according to a press release. It said that for generations, communities across Nagaland have relied on traditional medicine using locally available plants, roots, and bark to treat a range of ailments, including inflammatory conditions and infectious diseases. Much of this knowledge has remained undocumented and has been passed down orally, making it susceptible to loss over time. The absence of standardised clinical data and chemical profiling has also limited wider scientific recognition of these traditional remedies. According to the university, the research will build on its academic programmes in naturopathy and allied health sciences. Researchers will document medicinal plant species found across different climatic zones of Nagaland, identify their bioactive compounds, and carry out pre-clinical studies to examine their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Also read: Rescued slow loris released at Sukhai Biodiversity Conservation Area in Zunheboto Naga Hospital Authority Kohima hosts workshop on 3D-printed dentures "Nagaland sits within a global biodiversity hotspot, and our traditional healers possess extraordinary wisdom that has never been properly catalogued under modern laboratory conditions," stated Dr. Roopam Bachhil. "Through this project, our institution is taking the lead in creating a digital, intellectual-property-protected repository of Naga Ethnomedicine. This will secure the patent rights of our indigenous communities while laying the groundwork for standardized, safe naturopathic formulations that can be commercialized globally, creating an entirely new economic sector for the state and generating rural employment." Director of the Academic Staff College Prof. Zavise Rume said the findings would be incorporated into allied health, pharmacology, and botany programmes. "The Academic Staff College will utilize the findings of this project to enrich our allied health, pharmacology, and botany curricula. We are training our faculty and research scholars to bridge the gap between ancient ethnomedicinal practices and rigorous modern laboratory science. This initiative will also involve direct workshops with traditional healers across Nagaland, treating them as vital knowledge partners. By combining their generational insights with our scientific infrastructure, we hope to discover novel therapeutic compounds that can combat modern drug-resistant infections effectively." The university said the project is expected to support the development of standardised natural supplements, ointments, and alternative medicines while creating opportunities for local manufacturing and the wellness sector. It added that field documentation will be carried out in different districts of Nagaland with the participation of traditional practitioners and village elders.