4. Consistency: Viscous honey becomes thin on heating.

If a drop of
honey is held between two fingers and pressed then pure honey will
become thinner whereas honey contaminated with sugar or jaggary
becomes more viscous.
5. Sound on heating: The propertion of water in honey is 10.03%, but it
is totally a part of honey. Therefore, when unadulterated honey is put in
a flame, it does not produce any crackling sound. A wick of cotton
dipped in honey, like the one dipped in oil or ghee, burns without
producing any sound.

Introduction:
The World Health Organization in 2001 estimated that eighty percent of
the world population use medicinal plant in the treatment of diseases148……It
was also estimated that up to 90% of the population in developing countries
rely on the use of medicinal plants to help meet their primary health care
needs.149 The use of plant extracts as fertility enhancer and in the infertility
treatment in animals is now in the increase because of the shifting of attention
from synthetic drugs to natural plant products150.Herbs have been used since
the beginning of time to aid in many different ailments. Of these ailments,
fertility has been enhanced and even corrected by the use of certain herbs151.
Infertility is a worldwide medical and social problem, affecting perhaps
one in six couple; the majority of whom seek medical treatment152. Infertility in
itself may not threaten physical health but can have serious impact on the
mental and social well being of infertility couple. It is estimated that there are
60-80 million infertile couples worldwide and above 10-15% of married
couples are affected153. Similarly, rising human population throughout India

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more particularly in developing and underdeveloped parts has detrimental
effect on the life supporting system. It effects on the reproductive health
relating to fertility of human being. A wide variety of synthetic fertility
enhancing treatment is available but most of them are associated with some
health hazard. In such condition Ayurvedic or ethnological drugs can be found
more useful. The folklore information from local healer and the ancient
literature can help.
The North Eastern Region of India is one of the richest biodiversity
hotspots, with more than 300 species of medicinal plants used by different
tribal population groups for treating reproductive anomalies. The knowledge of
the use of plants to treat diseases has been with the local healers for
generations after generation handed down from father to son/daughter or
mother to daughter/son but has not been recorded. This knowledge remains
mostly with the traditional healers who are mostly old people of remote
places. Most of the medicinal plants are collected from wild habitat by them.
This study was carried out to search for information from traditional
healers on plant remedies used for the management and cure of fertility
problem specially related with male factor.
Survey area:

The present study was carried out in five administrative districts

of Assam, India viz. Kamrup, Darrang, Dhemaji, Nalbari and Barpeta.

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 All the five districts are tribal dominated and densely populated. Most of
the inhabitants are village people and depend mainly on agriculture
and are economically very weak. Geographically, the districts under
study i.e. Kamrup, Darrang, Dhemaji, Nalbari and Barpeta lie between
latitudes 25.46° to 26.49° North, 20.9° to 26.95° North, 27.05° to 27.57°
North, 26° to 26.51° North and 26.5° to 26.49° North respectively and
longitudes 90.48° to 91.50° East, 91.45° to 92.22° East, 94.12° to 95°
East, 91° to 91.47° East and 90.39° to 91.17° East respectively.
Methodology:
A survey was carried out during the period May’2011 –April’2013 to
collect information of male fertility medicinal plants used by the local
traditional healer from five districts of Assam i.e. Kamrup, Darrang, Dhemaji,
Nalbari and Barpeta. The study was done in 50 numbers of local traditional
healers selected randomly and interviewed. The collected plant material used
ethno medicinally by the ethnic communities were identified. Identification of
collected plant materials, their local names and information regarding their
mode of use were recorded with the help of these local traditional healer and
standard literature.
Results:
The male fertility enhancing plants were recorded and the information
is presented in table-7.1. The present study reported 49 species of plants
belonging to different families. It is found that maximum of the plant species
are given in conjunction with one another as compound drugs. Some of the
local traditional healers kept secret regarding mode of use of some medicinal
plant.

Table-7.1: List of Male fertility enhancing plants used by the local

traditional healer
Sl. Local Name Botanical Name Parts Folk Use
No (Family) Used
1 Aam Mangiera indica Seed 10 gms of dry seed cotyledons
Linn. are grinded and mixed with goat
(Anacardiaceae) milk.

2 Ananta mul Tylophora indica Root Equal quantity of root of T.indica,

(Burm.f.) Merr. W.somnifera and leaf of Ocimum
(Asclepiadaceae) gratissium are mixed and make
juice. ½ cup of this juice is given

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 daily for 15 days.

3 Aparajita Clitoria ternatea L Root 1 tsf of root powder are mixed

(Papilonaceae) with 1 cup of water and boil.
When it become ½, then filter it
by cloth and given orally for 1
month in empty stomach to
increase male fertility.
4 Arjun Terminalia arjuna Bark ½ cup (50ml) of the juice of stem
(DC) W. &A. bark is mixed with honey and
(Combretaceae) given orally daily for 15 days in
case of male infertility and
erectile dysfunction.

5 Ashwagandha Withania somnifera Root, 1 cup of the juice of root and

Dun. Leaf stem were mixed with milk and
(Solanaceace) seven such doses were given
from the 5th day of menstrual
cycle for female infertility. For
male infertility it will be continued
for 3months.

6 Athiya kal Musa balbisiana Body The tree trunk is cut at about 3
Colla feet height from the base and mid
(Musaceae) portion of the upper end is
removed to make a hole. Then
the hole is covered with the leaf
for overnight. In the morning, the
deposited liquid in the hole is
collected and taken in empty
stomach. It increases the total
quantity of sperm.

7 Bagari Ziziphus jujube Leaf Young leaves are mixed with the
Lamk. young leaves of Psidium guajava,
(Rhamnaceae) Punica granatum, Centella
asiatica and Allium sativum in
equal quantity and make a paste.
1 tsf of such paste is given orally
in empty stomach for 10 days in
male infertility and from the last
day of menstrual flow continued
for 7 days for female infertility.

8 Bandar Mucuna pruriens Seed 10-15 gm of seed juice is mixed

Kekowa Linn. with one cup of goat milk and
(Fabaceae) given orally for one month in case
of male infertility.

9 Bhedailota Paederia scandens Leaf Leaves are boiled with Drymaria

(Lour.) Merr. cordata in ratio (1:1) and filtered
(Rubiaceae) it. The filtrate is taken twice daily
during menstrual cycle for female

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 infertility and for male infertility it
is continued for 15 days.

10 Bhomora Terminalia bellirica Fruit, Both fruit and seed are used in
(Combrataceae) Seed male impotency.
11 Bhutmula/ Cleome gynandra Leaf Leaf juice is used for increase
Gandhai bon (Capparaceae) male fertility.

12 Bihalangy Polygonum Leaf 1 cup of leaf juice is given daily

hydropiper Linn. for 15 days to enhance fertility in
(Polyganaceae) men and women both.

13 Bichtarak Argyreia speciosa Flower, Flower and root are used as

(Convolvulaceae) Root aphrodisiac and induce male
fertility.

14 Bor Tubuki Stephanea Leaf Leaf juices are used internally for
Lota harnandifolia Walp. increase fertility and libido.
(Menispermaceae)
15 Dinedurba Cynodon dactyylon Leaf Leaf juice of C. dactylon mixed
(L) Pers. with equal volume of flower juice
(Poaceae) of Hibiscusrosa sinensis and 1
cup of such mixer mixed with little
amount of sugar is given daily for
7 days.
16 Doolmudra Leea macrophyla Leaf, Both leaf and root are used for
(Vitaceae) Root both impotency and infertility.

17 Gokharu Tribuls terrestris Leaf, Equal quantity of leaf and seed is

Linn. Seed taken and make it juice. 1cup of
(Zygophylaceae) such juice is given morning time
daily for 7 days.

18 Gos alu Solanum indicum Fruit, It is used for induced fertility.

(Solanaceae) Root
19 Helochi Enhydra fluctans Root, 1 tsf of juice of root and stem is
Lour. Leaf mixed with 1 cup of fresh goat
(Astaraceae) milk for 21 days.

20 Jamla Khuti Costus speciosus Tuber Tubers are used in male

(Zinziberaceae) impotency and female frigidity
also.

21 Jetuka Lawsonia alba Leaf 10-15 leaves are soaked in a

Lamb. glass of water overnight. Next
(Lythraceae) morning the water part is given in
empty stomach for consecutive
three days.

22 Jova-phul Hibiscus rosa Flower Paste is made along with

sinensis Cynodon dactylon Linn and taken
(Malvaceae) daily for 10 days in case of male
infertility. For female infertility it is
continued for 3 days during

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 menstruation.
23 Kaji nemu Citrus aurantifolia Fruit It is used for both male and
(Rutaceae) female infertility.
24 Kalmegh Andrographis Whole 10 gms powder of this plant is
paniculata plant given once daily for 1 month for
(Acanthaceae) sexual disorder.

25 Kalmou Ipomea aquatic Leaf Decoction of the leaves is given

Forssk for 14 days after the menstrual
(Convolvulaceae) flow.
26 Kanchan Bauhinia purpurea Bark 1 tsf of the bark decoction is
Linn. mixed with honey and is given
(Caesalpiniaceae) from the 5th day of menstruation
for 3 cycles in case of female
infertility. For male infertility it is
continued for 3 consecutive
months.

27 Karos Pongamia pinnata Seed, It is used for increase fertility and

(Fabaceae) Root, potency.
Bark.
Leaf
28 Kath Alu Dioscorea villosa Leaf The leaves are boiled in water
Linn. and the decoction is given at bed
(Discoreaceae) time daily for 21 days.
29 Khutura Amaranthus viridis Root Juice of the root is made by
Linn. grinding and 1 tsf of such juice is
(Amaranthaceae) given orally for 25 days.

30 Komora Benincasa hispida Seed, It is used for induced fertility.

(Cucurbitaceae) Fruit
31 Laijabori Drymaria cordata Whole Leaves are boiled with Paederia
A. Gray plant scandens in ratio (1:1) and
(Caryophyllaceae) filtered it. The filtrate is taken
twice daily during menstrual cycle
for female infertility and for male
infertility it is continued for 15
days.
32 Malbhog kal Musa velutina Root Root juice with water is given
Wendl. & Drude morning time in empty stomach
(Musaceae) to increase the quantity of sperm
and for inducing ovulation it is
given from 3rd day to 8th day of
menstruation.
33 Mitha-paat Scoparia dulcis Tender Paste is made along with
Linn root Paedaria scandens in the ratio
(Scrophulariaceae) (2:1) and taken 3 times per day
for 10 days in case of male
infertility. For female infertility it is
continued for 2 days during
menstruation.
34 Manimuni Centella asiatica Leaf Leaves of C asiatica, fruit of
(L) Urban Allium sativum and seed of
(Apiaceae) Nigella sativa in equal quantities

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 are mixed to make a paste. One
tsf of the paste is given as one
dose for three days.

35 Morisha Shak Amaranthus tricolor Whole It is used for increase male

(Amaranthaceae) plant fertility.

36 Nahar Mesua ferrea Linn. Bark, Decoction of fresh root and stem
(Clusiaceae) Root bark is mixed with equal volume
of goat milk. 1 cup of this mixture
is given orally at bed time daily
for 21days.

37 Pasatiya Vitex negundo Linn Leaf Fumigation from the dried leaves
(Verbenaceae) is given daily at night to increase
libido.
38 Patla Sterospermum Leaf Leaf juice is used for increase
Suaveolens both male & female fertility and
(Bignoniaceae) potency also.
39 Putrajiv Putranjiva Seed, Seed powder and leaf juice are
roxhburgii Leaf used for induce male fertility.
(Euphorbiaceae)
40 Sar bariyal Sida cordifolia Linn. Root 1 cup of root juice is given for
(Mulvaceae) seven days.
41 Satamul Asparagus Root 10 gm of the root powder mixed
recemosus Willd. with one cup of water and make it
(Liliaceae) decoction. Again the decoction
mixed with honey and was given
to both the partners for 7 days in
case of infertility.
42 Shalaparni Desmodium Whole It is used for both male and
gangeticum plant female infertility.
(Fabaceae)
43 Sissu Dalbergia sisso Leaf 5-6 crushed leaves were poured
Roxb for overnight in a glass of water.
(Fabaceae) Next morning the water is mixed
with sugar and was given in
empty stomach to both male and
female for 15 days.
44 Sotiyaan Alstonia scholaris Bark Stem bark decoction is mixed
R.Br. with equal volume of goat milk
(Apocynaceae and given orally for 15 days.
45 Taruwa Acacia Arabica Bark Stem bark of the plant dried and
Kadam (Mimosaceae) make powder followed by tablet
form. It is given daily for
consecutive seven days.
46 Teteli Tamarindus indica Flower 5 numbers of flowers were
Linn. crushed to make a paste and
(Caesalpiniaceae) mixed with one cup of milk and
that dose was continued for 7
days for male and female

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 infertility.
47 Ulat Kambal Abroma augusta Leaf, 1 cup of juice of the root and
(L) L.F. Stem stem are mixed with 8-10
(Sterculiaceae) numbers of Piper nigram powder.
48 Ulta Hat Achyranthus Leaf ½ cup of the leaf juice is given for
aspera Linn. 15 days to cure the problem.
(Amaranthaceae)
49 Velaguti Semecarpus Fruit Fruit are used to inducing fertility.
anacardium
(Anacardiaceae)

Discussion:
The plants used by the local traditional healer in their day-to-day
practice have got various ethnomedicinal properties. Those medicinal plants
are normally used as food by the tribes of this region. The primary information
is important in view that it may lead to serious pharmacological research and
can provide great value in selecting plant material for drug discovery. In this
study, root is highly used followed by leaf, whole plant, seed, fruit, bark,
flowers, tender aerialpart, fresh twig, tuber and carpel by local traditional
healer. Some traditional healers are not willing to publish their medicine along
with their treatment process. Because, they think that it is God gifted and only
can practice by their own family member. Hence, the documentation of the
traditional medicine practice by local traditional healer and phytochemical
investigation of the indigenous plants of this region are essential to be given
priority. Otherwise this indigenous knowledge would get extinct forever and
would be a great threat to the welfare of human being.

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