In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, have discovered that several poisonous plants native to Northeast India may hold the key to developing new therapeutic drugs.
The study, titled “The Hidden Healers in Poisonous Plants”, led by Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee and Bhagya Lakhmi Rajbongshi, identified 70 plant species traditionally considered toxic but used in folk, Ayurvedic, and homeopathic medicine to treat various ailments. The research was recently published in the reputed journal Toxicon: X.
The research highlights that while many of these plants are dangerous in their raw form, they contain bioactive phytochemicals that, when isolated and scientifically processed, could be developed into safe and effective drugs. These compounds have shown potential in the treatment of conditions such as snakebites, jaundice, skin disorders, fever, and edema.
“Ethnopharmacology has long acknowledged the medicinal use of plants deemed toxic. Our study validates this traditional knowledge using modern science,” said Prof. Mukherjee, a leading expert in toxinology and drug discovery.