BIODIVERSITY AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME ANIMALS USED IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN MANIPUR

The present study deals with the traditional uses of 10 animal species for treatment of human ailment practiced by Meitei community of Manipur. In this regard, chemical composition of the animals indigenous to Manipur for constituents viz. soluble protein, lipid, soluble carbohydrate, ash, calcium, iron, sodium and potassium has been displayed with narration of their ethnomedicozoology in practice. While these animals were noted to be used in traditional preparation of medicine for curing different ailments, their biochemical composition was found to be varied widely. This might have relation with the application of these animals in curing different ailments. Most of these animals have been consumed as food and thus they have great potential in nutrition, economy and medicine.