Arunachal Pradesh is a land of biodiversity, with more than thousands of species of floras and faunas. The people of Arunachal Pradesh are indigenous to the land and still follow the old-age tradition and customs learned from their ancestors. It is unbelievable that the green plants we consume as food for nutrition consist of potent medicinal properties. This article will highlight a few of the important and frequently consumed plants as a vegetable in Arunachal Pradesh, which also possesses healing properties.

Solanum khasianum

It is a medicinal herb that is utilized as a folk remedy in several regions of the Northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh where it is used for the traditional treatment of dental worms and leach prevention. Due to their anti-inflammatory, anabolic, and antifertility characteristics, steroidal chemicals found in short, prickly perennial shrubs are widely used by health and family planning organizations around the world.

Begonia Tessaricarpa)

It is a member of the Begoniaceae family and is frequently referred to as Rebe or Buckuchurbu. It is a medicinal plant that is rare, endangered, and thought to have vanished since 1890 until it was rediscovered in Ligu village, Upper Subansiri of Arunachal Pradesh in 2004 by a team of botanists. The plant is typically used to relieve dehydration and stomach discomfort and the herb's juice is utilized as a leech defense. Although it can be found all over Arunachal Pradesh, its habitat is primarily in the districts of Upper Subansiri and Changlang.

Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi)

Tinospora cordifolia, also known as Amrit lata or Guduchi, is a large, perennial, deciduous climbing shrub with distinctive greenish-yellow flowers and weak, fleshy stems that can be found at higher altitudes in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, including Northeast India. From the plant being used as a tonic and vitalizer to its stem being used to make drugs and trade purposes, it is a plant that is frequently used in both folk medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. It serves as an immunostimulant and cures rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and jaundice. Its anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and immunologic effects have all been studied through experiments.

Acmella oleracea

"Paracress" (Acmella oleracea), is a flowering plant from the Asteraceae family, also known as the toothache plant or electric daisy; and locally referred to as "Marsang" by the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The local people of Arunachal consume it as a vegetable in addition to using it medicinally. It is known as a medicinal plant used to treat toothaches, diarrhea, and a variety of other conditions. In contrast to the leaves, which are used to cure skin conditions, the flower heads of this plant are used to alleviate toothaches and other mouth-related ailments.

Taxus Baccata

Another common medicinal plant in Arunachal Pradesh is Taxus, also called yews. It is a slow-growing evergreen tree that can be found in temperate forests at elevations of 1800 to 3000 meters and is a major source of the drug taxol, which is used to treat breast and ovarian cancer. According to reports, Taxus can be found in the temperate forest associated with broad-leaved trees preferring heavy soils with high humus, (loam to clay loam) of Bomdila, Shergaon, Eagle Nest, Dirang, Thungri, Tawang, Mago, and Zimithang in West Kameng and Tawang districts, Tale Valley of Lower Subansiri district, Anini, Mayodiya in Dibang Valley district, Mechuka in Siang and Melinja and Hot Spring areas of Lohit district.

Rubia cordifolia

Rubia cordifolia is a plant that belongs to the Rubiaceae family and is commonly referred to as Manjistha, Common Madder, or Indian Madder. It is regarded as a valuable medicinal plant in Ayurveda and is usually consumed as a vegetable by most Arunachalees as well as used as a dye for clothing.