Malaria is a major cause of illness and death in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, mainly caused by a single-celled parasite called Plasmodium. The bulk of malaria deaths have been caused by Plasmodium falciparum in the past, but new data from the World Health Organisation show that Plasmodium vivax is also a major killer (WHO, 2022). The Southeast Asian region is home to around 1.4 billion people, about 1.2 billion of whom live in areas of India where malaria is quite common (Dhiman et al., 2018, Devi et al., 2022). Nearly 0.84 million cases of malaria were recorded in India in 2018, with 80% of those cases located in the North Eastern, Eastern, and Central areas (NVBDCP). Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura are among the states that have seen outbreaks of both P. falciparum and P. vivax, according to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP). Despite the application of various antimalarial drugs, the emergence of resistant Plasmodium strains poses a significant challenge, necessitating the development of novel drug classes targeting new molecular targets to support malaria control and eradication efforts (Fairhurst and Dondorp, 2016). Thus, the exploration of alternative antimalarial drugs from natural sources, such as medicinal plants, has become imperative.

This research investigates the ethnomedicinal importance of some antimalarial plant species that the Miju-Mishmi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh utilises to cure malaria and other associated symptoms. Because of their economic limitations and lack of access to modern treatment, the several subgroups that make up the Mishmi tribe—the Idus or Chulikatas, the Digarus or Taroan, and the Miju—have preserved extensive knowledge of plant-based medicines (Tag et al., 2005, Jyrwa et al., 2024). Despite the challenging climatic and topographic conditions of the region, which hinder access for studies, no comprehensive quantitative ethnopharmacological or phytochemical analyses have been conducted, specifically among the Miju-Mishmi tribe. To address this research gap, this study aims to document the traditional uses of herbal plants, including their names as per local usage, modes of administration, plant parts used, seasonal availability, market prices, and the number of plants utilised in different formulations. Additionally, systematic quantitative analysis and preliminary phytochemical screening of the top 12 plants, exhibiting high usage rates, have been undertaken to identify secondary metabolites present in them.