Metabolomics affirms traditional alcoholic beverage raksi as a remedy for high-altitude sickness

Bibliographic Data

ID5165663
AuthorsSoumya Majumder (0000-0001-8493-3040, North Bengal University, corresponding author), Arindam Ghosh (0000-0001-7251-7058), Arındam Ghosh (0000-0001-6142-3160, North Bengal University), Sourav Chakraborty (0000-0002-8612-2505, North Bengal University), Sumedha Saha (0000-0001-5551-3864, North Bengal University), Mita Bhattacharya (0000-0002-4066-2979, North Bengal University)
Year2021
Volume8
Issue1
Publication date2021-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnic Foods (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2352-6181 • E-ISSN: 2352-619X
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s42779-021-00094-4
OpenAlexW3193681889
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited51

Raksi, a fermented distilled alcoholic beverage, is an ethnic drink consumed in high altitude regions of Singalila Ridge of the Himalayas and in adjoining high altitude places in Nepal, northern and north eastern part of India and Tibetan plateau. Likejaanr,tongba,nigar,chhyang, and other fermented ethnic beverages,raksiis considered as an element of ethnopharmacology of high altitude with claims of medicinal properties. An ethnobiological survey was done in the study area prior to collection and identification ofraksisamples. In this research, tworaksisamples (khokim raksiandchimphing raksi) of Singalila Ridge of the Himalayas were investigated by metabolite profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Results of the experiment showed presence of several respiratory protective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant components which have properties to prevent various high altitude illnesses. Moreover, large quantities of bioactive terpenoids, fatty acid derivatives, coumarins, and peptides were detected whose chemotaxonomy and biosynthesis pathways were further studied. This metabolomics investigation not only affirmedRaksias a remedy for high-altitude sickness but also helped in understanding the importance of this type of ethnic foods in high altitude ethnoecology. This research onraksiin the fields of ethnobiology and metabolomics is a cumulative approach which has opened the door for in-depth investigations on similar ethnic foods. However, further experiments onraksiare surely needed in ethnobiology, microbiology, biochemistry, and food technology

Biology · Effects of high altitude on humans · Metabolomics · Traditional medicine · Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques · High Altitude and Hypoxia · Medicine · Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies

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