Bhubaneshwar: Medical scientists from various institutes have identified BMAA, a potential neurotoxin, in several species of the Cycad plant found in the forests of Odisha, according to a statement issued by AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
The finding has raised alarms as a section of local people follow traditions of consuming Cycad plant products, such as ‘pitha’ (a local food), as part of their diet and rituals.
This discovery was made as part of research by AIIMS Bhubaneswar to find out whether consuming Cycad plant-based food directly poses a risk of neurological diseases.
“Whether these consumption practices are directly linked to an increased incidence of neurological diseases remains a critical question driving new, pioneering research initiated at AIIMS Bhubaneswar,” the institute said in a release on Monday.
To explore this issue, AIIMS Bhubaneswar and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, recently organised an international workshop titled “Cycad-Related Neurological Disorders: A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Its Remediation.”
As part of the workshop, experts visited villages in Khordha and Dhenkanal districts, where tribal communities traditionally consume cycad seeds.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Prof (Dr) Ashutosh Biswas lauded the initiative.
