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Table 5 Comparison of local use and phytochemical/pharmacological properties of medicinal plants.

From: Indigenous use and bio-efficacy of medicinal plants in the Rasuwa District, Central Nepal

Species

Indigenous use

(Present study)

Phytochemical/pharmacological properties

(Literature review)

Local use coherent with known phytochemical/pharmacological properties

Aconitum ferox

Root paste is taken for joint pain.

Alkaloid extract may possess anti-inflammatory properties [48].

Yes

Acorus calamus*

Rhizome is used for cough/cold, and throat pain.

Antimicrobial properties [49].

Yes

Amaranthus spinosus

Root paste is applied on cuts and wounds.

Contains several chemical compounds, including tannins (coagulant), steroids (muscle building), flavonoids (antimicrobial), and volatile oils (antiseptic) [50].

Yes

Artemisia indica

Leaf paste is applied on cuts and wounds.

Antimicrobial properties [49].

Yes

Asparagus racemosus*

Tuber paste is used for fever, stomach ache, and diarrhoea.

Ethanol and aqueous extracts from the tubers exhibit significant antidiarrheic activity [51].

Yes

Berberis asiatica

Cambium paste is used for rheumatism and pith paste is used for eye problems.

Widespread use as an extract in eye drops for conjunctivitis [21]. Effective as an antipyretic, anaesthetic, and antihypertensive [52].

Yes

Bergenia ciliata*

Whole plant juice is taken to treat indigestion, fever, diarrhoea, and dysentery.

Plants possess antipyretic, antidiarrheic, diuretic and expectorant properties [21].

Yes

Cannabis sativa

Plant paste is taken for stomach problems.

Diuretic, anti-emetic, anti-epileptic, painkilling, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties [53].

Yes

Cordyceps sinensis

Whole plant juice is taken as a tonic.

Largely recognised as inducing sexual power and vitality [16, 54, 55].

Yes

Eupatorium adenophorum

Leaf juice is applied on cuts and wounds.

Contains haemostatic ayapanin [20].

Yes

Fraxinus floribunda

Bark infusion is used for body pain.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and skin regenerating activities [56].

Yes

Fritillaria cirrhosa*

Plant juice is taken for stomach disorders.

Plant contains steroidal alkaloids effective against stomach disorders [57].

Yes

Hippophae salicifolia

Fruit juice is taken for cough, diarrhoea, and menstrual disorder.

Contains high levels of flavonoids (with antimicrobial properties and effectiveness against menopausal symptoms), carotenoids and vitamin C [58].

Yes

Hippophae tibetana

Fruit juice is taken for stomach disorders.

Contains high levels of flavonoids (antimicrobial), carotenoids and vitamin C [58].

Yes

Juglans regia

Fruit juice is taken as a tonic.

Seeds are diuretic and a nervous system depressant [59].

No

Lindera neesiana

Fruit juice taken for diarrhoea.

Essential oil extracted from fruits possess significant antimicrobial activity [60].

Yes

Lycopodium clavatum

Pollen paste is used on cuts and wounds.

Contains anti-inflammatory alkaloidal-types of compounds [61].

Yes

Nardostachys grandiflora*

Whole plant juice is taken to treat headache and high altitude sickness.

Ethanol extract from roots showed anticonvulsant activity and are a nervous system stimulant [62].

Partial

Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora*

Used for body pain.

Contains glycosides [63].

Unknown

Onychium japonicum

Used for skin problems.

Onychin-a flavanone glycoside is cytotoxic [64].

No

Paris polyphylla*

Root paste is taken for fever, vomiting and worms.

A methanolic extract is gastroprotective [65]. Also possesses anthelmintic properties [66].

Yes

Potentilla fulgens

Root paste is used against gastritis.

Possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties [67].

Yes

Rheum australe*

Root juice is taken for fever, indigestion, diarrhoea, and stomach ache.

Purgative, astringent, and anti-amoebic effects [68].

Yes

Rhododendron anthopogon

Flower is chewed for stomach ache.

Volatile components possess antimicrobial activities [69].

Yes

Rubia manjith

Root paste is applied over scabies and other skin diseases.

Anti-proliferative against epidermal keratinocytes [70]. Antiseptic properties [16, 71].

Yes

Swertia chirayita*

Whole plant juice is used for fever, cold and headache.

An aqueous extract is antipyretic [72], and an ethanolic extract is antibacterial and antifungal [73]. An aqueous extract is anti-inflammatory [74].

Yes

Taxus wallichiania*

Leaf juice is drunk to treat respiratory problems.

Antimicrobial effect [75].

Yes

Valeriana jatamansi*

Rhizome paste is applied on cuts and wounds and joint problems. Rhizome is chewed to treat throat pain.

Analgesic, carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, expectorant, diuretic and sedative properties [76].

Yes

Vitex negundo

Seed paste is used for worms.

Possesses antifeedant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties [77, 78].

Yes

Zanthoxylum armatum*

Fruits are crushed, pickled and taken for stomach ache and indigestion.

Ethanol fruit extract is antibacterial against gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium phlei) [79].

Yes

  1. Species identified by an asterisk are high-priority species of the Rasuwa district (see Table 4).