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 |