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Table 5 Literature study of the surveyed medicinal plants and their relevant ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological studies and known chemical constituents

From: Ethnomedicinal plants used for digestive system disorders by the Karen of northern Thailand

Scientific name

Relevant ethnobotanical citations

Relevant pharmacological citations

Known chemical constituents

Acorus calamus L.

Stomachache*, carminative [60]

antidiarrhoeal activity [61]

asarones [62]

Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don

stomachache [60], diarrhea [63]

NA

steroidal saponins, oligospirostanosides, oligofurostanosides, aspafilioside [64]

Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.

flutulence*, indigestion [65]

antiulcer activity [66], hepatoprotective activity [67]

boesenbergin, cardamonin, pinostrobin, pinocembrin, alpinetin [68]

Cassytha filiformis L.

liver disease [69] dysentery, gastric ulcer [29]

NA

aporphine alkaloids, cassyformine, filiformine [70]

Celastrus paniculatus Willd.

laxative 71]

NA

malkanguniol [71]

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

gastric ulcer* [72], diarrhea* [73]

ulcer protective effect** [74]

centelloids, pentacyclic triterpenoid, polyacetylenes, asiaticosides [75]

Croton kongensis Gagnep.

acute gastroenteritis*[76]

NA

NA

Croton robustus Kurz

NA

NA

trachyloban-19-oic acid, trachyloban-19-ol, poilaneic acid [77]

Curcuma longa L.

Carminative [78]

antiulcer activity**, hepatoprotective activity [40]

curcuminoid [79], zingiberene, sesquiterpenes, α-phellandrene [78]

Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees

dysentery [80]

NA

NA

Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.

diarrhea [81], jaundice [82]

NA

betulinic acid, naringenin 7-galactosyl, dihedral quercetin 5-glactoside [83]

Embelia sessiliflora Kurz

diarrhea [62]

NA

NA

Engelhardtia spicata Blume var. colebrookeana (Lindl. ex Wall.) Kuntze

mouth ulcer [21], diarrhea [62]

NA

Engelhardtione, oleanolic acid [84]

Ensete glaucum (Roxb.) Cheesman

gastritis, constipation [9], food poisoning* [60]

NA

NA

Euphorbia heterophylla L.

laxative*, constipation [85]

NA

stigmasterol, stigmasterol glucoside, benzoic acid, 4 – hydroxyl benzoic acid [85]

Euphorbia hirta L.

vomitting [86], diarrhea [73]

antidiarrhoeal activity [87]

quercitrin, myricitrin, Afzelin [88]

Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch.

toothache* [89], diarrhea* [90] liver disease [91]

antidiarrhoeal activity** [92]

phenolics, tannins, terpenoids [93]

Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Merr.

indigestive, flatulence [90]

hepatoprotective activity** [39]

fleminone, flemiphyllin [94]

Gmelina arborea Roxb.

diarrhea [95] stomach-hepatic diseases* [96]

antidiarrhoeal activity [97], hepatoprotective activity [98]

monoacylated, diacylated, triacylated iridoid glycosides [90]

Gymnopetalum integrifolium Kurz.

NA

NA

cucurbitacin [99]

Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker

gastric ulcer* [100]

antiulcer activity** [42]

methoxyflavones (5,7,4′ trimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone) [100]

Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr.

diarrhea* [69]

NA

flavonids, leucoanthocyanidins, galic acid, amorphous froth forming acid [101]

Melastoma malabathricum L.

diarrhea, dysentery [102], toothache [103]

antidiarrhoeal activity [102]

ellagic acid, anthocyanin, nobotannin B [103]

Musa sapientum L.

gastric ulcer [104], diarrhea*, dysentery [105]

antidiarrhoeal activity* [32], antiulcer activity [106]

alkaloids, pectins, flavonoids, catecholamines, acyl steryl glycosides [105]

Mussaenda sanderiana Ridl.

laxative, toothache* [90]

NA

NA

Ochna integerrima (Lour.) Merr.

jaundice*, mouth ulcer [21] digestive tonic [107]

NA

ochnaflavone, dihydroochnaflavone, lophirone, calodenone [107]

Psidium guajava L.

diarrhea* [108]

antidiarrhoeal activity** [57]

tannins, polyphenolic compounds, triterpenoid, guajanoic acid [31]

Punica granatum L.

diarrhea* [109]

antidiarrhoeal activity** [26]

punicalagins, ellagic acid, tannin, anthocyanins [30]

Senna alata (L.) Roxb.

laxative*, colon cleanser [110]

stimulant laxative activities** and againt costipation [36]

anthraquinoes, phenols, tannins, saponins, flavonoids [34]

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

laxative* [111], liver disease [112] gastrointestinal disease [113]

stimulant laxative activities** [50]

anthaquinones [35]

Tamarindus indica L.

laxative* [114], gastric ulcer [112]

stimulant laxative activities** [37] antiulcer activity [115]

tamarindienal, tartaric acid, malic and tartaric acids potassium acid [37]

Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl.

stomachache, carminative [9]

hepatoprotective effects** [116]

iridoid glucosides, delphinidin, apigenin [52]

Zingiber montanum (J.König) Link ex A.Dietr.

flatulence*, carminative [5]

antiulcer activity* [41]

terpinen-4-ol, phenylbutenoids, zerumbone [52]

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

flatulence* [113]

prokinetic activity [117] hepatoprotective activity [118]

gingerols, shogaols [119]

Zingiber ottensii Valeton

jaundice [120]

NA

zerumbone, terpinen-4-ol, p-cymene [52]

Ziziphus cambodiana Pierre

NA

NA

triterpenes, saponins, cyclopeptide, alkaloids [121]

  1. *ethnomedicinal knowledge in other ethnic groups which have similar usage to medicinal plants used by the Karen.
  2. **pharmacological study which is relevant to the medicinal plants used by the Karen.
  3. NA: data not available.