Background
Materials and methods
Field surveys and data collection
Results and Discussion
Traditional herbal medicine
Medicinal plants and their uses
SN | Scientific name, local name, family and voucher code | Folk use found in present survey | Major folk uses in previous studies | Major uses in the Ayurveda | Selected major chemical constituents | Latest common pharmacological findings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | •⊗Lobelia pyramidalis Wall. Campanulaceae Lobelia (E), Aklebir (N), Eklebir (S), 569/00. Syn. L. nicotianaefolia Roth | Juice of leaves and flowers is rubbed on body parts during body ache. | Leaves and flowers are antispasmodic and they are used as an expectorant. Plant is used for sciatia and back pain [21]. | Lobeline, radicamine. | Lobeline may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea [38]. | |
2. | ♥⊗Cannabis sativa L. Cannabaceae Hemp (E), Ganja (N), Bhang (S). Syn. C. indica Lam. | Leaf juice is applied to control bleeding. | Leaf juice is useful for healing wounds, control bleeding and stomachache [32]. | Cannabigerol, cannabidiol, friedelin, lectins [32]. | ||
3. | ⊗Scutellaria discolor Colebr. Lamiaceae Ratpatya (L), Dampate (N) KU 07263. Syn. S. indica Blume | Whole plant and leaf paste is useful for cuts and wounds. | Plant juice is used for rheumatism [147]. | Wogonin | ||
4. | ⊗Ficus palmata Forssk. Moraceae Bedu (N). Syn. F. virgata Wall. | Plant milk is useful for taking out the thorns from wounds. | Fruits are taken for lungs disorders [147]. | Friedelin, tannins. | Fruits act as demulcent and laxative and are useful for lungs, spleen and bladders [136]. | |
5. | ♥⊗Grewia disperma Rottb. Tiliaceae Viywal (L), Syalpuchre (N). Syn. G. serrulata DC. | Root juice is taken as expectorant. Wood paste is applied for skin diseases (no other information given). | Root juice is taken during cough and cold. Bark paste is expectorant and used for boils [33]. | Root juice is used for controlling bleeding and bronchitis [147]. | -- | Plant is applied in bleedings and bronchitis. Fruits are valued as cardiotonic [136]. |
6. | ⊗Podophyllum hexandrum Royle Berberidaceae Podophyllum, May apple (E), Laghupatra (N), Hatkaudo (L), Hansapadi, Laghupatra (S), 583/00. Syn. P. emodi Wall. ex Hook. f. & Thomson | Root juice is taken for liver complaints (no other information given). | Root extract is purgative [147]. | Aryltetralin, astragalin, lignan, picropodophyllin, podophyllotoxin, quercetin [27]. | ||
7. | •⊗Potentilla fulgens Wall. Ex Hook. Rosaceae Himalayan Cinquefoil (E), Phosre (L), Bajradanti (N), Kanthamun (S), 93/00. Syn. P. siemersiana Lehm. | Dried roots are eaten as dentifrice. | Root powder is used for toothache [25]. | Carotene, coumarins, flavonoids, polyphenols, sterols [25]. | Aqueous extract of the plant reduced germination of food crops [150]. | |
8. | ♥⊗Carum carvi L. Apiaceae Caraway (E), Jangali jira (L), Kalo jira (N). Syn. Apium carvi L. | Fruits are applied against swelling of breast and testicles. | Camphene, carvone, caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene, pinene, sabinene, scopoletin, umbelliferone [100]. | |||
9. | ♥•⊗Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf. Ranunculaceae Nepalese Aconite (E), Bikh (N), Bish (S), KU 07233. Syn. A. ferox var. spicata Bruhl | Root juice is antipyretic and analgesic. | Bikhaconitine, caffeic acid, diterpenoids, lupenoic acid, pseudaconitine. | Caffeic acid of Aconitum species is antioxidative and anti-inflammatory [138]. | ||
10. | ♥•⊗Taxus wallichiana (Zucc.) Pilger Taxaceae Himalayan Yew (E), Kandeloto (L), Lothsalla (N), Madhuparni (S), 99/00. Syn. T. baccata auct. non. | Leaf juice is used for cancer and bronchitis. | Dried leaves are considered to be useful for asthma, bronchitis, hiccough, epilepsy, diarrhea and headache [151]. | Abeotaxane, baccatin, cephalomannin, docetaxol, paclitaxel, taxol [159]. | ||
11. | ♥•⊗Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. Fabaceae Cutch tree (E), Khair (N), Khadirah (S). Syn. A. catechoides (Roxb.) | Wood is used as local tea for cough and cold. | Acacatechin, afzelchin, catechuic acid, catechutannic acid, cyanidanol, dimeric procyanidine, epicatechin, isorhamnetin, phlebotanin, quercetin, taxifolin, tryptamine, vernolic acid [160]. | Cyanidanol, an active ingrediant of Acacia catechu, is claimed to be effective for treating liver diseases [95]. Catechu has hypoglycaemic [161], antipyretic [162] and digestive properties [163]. Taxifolin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities [164]. Catechuic acid is valued for expectoration for chest infection [165]. | ||
12. | ⊗Engelhardia spicata Leschen. ex Blume Juglandaceae Mahuwa (N). Syn. E. colebrookeana Lindl. ex Wall. | Flower juice is drunk for abdominal pain. | Bark is used as piscidal [147]. | Engelhardtione, oleanolic acid. | Engelhardtione possesses antituberculer activities [167]. | |
13. | •Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurtz Anacardiaceae Bile tree, Wild mango (E), Amaro (L), Pitavraksha (S). Syn. S. mangifera Willd. | Plant latex is applied for wounds and cuts. | Latex is demulcent [27]. | Flavonoids of the plant have been known to inhibit intestinal motility and hydroelectrolytic secretion, which are known to be altered for diarrhoeal conditions [168]. | ||
14. | ⊗Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken Sapindaceae Macassar tree, Honey tree, Lac host tree (E), Kusum (N). Syn. S. trijuga Willd | Fruits are eaten as an anthelmintic. | Seed oil is used for skin diseases [27]. | Behemin, campesterol, gadoleic acid, oleic acid, oxalic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, tartaric acid [27]. | Fruit juice stimulates hair growth [169]. | |
15. | Rhododendron campanulatum D.Don Ericaceae Chimal (N) 89/00. Syn. R. wallichii Hook.f. | Flowers are used in body ache and throat pain. Seeds aid digestion. | Flowers are useful for skin diseases [33]. | Leaf extract is used for rheumatism and syphilis [147]. | ||
16. | ♥Boehmeria platyplylla D.Don Urticaceae Chinese grass (E), Kamle (L), Gargalo (N). Syn. B. macrostachya Wedd. | Root paste is applied on control bleeding. | Plant juice is poisonous to fish [147]. | Acetophenone, cryptopleurine, secophenanthroqlinolizidine [174]. | Leaf juice is applied on cuts and wounds [174]. | |
17. | ♥•⊗Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees Acanthaceae Creat (E), Kitatikta, Kalmegh (N), Bhunimbah (S). Syn. A. subspathulata Clarke. | Raw plant root juice is considered as antipyretic and effective against infections. | Plant is useful for curing malarial and intermittent fever, dysentery and liver disorders [32]. | Andrographolide, caffeic acid, kalmeghin, neoandrographolide, panicolide. | ||
18. | •Sapium insigne (Royle) Benth. ex. Hook. f. Euphorbiaceae Tallow tree (E), Khirro (N). | Milky latex is skin irritant and sprayed as fish poison in stream and tributaries. | Bark latex is used to dispel works and germs for livestock [33]. | Latex is vesicant [147]. | Corilagin, guijaverin, nicotiflorin, phorbol esters, quinic acid, rutin, scopolin [179]. | Leaf extract is used for snake bite [180]. |
19. | ⊗Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Negunda Chaste tree (E), Simali (N), Nirgundhi (L), Shephali (S). Syn. V. cannabilifolia Sieb. & Zucc. | Leaf juice is useful in stomachache. | Plant is used for fever and nerve defects [21]. | |||
20. | ♥⊗Skimmia anquetilia N.P. Taylor & Airy Shaw Rutaceae Chillo pate (L), Narpati (N). | Leaf infusion is taken for headache and for freshness. | -- | Linalool could possess anxiolytic effect [137]. | ||
21. | ⊗Persicaria barbata (L.) Hara Polygonaceae Pirrhe (N). Syn. Polygonum barbata Linn. | Stem juice is useful for boils and pimples. | Stem decoction is useful for ulcers [147]. | -- | ||
22. | ♥•Bauhinia variegata L. Fabaceae Mountain ebony (E), Koiralo (N), Kachnar, Kovidarah (S). Syn. B. candida Ait. | Flower and floral buds are eaten regularly to cure leucorrhoea and mumps. | Flowers are astringent and used for diarrhea and hemorrhage [21]. | Butein, hentriacontane, lupeol, nicotiflorin, octacosanol, rhamnopyranoside. | ||
23. | Ficus religiosa Linn. Moraceae Peepal tree (E), Pipal (N), Aswatha (S). | Bark juice is applied for paralysis. | Bark is astringent, and used for hemorrhage and healing external wounds [21]. | Phytosterolin, vitamin K, tannins. | ||
24. | •⊗Equisetum diffusum D. Don Equisetaceae Spreading horsetail (E), Ankhle jhar (L), Kurkure (N), 0555/00. | Plant stem juice is given for gonorrhea. | Plant is diuretic and useful for gonorrhea [147]. | Methanolic plant extract shows good free radical scavenging activity [191]. | ||
25. | ♥⊗Parnassia nubicola Wall. Parnassiaceae Mamira (N), 205/00. | Root paste is applied for eye inflammation. | -- | -- | Methanolic root extract showed moderate anti-inflammatory effect [192]. | |
26. | •⊗Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Myricaceae Box myrtle Bay berry, (E), Kafal (N), Kumbhi, Kaidaryama (S), 567/00. Syn. M. fraquhariana Wall. | Fruits are eaten for dysentery and bark decoction is given for bronchitis. | Bark decoction is useful for asthma, dysentery and lung affections [147]. | Friedelin, myricanone, myricadiol, myricanol, myricitrin, taraxerol [181]. | Methanolic root extract showed potent anti-inflammatory effect [193]. | |
27. | Arisaema flavum (Forsk.) Schott Araceae Banko (N), 562/00. | Rhizome juice is applied on earache and skin diseases. Young shoots are cooked as vegetable. | -- | Alanine, ariseminone, asparagine, cysteine, glycine, norvaline, ornithine [100]. | Methanolic tuber extracts revealed weak antiviral property [194]. | |
28. | ♥•⊗Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Neem tree, Margosa tree (E), Neem (N), Aristha, Nimbah (S). Syn. Melia azadirachta L. | Both raw and dried leaves are used for fever and blood disorders (no other information given). | Azadirachtin, gedunin, limonoids, linoleic acid, nimbin, nimbidin, oleic acid, stearic acid [195]. | Nimbidin possesses anti-inflammatory [170], analgesic [196], antipyretic [49], antiulcer, anticholinergic, antihistaminic and antinicotinic effects [197]. Bark extract is useful as antibacterial [198] and antisplasmodial [199]. Leaf extract promotes wound healing, ulcer protective [200] and hypoglycaemic [201]. | ||
29. | ♥•⊗Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze Lamiaceae Malabar catmint (E), Ratocharpate (N), 167/00. Syn. A. ovata R.Br. | Leaf extract is useful for urinary complaints (no other information given). | Plant is taken for uterine affections [147]. | |||
30. | ♥⊗Lichen species Lichen Lichen (E), Jhyau (N), KU 07267. | Lichen extract and decoction is applied to treat moles. | Paste is used as ointment and antibiotic for cuts and wounds [31]. | Lichen is cardiac tonic [147]. | Atranorin, barbatic acid, norstictic acid, usnic acid, vulpinic acid [112]. | |
31. | •⊗Abies spectabilis (D.Don) Mirb. Pinaceae Himalayan Silver Fir (E), Gobre Salla (L,N), Talispatra (N,S). Syn. Pinus tinctoria Wallich ex D. Don | Leaves are sniffed for cough and cold. | Plant is considered to be used for asthma, bronchitis, cough, rheumatism, anorexia, abdominal lump, indigestion and tuberculosis [22]. | |||
32. | ♥⊗Quercus lanata Sm. Fagaceae Wooly oak (E), Latyaz (L), Baanjh (N). Syn. Q. lanuginosa D.Don | Heart wood is taken as tea and it is laxative in nature. | -- | Cyclobalanone, friedelin, pelagonodin, sitosterol, tannins [100]. | ||
33. | Solena heterophylla Lour. Cucurbitaceae Ban kankri (N) KU 07255. Syn. Melothria heterophylla L. | Fruits are eaten for common cold and pneumonia of child. | Fruits are useful for throat pain and fever [28]. | Root juice is useful for dysuria and spermatorrhoea [147]. | Behemic acid, columbin, lignoceric acid [210]. | Plant extract is hepato-protective and plant coumarin and flavonoids inhibit platelet aggregation [211]. |
34. | ⊗Osmanthes fragrans Lour. Oleaceae Tree Jasmine (E), Siringe (N), KU 07244. Syn. O. acuminatus (Wall.) Nakai | Leaf juice is taken for fever and cold. | Leaf juice is tonic [147]. | Caffeic acid, catechin, gallic acid, leuropin, ligustroside, luteolin, oleanolic acid, phillyrin, succinic acid [100]. | ||
35. | ♥⊗Fragaria nubicola Lindl. Rosaceae Alpine strawberry (E), Bhuikafal (N), KU 07242. Syn. F. vesca L. | Fruit paste heals skin diseases and wounds. | Fruits are astringent and diuretic [147]. | Carotenoids, ellagic acid, flavonoids [215]. | ||
36. | ♥Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. Zingiberaceae Zeodory, Turmeric (E), Sathi, Kachur (L), Haldi (N) Ban haldi, Haridra, Harita (S) KU 07259. Syn. C. longa L. | Rhizome paste is externally applied for paralysis. | Rhizome paste is externally applied to bruises, pains and injuries [31]. | |||
37. | •Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) Linn. Fabaceae Aankuri phul (N), Visnukravita (S). | Decoction of plant is taken for increase memory. | Plant is brain stimulant, aphrodisiac, anthelmintic and antidysenteric [217]. | β sitosterol, betaine, evolvine, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid [181]. | ||
38. | Sterculia villosa Roxb. Sterculiaceae Sterculia, Odaal tree (E), Odaal (N). Syn. Firmiana fulgens (Wall. Ex Master) Corner | Stem bark is considered as an astringent. It is used for cooking breads. | White exudes of the tree is used for throat infection. Root infusion is taken as food adjunct [33]. | -- | -- | Plant extract is useful for skin disease [222]. |
39. | ⊗Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) M. Roem. Rosaceae Nepali white thorn (E), Ghangaru (N). | Fruits are eaten for dysentery. | -- | Pyracrenic acid, sorbitol, tannin [223]. | Pyracrenic acid is anti-inflammatory [223]. | |
40. | ♥⊗Phytolacca acinosa Phytolaccaceae Pokeberry (E), Jaringo (N). Syn. P. latbenia (Moq.) H. Walter | Vegetable is consumed for body ache (no other information given). | Plant is narcotic and purgative in properties [30]. | -- | ||
41. | Smilax aspera Wall. Smilacaceae Rough birdweed (E), Chopchini (L), Kukurdaina (N), 101/00. Syn. S. capitata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don | Root decoction is used for venereal disease. | -- | |||
42. | ♥⊗Ficus auriculata Lour. Moraceae Eve's apron (E), Timila (N). Syn. F. roxburghii Wall | Stem juice is considered effective against diarrhea and fruits are consumed for dysentery. | -- | β sitosterol, epifriedelanol, friedelin [100]. | Tannins of the bark extract may reveal anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities [231]. | |
43. | ♥•⊗Euphorbia hirta Linn. Euphorbiaceae Snake weed, Asthma weed (E), Dudhi jhar (N), Pusitoba (S). Syn. E. pilulifera L. | Plant latex is applied for cuts. Plant juice is applied in asthma and diarrhea. | It is useful for cardiovascular complaints, asthma and spleen disorders [27]. | Galloylquinic acid, Phorbol acid, leucocyanidol, quercitol, camphol, quercetin, chlorophenolic acid, shikimic acid [100]. | ||
44. | ⊗Jurinea dolomiea Bioss. Asteraceae Bhutkes (N) KU 07266. Syn. Carduus macrocephalus Wall. | Root decoction is taken in stomachache and diarrhea. | -- | Vasicine. | Vasicine exhibited strong respiratory stimulant, moderate hypotensive, cardiac-depressant and abortifacient [233]. | |
45. | ♥•⊗Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. Menispermaceae Heart leaved Moonseed (E), Gurjo (N), Guduchi, Amritavali (S). Syn. T. cordifolia auct. non L. | Dilute stem juice is drunk for diabetes. | Berberine, choline, cordifol, isocolumbin, jatrorhizine, magnoflorine, palmatine, tembeterine, tinosporin, tinosporide [27]. | |||
46. | ♥⊗Betula utilis D.Don Betulaceae Himalayan Birch (E), Bhuj pat (L), Bhojpatra (N), Bhurjah, Lekhyapatrak (S), 556/00. Syn. B. bhojpattra Lindl. | Bark decoction is useful for sore throat. | Bark is astringent and its fume is used for easy delivery and placenta expels [21]. | Betulin, karachic acid, leucocyanidin, lupenone, lupeol, oleanolic acid. | ||
47. | ♥•⊗Aesculus indica (Colebr. ex Cambess.) Hook. Hippocastanaceae Horse chesnut (E), Panger, Karu (N), Naaru (S), Horse 563/00. | Seed oil is valued for joint pain and skin problems (no other information given). | Bark is used for dislocated joints and seed oil is considered to be used for rheumatism [147]. | Aescin, aesculuside, astragalin, β sitosterol, catechol, decanoic acid, epicatechin, quercetin, rutin, saponins [100]. | ||
48. | ♥⊗Daphne bholua Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Thymelaeaceae Nepali paper plant (E), Gore, Baruwa (L), Lokta, Kagaj pate (N). Syn. D. cannabina Lour. ex Wall. | Seeds are taken for stomachache and anthelmintic. | Root extract is used for intestinal disorder and powered seeds are taken as an anthelmintic [28]. | -- | Daphnoside, daphnetin, genkwanin, luteolin, taraxerol [100]. | Bark decoction is given to treat fever. Root juice is anthelmintic [240]. |