Background
Study area
Methods
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Market value/price
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Quantity exported annually recorded by the District Forest Office
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Average annual export to India and abroad
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Annual industrial demand in Kathmandu
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Ease of cultivation/domestication
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Royalties
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Parts used
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Bulkiness (availability in large quantities)
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Social acceptance for further processing
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Quality improvement
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Distribution range
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Threat category
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Legal protection
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Availability of local processing techniques
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Regeneration/rotation period
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Ethno-botanic importance
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Potential for further processing
Results
Ailments treated and remedies formulation
Ailment | Plants |
---|---|
Gastro-intestinal disorders | Asparagus racemosus, Berginia ciliata, Bistorta affinis, Cannabis sativa, Cheilanthes albomarginata, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Hippophae salicifolia , Hippophae tibetana, Lepisorus mehrae, Lindera nessiana, Mahonia napaulensis, Paris polyphylla, Potentilla fulgens, Primula sikimmensis, Rheum australe, Rhodiola himalensis, Rhododendron anthopogon, Vitex negundo, Zanthoxylum armatum |
Fever and headache | Aconitum spicatum, Asparagus racemosus, Berberis asiatica, Bergenia ciliata, Delphinium himalayai, Drynaria propinqua, Geranium nepalense, Juniperus recurva , Lonicera myrtillus, Nardostachys grandiflora, Onychium japonicum, Paris polyphylla, Pieris formosa, Primula sikkimmensis, Rheum australe, Rhodiola himalensis, Swertia chirayita, Swertia multicaulis |
Cuts and wounds | Aconitum spicatum, Amaranthus spinosus, Artemisia indica, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Eupatorium adenophorum, Geranium nepalense, Lycopodium clavatum, Lyonia ovalifolia, Parmelia cirrhata, Parmelia sp., Valeriana jatamansi |
Cough and cold | Abies spectabilis, Acorus calamus, Anaphalis contorata, Delphinium himalayai, Hippophae salicifolia , Juniperus recurva, Swertia chirayita, Swertia multicaulis, Valeriana jatamansi |
Musculo-skeletal problems | Aconitum ferox, Entada rheedei, Fraxinus floribunda, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Phymatopteris quasidivaricata, Valeriana jatamansi |
Respiratory problems | Abies spectabilis, Ephedra gerardiana, Taxus wallichiana, Valeriana jatamansi |
Weakness and dizziness | Cordyceps sinensis, Juglans regia, Nardostachys grandiflora, Rhododendron arboretum |
Dermatological infections | Lyonia ovalifolia, Onychium japonicum, Phymatopteris quasidivaricata, Rubia manjith |
Menstrual disorders | Astilbe rivularis, Hippophae salicifolia |
Ophthalmological problems |
Berberis asiatica
|
Tooth ache |
Swertia multicaulis
|
Kidney problems |
Juniperus recurva
|
Others | Anaphalis contorata, Myrica esculenta |
Preparation method | Description |
---|---|
Paste | Fresh plant parts are crushed with a stone pestle and mortar. |
Juice | Obtained by squeezing or crushing plant parts and filtering through cloth. Sometimes requires addition of freshwater or other liquid for dilution. |
Chewing | Fresh plant parts are chewed. |
Infusion | Plant parts are plunged in water for a few minutes. |
Decoction | Plant parts are boiled in water and the extract (crude drug) is used. |
Informant consensus factor
Ailment | Number of taxa (Nt) | Number of use reports (Nur) | Informant consensus factor (FIC) |
---|---|---|---|
Gastro-intestinal ailments | 20 | 41 | 0.53 |
Fever and headache | 18 | 45 | 0.61 |
Musculo-skeletal problems | 6 | 16 | 0.67 |
Weakness and dizziness | 4 | 10 | 0.67 |
Cuts and wounds | 11 | 48 | 0.79 |
Cough and cold | 9 | 44 | 0.81 |
Respiratory problems | 4 | 26 | 0.88 |
Dermatological infections | 4 | 39 | 0.92 |
Menstrual disorders | 2 | 21 | 0.95 |
Ophthalmological problems | 1 | 5 | 1.00 |
Tooth ache | 1 | 10 | 1.00 |
Kidney problems | 1 | 2 | 1.00 |
Total | 81* | 307 | - |
Prioritization of medicinal plant species
Rank | Prioritization score (/50) | Species name |
---|---|---|
1 | 46 | Nardostachys grandiflora DC. |
2 | 45 | Parmelia spp. |
3 | 44 | Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten |
4 | 44 | Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf |
5 | 44 | Delphinium himalayai Munz |
6 | 41 | Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D.Y. Hong |
7 | 38 | Rheum australe D. Don |
8 | 36 | Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don |
9 | 36 | Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo |
10 | 35 | Valeriana jatamansii Jones |
11 | 34 | Taxus wallichiana Zucc |
12 | 32 | Zanthoxylum armatum DC |
13 | 28 | Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb |
14 | 24 | Paris polyphylla Sm. |
15 | 22 | Acorus calamus L. |
16 | 20 | Asparagus racemosus Willd. |
Bio-efficacy of traditionally-used medicinal plants
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Yes | |
Swertia chirayita*
| Whole plant juice is used for fever, cold and headache. | 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. | 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 |