Table 1.
Some well-known Indian medicinal plants and their uses
| Botanical name | Parts used | Therapeutic uses |
| Acorus calamus Linn (Araceae) | Rhizome | Nervine tonic, anti-spasmodic (Satyavati et al., 1976; Bose et al., 1960) |
|
Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. (Rutaceae) |
Fruit | Hypoglycemic; chemopreventive (Vyas et al., 1979; Dixit et al., 2006) |
| Allium sativum Linn (Alliaceae) | Bulbs | Anti-inflammatory; anti-hyperlipidemic, fibrinolytic (Dixit et al., 2006) |
|
Aloe barbadensis Mill., and Aloe vera Tourn. Ex Linn. (Alliaceae) |
Gel | Skin diseases- mild sunburn, frostbite, scalds; wound healing (Baliga, 2006) |
|
Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wallich ex Nees (Acantahceae) |
Whole plant | Cold; flu – hepatoprotection (Koul and Kapil-1994; Sharma et al., 2002a) |
|
Asparagus racemosus Willd (Alliaceae) |
Roots | Adaptogen, galactogogue (Dahanukar et al., 1997; Gupta and Mishra, 2006) |
|
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennel (Scorphulariaceae) |
Whole plant | Anti-oxidant; memory enhancing (Singh and Dhawan, 1997) |
|
Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae) |
Bark, fruit, root, stem, wood |
Anti-protozoal, hypoglycemic, anti-trachoma (Dutta and Iyer, 1968; Sharma et al., 2000a) |
|
Boerhavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae) |
Roots | Diuretic; anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic (Sharma et al., 2000b; Harvey, 1966) |
|
Boswellia serrata Roxb. (Burseraceae) |
Oleo resin | Anti-rheumatic; anti-colitis and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer. (Sharma et al., 2000c) |
|
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub (Fabaceae) |
Bark, leaves, flowers, seeds and gum |
Adaptogen; abortifacient, anti-oestrogenic, anti-gout, anti-ovulatory (Sharma et al., 2000d) |
|
Calotropis gigantea (Linn) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) |
Flowers, whole plant, root, leaf |
Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, asthma (Sharma et al., 2000e) |
|
Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. (Verbenaceae) |
Leaves, roots | Uterine disorders (Sood, 1995) |
|
Cassia fistula Linn (Leguminosae) |
Resin | Laxative, anti-pyretic, worm infestation (Joshi, 1998) |
|
Celastrus paniculatus Willd (Celastraceae) |
Whole plant | Brain tonic; memory enhancer; in the treatment of depression (Tanuja Doshi, 1991; Joglekar and Balwani, 1967) |
|
Centella asiatica (Linn) Urban (Umbelliferae) |
Whole plant | Tranquilizer; memory enhancer; wound healing- (Sharma et al., 2000 f; Suguna et al., 1996) |
|
Chlorophytum boriavillianum Santapau & RR Fernandus (Alliaceae) |
Roots | Aphrodisiac (Farooqi et al., 2001) |
|
Cissus quadrangularis L (Vitaceae) |
Whole plant, root, stem and leaf |
Bone fracture; inflammation (Deka et al., 1994) (Udupa & Prasad, 1964b) |
|
Clerodendrum serratum (Linn) Moon (Verbenaceae) |
Root, leaf, Stem | Malaria; anti-asthmatic, anti-allergic (Gupta and Gupta, 1967) (Sivarajan and Balachandran 1999a) |
| Commiphora mukul (Hooker Stedor) Engl. (Burseraceae) | Resin | Hypolipidemic; obesity, rheumatoid arthritis (Satyavati, 1991) |
|
Crateva nurvala Buch-Ham (Capparidaceae) |
Stem bark, leaf | Urinary disorders including stones (Anand et al., 1995) |
| Crocus sativus Linn (Iridaceae) | Stigma | Aphrodisiac, anti-stress, anti-oxidant (Billore et al., 2004a) |
|
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Amaryllidaceae) |
Root stock | Spermatogenesis enhancer (Joshi, 2005) |
|
Curcuma longa Linn (Zingiberaceae) |
Rhizome | Anti-inflammatory, wound healing enhancer; chemopreventive agent; anti-oxidant, anti-cancer (Tripathi et al., 1973), (Narasimhan et al., 2006) |
|
Desmodium gangeticum (Linn) DC (Papillionaceae) |
Root | Anti-oxidant; anti-rheumatic- (Sharma et al., 2001a) (Govindarajan and Vijayakumar-2006) |
|
Eclipta alba (Linn) Hask (Compositae) |
Whole plant | Hepatoprotecive / promotes hair growth (Chandra et al., 1987) |
|
Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae) |
Fruit | Adaptogen, anti-oxidant (Vyas and Apte-1977; Rao and Siddiqui 1964). |
|
Eugenia jambolana Lam. (Myrtaceae) |
Seed, bark, leaf | Hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-pyretic. (Sharma et al., 2001b) |
|
Ficus religiosa Linn (Urticaeae) |
Bark | Anti-ulcer (gastric ulcer); anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic agent- (Ambike and Rao, 1967; Sharma et al., 2001c) |
|
Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) |
Roots and leaves | Anti-diabetic; anti-hyperglycemic (Narasimhan et al., 2006) |
|
Gloriosa superba Linn (Liliaceae) |
Tuber | Spasmolytic, oxytocic; source plant for colchicine- (Sharma et al., 2002b) |
|
Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn (Papillionaceae) |
Stem | Expectorant; peptic ulcer treatment (Mitra and Rangesh, 2004a) |
|
Hedychium spicatum Buch- Ham. Ex. Smith (Zingiberaceae) |
Rhizome | Soothening, Expectorant, anti-tussive Anti-asthmatic (Chaturvedi and Sharma, 1975) |
|
Hippophae rhamnoides L (Elaeagnaceae) |
Fruits | Extensively used in the treatment of circulatory disorders, wound healing enhancer, duodenal ulcer etc. (Arora et al., 2006) |
|
Holarrhena antidysenterica (Linn) Wall ex DC (Apocynaceae) |
Stem bark, leaf, seed |
Anti-spasmodic, anti-colitis, hypoglycemic. (Mitra and Rangesh, 2004b) |
|
Inula racemosa Hk.f (Asteraceae; Compositae) |
Roots | Used in gastro intestinal disorders, diuretic, expectorant and allergic disorders etc (Mishra, 2004a) |
|
Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wt. & Arn. (Asclepiadaceae) |
Root, leaf, fruit | Galactogogue, vasodilator, anabolic. (Anjaria et al., 1975) |
|
Momordica charantia Linn (Cucurbitaceae) |
Root, leaf, fruit, seed |
Anti-diabetic (Ahmad et al., 2001) |
| Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) DC (Fabaceae; Papilionaceae) |
Seeds, root, leaf | Parkinson's disorder, Male sexual disorders. (Nath et al., 1981; Satyavati et al., 1987c) |
|
Myristica fragrans Houtt (Myristicaceae) |
Seed, aril, oil | Aphrodisiac, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory (Sharma et al., 2002c) |
|
Ocimum sanctum Linn (Lamiaceae) |
Whole plant, root, leaf, seed |
Adaptogen; anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, immunomodulator, radio-protector (Uma Devi, 2006) |
|
Oroxylum indicum (Linn) Vent. (Bignoniaceae) |
Root, root bark, leaf, fruit, seed |
Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic (Gujral et al., 1955) |
|
Phyllanthus amarus Schum. And Thonn. (Euphorbiaceae) |
Whole plant | Hepatoprotective (Premalatha Balachandran and Rajgopal Govindarajan, 2004) |
|
Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex. Benth (Scorphulariaceae) |
Tubers | Hepatoprotective; adaptogen. (Narasimhan et al., 2006) |
| Piper longum Linn (Piperaceae) | Fruit, root | Cough, asthma, fever (Satyavati et al., 1987a; Kohli and Salma Aiman, 2006) |
| Piper nigrum Linn (Piperaceae) | Fruit | Cough, asthma, fever (Satyavati et al., 1987a) |
|
Plumbago zeylanica Linn (Plumbaginaceae) |
Root, root bark | Anti-pyretic, anti-cancer, anti-coagulant, cytotoxic. (Sharma et al., 2000g); Krishnaswamy and Purushothaman, 1980) |
|
Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Fabaceae) |
Bark, leaves, gum, flower |
Hypoglycemic, anti-fungal. (Pandey and Sharma, 1975; Satyavati et al., 1987b) |
|
Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. Ex Willd). DC (Fabaceae) |
Tuberous root | Anti-implantation, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, dysmenorrhoea, DUB. (Billore et al., 2004b) |
| Rubia cordifolia L (Rubiaceae) | Root | Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic etc.(Sharma et al., 2002d) |
|
Rauvolfia serpentina Benth (Apocynaceae) |
Root | Hypertension; mental disorders (Kohli and Salma Aiman, 2006) (Chauhan et al., 2006) |
|
Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde (Caesalpiniaceae) |
Stem bark, flower, seed |
Post menopausal syndrome and Gynecolo-gical disorders (Narasimhan et al., 2006; Manjusha Vinjamury et al., 2004) |
|
Saussurea lappa (Decne,) Sch. Bip (Asteraceae) |
Roots | Analgesic; aphrodisiac; asthma (Chaurasia, 2006) |
|
Solanum xanthocarpum Sch. And Wendl. Syn S. virginianum Linn (Solanaceae) |
Whole plant | Asthma and related respiratory disorders (Sinha et al., 2006) |
|
Swertia chirata Buch- Ham (Gentianaceae) |
Whole plant | Anti-malarial; hypoglycemic; febrifuge etc (Dixit et al., 2006; Hamsaveni Gopal et al., 1981). |
|
Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (Symplocaceae) |
Bark | Anti-diarrhoeal (Sharma et al., 2002e) |
|
Taxus baccata Linn (Taxaceae) |
Source of taxol | Used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (Chauhan et al., 2006) |
|
Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae) |
Bark, seeds | Anti-bacterial, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective (Billore et al., 2004c) |
|
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wt. & Arn. (Combretaceae) |
Bark | Heart diseases (Karunakaran Gauthaman and Mishra, 2004) |
|
Terminalia chebula Retz., and Terminalia bellerica Roxb. (Combretaceae) |
Fruits | Laxative, anti-oxidants (Narasimhan et al., 2006) |
|
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wt. & Arn. (Combretaceae) |
Bark | Heart diseases (Karunakaran Gauthaman and Mishra, 2004) |
|
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. and Thoms., (Menispermaceae) |
Stem | Adaptogen, immunomodulator. (Dahanukar et al., 1997; Thatte et al., 1994) |
|
Tribulus terrestris Linn. (Zygophyllaceae) |
Whole plant | Diuretic, anti-urolithiatic, cytoprotective (Chakraborty and Neogi 1978; Sangeetha et al., 1993) |
|
Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash (Poaceae) |
Root | Vetiver oil for cosmetics. (Suhsil Kumar et al., 1997) |
|
Vitex negundo Linn (Verbenaceae) |
Leaves, root, bark, flowers, seed |
Anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, immunodmodulator (Nair and Saraf, 1995) |
|
Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal (Solanaceae) |
Root | Adaptogen, anti-rheumatic etc. (Singh and Sushil Kumar, 1998). |
|
Zingiber officinale Rosc (Zingiberaceae) |
Rhizome | Fever, cough, asthma; anti-emetic (Sharma et al, 2002f) |