Table 1.
List of plants screened for cytotoxicity with their ethnomedicinal uses in Darjeeling district*
| S. no. | Botanical name | Voucher number | Family | Local name | Type | Part used | Local medicinal uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acmella calva (DC.) Jansen | DJ0092 | Asteraceae | Kalijhar | Herb | Flower, inflorescenc | Toothache, decay, mouth sore |
| 2 | Aconogonon molle (D. Don) Hara | DJ0099 | Polygonaceae | Thotney | Shrub | Young shoot | Astringent |
| 3 | Acorus calamus L. | DJ0049 | Araceae | Bojho | Herb | Root/Rhizome | Vermifuge, fever antispasmodic, Insect repellent Paste prepared from dried or fresh rhizomes is applied on forehead during fever. Powder made fromdried rhizomes is administered orally in case of fever, bronchitis |
| 4 | Artemisia indica Willd. | DJ0093 | Asteraceae | Titey pati | Herb | Leaves & Young Shoot | Use in Skin diseases, asthma, anthelminthic, stomachic, purgative, antispasmodic and amoebic dysentery |
| 5 | Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don | DJ0077 | Saxifragaceae | Buriokahti | Herb | Leaves/roots/Rhizome | Diarrhea, dysentery, blood purifier Root’s juice or pieces are taken orally during diarrhoea or dysentery |
| 6 | Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arnott | DJ0091 | Caesalpiniaceae | Verla | Climber | Seeds bark leaves | Seeds used as tonic, aphrodisiac, leaves demulcent, bark is useful in skin disease, diarrhea |
| 7 | Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. | DJ0076 | Saxifragaceae | Pakhanbed | Herb | Root & rhizome | Tonic, fever, boils, astringent |
| 8 | Callicarpa arborea Roxb. | DJ0090 | Lamiaceae | Guahelo | Shrub | Bark & root | The bark juice is given to treat fever. The root is chewed in cases of boils on the gums |
| 9 | Cedrella toona | DJ0057 | Meliaceae | Toonee | Tree | Bark, fruit, leaf, flower | It is useful in chronic dysentery, ulcer, leprosy, cures fever, headache, blood complaints, cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, anthelmentic; good for scabis and expectorant |
| 10 | Cinchona succirubra Pav. ex Klotzsch | DJ0096 | Rubiaceae | Kulain | Shrub | Trunk & Stem bark | Malaria fever, neuralgia, sciatica |
| 11 | Costus speciosus | DJ0102 | Costaceae | Betlaure | Herb | Root | Useful in fever, bronchitis, anemia, rheumatism and diabetic |
| 12 | Dichroa febrifuga Lour. | DJ0073 | Hydrangeaceae | Basak | Shrub | Roots& Leaves | Fever, malaria |
| 13 | Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult | DJ0100 | Caryophyllaceae | Abhijal | Herb | Whole plant | Above ground parts-steamed and smelled during sinus trouble. Plant paste for fever, cold and cough also used for dog bites, headache |
| 14 | Equisetum debile Roxb. | DJ0071 | Equisetaceae | Kurkure Jhar | Herb | Aerial part | Clotting agent used in wound, nose bleeding & bleeding of urinary tract |
| 15 | Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng./ 6084 | DJ0054 | Asteraceae | Kalo banmara | Herb | Leaf | Uses in external cut and wound |
| 16 | Eupatorium odoratum L. | DJ0089 | Asteraceae | Kalijhar | Herb | Aerial part | Clotting agent used in wound, nose bleeding & bleeding of urinary tract |
| 17 | Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara | DJ0097 | Polygonaceae | Ban phapar | Herb | Fruit & Grains | Diet in colic, used in lungs infection and pulmonary abscess |
| 18 | Hypericum uralum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don | DJ0072 | Hypericaceae | Urilo | Herb | Shoot, flower & seeds | Uses in wound and bruise. Also used as Stimulant |
| 19 | Maesa macrophyla | DJ0056 | Myrsinaceae | Boghati | Bark, fruit, leaf | Uses in tonsillitis, malarila fever, scabis, diphtheria | |
| 20 | Mesua ferrea | DJ0091 | Nageeswari | Nageeswari | Shrub | Bark | Uses various skin diseases (mostly poxes)& in menstrual disorder |
| 21 | Oscbekia nepalensis | DJ0083 | Melastomataceae | Angeri | Shrub | Young leaf or tender shoot | Pneumonia, fever, common cold |
| 22 | Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis (Hardw.) Mabb. | DJ0095 | Acanthaceae | Chuwa | Shrub | Leaf bark & inflorescence | Liver cirrhosis, body ache, piles, dysentery |
| 23 | Pteris biaurita L. | DJ0067 | Pteridaceae | Thadey unew | Herb | Stem, leaf stalk | Bleeding and infection and dysentery |
| 24 | Rumex nepalensis Spreng. | DJ0081 | Polygonaceae | Halhaley | Herb | Root | Root dried or fresh extract used orally in hepatitis, loss of hair, also plant used as dyes |
| 25 | Selaginella monospora | DJ0059 | Selaginellaceae | Shrub | Leaves | Prevents cough, bleeding piles, gravel aminorrhoea | |
| 26 | Smilax zeylanica L. | DJ0087 | Smilacaceae | Kukur | Shrub | Thorny climber | Used in Urinary complaints and dysentery Roots are taken as tonic |
| 27 | Solanum torvum Sw. | DJ0066 | Solanaceae | Jungali bihi | Herb | Leaves | Toothache and jaundice |
| 28 | Stephania glabra (Roxb.) Miers | DJ0086 | Menispermaceae | Taubarkey | Climber | Root bulb | Powder used in diabetes, tuberculosis, asthma, fever |
| 29 | Tetradium fraxinifolium (Hook.f.) T.G. Hartley | DJ0082 | Rutaceae | Khanakpa | Tree | Fruits, leaves | Gastritis, hepatic disorder, dysentery, Indigestion, skin disease |
| 30 | Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Horn.) Honda | DJ0065 | Poaceae | Amliso | Shrub | Young shoots & fresh root | Tonsillitis, boils, abortion, mouth wash skin diseases |