Research Article

Cytotoxicity Potentials of Eleven Bangladeshi Medicinal Plants

Table 1

Folklore uses of the studied eleven plants.

SpeciesFamilyTraditional use

Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.EuphorbiaceaeUddin [6] stated that the plant is used in diarrhoea, flatulence, gastric ulcer, ureterolithiasis, and jaundice.

Cnicus arvensis (L.) Roth.AsteraceaeAhmed [5] indicated that the plant is used as cholagogic and diuretic. Uddin [6] wrote that traditionally it is used in the treatment of cirrhosis, diabetes, excessive menstruation, gout, hyperacidity (gastritis), liver cancer, jaundice, and scabies.

Commelina benghalensis Linn.CommelinaceaeAccording to Ahmed [5], the plant has reputation to be used as antiseptic, demulcent, emollient, and refrigerant. Ghani [4] stated that it is also used in leprosy.

Hoya parasitica (Roxb.)AsclepiadaceaeAhmed [5] credited leaves of this plant to treat rheumatism.

Hygrophila spinosa T. AnderAcanthaceaeAhmed [5] described that the leaves, seeds, and roots are traditionally used as diuretic and also for jaundice, rheumatism, diseases of urogenital tract, and bladder stones. Joshi [50] and Kapoor and Mitra [51] reported that it is a reputed remedy for arthritis. It is also used as aphrodisiac, roborant, demulcent, and diuretic. The plant is useful in cancer and tubercular fistula and juice in anaemia. It is the source of locally used Ayurvedic, Unani, and indigenous drug preparations having anabolic-cum androgen-like activity.

Litsea glutinosaā€‰
(Lour.) Roxb.
LauraceaeUddin [6] reported that the plant is used in the treatment of anklitis, asthma, bone fracture, tumor, leucorrhoea, hook worm infestation, rheumatoid arthritis, jaundice, epilepsy, liver disease, and dysentery.

Malpighia coccigera MalpighiaceaeNot found.

Melastoma malabathricum L.MelastomataceaeKabir et al. [52] reported that this plant is used among the Tripura tribes in Bangladesh for the treatment of jaundice. Ahmed [5] pointed that the plant is used in diarrhoea, dysentery, wound healing, and skin diseases and Uddin [6] credited the plant for use in abdominal pain, sores in tongue, oedema, gynecological diseases, and snake bite.

Pseudelephantopus spicatus L.AsteraceaeOdonne et al. [28] reported that the plant is used by the ethnic group from the Peruvian Amazonia in leishmaniasis.

Thuja occidentalis L.CupressaceaeAccording to Naser et al. [34] and Kumar et al. [35], in folk medicine, T. occidentalis has been used to treat bronchial catarrh, enuresis, cystitis, psoriasis, uterine carcinomas, amenorrhea, external fungal infections of the skin (ringworm and thrush), headache, scurvy prevention, eczema, anal or genital warts, and rheumatism. It is used as abortifacient, emmenagogue, vermifuge, diuretic, and digestive aid.

Viscum orientale Willd. LoranthaceaeStuar [53] the plant was considered poisonous in folklore medicine; in India used as a substitute for nux-vomica and used for pustular itches. Leaves are burned to ashes which are then mixed with sulphur and coconut oil and rubbed on the body. Poultice is used in neuralgia in Bangladesh. Nayak et al. [54] stated that the plant is used in giddiness and stiffness in Orissa, India.