Table 1 Ethnomedicinal uses and properties of the selected plants
Latin pharmaceutical name/Plant scientific name/Family/Voucher specimen no. | Vernacular/pinyin names | Ethnomedicinal uses | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
Herba Polygonis Hydropiperis/Persicaria hydropiper (L.)a Spach/Polygonaceae/001-CS0807 | Laksa plant/Laliaocao | Used as a condiment. Also employed as a stomachic and aphrodisiac. Externally, the crushed leaves or juice are used to treat skin conditions such as ringworms, scabies, boils, abscesses, carbuncles, ulcers or bites of snakes, dogs or insects | |
Folium Murraya Koenigii/Murraya koenigii Spreng./ Rutaceae/002-CS0807 | Curry leaves/Jialiye | Used as a condiment. Treatment of piles, inflammation, itching, fresh cuts, dysentery, vomiting, burses and dropsy | Reducing halitosis [11], antioxidant [12], antimicrobial [13], antifungal [14], antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties [15] |
Rhizoma Arachis Hypogea/Arachis hypogaea L./Leguminosae/003-CS0807 | Groundnut/Huashenggen | Treatment of insomnia and strengthening of bones | Antifibrinolytic [16] |
Herba Houttuyniae/Houttuynia cordata Thunb./Saururaceae/004-CS0807 | Chinese houttuynia or chameleon plant/Yuxingcao | Detoxification, treatment of infection, removing toxic heat, promoting drainage of pus and urination | Anti-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) [17]. Prevention of urinary infection, modulation of neutrophils and monocytes, inhibition of respiratory bacteria [18, 19]. Anti-inflammatory activity [20]. Virucidal effects on herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, influenza virus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 [21, 22] |
Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl./Araceae/005-CS0807 | Dragon tail/Pashulong | Detoxification, removes toxic heat, tendonitis, fractures, burns, carbuncles, sores, redness | Cytotoxicity against cancers cells [23], immuno-modulating [24] |
Rhizoma Typhonium Flagelliforme/Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume/006-CS0807 | Rodent tuber/Laoshuyu | Treatment of cough, asthma, nausea and cancers | Relieving cough, eliminating phlegm, asthmatic, analgesia, anti-inflammation, sedation and cytotoxic activities [25–28] |
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis/Magnolia biloba (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Cheng/Magnoliaceae/007-CS0807 | Magnolia/Houpo | A tonic to improve general well-being, also used to treat cough, diarrhea, allergic rhinitis and phlegm | Alleviateing menopausal symptoms [29], brochial asthma [30, 31], active against Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacterium granulosum [32], antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities [33, 34] |
Rhizoma Imperatae/Imperata cylidrica (L.) Beeuv. var. major (Nees) C.E. Hubb/Gramineae/008-CS0807 | Lalang/Baimaogen | Wound-healing, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agents | Neuroprotective, immunostimulating effects [35] |