Table 1 Application of representative phytomedicine in the east and the west.
Common name | Species and medicinal applications in WHO monographs on selective medicinal plants | Species and medicinal applications in Chinese Pharmacopeia | Species and medicinal applications in EU herbal monograph | Species and medicinal applications in ESCOP monograph | Species and medicinal applications in Commission E monograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rhodiola | Not included | Species: R. crenulata Medicinal parts: dried root and rhizome Medicinal use: qi deficiency, blood stasis, chest bi disorder, heart pain, hemiplegia caused by wind-stroke, fatigue and panting | Species: R. rosea Medicinal parts: dried root and rhizome Medicinal use: relieve temporary symptoms of stress such as sensation of weakness and fatigue | Not included | Not included |
Raspberry | Not included | Species: Rubus chingii Hu Medicinal part: dried fruit Medicinal use: seminal emission, spermatorrhea, enuresis, frequent urination, nourish the liver and improve vision | Species: Rubus idaeus L. Medicinal part: dried leaf Medicinal use: symptomatic relief of minor spasm associated with menstrual periods, symptomatic treatment of mild inflammation in the mouth or throat, and mild diarrhoea | Not included | Not included |
Plantain | Species: Plantago afra L., P. indica L., P. ovata Forsk., or P. asiatica L. Medicinal part: dried, ripe seed Medicinal use supported by clinical data: treatment of chronic constipation, temporary constipation due to illness or pregnancy, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation related to duodenal ulcer or diverticulitis, softening the stools of those with haemorrhoids, or after anorectal surgery Medicinal use described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine: treatment of constipation, short-term symptomatic treatment of diarrhoea of various etiologies Medicinal use described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or clinical data: treatment of rheumatic and gouty afflictions, glandular swelling, and bronchitis | Species: P. asiatica L. or P. depressa Willd Medicinal part: whole dried herb Medicinal use: heat strangury with chronic pain, edema, small quantity of urination, and diarrhea caused by summerheat-dampness, phlegm-heat cough, hematemesis, epistaxis, swelling abscess, sore and skin infections | Species: P. lanceolata L. Medicinal part: whole or fragmented, dried leaf Medicinal use: a demulcent for the symptomatic treatment of oral or pharyngeal irritations and associated dry cough | Species: P. lanceolata L. Medicinal part: whole or fragmented dried leaf and scape, or dried flowering aerial part Medicinal use: catarrh of the respiratory tract, temporary, mild inflammatory conditions of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa | Species: P. lanceolata L. and P. major L. Medicinal part: fresh or dried aboveground part Internal medicinal use: catarrhs of the respiratory tract and inflammatory alterations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa External medicinal use: inflammatory reactions of the skin |
Motherwort | Not included | Species: Leonurus ja ponicus Houtt Medicinal part: fresh or dried aerial part Medicinal use: menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, persistent flow of the lochia, edema, small quantity of urination, sore, ulcer, swelling, and toxin | Species: L. cardiaca L. Medicinal parts: whole or cut, dried flowering part Medicinal use: relieve symptoms of nervous tension; relieve symptoms of nervous cardiac complaints such as palpitations, after serious conditions have been excluded by a medical doctor | Species: L. cardiaca L. Medicinal parts: whole or cut flowering aerial part Medicinal use: mild cardiac complaints of nervous origin | Species: L. cardiaca L. Medicinal part: aboveground part Medicinal use: nervous cardiac disorders and as an adjuvant for thyroid hyperfunction |
Fenugreek | Species: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Medicinal part: dried ripe seed Medicinal use supported by clinical data: management of hypercholesterolaemia, and hyperglycaemia in cases of diabetes mellitus, prevention and treatment of mountain sickness Medicinal use described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine: internal use for loss of appetite, and external use for local inflammations, treatment of pain, weakness and oedema of the legs Medicinal use described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or clinical data: treatment of abdominal colic, bronchitis, diarrhoea, eczema, gout, indigestion, dropsy, fever, impotence, chronic cough, liver disorders, wounds and the common cold | Species: T. foenum-graecum L. Medicinal part: seed Medicinal use: deficiency of kidney yang, deficiency cold in low origin, cold pain in low abdomen, abdominal pain caused by cold, abdominal colic, and cold-dampness tinea pedis | Species: T. foenum-graecum L. Medicinal part: seed Medicinal use: treat temporary lack of appetite and skin inflammations | Not included | Species: T. foenum-graecum L. Medicinal part: dried seed Internal medicinal use: loss of appetite and External medicinal use: a poultice for local inflammation |
Turmeric | Species: Curcuma longa L. Medicinal part: dried rhizome Medicinal use supported by clinical data: treatment of acid, flatulent, or atonic dyspepsia Medicinal use described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine: treatment of peptic ulcers, and pain and inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis and of amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, diarrhoea, epilepsy, pain, and skin diseases Medicinal use described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or clinical data: treatment of asthma, boils, bruises, coughs, dizziness, epilepsy, haemorrhages, insect bites, jaundice, ringworm, urinary calculi, and slow lactation | Â | Species: C. longa L. Medicinal part: whole, cured (by boiling or steaming), dried rhizome Medicinal use: relieve digestive disturbances, such as feelings of fullness, slow digestion and flatulence | Not included | Species: C. longa L. Medicinal part: scalded and dried rhizome Medicinal use: dyspeptic conditions |
St. John's Wort | Species: Hypericum perforatum L. Medicinal part: dried flowering tops or aerial parts Medicinal use supported by clinical data: symptomatic treatment of mild and moderate depressive episodes Medicinal use described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine: externally for the treatment of minor cuts, burns and skin ulcers, topically for viral infections Medicinal use described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or clinical data: treatment of inflammation of the bronchi and urogenital tract, treatment of biliary disorders, bladder irritation, the common cold, diabetes mellitus, dyspepsia, haemorrhoids, neuralgia, migraine headaches, sciatica and ulcers, used as a diuretic, an emmenagogue and an antimalarial agent | Species: H. perforatum L. Medicinal part: dried aerial part Medicinal use: liver qi depression, moodiness, depression in the heart and chest, joint swelling, pain, acute mastitis, and oligogalactia | Species: H. perforatum L. Medicinal part: whole or cut flowering top Traditional use: relief of temporary mental exhaustion, minor inflammations of the skin (such as sunburn) and as an aid in healing of minor wounds, relief of mild gastrointestinal discomfort Well-established use: treatment of mild to moderate depressive episodes, short term treatment of symptoms in mild depressive disorders | Species: H. perforatum L. Medicinal part: whole or cut, dried flowering tops Medicinal use: mild to moderate depressive episodes | Species: H. perforatum L. Medicinal part: dried aboveground part Medicinal use: psychovegetative (psychoautonomic) disturbances, depressive moods, anxiety, and nervous unrest |
Burdock | Not included | Species: Arctium lappa L. Medicinal part: dried fruit Medicinal use: common cold caused by wind-heat, cough, profuse sputum, measles, rubella, swelling and sore of throat, mumps, erysipelas, swelling abscess, and skin infections | Species: A. lappa L. Medicinal part: dried, whole or cut root Medicinal use: increase the amount of urine to achieve flushing of the urinary tract as an adjuvant in minor urinary tract complaints; temporary loss of appetite; treatment of seborrhoeic skin conditions | Species: A. lappa L. Medicinal part: dried, whole or cut root Internal medicinal use: seborrhoeic skin, eczema, furuncles, acne, psoriasis, an adjuvant in minor urinary tract complaints External medicinal use: seborrhoeic skin, eczema, furuncles, acne | Not included |
Centella | Species: Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Medicinal part: dried aerial part Medicinal use supported by clinical data: treatment of wounds, burns, and ulcerous skin ailments, and prevention of keloid and hypertrophic scars Medicinal use described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine: treatment of leprous ulcers and venous disorders Medicinal use described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or clinical data: therapy of albinism, anaemia, asthma, bronchitis, cellulite, cholera, measles, constipation, dermatitis, diarrhoea, dizziness, dysentery, dysmenorrhoea, dysuria, epistaxis, epilepsy, haematemesis, haemorrhoids, hepatitis, hypertension, jaundice, leukorrhoea, nephritis, nervous disorders, neuralgia, rheumatism, smallpox, syphilis, toothache, urethritis, and varices; and as an antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and "brain tonic" agent | Species: C. asiatica (L.) Urban Medicinal part: dried whole herb Medicinal use: ampness-heat jaundice, diarrhea caused by summer-heat, stone strangury, blood strangury, swelling abscess, sore and toxin, and traumatic injuries | Species: C. asiatica (L.) Urban Medicinal part: aerial part Medicinal use: wound healing and memory enhancement | Not included | Not included |