Table 1 List of plants screened for cytotoxicity with their ethnomedicinal uses in Darjeeling district*

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