Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants Belongs to Family Asteraceae for the Treatment of Cancer in Mizoram, Northeast India

Abstract

The traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plant species from the plant family Asteraceae was reviewed for the treatment of several types of cancers in Aizawl District, Mizoram, Northeast India. Traditional healers and patients suffering from various cancers in the study area were interviewed with the help of local translators to congregate the information for the use of medicinal plants against several prevalent cancers in this part of India. In the present review, we reported 22 plant species which were commonly used for the treatment of various cancers and ulcer. The most common used plant for the treatment of various cancers is Mikania micrantha followed by Ageratum conizoids. Leaves are the most common part used. The present review outlined the traditional information along with the major phytochemical compounds obtained from the listed plants which may be responsible for their traditional values in the selected study area. We hypothesized that the information could improve the traditional anti-cancer recipes and might contribute to a better national or international health system in future