Tracing the Useful Ethnophytomedicinal Recipes of Angiosperms Used Against Jaundice and Hepatitis in Indo-Pak Subcontinent

Jaundice is not a disease but rather a sign that can occur in many different diseases. Jaundice may result from various diseases or conditions that affect the liver, like hepatitis and others. This paper is based on data recorded from various literatures pertaining to ethnophytomedicinal recipes used against jaundice and hepatitis in Indo-Pak subcontinent (India and Pakistan). In total 134 useful phytorecipes of 112 angiosperms belonging to 100 genera and 48 families were collected. Out of these, three recipes were of spiritual nature. The dominant families having great potential to be used against jaundice and hepatitis were Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae (8 spp each) followed by Lamiaceae, Rubiaceae and Rutaceae (4 spp each) and Acanthaceae, Aizoaceae, Anacardaceae, Apoaceae, Moraceae and Poaceae (3 spp. each). These traditional phytorecipes include extracts, leaves, powders, flour, seeds, vegetables, fruits and herbal mixtures. Data inventory consists of botanical name, recipe, vernacular name, English name and habit. Medicinal plants play a key role in the human health care. They have great potential for the treatment of liver diseases. Hence, further work is needed in this regard.