Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF LASIA SPINOSA (KOHILA): A REVIEW

Samamalee Upekshi Kankanamge* and A. A. M. D. Dinithi Nuwanga Amarathunga

Abstract

In the present review, an attempt has been made to put together the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological studies done on an important medicinal plant Lasia spinosa. It is a large herbaceous plant that belongs to the family Araceae and mostly distributed in South Asia and South-East Asia. Major phytochemicals namely alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, glycosides, tannins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids have been studied in this plant. All edible parts of the plant L. spinosa contain alkaloids and additionally leaves contain tannins and phenolic compounds. The stem, young leaves and rhizomes are of economic value and hence cultivated and used widely as an edible food. The plant possesses the major pharmacological activities including anti-helminthic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor and various other disease preventive factors. This review encompasses the potential application of the above plant in the pharmaceutical field due to its varying pharmacological activities. Habitat and distribution of the plant and the nature of compounds isolated are also reviewed.

Keywords: Lasia spinosa, Kohila, Medicinal plant, Phytochemicals.