Ethnobotanical notes on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Houttuynia cordata</i> Thunb. in North-eastern region of India

Abstract

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Houttuynia cordata</i> Thunb. (Family-Saururaceae) is an ethnobotanically important plant of North eastern region of India. It is a potential source of antioxidants and used extensively in treating number of diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, severe acute respiratory syndrome, blood deficiency, dysentery, etc. This herb is sensitive to severe cold and remains dormant during winter and propagated through rhizomes. It is a good soil binder due to spreading nature of roots and leaves. The herb is generally collected from wild and occasionally cultivated as homestead plant. This has resulted great pressure on the populations occurring in the natural habitats and the plant has become endangered in many parts of North-east India. This calls for sustainable management and conservation of wild and cultivated resources of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">H. cordata</i>.