Some of the plants used in traditional medicine of India exhibit anticancer activity. Could it be proved using modern day technologies if it is true.
Scientific Name Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth.
Family Labiatae
Used Part Leaves
Distribution Area A diffusely branched, aromatic annual, distrubuted from Kashmir to Nepal at an altitude of 2,000 m. It is also found in the sub-Himalayan tract, plains of Punjab and the upper Gangetic plain.
Common Uses. A bitter astringent given in the treatment of fevers. An aromatic, tonic specially useful in ague. It is also used to kill lice, and is regarded as depurative The herb has been in use since ancient times and is mentioned in Ayurvedic literature. It is credited with astringent, febrifugal, stimulant, aperient, tonic, diuretic and depurative properties, and is used for the treatment of gout and rheumatism, palsy and amenorrhoea. It is used also to kill lice. The juice of the leaves is used as a blood purifier and also for fevers, and the powdered leaves for burns and boils.
Pharmacological Effect An aqueous extract of the leaves showed diuretic activity on rats almost equal to that of urea. An alkaloidal fraction isolated from the leaves showed stimulant action on the isolated perfused frog heart, rabbit auricle and rat ventricle.
The plant exhibited anticancer activity.
