Phytochemical aspects of medicinal plants of Northeast India to improve the gynaecological disorders: An update

Abstract

Northeast (NE) India is the richest source of medicinal plants with high therapeutic values. Herbal medicines have been used to cure women's health from ancient time by different tribal communities in NE. The medicinal herbs are the excellent sources of various bio-active compounds like steroids, flavonoids, polyphenol, tannin, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids and anthraquinones, which exerts their beneficial effect against various gynaecological disorders like poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, pubertal changes, postmenopausal syndrome, menopause and low breast milk production. Some medicinal plants of NE region (NER) used to cure gynaecological disorders include Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum), Patala (Stereospermum suaveolens), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), sweet flag (Acorus calamus), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), wild raspberry (Rubus moluccanus), etc. Among various reproductive problems, infertility is one of the major issues in female. Sweet flag, Indian gooseberry and Shatavari are the most commonly used herbs for infertility as they are extremely useful in maintaining the hormonal balance of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH) in females. The Assam forest was recently rediscovered with Nothapodytes nimmoniana, an important anticancer plant species, popularly known as Gandheli in Assam. The plant contains a potent alkaloid, camptothecin known for treating ovarian cancer. Herbal medicines are attracting the attention, because they are effective, affordable and possess little or no side effects and nontoxic. The present chapter highlights on the major medicinal plants, their phytocompounds and their role in the medication of various gynaecological disorders.