Role of Medicinal Plants for Treatment of Diarrhoeal Related Diseases in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh

Morbidity and mortality due to diarrheoa was a major problem in many developing countries, including
India and Bangladesh, especially amongst children. Many readily available plants in India are used in
traditional folklore medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as cholera, diarrhea
and dysentery. Medicinal plants are very popular in different traditional systems of medicines due to
their diverse pharmacological potentials and lesser side effects in biological systems. Awareness of
traditional knowledge and medicinal plants can play a key role in the exploitation and discovery of
natural plant resources. Medicinal plants are presently in demand and their acceptance is increasing
progressively. Undoubtedly, plants play an important role by providing essential services in
ecosystems. Cymbopogon citratus essential oil includes mircene, neral, geranial and other
unidentified compounds and is used for fighting colds, dysentery, headaches. The essential oil
derived from the Ocimum gratissimum is applied against fever, inflammations of the throat, ears or
eyes, stomach pain, diarrhoea and skin diseases. Anti-motility and anti-secretory activities of Piper
nigrum might be due to the presence of carbohydrates and alkaloids. This review paper suggest that
traditional medicinal plants can be used for the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.