Plumbago zeylanica, commonly known as Chitrak, is an herbaceous plant that has been deeply researched for its anti-cancer properties, properties which are thought to be exerted due to the high content of Plumbagin, an active constituent found in Plumbago zeylanica, Juglans regia (English Walnut), Juglans cinerea (whitenut) and Juglans nigra (blacknut) [9].

Now, a group of scientists and researchers from the Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, have discovered how Plumbagin, a quinoid constituent isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant Plumbago zeylanica used in Indian and Chinese systems of medicine for more than 2,500 years for the treatment of various types of ailments [9], inhibits in vivo prostate cancer development in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate [9].

The Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, were the first ones to publish in another study in 2008 how plumbagin inhibited the growth and invasion of hormone refractory prostate cancer cells [9]. Image left: Plumbago zeylanica by Latihamba under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

PLUMBAGO ZEYLANICA

Family: Plumbaginaceae
Genus: Plumbago
Common name: Ceylon leadwort, Doctorbush [5,6], Chitrak.

Many have been the properties and health benefits of Ginkgo biloba that have attracted the attention of most of us in the past years. Ginkgo biloba, a tree known for being among the most resistant  tree species that ever existed on earth, has been claimed to be able to inhibit the progression of human colon cancer cells [8], being effective also in the treatment of dementia [9], and as a pilot study suggested in 2005 even improve cognition in patients of multiple sclerosis (MS), more exactly the study suggested ginkgo biloba improved attention in patients of multiple sclerosis [14].

These raise among multiple sclerosis patients the common believe that Ginkgo biloba would eventually help them to improve cognitive problems associated with the disease. This has been just turn down by a study published in the journal of Neurology [14], according to which Ginkgo biloba does not improve cognitive performance in patients suffering multiple sclerosis. Image left: Ginkgo biloba by ginkgogz under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

GINKGO BILOBA

Family: Ginkgoaceae
Genus: Ginkgo
Common name: Ginkgo biloba, 銀杏, イチョウ, pinyin, yín xìng, Hepburn, ichō or ginnan, Maidenhair Tree

Adhatoda vasica (Malabar nut) is a shrub native to Asia, commonly known as Vasaka, that grows also in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, and the Pothohar region of Pakistan, and in the Pharwala area [4]. This herb has been used for treatment of various diseases and disorders in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine [8].

Adhatoda vasica (Malabar nut) is known for its multiple traditional medicinal uses in folk medicine, where it is used, among others, to treat asthma and cough [2]. Extracts of Adhatoda vasica bark, leaves, and flower have also been used to erradicate living red spider mites and eggs from leaves [5], where this plant has also shown certain efficacy. The leaf of Adhatoda vasica (Vasaka) is an important drug of Ayurveda, where it is prescribed as an expectorant [7]. Other uses reported from this plant include its use in the indigenous system of medicine of Naga tribes in India for curing intestinal worm infections. Image: Justicia adhatoda by Shihchuan under Creative Common license (CC BY-SA 2.0).

ADHATODA VASICA

Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Justicia
Common name: Malabar nut, Malabar chestnut, White vasa, Yellow vasa, Vasaka.

Callistemon citrinus is an evergreen shrub originating from Australia and known as Crimson bottle-brush, Red bottle-brush or lemon bottle-brush. The name derives from its original shape and form, and it was given by Robert Brown (21 Dec 1773 – 10 Jun 1858), a Scottish botanist that made important contributions to botany through the use of microscope [4]. It means beautiful stamens.

The genus Callistemon belongs to family Myrtaceae, a genus that has among its 140 genera approximately 3800 species [6]. Image: Herbcyclopedia.

CALLISTEMON CITRINUS

Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Callistemon
Common name: Crimson bottle-brush, Lemon bottle-brush, Red bottle-brush.