Mikania Cordata (Burm.F.) B.L. Rob. – A Bangladesh Folk Medicinal Plant for Gastric Disorders

Mikania cordata (Burm.f.) B.L. Robinson belongs to the Asteraceae family of plants and is a rapidly growing creeping perennial vine found in Bangladesh and other tropical regions. In Bangladesh, the plant is known by a number of names like ‘refugee lota’, ‘libuji lota’, ‘assam lota’, and ‘gastric gach’, the latter meaning gastric plant. In English, the plant is known as bitter vine, climbing hemp vine, and American rope. The plant is considered an important folk medicinal plant in Bangladesh and is used in the north central districts of Bangladesh (like Jamalpur) for treatment of gastric disorders. Other medicinal uses of the plant in Jamalpur district, Bangladesh include use as poultice for treatment of swelling, itches and wounds. This paper attempts to correlate the folk medicinal uses of the plant in Bangladesh versus ethnic uses reported from other countries along with reported relevant phytochemicals and pharmacological activities.

Keywords:Folk medicine; Mikania cordata; Ethnic uses; Jamalpur; Bangladesh