Several species of the family Caryophyllaceae are widely used by many ethnic communities as traditional medicine throughout the world. The highest number of plants of the family are used in Chinese traditional medicine. The ethnopharmacologial studies of this family indicate that plants of the family possess anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Other miscellaneous properties reported are ribosome inactivation properties, inhibition of prostatic enlargement in rats, and inhibition of intestinal enzyme carboxyelasterase in rats, cerebro-protective activity, and antiobesity in rats. Few reviews have been published yet, providing information regarding medicinal plants of the family and their biomedical properties. All published reviews have focused either on a particular taxa or a few species. The present review is focused on the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the family Caryophyllaceae along with phytochemical and pharmacological studies of the family. A study of the literature revealed significant traditional medicinal importance of the family. Major chemical constituents of Caryophyllceae are saponins, Phytoecdysteroids, benzenoids, phenyl propanoids, and nitrogen containing compounds. The most important property of plants of the family is anticancer activity and is shown by the large number of plant species studied. This review of traditional medicinal and pharmacological uses of plants of the family, provide a ground for future research in the family.

Bryophytes are the second largest group of land plants after angiosperms. There is very less knowledge available about medicinal properties of these plants. Bryophytes are popular remedy among the tribal people of different parts of the world. Tribal people use these plants to cure various ailments in their daily lives. Bryophytes are used to cure hepatic disorders, skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, used as antipyretic, antimicrobial, wound healing and many more other ailments by different tribal communities of Africa, America, Europe, Poland, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan, Pakistan, China, Nepal and different parts of South, North and Eastern India. Apart from ethno-medicinal uses some bryophytes possesses antitumor activities against different cancer cell lines and this property of bryophytes needs to be more focused in the future. Compile information about medicinal properties and anticancer properties of bryophytes is lacking till date. In the present review, the authors tried to compile all the ethno-medicinal and other related information of bryophytes and fill the knowledge lacuna in this particular field. Some published reviews are available but the information is segregated. This manuscript will help people doing research in the bryophytes.

Chandra S. 2022. Documentation of the plants used in different Hindu rituals in Uttarakhand, India. Asian J Ethnobiol 5: 92-101. Hinduism is one of the largest practicing religions. The Indian subcontinent is the cradle of this religion, and it is followed by a majority of the people of the subcontinent. Rituals are the main component of the Hindu tradition. Any ritual is a way to connect with God and offer salutation. From birth to the death of a person, one has to perform various rituals on enormous occasions. Methodology and material used in a ritual vary as per the presiding deity. In the sacrifice (Yajyan) and other worship procedures stage (Mandapa), different utensils and materials required to complete the rituals originated from plant products. These products represent the environmental and geographical structure of the area. Documentation of the plant species used in different Hindu rituals is done in the present article. A total of 104 plant species are enumerated. The use of plant species individually or in combination with others is also elaborated. Some terms used in the rituals, such as Panch Pallav, Panch Mewa, Saptanaja, Tambula, Panchamrita, Ashtha Bali, etc., which have botanical significance, are also discussed.

The herb Drymaria villosa is reported first time from the Western Himalaya. This species is morphologically similar to Drymaria cordata ssp. diandra but can be distinguished by its delicate individuals, villous vestiture, orbicular to reniform leaves, auriculate oblong bifid petals, and numerous reniform seeds. The present collection of the species represents westernmost distributional limit in the Asian continent. Morphological characteristics of the species were examined, which are illustrated here. Key to differentiate it from closely allied species is also provided