Abstract

Lots of today’s synthetic medicines are created from the number of plants. A great deal of work has been done in the field of allopathic and herbal medicine, as reported by number of publications describing phytoconstituents in previous years as anti-tumor drugs, contraceptives drugs, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant drugs etc. A plant contains numerous chemical compounds, which work for different therapeutic purposes. Worldwide nearly one fourth of the prescribed drugs are originated from plants, 121 active chemical constituents of plants are currently in use. About 85,000 valuable medicinal plant species worldwide are reported. Pakistan is a rich country in terms of vegetation of medicinal and aromatic plants. Medicial plants in Pakistan are used to treat different ailments, like hepatic diseases, cardiac problems, common disorders like fever, cough, diarrhea, cold etc. with less or no side effects. Purpose of present study is to deliver information on the therapeutic potentials of two common medicinal plants (Cannabis sativa, Chenopodium album commonly used in traditional medicines in Pakistan. Both of these plants possess different biological activities and various therapeutic uses.

Keywords: Pakistan; Medicinal plants; Phytochemistry; Cannabis sativa; Chenopodium album