Epsilon Open Archive

Abstract

Leaves and seeds of Plantago major (common plantain or greater plantain) have been used for centuries to treat diseases relating to skin, digestive organs and blood circulation like wounds, inflammation and hypertension. Either whole or crushed leaves have been used to treat for example burns and all kinds of wounds to enhance the healing process, and to stop bleeding. To treat superficial wounds it is sufficient to apply the juice from the leaves. Both polysaccharides and polyphenols may have a synergistic effect on wound healing and other biological activities. Polyphenols extracted from leaves and seeds of P. major have been reported to have bioactive effects especially on wound healing, and to have antiulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antiviral activity. Three subspecies have been described of P. major, two of which have been subjected to genetic and phytochemical analysis. Plantago major subsp. major is naturalized almost throughout the world and is mainly found as an agronomic weed. There has been little work emphasizing the utilization of the bioactive compounds from P. major in modern medicine. Similarly, the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the occurrence of these bioactive compounds have not been reported. The main emphasis of the introductor y paper is to highlight some factors that may be important for the utilization of Plantago major as a medicinal herb, providing the scope for the Ph.D. study. This paper also describes the taxonomy including morphological differences between the two subspecies, distribution, biology, genetics and DNA markers used in P. major.