1. Aloe vera Tourn. Ex Linn
Nep: Ghritkumari, Gheukumari
Eng: Indian aloe
Syn: Aloe barbadensis
Family: Liliaceae
Habit: perennial herb
Flowering Period: September - January
Occurrence:
Mediterranean (Cultivated)
Chemical Constituents:
Glycodise, aloesin, malic, citric and tartaric acids. Leaves contain barbaloin, chrysophanol glycoside and aglycone, aloe – emodin.
Uses:
Leaves are used in tumors, eye problem, fever, bronchitis, skin disease, leprosy, asthma, jaundice, ulcer and liver complains. The leaf juice forms an important constituent of large number Ayurvedic preparations. It is also used in veterinary medicine. Leaves are used for menstrual suppression. Fresh juice of leaves is cathartic and cooling and used in fever, spleen and liver troubles.
It is used in eye troubles and spleen and liver ailments. It has been found useful for X-ray burns, dermatitis, and other disorders of the skin.
Plant is taken as purgative alterative, fattening, tonic, aphrodisiac, anathematic and alexiteric.
Flowers are anthelmintic and useful in biliousness. Cooling oil is produced by extracting the plant.

2. Centella asiatica Linn.urb
Nep: Ghodtapre, Brahmni
Eng: Water pennywort
Family: Umbelliferae
Habit: Prostrate perennial herb
Flowering Period &Fruiting period: Almost all parts of the year
Occurrence:
Tropical and Sub-tropical zones (up to 1800m)
Chemical Constituents:
Saponins, glycoside Bramosides, Asciticosides. The leaves contain protein carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron vitamin C.
Uses:
The leaves are used as a vegetable. The plants valued in indigenous medicine for treatment of leprosy and skin diseases and also to improve memory. The plant is used as an antidote to cholera. A cold poultice of the fresh herb is used as an external application in rheumatism, elephantiasis and hydrocele. For treating leprosy and other skin diseases, it is given as an ointment or dusting powder. Internally it has been valued as a tonic and is used in bronchitis, asthma, gastric, catarrh, leucorrhoea, kidney troubles, urethritis and dropsy. A decoction of very young shoots is given for hemorrhoids.
The plant showed good therapeutic effects in the peptic ulcers. A paste of the plant is applied on boils and tumors. The plant is considered as aphrodisiac and used in venereal diseases.
Syrup of the leaves with ginger and black pepper is taken for cough. After delivery the leaf juice is rubbed on the forehead to cure severe headache. Mixed with bath water, it is used in eczema. The leaf extract is used in the preparation lf medicated oil for bone fracture. The leaves are diuretic. Pills prepared from the paste of leaves of the plant and ocimum sanctum and black pepper are used in the treatment of intermittent fever.
Leaf juice is taken for its alleged cooling property. Leaf juice is taken to normalize high uric acid content in urine. Adult males to overcome early ejaculation of semen during sexual intercourse eat fresh leaves regularly. Leaf juice is taken to check the night – losses. It is believed to overcome excessive menstruation and from prolonged menstrual period. Plant paste is used to treat muscular pain and swelling. Plant juice is given to patient having fever. Infusion of plant is massaged on the forehead to relieve headache. It is also claimed to promote memory power. Plant is used as delirium, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic and hypnotic.

3. Cordyceps sinensis (Break.) sacc.
Nep: Jeevanbuti
Local name: Yarsa Gumba
Eng: Cordyseps
Family: Hypocreaceae
Habit: An insect born fungus coming out of the anterior end of a moth.
Best time of collection: late monsoon.
Occurrence:
           Temperate to alpine region (3000-6000m)
Chemical Constituents:
          Fat, protein, carbohydrate, calcium, and cordycepin alkaloid are obtained from the plant. Quinic acid is further isolated from the cordycepin  alkaloid.
Uses:
It is taken as tonic, brain and cardiac tonics, expectorants, aphrodisiac and used in hiccup and homeostatic. It was highly recommended by ancient medical practitioners as the most effective cure for all illness. Owing to the herb’s high efficacy and potency in curing various diseases, it is well known as an important nourishing tonic.
It regulates and ensures the normal functioning of various parts of the body, strengthens the immune system and promotes overall vitality and longevity . It has traditionally been used for impotence, backache, to increase sperm production and to increase blood production.
Cordyceps is used medically to regulate and support the gonads and as a lung and kidney tonic. It is used specifically for excess tiredness, chronic cough and asthma, debility, anemia, to build the bone marrow and reduce excess phlegm.
The clinical studies done on Cordyceps have been numerous and remarkable, indicating the fungus can improve liver functions, reduce cholesterol, adjust protein metabolism, improves immune functions, inhibit lung carcinoma and has a therapeutic value in the aging disorders including loss of sexual drive.
It helps strengthen the immune system of tumour patients. It is also effective in lowering the lipoproteinemia level, and in preventing Arterio –Sclerosis, Coronary heart diseases as well as certain other diseases related to blood vessels of the brain.

4. Azadirachta indica A.juss
Nep: Neem
Eng: Margosa tree, Neem tree
Family: Meliaceae
Habit: evergreen tree
Flowering Period: February - April
Fruiting period: May- June and August- September
Occurrence:
Tropical and Sub-tropical zones
Chemical Constituents:
Bark contains margosine; leaf contains margosine with bitter substances; seed contain about 10-31% yellow color fixed oil which are further isolated in to azadirachtin, nimbinin, nimbidin, salannin, nimbolin a&b, nymbolide, meldenine, uipinin and nimbiol substances.
Uses:
Bark is bitter, tonic astringent, antipatriotic, alterative, anthelmintic, refrigerant, and pectoral. It relieves cough, vomiting, burning sensation, fatigue, fever, thirst and bad taste in the mouth. Bark cures ulcer and inflammations and is good for leprosy, blood complaint, urinary discharge, malarial fever and skin diseases.
Leaves are anthelmintic, alexeteric, and insecticidal. Leaves are useful in skin diseases, ophthalminia and biliousness. Juice of the leaves is useful in biliousness and cures snake bite. Leaves are used as vermifuge.
Young branches are anthelmintic and are good for cough, asthma, piles,tumors and urinary discharges.
Flowers are bitter, anthelmintic and used to remove cough and in biliousness.
Fruit is anthelmintic and cures urinary discharge, skin disease, tumors, piles and toothache. Oil from the seed is anthelmintic, alterative and good for skin disease.

5. Asparagus racemosus willd
Nep: Kurilo, Santawari
Eng: Asparagus
Family: Liliaceae
Habit: Twining parasitic herb
Flowering Period: August - November
Fruiting period: June - July
Occurrence: Tropical and subtropical zones

Chemical Constituents:
Disaccharides, D-glucose, D-rhamnose, D- monopyranose are extracted from the roots and Quercetin 3 – glucosoide from leaves, flowers contain quercetin, rutin and hyperoside. Fruit contains glycosides of quercetin, rutine and hyperoside, cyaniding-3galactoside and cyaniding-3-glucohamnoside.
Uses:
Roots are aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, alterative refrigerant, diuretic, demulcent. and galactagogue. Root tubers are fed to get relief from milking disorder of cattle. Root paste is taken to treat fever and tender shoots are eaten to reduce high fever. Root is regarded as appetizer, alternative and stomachic. Roots are also useful in dysentery, tumors, inflammations, diseases of blood and eye, throat complaints, tuberculoses, leprosy, epilepsy and high blindness. Roots are also useful in disease of the kidney and liver, scalding urine, gleets and gonorrhea. Root powder is given as tonic for strength. Tender leaves are eaten as vegetable. Root paste, which stimulates mild secretion, is used as an invigorating tonic to lactating women and livestock.
Rhizomes are used in cooling and indigestion. Tender shoots are also cooked as vegetable, which is considered to be vital tonic for recovering patient and post natal mothers.
Fruit is eaten to treat pimples.