CONTACT : PRABIN ADHIKARI adkprabin26@gmail.com 65 Abstract Nepal is a small South Asian country with a varied geographical and bioclimatic landscape. Invasive Plant Species have already been introduced in large numbers, causing the extinction of native species and disrupting crop production, as well as degrading endangered animal habitats, changing plant species composition, and interfering with tree seedling regeneration. However, it is critical in the health treatment of rural populations in developing countries. Our study will look at and compile knowledge on the therapeutic applications of invasive plants utilized by a range of Nepalese communities. We combed through numerous websites, including Research Gate and Google Scholar, for historical and contemporary studies on the therapeutic usage of Nepal's invasive plants.24 species from 12 families of invasive alien plant species were identified to be utilized for medicinal purposes by Nepalese rural people. The 39 diseases for which medicinal plants were reported were diabetes, rheumatism, fever, ulcers, bronchitis, kidney stone, asthma, urinary insufficiency, and others. Traditional knowledge of invasive plant species' uses is diminishing due to the negative effects of invasive plant species on the ecosystem; hence, rigorous documentation of ethnomedicinal knowledge on invasive plant species is needed. Thus, the medicinal potentialities of unwanted invasive species, which are sometime s neglected by others, will provide a gem for the study world. ISSN : 2580-2410 eISSN : 2580-2119 Ethno-medicinal Usage of Invasive Plants in Traditional Health Care Practices: A Review Prabin Adhikari1*, Swastika Acharya1, Sabina Sigdel1 and Ganga Kandel1 1 Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, Nepal Introduction Plant-based traditional medical practices are founded on hundreds of years of beliefs and observations that precede the formation and dissemination of modern medicine (Aburjai et al., 2007; Mukherjee and Wahile, 2006), and this knowledge has been passed down orally from generation to generation without the use of any written documents ( Samy and Ignacimuthu, 2000). Over the last few decades, medicinal plants have seen a considerable increase in popularity for use in traditional medicine, as well as contemporary and alternative medicine, since they are inexpensive, effective at curing diseases, and relatively safe with few or no adverse effects (Sigdel and Acharya, 2021). Ethnic diversity and indigenous knowledge in Nepal have resulted in extensive ethnobotanical research (Pappan and Thomas, 2017). Because of a global renaissance in traditional and alternative healthcare systems, the market OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Applied Biology Keyword Exotic; Invasive Plant Species; Traditional healers; Medicinal plants; Alien species Article History Received March 18, 2022 Accepted December 14, 2022 I nternational Journal of A pplied Biology is lic ensed under a C reative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly c ited. International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 66 for herbal pharmaceuticals has risen at an amazing rate, and medicinal plants are consequently very important economically (Kunwar, 2013). Nepal is a tiny South Asian country with a diversified geographical and bioclimatic landscape (Tiwari et al., 2005). It is home to 118 different habitats and 3.2% of the world's flora (GoN/ MoFSC, 2014). Nepal has already seen the introduction of a huge number of Alien Plant Species due to its location in the heart of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and between two big economically growing Asian countries (China and India) (Shrestha et al., 2019a). Biological invasions are widespread a nd the fifth most significant cause of global change, with almost one-fifth of the earth's surface vulnerable to plant and animal invaders (IPBES, 2019; Sala et al., 2000). Richardson and Rejmánek (2011) define invasive alien species (IAS) as species whose range has been altered by humans, either unintentionally or intentionally, resulting in self-replicating populations capable of spreading across broad regions in their new home. In Nepal, 27 species (15%) of the 182 naturalized plant species are invasive. Some alien species, which are often farmed, may serve local societies with food, medicine, fuel, or fodder(Kull et al., 2007; Roder et al., 2007), while some are responsible for the deterioration and extinction of native species, disturbances in crop production, habitat degradation for endangered wildlife (e.g., one-horned rhinoceros; Murphy et al., 2013), changes in plant species composition (Timsina et al., 2011; Shrestha and Dangol, 2014; Thapa et al., 2016), interference with tree seedling regeneration (Thapa et al., 2017), livestock grazing, and human health deterioration (Sharma et al.,2005; Kohli et al., 2006). IAPs are being incorporated into indigenous traditional people's everyday lives (Geldenhuys and MacDevette, 1989). However, the usage of alien plant species in ethnomedicine has grabbed less attention (Shackleton and Shackleton, 2018; Shackleton et al., 2007; Novoa et al., 2016). This study aims to discuss the medical applications of invasive alien plants based on current research and to describe these species' beneficial impact on Nepalese rural residents. Materials and Methods Review Methodology We conducted a literature study to determine the medicinal uses of invasive species for human health. We looked through both academic and non-academic publications. The phrases "invasive," "alien," "exotic," "medicinal uses," "human well -being," and "benefit" were typed into Google Scholar and the research portal. Only case studies that directly investigated the medical use of invasive species were considered after all of the sources were filtered for relevance. Also, an evaluation of further information on the distribution pattern and diversity of invasive alien species was conducted. We also looked for additional sources by going through the reference lists of all of the case study articles that were included. In Nepal, there has been very little study on the medicinal uses of invasive species. Therefore, the goal is to give a summary of what is currently known and a platform from which to make suggestions for future research. Results and Discussion Our study found a total of 27 invasive alien species, among which 24 plant species were enumerated as having medicinal values belonging to 12 families. The Asteraceae family has the most invasive species, with ten, followed by Fabaceae with three, and Amaranthaceae with two and one species each belonging to Papaveracece, Pontederiaceae, Convolvulaceae, International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 67 Verbenaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Oxalidaceae, Araceae, and Rubiaceae (Shrestha et al., 2018; Shrestha 2019a; Shrestha and Shrestha, 2019) (Figure 1). IAPs distribution and richness vary with elevation, physiographic (Terai, Siwalik, Middle Mountains, and High Mountains), and phytogeographic areas (eastern, central, and western Nepal)(Bhattarai et al., 2014). Naturalized plant species richness rises with heig ht, peaks at about 1100m above sea level, and declines as elevation rises (Bhattarai et al., 2014) (Figure 3). The plant parts used along with their medicinal uses and altitudinal range and phytogeographic regions (Eastern, Central, and Western) are mentioned in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively. Most of the plant species have multiple uses and they are used to treat 39different ailments. Diabetes, fever, rheumatism, ulcers, bronchitis, asthma, kidney stone, urinary insufficiency, syphilis, and other disorders were among the 39 ailments for which medicinal plants were documented. Almost all the plant parts were used to cure numerous diseases. The most regularly used plant part is a leaf (14 species), followed by a whole plant (7 species), root (4 species), seed, flower (3 species), fruit (1 species), fluid (1 species), and unidentified for 3 species (Figure 2). Table1. Names of plants with their ethnomedicinal uses and parts used S.N Sci enti fi c Name Common Name (Local Name) Fami l y Parts us ed Us es References 1 Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.Ki ngandH.R ob. Crofton weed (Kal o Banmara) As teraceae Leaf and root Treatment of s ki n di s eas es , wound, i tchi ng, meas l es , uteri ne bl eedi ng Jami r et al ., 2018 2 Ageratum conyzoides L. Bi l l ygoat weed (Gandhe) As teraceae Whol e Pl ant treatment of wounds and burns , fever, Pneumoni a, rheumati s m, headache, and col i c Mi ng, 1999 3 Ageratum houstonianum Mi l l . Bl ue Bi l l ygoat Weed (Ni l oGandhe) As teraceae Leaf and whol e Pl ant Us ed i n cuts and wounds , Ski n i nfecti ons Andrade- Cetto, 2009 ; Dani and Ti wari , 2018 4 Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Gri s eb. Al l i gator weed (Jal Jambu) Amaranthace ae Whol e Pl ant treatment of ni ght bl i ndnes s , mal ari a, hazy vi s i on, fi s tul a, pos t-natal compl ai nts , di arrhea , dys entery, and puerperal fever, the mens trual fl ow, l eucorrhoea, l epros y, eczema, gonorrhea Rahman and Gul s hana, 2014 5 Amaranthus spinosus L. Spi ny pi gweed (Lunde Kanda) Amaranthace ae Root and Leaf to treat burns wounds , boi l s , Al egbej o, 2013 International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 68 gonorrhea , eczema, earache, gal actagogue, hemorrhoi ds , s ores , ophthal mi a, menorrhagi a, and anti dote to s nakebi te poi s on 6 Argemone mexicana L. Mexi can poppy (Thakal ) Papaveraceae Seed and l eaf treatment of s everal di s eas es i ncl udi ng tumors , warts , s ki n di s eas es , i nfl ammati ons , rheumati s m, j aundi ce, l epros y, mi crobi al i nfecti ons , and mal ari a. Brahmachari , et al ., 2013 7 Bidens pilosa L. Hai ry Beggar’s s ti ck (Kal o Kuro) As teraceae Leaf and pl ant Fl ui d treatment of fever, angi na, di abetes , edema Kvi eci ns ki eta l ., 2008 8 Chromolaena odorata (Spreng.) R.M.Ki ngandH.R o Si am weed (Seto Banmara) As teraceae Leaf treatment of coughs and col ds , toothache, s ore throat, mal ari a, wounds , di arrhea , s ki n i nfecti on, dys entery, s tomach ache, convul s i ons, and pi l es , Omokhua et al ., 2016 9 Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Sol ms . Water hyaci nth (Jal Kumbhi ) Pontederi ace ae Root, Leaf, and Fl ower Treat hai r fragrance, chol era, s ore throat, s nake bi tes , wound, i nhi bi t cel l growth to treat cancer and treatment of l i pid di s order Ayanda et al ., 2020 10 Erigeron karvinskianus DC. Karwi ns ky’s Fl eabane (Phul e Jhar) As teraceae Uni denti fi e d Treatment of headache, ki dney s tones , bronchi ti s , di arrhea, body pai n, hematuri a, arthri ti s , Indi ges ti on, enteri ti s , epi demi c hepati ti s , Fauzi ana and Sus andari ni, 2019 International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 69 os teoporos i s , and cys ti ti s 11 Galinsoga quadriradiata Rui z and Pav. Shaggy Sol di er (Jhus eChi tl ang e) As teraceae Fl ower To treat s nake bi te, col d, anemi a, and j aundi ce Sal tos et al ., 2016 12 Ipomoea carnea s ubs p. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choi s y) D.F. Aus ti n Bus h morni ng- Gl ory (Bes haram) Convol vul ace ae Leaf, s eed, and fl ower Us ed agai ns t Immunodefi ci enc y Syndrome (AIDS), hypertens i on Mei ra et al ., 2012 13 Lantana camara L. Lantana (Ban Fanda, Ki rnekanda) Verbenaceae Leaf treatment of col d, whoopi ng cough, headache,as thma , chi ckenpox, eye i nj uri es , bronchi ti s , and arteri al hypertens i on Kal i ta etal ., 2012 14 Leersia hexandra Swartz. Southern Cut gras s (KarauteGhan s ) Poaceae Uni denti fi e d treatment of hypertens i on, i mprovement of l i ver and ki dneys functi ons Bi l anda et al ., 2019 15 Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze Bus hmi nt (Ban Si l am) Lami aceae Leaf treatment of di ges ti ve tract and res pi ratory di s eas es Bezerra et al ., 2020 16 Mikania micranthaKunth Mi l e-a-mi nute weed (Lahare Banmara) As teraceae Leaf us ed to bathe ras hes , and s ki n i tches , to make a poul ti ce for s nake bi tes and s corpi on s ti ng, and heal i ng s ores Li et al ., 2013 17 Mimosa pudica L. Sens i ti ve pl ant (Laj j awati ) Fabaceae Leaf Treatment of di abetes , uri nary i nfecti ons , cancer, hepati ti s , and obes i ty Muhammad et al ., 2016 18 Oxalis latifolia Kunth. Purpl e wood s orel (Thul o Chari Ami l o) Oxal i daceae Whol e Pl ant treatment ofcuts , fever, col d, cough, di arrhea, traumati c i nj uri es , dys peps i a, pi l es , anemi a, dementi a and convul s i ons,s prai ns , and uri nary tract i nfecti ons Sarkar et al ., 2020 19 Parthenium hysterophorus L. Partheni um (Pati Jhar) As teraceae Uni denti fi e d remedy for uri nary tract i nfecti ons , s ki n Patel , 2019 International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 70 i nfl ammati on, rheumati c pai n, mal ari a, di arrhea, dys entery, and neural gi a. 20 Pistia stratiotes L. Water l ettuce (Kumbhi ka, Jal akumbhi ) Araceae Whol e pl ant, l eaves Us ed for a s tomach di s order,throat, curi ng ri ngworm, eczema, anodyne for eyewas h, rel i evi ng ear compl ai nts , l epros y, ul cers , pi l es , Chroni c dermati ti s , fever i ntes ti nal bacteri al i nfecti ons , and mouth i nfl ammati on Tul i ka etal ., 2015 21 Senna occidentalis (L.) Li nk Coffee Senna (Thul oTapre, Panwar) Fabaceae treatment of paras i tic s kin i nfecti ons Es s i en, etal ., 2019 22 Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Si ckl e pod s enna (Sano Tapre) Fabaceae s eed and l eaf treatment of toothache, s ore throat, mal ari a, wounds , di arrhea, s ki n i nfecti on, convul s i ons, dys entery, pi l es , s tomach ache, coughs , and col ds Shukl a et al ., 2013 23 Spermacoce alataAubl . Broadl eaf botton weed (Al u Pate) Rubi aceae Whol e pl ant treatment of headache, mal ari a, di arrhea s ki n di s eas es , i nfl ammati on of eye and gums , fever, hemorrhage, uri nary and res pi ratory i nfecti ons Cons ervaand Jes u, 2012 24 Xanthium strumarium L. Rough cockl e- Bur (Bhede Kuro) As teraceae whol e pl ant,root, and frui t, Us ed foreheadache, gas tri c ul cer, urti cari a, rhi niti s, nas al s inus itis, fungal i nfecti ons , rheumati s m bacteri al , and arthri ti s . Fan et al ., 2019 International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 71 Table 2. Distribution of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in Nepal S.N Scientific Name Elevation (m asl) Phytogeographic regions 1 Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.KingandH.Rob. 130-3280 E,C,W 2 Ageratum conyzoides L. 75-2140 E,C,W 3 Ageratum houstonianum Mill. 60-2160 E,C,W 4 Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. 65-1505 E,C,W 5 Amaranthus spinosus L. 60-2640 E,C,W 6 Argemone mexicana L. 65-1400 E,C,W 7 Bidens pilosa L. 100-2930 E,C,W 8 Chromolaena odorata (Spreng.) R.M.King and H.Ro 75-1710 E,C,W 9 Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. 60-1500 E,C,W 10 Erigeron karvinskianus DC. 780-2110 E,C,W 11 Galinsoga quadriradiata Ruiz and Pav. 560-2800 E,C,W 12 Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D.F. Austin 60-1350 E,C,W 13 Lantana camara L. 70-1715 E,C,W 14 Leersia hexandra Swartz. 100-800 E,C 15 Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze 75-1065 E,C,W 16 Mikania micranthaKunth 70-1200 E,C,W 17 Mimosa pudica L. 75-1495 E,C,W 18 Oxalis latifoliaKunth. 600-2570 E,C,W 19 Parthenium hysterophorus L. 60-1990 E,C,W 20 Pistia stratiotes L. 70-800 E,C,W 21 Senna occidentalis (L.) Link 70-1405 E,C,W 22 Senna tora (L.) Roxb. 75-1300 E,C,W 23 Spermacoce alataAubl. 110-2000 E,C,W 24 Xanthium strumarium L. 60-2500 E,C,W (Eas tern=E, Wes tern=W and Central =C) International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 72 Figure 1. Division of plant species based on their family Figure 2. Line graph showing plant parts used 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Asteraceae Fabaceae Amaranthaceae Papaveraceae Pontederiaceae Convolvulaceae Verbenaceae Poaceae Lamiaceae Oxalidac eae Araceae Rubiaceae 14 7 4 3 3 1 3 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 leaf Whole plant Root Seed Flower Fruit Unidentified International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 73 Figure 3. Elevation Range of Invasive Species Conclusions For those living in Nepal's rural areas, invasive alien plant species are vital sources of medicine. A total of 24 invasive plant species belonging to 12 families have been discovered to play an important part in traditional therapeutic practices.Plant components such as roots, leaves, fruits, and even the entire plant have therapeutic properties.Invasive plants in new locations change the makeup of indigenous communities, reduce species variety, disrupt ecosystem processes, and cause massive economic and ecological imbalances. On the other side, they can be employed as a medical tool to improve human society's well -being. The advancement of these traditional medical systems with the goals of safety, efficacy, and quality will not only help to maintain this traditional legacy, but will also assist to rationalize the use of natural products in health care. An invasive plant species that poses a threat to native plants and civilization can be exploited to profit in a variety of ways. The usage of invasive plants in this paper may be useful for other people to include these species into their traditional health-care practices, reducing the load on native medicinal plants.In Nepal, most people's ethnic knowledge of invasive plant species remains untapped. Traditional knowledge of invasive plant species' uses is diminishing due to the negative effects of invasive plant species on the ecosystem; hence, rigorous documentation of ethnomedicinal knowledge on invasive plant species is needed.Thus, the medicinal potentialities of unwanted invasive species, which are sometimes neglected by others, will provide a gem for the study world. 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 A g e ra ti n a a d e n o p h o ra A g e ra tu m c o n yz o id e s A g e ra tu m h o u st o n ia n u m A lt e rn a n th er a p h ilo xe ro id es A m a ra n th u s sp in o su s A rg e m o n e m ex ic a n a B id en s p ilo sa C h ro m o la e n a o d o ra ta E ic h h o rn ia c ra ss ip es E ri g e ro n k a rv in sk ia n u s G a li n so g a q u a d ri ra d ia ta Ip o m o e a c a rn e a s u b sp .… La n ta n a c a m a ra Le e rs ia h e xa n d ra M es o sp h a er u m s u a ve o le n s M ik a n ia m ic ra n th a M im o sa p u d ic a O xa lis la ti fo lia P a rt h en iu m h ys te ro p h o ru s P is ti a s tr a ti o te s Se n n a o cc id en ta lis Se n n a t o ra Sp e rm a co ce a la ta X a n th iu m s tr u m a ri u m E le v a ti o n R a n g e Name of Invasive Plant Species International Journal of Applied Biology, 6(2), 2022 74 References Aburjai, T., Hudaib, M., Tayyem, R., Yousef, M., &Qishawi, M. 2007. 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