American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics www.ajpct.org Review Article Traditional Uses of Allium L. Species from North East India with Special Reference to their Pharmacological Activities

Use of the members of the genus Allium L. in Northeast India is quite significant from the perspective of ethnopharmacology. The pharmacological aspect of the genus Allium L. have been clinically evaluated since long due to its typical flavour and ethnomedicinal importance. The plants posses a number of chemical constituents like sulphur, allicin etc. that are responsible for certain biological activities of pharmacological importance including anticancer activity. Several species of Allium L. have been reported from northeast India having ethnobotanical uses and are very popular among the ethnic groups either as spice/vegetables or in folk medicine. Considering the importance of the plants in this region a thorough review of literature was undertaken to prepare a consolidated account of ethnobotany and pharmacological activities of the species occurring in northeast India