Lancea tibetica Hook.f. & Thomson: Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

Lancea tibetica Hook. & Thomson, a small perennial herb, grows in high-altitude regions of India, China, Bhutan, and Tibet. The average height of the plant varies from 3–7 cm with red to dark purple fruits. The leaves of the plant are arranged in a rosulate pattern having 6–10. Plant seeds are brownish-yellow, oblong in shape, and about 1 mm long. Lancea tibetica is rich in various phytochemicals resulting in antitumor, antifungal, antimalarial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic-inhibiting, and hepatoprotective characteristics. The plant is traditionally used for the treatment of leukemia, intestinal angina, heart disease, pneumonia, asthma, carbuncles, colic, heart disease, and cough. The therapeutic potential could be associated with biochemical molecules such as lignans, glycoside phenylpropanoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, amino acids, propanediol, and glycosides. Considering the significance of medicinal plants in the treatment of various ailments; this chapter provides an insight into the clinical and nonclinical aspects of the plant.