Launaea spp.: An important genus of medicinal plant from Sistan and Baloochestan, Iran

Sistan and Baloochestan Province is located in south of Iran. This province is a rich center of variousplants that many of them are not found in other places of Iran. Because of a large region of thisprovince is Chorotype of Saharo-Sindian and Baloochi flora. Launaea spp. is a small genus of thefamily Asteraceae, consisting of 54 species. Plants in the Launaea genus have been usedethnobotanically as bitter stomachic, for treating diarrhea, gastrointestinal tracts, as antiinflammatory, for skin diseases, treatment of infected wounds, hepatic pains, diuretic and asinsecticidal. Phytochemical screening of the crude extracts of Launaea spp. showed that Alkaloids,Flavonoids, Sesquiterpene lactones and Saponins, Isoquinoline, Terpenoids and Phytosterols werepresent in this plant. The known basic chromosome numbers present in Launaea are x = 9, 8, 7, 6 and5. It is growing in dry, saline and sandy habitats. It is known to have low seed viability and reproducesasexually by sprouting vigorously from roots.

Keywords:

Sistan and Baloochestan , Medicinal plant , Launaea spp