1. Introduction

Arisaema jacquemontii Blume belongs to family Araceae. It is a perennial tuberous herb with variable height from 4-28 inches. It is native to Afghanistan, China, India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan and Sikkim. It is easily available in Himalayan forests above the sea level of 2300-4300 m ^[1] [1] and also found in upper forest and lower alpine zone in the drier areas of Himalayas in the range of 2400-4000 meters ^[2]. The species name refers to French naturalist Victor Jacquemont (1801-1832) ^[3]. Flowering period is June-July and fruits are red berries when mature. Plant has 1 or 2 leaves, leaflets 5-7, elliptic-ovate or elliptic – lanceolate. Spathe is green, white-streaked ^[4]. Its habitat is soil full of humus and rocky substrates, shrubberies and sub-alpine areas ^[5], prefers a loamy or peaty soil and will tolerate a sunny position if the soil is moist but not water-logged and the position is not too hot or exposed. Arisaema jacquemonti plant is typically male when small, and female or hermaphroditic when large, with a single plant capable of changing sex depending on its nutrition and genetics and perhaps changing sex several times during its long life ^[1] (Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3)^[1].

Figure 1. Arisaema jacquemontii Blume.

Table 1.: Scientific classification ^[1][4][6][7].

Scientific classification ^{[1, 4, 6, 7]}.

Table 2.:

Names of

Arisaema jacquemontii

Blume., in different languages and regions.

Table 3.: Taxonomy ^[4][5][10].

Taxonomy [4, 5, 10].

2. Economic Importance 

In Nepal leaves are used as vegetable ^[11]. Dried tuber is also used as food. Plant is widely used in horticultural trade ^{[1][6][1, 6]}. It is also used in preparation of some food dishes and alcoholic beverages ^[17].

3. Toxicity

The plant of Arisaema jacquemontii contains calcium oxalate crystals which causes an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles stuck into mouth and tongue if they are eaten but are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water ^{[1][2][1, 2]}.

4. Ethnopharmacognosy 

Arisaema jacquemontii is a medicinally important plant. It is used in different countries to treat various ailments. Mostly it is used for dermatological purposes.

5. Whole Plant

In Shopian district of Kashmir plant is used against skin problems ^[26], used camouflage for snakes in coniferous temperate zone of Kaghan valley ^[27], also used against snake bites in Manzaray valley, Malakand agency, Pakistan ^[28]. In Bhutan (Dagala) it is used to alleviates microbial infection, swelling, malignant growth of tissues and bones, throat infection, obstruction, infertility and uterus diseases ^[8].

6. Bulb

The water extract of the bulbs is used to get rid of skin eruptions and is recommended for the treatment of skin infections caused due to cold temperature by the people of Kashmir and Himalaya region ^{[5][10][5, 10]}. It is also considered anticonvulsant in folk medicine ^[29]. 

7. Flower

In Tibetan therapy flower is used against fever, stomach problems, swelling, toothache, scabies, chest infection, uterus and menstrual disorders and throat problems ^[11].

8. Fruits

Fruits and its decoction are used as antidote against poisonous mushrooms and snake bite. It is also used for cough, kidney and skin diseases in Garhwal Himalaya ^{[16][30][16, 30]}. They are poisonous and cause sedation, very small quantity is used during meal for relieving body pain. It is also used in small quantities in various preparations by “Hakims” for psychic and nervous disorders ^{[23][31][23, 31]}.

9. Rhizome

Rhizome bolus is given orally to livestock for respiratory problems in Swat ^[32], rhizome is ground with edible oil to form a paste, which is used for massage purposes in order to regain the muscular strength and in skin problems such as blisters, pimples by people of Uri Kashmir ^{[12][33][34][12, 33, 34].} In Tibeten therapy it is used against fever, stomach problems, swelling, toothache, scabies, chest infection, uterus and menstrual disorders and throat problems ^[11]. In Northern areas of Pakistan, 1 to 2 g dried powder of rhizome is used on infected site of snake bite ^[21]. It is poisonous and cause sedation, very small quantity is used during meal for relieving body pain. It is also used in small quantities in various preparations by “Hakims” for psychic and nervous disorders ^{[23][31][23, 31]}. In Uttarakhand state it is used for snake bites ^[35]. Rhizome poultice is applied on rheumatic pain and it is poisonous ^[36]. 

10. Root 

Purified root powder is taken in worm infestations ^[17], paste of crushed dried root powder mixed with ghee or oil is applied externally to treat boils in Baramulla and Kupwara ^[37]. In Tibetan therapy it is used against fever, stomach problems, swelling, toothache, scabies, chest infection, uterus and menstrual disorders and throat problems ^[11].

11. Tuber

Tubers are given to sheep as a remedy for colic and also as wormicide in North West of Himalaya ^[14]. The tuber of plant is used as antidote to poisonous mushrooms and snake bite and also for cough, kidney and skin diseases in Garhwal Himalaya ^[30]. Chopped tuber is used for chronic boils ^[5], cough, kidney and skin diseases in Kedarnath western Himalaya ^[13]. The local people of Tons Watershed Uttarkashi uses tuber for snake bite and skin problems ^[15]. Tuber of the plant is used as an antiseptic on ruptured wounds ^[18]. The 2-3 tubers are made into paste mixed with human saliva and applied on painful burns or boils, with beneficent results in blisters, pimples in Ganderbal Jammu and Kashmir ^[38]. Tuber is used for cough and respiratory tract infection in cows and buffaloes in Shawar valley Swat, Pakistan ^[24]. The tubers are chopped and then poultice formed is used on chronic boils as a remedy in Kashmir Himalaya, India ^[10]. Tuber and tuber juice is used for ringworm and in skin diseases by the people of Kumaun and Garhwal Himalaya region ^{[1][39][1, 39]}. Juices from tuber are applied to skin in treatment of ring worm and other skin diseases, from the corms used in infection and respiratory disorders ^[7] (Table 4 and Table 5)^[7].

Table 4.:

Phytochemistry

Table 5.:

Pharmacology

11. Conclusion 

The traditional uses, economical importance, toxicity, pharmacology and phytochemistry of Arisaema jacquemontii Blume presented in above contnents could be helpful for future studies and research and new molecules could be discovered from this plant for life threatening diseases like cancer. The plant has good future prospective for discovery of new molecules and pharmacological activities.