Cordia Dichotoma Forst. F.: A traditional Ethnomedicine

Plants have been associated with health, nutrition and overall care of mankind since time immemorial. They play a vital role in the maintenance of human health. The present communication deals with traditional uses of Cordia dichotoma Forst. F. locally called Lasora, family Boraginaceae. The plant is perennial, middle sized, crooked tree, native of Tropical Asia and Australia and occurs in all the warmer parts of India, especially in North Western Tarai Region of U.P. The region is very rich in ethnic as well as floristic diversity. The inhabitants of the area have inherited a rich traditional knowledge on the use of Lasora tree in the management of their various ailments viz chronic orthopaedic fever, dropsy, dysentery, dyspepsia, cholera, catarrh, headache and skin diseases. Phytochemical investigation of the plant is desirable for more useful information.