2025, Vol. 13, Issue 4, Part D

author(s)
Trina Choudhury, Israt Zahan Supty and Shamima Nasrin Lovely

abstract
Schumannianthus dichotomus is a perennial shrub that belongs to the Marantaceae family. The Marantaceae, often referred to as the arrowroot family, comprises 29 genera and 627 species of flowering plants renowned for their large, starchy rhizomes. The local name varies between locations throughout the country, e.g., papita and pati-jung in the Chittagong region, mastak in Noakhali, pat-bat and murta in the Sylhet and Tangail regions, and paitrabon in Barishal. It is a traditional wetland plant widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia, known for its versatile ethnomedicinal and economic uses. This review consolidates current knowledge on its phytochemical composition, highlighting the presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, and phenolics. The plant exhibits diverse pharmacological activities, including antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and potential phytotoxic effects, supporting its traditional use in folk medicine. Despite promising preliminary findings, scientific research on Schumannianthus dichotomus remains limited, and further studies are essential to validate its therapeutic potential and safety. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Schumannianthus dichotomus to encourage future research and potential applications in herbal medicine.