Editing Acanthaceae (section)

==Medicinal uses==
Traditionally the most important part use in Acanthaceae is the leaves and they are used externally for wounds.
Some research has indicated that Acanthaceae possess [[wikt:antifungal|antifungal]], [[cytotoxic]], [[anti-inflammatory]], [[anti-pyretic]], [[antioxidant]], [[insecticidal]], [[hepatoprotective]], [[immunomodulatory]], [[anti- platelet aggregation|anti-platelet aggregation]] and [[anti-viral potential]].<ref name="Awan, A.J. 2014 44–55">{{cite journal| last = Awan, A.J.| first = Aslam, M.S. | title = FAMILY ACANTHACEAE AND GENUS APHELANDRA: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL REVIEW.| journal = International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | volume = 6| issue = 10| year = 2014| pages = 44–55}}</ref>

For instance, ''[[Acanthus ilicifolius]]'', whose chemical composition has been heavily researched, is widely used in ethnopharmaceutical applications, including in Indian and Chinese [[traditional medicine]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wostmann|first1=R|last2=Liebezeit|first2=G|date=2008|title=Chemical composition of the mangrove holly Acanthus ilicifolius (Acanthaceae)—review and additional data|journal=Senckenbergiana Maritima|volume=38|pages=31–37|doi=10.1007/bf03043866|s2cid=38592501}}</ref> Various parts of ''Acanthus ilicifolius'' have been used to treat [[asthma]], [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]], [[leprosy]], [[hepatitis]], [[Snakebite|snake bites]], and [[rheumatoid arthritis]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bandaranayake|first=W. M.|date=1998|title=Traditional and medicinal uses of mangroves|journal=Mangroves and Salt Marshes|volume=2|issue=3|pages=133–148|doi=10.1023/a:1009988607044|s2cid=129317332}}</ref> The leaves of ''[[Acanthus ebracteatus]]'', noted for their [[Antioxidant effect of polyphenols and natural phenols|antioxidant]] properties, are used for making Thai herbal tea in [[Thailand]] and [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chan|first1=E. W. C.|last2=Eng|first2=S. Y.|last3=Tan|first3=Y. P.|last4=Wong|first4=Z. C.|last5=Lye|first5=P. Y.|last6=Tan|first6=L. N.|date=2012|title=Antioxidant and Sensory Properties of Thai Herbal Teas with Emphasis on Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259979053|journal=Chiang Mai J. Sci.|volume=39 | issue = 4 |pages=599–609}}</ref>