An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Rwanda for voluntary depigmentation

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Voluntary depigmentation, a very common practice in sub-Saharan Africa, often performed with pharmaceutical products diverted from their pharmacological use, may cause severe dermatological and systemic side effects. The present work aims at investigating whether and which herbs were used in Rwanda for similar purposes before the advent of the current depigmentation craze; this may give clues at herbal treatments possibly advantageous compared to current products.

Material and methods

Sixty-one traditional healers, mostly representatives of their associations, were surveyed by questionnaires for knowledge and practice of voluntary depigmentation. Recipes or plants used, plant parts, harvest area, preparation methods, dosage and route of administration were recorded. Most of the cited herbs were harvested with the help of traditional healers and identified by comparison with voucher specimens; herbal vouchers of the five most cited herbs were deposited in official herbaria.

Results

All surveyed traditional healers have knowledge of voluntary depigmentation; the population currently practicing do not recourse to their services but obtain bleaching products directly from the market. Traditional healers disclosed recipes prescribed or self-used (often by women) in their youth; others cited recipes are used to treat skin diseases with properties of “clarification”, “black skin stain removal”, in cases of hyperpigmentation, and/or “skin softening”. Curiously, from the 28 recipes cited by traditional healers, all are mono-herbal preparations; most of the plants are mixed with butter for application to the skin.

Conclusion

Compared to other pathophysiological conditions, there is currently a very limited use of herbal preparations for depigmentation. Five herbs had a citation percentage equal or above to 50%, Brillantaisia cicatricosa Lindau (Acanthaceae), Chenopodium ugandae (Aellen) Aellen (Chenopodiaceae), Dolichopentas longiflora Oliv. (Rubiaceae), Protea madiensis Oliv. (Proteaceae) and Sesamum angolense Welw. (Pedaliaceae); in vitro experiments indicated a modulation of melanogenesis by these plant extracts, confirming the information obtained from traditional healers.     

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Kotli Sattian,Rawalpindi district,Pakistan

Aim of study

The present study aimed to report the ethnomedicinal information from Kotli Sattian, district Rawalpindi for detailed medicinal uses and to inform the community about conservation of medicinal plant diversity and ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants.

Material and methods

Ethnomedicinal data were collected via Rapid Appraisal Approach (RAA) along with interview, group meetings with local people having awareness about medicinal knowledge of plants and individual meetings with local healers.

Results and discussions

This study reported eighty seven (87) indigenous medicinal plants, distributed among fifty five (55) families and seventy nine (79) genera. Among these, herbs contributed 43%, trees 28%, shrubs 21% and climbing plants 8%. About 34% of herbal preparations were made from whole plants followed by the leaves (27%), fruits (08%), bark (06%), seeds (05%), root (05%), rhizome (04%), stem, flower, gum, pod and tubers (02%) and milky latex (01%). Justicia adhatoda showed the maximum use value (0.91) while Cuscuta reflexa showed the least use value (0.11).

Conclusion

Elder people in the study area still rely on herbal remedies although the modern heath care facilities are present in the study area; thus, the indigenous plants remain important medicines in solving health problems.     

Prescription pattern of Chinese herbal products for hypertension in Taiwan: A population-based study

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been commonly used in Asia country. The aim of this study is to analyze the utilization of TCM among hypertensive patients in Taiwan.

Materials and methods

The use of TCM for primary hypertensive patients was evaluated using a randomly sampled cohort of 1,000,0s recruited from the National Health Insurance Research Database in 5-year period from 2006 to 2010.

Results

Overall, 49.7% (n=42,586) of primary hypertension utilized TCM and 12.1% (n=5132) of them used TCM for the treatment of hypertension. Among the top 10 most frequently prescribed herbal formulae, Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin, Gout-Teng-San, Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wang and its derivatives were found to be the most common herbal formulae prescribed by TCM doctors for the treatment of hypertension in Taiwan.

Conclusion

This study showed the utilization pattern of Chinese herbal product in patients with hypertension. Further researches and clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of these Chinese formulae or its ingredients in treating hypertension.     

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants from Leepa valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Aim of study

Ethnomedicinal studies were conducted first time in the Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan to document indigenous medicinal knowledge of most common plant species. Pakistan is diverse country by possessing a wide range of climatic and geological condition; this country also has a mammoth diversity of flora.

Material and methods

Rapid appraisal approach, semi-structured interviewees, personal observations and field work guided by local informants having sufficient knowledge of indigenous medicinal plants were employed to acquire ethnomedicinal information.

Results

In this study 61 medicinal plants belonging to 40 families have been reported through 705 informants (267 females, 393 males and 45 herbal specialists) from 17 sites of Leepa valley. The main sources of herbal medicines were wild herbs (64%) followed by trees (10%), wild shrubs (8%), cultivated herbs (3%), wild and cultivated herbs (3%), wild grasses (3%), climbing wild herbs (2%), prostate wild herbs (2%), spiny shrubs (2%), fungi (2%) and ferns (1%). The most repeatedly used plant parts were leaves (34%) followed by root (16%), seed (10%), shoot (9%), fruit (8%), flower (8%), bark (6%), whole plant (4%) and barriers, tubers, nuts, oil, milky latex (1%). Preparations of medicinal plants were administrated through oral and topical routs.

Conclusion

Leepa Valley is wealthy in its indigenous medicinal plants species and the allied traditional knowledge. Indigenous medicines play important role in the local healthcare system. Most of the local community prefers to use the traditional herbal preparation for against ailments. This is the first record of indigenous knowledge from this area and there is dare need for more studies to authenticate traditional plants used in herbal remedies of study area.     

Evidence-based toxicity evaluation and scheduling of Chinese herbal medicines

Ethnopharmacological relevance

While there is an increasing number of toxicity report cases and toxicological studies on Chinese herbal medicines, the guidelines for toxicity evaluation and scheduling of Chinese herbal medicines are lacking.

Aim

The aim of this study was to review the current literature on potentially toxic Chinese herbal medicines, and to develop a scheduling platform which will inform an evidence-based regulatory framework for these medicines in the community.

Materials and methods

The Australian and Chinese regulations were used as a starting point to compile a list of potentially toxic herbs. Systematic literature searches of botanical and pharmaceutical Latin name, English and Chinese names and suspected toxic chemicals were conducted on Medline, PubMed and Chinese CNKI databases.

Results

Seventy-four Chinese herbal medicines were identified and five of them were selected for detailed study. Preclinical and clinical data were summarised at six levels. Based on the evaluation criteria, which included risk–benefit analysis, severity of toxic effects and clinical and preclinical data, four regulatory classes were proposed: Prohibited for medicinal usage, which are those with high toxicity and can lead to injury or death, e.g., aristolochia; Restricted for medicinal usage, e.g., aconite, asarum, and ephedra; Required warning label, e.g., coltsfoot; and Over-the-counter herbs for those herbs with a safe toxicity profile.

Conclusion

Chinese herbal medicines should be scheduled based on a set of evaluation criteria, to ensure their safe use and to satisfy the need for access to the herbs. The current Chinese and Australian regulation of Chinese herbal medicines should be updated to restrict the access of some potentially toxic herbs to Chinese medicine practitioners who are qualified through registration.     

The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and Pueraria lobata (Gegen) inhibit atherogenic events: A study of the combination effects of the 2-herb formula

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and Pueraria lobata (Gegen) are principle herbs of Chinese herbal formulae which have long been used to treat cardiovascular diseases.

Aim of study

The present study validated the anti-atherogenic effects of three extracts, Danshen alone (DE), Gegen alone (GE) as well as DGE and interpreted their combination effects statistically.

Materials and methods

The anti-atherogenic effects of the three extracts were studied in three assays with regards to inflammation, foam cell formation and vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) proliferation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production model, macrophage foam cell formation model and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced vSMC proliferation model, respectively. The combination effects of DGE were statistically analyzed using combination index (CI) and fixed-ratio experimental design.

Results

The anti-atherogenic effects of the three extracts including anti-inflammation, anti-foam cell formation and anti-vSMC proliferation were demonstrated in this study. Their combination effects in anti-inflammation, anti-foam cell formation and anti-vSMC proliferation were found to be synergistic, additive and antagonistic, respectively.

Conclusions

This study provided scientific support for the combination use of DGE on atherosclerosis and presented one of the first applications of statistical interpretations of the combination effects of the 2-herb formula.     

Analysis of immunological enhancement of immunosuppressed chickens by Chinese herbal extracts

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Radix astragali, Radix codonopis, Herba epimedii and Radix glycyrrizae are 4 plants commonly used in Chinese traditional medicine or veterinary medicine to improve immune functions against chronic diseases in humans and animals.

Aim of the study

We compared immunological enhancement by 4 herbal extracts in clinical healthy chickens or immunosuppressed chickens singly and in combination.

Materials and methods

Water extracts of 4 herbs individually and in different combinations were supplemented in drinking water. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and H5 avian influenza virus (H5-AIV) after vaccination were measured as indicators to evaluate immunological stimulation across groups supplemented with different herbal extracts. The experiments were conducted in both clinically healthy chickens and chickens with immunosuppression induced by reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) infection.

Results

In clinically healthy chickens HI antibody titers against NDV and H5-AIV after vaccination were not influenced by supplementation with the herbal extracts of Radix astragali, Radix codonopis, Herba epimedii and Radix glycyrrizae in drinking water. In chicks with REV-induced immunosuppression, however, supplementation of some herbal extracts significantly increased HI antibody titers to NDV and H5-AIV when compared to the immunosuppressed control group (P < 0.01), but the titers were still lower than those in chicks not infected by REV. The 4 herbal mixtures produced the best enhancement among various combinations. The components of the herbal extract were water soluble and treatment by ether had no influence on immunological enhancement. The molecular weights of the active components of the herbal extracts were in the range of 10,000–100,000 Da.

Conclusion

Our results show that the herbal extract supplementation in drinking water can induce an immune stimulation response in immunosuppressed chickens.It suggests that chickens with REV infection-induced immunosuppression could be used as an experiment model for determination of immunological enhancement effects of some herbal components.     

Why Surinamese migrants in the Netherlands continue to use medicinal herbs from their home country

Aim of the study

When people migrate, they tend to bring along their medicinal plants. In order to improve migrant health, we need information on their traditional health beliefs and practices. This paper investigates medicinal plant use among Surinamese migrants in the Netherlands.

Materials and methods

Data from 210 semi-structured interviews among 1st and 2nd generation Surinamese migrants were analysed to determine which medicinal plants were used, for what purposes, which demographic, socio-economic or psycho-social factors play a role in the choice for traditional medicine and to clarify people's personal motives to use herbs. Variables associated with medicinal plant use were identified by using the Pearson γ2 test and the two-sample t-test. After selecting significant variables by means of bivariate analyses, multinomial logistic regression with stepwise forward selection was used to assess whether medicinal plant use could be explained by a combination of these variables.

Results

More than 75% of the respondents used herbal medicine, and 66% did so in the past year. Herbs were more frequently employed for health promotion (39%) than for disease prevention or cure (both 27%). Almost half of the respondents who had been ill the last year had used herbal medicine. More than 140 herb species were mentioned during the interviews. Plant use was often related to certain culture-bound health beliefs. Spiritual baths were the most popular traditional practice, followed by genital steam baths, bitter tonics, and the consumption of bitter vegetables. Afro-Surinamers more frequently used herbal medicine than Hindustani. The WINTI belief strongly influenced plant use, as well as the occurrence of an illness in the past year, and frequent visits to Suriname. Age, gender, income and education had no significant effect on the use of traditional medicine. Surinamers stated that they used medicinal herbs because they grew up with them; herbs were more effective and had fewer side effects than conventional therapies.

Conclusions

As long as certain culture-bound beliefs and health concepts remain prevalent among Surinamese migrants, and ties with their home country remain strong, they will continue using medicinal herbs from their country of origin. More research is needed on the health effects of frequently used medicinal plants by migrants in the Netherlands.     

Practices of traditional birth attendants in Machakos District, kenya

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The aim of the study was to document TBAs practices as well as the indigenous herbal remedies they use to manage pre, intra and post partum complications in a rural Kenyan community.

Materials and Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted on practicing TBAs and their clients living in the study area. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Focused group discussions were held with the TBAs to supplement the interviews and questionnaire survey.

Results

Two hundred TBAs and 20 clients were interviewed. The majority of the TBAs were females 75% of them having attended to over 200 pregnant women over a period of 5 years and above compared to only 6% of the males. A total of 10 pregnancy related complications and symptoms including threatened abortion, labor complications, post partum hemorrhage and retained after birth were recorded. Fifty five plant species most of them belonging to Euphorbiaceae family were identified for the management of the complications.

Conclusion

Traditional Birth Attendants still have a role to play in assisting pregnant women in rural communities. Their knowledge on herbal medicines is equally important and should be preserved for posterity.     

Herbal medicines for the prevention of alcoholic liver disease: A review

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Long-term excess alcohol exposure leads to alcoholic liver disease (ALD)—a global health problem without effective therapeutic approach. ALD is increasingly considered as a complex and multifaceted pathological process, involving oxidative stress, inflammation and excessive fatty acid synthesis. Over the past decade, herbal medicines have attracted much attention as potential therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of ALD, due to their multiple targets and less toxic side effects. Several herbs, such as Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson (Apiaceae), Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Leguminosae), etc., have been shown to be quite effective and are being widely used in China today for the treatment of ALD when used alone or in combination.

Aim of the review

To review current available knowledge on herbal medicines used to prevent or treat ALD and their underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods

We used the pre-set searching syntax and inclusion criteria to retrieve available published literature from PUBMED and Web of Science databases, all herbal medicines and their active compounds tested on ALD induced by both acute and chronic alcohol ingestion were included.

Results

A total of 40 experimental studies involving 34 herbal medicines and (or) active compounds were retrieved and reviewed. We found that all reported extracts and individual compounds from herbal medicines/natural plants could be beneficial to ALD, which might be attributed to regulate multiple critical targets involved in the pathways of oxidation, inflammation and lipid metabolism.

Conclusions

Screening chemical candidate from herbal medicine might be a promising approach to drug discovery for the prevention or treatment of ALD. However, further studies remain to be done on the systematic assessment of herbal medicines against ALD and the underlying mechanisms, as well as their quality control studies.     

In vitro screening on amyloid precursor protein modulation of plants used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for memory improvement

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The 15 herbs for the screening have been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine or in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cognitive disorders clinically.

Aim of the study

Fifteen plant species were investigated for the inhibition of amyloid peptide (Aβ) production and modulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing.

Materials and methods

The selected plants were extracted successively with 70% ethyl alcohol and absolute alcohol concentrated with rotary evaporation then lyophilized. Using a mouse neuroblastoma cells expressing Swedish APP (N2a-SweAPP), MTT assay was performed to determine the toxicity concentration of each herbal extract. In order to evaluate the activity of ethanol extracts on Aβ inhibition, the N2a-SweAPP cells were treated with a high and low dosage of different extracts for 24 h, Aβs levels in the supernatant of conditioned media were assessed by ELISA. The most active extracts were then subjected to test the effect on APP modulation in N2a-SweAPP cells by determining their effect on sAPPα and sAPPβ through western blot analysis.

Results

Among the screened herbal extracts, only Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (root) and Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy. (leaves) showed profound inhibition of Aβ production. MTT assay demonstrated that the anti-Aβ effect of these extracts was not a sequential consequence of their cytotoxicity. The extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (root) could reduce Aβ production only through APP modulation, which was exhibited together with the up-regulation of sAPPα and down-regulation of sAPPβ.

Conclusion

The results show that extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (root) can lower Aβ generation by modulating APP processing in the N2a-SwedAPP cell line. These results corroborate the traditional use of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (root) for the treatment of cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD).     

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome using a selected herbal combination of iraqi folk medicines

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Mentha longifolia, Cyperus rotundus and Zingiber officinale are widely used in Iraqi traditional medicine for the treatment of multiple gastrointestinal diseases.The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a combination of three herbal agents that are widely used in folk medicine in Iraq for the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Materials and methods

A prospective randomised clinical study was carried out on 40 patients of both sexes between 25 and 60 years of age who had been diagnosed with IBS for 5–10 years. The patients were allocated to one of two groups, each consisting of 20 patients. Group A was treated with mebeverine, and Group B was treated with a capsule containing a combination of the following three herbs prepared as fine powders: Mentha longifolia, Cyperus rotundus and Zingiber officinale. IBS symptoms were assessed before and after 8 weeks of treatment.

Results

Treatment of IBS patients with the herbal combination resulted in improvements in all of their IBS symptoms after 8 weeks, as revealed by increase in their individual symptom scores and in their mean total improvement percentages. These results were comparable to those produced by the standard agent mebeverine.

Conclusion

Patients with IBS showed significant improvements in their IBS symptoms after 8-weeks of treatment with the herbal combination and did not report any adverse effects during their treatment. These results support the efficacy and safety of the herbal combination for the treatment of IBS.     

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Turgutlu (Manisa—Turkey)

Ethnopharmacological relevance

A comprehensive ethnobotanical study was made in Turgutlu. This paper contains folk medicinal plants and ethnopharmacological information of this ethnobotanical study.

Aim of study

The aim of this study is to collect and identify the plants used in therapy by the local people and to reveal information on traditional herbal medicine.

Materials and methods

This study was made between 2010 and 2011 and its materials were the plants collected during the field work. The information was obtained through open and semi-structured interviews with the local people. In addition, informant consensus factor (FIC) and use value (UV) were calculated.

Results

76 Folk medicinal plants belonging to 44 families were identified in this study. Among them, 68 species are wild and eight species are cultivated plants. The most common families are Asteraceae (11.8%), Rosaceae (9.2%), Lamiaceae (7.9%), Apiaceae (3.9%) and Malvaceae (3.9%); the most common preparations were infusion (37%) and decoction (18.5%). A total of 177 medicinal uses (remedies) was recorded. Digestive system disorders have the highest FIC (0.73). According to use value (UV) the most important plants were Rosa canina (0.75), Ficus carica subsp. carica (0.74), Tilia platyphyllos (0.71) and Vitex agnus-castus (0.70).

Conclusion

In the research area the use of traditional folk medicine is still prevalent in the community especially in the villages.     

Effects of Chinese herbs combined with in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation on infertility: a clinical randomized controlled trial

Objective

To assess the effects of using Chinese herbs in assisted reproductive technology.

Methods

Four hundred and thirty-three subjects aged less than 42 years with infertility due to Fallopian tube or male-related factors who were willing to undertake in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation were randomly allocated to a Chinese herb intervention group (n=216) or a conventional treatment control group (n=217). All subjects received one of four routine ultra-ovulation-promoting therapies at the Reproductive Center in the Third Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University according to their physician's assessments. The subjects in the intervention group received various Chinese herbs depending on their conventional treatment. Endometrial thickness, number of acquired eggs, and rates of normal fertility, high-quality embryos, biochemical and clinical pregnancy of subjects were assessed in both groups.

Results

The high-quality embryo rate of 51.9%, biochemical pregnancy rate of 51.0%, clinical pregnancy rate of 44.2% and endometrial thickness of (10.84±1.75) mm in the intervention group were all significantly higher than those in the control group [48.7%, 38.9%, 34.8%, and (10.52±1.50) mm, respectively; P<0.05]. The normal fertility rate of 58.5% in the Chinese herb group was also significantly superior to the 54.7% achieved in the control group (P< 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in the average number of acquired eggs within a single cycle, incidence of excessive stimulation of ovary, rates of embryo transplantation or early abortion and birth of living babies between the two groups.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that Chinese herbs increase endometrial thickness, improve the quality of fertility and embryo, and promote embryonic nidation, thus enhancing the success rate of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transplantation cycle. Using Chinese herbs improves the outcomes and safety of assisted reproductive technologies.     

A strategy for evaluating antipyretic efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines based on UV spectra fingerprints

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Quality analysis and control of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) or herbal medicines (HM) are being more and more investigated based on fingerprint analysis, and there are also some researches on correlating fingerprints of CHM to their efficacy. Multi-component analysis methods together with fingerprints are considered potential useful tools to select candidate herbal drugs from extracts of herbs in pharmacological/bio-prospecting investigations.

Aim of the study

To explore a strategy for evaluating efficacy strength of CHM samples based on their spectra fingerprints and validate it.

Methodology

Radix bupleuri (RB), a typical Chinese medicinal herb for relieving exterior syndrome, and Flos lonicerae (FL), Fructus forsythiae (FF), and Radix isatidis (RI) that are widely applied Chinese herbs for heat clearing and detoxifying, were selected as herbal sources. The aqueous extracts, volatile oils and mixtures of the extracts and oils of the four herbs, plus Ibuprofen suspension (IS), Shuanghuanglian oral liquid (SHL), mixture of SHL and the volatile oils of FL and FF, were used for subject samples to do antipyretic experiments on rats. Ultraviolet spectra were used as the spectra fingerprints to represent chemical characteristics of the samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were adopted as evaluation tools to establish the correlation between pharmacological and spectra data, from which a spectral index for evaluating antipyretic effects of CHM samples was constructed. Furthermore, four compound samples were designed by mixing 50% volatile oils and 50% aqueous extracts of the four herbs with different ratios to validate the strategy.

Results

Efficacy sequence of the 15 calibrating and 4 validating CHM samples, defined by the first canonical correlative variable U₁ of their UV spectra, was consistent with that given by pharmacological experiments.

Conclusions

The strategy proposed in this study could be applied to evaluate efficacy strength of CHM and helpful for screening candidate herbal drugs from different herbs or prepared by different technologies.     

Volume,value and floristic diversity of Gabon׳s medicinal plant markets

Ethnopharmacological relevance

African medicinal plant markets offer insight into commercially important species, salient health concerns in the region, and possible conservation priorities. Still, little quantitative data is available on the trade in herbal medicine in Central Africa. The aim of this study was to identify the species, volume, and value of medicinal plant products sold on the major domestic markets in Gabon, Central Africa.

Materials and methods

We surveyed 21 herbal market stalls across 14 of the major herbal medicine markets in Gabon, collected vouchers of medicinal plants and documented uses, vernacular names, prices, weight, vendor information and weekly sales. From these quantitative data, we extrapolated volumes and values for the entire herbal medicine market.

Results

We encountered 263 medicinal plant products corresponding with at least 217 species. Thirteen species were encountered on one-third of the surveyed stalls and 18 species made up almost 50% of the total volume of products available daily, including the fruits of Tetrapleura tetraptera and seeds of Monodora myristica. Although bark comprised the majority of the floristic diversity (22%) and the highest percentage of daily stock (30%), the resin of IUCN red-listed species Aucoumea klaineana represented 20% of the estimated daily volume of the entire herbal market. Plants sold at the market were mainly used for ritual purposes (32%), followed by women?s health (13%), and childcare (10%). The presence of migrant herbal vendors selling imported species, especially from Benin, was a prominent feature of the Gabonese markets.

Conclusion

An estimated volume of 27 t of medicinal plant products worth US$ 1.5 million is sold annually on the main Gabonese markets. Aucoumea klaineana and Garcinia kola are highlighted as frequently sold species with conservation priorities. The herbal market in Gabon is slightly higher in species diversity but lower in volume and value than recently surveyed sub-Saharan African markets.     

Ethnopharmacological use of herbal remedies for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana

Aim of study

Malaria is one of the most important diseases in the world. Because of the devastating nature of the disease there is an urgent need to develop new drugs or vaccines for the treatment, prevention and management of the disease. The objective of the present study was to collect and document information on herbal remedies traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana.

Methods

Data was collected from 67 indigenous households in ten communities in the district using a validated questionnaire.

Results

In total, 30 species of plants belonging to 28 genera in 20 families were reported to be used in the preparation of the herbal remedies. Mature leaves were the most (55%) common plant part used and 73.3% of the herbal remedies involved a single plant. Most of the herbal remedies were prepared by boiling and administered orally. The majority (47%) of the species of plants used were collected from their compounds or home gardens.

Conclusions

Knowledge about malaria and treatment practices exists in the study area. Herbal remedies were commonly used by people for the treatment of malaria because they were cost-effective. They are also more accessible. Many of the species of plants used have been documented for the treatment of malaria as well as investigated for their phytochemical and antimalarial and/or antiplasmodial activity confirming the results of previous studies as well as rationalization of their traditional use. Five species of plants used in the study area, namely, Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl. (Poaceae), Deinbollia pinnata Schum. &Thonn. (Sapindaceae), Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae), Greenwayodendron sp. (Annonaceae) and Solanum torvum Sw (Solanaceae), are documented for the first time for their use in the treatment of malaria. “The result of this study provides the basis for further pharmacological studies on the herbal remedies used”.     

Ethnopharmacological studies of indigenous medicinal plants of Saravan region,Baluchistan, Iran

Ethnopharmacological relevance

This study was aimed to explore the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant species of Baluch tribes in Saravan region, Baluchistan province, Iran.

Material and methods

Rapid appraisal approach along with the semi-structured open ended questionnaire, interviews and personal observations were used to collect the indigenous medicinal information. Quantitative analysis including the informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value (UV) was performed to evaluate the valued medicinal plants.

Results and discussion

A total 64 medicinal plants belonging to 30 families were reported from the study area. Among families, Lamiaceae dominated over other families and leaves dominated with 31% over other plant parts used as herbal remedies. Rhazya stricta and Datura stamonium (0.35) attributed the higher UV, followed by Otostegia persica (0.33) and Teucrium polium (0.32). Results of the ICF showed that cold/flu/fever (0.71) and blood disorders (0.57) were the most common diseases of the study area.

Conclusion

The use value and informant consensus factor substantiated that the relative importance of plant species and sharing knowledge of herbal therapies between different tribal communities of this area is still rich.