Ethnobotanical study of knowledge and medicinal plants use by the people in Dek Island in Ethiopia

Ethnopharmacological relevance

It reveals the trend of knowledge of medicinal plants and the documentation serves as a baseline data for future phytochemical and pharmacological studies.

Aim of the study

The medicinal plants are the integral part of the variety of cultures in Ethiopia and have been used over many centuries. Hence, the aim of this study is to assess knowledge specifically with regard to gender and age, and to document medicinal plants used by the people in Dek Island.

Materials and methods

The ethnobotanical surveys and quantitative analytical methods were used to study the level of knowledge and medicinal plants use in Dek Island.

Results

The male (mean = 5.75 ± 0.65; p < 0.001) and informants with ≥40 years of age (mean = 5.25 ± 0.56; p < 0.05) reported more medicinal plants. Age (p < 0.05) and sex (p < 0.05) have influence on knowledge of medicinal plants though sex (partial eta squared = 0.496) has stronger influence than age. The medicinal plants uses showed similarity with other studies conducted in different cultural setups and locations.

Conclusion

The trend of knowledge loss in both age categories and sexes implicates the likely risk of loss of knowledge. The documented data could be useful for future phytochemical and pharmacological studies.     

Ethnomedicinal and ethnopharmaco-statistical studies of Eastern Rajasthan,India

Aim of study

The study was conducted in Eastern parts of Rajasthan from March 2008 to February 2009 to identify the important species used; determine the relative importance of the species surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (ICF) in relation to medicinal plant use.

Methodology or Material and methods

A total of 844 villagers (486 men and 358 women) were interviewed using specimen display method and a forest walk with interviewee and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit the knowledge of use of medicinal plants. A total of 213 species of medicinal plants belonging to 68 families were documented.

Result

The family Fabaceae had the highest number of species (28) followed by Euphorbiaceae (14). The majority of informants (46.12%) mentioned Azadirachta indica as most popular remedy for the treatment of various ailments, followed by Ocimum sanctum (25.31%) and Tridax procumbens (21.63%). The average number of medicinal plants known and used by female and male practitioners was similar (χ = 9.192, d.f. = 17, p = 0.941). The number of medicinal plant species reported and used by each informant was not significantly (χ = 40.625, d.f. = 34, p = 0.202) different among the four districts: Alwar (7.80 ± 0.917), Bharatpur (6.88 ± 1.076), Dholpur (7.13 ± 0.965) and Karauli (7.97 ± 1.068).

Conclusion

From the study it is clear that ethnomedicinal information from traditional practitioners provides a corporeal guide towards development of new drugs than the approaches of random screening.     

In vivo antimalarial activity,toxicity and phytochemical screening of selected antimalarial plants

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Malaria continues to kill over a million people each year and in many populations affected by malaria, conventional drugs are often unaffordable or inaccessible. Historically, plants have been a prominent source of antimalarial drugs. Those plants currently used by indigenous people to treat malaria should be documented and investigated as potential sources of new antimalarial drugs.

Aim of the study

To investigate in vivo antimalarial activity, toxicity and carry out phytochemical screening of selected plants which have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.

Materials and methods

Organic and water extracts of four medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in traditional health systems of Msambweni people in Kenya were tested for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei and brine shrimp lethality. They were also screened for their major phytochemical constituents.

Results

Aqueous extract of the stem bark of Adansonia digitata exhibited highest chemosuppression of parasitaemia, >60% in a murine model of Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Aqueous and organic extracts of Launaea cornuta and Zanthoxylum chalybeum were toxic to the brine shrimp (LD₅₀<1000 μg/ml) while aqueous and organic extracts of Adansonia digitata and aqueous extracts of Canthium glaucum were not toxic to brine shrimp (LD₅₀>1000 μg/ml). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids in all the crude extracts of the selected plant species studied. Sesquiterpene lactones and saponis were present in organic extracts but absent in the aqueous extracts of Adansonia digitata, Canthium glaucum, Launaea cornuta and Zanthoxylum chalybeum.

Conclusion

The results showed that the crude extracts of Adansonia digitata and Canthium glaucum demonstrated promising antimalarial activity and there is potential for isolation of lead compounds from their extracts.     

Anti-inflammatory,anticholinesterase, antioxidant and phytochemical properties of medicinal plants used for pain-related ailments in South Africa

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Extracts of seven South African medicinal plants used traditionally for the treatment of pain-related ailments were evaluated.

Aims of the study

The study was aimed at evaluating medicinal and therapeutic potentials of the investigated traditional medicinal plants. Plant extracts were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity and other pharmacological properties such as anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities. Phytochemical analysis of total phenolic contents, condensed tannins, gallotannins and flavonoids in the aqueous methanol extracts of the medicinal plants were also carried out.

Materials and methods

The evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of 50% methanol (50% MeOH), petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol (EtOH) plant extracts was done against cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes. 50% MeOH, PE, DCM and EtOH extracts were tested for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, while 50% MeOH extracts were tested for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing power in the antioxidant assays. Total phenolic compounds, condensed tannins, gallotannins and flavonoids were quantitatively determined using spectrophotometric methods.

Results

At the screening assay concentration (0.25 μg/μl), 13 extracts showed good COX-1 inhibitory activity (>50%), while good activity was observed in 15 extracts against COX-2 enzyme. All the extracts of Crinum moorei (bulbs) showed good inhibition against both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Though not significantly different (P = 0.05), the highest COX-1 percentage inhibition (100%) was shown by Aloe ferox leaf PE and Colocasia antiquorum tuber DCM extracts, while Colocasia antiquorum tuber PE extract exhibited the highest (92.7%) percentage inhibition against COX-2. Crinum moorei bulb DCM extract showed the lowest EC₅₀ value (2.9 μg/ml) in the AChE assay. In addition, good to moderate bioactivities were observed in some extracts of Aloe ferox (leaves), Crinum moorei (bulbs) and Pycnostachys reticulata (leaves) in all the assays. The presence and/or amounts of phenolic compounds varied with plant species.

Conclusion

The results obtained in this study validate the use of the investigated medicinal plants in South African traditional medicine for pain-related ailments.     

Ethnomedicinal knowledge and relative importance of indigenous medicinal plants of Cholistan desert,Punjab Province,Pakistan

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Ethnomedicinal studies are significant for the discovery of new crude drugs from indigenous reported medicinal plants. The current study aimed to report the indigenous medicinal knowledge of plants and herbal remedies used as folk medicines in Cholistan desert, Punjab Province, Pakistan.

Material and methods

Rapid appraisal approach (RAA), semi-structured interviews, group meetings with herbalists, landowners and local people having awareness about the medicinal action of plants were employed to collect the data.

Results and discussions

This study reports 70 medicinal plants belonging to 27 families that were disseminated among 60 different genera and Poaceae was the predominant family over others with 13 reported medicinal plants. Among plant parts, leaves were the dominant over others with 26.4% used in herbal preparations followed by the stem (25.2%), fruit (21.5%), flower (16.3%), seed (6.5%), bark and pod (02%). Haloxylon recurvum exhibited the highest use vale (UV) 0.83 while least UV was exhibited by Mollugo cerviana that was 0.16.

Conclusion

Important medicinal plants, reported in this study have been screened for phytochemical and pharmaceutical activities in different parts of the globe. It is recommended that reported medicinal plants having potent action for cancer and hepatitis must be screened for pharmacological activities.     

A comparison of knowledge about medicinal plants for three rural communities in the semi-arid region of northeast of Brazil

Aim

The aim of this research was to understand the importance of native and exotic plants in local medical systems in the Caatinga of the Brazilian northeast, and the influence of socio-economic factors on the acquisition of knowledge about these resources.

Methods

A total of 55 people were interviewed in three rural communities using free list and semi-structured interviewes.

Results

A total of 108 ethnospecies were reported, 99 of which were identified; 43 of these were preferred by informants. Most of the plants cited were exotic (51) but the difference in diversity among these plants and native plants (48) was not considered significant (p > 0.05). The exotic plants were predominantly herbaceous and used to cure diseases that native plants did not seem to treat. There were no differences between men's and women's knowledge of the plants (p > 0.05). However, for some communities, factors such as age and income were correlated with the number of citations and indications for plants, which suggested that older people and those with higher income levels had more knowledge about these properties.

Conclusion

The data presented in this study showed the importance of exotic species in the region studied and demonstrated that plant knowledge can be perceived as a way to diversify options for medical treatment in the area.     

Anti-angiogenic effects and mechanisms of polysaccharides from Antrodia cinnamomea with different molecular weights

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Antrodia cinnamomea is a popular medicinal mushroom in Taiwan that has been widely used for treatment of various cancers and liver diseases.

Aim of the study

This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effect on angiogenesis of polysaccharides from mycelia of Antrodia cinnamomea (PMAC).

Materials and methods

PMAC were extracted in boiling water, precipitated with 95% ethanol, and separated into four different molecular weights (<5, 5–30, 30–100, >100 kDa). Tube formation and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay were used to determine the in vitro and ex vivo anti-angiogenic effects.

Results

Only the PMAC-mononuclear cells (MNCs)-conditioned medium (CM) with MW > 100 kDa significantly and concentration-dependently decreased the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in human leukemia cells and inhibited the matrigel tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Similarly only the PMAC-MNC-CM with MW > 100 kDa significantly and concentration-dependently increased the levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In addition, the ex vivo CAM assay revealed that only the PMAC with MW > 100 kDa significantly and dose-dependently inhibited neovascularization.

Conclusions

PMAC with MW > 100 kDa are anti-angiogenic in vitro and ex vivo, and the effects are likely through immunomodulation.     

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders

Aim of the study

Helicobacter pylori is the major etiological agent of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer disease and is linked to gastric carcinoma. Treatment to eradicate the bacteria failed in many cases, mainly due to antibiotic resistance, hence the necessity of developing better therapeutic regimens. Mexico has an enormous unexplored potential of medicinal plants. This work evaluates the in vitro anti-H. pylori activity of 53 plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders.

Materials and methods

To test the in vitro antibacterial activity, agar dilution and broth dilution methods were used for aqueous and methanolic extracts, respectively.

Results

Aqueous extracts of Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. mexicana, Cuphea aequipetala, Ludwigia repens,and Mentha × piperita (MIC 125 to <250 μg/ml) as well as methanolic extracts of Persea americana, Annona cherimola, Guaiacum coulteri, and Moussonia deppeana (MIC <7.5 to 15.6 μg/ml) showed the highest inhibitory effect.

Conclusions

The results contribute to understanding the mode of action of the studied medicinal plants and for detecting plants with high anti-Helicobacter pylori activity.     

Cytotoxic activity evaluation of some medicinal plants,selected from Iranian traditional medicine Pharmacopoeia to treat cancer and related disorders

Ethnopharmacological relevance

By studying the Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) Pharmacopoeia, we have collected information about medicinal plants which had been used to manage cancer-like disorders over eight hundred years, from medieval to the early modern era. Exploring the ITM herbal knowledge, the selected species have been subjected to MTT assay for examining their in vitro cyototoxic activity.

Materials and methods

Cancer was reviewed through the ITM and some terminologies were acquired. Five ITM Pharmacopoeia in Arabic and Persian languages from 10th to 18th century AD were explored. These Pharmacopoeia contained the ITM plants which were used to cure cancer and cancer-like diseases. The ITM names were matched with the scientific names. Then the medicinal plants were collected, authenticated and were evaluated for cytotoxic activity using MTT assay, against MCF-7, HepG-2, A-549 and HT-29 cell lines. Finally, the apoptosis induction ability of the most cytotoxic medicinal plant was investigated by activated caspase 3 inspection in MCF-7 cell line.

Results

Six species of the evaluated medicinal plants revealed cytotoxic activity. The most cytotoxicity was observed in Tanacetum polycephalum subsp. argyrophyllum (K.Koch) Podlech with IC₅₀ values of 28.3 μg mL⁻¹, 53.9 μg mL⁻¹ and 43.3 μg mL⁻¹ against MCF-7, A-549 and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. Caspase 3 activation was also observed in MCF-7 cells by Tanacetum polycephalum subsp. argyrophyllum. This is the first time that the cytotoxic activity of this species has been reported.

Conclusion

In the present study, some reliable references of ITM have been introduced and though many technical difficulties, linguistic problems and some other hindrances were encountered during the study, using traditional medicine texts for medicinal plant selection could be considered as a helpful starting point in the field of cancer drug discovery.     

Brine shrimp toxicity and antimalarial activity of some plants traditionally used in treatment of malaria in Msambweni district of Kenya

Ethnopharmacological relevance

In Kenya, most people especially in rural areas use traditional medicine and medicinal plants to treat many diseases including malaria. Malaria is of national concern in Kenya, in view of development of resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum to drugs especially chloroquine, which had been effective and affordable. There is need for alternative and affordable therapy. Many antimalarial drugs have been derived from medicinal plants and this is evident from the reported antiplasmodial activity.

Aim of the study

The present study reports on the in vivo antimalarial activity and brine shrimp lethality of five medicinal plants traditionally used to treat malaria in Msambweni district, Kenya.

Materials and methods

A total of five aqueous crude extracts from different plant parts used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria were evaluated for their in vivo antimalarial activity using Plasmodium berghei infected Swiss mice and for their acute toxicity using Brine shrimp lethality test.

Results

The screened crude plant extracts suppressed parasitaemia as follows: Azadirachta indica (L) Burm. (Meliaceae), 3.1%; Dichrostachys cinerea (L) Wight et Arn (Mimosaceae), 6.3%; Tamarindus indica L. (Caesalpiniaceae), 25.1%; Acacia seyal Del. (Mimosaceae) 27.8% and Grewia trichocarpa Hochst ex A.Rich (Tiliaceae) 35.8%. In terms of toxicity, A.indica root bark extract had an LC₅₀ of 285.8 µg/ml and was considered moderately toxic. T.indica stem bark extract and G.trichocarpa root extract had an LC₅₀ of 516.4 and 545.8 µg/ml respectively and were considered to be weakly toxic while A.seyal and D.cinerea root extracts had a LC₅₀>1000 µg/ml and were therefore considered to be non toxic.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the aqueous extracts of the tested plants when used alone as monotherapy had antimalarial activity which was significantly different from that of chloroquine (P≤0.05). The results also suggest that the anecdotal efficacy of the above plants reported by the study community is related to synergism of phytoconstituents since the assayed plant parts are used in combination with others to treat malaria. It is also evident that none of the screened plant extracts is toxic to the arthropod invertebrate, Artemia salina L. (Artemiidae) larvae, justifying the continued use of the plant parts to treat malaria. A.seyal, G.trichocarpa and T.indica have not been reported before for in vivo antimalarial activity and brine shrimp lethality.     

Ethnoveterinary knowledge in pastoral Karamoja,Uganda

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The people of Karamoja of northern Uganda chiefly rely on ethnoveterinary knowledge (EVK) to control common livestock health problems. In spite of cattle's central role in Karamojong culture and livelihoods, there has been no systematic recording of their ethnoveterinary plant-based cures to date.

Aim of study

To document the remedies used to treat livestock diseases, their preparation and administration.

Methods

Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, guided questionnaires, group discussions, direct observations and collection trips.

Results

We present information on 209 plant species and 18 non-plant materials. Plant species are distributed over 116 genera and 54 families. The most common medicinal use was treatment against anaplasmosis. Balanites aegyptiacus, Carissa spinarum, Warburgia salutaris and Harrisonia abyssinica had the most uses of all species. All different plant parts were used; bark and underground parts were exploited more frequently than other plant parts. Most remedies listed used a single ingredient, typically soaked in water; only 12.8% remedies used multiple plants. The route of administration was primarily oral followed by topical applications. Almost all plants are collected from the wild; none of the few cultivated plants used had been planted for medicinal purposes.

Conclusions

The pastoralists in the study site possess a wealth of EVK which they use to maintain animal health. Their rich knowledge and high diversity of plants were recorded here for the first time.     

Anti-hyperglycemic effect,inhibition of inflammatory cytokines expression,and histopathology profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with Arracacia tolucensis aerial-parts extracts

Ethopharmacological relevance

Arracacia tolucensis is a medicinal plant used in northeast of Mexico as a remedy to treat people with Diabetes mellitus (DM); however, there are no scientific studies that support this information. Thus, we evaluated the anti-hyperglycemic effect of the hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts from aerial parts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and methods

DM was induced in Wistar male rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ 50 mg/kg). After STZ-induction, hyperglycemic rats were treated with all three extracts orally at a single dose (250 mg/kg) each 48 h for 21 days. Glibenclamide (1 mg/kg) was used as a reference drug. The fasting blood glucose levels, the hematic biometry and biochemical profiles, and the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines expression were estimated. Histopathology analysis of pancreas, liver, spleen, and kidney tissue was carried out.

Results

Ours results showed that ethyl acetate extract decreased blood glucose levels significantly (75%, p< 0.05) when compared to diabetic rats and controlled the body weight loss; the lipids level did not change, but the enzyme levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase decreased significantly (60.83% and 66.16%, respectively, p< 0.05) and inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines,with respect to diabetic rats. Histopathology injury was not observed; by contrast repair of islet of Langerhans was exhibited.

Conclusion

These results validate the use of Arracacia tolucensis as a treatment against DM and suggests it is suitable to continue studies for its safe therapeutic use.     

Screening of plants used in Danish folk medicine to treat depression and anxiety for affinity to the serotonin transporter and inhibition of MAO-A

Ethnopharmacological relevance

A number of plant species are used in Danish folk medicine for treatment of depression and anxiety.

Materials and methods

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of 17 plant species were tested for affinity to the serotonin transporter and for inhibition of MAO-A—both targets for antidepressive treatment.

Results

An ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Borago officinalis had affinity to the serotonin transporter. Ten extracts, from eight plants, had IC₅₀ values below 25 μg/ml extract in the MAO-A assay. The most active extracts in the MAO-A assay were the ethanol extract of seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum (IC₅₀ 4 μg/ml); ethanol extract of leaves of Apium graveolens (IC₅₀ 5 μg/ml) and the water extract of aerial parts of Calluna vulgaris (IC₅₀ 8 μg/ml).

Conclusions

Besides Borago officinalis, which toxicity profile excludes it from further development as an herbal drug, none of the plants had potential as serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Several plants had MAO-A inhibitory activity.     

Bactericidal activity of medicinal plants,employed for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments,against Helicobacter pylori

Aim of the study

Helicobacter pylori infection plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. The current PPI-based triple regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori faces uprising resistance problem demanding for the search of novel candidates. Medicinal plants have always been a source of lead compounds for drug discovery.In the present study, we evaluated the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of 50 commonly used Unani (traditional) medicine plants from Pakistan that are extensively utilized for the cure of gastrointestinal disorders to explore the natural source for pilot compounds against Helicobacter pylori.

Materials and methods

Total seven clinical isolates and one standard strain were employed to examine the bactericidal effects of medicinal plants. Helicobacter pylori was isolated from the antral biopsy specimens and confirmed through the standard microbiology procedures. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the active plants was determined at the concentration range from 7.8 to 500 μg/ml.

Results

Among the herbs evaluated, more than 50% inhibited the growth of eight strains at the concentration of 500 μg/ml. The 70% aqueous-ethanol extracts of Curcuma amada Roxb., Mallotus phillipinesis (Lam) Muell., Myrisctica fragrans Houtt., and Psoralea corylifolia L. demonstrated strong anti-Helicobacter pylori activity with MBC value ranged from 15.6 to 62.5 μg/ml. The most potent bactericidal activity was exhibited by Mallotus phillipinesis (Lam) Muell. which completely killed the bacteria at the concentration of 15.6–31.2 μg/ml.

Conclusion

The results revealed significant anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of medicinal plants which could be the potential source of new bactericidal agents.     

In vitro antigonococcal activity of Coscinium fenestratum stem extract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which originates from bacteria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is still one of the major health problems worldwide in both men and women. Many medicinal plants have been recorded in Thai folk medicine for relieving STD but there is no scientific report of these plants for antigonococcal activity.

Aim of the study

This study was conducted to evaluate antigonococcal activity of 22 Thai medicinal plants selected from the plants popularly used in Thai folk medicine for treatment of gonorrhea.

Materials and methods

This study was performed by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Active compound was investigated by bioautographic assay.

Results

Among the selected plants, Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. extract showed the most effective activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC 49226 with MIC value of 47.39 μg/ml. Bioautographic assay revealed that berberine was the active compound of Coscinium fenestratum against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The average MIC values of purified berberine against Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC 49226 and 11 clinical isolates were 13.51 and 17.66 μg/ml, respectively while average MIC value of the crude extract of Coscinium fenestratum against all clinical isolates was about 56.39 μg/ml. There was no acute toxicity detected at the dose of 5 g of Coscinium fenestratum crude extract per kilogram.

Conclusions

These results provide theoretical support for ethnopharmacological relevance of antigonococcal activity of Coscinium fenestratum and its active compound.     

Antifungal study of the resinous exudate and of meroterpenoids isolated from Psoralea glandulosa (Fabaceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Psoralea glandulosa L. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal resinous shrub used in Chilean folk medicine as antiseptic in treatment of infections and skin diseases caused by bacteria and fungus.

Aim of the study

To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of the resin and the active components from P. glandulosa against clinical yeast isolates.

Materials and methods

Active compounds were obtained of the resinous exudate from aerial parts of P. glandulosa. Eight species of yeast were exposed to the resin and two major compounds. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₈₀) was determined according to the standard broth microdilution method.

Results

Bakuchiol and 3-hydroxy-bakuchiol demonstrated potent activity with the MIC₈₀ ranging from 4 to >16 and 0.125 to 16 μg/mL, respectively. The resin had some degree of antifungal activity.

Conclusions

The overall results provided important information for the potential application of the 3-hydroxy-bakuchiol from P. glandulosa in the therapy of serious infection and skin diseases caused by clinical yeast.     

Plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge on medicinal use of wild shrub and herbaceous plant species in the Etna Regional Park (Eastern Sicily,Italy)

Ethnopharmacological relevance

This paper illustrates the results of a study carried out in the Etna Regional Park (Eastern Sicily, Italy) concerning the traditional knowledge on medicinal use of wild plant species. It contains the results of a quantitative analysis carried out for the first time. A total of 71 wild species are used for medicinal purposes. Two species, Astracantha sicula (Biv.) Greuter and Trifolium phleoides Willd., are little known as medicinal in the Mediterranean area. The main aim of the study was to understand to what extent current knowledge on the medicinal use of plants is still an element of the culture within the elderly population of the Etna Regional Park. A further aim was to identify species not previously reported as medicinal in the Mediterranean area with a potential agricultural interest.

Methodology

The information was obtained using a semi-structured interview format performed on a sample of 196 people over the age of 60 who were considered experts in rural traditions. The plant uses were compared with other medical-ethnobotanical studies carried out in other areas of Sicily, Italy and various other Mediterranean countries. A number of quantitative indices were also used in order to verify the incidence of the species cited in the study within the culture and traditional medicine.

Results

Local communities currently use a total number of 71 wild species (34 families) as remedies for medicinal purposes. Most of the species were used as treatments against metabolic disorders and for general health. The leaves and the aerial parts of plants are the most-used parts of the plant and the most common preparation methods are decoction and direct application of plant parts. Astracantha sicula and Trifolium phleoides have never been documented as a species with medicinal properties in the Mediterranean literature.

Conclusions

Only very few medicinal uses are widely known by all the informants and, on many occasions, a specific medicinal use is cited by only very few people. The quantitative analysis shows that the level of traditional knowledge on medicinal use of plants in the study area is poor, highlighting a considerably advanced state of cultural erosion.     

Relative importance of indigenous medicinal plants from Layyah district,Punjab Province,Pakistan

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Ethnomedicinal reports are important for the discovery of new crude drugs from reported medicinal plants with high use value. The current study aimed to document the medicinal flora as well as medicinal knowledge of indigenous plants of local communities from Layyah district, Punjab Province, Pakistan.

Material and methods

Rapid appraisal approach (RAA), semi-structured interviews, group meetings with herbalists, landowners and local people having awareness about the medicinal action of plants were employed to collect the data. Use values (UV) and frequency of citation (FC) were calculated to check the relative importance of plants.

Results and discussions

The current ethnomedicinal study reported 125 medicinal plant species diversified from 106 genus belonging to the 43 different families and Poaceae was the predominant family over others with 16 reported medicinal plants. Wild herbaceous plants were the predominant over other life forms while among plant parts, leaves contributed 32% followed by the stem (27%), fruit and flowers (15%). Allium sativum exhibited the highest use vale (UV) 0.92 while the lowest UV was exhibited by Lasiurus scindicus which was 0.15.

Conclusion

Local communities of district Layyah still have a strong faith on herbal medicines for basic healthcare needs. Indigenous plants having high UV and FC should be subjected to the detailed phytochemical investigations to explore new natural drugs.     

Medicinal plants from open-air markets in the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil as a potential source of new antimycobacterial agents

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Several medicinal plants are traditionally traded in open-air markets in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil) to treat tuberculosis (TB) and related symptoms.

Aims of the study

Conduct a survey in the open-air markets of 20 cities of Rio de Janeiro State to find medicinal plants that are popularly used to treat tuberculosis and other related diseases and assess their in vitro antimycobacterial activity.

Materials and methods

We used direct observation and semi-structured interviews and asked herbalists to list species (free listing) in order to gather data about the plant species most commonly used for lung problems. We calculated a Salience Index and acquired two species of “erva-de-passarinho” (mistletoe), Struthanthus marginatus and Struthanthus concinnus (Loranthaceae), commonly used to treat tuberculosis for a bioassay-guided isolation of the antimycobacterial active principles. Extracts, fractions and isolated compounds of both species were assayed in vitro against susceptible (H₃₇Rv) and rifampicin-resistant (ATCC 35338) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.

Results

From the interviews, we generated a list of 36 plant species belonging to 12 families. The mistletoes Struthanthus marginatus and Struthanthus concinnus showed high Salience Index values among plants used to treat tuberculosis. Bioassay-guided fractionation of hexane extracts from both species led to the isolation and/or identification of steroids and terpenoids. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts and isolated compounds ranged from 25 to 200 μg/mL. Some of the isolated compounds have been previously assayed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, others are reported here for the first time (obtusifoliol: MIC H₃₇Rv 50 μg/mL, MIC ATCC 35338 12.5 μg/mL; 3-O-n-acil-lup-20(29)-en-3β,7β,15α-triol: MIC H₃₇Rv 200 μg/mL, MIC ATCC 35338 100 μg/mL).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the importance of ethnobotanical surveys in markets as a source for new drugs and also for scientific validation of folk medicine.     

Antibacterial activities of extracts from Ugandan medicinal plants used for oral care

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Medicinal plants are widely used for treatment of oral/dental diseases in Uganda.

Aim of the study

To investigate antibacterial activities of 16 commonly used medicinal plants on microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases (PD) and dental caries (DC).

Materials and methods

Pulp juice and solvent extracts (hexane, methanol and water) from the plants were tested against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia associated with PD and Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus acidophilus associated with DC. Tests were done using agar well-diffusion (pulp juice) and agar-dilution (Solvent extracts) assays.

Results

Pulp juice from Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Euclea latidens showed activity against all the bacteria, Zanthoxylum chalybeum being most active. Hexane extract from aerial part of Helichrysum odoratissimum was most active (MIC: 0.125–0.5 mg/ml). Methanol extract from leaves of Lantana trifolia showed activity against all bacteria (MIC: 0.25–1 mg/ml).

Conclusion

Several of the tested plants showed antibacterial activities against bacteria associated with PD and DC, meriting further investigations.