Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in the traditional treatment of hypertension and diabetes in south-eastern Morocco (Errachidia province)

This survey was undertaken in the Errachidia province in south-eastern Morocco in order to inventory the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Four hundred individuals who knew about and/or had used the medicinal plants for the indicated diseases, including some herbal healers, were interviewed throughout different regions of the province. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific, vernacular and common name of the plant, its ecological distribution, the part of the plant and the preparation used and the therapeutic indication. Extensive investigations have brought to light 64 medicinal plants belonging to 33 families; of these, 45 are used for diabetes, 36 for hypertension, and 18 for both diseases. Of these plants, 34% grow in the wild, 44% are cultivated, and 22% are not indigenous to the area and are brought from other parts of Morocco or from outside the country. The survey shows that 78% of the patients regularly use these medicinal plants. In this region, the most frequently used plants to treat diabetes include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa, Artemisia herba-alba, Carum carvi, Lepidium sativum, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Peganum harmala, Phoenix dactylifera, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Zygophyllum gaetulum, and those to treat hypertension include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Carum carvi, Nigella sativa, Olea europea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum majorana, Peganum harmala, and Phoenix dactylifera. The local people recognize the toxic plants and are very careful in using such plants, which are Citrullus colocynthis, Datura stramonium, Nerium oleander, Nigella sativa, Peganum harmala and Zygophyllum gaetulum. Our survey shows that traditional medicine in the south-eastern Moroccan population has not only survived but has thrived in the transcultural environment and intermixture of many ethnic traditions and beliefs.     

Antigiardial and immunostimulatory effect of Piper longum on giardiasis due to Giardia lamblia.

Piper longum fruit, used in traditional remedies as well as in the Ayurvedic system of medicine against intestinal disorders, was tested for its efficacy against experimental infection of Giardia lamblia in mice. On in vitro test, an aqueous extract of P. longum fruit powder (PF) at 250 microg/mL and its ethanol extract at 125 microg/mL showed 100% giardicidal activity. A low order activity was found in the n-butanol extract. Further fractionation in hexane and chloroform resulted in a total loss of activity. The survival of-trophozoites in mice at 900 mg/kg body weight was 11.12 in PF, 8. 54 in aqueous extract, 5.81 in ethanol extract. The antigiardial activity of PF in hexane, chloroform and n-butanol soluble fractions was comparable to the drug-untreated control (47.63). Piper longum possessed a demonstrable immunostimulatory activity, both specific and nonspecific, as evident from the standard test parameters such as haemagglutination titre (HA), plaque forming cell (PFC) counts, macrophage migration index (MMI) and phagocytic index (PI). A maximum effect was found at 225 mg/kg body weight in mice. The effect was marginally reduced at higher doses of 450 and 900 mg/kg or the lower dose of 112.5 mg/kg.     

Traditional uses of medicinal plants among the rural communities of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India

The traditional uses of medicinal plants in healthcare practices are providing clues to new areas of research; hence its importance is now well recognized. However, information on the uses of indigenous plants for medicine is not well documented from many rural areas of Rajasthan including Churu district. The study aimed to look into the diversity of plant resources that are used by local people for curing various ailments. Questionnaire surveys, participatory observations and field visits were planned to elicit information on the uses of various plants. It was found that 68 plant species are commonly used by the local people for curing various diseases. In most of the cases (31%) leaves were used. The interviewees mentioned 188 plant usages. Those most frequently reported had therapeutic value for treating fever, rheumatism, diarrhea, asthma and piles. The knowledge about the total number of medicinal plants available in that area and used by the interviewees was positively correlated with people's age, indicating that this ancient knowledge tends to disappear in the younger generation.     

Codonopsis lanceolata: A Review of Its Therapeutic Potentials

Codonopsis lanceolata (Campanulaceae) is dicotyledonous herbaceous perennial plant, predominantly found in Central, East, and South Asia. This plant has been widely used in traditional medicine and is considered to have medicinal properties to treat diseases and symptoms such as bronchitis, coughs, spasm, psychoneurosis, cancer, obesity, hyperlipidemia, edema, hepatitis, colitis, and lung injury. C. lanceolata contains many biologically active compounds, including polyphenols, saponins, tannins, triterpene, alkaloids, and steroids, which contribute to its numerous pharmacological activities. Through systematic studies, the pharmacological actions of these compounds have been revealed. Therapeutic potentialities of C. lanceolata and its previously reported molecular mechanisms are described in this review. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Traditional antimalarial phytotherapy remedies used by the Kwale community of the Kenyan Coast

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. The aim of the study was to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat malaria by the Digo community of Kwale district. Traditional health practitioners were interviewed with standardized questionnaires in order to obtain information on medicinal plants traditionally used for management of malaria. Twenty-five species in 21 genera and 16 families were encountered during the study. Celestraceae, Leguminosae and Rubiaceae families represented the species most commonly cited. Three plant species, namely; Maytenus putterlickioides, Warburgia stuhlmannii and Pentas bussei are documented for the first time for the treatment of malaria.     

Plants traditionally used in age related brain disorders--a survey of ethnobotanical literature

In traditional herbal medicine, numerous plants have been used to treat age related cognitive disorders. In this review we compiled available literature from four Swiss university libraries, scientific journals and online database query's on plants and remedies used in traditional medicinal systems for such diseases. Over 150 plant species in various preparations and mixtures were found. European herbals from the 16th and 17th century alongside traditional Chinese and Indian medicinal works were the most prolific sources. The information is organised into geographic regions and when available the findings are discussed in the light of more recent scientific findings concerning their secondary metabolites and in vitro and in vivo activities relevant to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.     

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases in the North centre region of Morocco (Fez-Boulemane)

In order to make an inventory of herbal remedies commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and renal diseases in the North centre region of Morocco, 1527 patients (1095 diabetic patients, 274 with renal disorders and 158 with cardiac disorders) and 25 traditional herbal healers were interviewed in four different areas of Fez-Boulemane region. More than 1153 of the total patients interviewed (76%) used regularly medicinal plants to treat diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases. These data showed that phytotherapy has always be practiced in this region. All the persons interviewed have indicated that the reasons of using phytotherapy is that the plant medicines are cheapest (54%) and more efficient (38%) than modern medicine. They also reported that the result of phytotherapy is better (72%). Our survey started at May 1997. About 90 plants were cited (54 plants for diabetes, 11 for cardiac diseases, 19 for hypertension and 33 for renal diseases). The plants reported have been identified and are presented in a table with the vernacular name, useful parts, ecological distribution and medicinal uses. Only 12% of the total patients have a relative knowledge of the toxic plants. The result indicated that nine plants are extremely toxic at high doses and chronic treatment. Fifty nine percent of the interviewers have indicated that they used medicinal plants from the experience of the other.     

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants at periodic markets of Honghe Prefecture in Yunnan Province, SW China

In China, traditional markets are considered as important places for trading of medicinal plants harvested by rural villagers, which also play a social role of exchanging traditional use of herbal medicine among different cultural and social groups at local level. Market survey is often engaged in ethnobotanical studies for documenting locally used herbal plants and associated traditional knowledge. Information collected from market survey is also useful for plant conservation in the habitat areas. However, information on the market traded medicinal plants is not well documented from traditional markets in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan. The study aimed to look into medicinal plants that are used by local people for curing various ailments. Ethnobotanical market survey methods, interviews, Participatory Action Research (PAR) and field visits were planned to elicit information on the uses of various medicinal plants. It was found that 216 plant species are commonly used by local people for curing various diseases, of which 173 species (80.1%) are wild plants and 43 species (19.9%) are home garden plants. A total of 278 records of medical uses in 60 herbal recipes for the treatment of 16 types of common diseases were recorded. In most of the recipes recorded, digestion diseases (30.6%) were used. The rest are rheumatological diseases (13.0%), respiratory system diseases (10.4%), infectious diseases (7.9%) and surgery uses (7.9%). The knowledge about the number of medicinal plants available in that area and used by interviewees was positively correlated with the threats on medicinal plants in the wild habitats of the study area, indicating that the diversity of medicinal plants and the associated traditional knowledge trends to disappear in the area.     

Ethno-veterinary survey of medicinal plants in Ruoergai region, Sichuan province, China

Aim of study

In this study we aimed to survey and investigate the medicinal plants which are used to treat the veterinary diseases in Ruoergai region, Sichuan province, China. Meanwhile, the important medicinal plants were collected and identified for the further study.

Materials and methods

Twenty folk veterinary practitioners from 8 township animal husbandry and veterinary stations in Ruoergai region were investigated and interviewed. The important local medicinal materials, including plants, animals and mineral drugs, were collected by scientific methods and identified by the pharmacognosist of Lanzhou University, China.

Results

According to the investigation, only 20 folk veterinary practitioners still used 129 species of traditional medicine to treat the livestock`s diseases. In these medicine, 93 species were native and Ranunculaceae (12, 12.90%), Compositae (11, 11.83%), Papaveraceae (7, 7.53%) were the predominant families. At the same time, herbs (36.56%) are the most widely used part of plant, and respiratory diseases (21.02%) and gastrointestinal diseases (19.89%) were the main animal’s diseases in this region.

Conclusion

Ethno-veterinary medicine made an extraordinary contribution to the sound development of animal husbandry in Ruoergai. But the inherit, protect and development should be paid more attentions in the future, and the species which have not been studied should be developed priority to find biological activities and new bioactive compounds further.     

Potential antiamoebic property of the roots of Piper longum Linn

In an earlier study we reported the effect of ethanol extracts of Piper longum fruit against caecal amoebiasis in rats. A follow-up study to determine whether the roots possess similar antiamoebic activity was carried out. The ethanolic extract of roots was amoebicidal at 1,000 microg/mL in vitro and cured 88% of caecal amoebiasis cases, suggesting that both the root and fruit of P. longum possess antiamoebic activity to approximately the same extent.     

Antituberculosis potential of some ethnobotanically selected Malaysian plants

Aim of the study

Many local plants are used in Malaysian traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases including symptoms of tuberculosis. The aim of the study was to screen 78 plant extracts from 70 Malaysian plant species used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases including symptoms of tuberculosis for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using a colorimetric microplate-based assay.

Materials and methods

Plant extracts were prepared by maceration in methanol (80%) and antituberculosis screening was carried out using Tetrazolium bromide microplate assay (TEMA) method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

Results

Thirty-eight plant extracts from 36 plant species exhibited antituberculosis activity with MICs in the range of 1600-400 μg/ml. The leaf extract of Angiopteris evecta exhibited the highest activity with MIC of 400 μg/ml. Five other extracts, namely, Costus speciosus (stem and flower), Piper sarmentosum (whole plant), Pluchea indica (leaf), Pluchea indica (flower), and Tabernaemontana coronaria (leaf) exhibited antituberculosis activity, each with MIC of 800 μg/ml. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of in vitro high throughput screening of Malaysian medicinal plants for antituberculosis activity.

Conclusions

Antituberculosis activity of extracts of some plants justifies, to a certain extent their ethnomedicinal uses as remedies for symptoms of tuberculosis. These results also support the general view that, selecting the plants based on ethnobotanical criteria would enhance the probability of finding species with antituberculosis activity.     

德宏芒市常用傣药植物资源调查

目的:调查芒市常用傣药植物资源情况,以期为德宏傣医药的开发利用和系统深入的研究提供参考.方法:采用文献资料研究、访谈与野外调查、标本鉴定和整理相结合的方法对芒市常用傣药植物资源进行研究.结果:经鉴定整理,芒市傣医常用植物药有118科352属517种,药用部位主要是全草和根及根茎类;主要用于治疗消化系统疾病和跌打骨折类疾...     

Native Medicinal Plant Richness Distribution Patterns and Environmental Determinants of Xinjiang, Northwest China

Objective To comprehensively map the distribution patterns of native medicinal plants of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China; To find the environmental determinants and to give suggestions for the conservation planning of medicinal plants in Xinjiang region. Methods Firstly, we compiled the distribution data of native medicinal plants at a county level in Xinjiang region, including the source plants of Chinese Materia Medica(CMM), Uygur Medicine(UM), and Kazak Medicine(KM); Secondly, we divided the distribution data into grid with a resolution of 0.1°× 0.1° and overlaid it on the topography and climate data in Arcgis 10.0; Finally, we analyzed the correlations of medicinal plant richness and environmental variables with ordinary least square(OLS) regressions and partial regressions. Results UM has more non-native species in Xinjiang region than KM. The species richness of medicinal plants is high in Altay Mountains, western Tianshan Mountains, and part of Kunlun Mountains. The richness of medicinal plants is highly correlated with the vascular plant species richness and climate, and further, the independent effects of vascular plant species richness are higher than the independent effects of climate. The whole plant, root rhizome, and seed fruit are more frequently used than stem and leaf for CMM in Xinjiang region. Conclusion The distribution patterns of medicinal plants are concordant with vascular plant species, which could be carefully considered in the conservation planning of this region. Taking full advantage of current nature reserves is a low-costing approach to the conservation of medicinal plants although they were not originally established for medicinal plant protection. Nevertheless, it is urgent to further study the distributions and protection status of medicinal plants in the nature reserves of Xinjiang region.     

源于唇形科植物的畲药品种特点分析

目的:分析源于唇形科植物的畲药(简称唇形科畲药)的品种特点,探讨其特殊功效对后期研究的应用价值。方法:通过文献信息分析,获取唇形科畲药的药用部位、多民族交叉使用,尤其是其相对于中药的差异性功效等信息,采用网络药理学的研究方法,对典型中、畲药交叉使用品种作用靶点的相关疾病进行聚类分析和京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）信号通路的富集分析,进而分析畲药差异性功效的科学性。结果:共获得25个唇形科畲药品种,其中19个以全草入药,是最主要的入药部位;与39个少数民族药存在交叉使用情况,其中与土家族、瑶族、苗族、侗族、壮族、彝族等民族药的交叉使用频率较高;受所处生活环境的影响,唇形科畲药主要用于在外感时令病、创伤、妇科病、疮疡病、小儿杂病、瘟疫等。益母草是典型的中、畲药交叉使用品种,畲医认为益母草具有治疗感冒腹痛和产后月内口渴等疾病,与网络药理学的分析结果一致。结论:唇形科畲药具有较高的临床应用价值,尤其是其差异性功效的记载,对后期研究具有较高的借鉴价值;但是其整体研究水平还相对落后,后期还需要进一步加强基于差异性功效的药效学评价、药效物质基础、作用机制和质量控制方法等研究。     

Bulgarian traditional medicine: a source of ideas for phytopharmacological investigations

Some data about the use of medicinal plants in Bulgarian traditional medicine in the Middle Ages and in modern times are presented and the results of 40-year-long experimental-pharmacological investigations on many medicinal plants used in Bulgarian traditional medicine are reviewed. In-depth discussion is presented on the investigations of garlic (Allium sativum L.), a plant widely used by Bulgarian people for treating different diseases. Data from studies on a large number of plants used for treatment of hypertension, infectious diseases and as diuretic and spasmolytic remedies are summarized.     

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus,hypertension and cardiac diseases in the south-east region of Morocco (Tafilalet)

In this study, the medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiac diseases were inventoried based on the ethnopharmacological survey in south-eastern Morocco: Tafilalet region. Seven hundred persons including 320 diabetic patients and 380 patients with hypertension and cardiac disorders and 20 traditional herbal healers were interviewed in different areas of Tafilalet. The results indicated that 80% of patients interviewed used medicinal plants to treat diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases because they state that phytotherapy is cheaper (58%), more efficient (40%) and better (65%) than modern medicine. In this ethnobotanic enquiry, about 92 medicinal plants were cited. A lot of them are cited for the first time in Morocco. Many parameters have been evaluated such as knowledge of the toxic plants, doses, parts used, etc. Also, we have reported that 75% of type 2 diabetic patients used medicinal plants in association with modern drugs, while 10% of type 1 diabetic patients regularly used medicinal plants combined with insulin treatment. Some toxic plants have also been reported. In conclusion Tafilalet region disposes of a large phytotherapy knowledge which must be scientifically investigated especially in treating diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiac diseases.     

Inhibition of Th1 and Th17 Cells by Medicinal Plants and Their Derivatives: A Systematic Review

Searching for new natural drugs that are capable of targeting Th1 and Th17 may lead to development of more effective treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Most of the natural drugs can be derived from plants that are used in traditional medicine and folk medicine. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and introduce plants or plant derivatives that are effective on inflammatory diseases by inhibiting Th1 and Th17 responses. To achieve this purpose, the search terms herb, herbal medicine, herbal drug, medicinal plant, phytochemical, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, natural compound, inflammation, inflammatory diseases, Th1, Th17, T helper 1 or T helper 17 were used separately in Title/Keywords/Abstract in Web of Science and PubMed databases. In articles investigating the effect of the medicinal plants and their derivatives in inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells, the effects of eight extracts of the medicinal plants, 21 plant‐based compounds and some of their derivatives, and eight drugs derived from the medicinal plants' compounds in inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells were reviewed. The results showed that medicinal plants and their derivates are able to suppress Th17 and Th1 T cell functions as well as cytokine secretion and differentiation. The results can be used to produce herbal drugs that suppress Th, especially Th17, responses. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of some medicinal plants on plasma antioxidant system and lipid levels in rats

Several inflammatory diseases are thought to be related to oxidative injury and free oxygen radicals have been proposed as important causative agents of heart disease and aging. To investigate the effects of daily intake of medicinal plants on antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation and lipid profiles in rat, 28 rats were randomly divided into four groups and administered with three plant extracts (0.2 g/kg body weight): Piper cubeba (fruit), Physalis angulata (flower), Rosa hybrida (flower) and with saline as a control. After 3 weeks, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels in plasma were measured. The SOD activity of the Piper cubeba group and the catalase activity of the Piper cubeba and Rosa hybrida groups were significantly increased compared with the control group, while the SOD and catalase activities of the Physalis angulata group were not significantly changed (p<0.05). TBARS, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was significantly lower in all experimental groups compeered with the control group. No significant changes occurred in the TG, total- and LDL-cholesterol of all groups, but the HDL-cholesterol of the Physalis angulata group was significantly increased. This study showed that the intake of medicinal plants in rats results in an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and HDL-cholesterol, and a decrease in malondialdehyde, which may reduce the risk of inflammatory and heart disease.     

Ethnobotany of Apocynaceae species in Kenya

The study of Apocynaceae species used in traditional medicine reveals that 25 species in 16 genera are of ethnobotanical interest. Nineteen species are medicinal, sixteen of which fall under the subfamily Plumerioideae which usually has indole alkaloids. The most common category of diseases treated is skin and ectoparasitic diseases followed by abdominal diseases, diseases of the head, female conditions and venereal diseases. The root is the most commonly used part of the plant and it is possible that the alkaloids play an important role in the medicinal value of the plants. Many species are used for non-medicinal purposes as fruit (Saba comorensis), edible roots (Carissa edulis), poisons (Acokanthera schimperi), fodder (Strophanthus mirabilis), wood (Funtumia africana), birdlime (Tabernaemontana pachysiphon), ornamentals (Adenium obesum), dye (Carissa edulis) and perfume (Wrightia demartiniana).