A study on traditional medicinal plants of Uthapuram,Madurai District,Tamilnadu, South India

Objective

To record the medicinal plants of Uthapuram Village, Madurai district, Tamilnadu, South India for the first time and the usage of these medicinal plants to remediate the diseases among the peoples.

Methods

Explorative field trips were made to the village for about twelve months from April 2012 to May 2013 to survey the medicinal plants and collect the information from the villagers.

Results

From this study 52 species of valuable medicinal plants belonging to 36 families were recorded and their ethnomedicinal values were collected from the village peoples.

Conclusion

This study focuses the importance, utilization and conservation of the medicinal plants among the people.     

Inhibition of quorum sensing in Chromobacterium violaceum by Syzygium cumini L. and Pimenta dioica L.

Objective

To investigated into the anti-quorum sensing (QS) activity of Syzygium cumini L. (S. cumini) and Pimenta dioica L. (P. dioica) using Chromobacterium violaceum (C. violaceum) strains.

Methods

In this study, anti-QS activity of ethanol extract of Syzygium cumini L. and Pimenta dioica L. were screened using C. violaceum CV026 biosensor bioassay. By bioassay guided fractionation of S. cumini and P. dioica, ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) with strong anti-QS activity was separated. Inhibition of QS regulated violacein production in C. violaceum ATCC12472 by EAF was assessed at different concentrations. The effect of EAF on the synthesis of autoinducer like N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) was studied in C. violaceum ATCC31532 using its mutant C. violaceum CV026 by standard methods.

Results

EAF inhibited violacein production in C. violaceum ATCC12472 in a concentration dependent manner without significant reduction in bacterial growth. Complete inhibition of violacein production was evidenced in 0.75-1.0 mg/mL concentration of EAF without inhibiting the synthesis of the AHL. TLC biosensor overlay profile of EAF revealed two translucent spots in S. cumini and P. dioica that inhibited C₆-AHL mediated violacein production in C. violaceum CV026.

Conclusions

This study indicates the anti-QS activity of the tested medicinal plants against C. violaceum.     

Medicinal Plants of Rodrigues

A survey of the medicinal plants used in Rodrigues was carried out. 181 plants commonly used for their medicinal properties are reported. The vernacular names are given along with the data on plant parts used and for which diseases.     

基于化学指纹图谱的药用植物种质资源多样性评价——以黔产川续断种质资源评价为例

目的：以指纹图谱的指纹峰面积为参数,探讨药用植物种质资源多样性评价方法.方法：以黔产川续断为例,对其HPLC指纹图谱进行标准化处理,利用相关软件计算指纹峰面积多样性、指纹峰之间相关性分析以及主成分分析,并进行不同种质之间的聚类分析.结果：各指纹图谱峰的峰面积表现出不同程度的多样性;大多数指纹峰面积之间呈显著的相关性;主成分分析结果表明,第一主成分反应了川续断的品质特征;聚类分析显示欧式遗传距离与种质资源的空间距离无关.结论：以指纹图谱为指标对药用植物进行多样性评价,可以揭示药用植物种质资源多样性规律和结构,同时还能反映药用植物种质资源的内在质量,与其他研究药用植物的遗传多样性的方法相比,具有明显的特色.     

消炎止痛膏(东乐膏)外治类风湿关节炎关节疼痛的临床研究

目的:内科治疗加用消炎止痛膏,对缓解活动期类风湿关节炎(RA)关节疼痛较单纯内科治疗具有更好的疗效。方法:遵循随机、对照、重复的原则,采用双盲的方法,将72例活动期RA关节疼痛受试者,按1∶1的比例随机分为消炎止痛膏组和安慰剂组,观察主要疗效指标的变化情况。结果:消炎止痛膏组优于安慰剂组(P均0.05)。结论:消炎止痛膏能够有效地缓解活动期RA关节疼痛,且安全性好。     

翻白草及复方翻白草汤剂对家兔血糖作用研究

目的:研究翻白草及复方翻白草汤剂的降血糖作用。方法:将翻白草汤剂及复方翻白草汤剂浓缩后,分别以4.1ml·kg-1(1ml含生药1g)和5.8ml·kg-1(1ml含生药2g)对两组家兔灌胃给药7d,同时与美吡哒和生理盐水进行对照,用葡萄糖氧化酶法测定血糖,观察正常家兔的血糖变化。结果:翻白草汤剂及复方翻白草汤剂,对正常家兔血糖有明显影响。正常对照组为(0.50±0.32)mmol·L-1,翻白草汤剂组为(3.58±1.48)mmol·L-1(P0.01),复方翻白草汤剂组为(4.29±2.21)mmol·L-1(P0.01)。结论:翻白草汤剂及复方翻白草汤剂对正常家兔均有降血糖作用。     

The use of the local flora in Switzerland: A comparison of past and recent medicinal plant knowledge

Ethnopharmacological relevance

This analysis of documented medicinal plants of the Swiss Flora over the last two millennia provides a rich source of knowledge on earlier uses of plants and use patterns of the local flora. We ask which local plant species were used during different time periods of the last 2000 years and how the numbers of species and the use intensity of specific plant families, growth forms and habitats changed over time.

Materials and methods

Totally 25 herbals from the antiquity, monastic medicine, Renaissance, early modern era and the contemporary time as well as five recent ethnobotanical studies were considered. Use patterns were analysed with the Bayesian approach.

Results

A total of 768 species, i.e. 32% of the vascular plants of the Swiss Flora have been documented as medicinal plants. Numbers increase until the monastic period (366 spp.) and the Renaissance (476) and remain relatively stable since then (modern and contemporary era: 477). But, 465 formerly documented species do not occur in the ethnobotanical studies and thus seem not to be used any more. Overall, 104 species are documented through all time periods. Archeophytes, trees and forest plants are generally overrepresented in herbals from all time periods while plants from above the timberline are generally underrepresented. Most widely used are the Lamiaceae and Apiaceae.

Conclusion

A constant body of medicinal plant knowledge in Switzerland exists since ancient time. This knowledge was always influenced by knowledge from neighboring countries and no “typical Swiss specialties” seem to exist. Medicinal plants are not randomly chosen from the available flora. Certain species are deliberately introduced others are neglected. This process, which is still ongoing, can be traced back with the help of herbals to the antiquity.     

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants in Geçitli and its surrounding (Hakkari-Turkey)

Ethnopharmacological relevance

This paper provides significant ethnobotanical information on medicinal plants in the Geçitli Township in the Eastern Anatolia Region. Recording such data calls for urgency this is the first ethnobotanical study in which statistical calculations about plants are carried out by means of the FIC method in Eastern (Hakkari) part of Turkey. Aim of the study This study aims to identify the wild plants collected for medicinal purposes by locals of Geçitli which is located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, and to identify the uses and local names of these wild plants.

Materials and methods

A field study had been carried out for a period of approximately 2 years (2008–2010). During this period, 70 plants taxa and one mushroom were collected. Demographic characteristics of participants, names of the local plants, their utilized parts and preparation methods were investigated and recorded. The plant taxa were collected within the scope of the study; and herbarium materials were prepared. In addition, the relative significance value of the taxa was determined, and informant consensus factor (FIC) was calculated for the medicinal plants included in the study.

Results

We have found out in the literature review of the plants included in our study that 70 plant taxa and one mushroom are already used for medicinal purposes while 11 plants are not available among the records in the literature. The most common families are Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, and Malvaceae. We include in our study and report for the first time the medicinal uses of Alchemilla hessii Rothm., Cirsium pubigerum (Desf.) DC. var. spinosum Pet., Diplotaenia cachrydifolia Boiss., Euphorbia macrocarpa Boiss. & Buhse, Galium consanguineum Boiss., Inula helenium L. subsp. vanensis Grierson, Johrenia dichotoma DC. subsp. sintenisii Bornm., Pelargonium quercetorum Agnew, Rosa heckeliana Tratt. subsp. vanheurckiana (Cr?p.) Ö. Nilsson, Salix aegyptiaca L., Taraxacum montanum (C.A. Mey.) DC. Names of local plants in Turkey vary especially due to vernaculars. The plants that the locals of Geçitli use are called with the same or different local names in various parts of Anatolia.

Conclusion

We found out that locals living in the research area use for therapeutic purpose 70 plants taxa and one mushroom which belong to 28 families. Turkish citizens with different ethnic backgrounds took the questionnaire. These people use these wild plants in treatment of several diseases. Comparison of the data obtained in this study with the experimental data obtained in the previous laboratory studies on the wild plants which grow in Geçitli proved ethnobotanical usages to a great extent. Literature review indicated that the therapeutic plants that grow in Geçitli are used in different parts of the world for the treatment of similar diseases.     

加强药用植物园建设提高实践教学水平

药用植物园是药学实践教学的重要场所,校内药用植物和中药识别的实训基地,在中药资源与开发本科专业建设及药用植物学、生药学等中药类专业课程的教学和科研中发挥了重要作用。该文介绍中国药科大学药用植物园依托江宁新校区的建设,在培养学生实践能力和创新精神,弘扬中医药文化等方面所做的工作,以期为医药等相关院校全面提高实践教学质量提供借鉴参考。