Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevanceSempervivum tectorum L. (Crassulaceae), known as houseleek, is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of ear inflammation. It can be spread as a pack on wounds, sores, burns, and abscesses and also on painful areas attacked by gout as a refrigerant and astringent. Drinking tea prepared from leaves of S. tectorum is recommended for ulcer treatment. The present study was designed to investigate ethopharmacological use of S. tectorum in the southern Serbia and to further scientifically justify and confirm effectiveness of the leaf juice used in ethnomedicine for ear inflammation, against otitis linked bacteria. Material and methodsEthnopharmacological survey on the use of S. tectorum in southern Serbia was performed using semi structured questionnaires via a face-to-face interview. Chemical composition of the leaf juice regarding phenolic compounds and organic acids was analyzed. Antimicrobial activity was tested on bacteria isolated from ear swabs of the patients suffering from the ear pain (otitis). Anti-quorum-sensing activities of the juice were further investigated on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ResultsEthnopharmacological survey revealed the use of S. tectorum in southern Serbia for the treatment of ear pain, warts, cancer, stomachache, ulcer and high blood sugar level with the highest fidelity level (FL) for the ear pain. The phenolic composition of the S. tectorum leaf juice consisted of flavonol glycosides, with kaempferol-3-O-rhamnosyl-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside as the majority compound. Organic acids composition revealed malic acid as the most dominant one. Antimicrobial and anti-quorum-sensing activities of the juice showed to be promising. ConclusionEthnopharmacological use of S. tectorum juice for treating ear pain is justified, since the juice possessed antimicrobial activity towards clinical isolates of bacteria linked to otitis.
Highlights
Traditional medicines are continuously increasing in their status, and show that there are some features, which are unique to them, contributing to both efficacy and safety (Nanjan, 2010)
With Fidelity level (FL) of 32.14% skin warts are on the second place that could be treated with directly squeezed S. tectorum juice
Ethnopharmacological survey revealed the use of S. tectorum in southern Serbia for the treatment of ear pain, warts, cancer, stomachache, ulcer and high blood sugar level, with the highest fidelity level for the ear pain
Summary
Traditional medicines are continuously increasing in their status, and show that there are some features, which are unique to them, contributing to both efficacy and safety (Nanjan, 2010). Special attention has been given to alternative natural bio-remedies to cure different diseases (Šavikin et al 2013) because of their less or no side effects, high efficacy and low cost. Its use in the treatment of ear inflammation in Serbian folk medicine has been reported (Šavikin et al 2013), having an antinociceptive activity (Alberti et al 2012). Fresh juice from squeezed leaves of S. tectorum is used as a folk medicine almost exclusively for external purposes. It can be spread as a pack on wounds, sores, burns, and abscesses and on painful areas attacked by gout as a refrigerant and astringent. Drinking tea prepared from leaves of S. tectorum is recommended for ulcer treatment (Bremness, 1996)
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