Volatile Compositions and Antifungal Activities of Native American Medicinal Plants: Focus on the Asteraceae.

Sims K Lawson,Robert L Mcfeeters,William N Setzer,Prabodh Satyal,Chelsea N Powers,Layla G Sharp

doi:10.3390/plants9010126

Sims K Lawson, Robert L Mcfeeters + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9010126

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Abstract

In the past, Native Americans of North America had an abundant traditional herbal legacy for treating illnesses, disorders, and wounds. Unfortunately, much of the ethnopharmacological knowledge of North American Indians has been lost due to population destruction and displacement from their native lands by European-based settlers. However, there are some sources of Native American ethnobotany remaining. In this work, we have consulted the ethnobotanical literature for members of the Asteraceae used in Cherokee and other Native American traditional medicines that are native to the southeastern United States. The aerial parts of Eupatorium serotinum, Eurybia macrophylla, Eutrochium purpureum, Polymnia canadensis, Rudbeckia laciniata, Silphium integrifolium, Smallanthus uvedalia, Solidago altissima, and Xanthium strumarium were collected from wild-growing plants in north Alabama. The plants were hydrodistilled to obtain the essential oils and the chemical compositions of the essential oils were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The essential oils were tested for in-vitro antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The essential oil of E. serotinum showed noteworthy activity against C. neoformans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 78 μg/mL, which can be attributed to the high concentration of cyclocolorenone in the essential oil.

Highlights

Many aspects of modern medicine have relied on the traditional knowledge of native cultures, including, for example, traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) [1], traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) [2], and traditional Islamic medicine [3]
The essential oil of E. serotinum showed noteworthy activity against C. neoformans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 78 μg/mL, which can be attributed to the high concentration of cyclocolorenone in the essential oil
The essential oils from E. serotinum, E. macrophylla, E. purpureum, P. canadensis, R. laciniata, S. integrifolium, S. uvedalia, S. altissima, and X. strumarium were obtained from the fresh aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation, generally in low yield

Summary

Introduction

Many aspects of modern medicine have relied on the traditional knowledge of native cultures, including, for example, traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) [1], traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) [2], and traditional Islamic medicine [3]. Many of the traditional uses of medicinal plants are being lost due to several reasons. Recent generations are less interested in traditional knowledge, and habitat destruction and forced migration have reduced access to medicinal plants. The Native Americans of North America had rich traditions of medicinal plant use. Much of this knowledge has been lost due to population declines and displacement from native lands. There are still some existing references to the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants by Native Americans [4]

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