IntroductionUsing herbal medicine to treat hypertension is common in Thailand. However, there is variation in the use of herbs between rural and urban areas. This study aims to observe the prevalence of herb use, describe herb users’ behaviors, and describe anti-hypertensive drug compliance among the users. MethodsA cross-sectional survey among hypertensive patients visiting primary care services in Tak (rural) and Chiang Mai (urban) provinces was conducted between March and April 2019. Patients were assessed by using questionnaires that gathered information about patient demographic data, history of hypertension, herb use behaviors, and the concurrent use of standard treatment. ResultsIn total, 400 participants were included in this study—200 from rural and 200 from urban areas. Sixty-two percent were female. The prevalence of herb use was 13.0% in urban areas and 17.5% in the rural areas. Rural participants reported a significantly longer duration of herb use (p<0.01), and a significantly higher proportion of using unapproved herbal products (91% vs 54%, p<0.001). Participants mostly use herbs along with standard treatment (86.9%); nevertheless, poor drug compliance was similar in both areas, with rural participants more frequently taking their medications at the wrong time (p=0.03). ConclusionThere was a trend of higher use of unapproved herbals in rural participants. Drug compliance among herb users was poor. It is recommended that a comprehensive assessment of herb use is conducted during care for hypertensive patients in this and similar contexts.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic observed during 2019-2021 challenged healthcare systems, making the infection a global public health emergency. Diabetes emerged rapidly as a major comorbidity for COVID-19 severity, increasing the risk of negative outcomes in diabetics if infected with COVID-19. The pandemic has prompted extensive research into potential therapies, including the investigation of natural products as repurposing drugs. They have unrivalled benefits, including a wealth of experience, diverse biological activity, and unique diversity. ObjectiveThis updated review aims to emphasize on some of the plants and their metabolites that are known to offer therapeutic benefits against diabetes mellitus towards increased inflammation, blood coagulation and vascular complications and can be used as potential adjuvant therapy in diabetics with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods:The reported literature was sourced from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Clinical Trials.gov, and Wiley online library with a focus on peer-reviewed English-language publications that exclusively addressed type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 interaction, clinical implications, and the anti-diabetic effects of natural products and traditional medicine. ConclusionThe anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant and eNOS modulating potential of several of these plants laid down a strong rationale for their use in developing therapies against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and may represent a beneficial contributory step in the management of COVID-19 in diabetics.

IntroductionSince ancient practice to modern medicine, the use of medicinal plant therapies remains in prominence. In general, health-related infirmities in the tribal communities are a consequence of their social pattern and traditions of treating diseases. Leucorrhoea is one of the common genital tract symptoms among women and its complications lead to cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory diseases. Several plant species have been documented for the treatment of leucorrhoea globally. Therefore, it is crucial to unmask the cytotoxic capabilities of the plant species being employed in order to determine the presence of significant bioactive components. MethodsTo address the insufficient scientific information on antileucorrheal plants in Odisha, India, we conducted this ethnobotanical review aims to contribute significantly by assessing traditional knowledge, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of selected medicinal plants. This endeavour holds the potential to enrich our understanding in addressing leucorrhoea providing valuable insights that bridge traditional practices with contemporary perspectives on herbal remedies. ResultsThe research findings emphasise that, among the 55 distinct medicinal plant species examined, herbs (45%) and trees (38%) are the most prevalent types. The research findings highlight that roots and leaves emerge as the two plant components with the highest efficacy for creating natural remedies. However, further research is required to validate these claims and explore potential side effects. ConclusionsThis review would possibly serve as a foundation in revealing the active principles or secondary metabolites from the selected plant species to be developed as a new therapeutic target research for curing leucorrhoea and associated cancer.

IntroductionHealth issues affecting males remain a public health challenge due to the limited treatments and male health-seeking behaviour. In South Africa, local communities have relied on plant-based therapies to address health issues including those affecting males. This review explores the ethnobotanical and indigenous knowledge of plants used for managing male urogenital and sexual-reproductive conditions in South Africa, to establish the existing status and identify gaps for further research. MethodsFollowing a systematic search, 51 eligible studies were extracted from electronic databases. Results:A total of 337 plants belonging to 85 families were collated across 7 provinces in South Africa. Fabaceae (37) and Asteraceae (37) were the most represented plant families. Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall. (18 citations), and Entada elephantina (Burch.) S.A.O’Donnell & G.P.Lewis (synonym: Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels) (12 citations) were the commonly used plants. Roots (33.4%) and leaves (17%) were the most commonly used plant parts. Decoction (44%) and oral-based (53%) were the dominant preparation and administration method, respectively. The two major health conditions had 18 sub-categories as extracted from the eligible studies. Particularly, aphrodisiac and erectile dysfunction were the most encountered conditions and were managed with 133 plants. Northern Cape and North West had limited studies on plants used for male health. Conclusion:We highlight the critical importance of plants in meeting the primary healthcare needs of males. This suggests the need to promote additional research into the cultural, therapeutic, and dynamic trends in the use of plants for meeting the health needs of males, especially in rural areas.

IntroductionWithania coagulans (also known as Indian ginseng) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for purposes such as purification of blood, eradication of muscle wasting, prevention of failure to thrive in children, management of insomnia and exhaustion, and treatment of liver failure and diabetes mellitus. Despite increasing interest in these applications, a holistic overview of its medicinal value is lacking, and the underlying pharmacological basis remains to be examined. MethodsThis study dissected extensive phytochemical and pharmacological information collected from international databases as well as local literature. Keywords related to medicinal uses, chemical compositions, and biological activities of W. coagulans were used for the bibliography search. Data were collected primarily from the last decade and used to build a systematic framework of its therapeutic potentials. ResultsTo highlight the therapeutic significance of W. coagulans, an evidence-based framework of biological activities is built to delineate its pharmacological properties, which are cross-checked against its medicinal uses and phytochemical constituents. In particular, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, reproductive system regulatory, and anthelmintic activities are outlined with emphasis on their therapeutic relevance to the plant. Several bioactive compounds, including withanolides (steroidal lactones), are identified as likely contributors to these activities, thereby supporting its medicinal value. ConclusionsThe bioactivity framework built for W. coagulans, along with the critical interpretations of its phytochemical and pharmacological information in this study, provides a solid basis for its medicinal applications and offers insight into next phase of experimental and therapeutic discoveries.

IntroductionIt has been demonstrated that the essential oil (EO) of Eruca sativa seeds could be potentially used as an antiseptic agent. However, the application of EOs is restricted because of their chemical instability and volatility. Encapsulation in liposomes is an efficient technique for the protection of the oils. MethodsThe EO of the seeds was obtained using the hydro-distillation method. Liposomal formulation of the oil was prepared using thin layer method. ResultsGC/MS analysis indicated that erucin (1-isothiocyanato-4-methylsulfanylbutane) was the main compound of the oil, accounting for 88.86%. The prepared oil-loaded liposomes had more negative zeta potential (−17.13 mV) compared with the empty liposomes (−9.26 mV), indicating the higher stability of the liposomal oil. SEM imaging confirmed that the encapsulation of the oil does not cause any distortion in the structure of the liposomes, in comparison to the oil-free liposomes. The seed oil showed antimicrobial activities at 20 μg/ml (against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Escherichia coli) and 80 μg/ml (against Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia), while the minimum inhibitory concentration values of the liposomal EO were 160 μg/ml against E faecalis, 80 μg/ml against P aeruginosa and K pneumonia, and 20 μg/ml against S aureus, E aerogenes, and E coli. ConclusionsAntibacterial experiments revealed that the EO of Eruca sativa seeds maintained its antibacterial effect after loading into the liposomes. Moreover, encapsulation in liposomes could improve the sustainability of the oil and increased the bioavailability of its active chemical compounds.

IntroductionChronic skin conditions have become a significant global healthcare issue, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the medicinal properties of ABBA Herbal Ointment, derived from the wild plant Cymbopogon schoenanthus ssp. proximus. Introduced in 2001, this ointment contains natural ingredients such as Aloe vera, jojoba oil, and calendula, extracted from desert medicinal plants. It has demonstrated swift and conclusive efficacy in treating chronic skin conditions. Clinically verified and patented in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Patent Number: GC 0001218), its therapeutic potential is supported by extensive research conducted by three French laboratories. MethodsThe traditional method is used to produce the ointment from the plant extract. To make the ointment, the extracted plant chlorophyll was homogenised with olive oil and natural beeswax. To further validate the therapeutic potential of the ointment, in vitro occlusive tests were performed to assess its efficacy on human skin, with results observed after 48 hours. In this study, 24 volunteers participated, of which two discontinued. ResultsThe topical application of the ointment shows no side effects, and further trials demonstrate its beneficial effects in managing chronic skin diseases. ConclusionABBA Herbal Ointment, derived from the rare wild plant C. schoenanthus ssp. proximus, shows significant potential as an effective treatment for chronic dermatological conditions. The study supports the ointment's efficacy and safety, aligning with the goal of developing novel therapeutic approaches for chronic skin diseases.

IntroductionThe inheritance and development status are illustrated with research hotspots, medication patterns, and research quality based on the two literature databases of previous and recent clinical investigations of Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas in treating childhood asthma. MethodsThe relevant literature was retrieved from seven databases. Based on the year of publication, dividing the body of literature produced since the database's founding into previous and recent databases. Bibliometric, VOSviewer, IBM SPSS Modeller and modified Jadad scale were used to conduct characteristic analysis, visual analysis, herb compatibility rule analysis and research quality evaluation respectively. ResultsOne hundred and seven previous studies and 212 recent studies were included. The outcome indicators are inherited symptoms and syndrome, and develop into mechanistic indicators such as pulmonary function. The common herbs are Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Ephedra sinica Stapf and Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., and the development of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao and Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf are increasing. The compatibility of herbs inherited the combination of E. sinica Stapf and G. uralensis Fisch. based on the development of Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag., S. chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. The research quality has been improved. ConclusionFrom the clinical research perspective, the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas for the treatment of childhood asthma has its own unique inheritace and development, covering a number of areas.