Ethnobotanical Use Research Articles

Exploring Antidiabetic Properties of Medicinal Plants in Malaria-Affected Regions

This study investigates the potential antidiabetic properties of medicinal plants commonly used in malaria-affected regions. Diabetes and malaria, both prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, often co-occur, posing unique challenges for healthcare management. Traditional remedies, including medicinal plants, have been widely employed to treat both diseases. This paper reviews the ethnobotanical use of plants with antidiabetic properties in areas where malaria is endemic, analyzing their pharmacological mechanisms, such as glucose transport inhibition and insulin sensitization. The synergistic relationship between malaria and diabetes is also examined, with an emphasis on shared pathophysiological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress and altered blood flow. The paper highlights the need for further clinical research to standardize the use of these plants and enhance their therapeutic potential. Keywords: Antidiabetic properties, medicinal plants, malaria, diabetes, ethnobotany.

Exploring unconventional food plants used by local communities in a rural area of West Java, Indonesia: ethnobotanical assessment, use trends, and potential for improved nutrition

BackgroundAs one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, Indonesia contains over 25,000 plant species, including unconventional food plants (UFPs). These plants are integral to the dietary practices of rural communities, providing essential nutrients often overlooked in modern diets. However, the use of UFP is declining, with both their dietary and cultural values being undermined. In rural West Java, this decline in UFP biodiversity coincides with public health challenges related to malnutrition. This study aims to document the diversity of UFPs used by local communities in rural West Java, assess their nutritional value, and explore their consumption practices.MethodsData were collected using mixed methods, including interviews with 20 key informants and food frequency questionnaire administered to 107 women in three villages in the area. The nutritional compositions of documented UFPs were obtained from literature and analysis. Bivariate correlation was used to analyze the relationships between UFP consumption frequency and potential correlates.ResultsThe study documented 52 species of UFPs from 29 families, many of which are rich in nutritional value. About half of respondents (56%) consumed UFPs moderately (2–3 times a week). UFP consumption frequency had a strong correlation (r = 0.70) with associated knowledge (r = 0.70, p < 0.01) and a weak correlation with age (r = 0.240, p = 0.015), livestock possession (r = 0.260, p = 0.008), and family size (r = − 0.220, p = 0.02). Motivations for UFP consumption included availability as free food (33%), medicinal value (26%), nostalgic value (23%), and preferred taste (18%). Most respondents (92%) agreed that consumption has declined compared to the past, with perceived reduced availability and lack of knowledge cited as the primary reasons for the declining trend.ConclusionsUFP use is common in the study area, where local communities value these plants for their critical roles in diet, medicine, and culture. Given their significant potential to meet dietary needs, educating and raising awareness about UFPs can enhance their consumption and contribute to food and nutrition security.

In vitro bioactivities and shelf life protective properties of sumac extracts against foodborne pathogens and computational analysis of sumac compounds

The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant and shelf life protective potentials of infusion, decoction, and room temperature samples of sumac fruits prepared as used by the local people against three foodborne pathogens including Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food samples. The room temperature samples of sumac showed a remarkable antibacterial activity (81.25%) against S. aureus. Infusion and decoction samples of sumac fruit showed an effective antibacterial activity (∼70%) against E. coli O157:H7. Moderate efficacy against B. cereus was observed in all treatment groups. Antibiofilm effects of sumac were observed against B. cereus and S. aureus, but not against E. coli O157:H7. The total antioxidant activity was found to be close to the reference compounds. The twenty-two phenolic and flavonoid chemical compounds (gallic acid, gentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, 4-OH-benzoic acid, salicylic acid, chlorogenic acid, cafeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, sinapic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, rutin, resveratrol, myricetin, naringenin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin, and chrysin) were identified by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) and these molecules were analyzed by computational analyses using SwissADME, admetSAR 3.0 and the AntiBac-Pred web tool. In addition, the antibacterial efficacy of sumac fruit extracts was tested on mixed Mediterranean salad samples to evaluate the shelf-life enhancing effect. The efficacy of sumac fruit against common foodborne pathogens suggests that the ethnobotanical use of sumac may provide protection against bacterial diseases and can be utilized as an additive and/or ingredient in the food industry.

Genus Berberis: A Comprehensive and Updated Review on Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities.

Genus Berberis is an excellent choice for research due to its history in traditional medicine, diverse pharmacological properties, and it has potential for drug discovery. This review presents information on the ethnobotany, pharmacological activities, and many phytochemicals identified from Berberis species. It examines the existing literature on the genus Berberis, drawn from online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Elsevier, and Google Scholar, etc encompassing the data from 1960 to 2023. This review focuses on the structural details of reported phytochemicals of Berberis species and pharmacological actions. Different extraction techniques were evaluated for extracts preparation. According to literature review, phytochemical analysis exhibited the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. A major bioactive alkaloid, berberine exhibits its main role in treatment of many gastric, infectious, and chronic disorders. This literature indicates that Berberis genus exhibits a variety of biological activities, i.e anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities and utilization of these effects in the treatment and management of various diseases, like diabetes, microbial infections, inflammation, liver disorders, and cancer. However, conventional medicines, validation of traditional uses, and in-depth phytochemical analysis are areas of research in genus Berberis.

Prediction of present and future distribution areas of Juniperus drupacea Labill and determination of ethnobotany properties in Antalya Province, Türkiye.

Ethnobotanical studies revealed the experience and knowledge of people who learned the therapeutic virtues of plants through trials and errors and transferred their knowledge to the next generations. This study determined the ethnobotanical use of Juniperus drupacea (Andiz) in the Antalya province and the current and future potential distribution areas of J. drupacea in Türkiye during 2041-2060 and 2081-2100 according to the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios and based on the IPSL-CM6A-LR climate change model. The very suitable areas encompassed 22379.7 km2. However, when the SSP2-4.5 scenario was considered, the areas most suitable for J. drupacea comprised 6215.892 km2 for 2041-2060 and 378.318 km2 for 2081-2100. Based on the SSP5-8.5 scenario, the area most suitable for J. drupacea was 979.082 km2 for 2041-2060. However, no suitable areas were identified with the SSP5-8.5 scenario for 2081-2100. Considering the models for the future estimated distribution areas of J. drupacea, serious contractions endangering the species are predicted in its distribution areas. Therefore, scientific research should focus on identifying J. drupacea populations and genotypes that demonstrate resilience to future drought conditions resulting from climate change. This endeavor is crucial as it holds significant ecological and economic values.

Ethnobotanical Study of Papaya plant (Carica papaya L.) in Díli, Timor-Leste

Abstract: Papaya is one of the traditional medicinal plant. All parts of this plant can be used as traditional medicine. This research aims to examine the ethnobotanical use of papaya plant by the people of Díli, Timor-Leste. The sample for this study was 50 people. It was carried out using a questionnaire, which contained structured questions. The result of this study showed that people obtain papaya from their home garden and use it freshly to make traditional medicine. The parts of papaya that can be used are: leaves, roots, fruit and flowers. These parts can be prepared using methods, such as: decoction, mixed with food, fried, consumed directly, heated in a fire, crushed and salad. These can be consumed by eating and drinking to treat internal diseases such as infections and parasites and others diseases of various body systems. It can be used by topical method and for bathing, to treat external diseases such as wounds. The quantity of consuming papaya can be once/day to three times/day. The time period needed to recover from diseases are varies from a day to recovery. This knowledge is obtained from the community itself, which needs to be preserved for future generations.

Therapeutic Potential, Pharmacological Activities and Analytical Aspects of Liriodendrin in Medicine: Novel and Potential Therapy Options for the Treatment of Human Disorders and Associated Complications

Abstract:: Natural products and their derived secondary metabolites play an important role in medicine and other allied health sectors. Liriodendrin is one of the main lignans of Boerhaavia diffusa roots. Liriodendrin is a lignin class phytochemical having numerous health beneficial properties in medicine, including anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-arrhythmic, anti-oxidant and anti- inflammatory potential. This present review aims to analyze the reported ethnomedicinal properties, pharmacological activities and analytical aspects of liriodendrin and identify the remaining gaps in medicinal fields for their future investigations. The pharmacological properties of liriodendrin have been described in the present paper in order to describe its better utilization in natural medicine in the future. Biological poptential and pharmacological activities of liriodendrin have been described in the present work with their analytical development in the scientific fields. In the present work, scientific data on liriodendrin were collected from different scientific databases such as PubMed, Springer, Google, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. They described their biological potential on the basis of the available scientific literature. Further, research and review articles from peer-reviewed journals were also searched during data collection. The present paper's scientific data signified the biological importance of liriodendrin in medicine, which has been isolated from Boerhaavia diffusa and other medicinal plants. Liriodendrin has biological potential against myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, lung injury, hepatic injury, antiinflammatory, ulcerative colitis, gastric injury, SARS-CoV-2 protease and intestinal inflammation. Further, its effectiveness in medicine was also due to its anti-convulsant activity, nitric oxide inhibitory potential, cytotoxicity, cytoprotective nature, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial potential. The present paper's scientific data also described the metabolism and analytical development for their isolation, separation and identification in different samples. Detailed pharmacological activities of liriodendrin have been described here in the present work and highlighted its important pharmacological properties and analytical aspects. Liriodendrin is a valuable phytochemical of Boerhaavia diffusa, which has numerous biological applications in medicine. Further, this study can also validate the traditional and ethnobotanical use of the Boerhaavia diffusa and other plant material, which contain a significant amount of liriodendrin as an active phytochemical. Liriodendrin have huge biological potential far beyond its traditional uses in human complications.

Metabolomic and chemometric analyses of St. John's wort and related Asian Hypericum species linked to bioactivity

Ethnopharmacological relevancePlants in the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae), include more than 500 species worldwide, and many are valued for their medicinal properties, and are used as traditional herbal medicines. However, only H. perforatum is officially recognized as herbal drug in several pharmacopoeias, and used as an antidepressant clinically. Hypericum perforatum had been used as an herbal medicine since the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -220 A.D.) in China. It taxonomically belongs to the section Hypericum in the genus Hypericum. There are about 42 species in the section Hypericum, with six species occurring in China. All six are recorded as traditional herbal medicines for treating aliments, including hepatitis, malaria, traumatic hemorrhage, irregular menstruation, wounds, and bruises. Aim of the studyThe study aimed to characterize the chemical profiles of five phylogenetically related Hypericum species, and compare their metabolites with three H. perforatum products. Informed by ethnobotanical use, the extracts prepared from the five species were further investigated into anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiplasmodial activity. This study tested the hypothesis that systematic metabolomic and bioactivity characterization of species in section Hypericum will help to validate their phytotherapeutic use and reveal potential drug lead compounds. Materials and methodsTargeted and non-targeted metabolic analyses coupled with chemometrics were conducted on H. perforatum and four medicinal species, H. attenuatum, H. enshiense, H. erectum, and H. faberi, native to China from section Hypericum. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-TQD-MS/MS were used for non-targeted and targeted metabolic analyses, respectively. Cytotoxicity bioassays on four cancer cell lines, anti-inflammation tests and anti-plasmodial activity on Plasmodium falciparum 3D7, selected based on traditional medicinal use, were evaluated on extracts from Hypericum species. Progenesis QI and EZinfo were used for chemometrics analysis to link the chemical profile and bioassay activity to aid in the identification of bioactive compounds. ResultsIn total, 58 compounds were identified from the five species, including compounds with well-characterized bioactivity. Hypericum attenuatum, H. erectum, and H. perforatum, displayed the highest cytotoxicity, and contain the cytotoxic compounds petiolin A, prolificin A, and hypercohin G, respectively. Hypericum faberi and H. perforatum showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity, with pseudohypericin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid being observed at higher concentrations. Hypericum perforatum and H. erectum showed anti-plasmodial activity, with higher hyperforin and xanthones in these species that may account for the anti-plasmodial activity. ConclusionsThis study characterized the chemical differences among five Hypericum species using metabolomics. These ethnomedically important species were tested for their biological activities in three distinct in vitro assays. The ethnobotanical data were useful for identifying bioactive Hypericum species. Hypericum attenuatum, H. erectum and H. faberi are promising phytotherapeutic species, although they are much less studied than H. perforatum, St. John's wort. Combining ethnobotanical surveys with chemometric analyses and bioactivity screening can greatly enhance the discovery of promising active constituents.

Ajania fastigiata in Zhetysu Alatau: Distribution, morphological characterization, phytochemical profiles, and optimization of extraction of bioactive constituents

Despite the wide medicinal use of Ajania fastigiata (C. Winkl.) Poljakov. in folk medicine, most Ajania species from Central Asia have not been explored comprehensively. Resource data revealed that A. fastigiata growing in the Zhetysu Alatau of Kazakhstan in three gorges among the Terekty river valley, Maliy Baskan, Sarkan, and the Karasyryk gorge at altitudes of 1183–1510 m. Anatomical and morphological studies were carried out on the vegetative organs of plants and results can be noted that A. fastigiata is typical for xerophytic plants growing in conditions of lack of moisture. Phytochemical investigation of the main bioactive constituents, together with the plant quality standardization were determined by the methods of State Pharmacopeia. Eleven macro-, and microelements of the A. fastigiata were identified with analysis of multi-element atomic emission spectral. Moreover, A. fastigiata demonstrated notable effectiveness against enzymes related diabetes and bacterial infections (α-glucosidase, PTP1B, BNA) and encouraging antioxidant properties. It is concluded that A. fastigiata is widely distributed and has potential ethnobotanical use with strong phytochemical composition which pharmacological active composition extraction method was determined by optimization model. The ideal parameters were identified as follows: a temperature of 50 °C, a time of 120 minutes, and a sonication power of 30 kHz for both dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts of A. fastigiata. Under these optimized conditions, the DPPH-RSA values for the DCM and EtOAc extracts were determined to be 41.84% and 83.08%, respectively, and matched the anticipated results.

Phyto-pharmacological Potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for Neurological Disorders: Progress and Prospects.

Aegle marmelos, an Indian plant, has been extensively utilized by the people of the Indian subcontinent over about 5000 years. The leaves, bark, roots, and fruits, including seeds, are widely used to cure a variety of diseases in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, along with numerous folk medicines. By revealing the existence of significant bioactive chemicals, modern research has effectively substantiated the therapeutic effects of bael. The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding A. marmelos geographical distribution, morphology, therapeutic benefits, and phytochemicals found in the bael leaves, fruits, and other parts of the plant that offer a wide range of pharmacological applications in neurological disorders. A thorough literature search was conducted using five computerized databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and Wiley Online Library (WOL), by using standard keywords "A. marmelos," "Geographical distribution," "Morphological description," "Ethnobotanical Uses," "Phytoconstituents" and "Neuroprotective activities" for review papers published between 1975 and 2023. A small number of earlier review articles focused on phyto-pharmacological potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for neurological disorders. According to some research, Aegle marmelos extracts potentially have neuroprotective benefits. This is due to its capacity to alter cellular mechanisms that cause neuronal damage. Neurodegenerative illnesses usually induce permanent neuronal network loss overall the brain along with the spinal cord (CNS), resulting in chronic functional impairments. The review summarizes the multiple aspects and processes of A. marmelos extract and its components in several models of neurodegenerative diseases such as anxiety, epilepsy, depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and others. MDA, nitrite, TNF-, and IL-6 levels were dramatically elevated, whereas glutathione levels were significantly lowered in the hippocampus of STZ-treated rats. Furthermore, STZ-treated rats showed a substantial drop in catalase activity and an increase in AChE activity, indicating cholinergic hypofunction and neuronal injury. The neuroprotective ability of A. marmelos against STZ-induced oxidative stress and cognitive loss in rats suggests that it has therapeutic relevance in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species.

Ephedra species are among the most popular herbs used in traditional medicine for a long time. The ancient Chinese medical book "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" refers to the classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription Ge Gen decoction, which consists of seven herbs, including an Ephedra species. Ephedra species are utilized all over the world to treat symptoms of the common cold and coughs, and to combat major human diseases, such as asthma, cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive disorders, and microbial infections. This study aimed at identifying specific Ephedra species used traditionally in Morocco for therapeutic purposes. The plant parts, their preparation process, and the treated pathologies were identified and analyzed. The results revealed five ethnobotanically important species of Ephedra: Ephedra alata Decne, Ephedra altissima Desf., Ephedra distachya L., Ephedra fragilis Desf., and Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo. These species are used traditionally in Morocco for treating people with diabetes, cancer, rheumatism, cold and asthma, hypertension, influenza virus infection, and respiratory ailments. In addition, they are occasionally used as calefacient agents, to regulate weight, or for capillary care. Few studies have underlined the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of some of these Moroccan Ephedra species, but little information is available regarding the natural products at the origin of the bioactivities. Further phytochemical investigations and clinical data are encouraged to better support the use of these plants.

Ecology, economic botany and conservation of Diploknema butyracea in Nepal

Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam, butter tree, locally known as Chiuri, is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree widely distributed on the south-facing slopes in the sub-Himalayan region from 200 m to 1500 m. This is an economically valuable, nutritionally important, ecologically slow-growing, and culturally integrated multipurpose tree species. The tree is culturally connected with an ethnic minority group, Chepang, in central Nepal. We systematically reviewed over 102 primary research studies, review papers, and grey literature, along with nine field visits, three each in western, central, and eastern Nepal to collect the population and ethnobotanical data of Chiuri. Additionally, government forest officials, forest user groups, and local communities of 62 districts were consulted to collect and verify the information on distribution, use, and conservation. The interrelationship of ecology and ethnobotany of Chiuri was found to be positively associated. This tree was reported to be grown in 58 districts, abundant in central and western Siwalik and mid-hills. The ethnobotanical use reports of Chiuri used by 26 ethnic groups were recorded from 22 districts. Among the groups, Chepang has intensive use reports and conserved this multipurpose tree since time immemorial. Ethnotaxonomically, four types of Diploknema species were reported by Chepang communities, whereas the national botanical records and molecular analyses have yet to confirm the types. As the species complements the livelihood, traditions, history, socio-culture, folklore, and household economy of Chepang people, we supported the argument that the D. butyracea is a cultural keystone tree species (CKTS) in Nepal for Chepang people. Further research on socio-cultural, ethno-ecological, and morpho-molecular attributes is urged for cultural integrity, biodiversity, and bioprospecting.

Bioprospecting of Artemisia genus: from artemisinin to other potentially bioactive compounds

Species from genus Artemisia are widely distributed throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and many cultures have a long-standing traditional use of these plants as herbal remedies, liquors, cosmetics, spices, etc. Nowadays, the discovery of new plant-derived products to be used as food supplements or drugs has been pushed by the exploitation of bioprospection approaches. Often driven by the knowledge derived from the ethnobotanical use of plants, bioprospection explores the existing biodiversity through integration of modern omics techniques with targeted bioactivity assays. In this work we set up a bioprospection plan to investigate the phytochemical diversity and the potential bioactivity of five Artemisia species with recognized ethnobotanical tradition (A. absinthium, A. alba, A. annua, A. verlotiorum and A. vulgaris), growing wild in the natural areas of the Verona province. We characterized the specialized metabolomes of the species (including sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway) through an LC–MS based untargeted approach and, in order to identify potential bioactive metabolites, we correlated their composition with the in vitro antioxidant activity. We propose as potential bioactive compounds several isomers of caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic acid esters (e.g. dicaffeoylquinic acids, feruloylquinic acids and caffeoylferuloylquinic acids), which strongly characterize the most antioxidant species A. verlotiorum and A. annua. Morevoer, in this study we report for the first time the occurrence of sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway in the species A. alba.

A Comparative Analysis of Ethnobotanical Use of Medicinal Plants by Herbalists and Cooperatives in 3 Contrasting Provinces of Morocco

A Comparative Analysis of Ethnobotanical Use of Medicinal Plants by Herbalists and Cooperatives in 3 Contrasting Provinces of Morocco

A Review of the Ethnobotanical Use, Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Constituents Derived from the Plant Genus Geijera (Rutaceae).

Geijera Schott is a plant genus of the Rutaceae Juss. (rue and citrus) family, comprising six species which are all native to Oceania. Of the plants belonging to this genus, the most significant species that has a customary use is Geijera parviflora, which was used by Indigenous Australians, primarily as a pain reliever. Herein, a comprehensive review of the literature published on the genus Geijera from 1930 to 2023 was conducted. This is the first review for this plant genus, and it highlights the chemical constituents reported to date, together with the range of pharmacological properties described from the various species and different parts of the plant. These properties include anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, insect repellent, analgesic, neuroactive, and anti-cancer activities. Finally, a reflection on some of the important areas for future focused studies of this plant genus is provided.

Ethnobotanical significance of several seasonal medicinal plants associated with Amravati suburban habitats

Medicinal plants are integral part of Indian tradition. This traditional practice helped people of India to sustain successfully in this pandemic situation. According to the WHO, approximately 80% of the world’s population relies on plant-based preparations for their primary health care needs. The present work was carried to identify the medicinal plants and their ethno botanical use. The area under study is the Amarawati region of state Maharashtra, India. The study was carried out for six months and Ethno botanical data was acquired by conducting interviews using specially designed techniques for collecting ethno pharmacological information. The study reveals the presence of 45 plant species belonging to 22 angiosperm families, which were commonly used for medicinal purposes. Most of time urban developmental activities cause damage to such flora. Whereas the community which is familiar with potential of such species try to utilize them on different alignments in over extend.

Análise etnobotânica do conhecimento dos produtores de plantas ornamentais no Benin: perspectivas de valorização e manejo

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the ethnobotanical knowledge of ornamental plant producers in Benin for better valorization. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted through semi-structured and individual interviews with 80 individuals. In total, 78 species of ornamental plants belonging to 25 botanical families were identified. The families Euphorbiaceae (15.38%), Apocynaceae (12.82%), Araceae (11.54%), and Verbenaceae (6.41%) were the most dominant. Five categories of uses were identified for ornamental plants in Benin, including aesthetic or decorative, psycho-magical, therapeutic, cosmetic, and food uses. Among these, aesthetic or decorative use of ornamental plants was widely recognized by producers (100% of surveyed producers), followed by use for psycho-magical purposes (45.7% of respondents). The frequency of citation of different categories of use varied according to the gender, age, ethnic group, and educational level of the interviewed producers. Ethnic group and educational level significantly influenced the ethnobotanical knowledge of ornamental plant producers. The first species showing a strong potential for ethnobotanical use were Citrus aurantiifolia (UVI = 10.78), Lippia multiflora (UVI = 9.70), Ocimum basilicum (UVI = 9.03), Verbena bonariensis (UVI = 8.14), Dracaena braunii (UVI = 8.08). These results can be considered as an important source of information for the management of the ornamental plant sector in Benin.

In vitro anthelmintic activity of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Terminalia macroptera and Bridelia micrantha against Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Caenorhabditis elegans and in-silico molecular docking evaluation of some isolated phytoconstituents

BackgroundIn tropical and subtropical African nations, helminthiases are widespread and devastating to school-aged children. This study was undertaken in order to objectively support the ethnobotanical use of the stem bark of Terminalia macroptera and the leaves of Bridelia micrantha as anthelminthic agent, using Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Caenorhabditis elegans. MethodThe flotation technique was used to obtain fresh eggs of H. polygyrus from the feces of experimentally infected mice and culture to different stages of the larvae. Caenorhabditis elegans L4 larvae were obtained after bleaching adult worms to create a synchronized medium and then was cultured until the L4 larval stage. By tracking the larvae's movement, the worm micro tracker was used to assess the anthelminthic activity in a 96-well microplate. The extract was tested at various concentrations and distilled water served as the negative control, and albendazole as the positive control. The percentage of larvae motility inhibition was calculated. The Glide module of the Schrodinger Maestro software was used to conduct the docking studies. The software's score function was used to rank and classify several potentials adduct patterns produced by molecular docking. ResultsFor the ethanol and aqueous extracts of T. macroptera, the IC50 of the ovicidal activity was 0.013 and 0.042 mg/ml, respectively, whereas for the ethanol and aqueous extracts of B. micrantha, it was 0.38 and 0.63 mg/ml. This demonstrates that ethanol extracts are more effective than water extracts in preventing hatching inside the host. T. macroptera larvicidal activity against L1, L2, and L3 larvae resulted in IC50 values of 0.47, 0.29, and 0.004 mg/ml for the ethanol extract, respectively, while B. micrantha's had IC50 values of 0.154, 1.4, and 0.047 mg/ml. Caenorhabditis elegans was very sensitive with IC50 values of, 4.733, and 2.8 µg̸ mL, respectively, for the ethanol and aqueous extract. In B. micrantha, Isoquercetin has the most interaction with amino acids, Asparagine, Phenylalanine, Glycine, Glutamic acid, and Tyrosine, because of its abundant hydroxyl functional group as well as carbonyl group and benzene ring, which makes it have a better inhibitory effect on the receptor protein while that of T. macroptera was Orientin. ConclusionThese findings imply that B. micrantha and T. macroptera may be effective as an anthelminthic agent. However, additional in vivo research is required to verify this biological activity. In addition, the hydroxyl groups as well as the flavonoid backbone of these compounds are the reason for the good effect of these proteins on the receptor protein, and the in silico studies of these compounds on the receptor protein and its interactions with amino acids confirm this claim.

Determination of volatile components and ethnobotanical properties of Rhus coriaria L. in Isparta province of Turkey

Rhus coriaria L., which is from the Anacardiaceae family, is important as a spice and medicinal plant in Türkiye. In recent years, when drugs are insufficient, interest in natural plants has increased and their importance has increased in terms of being a source of raw materials in many industrial areas. In this study, it was aimed to determine the volatile components of sumac fruit samples collected from Kasnak, Kovada Lake, Barla Mountain, Aşağıgökdere and Sütçüler locations in Isparta province and their ethnobotanical use in the region. 159 volatile components of Rhus coriaria, were determined by the Head Void-Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (HS-SPME) technique combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main components were α-pinene (Sütçüler 16.95%; Barla Mount 24.41%, Kovada 16.37%, Kasnak Forest 5.81%, Aşağıgökdere 18.20%, limonene (Sütçüler 7.50%; Barla Mountain 8.35%; Kovada 18.07%; Kasnak Forest 11%, 83; Aşağıgökdere 12.38%), 1,3,6-Octatriene, 3,7-Dimethyl- (Sütçüler 13.76%; Barla Mountain 19.36%; Kovada 7.97%; Kasnak Forest 5.53% ; Aşağıgökdere 15.01%) and β-caryophyllene (Sütçüler 7.70%; Barla Mountain 21.55%; Kovada 12.99%; Kasnak Forest 33.63%; Aşağıgökdere 1.18%). To determine the ethnobotanical use of Rhus coriaria in the region, a face-to-face survey of 22 questions was applied to 150 people selected by the stratified sampling model from the local people. The local people use the leaves and flowers of Rhus coriaria as tea, the fruits as a spice, and the sour sauce obtained from the fruits for food purposes. They also stated that they use it for various ailments, especially against Covid-19, for health purposes.

Review of the State of Knowledge of the Flora of Vaupés (Colombia)

The department of Vaupés, located in the Amazon region of Colombia, covers approximately 65.268 km2, representing 5.7% of the country's territory. The department hosts a rich floristic diversity that plays a crucial role in the dynamics of local ecosystems. This richness gains even greater importance due to the ethnobotanical use by ancestral communities over time. Despite the increase in literature production on the flora of Vaupés in recent decades, there is a lack of an updated review specifically focused on existing bibliography related to the department's flora. This work aims to conduct a comprehensive review up to 2023 of the knowledge production in the department related to flora, using analyses of various indicators. Different databases such as Scopus, Scielo, WoS, academic search engines like Google Scholar, and repositories were used for the review. Two inclusion criteria were applied to the documents: 1) The documents had to focus on municipalities or localities within the department as the study area, and 2) The research had to be related to flora. Graphs and tables were employed for analyses to identify patterns and trends. In total, 92 publications related to the flora of Vaupés were identified, reflecting a significant increase compared to previous studies. Most publications were concentrated in the municipality of Mitú, primarily led by Richard Evans Schultes, who stood out as the main author with 49 publications. While the research article stood out as the most used form of publication, another significant source was gray literature, primarily derived from undergraduate and postgraduate theses. Ethnobotany and taxonomy emerged as dominant areas of research, encompassing 41% and 34% of the publications, respectively, reflecting the importance given to traditional knowledge and accurate species identification in the region. Temporal analysis revealed publication peaks between 1974-1984 and 2004-2014. The concentration of publications by some authors, especially Richard Evans Schultes, emphasizes the need for diversification in research perspectives. It is crucial to encourage new researchers and interdisciplinary collaboration to enrich research in Vaupés. Finally, addressing knowledge gaps in less-explored areas such as ecology, palynology, phytogeography, and plant physiology is essential for a holistic understanding of the department's ecosystem.