Ethnomedicinal Claims Research Articles

Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extract of root bark of <i>Acacia jacquemontii</i> Benth (Fabaceae) in experimental animals

Purpose: To investigate the ethnomedicinal claims regarding the use of Acacia jacquemontii Benth. (Fabaceae) in fever, pain and inflammation. Methods: The methanol root bark extract (AJRBM) of the plant was used in the studies. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out according to established methods. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities were evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing, carrageennan-induced rat paw edema and Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia models, respectively. The extract was administered at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Aspirin (300 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a reference drug in all models. Normal saline (10 mL/kg p.o.) was used as negative control. Results: Phytochemical screening results indicate the presence of cardioactive glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the methanol extract exhibited significant ( p < 0.05) analgesic effect with 58.98 % reduction in writhing response at a dose of 100 mg/kg, compared with untreated control group. The extract significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced carrageenan-induced edema at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg to 36.84 and 47.36 %, respectively, after 1h of extract administration. The extract exhibited predominantly dose-dependent antipyretic effect in Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia model. Maximum reduction in body temperature to 37.07 and 38.29 oC at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, was observed, compared with untreated group (38.90 oC) after 1 h, but this was not significant ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: The plant extract exerts inhibitory effect on peripheral pain stimuli, edema and dosedependent anti-pyrexia, and thus justifies the ethnomedicinal use of Acacia jacquemontii Benth. in the management of pain, fever and inflammation. Keywords: Acacia jacquemontii , Antipyretic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory

Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Studies of the Aerial Part of Aeschynomene uniflora Mey

The aim of the study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activities of extracts of aerial part of Aeschynomene uniflora Mey used in folklore medicine in order to scientifically validate some of its ethnomedicinal claims. The dried and pulverized aerial part of Aeschynomene uniflora was extracted using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol by Soxhlet extraction and each concentrated in vacuo to yield four extracts. The extracts were then subject to preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial studies using standard method. Carbohydrates, cardiac glycoside, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenes and tannins were present in the crude extracts. The highest zone of inhibition of 25 mm was exhibited by the ethyl acetated extract against Staphylococcus aureus, while the petroleum ether extract show the lowest zone of inhibition of 16 mm against Streptococcus pyogenes. The chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 7 mg/mL against, Bacillus subtilis and Candida stellatoidea respectively. Both the methanol and petroleum ether extracts had a MIC of 30 mg/mL against Candida stellatoidea. The minimum bactericidal/ fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) of the extracts ranged between 15 mg/mL to 60 mg/mL. In conclusion, the aerial parts of Aeschynomene uniflora showed significant antimicrobial properties. This justifies the use of the in the treatment of human and animal infectious disease.

Folklore claims on medicinal plants used byAdi, Galo, Nishi and Tgaintribes of Arunachal Pradesh against various ailments

The present investigation was aimed at documentation, analysis and evaluation of ethnomedicinal knowledge in the study area as the forces of acculturation are rapid in recent times. The underprivileged tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh do not receive adequate primary healthcare. They have perforce been still utilizing traditionally the plants in their surrounding for various purposes including ethnomedicine. The objective of the study was to document ethnobotanical knowledge especially of notable herbs utilized by the different backward people, whether tribal or rural, in the area under study. Season-wise regular visits formed the basis of the present investigation. Environmental data was obtained through structural interviews and face to face discussions with the tribal/rural informants, GB's, Dundai, men and women etc (with age between 50–65) or actual personal observations during ethno-botanical forays. Minimum five to eight informants were taken into consideration for each claim. This investigation brought on record that people of the study area generally utilize 45 plants species belonging 32 families. Different plant parts such as fruit, stem-bark and root are most commonly employed. Medicinal recipes, viz. extract, powder and decoction are used in this preferential order. A fair wide range of diseases, as many as 23, are treated by people of Lower, Upper Subansiri, Upper Siang and West Siang district using local plants. Anthelmentic, Antidysnetric, Antidiarrhoeic, Ringworm, Blood Pressure, Stomachache, Allergy, Scabies, Stomach bloating and indigestion are more prevalent in the study areas as compared to other diseases. These ethnomedicinal claims may aid in finding novel lead molecules for welfare of mankind. The data would be useful for further scientific investigations.

Pharmacological potentials of Premna integrifolia L.

Premna integrifolia Linn. (Verbenaceae) is an important constituent of the formulation of ten roots of herbs known as Daśamūla and is widely used for treating various ailments in the Indian system of medicine. Aim of this review is to provide comprehensive information on the pharmacological activities of various parts of P. integrifolia. All the relevant universally accepted electronic databases were searched with respect to the terms “Agnimanthā”, “Headache tree”, “Premna integrifolia”, “Premna obtusifolia”, “Premna serratifolia” including Indian classical texts, pharmacopoeias, Ayurvedic books, journals, etc., for information without specific timeline. Complete information of the plant has been collected manually since the year 1964 and has been arranged chronologically. The collected data reflects that many ethno-medicinal claims have been confirmed through the modern in-vitro and in-vivo pharmacological studies using different extracts and their isolates of P. integrifolia. The isolation of active constituents, their biological actions, clinical safety and validation of traditional uses of P. integrifolia could provide leads for further scientific research. The information collected here will be useful to set-up research protocols for modern drugs and Ayurvedic formulation development.

Evaluation of analgesic and antipyretic activities of Mahanimba (Melia azedarach Linn.) leaf and root powder.

Introduction:Mahanimba (Melia azedarach Linn.) is a deciduous tree of family Meliaceae and its root is mainly used in painful condition such as Gridhrasi (sciatica) in Ayurveda. Ethnomedicinal claims indicate that its leaves are used to treat fever, but its medicinal activities have not been proven by research.Aim:This study was aimed to evaluate the potential analgesic and antipyretic activities of M. azedarach L. leaf powder (MLP) and M. azedarach L. root powder (MRP).Materials and Methods:The root and leaves of M. azedarach were made into powder using guidelines mentioned in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. The analgesic activity of the test drugs was evaluated against acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice and radiant heat-induced pain in albino rats, and antipyretic activity was evaluated against Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia using Charles Foster rats.Results:In acetic acid induced writhing in mice, the test drugs MRP (1.3mg/kg) exhibit insignificant reduction in writhing reflex while MLP (1.3mg/kg) did not show any significant effect in comparison to the control group. MRP showed mild-to-moderate insignificant increase in latency of withdrawal response at 60 (26.74%) and 120 min (27.25%), while MLP did not show central analgesic effect in radiant heat model in rats. MRP showed a significant reduction in rectal temperature after 3 and 6 h, while MLP-treated group showed significant reduction after 6 h.Conclusion:MRP has mild-to-moderate peripheral and central analgesic effects, while MLP has not shown significant analgesic effects in both the experimental models. MRP has more pronounced antipyretic effect compared to MLP.

Ocimum sanctum: a review on the pharmacological properties

Herbal medicine, the backbone of traditional medicine in many countries have played an important role in curing the diseases of humans since ancient time. Medicinal plants are great source of bioactive compounds and chemical structures that have potential beneficial effects. The present review compiles information on ethnopharmacologically useful information and pharmacological properties of Ocimum sanctum . Ocimum sanctum (OS) has many medicinal properties like antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiulcer, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and other. The phytochemicals compounds of Ocimum, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, essential oils, tannins and saponins play an important role in herbal medicine. Bioactive compounds of Ocimum responsible for its various medicinal properties and their effects at the molecular level need to be investigated in more detail. Furthermore, pharmacological properties of bioactive compounds in Ocimum sanctum are required to confirm the ethnomedicinal claims of Ocimum sanctum for pharmaceutical therapeutic applications.

Analgesic and Antiinflammatory Activities of the Essential Oil of the Unique Plant Zhumeria majdae

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Zhumeria majdae essential oil were investigated in mice and rats. The analgesic activity of the oil was assessed by acetic acid-induced writhing and Eddy's hot plate methods while the acute anti-inflammatory effect was investigated by inflammatory paw edema in rat. Z majdae oil significantly decreased the number of acetic acid-induced writhes in mice compared with animals that received vehicle only. Also it exhibited a central analgesic effect as evidenced by a significant increase in reaction time in the hot plate method. The oil also significantly reduced carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. The inhibitory activity of Z. majdae essential oil was found to be very close to that of the standard drug, diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg). The studied oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS and seventeen constituents were identified, representing 99.2% of the oil. The major components of the oil were characterized as linalool (63.4%) and camphor (27.5%), which might be responsible for these observed activities. The results suggest that Z. majdae essential oil possesses biologically active constituent(s) that have significant activity against acute inflammation and have central and peripheral antinociceptive effects which support the ethnomedicinal claims of the plant application in the management of pain and inflammation.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Citrus aurantium L. blossoms essential oil (neroli): involvement of the nitric oxide/cyclic-guanosine monophosphate pathway.

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Citrus aurantium L. blossoms essential oil (neroli) were investigated in mice and rats. The analgesic activity of neroli was assessed by acetic acid-induced writhing and Eddy's hot plate methods, while acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effects were investigated by inflammatory paw edema in rat and the cotton pellet-induced granuloma tissue model, respectively. Mechanistic studies were conducted using L-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Neroli significantly decreased the number of acetic acid-induced writhes in mice compared to animals that received vehicle only. Also, it exhibited a central analgesic effect, as evidenced by a significant increase in reaction time in the hot plate method. The oil also significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. The inhibitory activity of neroli (especially at 40mg/kg) was found to be very close to the standard drug, diclofenac sodium (50mg/kg). In cotton pellet-induced granuloma, neroli was effective regarding the transudate and granuloma formation amount. Neroli was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and twenty-three constituents, representing 91.0% of the oil, were identified. The major components of neroli were characterized as linalool (28.5%), linalyl acetate (19.6%), nerolidol (9.1%), E,E-farnesol (9.1%), α-terpineol (4.9%), and limonene (4.6%), which might be responsible for these observed activities. The results suggest that neroli possesses biologically active constituent(s) that have significant activity against acute and especially chronic inflammation, and have central and peripheral antinociceptive effects which support the ethnomedicinal claims of the use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammation.

ETHNOBOTANICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON ANTIDOTES IN SINGHASON HILLS, KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT, ASSAM, INDIA

The Singhason hill range in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, I ndia is considered a floristic hotspot of Assam , India. T he region has poor access to modern healthcare system and people rely on traditional medic ine for primary healthcare. The present study investigates ethnomedicinal claims relating to treatment and ma nagement of plant poisons and venomous bites practised among the people in Singhason hills. Methods adopted for the present study included semi - structured interviews and personal observations. The present paper provides ethnobotanical knowledge of 42 medic inal plants of 40 families, used as antidotes - food poisoning (6), insect and spider poisons (11), snake poison (17) and other poisons (13 ). Both h erbal prescriptions as well as restrictions are maintained to manage many poisons and allergy reactions. Trad itional medicines remain an integral part of healthcare; it can be developed through validation and value addition .

New ethnomedicinal claims from Gujjar and Bakerwals tribes of Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India

BackgroundMedicinal plants are frequently employed by Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India for treatment of various ailments in humans and livestock. Hence, extensive field work was conducted to document the ethnomedicinal plants used by these tribes. MethodologyNinety one key informants were interviewed using both in situ and ex situ type of survey methods. The data were analyzed using user value (UV), informant consensus factor (Fic), fidelity level (FL) and relative frequency of citation (Rfc). ResultsA total of 104 species of medicinal plants used in the treatment of 40 different non-communicable ailments with 138 remedies are reported. Cephalanthera longifolia (L.) Fritsch was recorded for the first time with ethnomedicinal uses and the rest of the species were previously reported with different medicinal uses by other tribal people. Out of 138 remedies, 129 were employed for human ailments and the remaining seven were used to treat livestock. Most of the species were harvested for leaves (24 species). Herbs (66 species) were the major life form used for medicinal purpose and the most common method of remedy preparation was decoction/tea (27.8%). The highest use value plant was Verbascum thapsus L. for the treatment of stomachache and snake bite. ConclusionsPlants such as Allium humile Kunth, Angelica glauca Edgew, Arnebia benthamii (Wall. ex G. Don) I.M.Johnst, Asparagus racemosus Willd., Balanophora involucrata Hook. f. & Thomson, C. longifolia (L.) Fritsch, Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L., Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet, Gloriosa superb L., Habenaria intermedia D. Don, Phyllanthus emblica L., Ramaria Formosa (Pers.) Quel. and V. thapsus L. showing high Rfc and FL values may be studied for associated pharmacological activities.

The aphrodisiac herb Carpolobia: A biopharmacological and phytochemical review.

Any agent with the ability to provoke sexual desire in an individual is referred to as an aphrodisiac. Aphrodisiac plants are used in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. One such plant popular in West and Central Africa among the Pygmies of Cameroon, Ipassa of Garbon, and the Yoruba, Ibo, Efik and Ijaw peoples of Nigeria is Carpolobia. It is an accepted and commonly utilized herbal booster of libido. It is used to cure male infertility and to boosts libido thereby augmenting male sexual functions or it is used to induce penile erection, and enhance male virility. The chewing stick prepared from the stem and root of either Carpolobia alba (CA) or Carpolobia lutea (CL) is patronized because it boosts male sexual performance. The genus Carpolobia has over 14 species. The leaf essential oil contains a variety of terpenoids, while polyphenols and triterpenoid saponins have been isolated from the root and leaf extracts respectively. Other ethnomedicinal uses include curing of stomach ailments, rheumatism, fever, pains, insanity, dermal infection, venereal diseases; to promote child birth; and as a taeniafuge and vermifuge. In spite of its popularity, no scientific data reviewing the biopharmacological and phytochemical activities of Carpolobia exist to our knowledge. The aim of this work is to collate all available published scientific reports in the literature on Carpolobia in a review paper. In this review, an overview of the morphology, taxonomy, ethnomedicinal claims, geographical distribution, and structurally elucidated compounds that are secondary metabolites isolated and characterized from Carpolobia species is established. The pharmacological assays, phytochemical screenings, and toxicological reports are also reviewed.

Antibacterial Activity of Solanum pubescens - An Ethnomedicinal Plant from South Western Region of Andhra Pradesh

The present movement to find out alternative antibacterial drugs from medicinal plants and the presence bioactive phytochemicals in fruit andstem bark of Solanum pubescens, promoted the authors to take up the antibacterial evaluation of fruit and stem bark extracts of Solanumpubescens. Against clinical and plant pathogenic bacterial strains by employing the methods of National Committee for Clinical LaboratoryStandards (NCCLS). It was observed that all the extracts showed inhibition zone against one or more of the tested bacteria between 80 to 160 μg/ml concentrationswith 3.17 ±0.17 to 10 ± 0.17 mm inhibition. The spectroscopic determination of MIC and MBC exhibited by extracts went between 100-300μg/ml. In fruit extracts, fruit chloroform (FC) has inhibited all the tested organisms, similarly, fruit ethyl acetate (FEA) inhibited Bacillussubtilis and Xanthomonas sp. whereas, fruit ethanol (FET) has been restricted to inhibit Bacillus subtilis at 100 μg/ml. Furthermore, amongall the active extracts of stem bark extracts bark chloroform (BC) showed potential inhibition of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with81.44% and 82.17% respectively. Similarly, bark bottom crystals (BBC) extracts inhibited Bacillus cereus and Xanthomonas sp. with 77.38%and 77.72% respective inhibition at 100 μg/ml concentration.The present exploration has revealed that the extracts from fruit and stem bark of S. pubescens revealed potential antibacterial activity againstGram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria, which are validating the ethnomedicinal claims and this the first report of investigation of above extracts forits antibacterial activity.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i4.11280 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(4): 501-509

Anticonvulsant Activity of Glaucium vitellinum Boiss &amp; Buhse

The anticonvulsant activities of Glauciumvitellinum extract and alkaloid sub-fraction were assessed in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion and maximal electroshock test (MEST) in mice, with Diazepam as standard drug. While mechanistic studies were conducted using flumazenil, a GABAA-benzodiazepine receptorcomplex site antagonist.The extract and the alkaloid sub-fractionproduced protectionagainst convulsion at100, 200, 400 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg respectively compared with protection with benzodiazepine.The mean onset and percentage protection against convulsion in extract/sub-fraction-treated mice werereduced by flumazenil. We also showed that G. vitellinum extract (200 mg/kg) exhibited inhibition of the tonic convulsion induced by MES and decreased mortality rate.These results suggest that G. vitellinumpossesses biologically active constituent(s) mainly belong to isoquinoline alkaloid group that haveanticonvulsant activity which supports the ethnomedicinal claims of the use of the plant in the management of seizure.

Antipsychotic Effect of the Leaves of Stachytarpheta Cayennensis (l.C. Riche) Vahl. Verbenaceae in Mice.

The antipsychotic effect of the extracts of the leaves of Stachytarpheta cayennensis was examined following ethnomedicinal claims for its use in the management of mental illness in Nigeria, Ghana and other tropical parts of the globe. The apomorphine and amphetamine-induced stereotyped behavior models were used in this study to see if the extract or its fractions would abolish the stereotypy in mice. The method of Siqueira et al (1998) was employed in this study and the Kruskal Wallis non parametric ANOVA followed by Mann-Whitney U-test was employed for statistical analysis.The results showed that only the methanolic extract of the leaves of Stachytarpheta cayennesis but none of the fractions thereof prevented stereotyped behavior induced by amphetamine. The extract did not abolish stereotypy induced by apomorphine. The inhibition of amphetamine stereotypy also occurred at only one dose (20 mg/kg, i.p.).The inferences from this study include the fact that for the antipsychotic effect of the leaves of stachytarpheta cayennesis, fractionation would lead to loss of activity. More importantly the methanolic extract of the leaves of Stachytarpheta cayennensis possesses antipsychotic effect and this justifies its ethnomedicinal use in the management of mental illness in some regions of the world.Keywords: Antipsychotic; Stachytarpheta cayennensis; amphetamine; apomorphine; stereotypy

Rasa Nirdhāraṇa (assessment of taste) of Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br.: A preliminary study in healthy volunteers.

Background:Rasa (a concept corresponding to taste) is the only perceivable parameter for drug identification in Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic pharmacological principles such as guṇa (quality), vīrya (potency) and vipāka (effect of biotransformation) are inferred based on the identified Rasa of a drug. All these principles together predict the probable spectrum of drug action in Ayurveda. It is mandatory to screen a drug in the Ayurvedic pharmacological perspective to incorporate it into Ayurvedic materia medica.Aim:To assess the rasa of a non classical herb, Leonotis nepetifolia (L.).R.Br. based on the lakṣaṇas (characteristics) described in Ayurvedic texts for the identification of individual rasa.Settings and Design:The study was conducted at the Department of Dravyaguna, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Reaseach in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.Materials and Methods:The whole plant powder (3g) of Leonotisnepetifolia was administered to 50 participants (trained Ayurvedic physicians) and their responses after intake of the drug were elicited using a structured questionnaire.Results and Conclusion:On analyzing the data it was found that Leonotis nepetifolia possess predominantly tikta rasa (bitter taste) followed by Kaṣāya rasa (astringent taste). Recent researches and ethnomedicinal claims on Leonotis nepetifolia stand comparable with the pharmacological activities attributed to tikta and Kaṣāya rasa in Ayurvedic classics. Rasa nirdhāraṇa can be one of the preliminary steps to initiate the process of screening of an unknown drug along the lines of Ayurvedic pharmacology specially because rasa is the only perceivable parameter. According to Ayurveda, rasa of a dravya has a bearing on its karma (pharmacological action) and the identification of rasa could be one of the subjective means for inferring pāñcabhautika constitution of a substance which in turn could help in tentatively inferring guṇa, vīrya and vipāka of the dravya. This paper demonstrates how a simple method can be used without any instruments to do a preliminary assessment of the rasa or taste of a plant.

Antioxidant and prophylactic effects of Delonix elata L., stem bark extracts, and flavonoid isolated quercetin against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Delonix elata L. (Ceasalpinaceae), is widely used by the traditional medical practitioners of Karnataka, India, to cure jaundice, and bronchial and rheumatic problems. The objective of this study was to screen the in vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the stem bark extracts against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. Among different stem bark extracts tested, the ethanol extract (DSE) has shown significant in vitro antioxidant property in radicals scavenging, metal chelating, and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. HPLC analysis of the DSE revealed the presence of known antioxidant molecules, namely, gallic acid, ellagic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin, and rutin. Bioassay-guided fractionation of DSE has resulted in the isolation and characterization of quercetin. DSE and quercetin have shown significant prophylactic effects by restoring the liver function markers (AST, ALT, ALP, serum bilirubin, and total protein) and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST). These results were proved to be hepatoprotective at par with silymarin and well supported by the histological observations of liver sections with distinct hepatic cells, and mild degree of fatty change and necrosis. The results indicated that the DSE and quercetin were significant for prophylactic activity against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. This activity could be attributed to the antioxidant constituents in the DSE and hence justified the ethnomedicinal claims.

Plants used for treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea by the Bhoxa community of district Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDysentery and diarrhoea are major causes of morbidity and mortality in rural communities of developing world. The Bhoxa community is an important primitive indigenous community of Uttarakhand, India. In this paper we have tried to scientifically enumerate ethnomedicinal plants and herbal preparations used by Bhoxa community to treat dysentery and diarrhoea, and discuss their antidiarrhoeal properties in the light of previous ethnomedicinal, pharmacological, microbiological and phytochemical studies. To record plants and herbal preparations used by Bhoxa community of district Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India in treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea, and to discuss antidiarrhoeal and antimicrobial properties of the recorded plants. Materials and methodsEthnomedicinal survey was conducted in different villages of Bhoxa community located in district Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Thirty Bhoxa traditional healers were interviewed to collect information on plants used by them for treating dysentery and diarrhoea. For each of the recorded plant species the use value (UV) and fidelity level (FL) was calculated. Detailed literature survey was conducted to summarize ethnomedicinal, pharmacological, microbiological and phytochemical information on the medicinal plants listed in the present study. ResultsFifty medicinal plants (45 genera and 30 families) were used by Bhoxa community to treat dysentery and diarrhoea, among which 27 species were used for dysentery, 41 for diarrhoea and 18 for both dysentery and diarrhoea. Three plants viz., Dioscorea bulbifera L., Euphorbia thymifolia L. and Prunus persica (L.) Stokes, recorded in the present survey have been reported for the first time in treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea by any indigenous communities in India. FL and UV values revealed that most preferred species for the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea by Bhoxa community are Euphorbia hirta L. followed by Holarrhena pubescens Wall., Helicteres isora L. and Cassia fistula L. Earlier pharmacological studies confirmed that 27 of the recorded plants have some proven antidiarrhoeal properties and remaining 23 plants have to be pharmacologically evaluated for their antidiarrhoeal properties. Except 6 plants all the other recorded plants have shown antimicrobial properties in previous microbiological studies. Previous studies have corroborated the ethnomedicinal claims made by the traditional healers of the Bhoxa community. ConclusionsPresent study has provided new information on many medicinal plants and their uses. All the three newly reported plants for treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea have not been pharmacologically evaluated yet for their possible antidiarrhoeal properties. Twenty-three and six plants have not been evaluated pharmacologically and microbiologically, respectively. The present information may serve as a baseline data to initiate further research for discovery of new compounds and biological activities of these potential plants. Further research on these plants may provide some important clues for development of new drugs for dysentery and diarrhoea or other related diseases.

Phytochemistry, pharmacology and ethnomedicinal uses of Ficus thonningii (Blume moraceae): A review

The common wild fig, Ficus thonningii, is extensively used in African ethnomedicine for treating a number of disease conditions which include diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus, gonorrhoea, respiratory infections, and mental illnesses. This review aims to present a logical analysis of the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of F. thonningii in relation to its therapeutic applications. A bibliographic analysis of the uses, phytochemical constituents and phytophamacological properties of Ficus thonningii was carried out using published papers, medicinal plant databases and various ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological books. Ficus thonningii contains various bioactive compounds which include alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and active proteins, all of which contribute to its curative properties. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies revealed that F. thonningii possesses antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal, antihelmintic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies have shown that Ficus thonningii is non-toxic if administered orally in low doses. Scientific research has validated the ethnomedicinal claims that Ficus thonningii is useful in disease management. However, there is need to continue identifying, isolating and quantifying the active principles and possibly determine the mechanisms underlying its curative properties.

Mondia whitei (Periplocaceae) prevents and Guibourtia tessmannii (Caesalpiniaceae) facilitates fictive ejaculation in spinal male rats

BackgroundMondia whitei and Guibourtia tessmannii are used in Cameroon traditional medicine as aphrodisiacs. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the pro-ejaculatory effects of the aqueous and organic solvent extracts of these plants in spinal male rats.MethodsIn spinal cord transected and urethane-anesthetized rats, two electrodes where inserted into the bulbospongiosus muscles and the ejaculatory motor pattern was recorded on a polygraph after urethral and penile stimulations, intravenous injection of saline (0.1 ml/100 g), dopamine (0.1 μM/kg), aqueous and organic solvent plant extracts (20 mg/kg).ResultsIn all spinal rats, urethral and penile stimulations always induced the ejaculatory motor pattern. Aqueous or hexane extract of Mondia whitei (20 mg/kg) prevented the expression of the ejaculatory motor pattern. The pro-ejaculatory effects of dopamine (0.1 μM/kg) were not abolished in spinal rats pre-treated with Mondia whitei extracts. Aqueous and methanolic stem bark extracts of Guibourtia tessmannii (20 mg/kg) induced fictive ejaculation characterized by rhythmic contractions of the bulbospongiosus muscles followed sometimes with expulsion of seminal plugs. In rats pre-treated with haloperidol (0.26 μM/kg), no ejaculatory motor pattern was recorded after intravenous injection of Guibourtia tessmannii extracts (20 mg/kg).ConclusionThese results show that Mondia whitei possesses preventive effects on the expression of fictive ejaculation in spinal male rats, which is not mediated through dopaminergic pathway; on the contrary, the pro-ejaculatory activities of Guibourtia tessmannii require the integrity of dopaminergic system to exert its effects. The present findings further justify the ethno-medicinal claims of Mondia whitei and Guibourtia tessmannii.

Traditional Herbal Medicines for Primary Healthcare among Indigenous People in Tamil Nadu, India

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years, and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources, many based on their use in traditional medicine. More than hundred publications are available in the literature with ethnomedicinal claims among different tribal communities of Tamil Nadu mainly focuses on plant species used by the tribal people of Tamil Nadu for their primary healthcare needs. Nowadays the farmers in Tamil Nadu are also interested in cultivating medicinal plants such as Glorisoa superba, Coleus amboinicus, Senna angustifolia Andrographis paniculata, Aloe vera, etc for their significance in trade. This review summarizes the traditional uses of commonly used medicinal plants among the tribal communities in Tamil Nadu, India. Extensive literature survey was undertaken from ethnobotany and related journals and other publications to document the medicinal plants commonly used the different ethnic people for their primary healthcare. Western and Eastern Ghats are the main resources for the ethnic people who inhabited in the foot hills and deep forests. These forests hold thousands of medicinal plants which are used by the tribal people for primary healthcare needs. The scientific and vernacular names of plants commonly used by them, family, medicinal properties, part of the plant used and ailments treated are presented along with their major chemical constituents. There is still much we can learn from investigating herbals available abundantly in the forests particularly those which are less well known. This type of research must be promoted as a means for developing countries to understand the potential use of their plant resources, as well as a means to better promote basic healthcare.