Ethnomedicinal Plants Research Articles

Impact of extraction techniques and process optimization on antioxidant and antibacterial potential of Kalanchoe pinnata leaf extract

ABSTRACT Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. is an ethnomedicinal plant known for its antioxidant, antibacterial, and therapeutic potential. The current study was an effort to explore the impact of extraction technique on the phytochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial profile of the plant extracts. K. pinnata leaf extracts were prepared using conventional solvent extraction (100% methanol; 50% methanol: 50% water; 100% water), microwave-assisted extraction at 700-W power (3 min; 6 min; 9 min), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) (3500 psi; 4500 psi; 5500 psi). Best results were attained from SFE in terms of total phenolic content (240 ± 3 mg GAE/g), total flavonoid content (165.2 ± 0.4 mg QE/g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging potential (91.9 ± 0.4%), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid assay value (8.04 ± 0.03 mMol TE/g) and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay value (471.7 ± 0.8 µg/mL). K. pinnata leaf extracts have been found to be most effective against Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (22.20 ± 0.95 mm) and least effective againstProteus vulgaris (0 ± 0 mm). High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of K. pinnata extract showed that it contains flavanol quercetin (2.0 ± 0.1 mg/g). It is evident from the findings of current study that K. pinnata extract can effectively treat bacterial infections and can cure metabolic disorders by reducing oxidative stress. Application of advance extraction techniques enhances the biological activity of plant extracts.

Ethno Medicinal, Phyto-Chemical and Physico-chemical Characterization of Selected Endangered Medicinal Plants of Indravati National Park, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, India

Medicinal plants are beneficial for curing several ailments among traditional healers, indigenous people, local practitioners and forest dwellers. If harnessed, traditional knowledge of the ethnomedicinal plants can play a pivotal role in drug discovery and development. In many cases a single medicinal plant can be of multiple uses also, different plant parts of the same plant can be utilized for more than one disease condition. The Ethno-botanical, Phytochemical and physico-chemical characterization of five selected medicinal plants viz., Nyctanthes arbor – tristis, Andrographis paniculata, Cissus quadragularis, Plumbago zeylania and Costus specious is an essence and has been carried out to assess bioactive potential and to establish traditional belief in the light of scientific interpretation. Fresh leaves were collected from Indravati National Park, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, India, dried and powdered for phytochemical and Proximate, ultimate, and compositional analysis. Study revealed that the highest concentration of Ash Content (18.513%), Moisture Content (8.56%), Carbon content (48.77%), Hydrogen Content (24.490%), Nitrogen Content (23.860%) was observed to occur in Plumbago zeylanica leaf than other experimental plants. In Cissus quadrangularis, the percentage composition of fat content (0.230%), extractive content (1.05%), Lignin Content (5.53%) was higher than others. Fat content (0.230%), Moisture Content (8.56%), Vit. C content (64.63%) and Oxygen contents (36.655 %) were observed to be higher in Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaf than others. The concentrations of Crude Fibre (14.49 %), Moisture Content (8.56%), Protein content (12.16%), Carbon content (75.66 %), Cellulose content (47.63 %) were observed to be highest in Costus speciosus species than others. Carbon content (48.77%) and Hydrogen Content (24.490%) were higher in Andrographis paniculata than in others.

Evaluation of Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Impact of Phytomedicine using Experimental Animal Models

Human beings have been using plants as medicines for centuries. The development of traditional medicinal systems utilizing plants as a form of medicine may be traced back only as far as historical documentation of their similarity. Immunosuppression and bone resorption is a major drawback in conventional chemotherapy. Modern medicines contain plant-derived components that are the source of immunomodulators. Withania somnifera and Cnidium monnieri are the plants which have been used for immunomodulatory and anti-osteoporotic activities. Medicinal plant samples were obtained from diverse parts of Pakistan. Following extraction, phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial potential were investigated, and the hepatoprotective effect was evaluated. An in vivo study was conducted on experimental animals by administering ethnomedicinal plant extracts in comparison to some allopathic drugs. Various blood samples were collected to analyze calcium level, vitamin-D, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and Testosterone for antiosteoporosis activity. The possible outcomes were positive and hepatoprotective as well as antimicrobial effect was present in Polyherbal preparation (PHP). During trails on Albino rats, the improvement in their body weight was recorded. PHP administration of plant extracts enhanced the parameters of blood and neutralized the effect of CCl4 intoxication. The proper administration of plant extracts showed a positive effect on hormones, particularly progesterone, testosterone, and oestradiol. In the future, these selected medicinal plants and their PHP might be preferred for the separation of lead bioactive compounds to overcome the extremely alleviating issues associated with infertility.

Ethnomedicinal plants for cardiovascular diseases management in manikganj district

The present research deals with the identification of ethnomedicinal plants used by the local people for curing cardiovascular diseases in Manikganj district, Bangladesh. The present study aimed to record and validate the ethnomedicinal knowledge used by the local people for cardiovascular disease (CVD) management in Manikganj district, Bangladesh using recent ethnobotanical survey methods. The record of 131 ethnomedicinal plant species with diverse use patterns reflected the traditional knowledge richness in the study area. Among the ethnomedicinal plants, 10 plant species, including Phyllanthus emblica L., Allium sativum L., Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. Ex DC.) Wight & Arn, Achyranthes aspera L., Terminalia chebula Retz., Allium cepa L., Adhatoda zeylanica Nees, Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp, and Ipomea aquatica Forssk, were cited most frequently by the local people. Among the disease categories, the highest Fic (factor of informant consensus) value was obtained in cardiac complaints, followed by blood purifiers, chest pain, high blood pressure, and antioxidants. In this research, 131 plant species were recorded, and 45 plants obtained the highest Fl (fidelity level) value of 100%. The members of the most common medicinal plants were from the families of Fabaceae, Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Apocynaceae. This result provides baseline data to link the local population, including traditional health professionals and scientific communities, which could be significant in drug discovery and is very important for the sustainable development program and conservation management in Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 31(1): 101-121, 2024 (June)

The chloroplast genomes of two medicinal species (Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. and Veronica undulata Wall.) and its comparative analysis with related Veronica species

Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. and Veronica undulata Wall. are widely used ethnomedicinal plants in China. The two species have different clinical efficacies, while their extremely similar morphology and unclear interspecific relationship make it difficult to accurately identify them, leading to increased instances of mixed usage. This article reports on the complete chloroplast genomes sequence of these two species and their related Veronica species to conduct a comparative genomics analysis and phylogenetic construction. The results showed that the chloroplast (cp) genomes of Veronica exhibited typical circular quadripartite structures, with total lengths of 149,386 to 152,319 base pairs (bp), and GC content of 37.9 to 38.1%, and the number of genes was between 129–134. The total number of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in V. anagallis-aquatica and V. undulata is 37 and 36, while V. arvensis had the highest total number of 56, predominantly characterized by A/T single bases. The vast majority of long repeat sequence types are forward repeats and palindromic repeats. Selective Ka/Ks values showed that three genes were under positive selection. Sequence differences often occur in the non-coding regions of the large single-copy region (LSC) and small single-copy region (SSC), with the lowest sequence variation in the inverted repeat regions (IR). Seven highly variable regions (trnT-GGU-psbD, rps8-rpl16, trnQ-UUG, trnN-GUU-ndhF, petL, ycf3, and ycf1) were detected, which may be potential molecular markers for identifying V. anagallis-aquatica and V. undulata. The phylogenetic tree indicates that there is a close genetic relationship between the genera Veronica and Neopicrorhiza, and V. anagallis-aquatica and V. undulata are sister groups. The molecular clock analysis results indicate that the divergence time of Veronica may occur at ∼ 9.09 Ma, and the divergence time of these two species occurs at ∼ 0.48 Ma. It is speculated that climate change may be the cause of Veronica species diversity and promote the radiation of the genus. The chloroplast genome data of nine Veronica specie provides important insights into the characteristics and evolution of the chloroplast genome of this genus, as well as the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Veronica.

Floral morphometrics, cytology and fruit biochemical studies in wild populations of Solanum viarum Dunal- an ethnomedicinal plant of North-East India

Floral morphometrics, cytology and fruit biochemical studies in wild populations of Solanum viarum Dunal- an ethnomedicinal plant of North-East India

Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar District, Assam (India)

Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar District, Assam (India)

Ethnobotanical knowledge of the Kaibarta community of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley zone of Assam

An ethnobotanical study was carried out among the peoples of the Kaibarta Community of Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam to assess their rich indigenous knowledge system, regarding the application of the ethnomedicinal plants as phyto remedies against certain common ailments. The information on the application of medicinal plants was obtained by interviewing the selected respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire and group conversation. A total of 33 medicinal plants belonging to 24 families were recorded which are used by the target groups for curing 14 common and frequently occurring ailments. 16 of the recorded plants were herbs, 11 were shrubs, 5 were trees, and 1 climber. The data collected during the fieldwork were analyzed for various parameters, i.e., Informant’s Consensus Factor (ICF) Fidelity value (FL%), Use-value (UV) index, and Plant part value (PPV). The highest ICF was calculated against Tonsilitis and Piles followed by Helminthiasis, Gastric, and Diabetes. The majority of reported plant species were used against a single specific ailment. Therefore, they have a high FL% i.e., 100 percent. The highest use value (> .5) was recorded for Ocimun sanctum, Houttuynia cordata, Oxalis corniculata, Azadirachta indica, Musa balbisiana, and Citrus medica, while the leaf has the highest PPV (0.5). The biological activities of the recorded plants were reported from available phytochemical and pharmacological literature and found a positive correlation between the traditional knowledge of the community and the biological activities of the recorded plants. Therefore, it is strongly recommended for extensive ethnobotanical study of the community to fully explore their indigenous knowledge.

The use and potential abuse of psychoactive plants in southern Africa: an overview of evidence and future potential

BackgroundMost Bantu ethnic groups in southern Africa utilize indigenous herbal medicines, some of which have psychoactive properties. Traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) commonly use them not only for divinatory purposes but to treat and manage mental and other illnesses. Unfortunately, the research on their results, risks, and benefits do not align. Little is known about their potential abuse among TMPs and community members in southern Africa. Herbal medicines are complex because whole plants are sometimes used, unlike in other treatments which use only one active ingredient. However, if the key mechanisms of action of these ethnomedicinal plants can be identified through socio-pharmacological research, useful botanical agents can be developed. A review of socio-pharmacological studies to evaluate the consequences of exposure to ethnomedicinal plants with psychoactive properties was conducted with the aim of identifying harm reduction strategies and investigating how the plants could be developed into useful botanicals.MethodThe search methods involved retrieval of records from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Dissertations and Theses Global, and OpenGrey. The English language and human subjects were used as filters. In addition, some information was obtained from TMPs and community members.ResultsThe following psychoactive plants were found to be commonly used or abused: Boophone disticha, Cannabis sativa, Datura stramonium, Leonotis leonurus, Psilocybe cubensis, and Sceletium tortuosum. The commercialization of Cannabis, L. leonurus, S. tortuosum, and Aspalathus is growing fast. The abuse liability of B. disticha, D. stramonium, and P. cubensis appears not to be appreciated. Five countries were found to have TMP policies and three with TMP Councils.ConclusionTMPs in the region are aware of the CNS effects of the identified psychoactive plants which can be explored further to develop therapeutic agents. There is a need to work closely with TMPs to reduce harm from the abuse of these plants.

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used against Diabetes at Bargarh District in Orissa (India)

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used against Diabetes at Bargarh District in Orissa (India)

Some Ethnomedicinal Plants of Dhar District

Dhar district is inhabited by dominating tribes, bhils and bhiialas. Bhils constitute the third largest tribe of India. There are many sub-tribes of bhils viz., tarvi, nayar, nhal, barela, and kotwal. At the same time sub-tribes of bhilalas, darbari bhilala, dhaplya bhilala, rathya bhilala, also live here. They utilize a large number of plant species occurring in wild as herbal remedies on various diseases and ailments in the area. The paper lists 32 such species.

Ethno-medicinal study of religiously sacred plants used by the Hindu community in southwestern parts of Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Hinduism has profound religious beliefs and cultural connections with many plants employed in various religious rituals to worship gods and goddesses. Most of these plants are believed to have curative properties for many ailments. In view of the Hindu population decline in Bangladesh during the last decades, there is a need to gather ethnopharmacological data on these sacred plants. This study focuses on documenting the therapeutic uses of plants significant to Hindu practices in southwestern Bangladesh. Through free listing interviews with 28 Hindu participants, medico-religious data on plants were collected using open-ended and semi-structured questionnaires. Results revealed 56 plant species from 32 botanical families as religiously sacred, with Aegle marmelos being most culturally significant. The study identified 89 diseases treated by these plants, with Curcuma longa being the most cited species, followed by Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. It introduced two new ethnomedicinal plant species, Oxystelma esculentum and Reinwardtia indica, previously unreported in Bangladesh. Additionally, new medicinal uses were uncovered, highlighting the intricate relationship between culture, religion, and traditional medicinal knowledge within the Bangladeshi Hindu community. This study represents the first attempt to compile a comprehensive list of plants utilized in Hindu religious practices in Bangladesh.

Ethnomedicinal Plants of Betul District, Madhya Pradesh

The paper deals with ethnomedicinal information on 54 plant species (belonging to 33 families) collected from field survey amongst three tribes viz., Gond, Korku and Gaiki of Betul district, Madhya Pradesh. An analysis of data has indicated that eight plant species are employed as antidote to snake bite and scorpion sting, six to treat fever. five for rheumatism, four to treat cold, cough, skin diseases, as anthelmintic and tonic, and three for stomach diseases while two species to treat impotency, cuts, wounds and as diuretic. On the other hand, only single species has been referred for a number of other ailments like eye diseases, spermatorrhoea, spleen enlargement, tuberculosis, mouth sore, boil, asthma, liver disorder, toothache, bone fracture, abortifacient, antifertility, and in veterinary. Further, a comparison with the concerned literature has revealed that 23 ethnomedicinal uses of plants have not been reported earlier.

Exploration of antidiabetic potential of traditional ethno-medicinal plant Viscum cruciatum Sieber ex Boiss. (Loranthaceae) from Rawalakot district, Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Exploration of antidiabetic potential of traditional ethno-medicinal plant Viscum cruciatum Sieber ex Boiss. (Loranthaceae) from Rawalakot district, Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Lauinoids A–X: Labdane-type diterpenoids with anti-inflammatory activity from Croton laui

Croton laui (Euphorbiaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant used by the Li ethnic group in China to treat headaches, stomachaches, and diphtheria. To understand the pharmacological basis of its medicinal use, an extensive investigation of the ethanolic extract of the bark of C. laui was performed. After repeated chromatography, twenty-four undescribed labdane-type diterpenoids, lauinoids A–X (1–24), and five known analogs (25–29) were isolated. Their structures and absolute configurations were established using a combination of spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Among them, compounds 1–3 exhibited an 11(12 → 13)-abeo-16-nor-labdane skeleton, which originated putatively from 9 through a plausible pathway that involves a semipinacol rearrangement process. Compounds 11 and 12 belong to the rare class of 14,15-dinor-labdane diterpenoids. Compounds 18 and 28 exhibited substantial inhibitory effects by suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC50 values of 3.37 ± 0.23 and 5.82 ± 0.28 μM, respectively. This study has greatly expanded the chemical diversity of labdane diterpenoids from C. laui and will guide future research on this ethnomedicinal plant.

Leprosy: Comprehensive insights into pathology, immunology, and cutting-edge treatment strategies, integrating nanoparticles and ethnomedicinal plants.

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent responsible for the chronic disease known as leprosy. This condition is characterized by dermal involvement, often leading to peripheral nerve damage, sensory-motor loss, and related abnormalities. Both innate and acquired immunological responses play a role in the disease, and even in individuals with lepromatous leprosy, there can be a transient increase in T cell immunity during lepromatous reactions. Diagnosing of early-stage leprosy poses significant challenges. In this context, nanoparticles have emerged as a promising avenue for addressing various crucial issues related to leprosy. These include combatting drug resistance, mitigating adverse effects of conventional medications, and enhancing targeted drug delivery. This review serves as a comprehensive compilation, encompassing aspects of pathology, immunology, and adverse effects of multidrug delivery systems in the context of leprosy treatment. Furthermore, the review underscores the significance of ethnomedicinal plants, bioactive secondary metabolites, and nanotherapeutics in the management of leprosy. It emphasizes the potential to bridge the gap between existing literature and ongoing research efforts, with a profound scope for validating traditional claims, developing herbal medicines, and formulating nanoscale drug delivery systems that are safe, effective, and widely accepted.

Ethnomedicinal Plants and Herbal Preparations Used by Rural Communities in Tehsil Hajira (Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan).

The present study emphasizes the importance of documenting ethnomedicinal plants and herbal practices of the local rural communities of Tehsil Hajira (Pakistan). The aim was to document, explore and quantify the traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using various quantitative indices. The results showed that 144 medicinal plant species from 70 families and 128 genera play an important role in herbal preparations. The most common type of preparation was powder (19.0%), followed by paste (16.7%), aqueous extract (15.7%), decoction (14.7%) and juice (11.0%). Fragaria nubicola (0.94) and Viola canescens (0.93) had the highest relative frequency of mention (RFC), while Berberis lycium (1.22) and Fragaria nubicola (1.18) had the highest use value (UV). Geranium wallichianum (85.5), Ligustrum lucidum (83) and Indigofera heterantha (71.5) were the most important species in the study area with the highest relative importance (RI) value. The diseases treated were categorized into 17 classes, with diseases of the digestive system and liver having the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) value, followed by diseases of the oropharynx and musculoskeletal system. Important plants mentioned for the treatment of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are Zanthoxylum alatum, Berberis lycium, Mentha longifolia, Punica granatum, Rubus ellipticus and Viola canescens. New applications of rarely documented plants from this area are: Oxalis corniculata paste of the whole plant to treat vitiligo, Carthamus tinctorius flowers to treat chicken pox, Dioscorea deltoidea tuber powder to treat productive cough, Inula cappa root decoction to treat miscarriage, Habenaria digitata tuber juice for the treatment of fever, Viola canescens leaves and flowers for the treatment of sore throat and Achillea millefolium root and leaf juice for the treatment of pneumonia. These plants may contain interesting biochemical compounds and should be subjected to further pharmacological studies to develop new drugs. Traditional medicinal knowledge in the area under study is mainly limited to the elderly, traditional healers and midwives. Therefore, resource conservation strategies and future pharmacological studies are strongly recommended.

Ethnomedicinal knowledge and utilization of the medicinal plant resources by the tribal people of the Jhargram District, West Bengal, India

The study strives to investigate and document the traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge of indigenous plant species used by the tribal people of Jhargram district, West Bengal, India. It has been stated by the 142 informants that, out of a total of 80 plant species, 45 classes, 46 orders, 46 families and 75 genera are generally used as medicinal plants to cure several diseases. The most dominant medicinal plant families found in this region are Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Anacardiaceae, Lamiaceae, Acanthaceae and Malvaceae. The most important species based on use value (UV) are Azadirachta excelsa, Cissus quadrangularis, Tylophora indica and Ocimum tenuiflorum. The informant consensus factor (Fic) values range from 0.46 to 0.71. The fidelity level (FL) value in the present study ranges from 25.58% to 93.42%. The study makes it clear that the aged informants have contributed more to the information about the value of the ethnomedicinal plants. Less information from the younger generation proves significant erosion of the traditional knowledge of this precious store. Some ethnomedicinal species with high UV and FL need to be reassessed for their phytochemical and pharmacological importance.

Biological activity of folkloric plants used in the treatment of ‘u wela’ against pathogens

Background: ‘U wela’ also known as ‘Divhu’ in ‘Tshivenda’ is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a combination of fungal and bacterial microorganisms that affects males because of unprotected sexual encounters with a woman who has had an abortion or miscarriage.Aim: The study aimed to investigate medicinal plants used to treat ‘u wela’ and determine their biological activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Candida albicans.Setting: Eight plant species (Elaeodendron transvaalense[Burtt Davy] R.H. Archer, Albizia versicolor Welw. ex Oliv, Xanthocercis zambesiaca Baker, Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana [Holmes] Brenan, Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg, Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw., Mimusops zeyheri Sond, and Capparis tomentosa Lam.) used to combat ‘u wela’ were selected from the Ethnomedicinal plant’s database of over 300 medicinal plants used for medicinal purposes in humans, in the Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa.Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts was investigated against Candida albicans and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using serial dilution and bioautography assays.Results: The plant extracts of A. versicolor and C. abbreviata had excellent activity with a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). value of 0.02 and 0.07 mg/mL, respectively. In bioautograms developed in benzene/ethanol/ammonia hydroxide (BEA), active compounds were visible in the extracts of A. versicolor.Conclusion: A. versicolor had excellent antimicrobial activity and may be used in traditional therapy to combat ‘u wela’.Contribution: The study has demonstrated that A. versicolor is a promising plant species that could lead to the discovery of novel drugs to combat ‘u wela’.

Tree diversity and ethnomedicinal plants for the benefit of the inhabitants of Remuna Block Balasore District, Odisha

Tree diversity and ethnomedicinal plants for the benefit of the inhabitants of Remuna Block Balasore District, Odisha