Ethnomedicinal Plants Research Articles

Ethno-medicinal Plants Used by Local Communities of Pokhara Metropolitan City of Kaski District, Western Nepal

In the diverse landscape of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Kaski district, Western Nepal, traditional medicine remains integral to the healthcare practices of many communities. This study presents a comprehensive exploration of the ethno medicinal value of locally available plants, emphasizing detailed insights into the research methodology employed. Data were collected from field observation, interview with local people, key informants, consultation with experts and secondary sources. Collected data were analyzed and presented well in table and charts. Data analysis involved a multi-faceted approach, including the systematic compilation of information gathered through interviews and field observations. The collected data were further organized and presented in tables and charts for comprehensive visualization. Plant specimens were meticulously collected, studied, and identified using standard literature and consultation with university professors. The results revealed a rich tapestry of ethno medicinal practices, showcasing 83 plant species distributed among 76 genera and 55 families, each playing a unique role in local healthcare. Trees emerged as the most prevalent life form, constituting 39.76% of the documented species. Noteworthy species included Ocimum tenuiflorum, Curcuma longa, and Citrus limon, with distinct medicinal applications The conservation and protection of these medicinal plants will further benefit in the prolonged sustainability of cultural as well as biological diversity.

Nutrient Profiling, ICP-OES Mineral Analysis and UPLC Estimation of Amino Acids in Three Selected Ethnomedicinal Plants of North East India

Background: Ethnomedicinal plants are rich traditional resources of Northeast India. Most of these plants are edible and are used as food by the tribal population of Northeast India. Quantitative nutritional analyses of three ethnomedicinal wild edible plant from Northeast India namely: Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew, Rotheca serrata (L.) Steane and Mabb. and Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce were carried out to identify the occurrence and abundance of nutrients, minerals and amino acids. Methods: Proximate nutrients were estimated by standard AOAC methods. ICP-OES mineral analyzer was used to screen and quantify individual mineral elements. By performing UPLC analysis the presence and abundance of amino acids were investigated. Result: Proximate analysis revealed that the plant species contains adequate amounts of protein, fibre and ash. From nutritional perspectives, low fat and carbohydrate in these species specifies that they are desirable diet for human nutrition. In regard to mineral content, the plant species were rich in macro minerals K, Ca, Na and Mg. Heavy metals were found within the recommended dietary permissible limits for humans. All the essential and non essential amino acids excluding cysteine, methionine and histidine were present in reasonable quantities. The plant species may be exploited to provide quality diets to mitigate nutrient deficiency. Adding together its nutritional and medicinal properties it may potentially be utilized in therapeutics. The further scope of the research involves ascertaining their potentiality in food-based strategies to perk up nutritional health.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Irula tribe in Tamil Nadu, India: A review

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Irula tribe in Tamil Nadu, India: A review

Folklore Claims of Ethno-Medicinal Plants Used by Ethnic People of Kohima District, Nagaland, India

Folklore Claims of Ethno-Medicinal Plants Used by Ethnic People of Kohima District, Nagaland, India

Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal

BackgroundOkhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analysis, we documented and tested the hypothesis that use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, depends on socioeconomic variables.MethodsWe interviewed 224 respondents, 53.12% female and 46.88% male, including 31 Brahmin, 157 Chhetri, 13 Dalit, and 23 Janajati, and conducted three focused group discussions and seven key informant interviews to record the ethnomedicinal plants used in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga District. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was computed to know the importance of the species. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to see the relationship between medicinal plants reported with the sociocultural variables, which include age, gender, occupation, education, ethnicity, and religion.ResultsWe documented 149 medicinal plants, including 69 herbs, 22 shrubs, nine climbers, 48 trees, and one parasitic plant, belonging to 68 families and 130 genera, and used to treat 48 distinct diseases and ailments. Plant parts, leaf, and digestive disorders were frequently treated during healing. Curcuma angustifolia was the most cited species with RFC 0.9554. The respondents' knowledge of medicinal plant use varied significantly with age (p = 0.0001) and occupation (p = 0.003). Changes in land use, population decline of medicinal plant species, and unsustainable harvesting practices constituted the local threats to medicinal plants and associated knowledge. Elders died without passing on their knowledge to the younger generations during sociocultural transformation, and youth disinterest coupled with the free availability of allopathic medicine led to knowledge erosion.ConclusionsThe use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, was significantly depended on two socioeconomic variables age and occupation. Ethnomedicinal plants are essential in the primary healthcare system in Nepal; however, their availability and practices are declining. Thus, plans regulating land use change and human migration, acknowledging traditional healthcare practices, and raising awareness of the significance of traditional medical practices as complementary healthcare practices should be strengthened.

Monograph: Acute Toxicity, Phytochemical Analysis and Ethnomedicinal Study of Aqueous (Leaf and Stem Back) Extracts of three Ethnomedicinal plants (Macaranga hurifolia, Mareya micrantha, and Mallotus oppositifolius) from Ivorian Pharmacopoeia on Rats

Macaranga hurifolia (ZG02), Mallotus oppositifolius (ZG04), and Mareya micrantha (ZG08) are ethnomedicinal plants belong to Euphorbiaceae family Which are frequently used in treating various diseases in Ivory Coast. The aim of this study is to determine the phytochemical composition and safety level of these three plants.
 Phytochemical assays were conducted using tubes following standard methods. Acute toxicity was assessed according to OECD 423 guidelinesThe rats were divided into fifteen groups of three rats each, 4 control groups,4ZG02 groups, 4 ZG04 groups, and 3 ZG08 groups).
 Results of phytochemical analysis revealed that ZG02 contains polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, gallotannins, and saponins. ZG04 contains polyphenols, flavonoids, catechin tannins, saponins, as well as sterols and terpenoids.While ZG08 contains polyphenols, flavonoids, gallotannins, catechin tannins, saponins, as well as sterols and terpenoids.
 Regarding acute toxicity, administration of the aqueous extracts for the determination of acute toxicity of ZG02 and ZG04, did not produce any mortality in the rats for dosages of up to 2000 mg/kg. Thus, the LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of the population) of ZG02 and ZG04 is greater than 2000 mg/kg of body weight. However, the treatment of ZG08 at 300 mg/kg of body weight, caused a modification in the behavior of the test animals, while the treatment at 2000 mg/kg of body weight resulted in the death of all 3 tested ras. The LD50 of ZG08 is equal to 500 mg/kg of body weight.
 In conclusion, the presence of rich active phytochemical, justifying the traditional uses of the plant. ZG02 and ZG04 show no oral toxicity, while ZG08 is toxic through this route

Ethno-medicinal plants used by Jadh Bhotiya Community of District Uttarakashi, Uttarakhand, India

In the present study, our aim was to document the traditional knowledge regarding ethno-medicinal plants used by the Jadh-Bhotiya community in the Uttarakashi district (Uttarakhand, India). A total of 54 taxa, belonging to 49 genera and 31 families, were recorded with medicinal properties. Lamiaceae, Liliaceae and Orchidaceae were the dominant families (in terms of number of species), while the top genera included Berberis, Habenaria, Malaxis and Polygonatum. Herbs constituted the dominant life form (82%), followed by shrubs and trees (9% each). Roots (20%) and the whole plant (13%) showed a higher proportion of use for medication. Powder (33%) and paste (20%) were the most frequently used drug preparation methods. Regional conservation assessment analysis revealed that 76% of the species were recorded under the 'Least Concern' (LC) category, followed by 'Vulnerable' (VU) with 13% of the species, and 11% of the species were recorded under the 'Near Threatened' (NT) category. Aconitum heterophyllum, Arnebia benthamii, Nardostachys jatamansi, Rheum australe, Saussurea obvallata and Taxus wallichiana were recorded under the ‘Near Threatened’ (NT) category. Angelica glauca, Carduus edelbergii, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Ephedra gerardiana, Lilium polyphyllum, Malaxis acuminata, and Malaxis muscifera were recorded under the ‘Vulnerable’ (VU) category, while the remaining species were recorded under the ‘Least Concern’ (LC) category. The knowledge about therapeutic information concerning plants in the study area and elsewhere is diminishing day by day. Regional-level conservation status of plant species can be helpful in the global conservation status assessment. It is recommended that conservation measures be applied for the betterment of those species falling under various conservation categories, especially the threatened ones. Additionally, more ethno-medicinal studies are recommended in such remote regions to further enhance our understanding of traditional medicinal practices and contribute to the conservation of indigenous plant knowledge.

Comparative Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Methanol and Aqueous Crude Extracts of Apical leaves of Sida cuneifolia: An Ethnomedicinal Plant

Comparative Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Methanol and Aqueous Crude Extracts of Apical leaves of Sida cuneifolia: An Ethnomedicinal Plant

Anti-anxiety and antioxidant properties of the zinc nanoparticles green-formulated by an ethnomedicinal plant in the in vivo condition

Anti-anxiety and antioxidant properties of the zinc nanoparticles green-formulated by an ethnomedicinal plant in the in vivo condition

Leaves and pseudostems extract of Curcuma longa attenuates immunoglobulin E/bovine serum albumin-stimulated bone marrow-derived cultured mast cell activation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in BALB/c mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCurcuma longa, known as turmeric, is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Curcuma. It is dispersed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Since ancient times, turmeric has been used as an ethnomedicinal plant in the Ayurvedic system, particularly in Asian countries. Rhizomes of turmeric possess several pharmacological properties that give high value as a medicinal remedy for treating a range of conditions, including inflammation, pain, allergies, and digestive issues. Moreover, turmeric leaves and pseudostems also contain a variety of health-enhancing secondary metabolites, such as curcumin, flavonoids, and other phenolic compounds, which exhibit anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Aim of the studyAllergic diseases are a group of immune-mediated disorders mainly caused by an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent immunological response to an innocuous allergen. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of leaves and pseudostems extract of turmeric (TLSWE-8510) on IgE/bovine serum albumin (BSA)-stimulated allergic responses in mouse bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMCs) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in BALB/c mice. Materials and methodsThe effect of TLSWE-8510 on mast cell degranulation has been evaluated by investigating the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine in IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs. Additionally, anti-allergic properties of TLSWE-8510 on IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs were investigated using suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)-linker for T-cell activation (LAT)-extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-GRB2 associated binding protein 2 (Gab2) signaling pathway and downregulation of allergy-related cytokines and chemokines expression. Furthermore, in vivo, studies were conducted using IgE-mediated PCA in BALB/c mice. ResultsTLSWE-8510 treatment significantly inhibited the degranulation of IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs by inhibiting the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine dose-dependently. Additionally, TLSWE-8510 reduced the expression of high-affinity IgE receptors (Fc epsilon receptor I-FcεRI) on the surface of BMCMCs and the binding of IgE to FcεRI. Besides, the expression of cytokines and chemokines is triggered by IgE/BSA stimulation via activating the allergy-related signaling pathways. TLSWE-8510 dose-dependently downregulated the mRNA expression and the production of allergy-related cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ), and chemokines (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES)) by regulating the phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules, NF-κB, and Syk, LAT, ERK and Gab2 in IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs. Moreover, PCA reaction in IgE/BSA-stimulated BALB/c mice ears was effectively decreased by TLSWE-8510 treatment in a dose-dependent manner. ConclusionsThese results collectively demonstrated that TLSWE-8510 suppressed mast cell degranulation by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators related to allergies. TLSWE-8510 downregulated the allergy-related cytokines and chemokines expression and phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules in IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs. Furthermore, in vivo studies with IgE-mediated PCA reaction in the BALB/c mice ears were attenuated by TLSWE-8510 treatment. These findings revealed that TLSWE-8510 has the potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic diseases.

Medicinal plants used for various health issues by rural inhabitant of Wayanad forest division-Kerala, India - A statistical analysis

Native peoples of Wayanad use a wide range of plants medicinally. Many of these Plants have profound meaning to their users. Quantitative ethnobotany deals with the computation and importance of plants and vegetation to people. It helps quantification of qualitative data in biological and social sciences. The traditional source of medicinal plants is an important way for daily curative uses in the rural area. A survey was carried out among the tribes of Wayanad forest division, Wayanad district, Kerala India. The present study identified traditionally using 64 species of ethnomedicinal plants distributed in 61 genera belonging to 42 families to treat various diseases. Moreover, among the plant habit wise analyzed there are 16 herbs, 9 shrubs, 10 Climbing shrubs, 25 trees, 3 Small trees and 1 Twiner. The status of plants was analyzed and recorded as 44 rare, 14 Common, 3 extinct, each one in Endangered, Least common and sporadic in this study area. In this communication, the information got from the rural inhabitants was compared with the already existing literature. The data were collected randomly from tribal and healers of 149 informants and the data were statistically analyzed by using suitable statistical tools such as Use Value (UV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Fidelity Value (FL) and various ranking methods.Top of Form

Evaluation and chemical characterization of bioactive secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi associated with the ethnomedicinal plant Bergenia ciliata

Abstract The objective of this work was to assess the bioactive potential of endophytic fungi, Colletotrichum brevisporum (JPSK3), Pestalotiopsis microspora (JPSK19), and Guignardia mangiferae (JPSK25), from Bergenia ciliata. The antibacterial effects were determined by the well diffusion technique against human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhi) and they showed good activities. In the antioxidant assay, the fungal extract P. microspora shows higher free radical scavenging effects in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (82.48%), hydrogen peroxide (84.91%), superoxide (78.85%), and reducing power absorbance of 0.125 at a dosage of 125 g/mL than other two fungi. The fungal extract was also subjected to phenol and flavonoid quantifications. The fungus P. microspora shows the highest phenol (89.56 0.03 mg of GAE/g of extract) and flavonoid (51.52 0.69 mg of quercetin equivalents/g of extract), respectively. The chemical composition of abundant biologically active compounds was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, it was confirmed through spectral and analytical analysis (thin layer chromatography, ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, GC-MS, and nuclear magnetic spectroscopy). In P. microspora, the compound phenol, p-tert-butyl (C10H14O), was confirmed for the first time. This fungal compound could be a potential alternative medicine in the future. This is the first work on endophytic fungal studies of ethnomedicinal plant Bergenia ciliata.

Preparation and formulation of Ag NPs for the anticancer activities and its protective effects on cardiac function, heart rate variability, and cardiac mitochondria in obese insulin-resistant rats

Panax ginseng as an ethnomedicinal plant has many therapeutic effects in the traditional medicine. This medicinal plant, having antioxidant substances, can protect body cells from various damages and prevent cancer. Also, folic acid in this plant helps the body to produce new cells and reduces the possibility of heart disease and colon cancer. In the recent years, the silver nanoparticles green-mediated by ethno medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of several kinds of cancers and heart disease. Now, we investigated the silver nanoparticles green-synthesized according to green chemistry rules using the aqueous extract of Panax ginseng leaf for the treatment of lung carcinoma and protective effects on cardiac function, heart rate variability, and cardiac mitochondria in obese insulin-resistant rats. The green-synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized using different techniques such as FE-SEM, UV–Vis, XRD, and TEM. The FE-SEM and TEM results confirm spherical morphology for the nanoparticles with size of 12.11 to 43.33 nm. The IC50 of the silver nanoparticles was 311, 293, 375, and 250 against EKVX, HOP-62, A549 and NCI-H460, respectively. In the in vivo part of this study, after treating 12 weeks with high-fat-diet, then 28 days with Ag NPs (20 and 40 µg/kg/day, respectively), the metabolic parameters, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiac function, and cardiac mitochondrial function were determined. Silver nanoparticles at both concentrations significantly decreased the plasma insulin, total cholesterol, homeostasis model assessment index, and oxidative stress levels and restored the HRV, cardiac function, and cardiac mitochondrial function. We concluded that silver nanoparticles at both concentrations exerted cardioprotective effects against mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction in obese insulin-resistant rats.

Exploring the efficacy of ethnomedicinal plants of Himalayan region against the malaria parasite

Ethnopharmacological relevancePlasmodium falciparum multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains are a great challenge to global health care. This predicament implies the urgent need to discover novel antimalarial drugs candidate from alternative natural sources. The Himalaya constitute a rich repository of medicinal plants which have been used traditionally in the folklore medicine since ages and having no scientific evidence for their activity. Crambe kotschyana Boiss. and Eremurus himalaicus Baker are used for their antipyretic and hepatoprotective properties in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Aim of the studyThis study would investigate the antiplasmodial efficacy of C. kotschyana and E. himalaicus extracts, their fractions and active components using in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches to provide a scientific insight into their activity. MethodsThe methanol extracts of C. kotschyana (CKME) and E. himalaicus (EHME) were prepared by maceration followed by fractionation using ethyl acetate. The isolation of flavonoid glycosides isorhamnetin-3, 7-di-O-glucoside from C. kotschyana and luteolin-6-C-glucoside (isoorientin) from E. himalaicus was carried out by antiplasmodial activity-guided isolation. In vitro antimalarial activity was assessed by WHO method while in vitro cytotoxicity was ascertained employing the MTT assay. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed using the Glide module of Schrödinger Software and Gromacs-2022 software package respectively. In vivo curative activity was assessed by Ryley and Peters method. ResultsThe methanol extracts of both the plants illustrated the best antiplasmodial activity followed by the ethyl acetate fractions. Iso-orientin (IC50 6.49 μg/ml) and Isorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-glucoside (IC50 9.22 μg/ml) illustrated considerable in vitro activity even against P. falciparum resistant strain. Extracts/fractions as well as the isolated compounds were found to be non-toxic with CC50 > 640 μg/ml. Molecular docking studies were performed with these 2 O-glucosides against four malaria targets to understand the binding pose of these molecules and the results suggested that these molecules have selectivity for lactate dehydrogenase enzyme. CKME and EHME exhibited curative activity in vivo along with increase in Mean Survival Time of mice. ConclusionThe research delineated the scientific evidence that both the therapeutic herbs possessed antimalarial activity and notably, bioactive compounds responsible to exhibit the antimalarial activity have been isolated, identified and characterized. Further studies are underway to assess the antiplasmodial efficacy of isolated compounds alone and in combination with standard antimalarials.

Determination of Ash values of some Anti-anaemic Ethnomedicinal plants of Ranchi District, Jharkhand

The traditional health care system (hodopathy) is based on the use of medicinal plants as the natural medications show better compatibility with human body, easily available with less side effects. These plants contain so many chemical compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds etc. that make them potential herbs and are used to cure various ailments like anaemia. Anaemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin level of the body decreases. The present study is based on extensive and intensive field survey that was made during 2019-2023. A large number of ethno medicinal plants have been documented during the survey work by interviewing local healers, knowledgeable persons, vaidyas etc. by preparing a questionnaire. Some of the medicinal plants like Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, Moringa oleifera and Spinacia oleracia were selected and ash values were determined which was found to be highest in Spinacea oleraceae i.e. 20.8 % followed by Moringa oleifera (14.5%), Carica papaya (14%) and Psidium guajava (9.5 %). The findings will help help in determining potential, quality and benefit of these plants in treatment of anaemia.

Comparative polyphenolic profiling of five ethnomedicinal plants and their applicative potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe medicinal plants Salvia officinalis, Trifolium pratense, Agrimonia eupatoria, Cichorium intybus and Vinca minor are traditionally used for the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases, including diabetes. Aim of the studyType 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most common diseases nowadays, often accompanied by oxidative stress and microbial infections. The aim of our work was to examine the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of ethanol extracts of five medicinal plants for the purpose of their possible use in the treatment of T2D. Materials and methodsThe polyphenolic profile of the plant extracts was analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography with a diode array detector configured with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC/DAD/(−)HESI−MS2). In vitro antidiabetic activity of extracts was determined by measuring the percentage of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by different spectrophotometric methods, while the antimicrobial activity was determined by agar dilution and disc diffusion methods. ResultsA. eupatoria extract contains the highest percentage of flavonoids (94%, with isoquercetin, vitexin, and rutin as the most abundant) in relation to the concentration of total phenolic compounds and exhibits excellent antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. S. officinalis extract contains 60% flavonoids (predominately cirsimaritin and epigallocatechin gallate) and 40% phenolic acids (with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant from this group) and exhibits weak antidiabetic activity, significant antioxidant activity, and excellent antibacterial activity. A 45% percentage of flavonoids (with isoquercetin as the most abundant one) and 55% of phenolic acids (with ferulic acid as the most abundant) were measured in the extract of T. pratense, which had excellent antidiabetic activity but weaker antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. A similar percentage of flavonoids (52%, with epigallocatechin gallate in the highest concentration) and phenolic acids (48%, with chlorogenic acid as the most abundant) was measured in the extract of C. intybus which showed moderate antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The extract of V. minor was the richest in phenolic acids (80%, with the most abundant chlorogenic acid), which resulted in weaker antidiabetic and antioxidant activities (except for Fe2+ chelating ability) and antimicrobial activity. ConclusionThe results indicate that specific phenolic compounds are responsible for the different biological activities of the plant extracts. Among the investigated plants, the extract of A. eupatoria has the greatest potential for applications in the treatment of T2D.

Chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant assessment and toxicity test of the essential oils of Bridelia ferruginea Benth

Bridelia ferruginea Benth is a plant usually found in Savannah regions, used in ethno-medicine for treatment of dysentery, elephantiasis, intestinal and bladder disorder. Chemical compounds present in the leaf, twig, stem bark, stem wood and root wood of Bridelia ferruginea essential oils, their antioxidant and toxicity assays are been reported. The essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation and analysed by means of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant assay was conducted using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) while the brine shrimp lethality test was carried out using Artemia salina eggs. Leaf, twig, stem bark, stem wood and root wood essential oils gave yields of 0.44%, 0.42%, 0.51%, 0.20% and 0.26% respectively. A total of eighty-two (82) compounds were identified in the five essential oils. Ethyl salicylate was the dominant constituent of the leaf essential oil (41.15%) while methyl salicylate was most abundant in the twig (33.33%) and stem bark (24.67%) essential oils. Stem wood oil contained ethyl salicylate (12.60%) while the root wood oil was composed mostly of 1-octadecene (18.53%). The antioxidant assay showed that stem bark had the most activity (53.12 μg/mL) while the least activity was recorded for twig oil (1037.14 μg/mL). The brine shrimp lethality test revealed that lethal concentration at 50% level (LC50) for leaf essential oil was non-toxic (74361.99 μg/mL). Bridelia ferruginea is rich in antioxidants; significant amounts of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenes in the essential oils support the use of the plants in ethno-medicine.

Identification and quantification of bioactive compounds indifferent extracts of <i>morinda lucida</i> benth (rubiaceae) root using GC–MS analysis

This study aims to analyze and describe the chemical constituents of various crude extracts derived from the root of Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant commonly found in Nigeria. The root of Morinda lucida was dried at room temperature and pulverized into powder. The soxhlet extraction technique was used with solvents of different polarities, namely hexane, chloroform, and methanol, to obtain three distinct extracts. Subsequently, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was carried out on the extracts. A total of 69 compounds were identified from the different extracts of M. lucida root. The hexane extract had 3 major compounds and 8 minor ones, with diethyl phthalate being the most prominent with 87.10% peak area. The chloroform extract had 24 compounds, with phthalic acid, 2-Ethylhexyl isohexyl ester being the highest with 16.61% peak area. Six of these compounds had more than 5%, while the remaining 18 ranged from 2.50% to 1.00%. The ethanol extract contained 36 compounds, with 6 compounds being greater than 5% and the remaining 30 less than 5%. The highest percentage in the ethanol extract was 2-Pyrrolidinone, 1-methyl-, at 16.05%. In terms of the biological and pharmacology benefits, these chemicals are regarded as crucial. Also, each of the three extracts has a few similarities in their physicochemical properties that can be related to the natural substances that are abundantly found in M. lucida root. The GC-MS analysis of different extracts of M. lucida revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds that have potential therapeutic properties.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by the rural people of Aryanadu, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Ethnomedicinal plants used by the rural people of Aryanadu, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by the Pnar Tribes of Meghalaya for the Treat-ment of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is the world’s major public health issue and has been dubbed the “Silent Epidemic” of the twenty-first century. This is the first ethnobotanical exploration to document the folk medicinal usage of plants with therapeutic antidiabetic properties by the Pnar tribes of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Forty-one practitioners and knowledgeable people were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Field inventories were then conducted to collect plant material for botanical identification. In this study, 51 plant species belonging to 34 families and 45 genera have been identified. This study indicates that herbs were the most prevalent living form used (N = 23) for the treatment. Rhus semialata is one of the most frequently cited medicinal plants, with a Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) of 0.73. Moreover, the details about the phytochemicals and the pharmacological activities of identified plant species have been reviewed and disclosed. Agricultural expansion, deforestation, urbanization, and unscientific exploitation of the forests were cited most when respondents were asked about the threat to medicinal plants. Of the 51 plant species, 12 are included on the IUCN Red List. Therefore, this documentation of indigenous plants would create awareness about the importance of medicinal plants and their conservation and protection.