Ethnomedicinal Values Research Articles

A Review on Polyherbal Formulations used in the Treatment of Autoimmune Disease like Rheumatoid Arthritis

This article presents about various Polyherbal formulations utilized in arthritis Treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis being a progressive disease causes inflammation in joints and resulting in painful Deformity and immobility especially within the finger, wrist, feet and ankles. It belongs to Non -Organ specific class of Auto immune diseases. Autoimmune disorder is an illness that happens when body tissue is attacked by its own system. Consistent with Ayurvedic principles, PHF is that the one which contains two or more herbs within the formulation which acts synergistically. The herbal plants having ethno-medicinal values are currently being screened for their therapeutic activities. Further the article represents various RA based PHF and thus the Marketed formulation available for it.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman Extract against Isoniazid and Rifampicin Induced Hepatotoxicity in Swiss Albino Mice.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the cumbersome health-related problems which render approximately 50% of liver failure and patients to receiving liver transplantation every year. Antituberculosis drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin are potentially rendering hepatotoxicity. Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman is an herbaceous perennial plant that contributes to the indigenous ethnomedicinal values for the society. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extracts against isoniazid and rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. The study was conducted on 30 Swiss albino mice randomly allocated into five groups. Group I, group II, group III, group IV, and group V were the groups in which mice were given distilled water, only isoniazid and rifampicin, isoniazid and rifampicin along with 200 mg/kg corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extract, isoniazid and rifampicin along with 400 mg/kg corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extract, and isoniazid and rifampicin along with silymarin per oral per day, respectively. On the 30th day of the experiment, mice were sacrificed after anesthetized, and blood was drawn for the liver function test, and the liver was also taken from each experimental mouse for histopathological evaluation. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 subsequently exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis by using one-way ANOVA. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL) of group II mice were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated as compared to group I. The group of mice treated with a corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman at a dose of 400 mg/kg (group IV) and silymarin100 mg/kg (group V) showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in ALT, AST, ALP, and TBIL as compared to the group II. The liver section of group II showed a change in liver architecture; however, these deformities were not noticed in group IV mice. The result showed corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extract has a very promising hepatoprotective potential against isoniazid and rifampicin induced liver injury.

Arundo donax L.: An overview on its traditional and ethnomedicinal importance, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects

Arundo donax L. (Giant reed) is a grass species belong to Poaceae family with a myriad of uses such as traditional and ethnomedicinal values, bioenergy, and socio-economic importance. The plant is used in conventional medicine to treat various disorders related to skin, gastrointestinal, skeletal, menstrual problems, respiratory and urinary diseases. The present review summarises the scattered information on socio-economic importance, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of this plant. We conducted a rigorous literature survey using databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed entering keywords like A. donax, Giant reed, and Spanish reed, etc. Phytochemical investigations have identified several alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, phenolics, and lignin derivatives. The isolated phytoconstituents are reported to exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-spasmolytic, and also used to treat helminthic infestations in cattle. However, the scientific validity of traditional practices to cure various diseases has not been correctly evaluated yet. Therefore, it is recommended to further investigate the plant for clinical trials to unleash its therapeutic importance towards chemical characterisation for drug discovery and development in the pharmacological field.

In vitro study of the antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anthelmintic properties of some medicinal plants of Kokrajhar district, India.

Alstonia scholaris, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, and Hypericum japonicum are important folk medicinal plants used by tribal communities of Bodoland region of Assam to treat helminth infections. Because of their ethnomedicinal values, the present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anthelmintic activities of the plants. The antioxidant activity was measured by total antioxidant capacity, total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and TBARS assay. Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities of plants were conducted in Dalton's lymphoma (DL) cells. Cells were treated for 24h with different doses (25-200mg/mL) of plant extracts. Anthelmintic study was conducted by treating the Paramphistomum sp. at different doses of plant extracts. Phytochemical and antioxidant studies showed rich TPC, TFC, and free radical scavenging activity in H. japonicum and H. sibthorpioides. Both the antiproliferative and anthelmintic bioassays showed a dose-dependent efficacy in all plants. H. japonicum showed the strongest anthelmintic activity (LC50 0.21mg/mL) followed by H. sibthorpioides (5.36mg/mL), C. halicacabum (13.40mg/mL), and A. scholaris (18.40mg/mL). Evidently, H. sibthorpioides showed the strongest antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities among all the plants. The study observed a positive correlation between the antioxidant properties and antiproliferative and anthelmintic activities of the plants. We, therefore, conclude that the phytocompounds present in the crude extracts along with antioxidant molecules may have combined effects contributing to the antiproliferative and anthelmintic activities of the plants.

Partial characterization of novel inulin‐like prebiotic fructooligosaccharides of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (Cucurbitaceae) tuberous roots

The fruits and aerial parts of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (Cucurbitaceae) are a popular cook vegetable being used in different parts of the world with ethnomedicinal and pharmacological values. However, the beneficial health attributes of the tuberous roots have been less exploited. The present study aimed to determine the prebiotic potentiality of the storage carbohydrates from this part. The carbohydrate fractions were harvested by hot-water, cold-water, hot-acid, hot-alkali, and hot 80% ethanol treatments following the standard protocol. The fractions were tested for in vitro prebiotic efficacy, hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant potentials, and in vivo health attributes in Swiss albino mice. The partial characterization was performed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and spectroscopic analyses by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The highest prebiotic index was observed in hot-water and ethanol (Et-OH) fractions with the antioxidant IC50 values of 35.46±0.33 and 32.56±0.48µg/ml, respectively. The HPTLC, FT-IR, and ESI-MS analyses showed that the hot-water and Et-OH carbohydrate fractions are rich in low-degree polymerizing inulin-like fructooligosaccharides (FOS). The fractions had a significant prebiotic index, hypocholesterolemic, and antioxidant activities. The synbiotic combination of the fractions with the probiotic LAB improved gut colonization and gut immune enhancement with significantly lowered triglycerides, serum LDL, and serum VLDL cholesterols. A significantly enhanced HDL cholesterol level proves its health beneficial attributes comparable to the commercial inulin prebiotics. Thus, this plant's novel inulin-like FOS may substitute the high-cost commercial prebiotics for our daily life. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Prebiotics are low-degree polymerizing oligosaccharide food ingredients having multifaceted health benefits. For this reason, there is an ever-increasing global demand for such novel prebiotics. Therefore, finding out some novel prebiotic from conventional food sources may provide an alternative dietary source to fulfill the consumer demand. Sechium edule is a famous cook vegetable used by many ethnic communities across the globe. For the first time, the study revealed novel inulin-like fructooligosaccharides in the tuberous roots having hypocholesterolemic and synbiotic efficacy with GRAS lactic acid bacteria.

Grassroots Approaches for Sustaining Biocultural Diversity and Livelihood Security: Insights from Indian Eastern Himalaya.

Bioculturally significant plants, which have played a key role in sustaining the livelihoods of tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh, India, are facing threats from changing land use patterns, climatic aberrations and socioeconomic stressors. This study highlights two unique grassroots approaches to conserving these species and their associated cultural knowledge within the traditional land use systems of Arunachal Pradesh: Community Knowledge Gardens (CKGs) and Clan Reserve Forests (CRFs). Four CKGs and one CRF, transformed from existing traditional land use systems, were investigated in three socio-ecologically diverse landscapes of Nyishi, Adi and Monpa communities. Study participants, including both men and women, played an active role in devising locally compatible criteria and protocols for strengthening the conservation of key plant species within their traditional land use systems, through CKG and CRF approaches. A total of 86 plant species, conserved through the CKGs and 44 from the Adi CRF, were identified as having high food, ethnomedicinal and cultural values. The Shannon-Weaver index of richness of plant species conserved was highest in the Nyishi CKG, with a value of 38; while for Adi and Monpa it was 30 and 18, respectively. The pattern of Shannon-Weaver diversity index was in the order of 2.91, 2.64 and 2.63, respectively for the CKGs of these three communities. In comparison to individual CKGs, relatively higher species diversity (3.18) was found in the Adi CRF. Increased sharing of traditional knowledge among the community members, regular incomes and equitable sharing of the tangible and intangible benefits of using plant species were identified as important success indicators of the CKGs and CRF. In addition to providing valuable insights on biocultural knowledge and enabling the participants to strengthen their existing local land use practices for conserving valued plant biodiversity, the study outcomes have the potential to inform and strengthen the policies on environmental sustainability.

Antiproliferative activity of five garcinia species collected in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo against estrogen receptor-human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell line

Garcinia species are well-known for their unique properties of having natural secondary metabolite compounds called xanthone as well as their ethnomedicinal values such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The study was conducted to investigate the antiproliferative activity of peel, flesh and seed extracts of G. dulcis, G. parvifolia, G. nitida, G. mangostana var. mangosta and G. cambogia collected from Malaysian Borneo (Sabah) against estrogen receptor-positive human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells. The antiproliferative activity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed that G. dulcis seed induced strongest antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cancer cell line with the IC50 value of 2.5 ± 0.0 µg/ml, followed by G. dulcis flesh, G. mangostana var. mangostana peel and G. dulcis peel with IC50 values of 9.33 ± 3.21, 11.17 ± 1.04 and 17.67 ± 2.08 µg/ml, respectively. Meanwhile, the IC50 value for G. cambogia peel was 56.67 ± 10.5 µg/ml. No IC50 value was detected in all parts of G. parvifolia and G. nitida at concentration tested ( < 100 µg/ml). Overall, this study clearly showed that the whole fruit of G. dulcis displayed potent cytotoxic effect by inducing antiproliferative activity at low concentration. Further studies are needed in the future to develop this fruit as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical product for the treatment and prevention against cancer.

Ethnomedicinal Values of Weeds in Kanchanpur District, Far-Western Nepal

Background: Far-Western Terai Region of Nepal is a large source of floral diversity. Most of the plants are medicinal and available as wild or weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants and competing with crop plants for common resources (water, mineral nutrients, space, and light) and reduce the yield of wanted plants. However, the weeds and their medicinal properties were scarcely documented. The aim of the present study was to explore the diversity of commonly used weeds of Kanchanpur district, to be precise on cataloguing the indigenous knowledge how local weeds are managed and utilized by local people.Methods: The study district is border to India at southwestern part of the country. The information of weeds and their medicinal uses was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires in which participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and rapid rural appraisal (RRA) tools were used. The quantitative data were analyzed by use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), Fidelity Level (FL), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC).Results: A total of 108 weed species were recorded under 44 families as medicinal to treat different ailments. Among them, 79 species were dicotyledons, 25 monocotyledons (19 grasses and 6 sedges species) and 4 pteridophytes. The composition of species to their respective families showed the highest (12%) occurrence by families Poaceae and Asteraceae with first rank and the lowest (1%) occurrence by families Alismataceae and Typhaceae with sixth rank category. Weed species were being used as similar to other plant species used for ethnobotany, however the use as ethnomedicinal was remarkable. The medicinal use of weeds with the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) (0.75) was for fever and in palpitation of heart and the lowest ICF (0.45) for paralysis and arthritis. The Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were used to demonstrate that which weeds could be further used for pharmacological study and advancement of drug discovery. Conclusions: The finding proved the significance of weeds as medicine so there is a dire need to create awareness among the people for conservation and sustainable use of these weeds. Although weeds are undesirable plants, but they have high medicinal values, thus their controlled cultivation might be necessary as extensive cultivation may have bad impact on normal crops. The information of weed species and their use to treat various ailments must be explored, preserved, documented, and transferred from generation to generation.Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Indigenous knowledge, Kanchanpur, Nepal, Weeds.

Underutilized Fruits and Vegetables in Hot Arid Regions of India: Status and Prospects: A Review

The hot arid regions in India is spread in an area of 31.7 m ha, majority area being in Rajasthan (61%). The great Indian Thar desert is also located in this region. This region receives vary low rain fall with erratic distribution. Presence of harsh climatic condition such as high evapotranspiration, low relative humidity, with high aridity index and high wind velocity are other disadvantages. The soils are also light textured, less fertile, and prone to wind erosion. About 90 per cent of the area is dependent on monsoon rain for growing of annual crops which often fails due to insufficient rain or improper distribution. Despite these limitations, the region has good floral and faunal diversity that supports high human and livestock population. Many drought hardy perennial fruits and vegetables are grown with annual crops to complement farm income. Certain fruit crops like pomegranate (Punica granatum), Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.), aonla (Emblica officinalis), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and Citrus species are grown commercially in irrigated areas. Many underutilized fruit crops also grow naturally or are cultivated. These include kair (Capparis decidua), lasora (Cordia myxa) jhar ber (Ziziphus nummularia), bordi (Ziziphus rotundifolia) pilu (Salvadora oleoides), khejri (Prosopis cineraria), phalsa (Grewia subinaequalis), Bengal quince (Aegle marmelos), karonda (Carissa carandas), prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), kachri (Cucumis melo var. callosus) and snap melon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) etc. Most of these species are drought hardy with less incidence of pests and diseases yet give good yield despite environmental constraints. They serve as a source of nutrition for rural people being rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres and other bioactive compounds. Germplasm collection, evaluation, conservation, ethnomedicinal values, improvement, propagation, agrotechniques, post-harvest management, value addition and future prospects of some of these crops are discussed in the paper.

GC\u2013MS analysis of phytocompounds and antihyperglycemic property of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. is a popular medicinal plant of Assam having several ethnomedicinal values. The present study investigated the metallic content, phytochemical contents, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase enzymes inhibitory property of H. sibthorpioides using in-vitro and in-silico methods. Heavy metal contents were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. GC–MS was used to analyze the phytochemical compounds of the plant. Enzyme inhibition study was carried out by Spectrophotometry methods. The drug-likeness and toxicity properties of the phytocompounds were studied using SwissADME and ADMETlab databases. Docking and molecular visualizations were performed in AutoDock vina and Discovery studio tools. The study found that the extract of H. sibthorpioides contains a negligible amount of toxic elements. GC–MS analysis detected four compounds from the methanolic extract of the plant. Biochemical study showed considerable α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory property of the crude extract of H. sibthorpioides. The IC50 of the plant extracts were found to be 1.27 mg/ml and 430.39 µg/ml for α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, respectively. All four compounds were predicted to have potential drug-likeness properties with high cell membrane permeability, intestinal absorption, and less toxic effects. The docking study also showed strong binding affinities between the plant compounds and enzymes. Plant compound C2 showed an almost similar binding affinity with the α-amylase enzyme as compared to standard acarbose. The present study, thus, suggests the antihyperglycemic property of H. sibthorpioides and can be a potential source of antidiabetic drug candidates.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytyc Fungi Isolated from Syzygium aqueum Leaves

Syzygium aqueum is a widely used medicinal plant species with ethnomedicinal values. Despite the plant, the endophytes are recognized as a rich source of secondary metabolites with potentially useful pharmacological properties. This study was aimed to identify the endophytic fungi from S.aqueum leaves and discover their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The ethyl acetate extracts of the isolated endophytic fungi were investigated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity using 1,1diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) method and paper disc diffusion assay, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against three pathogen bacteria : Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella thypi, and Escherichia coli, and one yeast: Candida albicans. Three endophytic fungi were obtained from S. aqueum leaves. Based on morphological characteristics, those fungi identified as Cochliobolus sp (D22), Penicillium sp. (D32), and Fusarium sp. (D41). Penicillium sp. (code D32) showed significant antioxidant potential activity as an also significant antimicrobial activity with IC50 59,16% and highest zone inhibition against E. coli 13.38 ± 0.25 mm. It is worth considering a further investigation of their bioactive secondary metabolites and isolates the bioactive compound for the antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Taxonomical and Ethnomedicinal Studies of Ficus krishnae L. (Dicotyledonae: Moraceae)

Ficus krishnae commonly called as ‘Makhan Katori’ is belonging to family Moraceae of class Dicotyledonae known for its cup-shaped leaves. Present study aimed to carried out diversity, distribution and ethnomedicinal values of Ficus krishnae at Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.), Dehradun (Uttarakhand) India. The plant profoundly used in Ayurvedic medicine to cure various diseases such as ulcers, fever, leprosy, vomiting, dysentery, syphilis and inflammation of liver. The roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of F. krishnae has been studied for antibacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. During investigation, minimum leaf size was recorded 8×7 cm2 however; the maximum size noticed 25×11 cm2. The fig size of F. krishnae ranged between 1 mm to 3 mm.

Biochemical investigation of the upstream anti-sickling mechanisms of soursop (Annona muricata): 15-acetyl guanacone as an inhibitor of deoxyhaemoglobin polymerisation

Current sickle cell disease (SCD) therapies are limited and inefficient. The ethnomedicinal values of Annona muricata in the treatment of SCD, leading to this present research. Leaves and fruits of Annona muricata were processed using solvent extraction and partitioning; aqueous, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions. In vitro (anti-oxidant and anti-sickling), in silico, quantitative (amino acids) and kinetic simulation experiments were done. 15-acetyl guanacone, was used, in silico against 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2, 3-BPG) mutase and deoxyhaemoglobin. The ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions better NO● scavengers, iron-chelators and ferric reducing. In vitro unsickling (UT50 ) had ethyl acetate = 5 h and methanol = 7 h. Chloroform fraction had EC50 1.00 mg/mL (EC50 = 546 mg/mL) to 10.00 mg/mL (EC50 = 99 mg/mL). EC50 and IC50 of ethyl acetate fraction had steady-decrease. At higher concentration, chloroform fraction had higher Bmax (1.48 × 1021 U/mL) and higher Kd (3.66 × 1019 mg/mL), whereas, at a lower concentration, the ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated higher Bmax (7.23 × 1012 U/mL) and lower Kd (2.12 × 1011 mg/mL); The relative affinity (BP) of chloroform fraction increased progressively with concentration. The amino acid profile revealed rich concentrations glycine, valine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, histidine, arginine, and tryptophan. From the in silico experiments, 15-acetyl guanacone specifically targeted the A and B chains, with greater affinity for the beta subunit. This suggested that 15-acetyl guanacone might be able to prevent the polymerisation of deoxyHbSS, induce an allosteric conformational change that increases the oxygen affinity, and decrease the cellular 2, 3-BPG concentration. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Optimization Study of Marmelosin (Imperatorin) Extraction from Aegle marmelos Using Three Phase Partitioning

Aegle marmelos is a prominent tree in Indian Ayurveda and occupies an important place in Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha system of Indian medicine due to its ethnomedicinal values. The current work demonstrates the use of three-phase partitioning (TPP) for the first time to isolate and purify a potent bioactive compound marmelosin from A. marmelos fruit. Marmelosin exhibits antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activity. Here, various experimental conditions were optimized for TPP, and comparison was made between conventional techniques like Soxhlet and batch extraction. The impact of various TPP parameters such as ammonium sulphate concentration, solute to solvent ratio, time, slurry to t-butanol, and pH on the yield of marmelosin was studied. TPP shows maximum marmelosin yield of 0.494 mg/g at the optimized condition as solute to solvent ratio 1:50 , time 2.5 h, ammonium sulphate concentration 30 w/v %, slurry to t- butanol ratio 1:1, pH 5. Conventional techniques, i.e., Soxhlet and batch extraction, resulted in yield of 0.250 mg/g in 7 h and 0.150 mg/g respectively in 4 h. Thus, TPP enhances the yield as well as reduces the extraction time that shows it is a simple, effective, promising, and cost-effective technique for the extraction of marmelosin thereby reducing the processing time.

Comparative antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of leaf successive extract fractions of poison bulb, Crinum asiaticum L.

Crinum asiaticum L. (family: Amaryllidaceae) is a widely used medicinal plant species having great ethnomedicinal values. The present study aimed to evaluate in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of the leaf extracts of C. asiaticum with their phenolics content. The total antioxidant assay, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays of the leaf crude aqueous extract and the five successive extract fractions were analyzed to evaluate their antioxidant potential. The antimicrobial potential was investigated against two gram-negative and one gram-positive bacteria strain by the disc diffusion method. The aqueous fraction of C. asiaticum (CaAq) showed relatively higher antimicrobial potentials than the crude aqueous extract (CaLAE), in terms of zone of inhibition, indicating the fact that serial extraction procedure can more successfully concentrate the specific bioactive components. Along with CaAq and CaLAE, CaEA fraction (ethyl acetate extract fraction) also exhibits antimicrobial activities probably due to the presence of terpenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids. It might be concluded that antioxidants and antimicrobial agents are available in the leaves of C. asiaticum where water and ethyl acetate might be the effective solvent systems to extract antimicrobial and antioxidant agents respectively.

Ethno-medicinal and bio-cultural importance of aloes from south and east of the Great Rift Valley floristic regions of Ethiopia

There are 46 Aloe species identified from Ethiopia out of which 67.3% are endemics but comprehensive data on their ethno-medicinal and bio-cultural values are lacking. Interview, focus group discussion (FGD), and guided field walks were conducted with 210 respondents (152 men and 58 women). Relative frequency of citation (RFCs), informants' consensus factor (Fic), use value (UVs), relative importance index (RIs), and cultural value index (CV) were analyzed. Non-parametric Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were performed using R software. Twenty-three Aloe species were recorded in the study areas with 196 use-reports and 2158 citations, grouped into six major use categories (NUC = 6). Medicinal use categories accounted for 149 use-reports (76%) with 1607 citations. The species with the highest numbers of use-reports were Aloe megalacantha subsp. alticola, A. trichosantha subsp. longiflora and A. calidophila of which 87, 75 and 61.1% respectively were medicinal uses. Aloe calidophila has highest values in all indices UV (11.72), RFC (0.68), RI (0.89), and CV (6.2). Among Aloe parts, leaf exudate accounted for 111 use-reports (49.1%) of which 92.9% were used for medicinal purposes. Aloe retrospiciens and A. ruspoliana were reported poisonous to carnivores. Fic values of the six major use categories ranged from 0.86 to 0.22. Elderly people (>60) had more knowledge than 25–40 and 41–60 age groups (Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared = 12.17, df = 3, p = 0.006), which is significant difference in depth of ethno-medicinal knowledge. Men had more knowledge of medicinal uses than women (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.002) significantly different, while women were knowledgeable than men for cultural uses like, cosmetic (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.06), not significantly different. The ways in which aloes are used and valued have implications for their future medicinal utility, which instigate detailed phytochemical and pharmacological studies.

Ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves alleviate cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity by improving endocrine function and modulating cell specific gene expression in mouse testis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMoringa oleifera Lam. is known for its nutritional and ethno medicinal values due to the presence of wide array of phytochemicals with multiple biological activities. We have previously reported that ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOE) ameliorated cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced testicular toxicity and improved functional integrity of spermatozoa as well as spermatogenic cells. Aim of the studyThe present study was planned to investigate whether the mitigation of CP-induced testicular toxicity by MOE is mediated via modulation of endocrine profile, genes associated with function of different cell types and enhancement of DNA repair response in spermatogonial cells. Materials and methodsAdult Swiss albino mice (8 week) were injected with CP (100 mg/kg, one dose in a week for 3 weeks) and MOE (100 mg/kg, 5 doses in a week for 4 weeks) either alone or in combination intraperitoneally. At 35 day post CP injection (first dose), the functional characteristics such as count, motility, head morphology and DNA integrity were assessed in epididymal spermatozoa. Key reproductive hormones like testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Inhibin B concentration were analyzed in serum and testis. In addition, mRNA expression of genes pertaining to the function of Leydig, Sertoli and spermatogonial cells as well as antioxidant enzymes were evaluated in the testis. To understand the DNA damage and repair process in germ cells, prepubertal (2 week) mice were administered with single dose of CP (200 mg/kg) and/or MOE (100 mg/kg) and analyzed for expression of DNA damage (γ-H2AX, P53 and Caspase3) and repair genes (Rad51 and Ku80) in isolated spermatogonial cells at various time points after treatment. ResultsCP administration resulted in decrease in count, motility and increase in morphological defects and DNA damage in spermatozoa. Testosterone level was marginally decreased while there was a significant increase in FSH (p < 0.001) and decrease in inhibin B (p < 0.05) observed in CP treated mice. Administration of MOE prior to CP, improved sperm functional characteristics, decreased FSH and increased inhibin B levels. Expression of Abp was down-regulated while Transferrin, Fshr and Gata4 (Sertoli cell specific genes) were up-regulated in testis treated with CP. Administration of CP down-regulated the expression of Oct4 and Ddx4 (Spermatogonia specific genes). MOE administration was shown to ameliorate CP-induced damage by modulating the expression of genes specific to Sertoli and spermatogenic cells. Furthermore, MOE treatment reduced CP-induced DNA damage as evident from lower percentage of γ-H2AX positive spermatogonial cells. ConclusionAdministration of MOE mitigated CP-induced testicular damage by improving blood and, intra-testicular hormonal milieu as well as modulating the expression of genes pertaining to Sertoli and spermatogonial cells.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by the ethnic people living in fringe villages of Rasikbil of Cooch Behar District , West Bengal, India

Objectives: The field study was undertaken at the adjoining villages of Rasikbil of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India to record the ethnomedicinal plants used by the Rava, Santal and Oraon people and to explore their traditional knowledge to treat common ailments. Methods: With the help of pretested semi-structured questionnaire, tribal men and women were interviewed on ethnomedicinal uses of local flora during July 2018 to January 2020. The questionnaire covered aspects like local name, scientific name, family, used parts, ethnomedicinal uses, among others. Routine methods of plant collection and herbarium techniques were followed and the collected species were identified using relevant sources. Findings: A total of 57 plant species of 34 families were found to be used to treat several diseases like cough and cold, diabetes, among others. In few cases, the plant parts were used in combination with other plant parts to prepare traditional medicine. The plant family Fabaceae represents the highest number (6 species) of ethnomedicinal plants among others. Among different plant parts used for the preparation of medicine, leaves were most frequently used (49.12%) for the treatment of diseases. Besides, fruits, seeds, roots, etc. were also found to be used as traditional medicine for the treatment of ailments among human beings. Applications: The traditional knowledge of ethnic people regarding the utilisation of ethnomedicinal plants may be used in the preparation of pharmaceutical products which could contribute towards availability of essential drugs at much reduced cost. In addition, populations of medicinal plants must be monitored in order to conserve them and aid in planning sustainable utilisation. Novelty: In comparison to earlier reports, present study revealed 14 more plant species having immense ethnomedicinal values and frequently used by the tribal people in the area. In this regard, the study is significant to enrich the existing database. Keywords: Ethnomedicine; Medicinal plants; Rava; Santal; Oraon; Rasikbil; Cooch Behar

Antibacterial activity of Centaurea pumilio L. root and aerial part extracts against some multidrug resistant bacteria

BackgroundIn the context of searching for potent, safe, natural antimicrobial agents to combate the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenomenon, the current study evaluates for the first time ever, the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of essential oil (EO) and extracts from the rare wild plant Centaurea pumilio L.. It has tremendous ethnomedicinal values; its dried root is used as a fattening agent, a treatment for bad breath and diabetes, and screened for schistosomicidal activity.MethodsC. pumilio EO was extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Chemical constituents of aerial part were extracted using a sequential solvent/solvent procedure employing four solvents with increasing polarities in the following order: petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS. Fifty-two microbial strains were used; twenty-six multidrug resistant (MDR), sixteen clinical, and ten reference strains. The identification of the microbial strains was performed by MALDI-TOF-MS. The antimicrobial activity of the EO and the aerial part and the root extracts was assessed through disc diffusion assay. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the EO and extracts was determined using the broth micro-dilution method.ResultsThe growth of reference and clinical strains was inhibited by EO, methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate aerial part extracts and chloroform root extract. The MDR strains growth, however, was inhibited only by EO and chloroform aerial part extract. GC-MS identified for the first time eighteen constituents from aerial part EO and chloroform extract each. EO showed antimicrobial activity against the reference, clinical, and MDR strains with MIC values of 31.25–125, 31.25–125, and 62.50–250 μg/mL, respectively. Methanol aerial part extract exhibited high antimicrobial activities with MIC values of 62.50–250 μg/mL against reference and clinical strains. Chloroform root extract displayed strong antimicrobial activity against reference and clinical strains recording MIC values of 62.50–250 μg/mL and 62.50–125 μg/mL, respectively. The chloroform aerial part extract demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against the reference, clinical, and MDR strains with 31.25, 31.25, and 15.62 μg/mL MIC values, respectively.ConclusionsPresent data unravel the C. pumilio pharmacological magnitude to discover eco-friendly potent antimicrobial agents to fight AMR phenomenon.

Pharmaceutical perspective on bioactives from Alstonia scholaris: ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemistry, clinical status, patent space, and future directions

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br (Apocynaceae), a tropical tree native to Indian subcontinent, Australasia, and Malay Peninsula is well documented in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda to cure fever, pain, inflammation, cancer, respiratory, and skin disorders. Nearly 169 alkaloids have been reported along with iridoids, coumarins, flavonoids and steroids from this plant. The highlights of current review are demonstrated in six tables encompassing ethnomedicinal values, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, clinical significances, and patents associated with A. scholaris. The data analysis of these tables revealed the requirements to convert existed knowledge into finished products. For example, strictamine isolated from this plant has shown an equipotent antiviral activity to that of acyclovir. However, the discovery of such new potent antiviral indole alkaloids will require structure activity relationship studies with natural analogues of this scaffold. In conclusion, despite of over 100 patents and numerous pharmacological activities of A. scholaris, only one product has reached the market. The report stipulates the gap between the existing knowledge and the requisites for commercialization of A. scholaris derived products.