Ethnoveterinary Use Research Articles

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis L.)

The dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis) is an important Mediterranean species traditionally used against different diseases and further developed in some local factories. The aim of the present review is to detail the traditional uses of dwarf palm, its phytochemical composition, and pharmacological activities. Scientific research databases were used to collect all published data on the plant, namely: Google-Scholars, Medline, Science-Direct, Scopus, Sci-Finder, Web of Science. Several combinations of research terms have been used including the different aspects to be explored by this study. Botany, ecology, distribution, taxonomy, but mainly ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the Mediterranean dwarf palm were explored. It was found that the majority of medicinal uses of dwarf palm are mainly known and practiced in North Africa, including its use against diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases. Conversely, non-medicinal uses are mainly known in the Mediterranean part of Europe, where the plant is used mostly as ornaments, nutrition and crafts. The chemical composition of drawf palm appears to be quite rich in steroids, flavonoids, volatile oils, triterpenoids, fatty acids and vitamins. Several links between the traditional medicinal uses of the plant, its chemical composition and the pharmacological properties have been explored and discussed in this review, in particular the uses against pulmonary, urinary infections, diabetes, gastric problems, kidneys, skin and hair loss as well as its ethno-veterinary use. C. humilis is a Mediterranean plant that has long been used by the local populations of the Mediterranean basin. However, there is a paucity in the exploration of this plant, both ethnobotanically and pharmacologically. This study identified gaps in the known data on this species, and presents several findings to show its value to the fields of ethnobotany and phytochemistry. Several ethnobotanical uses need to be justified on the pharmacological level. There are still some unknown uses and proprieties of the plant that must be investigated for the purpose of fighting cancer. The conservation of this species must also be reinforced due to the reduction of its natural populations across the Mediterranean basin.

Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and their utilization by the people of Soro District, Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundEthnoveterinary studies are important to maintain the sustainability of livestock health and support people’s livelihoods through the provision of food, maintaining livestock health, and other biological resources. This study was carried out in Soro District, southern Ethiopia, to identify, document and analyse plant species with ethnoveterinary uses along with the associated indigenous and local knowledge.Materials and methodsInformants were selected using purposive (key informants) and systematic random sampling (general informants) methods. Data on ethnoveterinary plants and their uses were collected through semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, 13 focus group discussions with five to seven members in each and participant observation. Informant consensus factor and fidelity level were computed to identify the most common livestock ailment categories and the best plant species with ethnoveterinary use, respectively. Preference ranking methods were used to identify the potentially effective ethnoveterinary medicinal plants for the most frequently reported livestock ailments. The use diversity of multipurpose plants with ethnoveterinary importance was analysed using the analytical methods of ethnobotany including priority ranking, comparisons and important indices. The T-test statistic was used to compare knowledge differences among different social groups.ResultsA total of 132 plant species in 120 genera and 61 families were reported by informants as having ethnoveterinary uses. The plants are said to be used by the local communities in various ways to treat 50 livestock health problems. Higher number of informants (23.77%) cited Momordica foetida for the treatment of 16 livestock ailments. The highest informant consensus value for this species is associated with its use for treating blackleg in cattle; Nicotiana tabacum was cited for the treatment of 15 livestock ailments mainly recommended for the Lumpy Skin Disease/Ailment of bovines; Croton macrostachyus for treatment of 13 livestock ailments including wooden tongue, FMD in bovines; and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum for nine ailments mainly diarrhoea of all livestock types. Achyranthes aspera is claimed to provide the most effective treatment for Aspiration pneumonia (severe coughing in bovines, sheep and goats) alone, while Croton macrostachyus, Ximenia americana, Allium sativum and Juniperus procera were indicated as potential plant species to treat Lumpy Skin Disease in bovines in the order given. The fidelity level analysis showed that Datura stramonium, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia and Asparagus africanus were potential medicinal plant species to treat the respective ailments of rabies, Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and evil eye/spirit. Multipurpose plant species including Prunus africanus, Combretum molle and Afrocarpus falcatus have been highly threatened as indicated by direct matrix ranking mainly due to collection of fuel wood, construction materials and making household utensils, and farm implements rather than for other uses.ConclusionSoro District has rich and diversified livestock herbal medicinal resources, and indigenous knowledge of remedy preparations and applications is transmitted through generation lines. This resource faces anthropogenic threats with deforestation being the leading factor. Consequently, ethnoveterinary medicinal plants continue to decline before adequate and proper scientific documentation and testing are made. There is a dire need for planning and implementation of appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation strategies and to strive towards ensuring the survival and sustainable utilization of such important plant resources of Soro District. This must be supported by further documentation of the associated indigenous knowledge and pharmacological testing of the key promising species including Balanites aegyptiaca (novel species/NS to treat specific ailment), Brugmansia suaveolens (novel species/NS reported first to treat Livestock ailments/LsAs), Euclea divinorum (NS to treat specific ailments), Grevillea robusta (NS), Hagenia abyssinica (NS for the reported specific ailment), Pentanema confertiflorum (NS), Juniperus procera (NS), Maesa lanceolata (NS), Millettia ferruginea (NS for reported specific ailments), Schrebera alata/NS, Securidaca longepedunculata, Spiniluma oxyacantha/NS, Vepris nobilis (novel species reported first to treat LsAs), Zanthoxylum asiaticum /NS and Ximenia americana (NS for specific ailments). This ethnoveterinary study attempted to fill part of the gaps concerning the prevalent livestock health problems and the associated indigenous and local knowledge in the area.

Quantitative ethnoveterinary study on plant resource utilization by indigenous communities in high-altitude regions.

For millennia, ethnic knowledge has been intricately tied to local biodiversity and woven into the fabric of rural communities. Growing scientific evidence suggests that merging ethnic knowledge with new scientific findings can lead to socially acceptable and environmentally friendly approaches essential for the long-term prosperity of local communities. In the high-altitude region, where livestock raising is a key income source, and plant-based utilization for ethno-veterinary practices is widely practiced. In this context, this study was conducted with the aim of documenting the ethno-veterinary use of plant resources in different bio-geographical regions of Jammu and Kashmir's Himalayas (J & KH). Semi-structured interviews and group discussions were used to collect information. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation were conducted to analyze the data. We documented 148 species from 53 families that locals used for various purposes: medicine, fodder, tonic, antidote, magic, and also used to protect themselves from ectoparasite such as Pediculus humanus capitis by the local inhabitants. There were significant differences in the relative usage of plant resources across the three biogeographic regions. Comparatively, the highest number (41%) of plant species were used for ethnoveterinary in the Jammu region, while the lowest number (28%) of species were used in Kashmir. Across the regions, Kashmir and Jammu had the highest level of species similarity (17%), while Jammu and Ladakh had the lowest (1%). A cross-regional assessment of plant resources revealed that 18% of plants were shared among the regions. The reported use of Amaranthus blitum, Morus alba, Ficus palmata, Vitex negundo, Juniperus semiglobosa, Ulmus wallichiana, and Rumex nepalensis are novel for the ethno-veterinary uses of this part of the Himalayan region. The various dry unique traditional fodder preparations (gaaslov, gass khor, pan baath, kaandbaath, Lovgooad, Karb, and Phungma) from plant resources are reported for the first time from the Himalayan region and can be ascribed to the novelty of this study. Plant resources were not only a source of fodder and medicine but also presented themselves as an opportunity for livelihood generation. Therefore, our findings bridge the knowledge gap by documenting key ethnoveterinary applications of native plant species from the study region that are used to cure livestock diseases and disorders by the mountain inhabitants.

Ethnoveterinary use of plants and its implication for sustainable livestock management in Nepal.

Traditional herbal remedies are used worldwide for treating both human and livestock health issues. Though such uses are relatively well-explored for humans, the ethnoveterinary uses of plant-based remedies in the healthcare choices of livestock in Nepal and associated knowledge are largely ignored. This is important as sustainable livestock production is an emerging issue. This study reviews the existing ethnobotanical studies conducted in Nepal and reports the use of 393 species of plants from 114 botanical families in ethnoveterinary practices. Thirty-four different ailments were treated using these plants. The present review revealed that Nepal has a rich diversity of ethnoveterinary plants. This study shows that traditional herbal medicine plays a significant role in meeting the livestock healthcare needs of Nepali farmers and hence is a viable practice. The study also contributes a wealth of knowledge about ethnoveterinary practices for further planning and use. This will provide an option for livestock farmers who cannot afford allopathic medicine or who are not allowed to use such medicine under organic farming schemes that are likely to be a part of sustainable livestock farming programs in Nepal soon.

A survey on ethnoveterinary medicines used by the tribal migratory shepherds of Northwestern Himalaya

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTribal migratory shepherds (Gaddi) living in the Northwestern Himalayan region are well known for their nomadic lifestyle in which tribal migratory shepherds along with their livestock which mainly include sheep and goat migrate seasonally in the Northwestern Himalayan region from high hills to low hills for the survival of their livestock from cold winters and hot summer. Due to harsh environmental conditions, heavy snowfall, heavy rainfall, wild animal attacks, no medical facilities, no transportation, and no electricity facilities tribal migratory shepherds mostly rely on plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use to treat livestock disease. Aim of studyThe aim of our study is to conduct ethnoveterinary survey for the first time to document the contemporary oral ethnoveterinary knowledge of Gaddi shepherds living in Northwestern Himalayan region. MethodologyThe documentation of plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use was executed through extensive field surveys from 2017 to 2019. Data were collected through direct interviews by administrating questionnaire among tribal migratory shepherds. ResultsA total of 181 plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use belonging to the same or different families were documented during the seasonal migration of shepherds from Northwestern Himalayan region. Most frequently occurring family of plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary was Poaceae, leaves and roots were reported to be the most frequently used plant parts. Most frequently documented plant species for ethnoveterinary use were Cynodon dactylon, Chenopodium album, Zanthoxylum armatum, Aloe vera, Azadirachta indica and Cannabis sativa. Chrysopogon serrulatus, Cynodon dactylon, and Vitex negundo were reported with high use reports. Some of the endemic species of Northwestern Himalayan region such as Elymus himalayanus and Euphorbia pilosa and one endangered species Picrorhiza kurrooa were reported in current study. ConclusionIt is observed that there is a need to raise awareness among the tribal migratory shepherds about the sustainable use and conservation of some of the plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use. This study provided an inventory of plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use having significant ethnoveterinary potential, however there is need of scientific evaluations by in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies.

In vitro assessment of deworming potential of Guiera senegalensis in Nigerian ethnoveterinary industry using Caenorhabditis elegans

BackgroundAlthough Guiera senegalensis is used as a dewormer in ethnoveterinary health care in Nigeria, its anthelmintic potential has not been validated. Hence, this work investigated the in vitro anthelmintic potential of G. senegalensis extracts on two Caenorhabditis elegans strains: Bristol N2 (wild type/ivermectin susceptible) and DA1316 (ivermectin resistant).ResultsAqueous and methanol extracts of G. senegalensis were tested against the motility of the L4 larvae at two exposure periods of 24 and 48 h and found to be active against the C. elegans strains. Motility of C. elegans DA1316 was reduced to 18.6% and 8.3% by aqueous and methanol extracts, respectively, at 2.0 mg/ml after 48 h, whereas that of C. elegans DA1316 treated with ivermectin (0.02 µg/ml) remained above 95%. The motility of C. elegans Bristol N2 was reduced to 16.6% and 7.2% by aqueous and methanol extracts, respectively, at 2.0 mg/ml after 48 h and ≤ 2.7% by ivermectin (0.02 µg/ml). Activity of the plant extracts was concentration and time dependent.ConclusionsThis work confirms the anthelmintic activity of G. senegalensis and its effectiveness against ivermectin-resistant nematodes, thus validating its ethnoveterinary use as an animal dewormer in Nigeria and pharmacological potential as a source of anthelmintic compounds against ivermectin-resistant nematodes. There is, however, the need for in vivo studies to confirm the in vitro efficacy of the extracts.

An ethnoveterinary study of wild medicinal plants used by the Kyrgyz farmers

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn their centuries-old nomadic life, since their livestock was the backbone of their lives, the Kyrgyz people used a variety of wild medicinal plants for ethnoveterinary practices. However, the plants used for the treatment of livestock ailments never have been recorded, except rarely in local publications. In this study, we present the HSHR (homemade single species herbal remedy reports), their methods of preparation and application, and the livestock ailments for which these remedies were used. AimsThe collect data from the five different high-altitude valleys of the Kyrgyz Republic on common HSHR used for the treatment of the livestock ailments and describe their preparation procedure, administration, and target animal species. Materials and methodsThe plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use were collected from five different high-altitude valleys (pastures) in the Kyrgyz Republic during 2016 and 2018. Data were gathered with the help of dialog partners (experienced local shepherds, farmers and veterinarians) through semi-structured interviews. In total, 166 dialog partners were interviewed. The special characteristics of HSHR mentioned for ethnoveterinary use and practices were documented. Plant samples and voucher specimens were collected for taxonomic identification, and preserved for future reference. ResultsA total of 2388 HSHR referred to 66 plant species mentioned for ethnoveterinary use belonging to 27 families and 49 genera. According to the data, species of the family Asteraceae were most frequently used HSHRs in the Kyrgyz ethnoveterinary practice (599 HSHR, 25%), followed by Polygonaceae (166 HSHR, 7%), Lamiaceae (141 HSHR, 6%), Ranunculaceae (121 HSHR, 5%), Nitrariaceae (119 HSHR, 4.9%), Apiaceae (113 HSHR, 4.7%), Cupressaceae (111 HSHR, 4.6%), Urticaceae (100 HSHR, 4.2%), Gentianaceae (92 HSHR, 3.8%), Amaranthaceae (87 HSHR, 3.6%). A total of 2785 UR (use reports) were collected for the 2388 HSHR. Infection diseases (572 UR, 20.5%), parasitic diseases (531 UR, 19%), gastrointestinal disorders (523 UR, 18.77%) and wounds (522 UR, 18.74%) were almost evenly reported indications. The largest number use reports (UR) were for cattle (967 UR, 34.7%) and horses (919 UR, 33%), followed by 607 UR (21.8%) for sheep and 292 UR (10.48%) for other domestic animals, including dogs (106 UR, 3.8%), goats (103 UR, 3.69%) and donkeys (83 UR, 2.98%). ConclusionIn this study, we identified the folk ethnoveterinary knowledge of the HSHR used by the Kyrgyz farmers in their daily veterinary practice. All the characterized HSHR are of value to the local animal breeders. This knowledge has previously been limited to local shepherds, farmers and vets. Many of these need scientific confirmation using modern methods of phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Ethnoveterinary Uses of Certain Yemeni Plants: A Review of the Scientific Evidence.

Livestock is an important and integral component of agriculture production in Yemen and contributes 28% of the total agricultural production income. Research in the field of Yemeni ethnoveterinary medicine is limited to a few studies. Therefore, our work aims to substantiate scientifically the ethnoveterinary use of some documented plant species based on a literature review of their bioactivities and toxicological properties. Searching the scientific literature has revealed various pharmacological activities that may support the claimed healing activities of 11 out of 14 plant species for some of their ethnoveterinary utilization. This comprises the use of Aloe spp. latex for constipation, worms, boils, and wounds; Boswellia sacra underbark for wounds and its oleo-gum resin for mastitis; Soqotraen Boswellia species as an insect repellent; Cissus rotundifolia for stomach pain; Cyphostemma digitatum as an appetite stimulant; Psiadia punctulate for bone fracture; Pulicaria undulata as an insect repellent; combinations of Aristolochia bracteolate with Sorghum bicolor grains for bloating; Rumex nervosus and salt for eye pimples; and Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds with Hordeum vulgare grains for constipation. Some plants were found to demonstrate various toxic effects in in vivo and in vitro experimental studies. The local administration of Calotropis procera latex was also reported to induce an intense inflammatory response. It can be concluded that our work has provided valuable scientific information on the biological and toxic activities of some Yemeni ethnoveterinary remedies that could be utilized for the benefit of farmers to ration the use of these remedies and avoiding their toxicity.

Anthelmintic, antimycobacterial, antifungal, larvicidal and cytotoxic activities of acetone leaf extracts, fractions and isolated compounds from Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Rutaceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevancePtaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk, sneezewood, is a commonly used medicinal plant in South Africa for the treatment of parasitic infections in animals, tuberculosis (TB) and related symptoms, and other microbial infections. Aim of the studyIn this study anthelmintic, antifungal, antimycobacterial, larvicidal and cytotoxic activities of the acetone leaf extract of P. obliquum, solvent-solvent derived fractions of the extract and isolated compounds (obliquumol and a mixture of lupeol and β-amyrin) were determined. Materials and methodsThe in vitro anthelmintic activity was tested against Haemonchus contortus ova and larvae using the egg hatch inhibition and larval development assays. The antifungal activity was investigated using a serial microplate dilution method against Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. Antimycobacterial activity was evaluated by a tetrazolium violet-based broth microdilution method against pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. The larvicidal activity was evaluated against Aedes aegypti. Cytotoxicity was determined using human liver (C3A) and Vero African green monkey kidney cell lines. ResultsObliquumol (ptaeroxylinol acetate) was more effective than the crude acetone extract against H. contortus ova and larvae with an LC50 of 95 μg/mL against the larvae. Obliquumol had very good antifungal activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values from 2 to 16 μg/mL. Lupeol and β-amyrin mixture also had good activity against C. neoformans and C. albicans with an MIC of 16 μg/mL against both fungi. The crude extract and fractions had average to weak antimycobacterial activity against the two pathogenic mycobacteria with MICs of 313–625 μg/mL for the extract and fractions tested. Obliquumol had good activity with an MIC of 63 μg/mL against pathogenic M. tuberculosis ATCC 27115. The acetone crude extract was toxic against Vero cells with an CC50 of 14.2 μg/mL. Obliquumol and the mixture of lupeol and β-amyrin were not toxic against both Vero and C3A cells at the highest concentration tested of 200 μg/mL and had good selectivity index values against the opportunistic fungal pathogens. No tested samples had any larvicidal activity against A. aegypti at the concentrations tested. ConclusionThe activity noted against H. contortus may support the ethnoveterinary use of this plant against animal parasites in South Africa although aqueous extracts were not active. The activity of obliquumol against opportunistic fungal pathogens was also promising. The cytotoxicity of the acetone leaf extract, however, raises concerns about the traditional use of P. obliquum to treat a wide range of diseases although if an aqueous extract is used the toxicity concern may not be relevant.

Ethno-veterinary medicinal uses of garlic (allium sativum) by livestock rearer

Garlic ( Allium Sativum ) is used as an important ingredient in the traditional veterinary ethno-medicine since long time among the folk communities. The knowledge of the use of garlic individually or additively with other ingredients is scattered in different regions as well as literatures. The study was undertaken to screen the ITKs available in the different sources in which the use of Garlic is predominant in ethno-veterinary practices and validate these ITKs with the experts. The validation of ITK was done with 30 experts for their relevance in scientific scenario. The responses of experts for validation were taken on 3-point validity continuum. Out of 47 formulations of garlic with other herbal additives, 57.44 per cent were claimed to have the score above 120 out of 150, shows their wider applicability and validity in ethnoveterinary practice. Ethno-veterinary use of Garlic was found for curing cough, cold, fever, urinary problems like oliguria & anuria, bloat, foot and mouth disease, pleuropneumonia, otalgia, dog bite, snake bite, trembling, respiratory system disorder like pleuritis and pneumonia, yoke gall, bone fracture, flatulence, wounds and gangrene. Due to allicin and other sulfur compounds, garlic has antibiotic, antibacterial and antimycotic properties. As garlic is readily available in every household can be a cost effective first aid or emergency prescription to the livestock rearer who have no immediate access to modern veterinary facilities.

Evidence-based investigations into the ethnoveterinary use of Mimosa pudica L. (Fabaceae) as an anthlemintic

Purpose: To investigate the toxicity, clinical outcome and anthelmintic effects of M. pudica in vitro and in vivo.Methods: Dried leaves of M. pudica were extracted using 70 % methanol cold maceration method. Acute toxicity inquiry was evaluated using Lorke’s method. Anthelmintic effects were investigated in vitro using the egg hatch assay and in vivo using Heligmosomoides bakeri experimentally infected adult albino mice. Coprological and haematological parameters were recorded during the experiment while the serological analysis and post mortem worm burden were assessed at the conclusion of the research.Results: No mortality was recorded in oral acute toxicity test up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg. A probit-log analysis of the percentage egg hatch of the extract and albendazole gave lethal concentration 50 (LC50) values of 1.160 and -1.042, respectively. A reduction in worm count was observed in all the extracttreated groups post mortem, with the maximum extract group having the least worm count (p < 0.05). Treatment with extract resulted in improvement in the haematological parameters. Serum chemistry revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in alanine aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen in all groups. However, a dose-dependent increases in the total protein and albumin was observed.Conclusion: These results show that although M. pudica has weak anthelmintic effects compared to albendazole (standard anthelmintic), in vivo and in vitro, at the doses used in this study, nonetheless, it reduces worm burden and improves haematologic parameters, serum total protein, albumin and overall weight gain of the treated mice. Thus, increased doses may be effective in anthelmintic chemotherapy.
 Keywords: Mimosa pudica, Anthelmintic, Toxicity, Heligmosomoides bakeri, Ethnoveterinary medicine, Anthelmintic

Asian elephant self-medication as a source of ethnoveterinary knowledge among Karen mahouts in northern Thailand

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEthnoveterinary medicine is often assumed to be a subset of human medicinal knowledge. Here we investigate the possibility that some ethnoveterinary medicine rather originates from observations of animal self-medication. We document and analyze the ethnoveterinary medicine used by Karen mahouts for elephant care and attempt to determine whether this knowledge originated from humans or elephants. Materials and methodsElephant camp owners and mahouts in four communities in northern Thailand were interviewed about their knowledge and use of plants for ethnoveterinary elephant care. For each ethnoveterinary plant, data were collected on Karen human medicinal uses and whether elephants independently consume them. Based on overlaps between ethnoveterinary use, human medicinal use and elephant dietary use, plants were classified into three categories: those that originated from Karen human medicine, those that originated from Asian elephant self-medication, and those which were present in both human and elephant knowledge traditions. ResultsThe use of 34 plants (32 identified at least to genus) and two additional non-plant remedies (salt and human urine) were reported to be used in ethnoveterinary elephant medicine. A total of 44 treatments in 11 use categories were recorded: tonic, wounds, compress, eye problems, indigestion, broken bones, galactagogue, snakebite, fatigue, skin and musth regulation. Of the ethnoveterinary plants, 55% had the same use in human medicine, 43% had different uses and 2% had no use. Elephants consume 84% of the ethnoveterinary plants as part of their natural diet. DiscussionAnalysis indicates that 32% of plant uses likely originated from Karen human medicine, 60% of plant uses likely existed independently in both human and elephant knowledge systems, and 8% of plant uses likely originated from elephant self-medicating behavior. The tonic use category shows the strongest evidence of influence from observations of elephant self-medication. The use of tonic medicines appears to be increasing as a way to mitigate the unnaturally limited diet of elephants in tourist camps. ConclusionEthnoveterinary medicine for elephant care is influenced by both human medicinal knowledge and elephant knowledge of plants for self-medication. The ethnoveterinary knowledge domain appears to be the result of an interactive process linked to convergent evolution or co-evolution between humans and Asian elephants.

Dietary supplementation with Withania somnifera root powder ameliorates experimentally induced Infectious Bursal Disease in chicken.

Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) is an economically important, immunosuppressive viral disease of chicken. Withania somnifera, a well-known Indian medicinal plant and functional food, finds extensive ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary use in the subcontinent. Root extracts of Withania somnifera have been shown to inhibit IBD virus (IBDV) in vitro. The effect of dietary supplementation with whole root powder of Withania somnifera was studied in chicken experimentally infected with IBDV. Dietary supplementation with the root powder improved erythrocytic indices, biochemical parameters, bursal weight index, and lymphocyte stimulation indices, and reduced histopathological insult in the infected birds. Viral load decreased to less than one-fourth in the birds receiving dietary supplementation with Withania somnifera root powder. It could be concluded that continued supplementation of IBDV-infected chicken with Withania somnifera root powder alleviated virus-induced stress and histological and immunological alterations and reduced viral persistence in the host.

Ethnoveterinary remedies used in the Algerian steppe: Exploring the relationship with traditional human herbal medicine

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEthnoveterinary medicine is vastly under-documented, especially in North Africa, where livestock care is increasingly medicalised. Despite evidence of the interdependence of ethnoveterinary practices and ethnomedicine for human care, the overlap between these two systems and the possible drivers of similarity are rarely addressed in ethnopharmacological literature. Here, we present the first quantitative comparison of remedies used to treat human and animal health among a pastoral society. AimsThis study aims to document the plants and other materials used in ethnoveterinary medicine among nomadic herders in the Algerian steppe. We calculate the overlap with remedies used for human health and evaluate some of the possible drivers of similarities between the two interlinked medical systems. MethodsThe field study was conducted in spring 2018 with 201 local knowledge holders in five provinces in the central part of the Algerian steppe. Forty-six camps and ten weekly animal markets were visited. After obtaining prior informed consent, data was collected through structured interviews. Anonymous sociodemographic information was collected along with veterinary use data. Plant specimens were acquired, identified and deposited in the Botanical Laboratory Herbarium of the University of Tiaret. Ethnobotanical information was structured in use reports and therapeutic applications organised into 13 simple categories. Plants used in ethnoveterinary medicine were compared to those used in human health care using a Chi square test, and ethnoveterinary use was predicted using a generalised linear model with use for human care and plant family as predictive variables. Logistic regressions were also used to test if any specific medicinal application predicts shared use in human and veterinary medicine. ResultsSixty-six plant species from 32 botanical families and ten non-vegetable remedies were documented. Plants from the Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae families were most commonly used. The plants most often cited by interviewees are all harvested from the wild (Echinops spinosissimus Turra, Atriplex halimus L., Artemisia campestris L., Juniperus phoenicea L. and Peganum harmala L.). Leaves are the most commonly used plant part and decoction is the most common preparation method. There are important similarities between remedies used to treat humans and other animals: two thirds of the remedies used in ethnoveterinary medicine are also used in human health care, and these represent half of the human health treatments. Use for human health and plant family both predict the use of a medicinal plant in veterinary medicine, but no correlation is found regarding specific therapeutic applications. ConclusionsTraditional veterinary knowledge is still key to sheep and goat herders in the Algerian steppe, but a knowledge transmission gap seems to exist between older and younger generations, and ethnoveterinary practices may disappear in the near future. Treatments for human and animal care overlap to a large extent, and a causal relationship possibly exists for, at least, some of them. However, overall a smaller number of remedies are used to treat animals than humans and for less therapeutic applications. This difference in the diversity of therapeutic applications and remedies should be the object of future research.

ETHNOBOTANICAL AND ETHNOVETERINARY IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS OF SCRUB AREAS OF DACHIGAM NATIONAL PARK, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA

Objective: The rich plant diversity of mountains has been used by the indigenous people for thousands of years as health-care remedies. A study on the important plant communities of scrub ecosystems of Dachigam National Park was carried out with the special aim of enlisting the ethnobotanical, and ethnoveterinary uses of plants being used by the people of the area.
 Methods: Data were collected by visual appraisal approach, rapid rural approach, and questionnaire methods coupled with group meetings and field discussions.
 Results: Data collected from the present investigation indicate that 59 plants belonging to 33 families with Rosaceae, the dominant family, were exclusively used for ethnobotanical purposes and 10 plant species belonging to 8 families were having ethnoveterinary use. These species include 14 medicinal species, 10 vegetable species, 10 with edible species, 6 fodder species, 6 species used as tea substitutes, 3 species for menstrual problems, 3 species used for religious ceremonies, 2 species used for chutney, 2 art and craft species, and 1 species used for ornamental, fuelwood, and agricultural tools each.
 Conclusion: The people of the area are exclusively dependent on medicinal plants using traditional knowledge that provides them with the best therapeutic and economic benefits. Such traditional knowledge could be valuable for developing local and regional conservation strategies for these fragile ecosystems. There is an urgent need to thoroughly analyze the secondary metabolite properties of such plants to validate their authenticity in the local health-care systems.

English

Prevalence of animal diseases is one of the major livestock production constraints in Kenya with high impacts on livelihoods due to related economic losses affecting food security in the country. The use of synthetic drugs for disease management has challenges. This makes the use of medicinal plants for treatment a rational alternative. Ascarids, Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum are among the most frequently observed helminth parasites in dogs in Kenya. The two parasites are also known to cause helminthiasis in human beings. This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of ethanol and aqueous extracts from bulbs of A. sativum and A. cepa and from leaves of J. curcas against T. canis and A. caninum parasites. Six (6) extracts from three (3) plants: A. cepa, A. sativum and J. curcas were selected for in vitro anthelmintic screening by measuring ability to inhibit hatching and development of eggs and survival of larvae in vitro. The ethanol extracts of A. cepa inhibited hatching of 100% of eggs of A. caninum between 10,000 and 2,500 ug/ml and 100% of eggs of T. canis between 10,000 and 1,250 ug/ml while that of A. sativum inhibited hatching of 100% of A. caninum eggs between 10,000 and 5,000 ug/ml. However the ethanol extract of A. sativum did not have the same effect on the development of T. canis eggs at these concentrations. The ethanol extracts of both A. cepa and A. sativum affected the survival of 100% of A. caninum larvae at a concentration of 156 ug/ml and above. The water extracts of the three plants had moderate effects on the eggs and the larvae of both parasites. The results indicate that the ethanol extracts of A. cepa and A. sativum have anthelmintic properties which should be investigated further to support the ethnoveterinary use of the plants as anthelmintics for control and treatment of worm infestation in dogs. Key words: Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Anthelmintic activity, Ancylostoma caninum, Jatropha curcas Toxocara canis.

Plant and natural product based homemade remedies manufactured and used by farmers of six central Swiss cantons to treat livestock

The use of medicinal plants and other natural multicomponent remedies might be one measure to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock. Ethnoveterinary research has the potential to identify promising natural remedies. The knowledge about remedies for livestock was collected from farmers in six central Swiss cantons, Glarus, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Zug and Uri.Between February and April 2013 49 interviews with 63 farmers (25 females and 38 males, aged 24–74) were conducted. We collected information on the manufacturing of 370 homemade remedies. Of these, 114 contained no plants, 26 contained a mixture of two to five plants, and 230 contained one plant species (defined as homemade single-herbal remedy report (HSHR)). These 230 HSHRs represented 68 plant species belonging to 35 different botanical families. Thirteen species were reported for the first time for ethnoveterinary use in Switzerland. Matricaria recutita, Calendula officinalis, Urtica dioica and Coffea were the most frequently used ingredients of HSHR. A total of 278 use reports (UR) were described for the 230 HSHR, (233 UR for treating cattle). Treatment of skin disorders (QD), gastrointestinal diseases and metabolic dysfunction (QA) were the most frequently mentioned uses for these remedies. Fewer uses were linked to treatments of the respiratory system (QR), the genito-urinary (QG) and musculo-skeletal systems (QM). In the categorie QA the most UR were described for Matricaria recutita, Linum usitatissimum, and Camellia sinensis. Quercus robur was mainly used to treat diarrhoea in calfs, Coffea Arabica to treat general gastrointestinal troubles, colic, abdominal pain or diarrhoea, and Arthemisia absinthium to treat general gastro-intestinal disorders, diarrhoea or lack of appetite. For four orally administered plant species (Artemisia absinthium, Avena sativa, Citrus x limon, Quercus robur) daily oral doses were determined for the first time (median: 0.03, 6.16, 0.01 and 0.58g dry plant equivalent per kg0.75). In the category QD the most often described plant species were Calendula officinalis, Matricaria recutita, Picea abies, Sanicula europaea and Senecio ovatus. For the latter two plant species we determined for the first time an ethnoveterinary based concentration in the finished product (median: 0.13 and 0.39g dry plant equivalent per 100g finished product).Medicinal plants are known, and used by farmers of central Switzerland mostly for treatment of skin and gastrointestinal diseases. According to recent pharmaceutical and human clinical research several plant species documented in this ethnoveterinary study are worth to be further investigated in clinical trials with livestock.

Plant species reported from Swiss farmers to treat bovine respiratory diseases

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes high morbidity in cattle, and extensive antibiotic treatment is leading to increasing resistance of BRD pathogens. Medicinal plants (MP) used traditionally by Swiss farmers for BRD might be a potential future therapeutic option. Since 2011 ethnoveterinary surveys have been conducted in Switzerland, with some 200 interviews leading to more than 1'500 use reports (UR). From this dataset all URs referring to BRD were extracted and analyzed with respect to plant parts used, preparation of remedies, administration, and oral daily dose (ODD). A total of 54 URs were documented (Table 1). The most common of the 15 reported MPs were Thymus vulgaris L. (TA), Picea abies L. (PA) and Ilex aquifolium L. (IA) representing some 70% of all URs. Common ways of administration of MPs were by direct feeding of the herb, as herbal teas, by inhalation, and as a liniment. For 25 of the 32 oral applications an ODD could be determined. ODDs reported for TA varied widely, but were comparable (median 0.19 g/kg0,75) to commonly used human ODDs of 0.13 – 0.26 g/kg0,75. The use of this plant was reasonable considering known antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic properties. PA was administered by feeding of fresh twigs, but no detailed information on dosage could be obtained. However, antibacterial properties of spruce resin has been reported in literature. IA is commonly considered as toxic, but five UR corresponded to an average ODD of 0.41 g/kg0,75. Whether this ethnoveterinary use can be rationalized by the content in triterpene saponins is not clear at the moment. More research is needed, and the use of IA cannot be recommended at present. The 54 URs for BRD represent less than 5% of total URs documented so far from Swiss farms. In contrast to dermatological and gastrointestinal diseases the treatment of BRD with MPs seems less common. Nevertheless, several of the 15 documented MPs are interesting starting points for further investigations.

Investigation of urban ethnoveterinary in three veterinary clinics at east zone of São Paulo city, Brazil

Ethnopharmacological relevanceUrban Ethnoveterinary should be further explored because of its value as it resists conventional medical care. In addition, the comparison between the resources used by Ethnoveterinary and Ethnopharmacology should be investigated in depth, increasing the availability of new bioactive potential in human and veterinary medicines. This project aimed to determine whether plants are used in the health care of dogs and/or cats in urban area and to compare its uses with other ethnoveterinary and ethnopharmacological data. Materials and methodsThree veterinary clinics from east area of São Paulo city were selected, in order to record the offering of plants to pets by their owners. Individual interviews were conducted from May to November 2012 and consisted of application of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A literature search was performed to compare our findings with other ethnopharmacological and ethnoveterinarian data from the literature. ResultsA total of 273 people were interviewed and 46 (16.84%) of them utilize medicinal plants for their pets. Most plant species are exclusively home grown (57.9%). The plants most cited were Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. The most frequent route of administration, part utilized and mode of preparation was oral (80.35%), leaves (89.47%) and infusion (61.90%), respectively. From 19 cited plants, 14 (73.7%) are mentioned in ethnoveterinary literature, whereas 11 (57.9%) are used for the same purposes. All plants reported in our study have at least one common use with ethnopharmacology. ConclusionThe survey provided evidence of ethnoveterinary use of medicinal plants for dogs and/or cats in urban area of São Paulo, complementarily with the official veterinary, and showed that the plants used in pets are also used in humans with the same purposes and routes of administration, as well as in other animals.

Comparative study of in-vitro antimicrobial activity and phytochemical composition of <i>Sida cuneifolia</i> fruits, leaves, and stem bark extracts

Background: Sida cuneifolia plant parts are important in ethno-veterinary medicine, but no studies exist on a comparative evaluation of phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of fruits, stem bark and leaves. This study evaluated and compared extraction yields, phytochemical composition as well as antibacterial and antifungal properties of ether, methanol and aqueous crude extracts of fruits, leaves, and stem bark of S . cuneifolia . Methods: Yields of extracts were determined, and qualitative phytochemical screening tests were carried out to establish their composition. Crude extracts were screened against five bacteria and two fungi. Agar disk diffusion technique was used to determine the inhibition zone diameters. Broth micro-dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). Results: Triterpene aglycones, sterols, tannins, athracene derivatives, polyuronides and glucides were found in intense mounts in S . cuneifolia fruits. Leaves contained intense amounts of carotenoids, tannins, polyuronides and coumarin derivatives. For the leaves, methanol extracts had MICs and MBCs as low as (≤3.13 mg/ml) against the majority (6/7) microorganisms hence had the best activity. Considering the stem bark, the ether extracts had the best antimicrobial activity with MICs as low as ≤3.13 mg/ml against 6/7 microorganisms. For the fruits, the ether extracts had the best antibacterial activity with MICs and MBCs as low as (≤3.13 mg/ml) against all tested bacteria. Conclusion: The study provides scientific evidence for ethno-veterinary use of S . cuneifolia leaves, fruits and stem bark, and this can be exploited in the transformative development of ethno-medicine.