Highest Relative Frequency Of Citation Research Articles

Ethnopharmacological relevance of medicinal plants used for the treatment of oral diseases in Central Punjab-Pakistan

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis is the first study of the indigenous knowledge in regard to the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of oral diseases in the Central Punjab, Pakistan region. The study aimed to document indigenous knowledge about the treatments of oral diseases using quantitative ethnobotanical indices, as well as highlighting important medicinal plant species by comparing the data obtained with previously published ethnobotanical and pharmacological data. MethodsThe ethnomedicinal data was collected from local informants and Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs). The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Diseases Consensus Index (DCI) were calculated to analyse the documented data. The results were compared with those of the nine ethnobotanical studies highlighted in our literature review relating to oral disease, as well as many pharmacological studies evaluating the reported plants. ResultsIn total, 72 medicinal plants belonging to 38 families were reported by the 180 local informants and 17 THPs interviewed. The most commonly used family, life form and plant part used was Asteraceae (6 species), herbs (30 reports) and leaves (22 reports) respectively. The RFC ranged from 7.61% (Berberis lycium, Dodonea viscosa) to 51.78% (Abutilon indicum, Accacia nilotica, Cuscuta reflex and Solanum nigrum), while the DCI varied from 0.062 to 0.78 with the highest value of DCI for Zizyphus oxyphylla and the lowest for Abutilon indicum. The most prominent species based on quantitative indices in the present study and comparison with previous published data were Zizyphus oxyphylla, Pongamia pinnata, Launea nudicaulis, Acacia nilotica, Abutilon indicum, Salvadora persica and S. oleoides. ConclusionThis study has identified a range of medicinal plants traditionally used in Central Punjab, Pakistan for the treatment of oral diseases. This data can usefully inform the direction of future research and it is suggested that further detailed phyto-pharmacological, toxicological and clinical studies be conducted on the plant species documented in the study, especially those with the highest RFC and, DCI values.

Ethnomedicinal uses of plants for the treatment of malaria in Soon Valley, Khushab, Pakistan

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTo best of our knowledge this is the first quantitative ethno-medicinal study with the aim of documenting the indigenous knowledge and practices of using plants for malarial therapy in Soon Valley, Khushab, Pakistan. In this Valley, malaria is among the major public health problems but, until now, the population still mostly relies on herbal medicine for treatment. Materials and methodsEthno-medicinal data were documented from 63 informants by using semi-structured questionnaires and interviewing the informants about their knowledge of plants regarding malaria and related symptoms. Documented data were evaluated using the quantitative ethno-botanical indices of frequency citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), percentage of respondents having knowledge (PRK) and Jaccard index (JI). ResultsA total of 70 plant species belonging to 62 genera and 34 families were recorded as anti-malarial in the study area. Solanaceae was found to be the most cited family with 7 species, followed by Fabaceae, Rutaceae and Lamiaceae with 5 species each. Ocimum americanum and Solanum incanum were the species with the highest relative frequency of citation (RFC =0.25 each) and percentage of respondents having knowledge (PRK =25.4% each), followed by Grewia tenax (RFC =0.23, PRK =23.8%), which indicates that these plants are the best species with anti-malarial properties. The most highly cited life form was found to be herbs (56%). The dominant plant part used in preparations were leaves (49%). The main mode of utilization was decoction (47%) followed by infusion (29%). In comparison, maximum similarity index is found in our study with JI (16.83) followed by (13.13). Similarity percentage of plants uses ranges from 0.81 to 16.83 while dissimilarity percentage varies from 0% to 17.65%. ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge seven plant species, viz. Withania coagulans, Fagonia cretica, Carthamus oxyacantha, Ehretia obtusifolia, Helianthus annuus, Olea ferruginea and Vitex trifolia, are reported from this region for the first time for the treatment of malaria. This first ethno-medicinal study highlights potential sources for the development of new antimalarial drugs from indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants found in the Soon Valley, Pakistan. Such investigations could be a subject for in vitro and in vivo anti-plasmodial screening to develop new plant-based antimalarial drugs and can also be evaluated for other biological activities and novel drug discoveries.

Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Diabetes in the Tizi n’ Test Region (Taroudant Province, Morocco)

In Morocco, diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem with over than 1.5 million cases in 2014. Medicinal plants are widely used by the Moroccan population to treat the illness. This study was carried out to identify the medicinal plants traditionally used in human therapy to treat diabetes in the Tizi n’Test region, and contribute to safeguarding knowledge and local expertise in traditional herbal medicine. A total of 280 interviews were conducted with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. Data were collected by semi-structured and structured questionnaires. Indices on Fidelity Level (FL), Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated. The ethnobotanical survey has identified 39 species representing 24 families. The most encountered medicinal plant families were Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. The following plant species were showed the high significant FL, UV and RFC: Artemisia herba-alba, Cistus creticus, Lavandula maroccana, Salvia lavandulifolia and Olea europaea. Plant leaves were the most commonly used plant part, and decoction was the most common method of traditional drug preparation. Our study showed that medicinal plants continue to play an important role in the primary healthcare system for the local population of the Tizi n’Test region and represents a useful documentation, which can contribute to preserving knowledge on the use of medicinal plants for diabetes treatment and to explore the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of medicinal plant.

A quantitative ethnobotanical survey of phytocosmetics used in the tropical island of Mauritius

Ethnopharmacological relevanceWith a net turnover worth of £181 billion, the cosmetic industry is a leading worldwide business with a very lucrative future. Nonetheless, due to recent concerns regarding toxicity of synthetic cosmetics, herbal products have come into the limelight of cosmetology. The tropical island of Mauritius has a well-anchored diversity of indigenous plant species which are exploited for various purposes but no study has been designed to (i) quantitatively document, (ii) assess the effectiveness, and (iii) study the incidence of adverse effects and perception associated with the use of herbal products for cosmetic applications. MethodData was collected from herbal users via face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices (fidelity level (FL), variety of use (VU) and relative frequency of citation (RFC)) were calculated. ResultsTwenty five herbs belonging to 21 families were recorded in use for 29 different cosmetics applications. Many of the documented species represented well-known plants, although we also recorded a few plants being exploited for new cosmetic applications. Plants with the highest RFC were Curcuma longa L. (0.45), Lawsonia inermis L. (0.42) and Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (0.42). A total of 8 plants were reported to score 100% with respect to the FL. Interestingly, Lawsonia inermis L. being the highly cited plant species showed a clear dominance as a popular phytocosmetic and which has also been extensively documented for its pharmacological properties. Moreover, it was found that 25% of the respondents experienced adverse effects; with pruritus (11%) being the most reported condition. It was also observed that participants perceived herbs/herbal products to be free from adverse effects. ConclusionMost of the plants reported have been described in previous studies for their bioactive components which tend to justify their use as phytocosmetics. Further research should be geared to explore the potential of these plant products for the cosmetic industry.

Ethnomedicinal survey of plants used in the treatment of malaria in Southern Nigeria

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Malaria is one of the most severe public health problems worldwide. It is a leading cause of death and disease in many developing countries, where young children and pregnant women are the groups most affected. Spread of multidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium and the adverse side effects of the existing anti-malarial drugs have necessitated the search for novel, well tolerated and more efficient antimalarial drugs. This ethnomedicinal study surveyed the different types of medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Southern Nigeria with the intent of identifying plants that are traditionally employed in the treatment of malaria across geopolitical boundaries.Materials and methods: Data were collected from 79 respondents composed of 50 traditional herbsellers and 29 herbal practitioners using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using frequency and percentages.Results: Of the 79 respondents interviewed, 24% were males while 76% were females. A total of 156 species belonging to 60 families were reported being used to treat malaria in the study area. Fabaceae was the most represented family having fourteen (14) plant species. Of the plants identified during the survey, Azadirachta indica was the species of highest relative frequency of citation (RFC – 1.0). The dominant plant parts used in the preparation of remedies were leaves (50.50%) and Decoction was the main method of preparation. Analysis of regional plant occurrence revealed that South-Western Nigeria represented the region with the highest plant occurrence (60.7%) followed by South–South (24%) and South–East (15.3%). Regional occurrence of plants used in the treatment of malaria in Southern Nigeria is reported here for the first time.Conclusion: This study has documented a great diversity of plants used in the treatment of malaria in Southern Nigeria. Extracts prepared strictly according to the practitioners' recipes should therefore be screened for antiplasmodial activity and toxicity by in vitro and in vivo standard tests to justify their local usage. These studies might lead to the isolation and possible identification of potentially active compounds, which may be regarded as future promising phytomedicines in the treatment of malaria. Conservation of these plant species is also recommended to ensure their continuous availability for future use.

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in south of Togo (Maritime Region)

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDiabetes mellitus remains a major public health problem due to its incidence and prevalence. In Togo, several plants are used by the practitioners of traditional medicine in the treatment of this disorder. The objective of this work was to identify medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in the Maritime area of southern Togo. Materials and methodsData was collected from 59 informants using a structured questionnaire. ResultsThe use of sixty five (65) medicinal plant species were recorded as being used by traditional practitioners in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The plants recorded are divided into 62 genera and 34 families. The families most represented were Euphorbiaceae (6 species) and Asteraceae (6 species). Conyza aegyptiaca (L.) was the specie with the highest relative frequency of citation (RCF 20.53%). The dominant plant part used in the preparation of remedies was the leaves (60.89%). A decoction (89.23%) was the main mode of preparation, while taking the remedies orally (98.44%) was the principal route of administration. ConclusionThe results of the study indicated that the Maritime Region of Togo may have a range of plants that have antidiabetic activity. Further work is required to establish their clinical efficacy for this condition.

Medicinal Plants for Diabetes by the Orang Asli in Selangor, Malaysia

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in Malaysia and the world. The aim of this study is to document the plant species used by the Orang Asli in Selangor to treat diabetes. Thirteen Orang Asli villages in Selangor comprising of four Mah Meri tribe villages and nine Temuan tribe villages were involved in this study. A total of 24 species of plants from 20 families were mentioned. Half of these species were cultivated, 10 species were wild, and two species of plants were both cultivated and obtained in the wild, that is, Acanthus ilicifolius and Eurycoma longifolia. Seven species of plants on the other hand possibly have not been studied its ability in treating this disease. The highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) among the species recorded was Parkia speciosa with 0.33, followed by Archidendron bubalinum with 0.26.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for traditional maternal healthcare in Katsina state, Nigeria

Women in Katsina State, Nigeria have been using medicinal plants to cure various ailments associated with maternal health since time immemorial; however the use of such plants was never documented. In this study an ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used for traditional maternal healthcare in Katsina State, Nigeria. Semi structured questionnaire method was used to interview 300 respondents (50 from 2 Local Government Areas of each of the 3 Senatorial Districts) comprising of herbalists, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs), House Wives, Farmers and others. Medicinal plants belonging to 101 genera distributed among 50 families were documented. Most of the reported plants belong to the Fabaceae (22.52%), Asteraceae (7.21%) Malvaceae (5.41%) and Anacardiaceae (4.51%) families. Acacia nilotica (L) Delile and Gueira senegalensis J.F. Gmel had the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL) of 0.93; 100% and 0.92; 100%, respectively. Among the 18 categories of ailments, headache, navel pain, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum wound healing had the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) of 1.00 each. Most of the reported plants (68.47%) were herbs and shrubs and about 84.68% of the surveyed plants were wild. Leaves were the most frequently used (32.14%) plant's part. Most of the medications (32%) were prepared as decoctions and preparations are mostly administered orally (84.68%). Scientific validation of the biological properties of the surveyed plants is highly advocated and cultivation of medicinal plants to minimize the pressure on wild species is also recommended.

Ethnomedicinal application of native remedies used against diabetes and related complications in Mauritius

Ethnopharmacological relevanceNotoriously, the tropical island of Mauritius has one of the highest prevalence of diabetes worldwide and the economic burden associated with it is alarming. The use of native remedies (NRs) is well anchored in the local culture and it continues to be the cornerstone of therapy for diabetic patients. However, there is currently a dearth of updated primary data on NRs used by Mauritians against diabetes and diabetes related complications (DRCs). This study was therefore designed to record, analyze and document orally transmitted ethnopharmacological knowledge from diabetic patients and traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Mauritius concerning NRs commonly used against diabetes and DRCs which might open new avenues to initiate novel antidiabetic drugs discovery. Materials and methodsData was collected following interviews from diabetic patients (n=328) and TMPs (n=20). Eleven quantitative indexes, namely informant consensus factor (FIC), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance (RI), cultural importance index (CII), index of agreement on remedies (IAR), cultural agreement index (CAI), quality use value (QUV), quality use agreement value (QUAV) and ethnobotanicity index (EI) were calculated. Statistical analysis such as Pearson correlation and Chi-squared test were performed to determine any association. ResultsA total of 111 plant species distributed over 56 families, 30 polyherbal formulations and 16 animal species were documented to be traditionally used against diabetes and DRCs. For the first time 8 endemic plants have been recorded to be used against diabetes and DRCs from Mauritius. The most encountered medicinal plant family was Asteraceae. According to the EI, 16.2% of the native plants in Mauritius were used against diabetes and DRCs. As far as we know, Vangueria madagascariensis, Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum and Rubus alceifolius with high RFC values are recorded against diabetes and DRCs for the first time. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, income, religious belief, education and residence) were found to significantly (p<0.05) influence the use of NRs. The average FIC for all ailments for plant and animal products were 0.94 and 0.87 respectively. Bryophyllum pinnatum, a native plant to Mauritius scored a high FL value (100%) used against diabetic neuropathy, Allium sativum had the highest RI value (2.00) due to its versatility, Aloe vera had the highest RFC (0.61), the CII (0.640) and the highest CAI value (0.635), Psidium guajava had the highest QUAV (0.961) which indicates its high bioactivity and Allium cepa was reported as the most effective plant species (QUV=0.965). According to UV, the most important species was Morinda citrifolia (1.21). Panoply of animal products were reported whereby fish (39.7%) was recorded as the most utilised zootherapy and Salmo salar scored the highest FL (100%) for diabetes. Some animal species (n=14) not previously documented against diabetes and DRCs are reported in the present study. ConclusionOur present investigation revealed that the use of NRs constitutes the common legacy of Mauritians and despite the penetration of allopathic medicine; NRs continue to play a crucial role in the primary health care system of Mauritius. To this effect, it is of uttermost importance to record this knowledge before it disappears. In addition, further experimental investigations are required to elucidate the pharmacological properties of the reported medicinal flora and fauna of Mauritius.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in plateau of Allada, Benin (West Africa)

BackgroundMalaria remains one of the most important illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. In Benin, it constitutes a major public health preoccupation particularly for children and pregnant women. Until now, population still mostly relies on herbal medicine for malaria healing. Hence this study was carried out to document the medicinal plants used in the plateau of Allada in Benin and to assess local knowledge on traditional medicine in the management of malaria and related symptoms. Materials and methodsData were collected from 53 informants composed of 23 traditional healers and 30 medicinal plants sellers using a structured questionnaire. ResultsA total of 82 plants species belonging to 78 genera in 43 plant families were recorded as antimalarial in the study area. The families of Rubiaceae and Caesalpiniaceae were the most represented with seven species each. High informant consensus factor (ICF) was recorded in the treatment of malaria (ICF=0.90). High fidelity level (FL=100%) was also recorded for 45.67% of the species used as antimalarial. Dichapetalum madagascariense was the species of high relative frequency of citation (RFC=0.81). The dominant plant parts used in the preparation of remedies were leaves (68%). The decoction (79%) was the main mode of preparation, while oral route (92%) was the principal route of remedies administration. ConclusionThis study provides plant species used in the plateau of Allada for malaria and related symptoms treatment. We hope that this study could be important for the conservation of traditional knowledge on the antimalarial plants and the improvement of malaria management. However, several plant species used as antimalarial by the traditional medicine practitioners in the study area need to be screened in order to identify the species having antiplasmodial activity.

A Quantitative Study on Indigenous Medicinal Plants Used by Tribes of Kerala

A quantitative study of indigenous medicinal plants with detailed documentationamong tribal people was carried out in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki District, Kerala State. Nine tribal settlements were selected for the study based on the area and availability of information. Accordingly 120 informants were selected purposively. Direct observation, semi structured interview and group discussion were used to collect the data from the informants. The collected data was analysed using Micro-soft Excel spreadsheet 2010 and summarized using descriptive statistical methods. Five different quantitative statistical tools such as Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use value (UV), Relative Importance Index (RI), Relative Importance Index (RI), Fidelity Level (FL) and Informants’ Consensus Factor (ICF) were analysed with score. Acacia caesia (L.) Wild had the highest RFC with rank I,; Adhatoda beddomei C.B. Clarke gave the highest use value with the maximum number of medicinal purposes (four). A majority of species were found to be most used among the community. The highest level of ICF was obtained for urological ailments (UA) followed by gynaecological ailments (GAA) and Dermatological ailments (DA) in that order.