Knowledge Of Herbal Medicines Research Articles

LEGAL CULTURE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE BUSINESS PERFORMERS

Purpose: Research on Jamu (traditional herbal medicine and herbs) in the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is important for several reasons: First, traditional knowledge in the form of herbal medicine and traditional medicine has economic value and needs to receive legal protection. Second, the local community's lack of understanding regarding intellectual property means they are not interested in taking economic benefits from traditional knowledge. Method: The theoretical framework used is legal culture theory, while the research method used is research methods socio-legal Results and Conclusion: The research conclusions obtained: First, the protection of intellectual property for traditional knowledge of herbal medicine as traditional medicine shows a strong legal culture concept. Second, the process of resolving disputes that occur between traditional herbal medicine business actors in Lamongan Regency shows a process of moving away from court mechanisms. Implications of research: Research on the legal culture of intellectual property rights protection of traditional medicine business performers has important implications in several aspects, including law, culture and business. The following are several implications that may arise from the research. one of them is Better Legal Protection.

Jamu as Indonesian Cultural Heritage and Modern Health Innovation

Jamu, as a traditional Indonesian medicine, stood firmly as a symbol of timeless cultural heritage wisdom amidst the hustle and bustle of modern civilization, with all its technological and medical advances. It has served as a reflection of philosophical underpinnings and a proven source of health in Indonesian society over thousands of years (Agustina & Fitrianti, 2020). In this editorial, we delve into how jamu, as Indonesia's cultural heritage, not only survived, but also thrived and adapted to modernization and globalization. We recognize that preserving herbal medicine requires concerted efforts, such as those undertaken by Satria et al. (2023), who utilized a casual game design to enhance the understanding and knowledge of herbal medicine. It is imperative to continue such endeavors to ensure the sustainability of herbal products in the future.
 The history of jamu was chronicled in ancient manuscripts and orally transmitted through generations by indigenous people of the archipelago. Each leaf, root, seed, and spice, when boiled or ground, contributed to a complex yet refined recipe, yielding a beverage imbued not only with health benefits, but also with the stories and prayers of ancestors. With every sip of jamu, it seemed as if we were directly assimilating the wisdom of our forebears who possessed a profound understanding of nature and the human body. However, the jamu did not remain confined to the past. In the modern era, it has undergone a transformation, permeating health clinics, spas, and even contemporary cafés. Scientific research has unveiled active components within jamu with therapeutic potential, corroborating beliefs held for centuries. For instance, studies on Curcuma xanthorrhiza have revealed the presence of xanthorrhizol compounds with anticancer properties (Nurcholis et al., 2018), while the utilization of curcuminoid compounds from turmeric in various functional food products exemplifies this trend (Munekata et al., 2021). This demonstrates that jamu, with its deep-rooted traditions, serves as a gateway for the future of integrative medicine.
 Currently, advances in jamu production are burgeoning. Ainurofiq et al. (2023) pioneered the granule formulation of SIRMA herbal medicine to heighten its antioxidant activity. Moreover, innovative marketing strategies are being implemented, such as leveraging websites and social media platforms (Purwantisari et al., 2022). Additionally, captivating packaging and creative marketing endeavors have effectively introduced jamu to both the younger generations and the international market. Collaborations with nutritionists and chefs have transformed jamu into not only a health elixir, but also a source of enjoyment.  However, along with its escalating popularity, challenges have surfaced. Standardization and certification have emerged as critical issues that uphold the quality and authenticity of herbal medicines. Several researchers have undertaken pivotal studies in this regard, including authentication of herbal medicine via UV-Vis spectrophotometry (Husain et al., 2023) and identification of chemical drug adulteration in herbal medicine using FTIR-ATR ((Fatmarahmi et al., 2022). In collaboration with stakeholders in the herbal industry, it is imperative for the government to establish regulations conducive to innovation while safeguarding the timeless tradition embodied in herbal medicine. Furthermore, public education regarding the benefits and proper use of herbal medicines is paramount. Such awareness will foster the sustainability and preservation of herbal medicines as an integral component of a wholesome lifestyle.
 In conclusion, the jamu exemplifies the harmonious fusion of tradition and innovation. Within its cups, we discover a seamless connection between the past and the future, bestowing upon us not only health benefits but also the treasured identity and cultural heritage of Indonesia. Let us raise our glasses to jamu, the elixir that flows through the veins of Indonesian culture, sustaining us both now and in generations to come.

Architectural Framework for Development of Fuzzy Integrated Data Repository (FIDR) for Medicinal Plants in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a tropical country known to be home to a vast array of plants, most of which are plants that have been found to be medicinal and have been used in traditional healthcare delivery for centuries. Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) have been the major custodians of the knowledge of herbal medicine in Nigeria. It is noted that there is lack of documentation of the practice of herbal medicine which has resulted in the loss of a vast majority of the knowledge. The absence of a centralized digital data repository on medicinal plants and their uses in Nigeria hampers the drive for standardization, scientific validation and quality control of herbal medicine products in Nigeria. This consequently undermines the health and wellbeing of those dependent on traditional herbal medicine for their primary health care needs. Much of the claims on the efficacy of herbal medicine are found to be based on traditional beliefs and myth and have not been subjected to scientific evaluation. This accounts for the introduction of fuzzy logic into the design of an architectural framework for design of Fuzzy Integrated Data Repository that will allow access to information using sharp and fuzzy queries. This will be a resource platform that will resolve the information impasse by providing adequate and correct information to all stakeholders in the traditional herbal medicine healthcare delivery as well as foster synergy between orthodox medicine and herbal medicine practitioners, improve research that will lead to standardization and quality control of herbal medicine products in Nigeria.

Ethnobotanical Survey and Pharmacological Screening of Medicinal Plants Used as Antihypertensive in Sefrou Province (Middle-North of Morocco): Benefits and Challenges

Herbal medicine was used since the old time in the treatment of different types of diseases in Sefrou province, Morocco. However, few studies have been carried out to identify local medicinal flora and to scientifically document the knowledge of the traditional use of these medicinal plants by the population. This study aims to investigate the medicinal plants in Sefrou province, record their usage in folk medicine by the population and evaluate the hypotensive effect of selected plants using in vitro vascular activity. For that, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted among the Arabs and Amazighs population of Sefrou province from January 2017 to December 2018. The survey was conducted through oral interviews with a structured questionnaire. It covered those who knew and/or used plants for medicinal purposes, retailers, and wholesalers, and also included ecological repartition as well as the mode of administration. Then we selected some plants to evaluate the antihypertensive activity based on the in vitro bioassay. A total of 134 medicinal plants belonging to 52 families were identified; 61% are wild species, 49 (36%) are cultivated and 4 (3%) are cultivated as well as spontaneous. Medicinal plants used in Sefrou folk medicine have been investigated for their antihypertensive activity. They were selected based on their usage as cardiotonic, diuretics, and other uses related to the symptoms of hypertension. Most of the plants tested in this study were found to be more sensitive to relaxing contractions induced by noradrenaline. Out of 32 species examined, 14 (44%) showed more than 50% inhibition in isolated rat aortic rings, the vasorelaxant activity of these plants used for the screening was mostly inhibited by pre-treatment with N-ω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOArg). The plants inventoried are alleged to be active against 104 therapeutic indications. Nine common symptoms are widely treated in indigenous pharmacopeia: gastrointestinal (19 plants), renal (27 plants), broncho-pulmonary system (7 plants), skin (13 species), diabetes (12 plants), cardiovascular (13 plants), eye, ear, nose, teeth, and throat diseases (5 plants); gynecological disorders (6 plants); rheumatism and gnawing pain (11 plants). 14% (19 species) of the plant inventoried are traded on a large scale and scope and more than 90 percent of the medicinal plants purchased from Sefrou go to big cities for export. The expansion of unregulated trade and commercial use of medicinal and aromatic plants poses a major threat to biodiversity in the region. Overall, people in Sefrou hold rich knowledge of herbal medicine. The vasorelaxant activity proved for the documented plants will provide a basis for other preclinical and clinical investigations.

唐宋 시기 해외·남방 本草 지식의 집적과 전승

This study is about Haiyaobencao(海藥本草) by Li Xun (907-965), a unique book on medicinal herbs in the history of Chinese herbal medicine and explore how the knowledge of Haiyao(海藥) brought in from abroad or from the southern region around the 10th century was accumulated and disseminated in later periods.
 When the contents of Haiyaobencao examined closely, its characteristics as a ‘regional’ medicinal herb book stand out. First, in terms of the description method, unlike the characteristics seen in the previous so-called traditional medicinal herb books, the origin of the herb is mentioned first, and an emphasis was placed on clarifying the herb’s origin. Moreover, various references were cited while introducing related information. Most of the references cited were geography(地志) and natural history(博物志) of the south. All of these points show the characteristics of Haiyaobencao as a regional medicinal herb book. Haiyaobencao is significant because the knowledge of herbal medicine from scattered regions is gathered together in it.
 The significance of Haiyaobencao is very clear in terms of accumulation and expansion of Chinese herbal knowledge. First, about 10 kinds of herbs listed in Haiyaobencao are those that are not observed in previous medicinal herb books. In addition, 6 kinds of herbs were already mentioned in Bencaoshiyi(本草拾遺) in the 8th century, but later the author of Zhengleibencao(證類本草) specified Haiyaobencao as the original source. Additionally, when a total of 19 types of herbs including these are included in Bencaogangmu(本草綱目), Haiyaobencao is specified as the original source. Clearly, Haiyaobencao played an important role in introducing the new herbs of the region and disseminating it after being included in the authoritative medical herb book on a national scale.
 Haiyaobencao also supplemented related knowledge by citing various references in the area of production and efficacy of Haiyao which was already widely known. This supplementary knowledge also includes various historical facts and anecdotes related to herbs. Almost all of the supplemented knowledge is converged into Zhengleibencao and Bencaogangmu. This is the part where we can confirm the significance of Haiyaobencao in the accumulation and dissemination of knowledge on exotic medical herbs abroad or in the south.
 In conclusion, Haiyaobencao, which collected overseas and southern herbal knowledge during the pre-Five Dynasties period, has characteristics which are different from existing traditional medicinal herb books, as it addresses 'regional' knowledge. It holds various local literature records that have been handed down sporadically and systematized as herbal knowledge. Moreover, the results were later included in Zhengleibencao, a nationwide medicinal herb book during the Song Period. In addition, it is included in Bencaogangmu, which can be called a compilation of herbal medicine in China. Through this, the influence of the regional medicinal herb book of the southern author during the Five Dynasties period on the formation of the ‘imperial’ herbology thereafter can be explored.

Ethnobotanical Study on Medicinal Plants Used by the Ethnic People of Khagrachhari District, Bangladesh

The present study deals with important ethnopharmacological information, both in qualitative and quantitative manners on medicinal plants of Khagrachhari district of Bangladesh. The survey was conducted in a period of six months from January 2016 to June 2016 and was interviewed among 155 ethnic people including tribal, Bengalis and 14 traditional health practitioners of eight upazillas in open and semi structured form. The most of the interviewers were Chakma (82%), Marma (8%) and the rest were Tripura (2%) and Bengalis (8%). The total ethnomedicinal plant species was 94, among them 92 were angiosperms, one was gymnosperm and one fern. The plant species belonging to 44 families and 86 generas are used to treat about 53 types of ailments. The different life forms among the species are 28 herbs, 25 trees, 24 shrubs and 17 climbers. The survey showed that the most commonly used plant part was leaves (34.55%) and the most frequent method of preparation was extraction (39.18%) against different ailments. The major treatment options of the medicinal plants of Khagrachhari hilly areas are identified from the study and recommended to take immediate measures for conservation of traditional knowledge of the area. This study showed a hopeful perception for future studies, flaking light on taking immediate measures on inventory of medicinal plants of hilly areas, documentation of verbal information, conservation of threatened plant species, sustainable management of risky areas and preservation of traditional knowledge of herbal medicine in Khagrachhari district, Bangladesh. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 21(2): 217-230, 2022 (December)

Public Knowledge of Herbal Medicine for Respiratory Viral Infection in Saudi Arabia

PTB Reports,2022,8,3,123-128.DOI:10.5530/PTB.2022.8.16Published:December 2022Type:Research ArticleAuthors:Ghudair Tashan Alanazi, Yousef Ahmed Alomi, Murouj Almaghrabi, Ghadeer Alhazmi, Menwer Tashan Zaid Alanazi, Mohammad Almatrafi, and Ghaida Alzahrani Author(s) affiliations:Ghudair Tashan Alanazi, BSc. Pharm, Pharm.D, MSc. Clin Pharm, Diploma of Epid, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist, Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist, MOH, Hafrbatin, SAUDI ARABIA. Dr. Yousef Ahmed Alomi*, BSc. Pharm, MSc. Clin Pharm, BCPS, BCNSP, DiBA, CDE, Critical Care Clinical Pharmacists, TPN Clinical Pharmacist, Freelancer Business Planner, Content Editor, and Data Analyst, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA. Murouj Almaghrabi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA. Ghadeer Alhazmi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah,SAUDI ARABIA. Menwer Tashan Zaid Alanazi, BSc, MSc, Senior Specialist Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Toxicology. Poison Control and Medical Forensic Chemistry Center. MOH, Hafrbatin, Saudi Arabi Mohammad Almatrafi, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA. Ghaida Alzahrani, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA. Abstract:Aim: This survey analysis investigated indevisuals’ knowledge of herbal medications to treat common respiratory viral infections. Methods: A self-administered, structured questionnaire was sent to the public online, including questions on the responders’ demographics and questions about different herbal medications and their use to treat viral respiratory infections. Data analysis was executed through the survey SPSS program. Results: Four hundred eighty-six individuals responded to this questionnaire; 89.92% of the responders were from the west area, and 56.49% were in the age group between 18 and 30. The most herbal medications used for respiratory viral infections was honey 364 (78.79%), and lemon juice 327 (71.24%), followed by Ginger 288 (64.43%) and Mint 292 (64.04%%) While the least herbal medicine used was Sambucus nigra 26 (6.09%) and Licorice 26 (6.68%). The most herbal medicine not known among responders was Sambucus nigra 147 (34.43%), Sugarcane 136 (31.48%), and Radish 135 (31.47%%). Herbal medicines usages were significantly higher among males, except for cloves and miswak; their use was significantly higher among females. Retired individuals (p value<0.001), high income (p-value<0.001), non-healthcare professionals (p-value=0.003), age group between 51 to 60 years old (p-value<0.001), married individuals (p-value<0.001) all had higher knowledge level about herbal medications use in viral respiratory infections. The survey’s reliability was tested by Mac 0.96, Cronbach 0.958, Gultman 2 0.961, and Gultman 6 0.973. Conclusion: The level of knowledge about herbal medicine use among individuals in Saudi Arabia is inadequate. Awareness of the general public about herbal medications should be improved. Keywords:Herbal medications, Knowledge, Respiratory infections, Saudi Arabia, ViralView:PDF (228.57 KB) PDF PDF Images Public Knowledge of Herbal Medicine for Respiratory Viral Infection in Saudi Arabia

Phytochemical Study and Anxiolytic activity of Hibiscus cannabinus leaves

As a result of high experience from the past generations, today, all over the world’s cultures have an extensive knowledge of herbal medicine. Traditional medicines have great importance in our culture. Hibiscus cannabinus plant has therapeutic used in traditional system of medicines in India. Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Malvaceae) is an herbaceous annual plant with high potential. This plant contains different phytoconstituents such as Alkaloids, Carbohydrates, steroids, tannins, phenols, proteins, saponins. This information described and discussed the chemical constituents, pharmacognostic and phytochemical study of Hibiscus cannabinus leaf.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Artuma Fursi district, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

IntroductionIndigenous people of different ethnic groups in Ethiopia are noticeably reliant on traditional medicinal plants for their healthcare due to their effective medicinal values. The study was aimed to document different herbal medicinal plants used and the associated knowledge of herbal medicine in the communities of the Artuma Fursi district.MethodologyEthnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, focused group discussions with the informants selected from the study area. Key informants were selected by purposive sampling technique, while the rest, were selected by random sampling techniques. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; paired comparison, preference ranking, and informant consensus factor.ResultsA total of 86 informants participated in the collection of the ethnobotanical data. A total of 92 medicinal plants were collected and identified. Fabaceae was the highest family cited (11.9%). The study revealed that leaves (31.1%), seeds (19.8%), and roots (12.26%) were the most cited plant parts used for the preparation of herbal medicine by the respondents. The most common method of preparation of herbal medicines was pounding (21.6%) and the most common route of administration was oral route (53.7%). The majority of the medications (60.3%) were prepared without the additive. Charcoal production was the major threat to medicinal plants in the study area.ConclusionArtuma Fursi district is rich in medicinal plant and the associated indigenous knowledge. The documented knowledge will be helpful for further research in the drug development process.

Training on herbal plants and simplicia processing at the Miftahul Jannah Mosque, Malang Regency

Most people have knowledge of herbal medicine, but understanding of Thibbun Nabawi, especially herbal and simplicia needs to be improved among the congregation of the Miftahul Jannah Mosque in Malang. Thibbun Nabawi is one of the alternatives regarding disease recognition, hygiene, prevention, and treatment based on the Al Qur’an and Al Hadith. Training activities have been carried out aimed at improving the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of mosque congregations as well as expanding the function of the mosque in addition to being a place of worship as well as to improve the health and welfare of the community. The method of implementing the activities carried out by developing the community includes team formation, goal formulation, user identification, gathering and analyzing needs, determining problem solution priorities, preparation, implementation, mentoring, review and evaluation, as well as determining new target needs. The profile of the training participants aged 20-60 years is 78.9% with the highest level of education equivalent to a diploma at 42.1%. There was an increase in knowledge test scores by 57.9%, attitudes by 2.63%, and skills by 92.11% after training on the introduction of herbal plants and making simplicia. Participants were 100% satisfied with the training held at the Miftahul Jannah Mosque and the mosque has widely functioned to improve the health and welfare of the community. 

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Dongaria Kondha tribe of Rayagada district, Odisha

Studies were conducted to document ethnomedicinal plants used by Dongaria Kondha tribe in Kashipur block of Rayagada district, Odisha, India. Tribal belief/faith systems used to address health-related issues are recorded and evaluated. Information on traditional knowledge (TK) on medicine and resources was documented through personal interview, questionnaires and observation methods from 134 informants in the age group 21-70, including three medicine men. Community believes that the medicine men gain knowledge of herbal medicine through devotion and animal sacrifice. It is not inherited. Ethnomedicinal practices play a pivotal role in their health care system. However, the younger generations have limited interest in ethnomedicine. Eighty-one plant species belonging to 79 genera and 55 families are documented which are utilized by the tribe in Rayagada. Plant species of Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae are predominantly used. Most of the species grow wild. The traditional healer frequently uses roots (56 out of 189) followed by stem bark (36), leaf (32), whole plant and fruit (19 each). Paste is the most common method of drug preparation and application (104 out of 189) followed by juice (35 applications) and powder (22 applications). The traditional healers with long and practical experience perceive the usefulness of plants or plants parts for ethnomedicine formulations to enhance the efficacy of the drug in treating the ailments.

Traditional plants utilized for the viral disease treatment

Ethnobotanical research is a well-established field of science that attracts a lot of interest in medicine. Plants are responsible for over 80% of folk remedies used in primary care worldwide. Traditional and herbal medicine knowledge is essential in scientific research, especially when the literature and survey data are not adequately examined. Viral diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide, and they have a significant impact on human health and socioeconomic growth. Many infectious and non-infectious illnesses have long been treated with medicinal plants. The value of medicinal plants has risen in recent centuries. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) alone affects almost 40 million people. Coronavirus disease is now the most common viral illness globally, affecting an estimated 176 million people worldwide (COVID-19). A wide range of plant species was found to be effective in treating viral diseases. This review summarizes viral illness, disease outbreaks, and medicinal plants and herbs with antiviral properties useful in drug development programmes.

Physician’s acceptance and knowledge in herbal medicine: A cross-sectional study in Northwest Algeria

The use of medicinal plants in Algeria is done in an anarchic, uncontrolled and unregulated way and, consequently, serious consequences can affect patients and compromise their good care, especially since this use is often associated with the lack of training and knowledge of a large part of Algerian doctors on the benefits and risks of medicinal plants. This study aims to determine the relationship between the knowledge of Algerian physicians on medicinal plants and their acceptance of the practice of herbal medicine. A cross-sectional study was conducted in different health institutions in two regions (Tlemcen and Aïn-Témouchent). The main tool that was used to collect the required data was a self-administered questionnaire that was specifically developed and approved by the researchers to meet the study objectives. The data collected was processed by R++. The study revealed that 54.85% of the participating physicians had below average knowledge about plants, and more than half of them acquired their knowledge through self-training. In addition, the results show that 30% of physicians tend to use herbal medicines, while only 12% prescribe them to their patients. Interestingly, a large majority (81.4%) of the participants expressed a desire to improve their knowledge of herbal medicines and there was a highly significant relationship between physicians' knowledge and their acceptance of herbal medicine (Spearman's test: p-value=0.00066). Almost all physicians (87.55%) agreed that knowledge of medicinal plants is important to them and should be included in the general medical curriculum.

Herb-drug interactions: Perception and revelations of nurses in primary healthcare clinics, South Africa

PurposeThis study aims to explore and describe the perceptions and revelations of primary healthcare nurses regarding the use of herbal medicine and herb-drug interactions. BackgroundResearch has shown that a large percentage of the South African population uses herbal medicine (HM) alongside conventional medicine. In light of this, primary healthcare (PHC) nurses should educate and advise patients about potential herb-drug interaction (HDI). MethodsAn exploratory, qualitative study was conducted in primary healthcare clinics in Gauteng, Free State, and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa. Eight PHC nurses were recruited for face-to-face, digitally recorded interviews. Data was transcribed and coded using content analysis. ResultsThe study identified five main themes emanating from the interviews: nurses' perception and personal use of herbal medicine; nurses' knowledge of herbal medicine and herb-drug interaction; enquiring about the use of herbal medicine use; nurses’ behaviour, and patient disclosure on herbal medicine use. The sub-themes were nurses pursuing knowledge of herbal medicine, the advice given to patients, and the discouragement of herbal medicine use. ConclusionsThis study revealed that a broader depth of knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicine could enable primary healthcare nurses to communicate better with their patients about the risks and benefits of such use. Taking into account that a large portion of the South African population uses herbal medicine, the nursing profession should consider introducing an education intervention to assist nurses in their response to patients’ questions regarding the use of herbal medicine. This study recommends that a history case-taking form should be utilized as a standardized approach to address the use of herbal medicine among patients. This is currently not mandatory in the South African primary healthcare system.

Medicinal Plants Inventory and Ethnobotanical Study in the Region of Ath Voughardane (Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria)

The study focuses on an inventory of medicinal plants with an ethnobotanical survey carried out in the Ath Voughardane (Assi-Youcef) municipality in the Tizi-Ouzou department. Important information on medicinal plants has been provided and all information concerning the therapeutic uses practiced by the local population is gathered using 439 questionnaires distributed to 77 people in the region. Most people who have knowledge of herbal medicine are aged 50 and over and the majorities are women. We managed to inventory 120 species, belonging to 49 families, including the Asteraceae ranked first with 15 species. The analysis of the results showed that most of the plants listed are used for healing, using in the majority of cases the leaves which constitute the most used organ of the plant, prepared mainly by decoction and administered orally.

A comprehensive review on antiepileptic properties of medicinal plants

Pakistan has large variety of medicinal plants distributed throughout the country. Due to the unavailability and high cost of allopathic medicines, herbal therapists, especially in rural areas, prescribe phytomedicine for Epilepsy. The native people consider such treatments most effective for seizures. The data of the effective antiepileptic medicinal plants of Pakistan were collected from the published research articles by exploring article search engines like PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Additional information such as mode of preparation and application of medicinal herbs were acquired from folk medicine users, traditional healers, and local people enriched in knowledge of herbal medicines. Total 97 families were uncovered to be used in epileptic and seizure disorders, of which, the foremost use belonged to Lamiacea 19 (18.56%), Asteraceae and Fabaceae 16 (16.5%) each, Fabaceae 11 (11.34%), Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, and Apocynaceae 6 (2.4%) each, Caesalpiniaceae, Solanaceae, Byrtaceae and Anacardiaceae 5 (2%) each, and Liliaceae, Mimosaceae, Ranunculaceae and Combretaceae 4 (1.6%) each. According to the plants habit, of 241 plants, herbs were 102 (42.15%), trees were 72 (29.75%), shrubs were 54 (22.31%), climbers were 12 (4.96%), and bulbs were 2 (0.83%). According to the part used, 105 (43.39%) plants were found to have antiepileptic potentials in leaves, 51 (31.07%) plants in roots, 20 (8.36%) plants in stem, 8 (3.31%) plants in rhizome, 4 (1.65%) plants in bulb, 32 (13.22%) plants in bark, 6 (2.48%) plants in gum, 19 (7.85%) plants in flowers, 18 (7.44%) plants in fruits, 24 (9.92%) plants in seeds, and 29 (11.98%) plants as a whole. This review provides foundation for researchers to understand the pivotal role of certain medicinal plants towards the treatment of epilepsy and seizures.

Plants, Women, Magic. Contemporary Polish (Kuyavian) Folklore Based on Herbal Medicine

Nowadays, interest in phytotherapy and ethnobotanics has increased. This phenomenon was the reason for the cultural project “Ethnopantry of Dobrzyń Land”. During the event, the participants explored the knowledge of herbal medicine and ethnography, including superstitions, beliefs, and the role of plants in folklore texts, while simultaneously providing information about stories, practices, and methods of using herbs in their place of residence, among the older generation or relying on their own experiences. The transfer of knowledge between the instructors and participants resulted in a large amount of folklore material. The article is an attempt to summarise the collected data and to analyse them from an anthropological perspective.

A Review on Some Medicinal Plants of North- East India Region Used in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Disorders

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) disorders are a group of neurological disorders concerned with behaviour, coordination and functioning of the brain and the spinal cord. The CNS is the site of processing various informations. It interprets and evaluates the information and as result, the CNS responds accordingly and controls the body. Any defects or disorders of the Central nervous system may cause degeneration of the organs and tissues associated with it, loss of coordination, paralysis, etc. These disorders may be hereditary or due to injuries to the brain and spinal cord. Although, these disorders are being cured with medicaments, many plant species are also seen to be effective in its treatment. Objective: the main objective of this article is to underline the potentials and the needs for the documentation of the ecological knowledge of herbal medicines of the north east India region, necessary for the greater well-being of mankind in the prevention and cure of CNS disorders. Methods: an extensive literature survey was carried out through various databases like Google Scholar, Pubmed, Sciencedirect etc to support this review. All the collected information was analyzed accordingly and the plants were enlisted based on the classes of CNS disorders for which they are used. Result and discussion: from the survey of the database being collected, it was found that many traditional and local plants of the northeast India region are therapeutically effective in the treatment and cure of many Central nervous system disorders. Conclusion:-It is now an accepted fact that many traditional plants found in the Northeast India have been acceptable within the human body and hence these can be used to replace many expensive medications available in the market.&#x0D; Keywords:  Medicinal plants; Central Nervous System; CNS disorders; Northeast India; Plant extract

The Positive Role and Mechanism of Herbal Medicine in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease, manifested by the progressive functional impairment of the midbrain nigral dopaminergic neurons. Due to the unclear underlying pathogenesis, disease-modifying drugs for PD remain elusive. In Asia, such as in China and India, herbal medicines have been used in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease for thousands of years, which recently attracted considerable attention because of the development of curative drugs for PD. In this review, we first summarized the pathogenic factors of PD including protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, ion accumulation, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, and the related recent advances. Secondly, we summarized 32 Chinese herbal medicines (belonging to 24 genera, such as Acanthopanax, Alpinia, and Astragalus), 22 Chinese traditional herbal formulations, and 3 Indian herbal medicines, of which the ethanol/water extraction or main bioactive compounds have been extensively investigated on PD models both in vitro and in vivo. We elaborately provided pictures of the representative herbs and the structural formula of the bioactive components (such as leutheroside B and astragaloside IV) of the herbal medicines. Also, we specified the potential targets of the bioactive compounds or extractions of herbs in view of the signaling pathways such as PI3K, NF-κB, and AMPK which are implicated in oxidative and inflammatory stress in neurons. We consider that this knowledge of herbal medicines or their bioactive components can be favorable for the development of disease-modifying drugs for PD.

Traditional uses of Iraqi medicinal plants (part 2)

As a result of accumulated experience from the past generations, today, all the world’s cultures have an extensive knowledge of herbal medicine. In recent years, ethno medicinal studies has received much attention as this brings to light the numerous little known and unknown medicinal virtues especially of plant origin which needs evaluation on modern scientific lines such as phytochemical analysis, pharmacological screening and clinical trials. This review was designed to highlight the traditional uses of medicinal plants.