Local Herbs Research Articles

Development of Bacterial Cellulose Herbal Wound Dressing

Wound dressings play an essential role in wound care and healing, but the price is expensive for patients who have to treat for a long time such as patients from burns, scalds, etc. The objective of the research is to develop a wound dressing made with bacterial cellulose and local herb that has antibacterial properties, is cheap, and can be created by yourself. The bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from Acetobactor xylinum using coconut water waste to reduce costs. Its structure was changed to bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) by acid hydrolysis, dried in 2 methods: Oven dried at 50 °C (dy) or freeze dried (fd). Then, herbal dressings were produced as a composite BC with herbs in 2 forms: A solution, i.e. C. Odorata leaf extract solution and a colloid, i.e. C. hystrix essential oil nanocapsule. The results for the production of a wound dressing showed that fd-BCNC had good quality, good fiber dispersion, high porosity and no antibacterial activity. It is suitable as a primary or secondary wound dressing, that does not help in wound healing. When fd-BCNC was loaded with herbs in 2 forms, it was found to be stable at room temperature, water adsorption, water vapor permeability and inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Especially fd-BCNC of nanocapsule of C. hystrix peel essential oil has the best antibacterial effect. Therefore, you can apply this developed wound dressing to herbs used specifically for healing wounds. Moreover, we believe that this research will be a database that can be expanded to commercial production. HIGHLIGHTS Bacterial cellulose is produced using coconut water waste as culture medium Freeze-dried Bacterial cellulose nanocrystals is a promising for non antibacterial wound dressing Freeze-dried Bacterial cellulose nanocrystals composite with herbs are a promising for anti-bacterial wound dressing GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Review of Herbal Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Cancers in the East Africa Region from 2019 to 2023.

In the East African region, herbal plants are essential in the treatment and control of cancer. Given the diverse ecological and cultural makeup of the regional states, it is likely that different ethnic groups will use the same or different plants for the same or different diseases. However, since 2019, this has not been compiled into a single study. The study aimed to compile and record the medicinal plants utilized in East Africa from April 2019 to June 2023 to treat various cancer types. The study examined 13 original studies that included ethnobotanical research conducted in East Africa. They were retrieved from several internet databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, and Research for Life. The study retrieved databases on plant families and species, plant parts used, preparation methods and routes of administration, and the country where the ethnobotanical field surveys were conducted. Graphs were produced using the GraphPad Prism 8.125 program (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA). Tables and figures were used to present the data, which had been condensed into percentages and frequencies. A total of 105 different plant species from 45 different plant families were identified, including Asteraceae (14), Euphorbiaceae (12), Musaceae (8), and Apocynaceae (7). Uganda registered the highest proportion (46% of the medicinal plants used). The most commonly mentioned medicinal plant species in cancer management was Prunus africana. Herbs (32%), trees and shrubs (28%), and leaves (45%) constituted the majority of herbal remedies. Most herbal remedies were prepared by boiling (decoction) and taken orally (57%). East Africa is home to a wide variety of medicinal plant species that local populations and herbalists, or TMP, frequently use in the treatment of various types of cancer. The most frequently used families are Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae, with the majority of species being found in Uganda. The most frequently utilized plant species is Prunus africana. Studies on the effectiveness of Prunus africana against other malignancies besides prostate cancer are required.

Assessing whether peri-urban agricultural land or plantation forest is a better green infrastructure for ground arthropods at local and landscape scales

City agencies across multiple continents have invested millions of funds in ambitious afforestation projects in urban and peri-urban areas to enhance the city green infrastructure. One example is the Beijing One Million Mu Plain Afforestation Project, which has established 146,000 ha of plantation forests, mainly on arable lands. This contradicts the national arable land conserving policies and has dramatically changed local habitat types and landscape context. However, the impact of these processes on biodiversity is not well understood. To investigate this impact at local and landscape scales, we explored a space-for-time approach. We selected 12 plantation forests and their nearby arable lands along a gradient of plantation forest cover in the surrounding landscapes. We surveyed ground spiders and carabids and analyzed their responses to local habitat type, landscape context, and their interaction. In the sampled landscapes, plantation forest cover increased (12.0%–35.9%), while arable land cover decreased (58.3%–31.8%). 96.3% of the new plantation forests were established on arable lands. Intensive afforestation on arable lands did not increase local ground arthropod diversity. In fact, ground arthropod abundance and species richness in plantation forests were significantly lower than in arable lands when the surrounding arable land cover was relatively high. With surrounding arable land cover decreasing, ground arthropod abundance and species richness in plantation forests increased but did not exceed those in nearby arable lands. Hence, the overall ground arthropod diversity at landscape scale was not improved. These findings suggest that, from a biodiversity conservation perspective, plantation forests did not surpass peri-urban agricultural lands as a better green infrastructure . However, ground arthropods benefit from rich local non-crop herb communities. Conserving peri-urban agricultural lands and implementing extensive management regimes for agricultural lands and existing plantation forests are more effective tools than ambitious afforestation of agricultural land in peri-urban areas of Beijing and other metropolises.

Vectors, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Relation to Malaria Transmission in Bauchi State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background & objectives: Malaria remains a major public health concern in Nigeria and the vectors (Anopheles species) can only be controlled effectively by having good knowledge of its composition and potential for disease transmission. This work aimed at surveying the indoor malaria vectors, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) in relation to the disease transmission in Toro LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Methods: Mosquitoes were collected by Pyrethrum Spray Catch (PSC) between October and December 2019 and were morphologically identified using standard keys. Blood samples were also collected from individuals who slept in the rooms where PSC was conducted. Thick and thin blood smears were made for malaria parasite examination. Questionnaires were administered to 120 participants for the KAP studies. Results: Ninety-seven (97) Anopheles mosquitoes were collected and identified as Anopheles gambiae 76(78.35%), An. funestus 20(20.62%) and An. coustani 1(1.03%). The overall malaria prevalence was 15.8%. The KAP studies revealed that measures and treatment-seeking behaviours against malaria varied significantly (P<0.05) among the respondents. Sleeping under net 55(45.8%) and use of insecticides 24(20.0%) were some of the preventive measures highlighted while treatment-seeking behaviours included visit to pharmacy 74(61.7%) and use of local herbs 11(9.2%). Interpretation & conclusion: This work revealed that An. gambiae and An. funestus are predominant malaria vectors in the area. The KAP information demonstrated fair knowledge about the disease by the respondents. Therefore, public enlightenment about malaria prevention, control and treatment is recommended to address the few but highly negative impact knowledge gaps about malaria.

In vitro anti-bacterial properties of: Cynodon dactylon, Cannabis sativa and Datura stramonium against three pathogenic bacterial strains

The use of local herbs in the treatment of small infectious diseases is very common in traditional medicine. The present study reports the antibacterial properties of aqueous extracts of Cynodon dactylon (Doob), Cannabis sativa (Bhang), and their Datura stramonium (Datura). On three pathogenic bacterial strains E.coli, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus. The local herbal species that is Cynodon dactylon (Doob), Cannabis sativa (Bhang), and Datura stramonium (Datura) are used commonly to treat various bacterial infections and diseases. The development of new antibacterial agents against resistant pathogens is increasing. Therefore, the aqueous extract from different parts of the three local herbs used locally as medicine was evaluated for their antibacterial activity. It was found that among four aqueous extracts the Dautra fruit extract may have antibacterial properties and it may be used as an alternative to antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. This information could help to discover new drugs for the pharmaceutical industry.

The Role of Thai Local Herbs and Ingredients in Promoting Post-Pandemic Wellness and Medical Tourism for Sustainable Development Goal 3: A Critical Review of the Literature

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic properties of local Thai herbs and ingredients, assess the scientific evidence on Thai traditional medicine, explore the cultural significance and traditional knowledge, analyze the potential of Thai herbs in post-pandemic wellness, and examine the role of Thai traditional medicine in medical tourism and its contribution to SDG 3.Material and Methods: This article presents a comprehensive and rigorous critical review of the literature conducted systematically, including thorough data extraction, systematic search, and analysis of relevant studies. Results: The literature review explores the results of various studies on the efficacy and safety of local Thai herbs and ingredients and the potential impacts of medical tourism on sustainability. The review reveals that Thai traditional medicine, incorporating practices, demonstrates promising therapeutic benefits for conditions such as inflammation and respiratory infections. However, challenges exist in terms of standardization and regulation, necessitating further research in order to establish safety and efficacy. While medical tourism benefits Thailand economically, concerns arise regarding social inequalities and environmental impacts. Integrating traditional medicine into medical tourism and adopting sustainable practices can mitigate any adverse effects. These findings highlight the importance of investments in research, education, technology, and sustainable tourism practices that promote traditional medicine, enhance patient care, and position Thailand as a leader in post-pandemic wellness and sustainable development.Conclusion: The discussion emphasizes the need for continued research, education, and regulation in order to promote the integration of traditional medicine into the healthcare system, enhance the safety and efficacy of its practices, and position Thailand as a leader in medical tourism and post-pandemic wellness.

Herbal Plant Image Classification using Transfer Learning and Fine-Tuning Deep Learning Model

Herbal plants are highly significant to the local community in Malaysia, as the country's fertile land is rich in diverse species that are widely used for various purposes, including traditional medicine, culinary, aromatherapy, and even in the cosmetic industries. This situation demands numerous applications and activities, including plant species identification, medicinal plant research, agriculture research, and environmental monitoring, which makes image classification of herbal plants a substantial task. However, this task is complicated by the complex nature of the plants, particularly includes plants variations in appearance, close similarities between species, and limited availability of labeled data and images. Motivated to mitigate the issues, this paper investigated the use of transfer learning and fine- tuning the deep learning neural network to classify different herbal plant species. Transfer learning is an algorithm that learns to recognize image features in one domain and having the capability to generalize the learnt knowledge to a new domain with a smaller dataset. Additionally, fine-tuning can be used to further improve the performance of the model on the new task with less training time and fewer training data. The authors performed experiments on ResNet-50 which been previously trained with ImageNet dataset. The experiments were carried out on a subset of the MYLPherbs-1 dataset, which consisted of two local perennial herbs plant species. Different hyperparameters were used across the various experiment settings, and the authors observed the behavior and relationships of the distinct models, datasets, and hyperparameters toward the classification task's accuracy. The authors also employed two different transfer learning approaches: (i) using pre-trained models as feature extractors with different classifiers, (ii) fine-tuning the pre-trained model. Based on the results and discussion, fine-tuning the ResNet-50 model on the MYLPherb-1 dataset demonstrated the best overall performance.

The potential of Ethiopian medicinal plants to treat emergent viral diseases.

Ethiopians have deep-rooted traditions of using plants to treat ailments affecting humans and domesticated animals. Approximately 80% of the population continues to rely on traditional medicine, including for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Many antiviral plants are available to and widely used by communities in areas where access to conventional healthcare systems is limited. In some cases, pharmacological studies also confirm the potent antiviral properties of Ethiopian plants. Building on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and testing their antiviral properties may help to expand options to address the global pandemic of COVID-19 including its recently isolated virulent variants and prepare for similar outbreaks in the future. Here, we provide an ethnobotanical and pharmacological inventory of Ethiopian medicinal plants that might contribute to the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. We identified 387 species, about 6% of Ethiopia's known flora, for which records of use by local communities and traditional herbalists have been documented for the treatment of viral diseases. We provide a framework for further investigation and development of this vital resource much anticipated to help combat emergent viral diseases along with existing ones in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

Stage at Presentation and Factors Associated with Late Diagnosis of Head and Neck Malignancies at Bugando Medical Center, Mwanza, Tanzania

Background: Head and neck malignancies are often diagnosed at a late stage in sub-Saharan Africa including Tanzania, thus resulting in a generally poor prognosis. The reason for this sad experience is not known. This study was undertaken in our local setting, to describe the stage at presentation and factors associated with late diagnosis of head and neck malignancies at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods: This was analytical cross sectional study involving all patients confirmed to have head and neck malignances at Bugando Medical Center from February to June 2019. Results: Out of 60 patients enrolled in the study, 35(58.3%) were males and 25(41.7%) were female making a male to female of 1.4:1. The mean age was 56 [range, 12-89] years. Majority of patients, 44(73.3%) presented with advanced (late) stage of the disease, with stage III been the most prevalent stage accounting for 49.3% of cases. Only one (1.7%) patient had stage I tumor involving the oral cavity. Distant metastasis was documented in only 16.7% of cases. The oropharynx was the most common anatomical site for head and neck malignancies (n=18, 30%). Patients with oropharyngeal malignancies were associated with late-stage presentation whereas those with laryngeal malignancies were associated with early-stage presentation. Patient-related factors such as rural residence (p-value = 0.048) and use of local herbs (p-value = 0.001) were significantly associated with advanced (late) tumor stage at presentation. The level of health care facility first visited (p-value = 0.876) and the number of referrals (p-value =0.579) were not significantly associated with late stage at presentation. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the head and neck malignancies are not uncommon at Bugando Medical Center and the majority of patients present late with advanced stage cancer. Therefore, increasing awareness among rural residence regarding head and neck malignancies and their symptoms, and training ......

Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Extracted Zingiberaceae Rhizome using Subcritical Water Extraction

In Malaysia, many local herbs can take advantage of their benefit for health products, cosmetics, and food production. In this research, fresh Zingiberacea rhizomes including Curcuma Longa, Curcuma Zedoaria, Curcuma Xanthorrhiza, Zingiber Officinale, and Zingiber Zerumbet rhizomes were extracted using the subcritical water extraction (SWE) unit located at AM Zaideen Ventures Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The focus of this research is to analyze the freeze-dried powder extracts from the fresh Zingiberaceae rhizome for the phytochemical screening and bioactive compounds. Operating parameter used in the extraction process was fixed at temperature of 110°C, pressure at 10 bar and extraction time of 15 minutes. The freeze-dried powder extracts were screened for its phytochemicals inclusive alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, glycosides, tannin and saponin. For bioactive compounds analysis, extracts were evaluated for Total Phenolic Content, Total Flavonoid Content, DPPH scavenging activity assay, and bioactive compound using Gas-Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry analysis. The results show that there was a different presence of phytochemicals compounds in different Zingiberaceae extracts. At 10mg/ml concentration of powder extract, Zingiberaceae rhizomes showed variations in total phenol and flavonoid content, ranging from 134.65 to 285.19 mg GAE/g and from 22.58 to 181.62 mg QE/g, respectively. For DPPH radical scavenging activity, observed at 10mg/ml of freeze-dried extract, all Zingiberacea demonstrated significance antioxidant activity of more than 85% inhibition. Bioactive compounds detected in Zingiberaceae rhizomes shows significance quality. This finding supports the exploration of indigenous herbs market in Malaysia and the potential of water-based extracts on fresh Zingiberaceae rhizomes.

Evaluation of native medicinal plants as feed additives in the Sheep ration

The present study evaluated nutritional attributes of local medicinal herbs and analysed their effect as feed additives in sheep ration. Proximate and fiber analysis of all herbs- Allium sativa, Cuminum cyminum, Emblica officinalis, Murraya koenigiii, Pimpinella anisum, Sapindus trifoliatus, Terminalia arjuna, Trigonella-foenum graecum, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Azadirachta indica and their further screening at different inclusion levels of 3%, 3.5% and 4% of ration to ascertain their effect on in vitro rumen fluid pH, dry matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility of ration was carried out during in vitro phase. Pimpinella anisum @ 3% of ration resulted in significant increase in in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility of ration. In vivo trial was conducted in which fourteen indigenous, non-descript, adult male sheep (body weight, 27.10±0.10 kg and age, 22-24 months) were randomly allotted into two groups and fed ad lib. wheat straw and concentrate mixture @ 25 g/W0.75 along with Pimpinella anisum @ 3% of ration in treatment group. Comparable OM, CP, EE digestibility was seen in both groups, however, treatment group had significantly higher DM, total carbohydrate, CF, NDF, ADF and HC digestibility. Both groups had positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance, however, treatment group had significantly increased nitrogen balance. Rumen fermentation parameters were comparable in both groups. Haemoglobin, PCV, serum protein and albumin in treatment group were significantly higher while no significant variation was seen in serum globulin, Albumin:Globulin ratio, total cholesterol, ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine and blood glucose concentration between both groups. It can be inferred from the above data that Pimpinella anisum @ 3% of ration can effectively be used as a feed additive in sheep ration for improving feed intake, nutrient digestibility and utilisation.

The In vitro biological activity testing of Vitex doniana bark extract anf Flueggea virosa root extract against Taenia solium metacestodes

Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, is a foodborne parasite of global concern it affects more than fifty million people globally, with more than 80% of these being in the developing world. Infection of the brain with larval stages (metacestodes) leads to neurocysticercosis, a leading cause of epilepsy in endemic areas of the world where pig rearing is common. People in pig-rearing communities rely on local herbs for their primary health care. Exploring the use of these herbs as anthelmintics will give insights into the biological activity of locally available herbs and open up avenues for more research on local herbs. This study aimed to determine the in-vitro anthelminthic activity of locally used anti-parasitic herbs, namely Vitex doniana bark extract and Flueggea virosa root extract against T. solium metacestodes. An experimental in-vitro study using intact T. solium metacestodes with full bladder walls was conducted to check for the cytocidal activity of the locally available herbs of V. doniana bark extract and F. virosa outer root cover extract. Non-evagination of metacestodes at incubation post-treatment was used as an indicator of the extract's activity against the metacestode. Treatment with praziquantel was used as a positive control. The herbs (V. doniana and F. virosa) and drug extracts (Praziquantel) were tested in five different concentrations. Vitex doniana at a concentration of 50μg/ ml resulted in an evagination of 64%, while F. virosa had 52% at the same concentration. Vitex doniana and F. virosa showed a dose-dependent response: the higher the dose, the higher the biological activity. This study showed an association between T. solium metacestodes' response to V. doniana and praziquantel (Chi-square = 29.63 versus tabulated value 3.84), indicating that there was an association between exposure of metacestodes to the treatment of V. doniana and Praziquantel. The same was observed with F. virosa and praziquantel (Chi-square = 42.28). Vitex doniana showed more biological activity than F. virosa, but both had at least biological activities above 50%. This shows that both herbs have the potential to be anthelmintics against T. solium metacestodes and are recommended to be explored further in animal models for activity against the adult tapeworm.

Calamity Of Secondary Dengue Virus Followed By Climatic Changes.

Madam, This is to bring your attention to a long-standing issue despite several activities devised to curb it. Being aware of the effect of drastic climatic changes, developing countries like Pakistan should remain alert about the emergence of infectious outbreaks. The stagnant water after heavy rainfall and flood is a ground for the breeding of dengue vector called Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The virus is transmitted from one person to another through these mosquitoes. Lately, the surge in the cases of dengue virus was due to massive flooding in Pakistan in 2022. A total of 25932 cases were reported and 62 deaths were recorded during the dengue outbreak during the flood crisis of 2022[1]. Dengue virus comprises of four serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4. A person infected by a distinct serotype of the virus gains immunity against it and future infection by the same DENV will not affect the person’s health but infection by a heterogenous serotype causes secondary infection in the form of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Expansive capillary leakage in DHF due to an increase in the permeability of blood vessels can turn on a shock state called DSS. This deprivation of blood to highly functional organs like the brain, kidney, and heart puts them at risk of multi-organ failure [2]. The seasonal surge of secondary infection puts a burden on hospitals as the patient requires vigilant inpatient hospital care. The patient's health deteriorates further because of self-treatment at home with local herbs and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs [3]. As modern medicine is focused more on prevention than treatment, the need for the approval of the use of the dengue vaccine on high-risk individuals in an endemic country like Pakistan should be considered. The DENGVAXIA is a well-tolerated vaccine protecting against all the serotypes and is approved for use in individuals 9 to 45 years who are previously infected by the dengue virus in the past. [4] The vaccine will restrain the rise in DHF and DSS cases as it is for high-risk individuals who are already infected in the past thus curbing the incidence of secondary infection. Many endemic countries like the Philippines and Brazil have already taken a step against secondary dengue by granting the license of DENGVAXIA [5]. As Pakistan is developing country, approving the license for DENGVAXIA should be considered.

Preparation and study of fermentation kinetics, antioxidant, antimicrobial, α-amylase inhibitory activity and quality analysis of Bergenia ciliata added metheglin

Herbs can be used to enhance the quality of beverages therapeutically and organoleptically. This study explored the potential for creating medicinal mead by incorporating local and indigenous herbs into fermentation. Specifically, the effects of adding Bergenia ciliata rhizome to honey must at 5 concentrations, i.e., 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% w/v during fermentation on the physicochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and α-amylase inhibitory activity, and organoleptic quality of the resulting metheglins were explored at 5% level of significance. The study found that concentrations of rhizome at or above 0.5% decreased fermentation rate, and the optimal concentration for the best overall properties was 0.5% or less. The incorporation of B. ciliata rhizome significantly increased the therapeutic properties of the metheglins, as indicated by increased total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and α-amylase inhibitory activity. Minor changes were observed in volatile acidity and higher alcohol content at higher rhizome concentrations, but overall, the physicochemical properties of the metheglins were largely unaffected. These findings have important implications for promoting the commercial cultivation of precarious Nepalese medicinal plants and honey production.

Community knowledge, attitude, practices and beliefs associated with persistence of malaria transmission in North-western and Southern regions of Tanzania

BackgroundDespite significant decline in the past two decades, malaria is still a major public health concern in Tanzania; with over 93% of the population still at risk. Community knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP), and beliefs are key in enhancing uptake and utilization of malaria control interventions, but there is a lack of information on their contribution to effective control of the disease. This study was undertaken to determine KAP and beliefs of community members and service providers on malaria, and how they might be associated with increased risk and persistence of the disease burden in North-western and Southern regions of Tanzania.MethodsThis was an exploratory study that used qualitative methods including 16 in-depth interviews (IDI) and 32 focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect data from health service providers and community members, respectively. The study was conducted from September to October 2017 and covered 16 villages within eight districts from four regions of mainland Tanzania (Geita, Kigoma, Mtwara and Ruvuma) with persistently high malaria transmission for more than two decades.ResultsMost of the participants had good knowledge of malaria and how it is transmitted but some FGD participants did not know the actual cause of malaria, and thought that it is caused by bathing and drinking un-boiled water, or consuming contaminated food that has malaria parasites without warming it. Reported barriers to malaria prevention and control (by FGD and IDI participants) included shortage of qualified health workers, inefficient health financing, low care-seeking behaviour, consulting traditional healers, use of local herbs to treat malaria, poverty, increased breeding sites by socio-economic activities and misconceptions related to the use of bed nets and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Among the misconceptions, some participants believed that bed nets provided for free by the government came with bedbugs while others reported that free bed nets caused impotence among men.ConclusionDespite good knowledge of malaria, several risk factors, such as socio-economic and behavioural issues, and misconceptions related to the use of bed nets and IRS were reported. Other key factors included unavailability or limited access to health services, poor health financing and economic activities that potentially contributed to persistence of malaria burden in these regions. Relevant policies and targeted malaria interventions, focusing on understanding socio-cultural factors, should be implemented to reduce and finally eliminate the disease in the study regions and others with persistent transmission.

Documentation of indigenous uses and traditional practices of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Siraji community of Kullu District for gynaecological complaints in Himachal Pradesh, North-Western Himalaya, India

The study was conducted from January 2019 to January 2020 in 6 villages inhabited by Siraji community of Siraj valley of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh. Among the biodiversity components, the economically important plants are commonly used by the Siraji community in their daily lives for various purposes. Among the various health related issues of women, gynaecological problems are mostly seen in the region which greatly affects the female health. The aim of this study was to collect information and document the folk medicinal plant knowledge used by the Siraji community. Women of the region still have faith in local herbs for the treatment of their health-related issues. Data were collected from 30 informants, including local elderly people and traditional practitioners of the area, through interviews and questionnaire. In total, 35 plant species (22 wild and 13 cultivated) used to treat gynaecological problems. The present paper gave an overview of the uses of ethnomedicinal plants and also suggests the measures for promoting awareness among the native community.

Total saponins from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim promote neurological recovery in model rats with post-stroke cognitive impairment.

Total saponins from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim (TSTT), a bioactive component of local natural herbs in the Enshi area, China, have been demonstrated to have functions of restoring cognitive capacity and promoting axonal regeneration post-stroke, but the mechanism of this process remains unclear. The hippocampus is a critical tissue for controlling learning and memory capacity, and the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway plays a major role in the patterning and synaptic plasticity of hippocampal neural circuits. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether TSTT could restore learning and cognitive functions by modulating the Shh pathway in rats with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). The ischemia model was established by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and the model rats were administered using TSTT (100mg/kg) or donepezil hydrochloride as the positive control (daily 0.45mg/kg, DON) for 4weeks after the operation. As assessed by the Morris water maze test, the cognitive function of PSCI rats was significantly improved upon TSTT treatment. Meanwhile, the cerebral infarct volume reduced with TSTT, as shown by HE and TTC staining, and the number of Nissl bodies and dendritic spine density were significantly increased, as shown by Nissl and Golgi staining. In addition, TSTT upregulated PSD-95, SYN, and GAP-43, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis, as evidenced by increased Bcl-2 levels along with decreased Bax and caspase-3 expression. TSTT could also significantly upregulate Shh, Ptch1, Smo, and Gli1 proteins, indicating the activation of the Shh signaling pathway. Therefore, TSTT can protect PSCI rats by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting neuronal synaptic remodeling. The Shh pathway is also involved.

Acute toxicity test of some concoctions used for the management of malaria in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Practice of complementary and alternative medicines continue to gain popularity in the recent times. These medicines are products of plants prepared by local herb sellers. Many herb sellers can be sighted on the street of many towns in Ekiti State, Nigeria selling their products to community people. The medicines are either prepared as powder or concoctions. Concoctions that are used to manage malaria were randomly purchased from three herb sellers in Ado-Ekiti metropolis, Ekiti State. These were subjected to acute toxicity test in Wister strain albino rats of either sex in order to determine their biosafety. Water was administered to the test animals in lieu of concoction for the control group. No mortality was recorded 24 hours post-administration of the concoctions to the test animals. The biochemical parameters examined in the test animals were alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and creatinine, all these parameters showed no significant difference (P>0.05) from the control group. The photomicrographs of the cellular structures of the visceral organs of the test animals also showed no morphological alterations. The acute intake of the concoctions did not cause any noticeable adverse effects on the biochemical and histological composition of the test animals. The concoctions appeared not to cause any potential harm to the animals and could be considered safe pharmacologically.

The cause and effect of the nutrition transition in Nigeria: analysis of the value of indigenous knowledge and traditional foods in Enugu State, Igboland

The objective of this study is twofold: one, to analyze the presence of the nutrition transition in Nigeria through assessment of national food consumption trends, obesity, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) data over time, and two, to assess the role that indigenous knowledge and foodways can play in promoting healthy diets in the country through the case study of Enugu State, Igboland. A mixed-methods approach was utilized with quantitative data from the Nigerian Living Standards Survey and Demographic Health Survey to measure changes in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and food consumption across Nigeria from 2003 to 2018 using Natural Language Processing and Trend Analysis. Primary qualitative data in Enugu State were collected through semi-structured interviews in 2021 with a random sampling technique undertaken to analyze the status of indigenous Igbo foods and traditions to curb the negative effects of the nutrition transition, as well as to document the motivations behind using or abandoning traditional foods in the present generation. The findings of the study depict the nutrition transition in Nigeria in multiple forms. The combined overweight and obese population in the country has experienced a 29% increase in the 15-years study period, while the NCDs hypertension and diabetes have experienced a combined 21% increase. Consumption patterns have shifted, though not always in the ways predicted from the literature, with statistically significant increases displayed in the consumption of Breads and Pastries, Starchy Roots and Tubers, Legumes, Plant and Animal Fats, Seafoods, Milk and Dairy Products, Beverages, Non-alcoholic Drinks, Vegetables, and Red Meats. The primary data analysis displayed that the traditional Igbo foodscape is defined by local, nutritious whole foods. The data depicted significant recent trends toward using ultra-processed seasoning cubes instead of local herbs as spices, with a huge shift from 0% frequency usage identified in the parents’ generation to a 35% frequency in the current generation. Eighty-three percent of the community surveyed stated that they believe that the diets of the younger generation are changing, with the majority stating that the change is for the worse. Participants from the community provided recommendations for curbing the nutrition transition and empowering indigenous foodways through policy, investment, and mindset change. Though consumption patterns are changing and Nigeria’s obesity and NCD rates are increasing, it is still far behind the rate of obesity in countries farther along in the nutrition transition such as its former colonizer Britain. Interviews conducted around Enugu State show how the indigenous food system is centered on fresh, healthy foods, primarily local tubers, legumes, vegetables, and spices. There is extensive knowledge and pride in the indigenous food system, even though there was a consensus that Igbo food culture is currently undergoing immense changes in part due to some of the younger generation’s new tastes in processed foods and convenience.

Obesity theranostics using nanoemulsions of probiotics and local herbs

Obesity is a polygenic disorder which has become a global epidemic in recent years. Aim of the present study was to assess the theranostic potential of probiotics (Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium) and local herbs (fenugreek seeds, aloe vera) on the body weight, biochemical (liver and kidney functions) and histology of some internal organs (liver, kidney, ovary, small intestine) in obese rats. In present study, nanoemulsions of probiotics and local herbs were formulated by high energy method and characterized by FTIR and UV analysis. One hundred and sixty (160) female wistar rats were divided into sixteen groups. A high-fat diet was given to induce obesity in them. Obese rats were treated with different doses of probiotics, local herbs and their combination. Weekly body weight was monitored. Rats were dissected after fifteen weeks; blood and organs were harvested for biochemical analysis and histology. Results demonstrated a protective effect of nanoemulsion of probiotics and local herbs on the central vein, glomerulus, villi and normal ovulatory function of obese rats. Rats treated with a combination of probiotics and local herbs (fenugreek seeds, aloe vera) exhibited improved levels of bilirubin (4 mg/dl to15 mg/dl), AST from (110 U/L to 18 U/L) and ALT from (52 U/L to 10U/L). Similar renoprotective effects were recorded on the overall renal function tests (RFT). A combination of probiotics and local herbs in post treatment rats improved urea (63 mg/dl to 22 mg/dl) and creatinine (0.2 mg/dl to 0.8 mg/dl) levels. It was therefore evident that a combination of probiotics and local herbs has the potential to reverse the effects of obesity on the biochemical parameters and histological architecture of liver, kidney, small intestine and ovary. The overall results indicated that probiotics have positive effects of their own, but when combined with local herbs, they produced highly effective results in obese rats and therefore can be used as a complementary option in obese individuals.