Selection Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Penguatan Peran Masyarakat Menuju Kemandirian Kesehatan Melalui Pemanfaatan Tanaman Obat Keluarga (Toga) dalam Pengendalian Penyakit Kolesterol

Efforts towards the independence of health human resources are a concrete manifestation of community participation in health development as a trigger for community empowerment activities, one of which is Family Medicinal Plants (FMP). FMP is a selection of medicinal plants that can be planted in the home yard. The utilization of Family Medicinal Plants in controlling Cholesterol Disease in the home environment is very important, especially for families who do not have access to health services. Therefore, this activity aims to help and strengthen the role of the community, especially the Prosperous Village community in utilizing FMP around as an alternative medicine for controlling Cholesterol Disease. The methods used in the implementation of this service are observation, preparation and design, socialization, lectures, discussions, and training and mentoring. The results achieved from this activity are an increased understanding of the types of FMP, their classification, processing methods, utilization of FMP, and the importance of FMP for cholesterol treatment and getting FMP cultivation skills by utilizing the yard and garden around the house to be used as a place for FMP cultivation. The existence of a FMP garden which is the output of this service is then expected to be used for treatment or can be used to improve the economy by selling FMP products.

A phylogenetic evaluation of non‐random medicinal plants selection around an African biosphere reserve

Abstract Theory in ethnobiology suggests that the selection of medicinal plants by local people in a given region is not random and evolutionary closely related species may have similar medicinal uses. Additionally, plants selection by local people is often driven by plant therapeutic efficacy, plant availability, plant versatility or local knowledge on medicinal plants. We tested the hypothesis of non‐random selection of medicinal plants as well as the potential mechanisms explaining such non‐random plants selection. We also tested for phylogenetic signal in medicinal plants. Our study was based in four villages across Benin, West Africa, where the local communities have deep knowledge about medicinal plants. We installed 91 plots around these four villages to establish the total list of plant species and their abundance. We then conducted ethnobotanical surveys in the same villages to identify medicinal plants used in the local pharmacopoeia. To test whether the selection of medicinal plants used in the region was non‐random and whether plant selection was driven by plant therapeutic efficacy, plant availability, plant versatility or local knowledge, we used a generalized linear model. Furthermore, we used the D‐statistic to test whether evolutionary closely related species are more commonly used as medicinal than other species. We found support for non‐random medicinal plant selection. Such a non‐random plant selection was driven by plant medicinal versatility. Plant availability and secondary compounds have no significant influence on plant selection. Local people's knowledge on medicinal plants was significantly affected by individuals' literacy but not by their gender, their age or the ethnic group they belong to. We found a weak phylogenetic signal in medicinal plant uses. Our study reveals that the most used families are not necessarily the ones that have more secondary compounds or that are the most available to the local people, but are the most versatile plants. The high level of medicinal flora used at the local scale, which contrasts with the country‐level analysis found by previous studies, suggests new methodological guidance in testing the theory of non‐random medicinal plants selection. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Chemometric-guided chemical marker selection: A case study of the heat-clearing herb Scrophularia ningpoensis.

The selection of medicinal plants' chemical markers focuses on bioactivity as the primary goal, followed by the nature of secondary metabolites, their stability, and availability. However, herbal medicines are valued for their complex and holistic pharmacological effects. A correct chemical marker can be carefully selected by a systematic clarification of their chemical-biological relationships. In the current study, the multi-informative molecular networking (MIMN) approach was employed to construct the anti-inflammatory metabolomic pattern of a heat-clearing herb, Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (S. ningpoensis). The MIMN molecular families characterized by cinnamic acid glycosides showed a higher bioactivity score compared with the other two major chemical classes (iridoid glycosides and iridoid-cinnamic acid glycosides). The Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) and Reaxys database were used to assist in the putative annotation of eighteen metabolites from the bioactive and non-bioactive molecular families. The anti-inflammatory validation step was based on the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by activated human neutrophils. All compounds from the bioactive MIMN molecular families dose-dependently inhibited the total ROS generation promoted by fMLF (IC50: 0.04-0.42 μM), while the compounds from non-bioactive MIMN clusters did not show any significant anti-inflammatory effect. The ROS-dependent anti-inflammatory activity of these cinnamic acid glycosides was attributed to their oxygen radical scavenging ability. The most abundant cinnamic acid glycoside, angoroside C (IC50: 0.34 μM) was suggested to be selected as a chemical marker for S. ningpoensis. In this study, the MIMN platform was applied to assist in the chemical marker selection of S. ningpoensis. The correct selection of markers will aid in the compilation and revision of herbal monographs and pharmacopeias resulting in the precise analysis and classification of medicinal plants on a scientific basis.

A Review on Anti-Diabetic Herbs of Siddha System Based on Their Organoleptic Characteristic

The Siddha system is a primordial system of medicine followed over a long period in the Southern part of India. Siddha system has peculiar methods in treating a disease and also possesses various diagnostic methods and treatment protocols. In the Siddha system, diagnostic methods are purely differing from other systems. The diagnostic tools are Envagaithervu (Eight Fold Assessment Test), Neer Kuri & Nei Kuri (Siddha Urine Test), Nadi (Pulse Test) etc. In the Siddha system treatments are based on Nadi, Suvai. Diabetics are the major non-communicable disease in the world. According to the statistics India is second among the top ten nations in the world, with 69.2 million people suffering from diabetes and another 36.5 million struggling with pre-diabetes. This rising prevalence is mostly due to changes in lifestyle, such as consuming unhealthy foods and being physically sedentary. In the Siddha system, it is compared with Neerizhuvu Noi. In Siddha, diabetes is not an illness. It is possible to keep it under control with the right diet and treatment. The article focus on scientific justification of the relationship of herbs cured Neerizhuvu Noi mentioned in classical text by their organoleptic characters and anti diabetic activity of the herbs. Taste plays a significant part in the selection of medicinal plants for each person in this kind of personalized treatment that is based on their constitution. This article discusses the Siddha approach to the control of diabetes, with a particular focus on the flavour of herbs.

Bayesian approach and Imprecise Dirichlet Model for the selection of (underused/overused) medicinal plants in the Guinean zone of Togo

Identifying priority medicinal plants at the local level is crucial for the improvement of integrative and strong conservation solutions around these resources. This study was carried out to determine underused and overused botanical families, and, analyse the correlation between botanical families, used plant parts, and categories of treated diseases in the Guinean zone of Togo. Ethnobotanical field surveys conducted via semi-structured interviews (individuals/focus groups) among traditional healers and medicinal plant sellers helped to identify the rich diversity of medicinal plants used in the Guinean zone. Bayesian statistics and the Imprecise Dirichlet Model (IDM) were used to detect botanical families' level of use (under/overused). A matrix analysis via phylogeny coupled with a cladogram was carried out to highlight the preferences of users in plant parts and botanical families in the treatment of diseases. It appears that 12.43% of the local flora in the Guinean zone of Togo is used in traditional medicine. The most treated diseases with a high plant diversity are general and unspecified categories of diseases (228 plants), followed by cardiovascular diseases (133 plants). Both Bayesian and IDM approaches show that the most overused families are Amaranthaceae, followed by Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae. The underused families are Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae, and Poaceae. The leaves and roots are the plant parts in high demand for the preparation of medicinal drugs. The presence of chemical groups such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponosides, coumarins, and alkaloids would justify the choice of a botanical family or specific plant parts for the treatment of a category of diseases. It is necessary to develop conservation strategies for overused plant families to ensure sustainability for future generations.

Medicinal plants and diabetes: An ethnopharmacological studyin Brazilian Northeast

Despite access to conventional medical therapies, the use of complementary medicine is increasing in many communities. The present study aimed to evaluate the popular knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat diabetes and its co-morbidities, in four rural communities in the municipality of Vitória de Santo Antão, in the Brazilian State of Pernambuco. The relative importance of a particular medicinal plant was calculated based on the percentage of mentions (IR%). The similarity between the communities was quantified using the Sørensen index (Ss).Interviews were conducted with 141 patients, of these, 83 reported use of medicinal plants as an alternative treatment. Overall there were 186 mentions, covering 61 ethnospecies. In relation to IR%, Mentha × villosa presented the highest value.Knowing the factors that influence selection of medicinal plants sheds light on the mechanisms through which patterns of use develop and this may help to preserve this knowledge.

Acute & Sub Acute Toxicity Studies of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Solanum Xanthocarpum Whole Plant

The present study is designed to evaluate the safety of aqueous: methanolic (40:60) extract of Solanum xanthocarpum whole plant (SXWP) by determining its potential toxicity after acute and subacute administration in male wistar albino rats. Medicinal plants might deliver a few organic activities in people, but generally very little is known about their toxicity. Though, safety should be the overriding criterion in the selection of medicinal plants for use in healthcare systems, several drugs produce acute and obvious signs of toxicity which are used in the traditional system of medicine. The purpose of toxicity testing is to provide adequate database to make decision concerning the toxicology properties of chemicals and commercial products and to decide whether a drug or chemicals will be safe or not.
 Results concluded that SXWP extract produce beneficial effect on some blood parameters upon oral administration. Biochemical parameter such as total protein content was changed which may not be beneficial but lowering of lipid profile can be beneficial for long term use. There were no significant change in the other serum parameters may proved its long term use, the kidney parameters too remain unchanged. Further studies are needed to verify the effect of low, medium and high dose for chronic administration of SXWP extract.
 Keywords: Methanolic, Extract, Solanum xanthocarpum, Toxicity, Chronic, Acute

Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights into Potentilla bifurca Adaptation to High Altitude.

Potentilla bifurca is widely distributed in Eurasia, including the Tibetan Plateau. It is a valuable medicinal plant in the Tibetan traditional medicine system, especially for the treatment of diabetes. This study investigated the functional gene profile of Potentilla bifurca at different altitudes by RNA-sequencing technology, including de novo assembly of 222,619 unigenes from 405 million clean reads, 57.64% of which were annotated in Nr, GO, KEGG, Pfam, and Swiss-Prot databases. The most significantly differentially expressed top 50 genes in the high-altitude samples were derived from plants that responded to abiotic stress, such as peroxidase, superoxide dismutase protein, and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. Pathway analysis revealed that a large number of DEGs encode key enzymes involved in secondary metabolites, including phenylpropane and flavonoids. In addition, a total of 298 potential genomic SSRs were identified in this study, which provides information on the development of functional molecular markers for genetic diversity assessment. In conclusion, this study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the Potentilla bifurca transcriptome. This provides new insights into coping mechanisms for non-model organisms surviving in harsh environments at high altitudes, as well as molecular evidence for the selection of superior medicinal plants.

Ethnobotany of medicinal flora in two communities of the Mixteca Alta in Oaxaca, Mexico

Background: Hot-cold conception is important for plant-disease relationships in peasant communities, where introduced species acquire medicinal uses and are more available in anthropocentric systems than native; how these are selected is studied with indices, hypotheses that contribute to theories are rarely tested. Hypotheses: There will be more medicinal introduced species that will have more versatility than native ones; home-gardens will have more availability of them than the forest. Study site and dates: San Pedro Topiltepec (SPT), San Andrés Nuxiño (SAN), Oaxaca, September 2015-March 2017. Methods: Medicinal flora and its uses were inventoried by community, recording availability (socioecological system) and status (native/introduced) by species. Informant consensus factor and relative value estimated information similarity among informants; use value (UV) indicated species versatility. Hot-cold conditions were recorded by species and disease. Results: Species and diseases were 64 (75 % native, 25 % introduced) and 134 in SAN, 81 (52 % native, 48 % introduced) and 177 in SPT, respectively. In SAN 58 % species were available in forests, in SPT 62 % species were available in home gardens. UV was higher for native plants in SAN and for introduced plants in SPT. Hot-cold dichotomy influenced selection of medicinal plants in both communities. Conclusions: Both communities belong the same ethnicity, select medicinal plants differently. SAN uses a higher proportion of native plants, forests have higher species availability, native plants are the most versatile. SPT uses similar proportions of native and introduced plants, home gardens have more availability, introduced plants are the most versatile.

Using nanoemulsions of the essential oils of a selection of medicinal plants from Jazan, Saudi Arabia, as a green larvicidal against Culex pipiens.

Researchers are increasingly looking to plants as sources of novel ingredients active against vector-borne diseases. Medicinal plant extracts and their metabolites are an attractive source for such products. This study investigated the insecticidal activity of five essential oils extracted from the most common medicinal herbs in Jazan province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Extracted oils and nanoemulsions synthesized from those oils were characterized before application at different concentrations to laboratory-reared fourth-stage larvae of Culex pipens. Basil (Ocimum bascilicum) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) essential oils showed moderate larvicidal effect with LC50 81.07 ug/mL and 96.29 ug/mL, respectively. That activity was improved in their nanoemulsion forms, as evidenced by a reduction in the LC50 to 65.19 ug/mL for basil and 64.50 ug/mL for cumin. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), henna (Lawsonia inermis) and ginger (Zingiber officinalis) oils showed weaker insecticidal activity, with LC50 values of 394 ug/mL, 306 ug/mL, and 494 ug/mL, respectively. Moreover, the nanoemulsion forms of those essential oils did not show any improvement in their insecticidal activity. In conclusion, of the studied plants, the nanoemulsions of basil and cumin showed significant larvicidal activity.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Plants Used for the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility in Ilorin, Nigeria

Over generations, several indigenous knowledge on the use of medicinal plants have been lost due to a lack of interest of the upcoming generation and reluctancy of the older generations to pass on their knowledge. This survey was set about to preserve and share the knowledge of the Ilorin Emirate Clan in the management of female sexual dysfunction and infertility (FSDI). The survey was conducted across three major markets (Shao, Jimba-Oja and Oke-Oyi) and ethnobotanical data on medicinal plants, mode of preparation, route of administration and demographic information were collected from volunteers using a semi-structured questionnaire, oral or virtual interviews. A total of 47 plant species belonging to 28 families were identified from 85 willing respondents. Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. was the most frequently cited plant with a citation frequency of 31.76% and a fidelity level of 57.75% whereas Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A.Rich. was the least cited plant with a citation frequency of 1.18% and a fidelity level of 1.12%. The highest informant consensus factor computed for Shao market, Jimba-Oja and Oke-Oyi were 0.93, 0.57 and 0.84 for P. amarus, Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm.) E.A.Bruce and Cassia fistula L., respectively. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the medicinal plants in our society that are of importance in the management of female sexual dysfunction and infertility. The data collected would promote the conservation of invaluable indigenous knowledge and highlight a broad selection of medicinal plants that could be subjected to further pharmacological and clinical investigation for their potential role in the treatment of FSDI.

Alien woody plants are more versatile than native, but both share similar therapeutic redundancy in South Africa.

Understanding why alien plant species are incorporated into the medicinal flora in several local communities is central to invasion biology and ethnobiology. Theories suggest that alien plants are incorporated in local pharmacopoeias because they are more versatile or contribute unique secondary chemistry which make them less therapeutically redundant, or simply because they are locally more abundant than native species. However, a lack of a comprehensive test of these hypotheses limits our understanding of the dynamics of plants knowledge, use and potential implications for invasion. Here, we tested the predictions of several of these hypotheses using a unique dataset on the woody medicinal flora of southern Africa. We found that the size of a plant family predicts the number of medicinal plants in that family, a support for the non-random hypothesis of medicinal plant selection. However, we found no support for the diversification hypothesis: i) both alien and native plants were used in the treatment of similar diseases; ii) significantly more native species than alien contribute to disease treatments particularly of parasitic infections and obstetric-gynecological diseases, and iii) alien and native species share similar therapeutic redundancy. However, we found support for the versatility hypothesis, i.e., alien plants were more versatile than natives. These findings imply that, although alien plant species are not therapeutically unique, they do provide more uses than native plants (versatility), thus suggesting that they may not have been introduced primarily for therapeutic reasons. We call for similar studies to be carried out on alien herbaceous plants for a broader understanding of the integration of alien plants into the pharmacopoeias of the receiving communities.

Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal

BackgroundThere are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model.MethodsFor each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentized residuals and underutilized families with highest negative Studentized residuals. The national-level data were collected from online databases and available literature while the community-level data were collected from Baitadi and Darchula districts.ResultsBoth dataset showed larger variance (national dataset mean 6.51 < variance 156.31, community dataset mean 1.16 < variance 2.38). All three types of regression were important to determine the medicinal plant species selection and use differences among the total plant families, although negative binomial regression was most useful. The negative binomial showed a positive nonlinear relationship between total plant family size and number of medicinal species per family for the national dataset (β1 = 0.0160 ± 0.0009, Z1 = 16.59, p < 0.00001, AIC1 = 1181), and with similar slope and stronger performance for the community dataset (β2 = 0.1747 ± 0.0199, Z2 = 8.76, p < 0.00001, AIC2 = 270.78). Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae were found over-utilized while Rosaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae were recorded as underutilized.ConclusionsAs our datasets showed larger variance, negative binomial regression was found the most useful for testing non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis. The predictions made by non-random selection of medicinal plants hypothesis holds true for community-level studies. The identification of over-utilized families is the first step toward sustainable conservation of plant resources and it provides a baseline for pharmacological research that might be leading to drug discovery.

SKRINING FITOKIMIA DAN UJI DAYA HAMBAT EKTRAK DAUN JAHE MERAH (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) TERHADAP BAKTERI Staphylococcus Epidermidis DAN Escherichia Coli

Infectious disease is one of the diseases caused by microbes, including bacteria. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli are gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that cause infectious diseases. The selection of medicinal plants as an alternative solution is an effective way of reducing the resistance of bacteria. Based on the empirical data, herbal plants with antimicrobial potential are red ginger (Zingiber officinale var rubrum). This research aimed to determine the inhibition test on Staphylococcus Epidermidis and Escherichia coli due to phytochemical compounds contained in the leaves of red ginger which serve as an antibacterial. Through this experimental laboratory research, a crude drug was extracted using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvent. The phytochemical screening results of n-hexane extract showed that red ginger leaves contain alkaloids and terpenoids; chloroform extract contains alkaloids, steroids, and tannins; ethyl acetate extract contains alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, and tannins; and the methanol extract contains alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins. Chloramphenicol and Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used as the positive control and negative control respectively. Inhibition test results were obtained from the four n-hexane extracts, chloroform extracts, ethyl acetate extracts, and methanol extracts with three different concentrations.The results obtained the greatest inhibition against Staphylococcus Epidermidis bacteria, namely at a concentration of 20% chlorform extract of red ginger leaves as large as 18,90 mm. Meanwhile, the inhibition of Escherichia Coli is at a concentration of 20% n-hexane extract with an inhibitory power of 17,84 mm inhibition zone that is classified as a strong category to inhibit the growth of bacteria .The results of the One Way ANOVA data analysis (p less than 0.01) with a confidence level of 99%.

Phylogeny reveals non‐random medicinal plant organ selection by local people in Benin

Societal Impact StatementHumans rely on plants in their environment for food and medicine. Understanding how humans select plant species will help us anticipate what plant species will be valuable for society in the future. However, previous approaches to study the drivers of plant selection have been criticized. We explored medicinal plant selection using a refined methodology and corroborate that humans select plant species for medicine in a non‐random way. Furthermore, we found that selection of specific plant organs across similar species is also non‐random. Improved understanding of medicinal plant selection can help identify new medicinal plants and the particular organs of plant species that are most likely to contain bioactive compounds to help improve human health and well‐being.Summary Ethnobotany, the science of human–plant interactions, has for long focused on documenting the traditional knowledge that humans have developed and accumulated over centuries toward plant uses. However, how such knowledge is constructed remains poorly understood and some of the methodological approaches developed for this purpose have been criticized. Here, we combine negative binomial models and phylogenetic comparative methods to test whether selection of medicinal plant species and organs by local people are non‐random using data from Benin, a country in West Africa with roughly 3,000 plant species. We found evidence for taxonomic and phylogenetic non‐random selection of medicinal plants: some taxa are preferentially used for medicine. Our analysis uncovers that plant organs are also non‐randomly selected for medicine. Beyond plant taxonomy, similar plant organs of closely related species tended to be used for similar treatments because these organs are likely to have similar secondary chemistry. Such non‐random organ selection was more apparent for certain plant organs such as roots, bark, and leaves, which are predicted to be more vital for population fitness and species persistence. Collectively, our study suggests that the emerging non‐random pattern of medicinal plant selection may be a consequence of heterogeneous within‐plant distribution of secondary chemistry across different organs proportionally to their importance to plant fitness as predicted by the optimal defense theory.

Ethnobotany applied to the selection of medicinal plants for agroecological crops in rural communities in the Southern End of Bahia, Brazil

The present work targeted the ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants for introduction to agroecological crops in 9 rural communities in the southern end of the state of Bahia, Brazil, as an economic and therapeutic alternative for the local populations. Prior agreement from the communities was requested and the research was submitted to the ethics committee; the registration of access to genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge was performed. The following methodologies were used: participant observation, “snowball”, “walking in the woods”; semi-structured questionnaires and calculation of the Main Uses Concordance index (CUPc). The species were evaluated according to their origin and degree of threat. 233 species, distributed in 73 families, were cited, with emphasis on Asteraceae (27spp.), Fabaceae (18 spp.) and Lamiaceae (16 spp.). Among these, 48% are native, 52% are naturalized and/or exotic and one vulnerable species was found (Euterpe edulis Mart.) and one endangered (Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze). The CUPc revealed 25 spp. with a value equal to or greater than 50% in at least one community. These results are expected to contribute to the selection of medicinal plants that serve as an economic and therapeutic alternative for vulnerable communities, as well as in stimulating the preservation of sociobiodiversity.

Unique Mechanisms in Treatment of Diabetes mellitus: A Herbal-Based Therapeutic Approach

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, described by hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin secretion, insulin action or both. As a consequence of the persistent hyperglycemia, several microvascular and macrovascular complications arise. In herbal treatments, there are quite a variety of mechanisms and pathways that could be targeted while considering the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM); ranging from acting on pancreatic insulin, decreasing carbohydrates digestion, to inhibiting enzymes responsible for this disease like glucosidases, maltase fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, G6Pase and PTP1B enzymes and increasing GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 translocation. There is a diverse amount of plants that have individual active constituents that are responsible for their anti-diabetic effect; such constituents belong to classes like flavonoids, phenolic compounds and alkaloids. In our review, we will report a large variety of plants and phytoconstituents that have anti-diabetic action and discuss their mechanism of action highlighting their uniqueness and thus, providing for novel targets for anti-diabetic molecules either solely or as adjunctive therapies. Ethnopharmacological studies could aid in the selection of medicinal plants to be employed in these preliminary studies. However, the exact bioactive metabolite, along with the definite mechanism of action, should be studied before experimental and clinical studies.

Decision Support System for Alternative Selection of Family Medicinal Plants using the WEB-Based TOPSIS Method

Indonesia is a growing place for 80 percent of medicinal plants in the world with 28,000 plant species are grown and 1,000 species of which have been used as medicinal plants. The utilization of plant raw materials is still fixed by one type of material even though these materials can be used by various types of diseases. Family Medicinal Plants, known as "TOGA", are cultivated plants that have natural medicinal properties and can cure minor ailments that often occur in families, and now can be cultivated in the yard. The TOPSIS method was chosen because it makes it easier for users to determine alternative types of family medicinal plants or traditional medicines in the surrounding environment, called a decision support system. This research was conducted at Sari Bumi Farmer Group, Sambiloto Street RT 14 No. 24. The research period was ± 6 (six) months, from October 2018 - March 2019 which included making proposals, collecting data, making applications, and compiling reports. The "TOGA" Selection Decision Support System using the TOPSIS Method makes it easy for users to choose plants that can be used as medicine and to determine the type of medicinal plant family based on different criteria for each existing plant.

Taxonomic affiliation influences the selection of medicinal plants among people from semi-arid and humid regions-a proposition for the evaluation of utilitarian equivalence in Northeast Brazil.

BackgroundThis study sought to investigate the occurrence of taxonomic patterns between semi-arid and humid regions, verifying how the taxonomic affiliation can influence the selection of plants for medicinal purposes and act as a selection criterion.MethodsThe relationship between the taxonomic affiliation and the selection of medicinal plants with four different communities was analyzed; two of them associated with a seasonally dry tropical forest and the other two associated with a tropical rain forest. We used the Utilitarian Equivalence Model (transposing the concept of ecological equivalence, proposed by Odum, for ethnobotany) to test the hypothesis that species that have the same taxonomic affiliation tend to have the same therapeutic applications in different environments (utilitarian equivalence). In addition, we used the Utilitarian Redundancy Model to verify whether, within the same medical system, plants of the same taxonomic affiliation tend to be redundant (treating the same diseases).ResultsWe found that a pair of plants of the same genus were 9.25 times more likely to be equivalent than a different genus pair (OR = 9.25, CI [1.68–51.02], p < 0.05). When we analyzed the species used by the same population, the chances of a pair having similar therapeutic uses (utilitarian redundancy) increased when they were species of the same family (OR = 1.94, CI [1.06−3.53]; p < 0.05).ConclusionsThese findings confirm the hypothesis that there is an influence of taxonomic affiliation, in terms of genera and family, on the selection of medicinal plants in semi-arid and humid areas in Northeast Brazil. In addition, our Utilitarian Equivalence Model can be an important tool in the search for more common selection criteria, in order to identify the shared characteristics among the equivalent pairs and consequently the main types of perceptions or stimuli that led to the inclusion of such species in local pharmacopoeias.

Testing the non-random hypothesis of medicinal plant selection using the woody flora of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Medicinal plants have been used by local communities to treat all sorts of diseases, and this unique indigenous knowledge has been documented in various studies. However, using this vast knowledge to formulate and test hypothesis in ethnobotany is not yet a common practice in the discipline despite recent calls for more hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical researches. Here, we collected ethnobotanical data on 811 woody plant species in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa to test the non-random hypothesis of medicinal plant selection, which predicts a positive correlation between the size of plant families and the number of medicinal plants in the families. We tested this hypothesis by fitting the commonly used simple linear regression model and the negative binomial model. Our analysis confirmed the hypothesis and revealed that some plant families are over-utilised—i.e. contain more medicinal plants than expected. The identification of over-utilised families is the first step towards the prioritisation of research efforts for drug discovery. The proportion of over-utilised families ranges from 50% (linear regression with untransformed data) and 55% (linear regression after log–log transformation) to 34% (negative binomial model). With the simple linear model and untransformed data, the top over-utilised families are Fabaceae (residual = + 34.44), Apocynaceae (+ 5.82) and Phyllanthaceae (+ 5.53). The log-transformed model confirms these three families as the top over-utilised families but in a slightly different sequence: Fabaceae (+ 1.55), Phyllanthaceae (+ 0.83) and Apocynaceae (+ 0.79). However, using the negative binomial model, Fabaceae is no longer even part of the top 10 over-utilised families, which are now Phyllanthaceae (+ 2.09), Apocynaceae (+ 1.51), Loganiaceae (+ 1.48), Rhamnaceae (+ 1.48), Sapotaceae (+ 1.48), Oleaceae (+ 1.39), Salicaceae (+ 1.39), Clusiaceae (+ 1.30), Boraginaceae (+ 1.28) and Lamiaceae (+ 1.18). This suggests that the relative medicinal value of some families may have been over-estimated in comparison with others. Our study is an illustration of the need to apply appropriate model while testing ethnobotanical hypotheses to inform priority setting for drug discovery.