Medicine Practitioners Research Articles

The Provision and Perceptions of Telemedicine Services Among Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hong Kong, China.

Objectives: Telemedicine has been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other health care professionals, Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) face practical challenges in providing telemedicine consultations. This study aims to explore CMPs' experience and perceptions of telemedicine service provision before and during the pandemic. Methods: A territory-wide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Hong Kong between April and May 2022. A structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was used to investigate the provision of and perception on telemedicine service, as well as usability of telemedicine among CMPs. Results: A total of 195 CMPs participated the survey. Before COVID-19, 42% (81/195) had been providing telemedicine services, and the proportion doubled during COVID-19. CMPs in the private sector are the main providers. Mobile apps including WhatsApp, WeChat, and Zoom were commonly used for consultations (75%, 120/161). Barriers in providing telemedicine included inability of conducting physical examination on patients (69%, 134/195), legal and ethical concerns over medical negligence (61%, 118/195), and patients' incompetence on e-literacy (50%, 98/195). Respondents urged professional and regulatory bodies to provide an explicit clinical guideline that demonstrate best practice in traditional Chinese medicine telemedicine, and to clarify legal and ethical implications of such practice. Conclusions: CMPs demonstrated their competency in telemedicine, and most of them provided telemedicine during COVID-19. Development of appropriate guidelines on the provision of telemedicine would support CMPs to continue provision after the pandemic, whereas a user-friendly and comprehensive telemedicine e-platform would enhance quality of such service. Facilitating patients with lower e-literacy to access telemedicine is key to reduce disparities.

Current practice of ultrasound in the management of postpartum hemorrhage: a secondary analysis of a national survey.

Although frequently employed in the delivery room, current guidelines do not recommend the use of ultrasound in the setting of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The aim of this survey was to evaluate the routine use of ultrasonography during PPH. A questionnaire, composed by a series of questions that assess participant characteristics and ultrasound use during PPH, was sent to members of the Italian Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology currently employed in obstetrical units. Answers were subsequently grouped based on participant characteristics. Based on the responses of 200 participants it was found that ultrasound was routinely employed by 67 % of participants during PPH, by 85 % if Retained Products of Conception (RPOC) was suspected, by 67 % during Bakri balloon placement and by 69 % during curettage procedures. Routine ultrasound use was higher amongst participants working in hospitals with a higher number of deliveries, by those with more years of experience using ultrasound in labor, and by those that had attended specific postgraduate training courses. Despite the lack of recommendations in thecurrent guidelines, the results of this survey show thatultrasound seems to be commonly employed by maternal fetal medicine practitioners in the management of PPH.

Assessing the role and impact of research in clinical practice among acupuncturists in western countries: a multinational cross-sectional survey.

Evidence-informed practice is crucial to perform safe and efficient health interventions. In recent years, the evidence base of acupuncture continuously increased leading to the integration of acupuncture into clinical guidelines by various leading medical associations worldwide. At the same time, recent studies showed that licensed acupuncturists are rarely utilizing scientific research to inform their practice. This descriptive study using an online survey assessed the role of evidence-informed practice of acupuncturists in Austria, Germany, the United States of America, Australia, and New Zealand and aimed to determine critical factors relevant for promoting research literacy including demographical data, data about the clinical practice patterns, and the role and value of different information sources of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) practitioners. In total, 404 acupuncturists completed the online survey that included questions about demographic characteristics, the role and value of research in clinical practice, and details about the amount and type of continuing professional education. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine significant predictors of the outcome variable "importance of research in clinical practice" (numerical rating scale, 0 to 100). The results showed that the majority of acupuncturists use certified courses as primary source of continuing professional education and value experts' opinions as the most reliable source of information. Multivariate analysis showed that the importance of research is dependent on the interest in research, an interdisciplinary learning environment, and positive experiences with research including if an acupuncture study ever changed the clinical practice of practitioners. Future educational programs should therefore focus on an interactive format aiming to promote skills to critically assess the value and practical use of research studies to improve the general practice of acupuncture.

Topical Corticophobia Among Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Corticophobia constitutes a complex challenge affecting patients and healthcare professionals alike, resulting in suboptimal management and treatment of dermatological conditions. This study aims to investigate corticophobia among physicians in Saudi Arabia and identify associated factors. This is a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study that included 700 participants. The sample constituted dermatologists, pediatricians, and family medicine practitioners at different levels (consultants, fellows, and residents) in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an electronic survey addressing demographic information and corticophobia-related questions. A total of 700 participants were included in the data analysis. Dermatologists were the most comfortable prescribing steroids (32%), followed by family medicine physicians (25%), and pediatricians (18%). Pediatricians were the most hesitant to prescribe steroids. Fellows were the most confident in prescribing steroids. Physicians from the northern and western regions were least likely to be hesitant in prescribing steroids. In conclusion, this study reveals that in Saudi Arabia, dermatologists were the most comfortable prescribing topical corticosteroids, with pediatricians being the most hesitant. The findings emphasize the importance of education in addressing corticophobia among healthcare professionals, which could improve treatment adherence and patient outcomes. Further research and targeted educational interventions are necessary to enhance understanding and confidence in prescribing topical corticosteroids among healthcare professionals.

Interprofessional contact with conventional healthcare providers in oncology: a survey among complementary medicine practitioners

BackgroundHalf of all patients with cancer use complementary medicine. Given the benefits and risks associated with complementary medicine use, contact between complementary medicine practitioners and conventional healthcare providers (oncologists, nurses) is important for monitoring the health and well-being of mutual patients with cancer. Research on occurrence of such interprofessional contact is scarce. This study aims to describe complementary medicine practitioners’ experiences with contact with conventional healthcare providers about mutual patients with cancer and the importance they attach to patient disclosure of complementary medicine use to their conventional healthcare provider. Predictors for interprofessional contact are explored.MethodsAn online survey was administered among complementary medicine practitioners who treat patients with cancer or cancer survivors and who are member of a professional association in the Netherlands.ResultsThe survey was completed by 1481 complementary medicine practitioners. 40% of the participants reported to have contact with conventional healthcare providers of patients with cancer. Only 13% of the complementary medicine practitioners experienced conventional healthcare providers as open to communication with them. An explorative logistic regression showed that openness of conventional healthcare providers as experienced by complementary medicine practitioners was the most important predictor for the occurrence of interprofessional contact (OR = 8.12, 95% CI 5.12–12.86, p < .001). Most complementary medicine practitioners (82%) considered it important that patients disclose complementary medicine use to their conventional healthcare provider and 49% of the participants always motivates their patients to do so.ConclusionsInterprofessional contact with conventional healthcare providers in oncology occurs but is not routine for most complementary medicine practitioners. More than one-third of the surveyed complementary medicine practitioners experienced conventional healthcare providers as not open to communication with them. The openness of conventional healthcare providers as experienced by complementary practitioners is an important predictor for interprofessional contact to take place. Most complementary practitioners acknowledge the importance of patient disclosure of complementary medicine use to their conventional healthcare provider. Open communication about the topic of complementary medicine use between complementary practitioners, conventional healthcare providers and patients prevents overlooking relevant medical information and facilitates optimal monitoring of health and safety of patients with cancer.

Risk Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metal Exposure through Medicinal Herbs in the Indian State of West Bengal

Background: More than 80% of the world's population uses herbal remedies in some form. Heavy metal contamination and the attendant health risks of Indian herbal medicines are not adequately documented. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the health risks associated with four common heavy metal contaminants, namely lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, present in raw medicinal herbs cultivated or growing wild in the West Bengal state of India. Method: A total of 197 raw herbs obtained from herbal medicine practitioners or wild plant col-lectors from 16 districts spread across 3 geographical zones (south, central, north) of West Bengal were analyzed. In accordance with AOAC specifications, all samples were dried in a hot air oven, ground into a coarse powder, and then processed and analyzed for heavy metals through atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentrations were estimated along with standard devia-tions, overall, zone-wise, and according to the botanical part tested. The standardized human health risk indices were calculated from the results. Results: Significant amounts of heavy metals were found in the herb samples analyzed in the order: lead in 150 samples (76.1%), arsenic in 84 (42.6%), cadmium in 77 (39%), and mercury in 47 (23.8%). Central zone samples had the highest concentrations of lead (10.06 μg/g), arsenic (0.62 μg/g), and cadmium (0.54 μg/g), while the greatest amount of mercury (0.08 μg/g) was obtained in herbs from South zone. There were also considerable variations with respect to the source of the botanical part. Lead and cadmium concentrations showed a significant positive cor-relation (r = 0.588). Although risk assessment using standardized measures indicated some risk, the human Hazard Index (HI) was less than 1 for all metals, indicating that it was mostly safe to use the herbs in the short-term. However, the risk of health issues from prolonged use still re-mains. Conclusion: Significant contaminations were identified, but exposure would mostly be within acceptable risk levels at present. However, since risk would be cumulative over time, programs need to be in place to monitor pharmaceutical herb safety, identify local sources of pollution, and take appropriate remedial action.

Reconstruction of Knowledge and Medical Images in the Convergence of Chinese and Western Medicine ——Taking “Sweet Meat” as an Example

Abstract: The pancreas is neither part of the five Zang organs (五脏) nor the six Fu organs (六腑). Thus, it has received little attention in Chinese medical literature. In the late 19th century, medical missionaries in China started translating and introducing anatomical and physiological knowledge about the pancreas. As for the word pancreas, an early and influential translation was “sweet meat” (甜肉), proposed by Benjamin Hobson (合信). The translation “sweet meat” is not faithful to the original meaning of “pancreas”, but is a term coined by Hobson based on his personal habits, and the word “sweet” appeared by chance. However, in the decades since the term “sweet meat” became popular, Chinese medicine practitioners, such as Tang Zonghai (唐宗海), reinterpreted it by drawing new medical illustrations for “sweet meat” and giving new connotations to the word “sweet”. This discussion and interpretation of “sweet meat” in modern China, particularly among Chinese medicine professionals, is not only a dissemination and interpretation of the knowledge of “pancreas”, but also a construction of knowledge around the term “sweet meat”.

A protocol for a multidisciplinary early intervention during chemotherapy to improve dietary management behavior in breast cancer patients: a two-arm, single-center randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAdverse reactions are prone to occur in the early stage of chemotherapy and can negatively affect the dietary intake and nutritional status of breast cancer (BC) patients. Consequently, they need to participate in health self-management and lifestyle promotion programs. Early multidisciplinary interventions aim to enhance dietary management behavior and quality of life in chemotherapy-treated BC patients.MethodsThis single-blinded, single-center, randomized controlled trial will include 88 females who have not yet started the early or middle stage of the chemotherapy cycle. A random number table will be used randomly assign females to the intervention group or usual group at a 1:1 ratio. The intervention elements are based on the theoretical guidance of the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC). A multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising oncologists, dietitians, nurses, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, and psychologists will provide the intervention. Intervention sessions will be conducted once a week for 8 weeks, beginning in the early or middle stage of the chemotherapy cycle and continuing through admission and a home-based interval chemotherapy period. The intervention includes face-to-face discussions, online meetings, WeChat messaging, and telephone calls. The themes target adverse reactions, dietary information and habits, self-care self-efficacy, treatment self-regulation, dietary supplement and TCM use, social support, weight management, and outcome expectations. The primary outcome is dietary management behavior measured by the Dietary Management Behavior Questionnaire (DMBQ). Secondary outcomes are self-care self-efficacy assessed by the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH); quality of life measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B); and body mass index (BMI) measured by an electronic meter. All participants will be assessed at baseline and immediately, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the intervention.DiscussionEarly dietary intervention is needed, as diet is one of the most common health self-management behaviors influenced by chemotherapy. Early multidisciplinary interventions may provide a foundation for dietary self-management and improve nutritional status in the survival period.Trial registrationThis intervention protocol was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300076503, October 10, 2023).

Professionals' Perceptions of the Colorectal Cancer Pathway: Results of a Co-Constructed Qualitative Study.

Qualitative research on the perceptions of healthcare professionals involved in cancer care about their respective roles in the patient care pathway is limited. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was to document these perceptions. A multidisciplinary team that included patient researchers constructed a semi-structured interview guide on the perceptions of the colorectal cancer care pathway by professionals. Interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals from two French hospitals that manage patients with colorectal cancer. Then, the interviews were fully transcribed and analysed by the whole multidisciplinary team. Thirteen healthcare professionals were interviewed (six nurses, four physicians, one psychologist, one social worker and one secretary). They described the colorectal care pathway using a great lexical diversity and listed a significant number of professionals as taking part in this pathway. Among the people mentioned were healthcare professionals working inside and outside the hospital, family members and non-conventional medicine practitioners. However, they did not spontaneously mention the patient. Their views on the role of the referring physician, the general practitioner and the patient were further explored. The interviews highlighted the coordination difficulties among the various professionals, particularly between general practitioners and hospital teams. These data provided interesting elements for developing a tool to help coordination among professionals. This preliminary study, with its participatory design, brings interesting elements of reflection on the care pathway for patients with colorectal cancer. It will continue through the creation of a larger participatory project. Patient partners were included in all steps of this study. This transdisciplinary project was coordinated by a group composed of three patient partners, two healthcare professionals and two humanities and social sciences researchers. Their knowledge of the patient's perspective on the care pathway enriched discussions from the study design to results analysis.

Natural hypoglycaemic bioactives: Newer avenues and newer possibilities.

The incidences of endocrine and metabolic disorders like diabetes have increased worldwide. Several proposed molecular pathways mechanisms for the management of diabetes have been identified, but glycaemic control is still a challenging task in the drug discovery process. Most of the drug discovery processes lead to numerous scaffolds that are prominent in natural products. The review deals with the natural bioactives as an α-amylase inhibitors, α-glucosidase inhibitors, protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, G-protein coupled receptors-40 agonists, PPAR-γ agonists and the activators of 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and glucokinase. So, in this review, we focused on the hypoglycaemic bioactives, which will assist scientific developers, traditional medicinal practitioners, and readers to discover some potent antidiabetic molecules. Strategies like chemometric approaches, scaffold hopping, and total synthesis of natural products by group modification or ring opening/closing mechanism could be useful for the development of novel hit/lead antidiabetic molecules. The study concludes that each phyto molecule inherits a potential to get explored by repurposing techniques for various antidiabetic targets and offer an alternative antidiabetic therapeutic medicinal potential.

The Need for Islamic Medicine Practitioner among the Teachers to Manage Hysteria According to Islamic and Religious Psychology

Genie possession, scientifically known as hysteria, is a phenomenon that often occurs among teenagers. In reality, happenings like this harm and damage the victim's psychology. Extensive analysis is critical to solving this problem. Hence, this research intended to identify the leading causes and factors that contribute to hysteria. It aimed to find a solution to this problem, which is becoming more prevalent. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods through data collection instruments and content analysis. The results of this study revealed that most hysteria occurrences are among school teenagers who have personal problems. The conclusions also confirmed that most teenage respondents have internal issues related to Allah SWT. After a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental concept of Islamic medicine, the researcher realised that Islam had established clear guidelines to protect human beings from all kinds of disturbances by demons, jinn and devils. Unfortunately, not all the guidelines are known to educators and students. The lack of Islamic practice is the top cause of hysteria among them. This research is germane because it can assist policymakers in discovering and elucidating the growing symptoms of hysteria, especially among school students. Through this breakdown, the stakeholders can strengthen the education system by teaching Islamic medical education to educators. These endeavours will lower the symptoms of hysteria among students and teachers. Ultimately, executing it relieves the cases of superstition, black magic, witchcraft, and hysteria among school and college students.

Nathanial Henshaw: Not history’s pioneering hyperbaric practitioner

ABSTRACT Clarke R. Nathanial Henshaw: Not history’s pioneering hyperbaric practitioner. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2024 Second Quarter; 51(2):107-113. A widely accepted belief is that Nathaniel Henshaw was the first practitioner of hyperbaric medicine. He is said to have constructed the first hyperbaric chamber where he treated several disorders and provided opportunities to prevent disease and optimize well-being. While there is little doubt Henshaw was the first to conceptualize this unique medical technology, careful analysis of his treatise has convinced this writer that his was nothing more than a proposal. Henshaw’s air chamber was never built. He would have failed to appreciate how its structural integrity could be maintained in the presence of enormous forces generated by envisioned changes in its internal pressure and, likewise, how its door could effectively seal the chamber during hypo-and hyperbaric use. Henshaw would have also failed to appreciate the limitations of his two proposed measuring devices and the toxic nature of one. Neither of these would have provided any quantitative information. The impracticality of his proposed method of compressing and decompressing the chamber is readily apparent. So, too, the likely toxic accumulation of carbon dioxide within the unventilated chamber during lengthy laborious periods required to operate it. Henshaw recommended pressures up to three times atmospheric pressure and durations for acute conditions until their resolution. Such exposures would likely result in fatal decompression sickness upon eventual chamber ascent, a condition of which nothing was known at the time. It would be another 170 years before a functional air chamber would finally become a reality. Henshaw’s legacy, then, is limited to the concept of hyperbaric medicine rather than being its first practitioner.

Zoonoses-specific resources, collaborative networks, and enhanced communication can help US veterinarians tackle zoonotic diseases: results from a national survey.

Increased incidence of zoonoses, coupled with veterinarians' occupational exposure, led to this study examining the knowledge of licensed US veterinarians on zoonoses and their disease prevention practices. This online survey supported by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians received 466 responses from 36 US states; 67% of the respondents were female, and 72.5% were small animal medicine practitioners. The One Health concept was familiar among 82% of respondents, 51.3% knew of continuing education training on zoonoses, and 68% had attended such a training in the last 5 years. Respondents were unaware of which zoonoses to report to public health departments. For 3 out of 8 questions on standard operating procedures, statistically significant differences in protocols followed among small, large, and mixed animal medicine practitioners were observed. Most respondents believed they play a critical role in zoonoses prevention but would like more information on zoonotic diseases. Results indicate that assisting veterinarians with regularly updated information on zoonoses, providing targeted education and training to adhere to standardized infection control measures, and increasing communication with public health agencies and physicians may help prevent and reduce incidence of zoonoses.

Improving Naloxone Co-prescribing Through Clinical Decision Support.

Despite national guidelines recommending naloxone co-prescription with high-risk medications, rates remain low nationally.This was reflected atour institution with remarkably low naloxone prescribing rates.We sought to determine if a clinical decision support (CDS) tool could increase rates of naloxone co-prescribing with high-risk prescriptions. An alert in the electronic health record was triggered upon signing an order for a high-risk opioid medication without a naloxone co-prescription.We examined all opioid prescriptions written by family and general internal medicine practitioners at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in outpatient encounters between November 30, 2020, and February 28, 2022.Once triggered by a high-risk prescription, the CDS tool had the option to choose an order set with an automatically selected co-prescription for naloxone along with patient instructions automatically added to the patient's after-visit summary (AVS).We examined the monthly percentage of patients receiving Schedule II opioid prescriptions ≥90 morphine milliequivalents (MME)/day who received concurrent naloxone prescriptions in the 12 months before the CDS went live and the three months following go-live. Concurrent naloxone prescriptions increased from 1.1% in the 12 months prior to implementation in November 2021 to 9.4% (p<0.001) during the post-intervention period across eight family medicine and internal medicine clinics. This single-center quality improvement project with retrospective analysis demonstrates the potential efficacy of a single CDS tool in increasing the rate of naloxone prescription.The impact of such prescribing on overall mortality requires further research. The CDS tool was easy to implement and improved rates of appropriate naloxone co-prescribing.

Integrating traditional medicine into a modern health care system

Traditional Medicine collectively referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) when commonly used outside their traditional context, alongside other medical systems, including Western biomedicine.The World Health Organization officially promoted traditional medicine in developing countries in 1978, there have been increasing interests among developing countries in integrating traditional medicine into a national health care system. Integrating traditional medicine into a modern health care system, moreover, can benefit industrialized nations as well. The contributions of Traditional and Modern Scientific Medicines to health care delivery have attracted a great deal attention in most communities worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Kampo, traditional Korean medicine, and Unani have been practiced in some areas of the world and have blossomed into orderly-regulated systems of medicine. More than 80% of the world’s population in over 170 of WHO’s 194 Member States currently use some form of traditional medicine, such as herbal medicine, yoga, Ayurveda, acupuncture and acupressure, and indigenous therapies.To generate awareness about traditional medicine, since the 1980s, a number of publications on self-health care have been developed to inform people about the benefits and uses of traditional medicine. Some of the areas of focused research include studies on the development of anticancer drugs, cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis and angina pectoris, respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma, obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, and basic studies on acupuncture therapeutic mechanisms for various bone and joint and spinal disorders, and on different kinds of composition of the human body. To ensure the safety, standardization, efficacy and quality of traditional medicines, the practitioners must follow the same stringent standards and regulations for production and use of traditional medicines as are followed for allopathic medicines. This study aims to summarize the advancements made in understanding the efficacy, effectiveness of Traditional Medicine. Traditional and local knowledge systems need to be protected, preserved, and studied as different ways to approach modern healthcare, science, and technology at large. Significant challenges exist in integrating the differing perspectives. Traditional knowledge is derived from years of history and experience and is preserved through long, complex narrations lacking the traditionally rigorous scientific scrutiny required by modern medicine. Modern scientists are prone to quickly dismiss its merit, considering it to be irrelevant as a result. For many, traditional medicine is the first port of call, and practitioners of traditional medicine have played an important role in treating chronic illnesses. These traditional medicines and practices have been preserved, organized and modernized during the past several decades, and have been fully integrated into the national health-care delivery systems from the central to the most peripheral administrative levels.

Dr. Kadambini Ganguly (1861-1923): A Pioneer in Indian Medicine.

Dr. Kadambini Ganguly was a trailblazing Indian physician and social reformer. As one of the first female graduates and practitioners of Western medicine in India, she broke numerous barriers in a field dominated by men. Her contribution to medicine, particularly in women's healthcare, and her engagement in social reform through the Brahmo Samaj and the Indian National Congress, caused significant progress toward gender equality and social justice. This article looks back on her academic accomplishments, medical career, social activism, and lasting legacy, emphasizing her profound influence on medicine and society in India.

Ethnoveterinary practices by local people of Raigad district Maharashtra

A field research extensive survey was undertaken during the years 2021-2023. This kind of to learn about medicinal plants advantages. The Palghar district of this study has provided the use of 38 plant species under 35 genera belonging to 28 families. Plant species, local names, families’ usable parts and ethnoveterinary remedies are listed alphabetically. The members of Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae lead with three each, followed by Annonaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Moraceae, and Zingiberaceae with two each and the remaining with one to each. The traditional medicinal practitioners and the local people of the Raigad area of Maharashtra used plants and to cure diarrhoea, dysentery arthritis, eye damage, skin diseases, milk problem, wounds, bone fractures, fever, and other illnesses in animals.

ASYMBIOTIC SEED GERMINATION OF AN ANTICANCEROUS TERRESTRIAL ORCHID Eulophia nuda Lindl. AND ITS ADULTERANT Geodorum densiflorum (Lam) Schltr.

Eulophia nuda Lindl. corms are used to cure cancer and is overexploited by the traditional medicine practitioners and medicinal plant traders. The corms of Geodorum densiflorum look morphologically similar to the corms of Eulophia nuda, hence it is used as an adulterant to the corms of Eulophia nuda, consequetly, the population of G. densiflorum is also facing the exploitation pressure. In present study, asymbiotic seed germination of both the terrestrial orchids was achieved using six media like Vacin and Went (WV) medium, Malmgren modified (MM) terrestrial orchid medium, modified Kundson C medium, ½ MS medium, Lindemann medium (LM) and BM1 medium along with three photoperiods (0/24, 16/8, and 24/0 h L/D). Eulophia nuda showed highest asymbiotic seed germination on MM medium (80.55 %) and the best light treatment was 0/24 h L/D. The highest asymbiotic seed germination of G densiflorum was on VW (84.07%), LM (83.29%) and BM 1(81.02%) and the best light treatment was 24/0 h L/D.

Ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the Maasai food system and traditional medicine against gout and associated conditions in Monduli-Tanzania

ABSTRACT An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to determine the plant species used against gout and gout-associated conditions (GACs) in Monduli, Arusha, Tanzania. The survey that involved 21 Maasai traditional food system (TFS) and traditional medicine (TM) practitioners revealed that the study area had 101 plant species distributed in 84 genera and 42 families. About 79% of the species were used as medicine; some were used as food or for processing. The medicinal plants (MPs) managed 69 health conditions including gout, “Olgila” and GACs. The MPs had potential nutritional and antioxidant agents against diseases including metabolic diseases (MDs), like gout. The root parts of the plants (54% species) were exploited the most; most plants (94%) were sourced from the wild. Integrated conservation and promotion measures are needed to prevent loss of TFS and TM knowledge.

Ethnopharmacological Investigation of Plants Used in the Treatment of Breast Cancer in Northern Cameroon

IntroductionTherapeutic activities of medicinal plants are due to the different secondary metabolites, which are stored in their organs and constitute a large reservoir. These medicinal plants could allow the development of new biomolecules, which would constitute an alternative against highly toxic breast cancer chemotherapy. The present study identifies the medicinal plants used by the traditional medicine practitioners of the northern region of Cameroon in the treatment of this pathology. MethodsA semistructured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information from participants as well as ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological data of the different treatments. The approach used to conduct the survey was an interview with the traditional medicine practitioners of the region using the local language. ResultsAs a result, 131 traditional healers were interviewed; they provided 50 therapeutic recipes made from 37 plant species belonging to 21 families. The recipes presented are mainly formulated from a single plant (74%) while among the combinations, associating two plants was predominant (18%). The bark was the most used organ (46%) while the most used preparation methods were decoction (52%) and maceration (36%). Treatments were mainly administered orally for an unlimited duration (until recovery). The plants listed were found to be rich in secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, or tannins that revealed anticancer activities through literature. ConclusionsThe results of the present work constitute a strong basis for the search of new anticancer chemotherapeutic agents that would be more available and less invasive.