Multipurpose Plant Research Articles

Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants used by the local people in Habru District, North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

BackgroundEthiopia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, which combines richness in plant resources and cultures of human plant use. The people of Habru District of North Wollo Zone (Amhara Region, Ethiopia) have a long history of use of plant resources for various purposes including in traditional herbal remedy preparation and use. However, the district has not been adequately studied for its ethnobotanical resources and the associated knowledge. This study focused on human medicinal plants and their traditional uses in Habru District. The objective of the study was to document and analyze the plant species used by the local communities to treat human ailments along with the associated traditional knowledge and practices.MethodologyThe study was carried out in Habru District from June 2021 to December 2022. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, 13 focus group discussions (one at the district level and 12 at the kebele/subdistrict level) and market surveys. A total of 388 informants (250 males and 138 females) were selected from all 13 kebeles within Habru District using systematic random sampling, and 42 key informants were purposively selected. Descriptive statistics, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor and fidelity level were applied for data analysis.ResultsThe results provide insights into the medicinal plant diversity within Habru District, where 134 plant species in 110 genera and 54 families were documented, including 2 endemics, highlighting the district’s significance in biodiversity conservation and healthcare delivery. Disease prevalence analysis showed that gastrointestinal and parasitic ailments (ICF = 0.85), febrile diseases (ICF = 0.84), and culture-related conditions exhibit high informant consensus factors. Remedy preparation involves various plant parts, predominantly leaves (47.3%), followed by roots (22.1%), fruits (7.0%), and seeds (5.8%). Freshly harvested plant parts were frequently used (58.2%), while 24.7% involved both dried and fresh parts. Oral application (47.3%) and topical use (31.8%) are the major routes of remedy administration. The marketability of medicinal plants was evident, with 16.4% of the species reported as marketable, including Terminalia brownii Fresen. Myrtus communis L., Ruta chalepensis L., Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (Wall. & G.Don) Cif., Allium sativum L. and Capsicum annuum L. Multipurpose plants such as Solanum somalense Franchet. (91.3% FL), Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex. Benth. (88.9% FL), and Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (85.7% FL) exhibited notable healing potentials.ConclusionThe current study underscores the intricate relationship between the local community and medicinal plants, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity conservation and health care and acknowledging the dynamic interplay between cultural heritage and ecosystem health. The results contribute to the development of sustainable conservation strategies, healthcare practices and the preservation of traditional knowledge, and highlight the interdependence of human societies and their natural environments. Community-based conservation initiatives with active participation of local communities are desirable for the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plant species and their habitats. Raising public awareness about the sustainable harvesting and utilization of marketed medicinal plants (e.g., Terminalia brownii Fresen.) that are under threat is also important to ensure their availability for future generations and contribution to socioeconomic development.

Instant noodles enriched with flours moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) and ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.)

Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANCs) have been gradually studied and can be included in food in their in natura form and in food production, enriching their nutritional value. Due to its easy cultivation, Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) can already be observed in Brazilian states from the Northeast to the South, and the use of these leaves is widespread in folk medicine. Given the above, this study aims to review in the literature the main benefits of Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) and Moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.). The Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.) given the nutritional advantages of its leaves, there are studies that evaluate the consumption of leaves in the form of flour or in natura in some specific groups, but there is a need for further studies to analyze the intake of Ora-pro-nóbis leaves in risk groups that need the micronutrients present in large quantities in this part of the species. Moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) is a perennial species of the Moringaceae family, native to northeast India, widely distributed in India, Egypt, Philippines, Ceylon, Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Pakistan, Singapore, Jamaica and Nigeria (Pio Côrrea, 1984; Duke, 1987). It grows in regions from the dry and humid subtropics, to the dry tropical and humid forests. It is drought tolerant, flowering and producing fruit (Duke, 1978). It adapts to a wide range of soils, but grows best in well-drained terra preta or clayey terra preta, preferring neutral to slightly acidic soil (Dalla Rosa, 1993). It is a multipurpose plant. Almost all parts of moringa are said to be of food value (leaves, unripe fruits, flowers and seeds) and medicinal (all parts of the plant) (Palada, 1996; Makkar & Becker, 1997). In Brazil, Moringa oleífera has been known in the State of Maranhão since 1950 (Amaya et al., 1992). Currently, the culture of moringa has been spread throughout the northeastern semi-arid region.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of Ethanol Extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus ( DC.) Guill &Perr and Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile

Acacia nilotica (Gum Arabic) and Anogeissus leiocarpus (African birch) are multipurpose plants that have being in used in African traditional system of medicine. Various studies have proved their antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-diarrheal and wound healing effects. The aim of this research was to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potential of the ethanol extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus stem bark and Acacia nilotica pod. Phytochemical screening was carried out using the standard protocol and compounds were identified by GC-MS and FT-IR analysis methods on spectrophotometer system. Antioxidant assay was carried out using the free radical scavenging of the 1-1-diphynyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH).The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, phenols, alkaloids, flavanoids and terpenoids in both the investigated plants extract. Result from GC-MS analysis identified 69 and 76 compounds in A.nilotica and A. leiocarpus respectively.

Efficient plant regeneration through direct shoot organogenesis and two-step rooting in Eucommia ulmoides Oliver.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides Oliver), a multipurpose woody plant, holds great economic significance due to its expansive medicinal, food and industrial applications. The rapid advancement of E. ulmoides in various fields has resulted in the inadequacy of existing breeding methods to meet its growth and annual production demands. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative propagation strategies. This study introduces an optimized micropropagation protocol for E. ulmoides, facilitating direct shoot organogenesis from nodal segments with axillary buds. We systematically examined the impact of basal medium composition, plant growth regulators, photosynthetic photon flux density, and sucrose concentration on bud sprouting. Employing cuttings with axillary buds as propagation material, we achieved a shortened cultivation period of merely 4 weeks for bud elongation and proliferation, marking a substantial enhancement in propagation efficiency. Notably, the Driver Kuniyuki Walnut medium, supplemented with 20.0 g L-1 sucrose and 2.0 mg L-1 trans-zeatin, induced shoots sprouting with a 100% success rate and an average length of 5.18 cm per nodal segment, equating to a great bud propagation rate of approximately 500%. Furthermore, a light source with an intensity of 80 μmol m-2 s-1 was shown the most economical choice. To address the primary challenge of inducing roots in regenerated plants, we employed a refined two-step rooting technique. This method yielded the optimal rooting frequency of 93.02%, producing an average of 5.90 adventitious roots per plantlet, each with an average length of 2.77 cm. The micropropagation program developed in this work will be the cornerstone for the preservation of the germplasm of E. ulmoides and its long-term use in medicinal and industrial applications.

Diversity of Bee Floral Resources and Honey Production Calendar in Ethiopia’s Southwest Shoa Zone

Bee flora resources are essential for the development of beekeeping. This study aimed to identify the diversity of key bee forage plants, establish honey harvesting calendars, and assess different types of monofloral honey in the area. Data collection methods included a bee plant inventory, pollen collection, and honey pollen analysis. A total of 122 plant species were identified as bee plants, with 44.26% being shrubs and 27.87% being trees. These bee plants were distributed across three districts, accounting for 37.40% of the plant species, indicating a broader ecological distribution than local species. Wonchi district exhibited the highest diversity of bee plants (H′ = 4.7), followed by Waliso (H′ = 4.55). Three honey harvesting periods were identified: November, January, and June. Additionally, three distinct types of monofloral honey were produced: Erica arborea honey in January, Eucalyptus camaldulensis honey in June, and Guizotia scabra honey in November. A shortage of bee forages was noted in February, March, July, and August across all districts. The southwest Shoa zone (comprising Wonchi, Waliso, and Amaya districts) shows potential for sustainable and commercial beekeeping based on the available bee flora resources. To ensure sustainability, it is crucial to maintain the existing bee flora and increase the propagation of multipurpose plant species. Additionally, on‐farm demonstrations highlighting the importance of floral and honey calendars for effective colony management are recommended.

Nettle pollen - an important taxon of the summer pollen flora of Polish urban areas in the 2023 season

New significant clinical studies suggest the enormous preventive and therapeutic capabilities of Urtica dioica L. Despite being already known as multi-purpose plant, it is still underestimated and relatively poorly researched in regards to its allergenic potential. The aim of the study was to compare nettle pollen season in 2023 in ten cities located in different regions of Poland: Bialystok, Kraków, Kielce, Lublin, Olsztyn, Piotrków Trybunalski, Szczecin, Warszawa, Wrocław and Łódź. Nettle pollen grains were collected using Burkard or Lanzoni Hirst-type volumetric samplers. The 95% method was used to determine the duration of the pollen seasons. The nettle pollen season in 2023 began in June. The earliest onset of the pollen season was recorded in Kielce (June 15th), in Wrocław (June 16th) and Warszawa (June 17th). In most of the monitored cites maximum daily pollen concentrations were registered in the middle of September. Mean seasonal pollen index (SPI) reached the value of 8579. The highest total values (SPI) were in Lublin (14,387) in Kielce (13,424) and in Wrocław (12,304). The lowest total values level (SPI) was in Białystok (3434) and in Łódź (4935). But in Łódź in October 2023, thanks to favourable weather, many Urtica dioica L. plants bloomed again. Unfortunately, aerobiological research was no longer carried out at that time.

Bioprospecting for Rhizobacteria with the Ability to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Lessertia frutescens.

Lessertia frutescens is a multipurpose medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa that is used for the management of cancer, stomach ulcers, wounds, etc. The use and demand for the raw materials from this plant have been increasing steadily over the years, putting strain on the dwindling wild populations. Although cultivation may provide relief to the strained supply, the persistent drought climate poses a threat to the plant's growth and productivity. This study explored three plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolates, TUTLFNC33, TUTLFNC37 and TUTLFWC74, obtained from the root nodules of Lessertia frutescens as potential bioinoculants that can improve yield, biological activities and the production of secondary metabolites in the host plant. Isolate TUTLFNC37 was identified as the most promising isolate for inoculation of Lessertia frutescens under drought conditions as it induced drought tolerance through enhanced root proliferation, osmolyte proline accumulation and stomatal closure. Superior biomass yield, phenolics, triterpenes and antioxidant activity were evident in the extracts of Lessertia frutescens inoculated with TUTLFNC37 and under different levels of drought. Furthermore, the metabolomics of the plant extracts demonstrated the ability of the isolate to withstand drastic changes in the composition of unique metabolites, sutherlandiosides A-D and sutherlandins A-D. Molecular families which were never reported in the plant (peptides and glycerolipids) were detected and annotated in the molecular networks. Although drought had deleterious effects on Lessertia frutescens, isolate TUTLFNC37 alleviated the impact of the stress. Isolate TUTLFNC37 is therefore the most promising, environmentally friendly alternative to harmful chemicals such as nitrate-based fertilizers. The isolate should be studied to establish its field performance, cross infectivity with other medicinal plants and competition with inherent soil microbes.

Homestead Agroforestry and Tree Species Diversity in Cumilla District of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, the typical land use structure is homestead agroforestry. It provides people with basic necessities like food, shelter, money, and other things. This study was regulated in the Nangalkot Upazila of the Cumilla district at Bangladesh to identify plant species grown in homestead areas and to explore the relationships between tree diversification and selected characteristics of farmers of the Nangalkot upazila. A total of 50 households from the small, marginal, medium, and large groups were polled. An interview schedule was created using a simple technique and questionnaire to collect data on the selected parameters. The respondents were chosen at random, and data were collected between January 1 and 21, 2021. For statistical analysis, the orthodox descriptive statistical parameters and Product Moment Correlation Coefficient of Pearson (r) were used. A total of twenty seven (27) plant species were identified in the study area's homestead, with 16 being fruit plants and 11 being forest plant species. The most abundant fruit species were mango, coconut, guava, papaya, jackfruit, etc., and the forest plant species were mahogany, bamboo, eucalyptus, neem, akashmoni, etc. On average, 14.38 plant species had been identified in respondents' homestead area. Sixteen agroforestry systems with four layers were identified from the study area. Selected farmers' characteristics, such as family size, farm size, homestead size, knowledge about homestead agroforestry, and socio-economic condition, showed a significant positive relationship with the total number of plant species, which can help in nutritional security of the people in the area of study. The current homestead agroforestry techniques in the Nangalkot Upazila of Cumilla district can be improved using advanced agroforestry approaches, and diversity of medicinal and multipurpose plants should be enhanced in order to maximize farmers' revenue.

Microsatellites reveal divergence in population genetic diversity, and structure of osyris lanceolata (santalaceae) in Uganda and Kenya

BackgroundOsyris lanceolata (Hochst. & Steud.) (Santalaceae) is a multipurpose plant highly valued culturally and economically in Africa. However, O. lanceolata populations have rapidly dwindled in East Africa due to overexploitation and this is believed to cause further consequences on the species’ genetic diversity and structure within the region. Information regarding a species’ genetic diversity and structure is necessary for conservation but this is currently lacking for O. lanceolata in Uganda and Kenya. Lack of adequate scientific data hinders conservation efforts hence threatening the species survival and livelihoods. This study investigated patterns in genetic diversity and structure of O. lanceolata in Uganda and Kenya. Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to genotype 210 individuals: 96 from Ugandan and 114 from Kenyan populations.ResultsAll populations were highly polymorphic (80–100% polymorphism). A genetic differentiation was found between Kenyan and Ugandan populations. The highest genetic differentiation was among individuals and the least among populations. The Kenyan populations showed higher genetic diversity than Ugandan populations. The Ugandan populations showed more marker deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and inbreeding coefficient. Two populations showed evidence of going through a recent bottleneck. There was significant genetic differentiation and structuring at higher K values into larger clusters and observed admixture between populations. The populations were significantly isolated by altitude as opposed to distance and climatic variables. Main barriers were associated with altitude differences. The data supports the idea of long-distance gene-flow between high altitude populations in both countries.ConclusionThe divergence in genetic structure suggests unrecognised taxonomic units within O. lanceolata which are characteristic to lower altitudes and higher altitudes including most Kenyan populations with divergent evolutionary patterns. Geographical barriers and environmental gradients could have influenced this genetic divergence, and such patterns may escalate the species microevolutionary processes into full allopatric speciation. Further investigations into the species’ genetic admixture and emerging taxonomic units are necessary to guide conservation strategies in the region.

Identification Of Types Companion Plants for Aren Plants (Arenga Pinnata Merr) and Agroforestry Patterns of Community Forests Area

The aren palm plant is a multi-purpose plant, where almost all parts of this plant can be utilized. One of them is nira water which can be used as sugar. his study aims to identify types of companion plants for sugar palm and agroforestry patterns used in community forests in South Tapanuli Regency. The research method used in this study was a field survey in three villages that have community forests. The results showed that there were 17 types of companion plants growing around the sugar palm plants. The pattern of the agroforestry system that occurs in the forests of South Tapanuli Regency is natural. The results showed that coffee plants were dominated in Simaninggir and Bulu Mario villages, while in Aek Nabara village it was dominated by zalacca plants

Fatty acid, amino acid composition and effects of soaking temperatures on physicochemical qualities of <i>Hibiscus cannabinus</i> seed extract

Kenaf is a multipurpose herbaceous plant of economic significance. This study analysed the effects of different soaking temperatures of kenaf seed on the physicochemical qualities of the extracts. Kenaf seed extracts were extracted separately from kenaf seed soaked at temperatures of 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 ˚C at their respective optimum soaking time of 10.27, 7.00, 5.00, 3.50 and 2.67 h. The extraction yield, proximate composition, anti-nutritional factors, colour profile and thermal stability of the extracts obtained at the different soaking temperatures and time were analysed and compared. Also, the fatty acids and amino acids compositions of kenaf seed meal and the extract were determined and compared. The extraction yield of the extracts significantly increased as the soaking temperatures of the seed increase from 25-65 ˚C. The different soaking temperatures had no significant effects on the proximate composition of the extracts except for the ash content which decreased as the soaking temperature of the seed increases. However, the soaking temperatures significantly affected the colour profile of the extracts. Soaking of kenaf seed significantly reduced the trypsin inhibitor activity, tannic and phytic acid of the extracts. This study also found that both the kenaf seed oil and kenaf seed extract oil were rich source of hexadecenoic acid (26.71 and 26.11 %), 9-octadecenoic acid (33.80 and 40.41 %) and 9,12-octadecadienic acid (30.59 and 28.62 %), respectively. Additionally, the total essential amino acids of the kenaf seed (462.80 mg/g) and freeze-dried kenaf seed extract (487.44 mg/g) were not significantly different. Soaking of kenaf seed at 25, 45 and 65 ˚C and their respective optimum soaking time of 10.27, 5.00 and 2.67 h are recommended for the extraction of kenaf seed extract.

Hepatoprotective effects of bioactive compounds from traditional herb Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn) against galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Ocimum sanctum L. (Tulsi; Family: libiaceae), also known as "The Queen of herbs" or "Holy Basil," is an omnipresent, multipurpose plant that has been used in folk medicine of many countries as a remedy against several pathological conditions, including anticancer, antidiabetic, cardio-protective, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, and adaptogenic actions. This study aims to assess O. sanctum L.'s hepatoprotective potential against galactosamine-induced toxicity, as well as investigate bioactive compounds in each extract and identify serum metabolites. The extraction of O. sanctum L as per Ayurveda was simultaneously standardized and quantified for biochemical markers: rutin, ellagic acid, kaempferol, caffeic acid, quercetin, and epicatechin by HPTLC. Hepatotoxicity was induced albino adult rats by intra-peritoneal injection of galactosamine (400mg/kg). The quantified hydroalcoholic and alcoholic extract of O. sanctum L (100 and 200mg/kg body weight/day) were compared for evaluation of hepatoprotective potential, which were assessed in terms of reduction in histological damage, change in serum enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP and increase TBARS. Twenty chemical constituents of serum metabolites of O. sanctum were identified and characterized based on matching recorded mass spectra by GC-MS with those obtained from the library-Wiley/NIST. We evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of various fractions of hydroalcoholic extracts based on the polarity and investigated the activity at each phase (hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate) in vitro to determine how they affected the toxicity of CCL4 (40mM) toward Chang liver cells. The ethyl acetate fraction of the selected plants had a higher hepatoprotective activity than the other fractions, so it was used in vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC). The ethyl acetate fraction contains high amounts of rutin (0.34% w/w), ellagic acid (2.32% w/w), kaempferol (0.017% w/w), caffeic acid (0.005% w/w), quercetin (0.038% w/w), and epicatechin (0.057% w/w) which are responsible for hepatoprotection. In comparison to standard silymarin, isolated bioactive molecules displayed the most significant hepatoprotective activity in Chang liver cells treated to CCl4 toxicity. The significant high hepatoprotection provided by standard silymarin ranged from 77.6% at 100μg/ml to 83.95% at 200μg/ml, purified ellagic acid ranged from 70% at 100μg/ml to 81.33% at 200μg/ml, purified rutin ranged from 63.4% at 100μg/ml to 76.34% at 200μg/ml purified quercetin ranged from 54.33% at 100μg/ml to 60.64% at 200μg/ml, purified epicatechin ranged from 53.22% at 100μg/ml to 65.6% at 200μg/ml, and purified kaempferol ranged from 52.17% at 100μg/ml to 60.34% at 200μg/ml. These findings suggest that the bioactive compounds in O. sanctum L. have significant protective effects against galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity.

Respon Waktu Pemangkasan Pucuk Pada Masa Vegetatif dan Dosis NPK 16-16-16 Terhadap Produksi Benih Tanaman Kenikir (Cosmos sulphureus)

Kenikir (Cosmos sulphureus) is a local plant that is often found both in the yard of the house or open land, so it is generally used as an ornamental plant. However, in fact this plant has a myriad of benefits, including as a traditional vegetable which has the effect of increasing appetite, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory stomach; natural dyes, edible flowers, ornamental plants, weed and pest control. Of the many benefits, the kenikir plant is a multipurpose plant, so it is necessary to carry out continuous development and cultivation processes. Unfortunately, this is inversely proportional to the availability of plant material to reproduce plants, namely seeds. Innovations that can be made to increase seed production are pruning techniques and NPK 16-16-16 nutrients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pruning time and application of NPK 16-16-16 nutrients on the seed production of marigolds. This research was conducted for 5 months starting from October 2022 to February 2023 in Tegalwaru, Mayang, Jember Regency. The experimental design was arranged in a factorial randomized block design with 3 replications. The first factor was pruning time which consisted of 3 levels (P1: 3 MST, P2: 4 MST, and P3: 5 MST) and the second factor was the dosage of NPK 16-16-16 fertilizer consisting of 3 levels (F1: 10 g, F2: 15 g, and F3: 20 g NPK pearl planting). The results showed that pruning time had a highly significant effect on the number of branches parameter at 5 MST treatment level, and the dose of npk 16-16-16 had a highly significant different effect on the parameter number of fertilized flowers at a dose of 15 grams, and had a significantly different effect on number of branches with a dose of 20 grams.

Exploration of the Wild Edible Plants Used for Basic Health Care by Local People of Bahawalpur and Adjacent Regions, Pakistan.

The current study aimed to explore the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous communities in Bahawalpur and adjacent regions, Pakistan, to treat a variety of diseases with a particular focus on the usage of ethnomedicinal wild plants. The objective of the study was to collect and evaluate local and indigenous knowledge regarding the quantity, variety, use and management of resources by the people. Data were gathered using Rapid Appraisal Approach (RAA), which involved in-person interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods as well as common ethnobotanical analytical techniques viz. use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), relative importance (RI), frequency index (FI), family use value (FUV), family importance value (FIV), popular therapeutic use value (POPUT), plant part value (PPV), preference ranking (PR), cultural significance index (CSI), rank order priority (ROP) and Jaccard index (JI). A total of 158 plant species from 49 families were identified. The perennial herbs made up 72% of the documented species of therapeutic plants. There were 21 different species in each of the two major plant families i.e., Fabaceae and Poaceae. The maximum ICF were calculated for gonorrhea and paralysis (1.0) and maximum POPUT was calculated for skin disorders (0.088) and cough (0.077), respectively. The maximum UV was found for Rumex crispus (0.57) and RI for Leucaena leucocephala (4.38). Heliotropium crispum had the highest FL value (83%) and is used to treat kidney diseases. Alhagi maurorum had the greatest RFC (0.009) and FI (0.93). Arecaceae (0.45) and Fabaceae (13.39%) had the greatest FUV while Poaceae and Fabaceae had the highest FIV (13.29 for each). Leaves were the most frequently used plant part (35%). Alhagi maurorum (4.0) and Rumex crispus (32.57) had the highest CSI and ROP, respectively. The maximum JI (28.31) was calculated for Cholistan desert. These results showed the local population's reliance on herbal remedies to treat prevalent illnesses. To demonstrate the viability of species, it's crucial to emphasize both the use and conservation of these species. Adopting innovative applications, enhancing their value, and prioritizing the protection of multipurpose wild plants in inhabited environments is vital.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of lake Abaya basin, southern Ethiopia

IntroductionEthnobotanical study was conducted in lake Abaya basin, southern Ethiopia. The study aimed at documenting indigenous and local knowledge and use of traditional medicinal plants for treating human and livestock ailments. MethodsA survey was conducted among purposively selected traditional healers and randomly selected herbal medicine practitioners of the local communities. Guided field observations, semi-structured interview, group discussions and market survey were used for ethnobotanical data collection. Preference and direct matrix rankings including descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. ResultsSeventy-one medicinal plant species belonging to 64 genera and 36 families were used as remedies for human and livestock ailments. Among these, 51 were reported for human, 13 for livestock ailment treatments and seven for both. Most of them were collected from the wild. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves followed by roots. The largest numbers of remedies were used to treat abdominal disorders. The major routes of administration include oral, dermal and nasal. Leucas abyssinica ranked first and most effective to cure abdominal disorder followed by Lepidium sativum and Stephania abyssinica. Moringa stenopetala was most preferred multipurpose plant by local people. Agricultural expansion was the major threatening factor followed by firewood consumption. ConclusionsTraditional healers apply diversified traditional medicinal plants for healthcare of the community and domestic animals. However, traditional medicinal plants and the associated indigenous knowledge of local community were under threat. Thus, public awareness and community-based management need to be encouraged to maintain indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge of the study area.

Genetic and morphological diversity in populations of Annona senegalensis Pers. occurring in Western (Benin) and Southern (Mozambique) Africa.

Understanding morpho-genetic diversity and differentiation of species with relatively large distributions is crucial for the conservation and sustainable management of their genetic resources. The present study focused on Annona senegalensis Pers., an important multipurpose wild plant, distributed exclusively in natural ecosystems but facing several threats. The study assessed the genetic and morphological diversity, structure, and differentiation of the species in populations from Western (Benin) and Southern (Mozambique) Africa. The material was evaluated to ascertain the environmental (climatic) determinants of the variation within this species. Four sub-populations comprised of 154 individuals were phenotyped based on nineteen plant, fruit, and leaf morphological traits and further genotyped using ten polymorphic nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) markers. The results indicated strong differences in plant, fruit, and leaf morphological traits between Western and Southern populations. Furthermore, the studied populations were characterized by high genetic diversity, with an average genetic diversity index of 1.02. Western populations showed higher heterozygosity values (0.61-0.71) than Southern populations (0.41-0.49). Western and Southern populations were clearly differentiated into two different genetic groups, with further genetic subdivisions reflecting four sub-populations. Genetic variation between regions (populations) was higher (69.1%) than among (21.3%) and within (9.6%) sub-populations. Four distinct morphological clusters were obtained, which were strongly associated with the four genetic groups representing each sub-population. Climate, mainly precipitation and temperature indexes, explained the relatively higher variation found in morphological traits from Western (40.47%) in relation to Southern (27.98%) populations. Our study suggests that both environmental and genetic dynamics play an important role in the development of morphological variation in A. senegalensis.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Sindangsari Kabupaten Sumedang Jawa Barat dalam Pengenalan Tanaman Murbei sebagai Tanaman Multiguna

Purpose: Sindangsari Village is one of the villages in Sumedang Regency with an area that is quite suitable for planting potential crops including mulberry plant. This activity aims to introduce and cultivate the mulberry as a multipurpose plant by empowering the PKK group of women and the Sindangsari Village community group. Methodology: Methods of activity include surveys, interviews, counseling, planting mulberry plants and monitoring. The material or knowledge given to participants related to mulberry includes growing conditions, land preparation, preparation of planting material, planting in the field and harvesting. The activities carried out in the form of planting mulberry in the yards of the participants included determining the spacing, making planting holes, and good planting methods. Results: The result of the activity is the recognition of the mulberry as a multipurpose plant that has the potential to be planted more widely in Sindangsari Village, Sumedang Regency, West Java. In addition, within this activity, some attempt has been exercised to plant mulberry individually by the local community and it is expected that eventually it can bring in additional income and increase agricultural knowledge, especially the science of mulberry plants. The result of filling out the questionnaire that was distributed during the activity was an increase in public awareness, knowledge, interest about mulberry plants by 42.86%, 71.71%, and 28.57%, respectively. Conclusion: This activity was useful in introducing mulberry plants and empowering the people of Sindangsari Village, Sumedang Regency,West Java to plant them. In addition, if the mulberry plant has been widely planted, it is hoped that this plant can be used as a source of income for the community.

Multivariate analysis of seed chemical diversity among wild fenugreek (Trigonella monantha C. A. Mey.) ecotypes

BackgroundWild fenugreek (Trigonella monantha), a multi-purpose annual plant, has traditionally been used as a food, forage, and medicinal plant. However, the knowledge of the diversity of its chemical characteristics is limited. In this study, 40 wild fenugreek ecotypes collected from their natural habitats in Iran and grown together in field conditions, were analyzed for their seed chemical properties.ResultsThe ecotypes were cultivated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of ANOVA revealed a significant difference among the ecotypes for all measured characters (P < 0.01). The results showed a high level of diversity among the ecotypes based on the measured characters, including antioxidant activity (48.19 to 86.85%), phenol (0.82 to 1.51 mg gallic acid per g dry weight), flavonoid (1.07 to 3.11 mg quercetin per g dry weight), trigonelline (0.02 to 0.08 mmol/l), 4-hydroxyisoleucine (0.197 to 0.906 mg/g), sucrose (0.13 to 3.77 mM), glucose (1.07 to 12.1 mM), and fructose (13.3 to 45.5 mM). The cluster analysis divided the ecotypes into four groups and the PCA analysis showed that the three first components explained 73% of the total variance among the ecotypes. Also, heat map correlation revealed that many positive and negative correlations were observed among the measured characters. The results did not show a relationship between the amounts of compounds and the place of sample collection.ConclusionsThe present study suggests considerable diversity in the seed chemical compositions of the wild fenugreek ecotypes. Therefore, many ecotypes could be useful for medicinal purposes, as well as for human nutrition.

Osmoprotectants play a major role in the Portulaca oleracea resistance to high levels of salinity stress-insights from a metabolomics and proteomics integrated approach.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a non-conventional food plant used extensively in folk medicine and classified as a multipurpose plant species, serving as a source of features of direct importance to the agricultural and agri-industrial sectors. This species is considered a suitable model to study the mechanisms behind resistance to several abiotic stresses including salinity. The recently achieved technological developments in high-throughput biology opened a new window of opportunity to gain additional insights on purslane resistance to salinity stress-a complex, multigenic, and still not well-understood trait. Only a few reports on single-omics analysis (SOA) of purslane are available, and only one multi-omics integration (MOI) analysis exists so far integrating distinct omics platforms (transcriptomics and metabolomics) to characterize the response of purslane plants to salinity stress. The present study is a second step in building a robust database on the morpho-physiological and molecular responses purslane to salinity stress and its subsequent use in attempting to decode the genetics behind its resistance to this abiotic stress. Here, the characterization of the morpho-physiological responses of adult purslane plants to salinity stress and a metabolomics and proteomics integrative approach to study the changes at the molecular level in their leaves and roots is presented. Adult plants of the B1 purslane accession lost approximately 50% of the fresh and dry weight (from shoots and roots) whensubmitted to very high salinity stress (2.0 g of NaCl/100 g of the substrate). The resistance to very high levels of salinity stress increases as the purslane plant matures, and most of the absorbed sodium remains in the roots, with only a part (~12%) reaching the shoots. Crystal-like structures, constituted mainly by Na+, Cl-, and K+, were found in the leaf veins and intercellular space near the stoma, indicating that this species has a mechanism of salt exclusion operating on the leaves, which has its role in salt tolerance. The MOI approach showed that 41 metabolites were statistically significant on the leaves and 65 metabolites on the roots of adult purslane plants. The combination of the mummichog algorithm and metabolomics database comparison revealed that the glycine, serine, and threonine, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways were the most significantly enriched pathways when considering the total number of occurrences in the leaves (with 14, 13, and 13, respectively) and roots (all with eight) of adult plants; and that purslane plants employ the adaptive mechanism of osmoprotection to mitigate the negative effect of very high levels of salinity stress; and that this mechanism is prevalent in the leaves. The multi-omics database built by our group underwent a screen for salt-responsive genes, which are now under further characterization for their potential to promote resistance to salinity stress when heterologously overexpressed in salt-sensitive plants.

Ethnobotany of wild edible plants in Soro District of Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundDespite their paramount importance all over the globe in supporting food security, information about wild edible plants is generally patchy. In this study, we investigated the wild edible plants used by the local people in the Soro District of Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia. The main purpose of the study was to document and analyze the indigenous and local knowledge of the people on their abundance, diversity, use and management.Methods and materialsPurposive sampling and systematic random sampling were used to identify informants who can give information about the wild edible plants of the area. Data were collected by interviewing 26 purposively sampled key informants and 128 systematically randomly sampled general informants using semi-structured interviews. Guided observations and 13 focus group discussions (FGDs) consisting of 5–12 participants/discussants at each FGD session were also undertaken. Statistical analyses (mainly descriptive statistics approaches) and common analytical tools of ethnobotany including informant consensus, informant consensus factor, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, paired comparison and index of fidelity level were applied to the data sets.ResultsA total of 64 wild edible plant species belonging to 52 genera and 39 families were recorded. All of these species are indigenous, 16 are new additions to the database and seven of them, including Urtica simensis and Thymus schimperi, are endemic to Ethiopia. In about 82.81% of the species, the edible plant part is also used in the Ethiopian traditional herbal medicine. It is striking to see that almost all wild edible plants recorded from the study area are nutraceutical plant species, serving multiple roles as food and therapeutic sources for the local people. We recorded five growth habits of 34.38% trees, 32.81% herbs, 25% shrubs, 6.25% climbers, and 1.56% liana. We found the Flacourtiaceae, Solanaceae, and Moraceae to be families that represented more species (4 each), followed by Acanthaceae, Apocynaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Asteraceae, which accounted for 3 species each. Fruits (53.13%) and leaves (31.25%) were consumed in more proportions than other edible parts (15.63%); mostly the ripe, raw fruit is eaten upon simple processing, followed by leaves eaten after boiling, roasting and cooking.ConclusionThe frequency and intensity of consumption of these plants varied significantly (P < 0.05) with gender differences, key and general informants, and people’s religious backgrounds. We postulate that priority setting for in situ and ex situ conservation of multipurpose wild edible plants in human-inhabited landscapes is essential to warrant sustainable use and conservation of the species as well as the use of new modes of application and valorization.