Native Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Analyses of genetic diversity and population structure in cultivated and wild korarima [Aframomum corrorima (Braun) P. C. M. Jansen] populations from Ethiopia using inter simple sequence repeats markers

Korarima (Aframomum corrorima) is one of the most threatened native spices and medicinal plant species of Ethiopia. Assessing its genetic diversity is critical to assist the breeding and conservation efforts of this crop. Information on the extent of its genetic diversity and population structure is very little. Hence, the present study was initiated to analyze the extents of genetic diversity of the crop using 12 cultivated and two wild A. corrorima populations and one related species called A. zambesiacum using nine inter simple sequence repeats markers. The populations were collected from 12 administrative zones of Ethiopia. Accordingly, nine ISSR primers were selected and generated a total of 109 scorable DNA bands. A total of 104 scorable bands were found to be polymorphic and reproducible. The markers showed a high level of mean percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) (94.73%), mean expected heterozygosity (H) (0.49), and higher polymorphic information content (PIC) (0.60). Similarly, the study samples revealed higher extents of genetic diversity as evidenced from mean Nei’s gene diversity (H) (0.36) and mean Shannon’s diversity index (I) (0.48). Two and five private loci (Ap) were observed from cultivated and wild A. corrorima populations respectively while nine private loci were detected in A. zambesiacum population. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 64.8% intra-population variations and 34.2% inter-population variations. The AMOVA also revealed that variation among populations was highly significant (P < 0.001) which was supported by the relatively lower extent of gene differentiation (GST = 0.41) and high gene flow (Nm = 1.62). A dendrogram based on unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) grouped the 15 populations into six clusters revealing strong pattern of geographic origin with some cases of intermixing among members of different populations. Similarly, the populations were grouped into three sub-populations. In general, the extents of genetic diversity in A. corrorima populations of the southern and southwestern parts of Ethiopia look high. West Omo, Sheka, Gofa and Basketo populations revealed the highest genetic diversity. Thus, these zones should be used as key sites in designing conservation strategies for korarima.

Iranian Native Medicinal Plants Affecting Staphylococcus aureus as Septic Pathogens: An updated Review

Staphylococcus aureus is the second leading pathogenic cause of nosocomial infections and plays an important role in the development of food poisoning and purulent, systemic and nosocomial infections. This bacterium is responsible for infections such as abscess, food poisoning, third grade burns, traumatic ulcers, surgical incisions, bed sores or atrophic ulcers. Long-term use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains in infectious diseases. Due to increased resistance of bacteria to chemical drugs and the few side effects of medicinal plants, medicinal plants have nowadays attracted much more attention of researchers. In this regard, studies have been done on the effectiveness of medicinal plants against infectious agents such as S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Therefore, in this review study, native Iranian herbs that are effective on S. aureus were reported. In this review study, search terms including Staphylococcus aureus, herbs, extracts and essential oils were used to retrieve articles indexed in databases such as the Institute for Scientific Information, PubMed, Scopus, Scientific Information Database, Magiran, and Google Scholar. Garlic, pomegranate, Anethum graveolens, coriander, eucalyptus, Lawsonia inermis, Descurainia sophia, Figworts, artemisia, thyme, etc. are some of the most important anti-staphylococcal herbs.

Study of Some Herbal Formulations Available for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment in Indian Market

Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) of the joints, characterized by destruction of bones and joints. Genetic, hormonal, environmental and nutritional, and socio-economic, age and sex, ethnicity, smoking, infections are some risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis. The treatments which are available including steroidal and non-steroidal allopathic therapies cannot cure or prevent the disease and having severe side effects. These treatments can only provide temporary relief by suppressing and reducing the pain in the joints. Traditional medicines are prevalent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis due to severe side effect of allopathic medicines in many countries. Many native medicinal plant of India have effective properties on rheumatoid arthritis. In this review, marketed herbal products available in Indian market are studied. In this study, a search was done to compile marketed herbal formulation and we complied ten herbal products which are sold in Indian market by companies like Himalaya, Dabur, Patanjali, Charak etc for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Trade potentiality of oils extracted from Prunus davidiana (wild apricot), Sapindus mukorossi (soapnut) and Zanthoxylum armatum (Nepalese pepper) in Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal

Currently, 80–90% of Nepalese medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are exported in crude form to more than 50 countries worldwide. The prospects of exporting processed MAPs have been discussed but the progress is slow. This paper analyses the trade and prospects of secondary processing of two vegetables oils, Prunus davidiana and Sapindus mukorossi, and an essential oil of Zanthoxylum armatum from Baitadi, Bajhang, Darchula and Humla Districts of the Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) in Nepal. A wide range of literature was referred and telephone interviews were conducted with traders and exporters to collect information on the trade value, volume and prospects of these three species. Prunus davidiana is a non-native species found in Humla District. Prunus davidiana oil is exported along with Chuli (Prunus armeniaca) oil with market price of USD 26/kg and an estimated export volume ranging around two tons in 2020 from Nepal. Sapindus mukorossi is cultivated and abundantly found in Baitadi, Darchula and Bajhang Districts. Crude S. mukorossi is one of the highly exported MAPs of Nepal (1,300–2,550 tons per annum) and from KSL Nepal (estimated 500 tons per annum), but the domestic trade and export of its oil is not yet commenced in the country. Zanthoxylum armatum is a widely cultivated native medicinal plant of Nepal with estimated annual export volume (crude) of 1,400–1,700 tons, KSL area in Nepal contributing 4–16 tons per annum. Zanthoxylum oil extracted from its fruits is exported to India and European countries. The market price of Zanthoxylum oil ranges between USD 110–130/kg, and the export volume ranged between 3.5–7.7 tons. There are no records of processing of Zanthoxylum oil in KSL Nepal. The prospects of P. davidiana oil in cosmetics and S. mukorossi oil in biofuel exists but few issues need to be addressed such as inclusion of P. davidiana in the Government of Nepal's royalty list to legalize the trade of its oil. Further research on yield and trade potential, and developing efficient processing technology are also needed to build on the trade potential of these three oils.

In vitro Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Activities of Ouratea fieldingiana (Gardner) Eng. Leaf Extract and Correlation with Its Phenolics Profile with an in silico Study in Relation to Alzheimer’s Disease

Ouratea fieldingiana is a native medicinal plant from Northeastern Brazil and many biological properties are due to the phenolic constituents. The objective of this work was performing the characterization of O. fieldingiana leaf constituents to correlate with antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities by in vitro and in silico studies and thus contribute to find new agents against Alzheimer’s disease. The high-performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of the flavonoids rutin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, apigenin and amentoflavone. The antioxidant activities by the (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methodologies, showed good results with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 5.63 to 11.47 μg mL-1 and 2.72 to 23.71 μg mL-1, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay pointed out the flavone apigenin with best activity. Computational studies evaluated the interaction of flavonoids with the enzyme acetylcholinesterase co-crystallized with the galantamine, used as standard. All flavonoids exhibited binding energy greater than that of galantamine, but only apigenin showed strong interaction with the active site of the enzyme and other bind probably to different allosteric centers. Then, O. fieldingiana extract and flavonoids with good anti-radical activity and presenting a broad-spectrum action against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme ought to be tested in clinical studies to discover new neuro-therapeutic candidates.

Ethnomedicinal Survey of Valuable Plants Used by Eskaya Traditional Healers in Bohol Island, Philippines

Objectives. A recent review on the status of Philippine ethnobotany showed the lack of ethnobotanical studies in the Visayas group of islands. The use of medicinal plants by the Eskaya, an Indigenous ethnic group in the province of Bohol in Visayas, Philippines, has not yet been documented. This study determines the ethnomedicinal knowledge of traditional healers in selected Eskaya communities in Bohol. Methods. Fifteen (15) Eskaya traditional healers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and the valuable medicinal plant species were identified through guided field walks. Informal group discussions with the community were also conducted. Moreover, the fidelity level, informant consensus factor (ICF), and use values (UV) were calculated. Results. Our results showed that the majority of the Eskaya healers belong to an older age group (38 – 71 years old). Eighty-five medicinal plants recorded belong to 44 plant families—with Family Lamiaceae having the highest number of species represented. The leaf is the most common plant part used for healing. Blumea balsamifera was an essential plant with a UV of 0.8. Cardiovascular diseases have the highest ICF values of 0.6, and the most common plants used for these diseases include Cymbopogon citratus, Zingiber officinale, and Luffa cylindrica. Conclusion. Our study yielded a record of native and non-native medicinal plants used by the Eskaya healers. This initial listing is also their contribution to promoting medicinal plants that are accessible and abundant in their communities.

Open Clinical Trial of Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) Ethanolic Extract Capsules in Treatment of Malaria Patients in Batubara District, Indonesia.

Malaria infection is still a public health problem in Indonesia. One of the problems in combating malaria in Indonesia is the limited kind of antimalarial drugs provided by the government. Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) extract has been shown to have antimalarial activity in human clinical trials. To assess the ability of a single A. paniculata ethanolic extract capsule to treat malaria in humans caused by Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax alone or mixed infections of both. An open clinical trial was conducted in Batubara District, Sumatra Utara Province, Indonesia, a malaria-endemic area. Sixty-nine malaria patients found in the field were diagnosed microscopically as malaria vivax, malaria falciparum, and mixed infections uncomplicated malaria with 12 years old and above. Previously all patients signed informed consent. All patients have been treated with A. paniculata ethanolic extract capsules 250 mg thrice a day for five days. Parasite density was calculated from D0, D1, D2, D3, D7, D14, and D28. The efficacy of A . paniculata ethanolic extract capsules 250 mg thrice a day for five days against malaria vivax, malaria falciparum, and mixed malaria patients was 94.2%. There are no side effects were found during treatment. A. paniculata ethanolic extract can be used as an alternative antimalarial candidate derived from native Indonesian medicinal plants or as an adjunct in standard treatment for malaria.

Development of microsatellite markers in Pterodon pubescens and transferability to Pterodon emarginatus, two Brazilian plant species with medicinal potential

Abstract Pterodon pubescens and P. emarginatus (Leguminosae) are native medicinal plants of Brazil. Extractivism due to its therapeutic properties threatens populations of both species. Studies of genetic diversity is a way to reason the use and promote conservation. We developed microsatellite markers for P. pubescens and transferred them to P. emarginatus to further genetic diversity investigation of these species. From genomic sequences of P. pubescens, obtained via the Illumina MiSeq platform, it was possible to identify 6,514 microsatellite regions, to design 5,419 primer pairs, and to test 30 markers amplification. We provide 26 polymorphic microsatellite markers, 10 of which were genotyped in 48 individuals per species. The number of alleles per locus range from 3 to 16, with high average genetic diversity ( P. pubescens HE = 0.753; P. emarginatus HE = 0.691). The genotyped markers have a high paternity exclusion probability (Q values greater than 0.99) and low probability of identity, indicating that set of loci is capable of individual discriminating in P. pubescens and P. emarginatus. Microsatellite markers provided in this study are a tool for population genetics studies and conservation of the two species and can be applied to closely related non-model species.

Molecular detection of aster yellows phytoplasmas in ashwagandha plants in South India

Ashwagandha is a native medicinal plant of Indian sub-continent grown in different parts of the world for its medicinal value. The little leaf symptoms were observed in ashwagandha plants in Tamil Nadu, India. The nested PCR with the primer pair fU5/rU3, amplified 890 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA region of phytoplasma from five symptomatic leaf samples of ashwagandha plants. The nucleotide sequence analysis of 16S rRNA region revealed that the sequences of the five samples were identical and confirmed 99% nucleotide sequence identity with 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. This result indicate the presence of aster yellows phytoplasmas in this plants from South India.

Ethanol Extract of Elaeagnus glabra f. oxyphylla Branches Alleviates the Inflammatory Response Through Suppression of Cyclin D3/Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 11p58 Coupled to Lipopolysaccharide-Activated BV-2 Microglia

Neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by microglial dysregulation. Here, we explored the beneficial effects of a leaf extract of Elaeagnus glabra f. oxyphylla (EGFO), a native medicinal plant to Korea, South China, Japan, and Taiwan, on neuroinflammation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Levels of the inflammatory mediators were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The phospho levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases, which are key kinase molecules in the inflammatory signaling pathway in microglia, were analyzed by Western blotting. Treatment with EGFO significantly suppressed the LPS-mediated induction of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. Consistently, EGFO treatment in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells markedly reduced the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. The best concentration of EGFO that could reduce TNF-α and IL-6 was 100 μg/mL. EGFO relatively reduced the messenger RNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 by 0.36 and 0.32-fold ratio, respectively, compared to LPS treatment. Moreover, EGFO markedly reduced the phospho levels of p38 and the c-jun N-terminal kinase. Furthermore, antibody microarray and immunoblotting data revealed that the pharmacological mechanisms driving the antineuroinflammatory action of EGFO involve prevention of the cyclin D3/cyclin-dependent kinase 11p58 (CDK11p58) interaction. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EGFO alleviates the inflammatory response through the suppression of cyclin D3/CDK11p58 coupling in LPS-activated BV-2 microglia. We propose the potential of EGFO as a novel drug candidate for neurodegenerative diseases by targeting neuroinflammation.

Variations in biomass and coumarin content of Justicia pectoralis Jacq.: Influence of season, harvest frequency and shade level

Coumarin and umbelliferone are the active principles of Justicia pectoralis, a native Brazilian medicinal plant that is threatened by overexploitation and habitat fragmentation. Considering that its cultivation under appropriate conditions would be more sustainable than wild collection, here we examined how season, developmental stage, harvesting frequency, and light intensity affect the agronomical characteristics and chemical profile of a high-yield J. pectoralis genotype. Plants were propagated from cuttings, transplanted to experimental plots, and grown on under full sunlight or 50% and 80% shading. Plants were harvested after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of growth, or pruned at these time points in a manner that allowed their regrowth over further 3 months. Chemical analysis of extracts from the aerial parts was performed by UPLC and HPLC. Cultivation under full sunlight or 50% shade promoted plant growth and production of coumarins the most effectively. Accumulation of coumarin and fresh and dry biomass were maximal in 12-month-old plants harvested in the summer, when the temperature was high, rainfall abundant, and flowering had terminated. The highest levels of umbelliferone were detected in 6-month-old flowering plants harvested in the winter, when the temperature was low and rainfall limited. The capacity of plants to accumulate biomass and coumarins did not decline with successive pruning and regrowth; hence, the genotype could be exploited in a continuous and systematic manner without frequent replanting. The results presented herein contribute to the large-scale cultivation of J. pectoralis and preparation of phytomedicines of quality.

Plant Derived Bioactive Compounds, Their Anti-Cancer Effects and In Silico Approaches as an Alternative Target Treatment Strategy for Breast Cancer: An Updated Overview.

Simple SummaryBreast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide. Breast cancer may be provoked due to several physical, chemical and environmental factors. Moreover, genetic alternations that are inherited via generations may be a reason for the occurrence of cancer. When the cancer is benign, several therapeutic approaches are available to treat it. In case of malignancy, cancer may spread to other body parts and lead to death. Recent studies focus on the use of indigenous medicinal plants for the treatment of various cancers and particularly breast cancer. This could be an alternative to other treatment methods, as they cause minimal side effects when compared to chemo-drugs. In addition to that, high-throughput omics tools have paved the way for efficient drug targeting, and it would be a promising application for finding the interaction of drug molecules in human systems.Cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases that occur worldwide, among which breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. The subtypes are associated with differences in the outcome and were selected for treatments according to the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor. Triple-negative breast cancer, one of the subtypes of breast cancer, is difficult to treat and can even lead to death. If breast cancer is not treated during the initial stages, it may spread to nearby organs, a process called metastasis, through the blood or lymph system. For in vitro studies, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and T47B are the most commonly used breast cancer cell lines. Clinically, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually expensive and can also cause side effects. To overcome these issues, medicinal plants could be the best alternative for chemotherapeutic drugs with fewer side effects and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the genes involved in breast cancer can be regulated and synergized with signaling molecules to suppress the proliferation of breast cancer cells. In addition, nanoparticles encapsulating (nano-encapsulation) medicinal plant extracts showed a significant reduction in the apoptotic and cytotoxic activities of breast cancer cells. This present review mainly speculates an overview of the native medicinal plant derived anti-cancerous compounds with its efficiency, types and pathways involved in breast cancer along with its genes, the mechanism of breast cancer brain metastasis, chemoresistivity and its mechanism, bioinformatics approaches which could be an effective alternative for drug discovery.

Potential antiviral effects of some native Iranian medicinal plants extracts and fractions against influenza A virus

BackgroundInfluenza A virus (IAV) infection is a continual threat to the health of animals and humans globally. Consumption of the conventional drugs has shown several side effects and drug resistance. This study was aimed to screen some Iranian medicinal plants extracts and their fractions against influenza A virus.MethodsGlycyrrhiza glabra (rhizome), Myrtus commonis (leaves), Melissa officinalis (leaves), Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts), Tilia platyphyllos (flower), Salix alba (bark), and Camellia sinensis (green and fermented leaves) were extracted with 80% methanol and fractionated with chloroform and methanol, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the compounds were determined by MTT colorimetric assay on MDCK cells. The effective concentrations (EC50) of the compounds were calculated from the MTT results compared to the negative control with no significant effects on cell viability. The effects of EC50 of the compounds on viral surface glycoproteins and viral titer were tested by HI and HA virological assays, respectively and compared with oseltamivir and amantadine. Preliminary phytochemical analysis were done for promising anti-IAV extracts and fractions.ResultsThe most effective samples against IAV titer (P ≤ 0.05) were crude extracts of G. glabra, M. officinalis and S. alba; methanol fractions of M. communis and M. officinalis; and chloroform fractions of M. communis and C. sinensis (fermented) mostly in co- and pre-penetration combined treatments. The potential extracts and fractions were rich in flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpenoids.ConclusionThe outcomes confirmed a scientific basis for anti-influenza A virus capacity of the extracts and fractions from the selected plants for the first time, and correlated their effects with their phytochemical constituents. It is worth focusing on elucidating pure compounds and identifying their mechanism(s) of action.

Insights into the Bioprospecting of the Endophytic Fungi of the Medicinal Plant Palicourea rigida Kunth (Rubiaceae): Detailed Biological Activities.

A multitude of plants from the Brazilian savanna are known for their medicinal properties. Many plants contain endophytic fungi, which lead to the production of bioactive compounds by both the fungi and their hosts. This study investigated the bioprospecting of endophytic fungi recovered from the leaves of Palicourea rigida, a native medicinal plant of the Brazilian savanna. Four fungal taxa (Colletotrichum sp. SXS649, Pestalotiopsis sp. SXS650, the order Botryosphaeriales SXS651, and Diaporthe sp. SXS652) were recovered. The phenolic, flavonoid, extracellular degrading enzymes (amylase, cellulase, protease, and tannase) and antioxidant activity of these taxa were determined. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity showed that the Botryosphaeriales SXS651 extract displays a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 23.20 mg mL−1 against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the Diaporthe sp. SXS652 extract exhibited an MIC of 27.00 mg mL−1 against Escherichia coli. The Colletotrichum sp. SXS649 isolate inhibited tumors in potato discs by 69% at a concentration of 9.70 mg mL−1. All isolates had potential bioremediation criteria against soil contaminated with soybean oil, as proved by a high percentage of germination of Lactuca sativa and a reduction in phytotoxicity. Furthermore, the taxa under investigation demonstrated antagonistic action to phytopathogenic fungi, namely, Aspergillus niger, Inonotus rickii, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae, and Coniophora puteana, with an inhibition range between 34.2% and 76.9%. The preliminary toxicity assessment showed that all isolates possessed an LC50 of less than 100 mg mL−1 to the microcrustacean Artemia salina. These results indicate that the endophytic fungi of the Brazilian savanna are promising candidates for biotechnological and industrial applications and, in agricultural applications, for the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi.

Flower beverages of native medicinal plants from Argentina (Acacia caven, Geoffroea decorticans and Larrea divaricata) as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

Ethnopharmacological relevanceHerbal beverages have been used as a natural part of the medicinal and food culture in northwestern Argentina. The flower beverages (infusion or decoction) of Acacia caven, Geoffroea decorticans and Larrea divaricata, three native species from arid and semiarid regions of Argentina are widely used as anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic by several local communities. Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to analyze the phytochemical composition of some Argentine flower beverage and to validate its traditional use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Materials and methodsPhenolic profiles from all flower infusions and decoctions were analyzed by both spectrophotometric analysis and HPLC-DAD. ABTS•+; the scavenging activity of both hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical was determined and finally, their ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase (XOD), and lipoxygenase (LOX) was also assessed. ResultsThe flower beverages of all assayed species showed a high level of phenolic compounds with similar chromatographic patterns in both infusions and decoctions of each plant species, the major components of which have been identified. The flower beverages, especially G. decorticans infusion and decoctions, displayed an important antioxidant activity (SC50 values between 18.14 and 47 μg/mL) through different mechanisms; all of them were able to inhibit the XOD enzyme activity and, consequently, the formation of uric acid and reactive oxygen species, the primary cause of arthritis-related diseases. The most active beverages as XOD inhibitor were G. decorticans flower infusion and decoctions (IC50 values of 20 and 35 μg/mL, respectively). Pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as LOX, were also inhibited by infusions and decoctions of G. decorticans, L. cuneifolia and A caven flowers, lessening inflammation mediators in all beverages. ConclusionsThe present work validates the traditional medicinal use of flower beverages from Argentina as an anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory agent as it has been used for hundreds of years in several pathologies associated with oxidative stress.

How does urbanization affect perceptions and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants?

BackgroundThe use and knowledge of medicinal plants play an essential role in community health in rural Mexico. Medicinal plants are part of the local heritage and provide a source of economic income. Nevertheless, knowledge of their use has declined due to factors like accelerated urbanization. Some authors have proposed that by reducing natural spaces, urbanization generates changes that impact the recognition, use, and management of natural resources. Here, we evaluate how urbanization affects the knowledge, use, and perception of medicinal plants in a Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.MethodsUsing a mixed methodology including quantitative and qualitative analyses, we generated a list of medicinal plants, methods of preparation, prevalence of illness, and use in two communities with different degrees of urbanization.ResultsA total of 217 medicinal plants were identified. The more urbanized community had greater knowledge of, and used, a larger number of introduced plant species, while the less urbanized community used and had more knowledge about wild plants. One of the factors explaining these differences was occupation, with people who work outdoors showing greater knowledge of wild plants.ConclusionsUrbanization can lead to a loss of knowledge of the use and management of local wild species, with implications for the conservation of biocultural heritage. Substitution of native medicinal plants by introduced species shows disinterest and disuse in the local medicinal flora, which could be reflected in their ecosystems.

Pentylenetetrazol-like stimulus is not produced following naloxone-precipitated mitragynine withdrawal in rats.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth), a native medicinal plant of Southeast Asia, is proposed to exhibit potential therapeutic value as an opioid substitute. However, studies of its negative emotional states resulting from withdrawal particularly of its main psychoactive compound, mitragynine (MG), are limited. Using the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) discrimination assay, this study aims to investigate the effects of MG in responding to the PTZ stimulus and to assess the generalisation effects of withdrawal from MG to the PTZ stimulus. Rats (n = 20) were trained on a tandem (FR-10, VI-15) schedule of food reinforcement to press one lever after administration of the anxiogenic compound PTZ (16mg/kg, i.p.) and an alternate lever after vehicle. Following acute tests, training was suspended, and rats were chronically treated with MG or morphine at 8-h intervals for 9days and withdrawal was precipitated on the tenth day using naloxone (1mg/kg, i.p.). The rats were tested for generalisation to PTZ at 2, 8 and 24h after the last dose of MG or morphine administration. Unlike morphine that produced dose-related PTZ-like stimulus, MG at 3, 10, 30 and 45mg/kg doses showed no substitution to the PTZ discriminative stimulus. In contrast to morphine which produced a time-dependent generalisation to the PTZ stimulus, naloxone did not precipitate withdrawal effects in MG-treated rats as they selected the vehicle lever at three withdrawal time points. These results demonstrate that MG produces a very different response to morphine withdrawal that is not associated with anxiogenic-like subjective symptoms. These characteristics of MG may provide further support for use as a novel pharmacotherapeutic intervention for managing opioid use disorder.

Antibacterial Effects of Thymus daenensis Celak Ethanolic Extract Against Food-borne Bacteria

Thymus daenensis is a native medicinal plant of Iran with high pharmacological effects. The present survey was performed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of T. daenensis extract toward Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa food-borne bacteria. Ethanolic extract of T. daenensis was prepared from plant’s aerial parts. The diameters of the growth inhibition zones of bacteria against this extract and amoxicillin antibiotic disk was assessed by the disk diffusion test. Minimum inhibitory concentration was assessed using the broth micro-dilution method. The diameter of the growth inhibition zones of different concentrations of T. daenensis extract had the ranges between 7.00±0.54 to 15.00±1.09 mm. These findings revealed that the increase in the concentration of T. daenensis extract have caused significant increase in the diameter of the growth inhibition zone (P ≤0.05). Antibacterial effects of different concentrations of T. daenensis extract were lower than that of amoxicillin disk. T. daenensis extract had the highest antibacterial effects against P. aeruginosa. Additionally, T. daenensis extract had the highest antibacterial effects at lower concentrations (25 mg/mL) toward S. aureus. T. daenensis extract had the lowest MIC against S. aureus (6.00±1.00 mg/mL). The MIC of T. daenensis extract toward P. aeruginosa was 10.00±1.00 mg/mL. Antibacterial effects of T. daenensis ethanolic extract was determined in this survey. According to antibacterial effect of T. daenensis extract against food-borne bacteria, its application as a food preservative should potentially assess.

Phytotherapy in Burn Wound Healing: A Review of Native Iranian Medicinal Plants

Studies have shown that burn wounds are one of the most severe forms of trauma which may cause disability, morbidity and mortality, stupendous hospital costs, and emotional disturbance. In spite of the therapeutic effects of synthetic drugs, due to their unwanted side effects, the tendency of people to use these drugs has been decreasing, contrary to the use of natural origin drugs. Medicinal plants that can be formulated to treat and repair the wound should be identified. Therefore, in this article a number of native Iranian medicinal plants that have been studied and their healing effects on burn wounds have been reported are discussed. In this review article, the keywords medicinal plants, burn, burn wound repair, burn wound and Iran were used to search for relevant articles indexed in databases such as IranMedex, Scientific Information Database, Google Scholar, Scopus, Institute for Scientific Information, Web of Science and PubMed. Based on the results, the medicinal plants Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Matricaria chamomilla L, Quercus brantii Lindl., Cydonia oblonga Mill., Scrophularia striata, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Portulaca oleracea L, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Achillea talagonica Boiss., Olea europaea L., Hypericum perforatum L., Cucurbita pepo L., Teucrium polium L., Myrtus communis, Brassica oleracea L., Plantago major L., Malva sylvestris L., Arnebia euchroma (Royle) I.M.Johnst., Cucurbita moschata Duchesne, Achillea millefolium L., Lythrum salicaria L., Crocus sativus L. and Allium sativum L. are some of the most important herbal remedies to repair burn wounds. According to the various researches on the medicinal plants, the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimicrobial effects of these plants have been scientifically demonstrated, which has led to information that can be used to produce antimicrobial drugs for infectious and burn wounds.

Water-Soluble Total Flavonoids Isolated from Isodon lophanthoides var. gerardianus (Benth.) H. Hara Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil.

Isodon lophanthoides var. gerardianus (Benth.) H. Hara, a native medicinal plant produced chiefly across Southern China, is one of the mainstream varieties of Xihuangcao, which has long been applied in preventing and treating some common liver or gall diseases. Water-soluble total flavonoids (WSTF) extracted from folk herbal medicine have many pharmacological effects. The objective of the paper is to investigate the synergy of WSTF with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on HCC and the related mechanisms. Cells were exposed to WSTF alone or combination treatment with 5-FU. Then, in this study, we conducted cell viability test, cell cycle and clone forming test, apoptosis assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and a xenograft tumor growth model for investigating the role of WSTF in HCC in vivo and in vitro. It was discovered that WSTF caused cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase while increasing the ROS contents. The generation of ROS levels could cause cell apoptosis and inhibit colony formation. WSTF decreased the Bcl-2 level but promoted the Bax level. These showed the mitochondrial dependence of WSTF-mediated apoptosis. WSTF combined with 5-FU have a synergistic effect to significantly inhibit carcinogenicity in vivo and in vitro. The reduced ROS changed the synergy of WSTF with 5-FU. At last, WSTF inhibit the growth of HCC and promote the HCC sensitivity to 5-FU through ROS accumulation. WSTF-increased ROS levels may partially or completely contribute to enhanced toxicity. WSTF combined with 5-FU in HCC can play a synergistic effect when applied in the clinical setting.