Number Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Evaluation of anthelmintic properties of extracts from some plants used as livestock dewormers by pastoralist and smallholder farmers in Kenya against Heligmosomoides polygyrus infections in mice

Parasitic nematodes are among the most common and economically important infectious diseases of grazing livestock, especially in small ruminants in the tropics and subtropics in Kenya the control of gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep and goats is usually made with synthetic anthelmintics but substantial levels of anthelmintic resistance have been recorded. A number of medicinal plants, that may provide possible alternatives, and are used by pastoralists and smallholder farmers in Kenya as deworming agents for their livestock and equines, namely Aframomum sanguineum, Dodonea angustifolia, Hildebrandtia sepalosa, Myrsine africana, Rapanea melanophloeos from Kenya, and Azadirachta indica from Kenya and Malaysia, together with the chemicals embelin and santonin that occur in some of these plants, were evaluated against Heligmosomoides polygyrus in mice. Commercial anthelmintics, namely ivermectin, pyrantel and piperazine, were also investigated, both to validate the mouse model system and to assess efficacy of these drugs against H. polygyrus. Pyrantel and ivermectin were highly effective in reducing the numbers of H. polygyrus worms as well as eggs in faeces of the mice, but piperazine had a lower activity. Application of santonin and M. africana significantly reduced the number of total worm counts (TWC) but not faecal egg counts (FEC). The use of embelin, R. melanophloeos and A. indica reduced FEC but not TWC. In all cases, however, reductions were well below the a priori level of 70% required for biological significance. A. sanguineum, D. angustifolia and H. sepalosa had no effect on either TWC or FEC. In conclusion, none of the plant preparations had any biologically significant anthelmintic effect in this monogastric host–parasite model system.

Pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). General results and new or rarely reported medicinal plants.

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the massif of Montseny, which is situated in north-east Catalonia (Iberian Peninsula), covers 826 km(2) and has a population of 80 000. From 1993 to 2000 we interviewed 180 people and collected ethnobotanical information about 351 medicinal plants, with 4023 use-reports. Through comparison with a large set of studies, we detected 501 unreported or uncommon uses that corresponded to 201 plant species, 57 of which had never or very rarely been cited as medicinal or toxic. General results and key findings on the plant ethnopharmacology (number of medicinal plants, modes of consumption, types of illnesses treated) of this area are presented here, together with information on new or rarely reported medicinal plants.

SESQUITERPENE PYRIDINE ALKALOIDS

Among the naturally occurring nitrogen-containing compounds the pyridine alkaloids constitute an important group that are pharmacologically active constituents in a number of medicinal plants. Species from the Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae families are rich sources of sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids and are considered their chemotaxonomical markers. Their sesquiterpene backbones are polyesters of cyclic alcohols derived from dihydroagarofuran. This skeleton is comprised of A and B rings in the form of an axially dimethylated transdecalin bicycle and a 1,3-diaxially fused (CH 3 ) 2 C–CO bridge constituting the tetrahydrofuranyl C-ring. This core structure is found in nature in various oxygenated forms, bearing as many as nine hydroxyl groups, as in euonyminol and isoeuonyminol, as well as one carbonyl and eight hydroxyl groups, as in evoninol. Stereochemical assignments for the sesquiterpene nucleus were determined by the analysis of nuclear overhauser effect (NOE) correlations, and the correct absolute configuration is shown for those naturally occurring sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid derivatives for which determinations have been made.

Host-mediated anticancer activities of tannins.

A number of medicinal plants have been traditionally used for treatment of various ailments, and it has been suggested that tannin may be the active agent of many of them. Among the major activities of tannins found are antioxidant and radical scavenging activities.1,2 These are the basic activities underlying the action of tannin-rich medicinal plants, which are effective in preventing and treating many diseases such as arteriosclerosis, heart dysfunction, and liver injury by inhibiting lipid-peroxidation.3,4 The inhibition of hepatotoxins5 and mutagens6 and the antitumor-promoter action of polyphenols7,8 are also correlated with their antioxidant activity. Most of these actions have been shown using comparatively low-molecular-weight tannins, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). On the other hand, hydrolyzable tannin monomers, oligomers, and galloylated condensed tannins inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus9 and human immunodeficiency virus10,11 by blocking virus adsorption to the target cells and inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of the virus. It is also known that many plants containing tannins are effective against cancer and tumors.12,15

Additional notes to the checklist of Korean cultivated plants (5). Consolidated summary and indexes

Joint explorations have been carried out in North Korea for studying and collecting cultivated plants since 1985. A checklist of the cultivated plant species of the whole Korean peninsula was developed, used and updated since the beginning of the investigations. A last additional updating is provided including new entries, a summary and indexes (families, synonyms, vernacular names). The total number of taxa considered in the checklist, including infraspecific ones, is 608. On the species level it contains 581 entries belonging to 111 families and 381 genera. The number of medicinal plants is particularly high. The data are being maintained in a database. The results demonstrate the wealth of the Korean cultivated flora which is the result of a long history and a specific Korean input.

Trace metal concentrations in the medicinal plants of the flora of Bahrain

Trace metal concentrations of a number of medicinal plants in the flora of Bahrain, particularly fresh edible herbs are reported. Samples were analyzed by Inductively coupled plasma (ICP). A large portion of the plants examined contained high concentration of toxic metals and some of them exceed the limit of toxicity. The reported data indicate a potential health hazard.

Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal Himalaya

Present study was conducted to explore and document the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) Nepal Himalaya, and to assess their conservation status. The field data was collected from June 21 to July 15, 2004. Primary information of NTFPs was based on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) which included field observation, interviews and focus group discussion. Altogether 103 species of NTFPs belonging to 40 families and 74 genera, used for food, firewood, fodder, buildings construction, incense, and medicines were recorded from the study area. Out of them, 21 species were found to be dominant, 29 species abundant, 35 species common, 14 not so common and 4 species rare. Furthermore, 17 species of lichens belonging to six families and eight genera were also recorded. Impact on the vegetation was mostly due to the disturbance by tourism, animal grazing, building of houses, fuel wood and timber collection. Ecological study of the representative NTFPs showed that number of medicinal plants was comparatively low in all the areas investigated. Arenaria sp., Rhododendron sp., Juniperus sp., Abies spectabilis., Pinus wallichiana., Betula utilis, Lyonia ovalifolia., Arundinaria sp., Zanthoxylum armatum., Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Ferns, Mushrooms, etc. have been found to be directly or indirectly affected by tourists and guides/porters. Key words: Sagarmatha; NTFPs; Conservation status; Impact; Tourism. DOI: 10.3126/sw.v7i7.3833 Scientific World Vol.7(7) 2009 pp.85-91

Medicinal plants of Nepal: Distribution pattern along an elevational gradient and effectiveness of existing protected areas for their conservation

This study explores patterns of medicinal plant species richness along an elevational gradient in Nepal and the effectiveness of existing protected areas for their conservation. We used published data on the distribution of medicinal plants. The number of medicinal plants and the number of protected areas present in each 100 m elevation band were collated by interpolation. We tested the number of protected areas and the number of species as the response variables against elevation as a predictor variable. To explain the relationship between the total medicinal plant richness and their different life forms with elevation and protected areas, we used generalized additive models (GAMs) and scatter plots. The elevational distribution of medicinal plants as a whole and disaggregated into different life forms revealed hump-shaped patterns. The maximum richness of medicinal plants was found at an elevation of 1100 m a.s.l. but the maximum numbers of protected areas were found at elevations between 3000-3500 m a.s.l. There was negative correlation between the altitudinal distribution of protected areas and medicinal plants in Nepal. This study suggests that the protected areas of Nepal were less concentrated where medicinal plants diversity was rich. Key words: Elevation gradient, generalized additive model, medicinal plants, species richness doi: 10.3126/banko.v19i1.2178 Banko Janakari, Vol. 19, No. 1, 16-22