Knowledge Of Plants Research Articles

Growing Native Medicinal Plants in Amajari – RR

The aim of this work was to set up a permanent production area for native and exotic medicinal plants, especially those at risk of extinction. The species grown were herbs, shrubs and medicinal trees of various species, both native and exotic. Nineteen species were cultivated by 20 students from the Ovídio Dias de Souza State School who took part in the practicals at the school. It was observed that the fact that the majority of the students reported a preference for using medicinal plants, perhaps due to the lack of any other way of maintaining or recovering their health, is, in a way, a positive aspect, because as well as strengthening traditional practices regarding the use and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, it is an activity that values the preservation of the local flora.

The Role of Consumers’ Knowledge of Native and Pollinator-friendly Plants and Their Prioritization of Plant Characteristics in Purchase Decisions

There is a growing trend toward planting native and pollinator-friendly plants in residential gardens and landscapes due to concerns about invasive plant species, water conservation, and urban land management. Yet, understanding consumer purchase behavior and how knowledge affects their purchase intent is largely unknown. In this analysis, we integrated national online and in-person surveys to determine the influence of consumers’ subjective and objective knowledge of native and pollinator-friendly ornamental plants on their purchase decisions. Factors influencing plant purchase decisions were measured using a 7-point Likert rating scale. We found that participants with relatively higher knowledge of native and pollinator-attractive plants placed more emphasis on sustainable production methods relative to the plant’s physical attributes (e.g., plant size, shape, etc.) and care-related characteristics (e.g., plant health, easiness of care, etc.). Plant lovers (i.e., frequent purchasers who spent relatively more money on plants than infrequent purchasers) were more likely to prioritize sustainable production methods over the plants’ physical attributes. In contrast, participants primarily buying plants from mass merchandisers/box stores tend to focus on visual appeal or aesthetic characteristics. Consumer marketing implications for the nursery and greenhouse industry stakeholders are discussed.

Unveiling awareness and knowledge of orphan plants: catalysts for sustainable transformation in Al-Zarqa Basin, Jordan

The awareness of orphan plants and underutilized species that have agricultural, nutritional, and medicinal importance is critical to the sustainable civilization of people. The lack of knowledge of the orphan plant’s importance stems from insufficient outreach and educational efforts and this may increase the underappreciation of these plants’ ecological relevance which will affect the sustainable environment in the determined region. In this study, Al Zarqa basin region located in the northern part of Jordan was selected as a study case. This is due to it having rich plant biodiversity with many endangered plant species. This study aimed to assess the awareness levels of the civil people in the Al Zarqa basin regarding orphan plants and identify key factors influencing the community’s understanding of these underutilized species. In this study, local youth volunteers distributed an e-questionnaire, and 1000 participants from seven villages were engaged. Different parameters that measure people’s awareness regarding orphan plants were evaluated. Data were collected and statistically analyzed to show the range of the people’s awareness. Data showed the predominant of the samples used were male representation (66%), aged 18–45, engaged in agricultural and handicraft activities, with diverse educational backgrounds, and monthly incomes of 300–500 JD. Limited awareness (23.3%) of ‘orphan plants’ was linked to lower academic levels in the studied areas. Perceived benefits varied, with 36.1% acknowledging moderate advantages and 25.6% perceiving high benefits. Despite recognizing utility, participants lacked specificity in benefits or classification. The study concludes that the region exhibits a dearth of knowledge about orphan plants, necessitating educational initiatives to raise awareness and advocate for the agricultural and medicinal potential of underutilized plant species, contributing to the socioeconomic advancement of residents in the agriculturally endowed Zarqa Basin. This investigation is essential for highlighting the current state of awareness and informing potential outreach and education strategies. Addressing the root cause of underappreciation through targeted initiatives can play a pivotal role in fostering a better understanding of the ecological significance of rare and endangered plants, ultimately contributing to their conservation and sustainable use.

Ethno Medicinal, Phyto-Chemical and Physico-chemical Characterization of Selected Endangered Medicinal Plants of Indravati National Park, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, India

Medicinal plants are beneficial for curing several ailments among traditional healers, indigenous people, local practitioners and forest dwellers. If harnessed, traditional knowledge of the ethnomedicinal plants can play a pivotal role in drug discovery and development. In many cases a single medicinal plant can be of multiple uses also, different plant parts of the same plant can be utilized for more than one disease condition. The Ethno-botanical, Phytochemical and physico-chemical characterization of five selected medicinal plants viz., Nyctanthes arbor – tristis, Andrographis paniculata, Cissus quadragularis, Plumbago zeylania and Costus specious is an essence and has been carried out to assess bioactive potential and to establish traditional belief in the light of scientific interpretation. Fresh leaves were collected from Indravati National Park, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, India, dried and powdered for phytochemical and Proximate, ultimate, and compositional analysis. Study revealed that the highest concentration of Ash Content (18.513%), Moisture Content (8.56%), Carbon content (48.77%), Hydrogen Content (24.490%), Nitrogen Content (23.860%) was observed to occur in Plumbago zeylanica leaf than other experimental plants. In Cissus quadrangularis, the percentage composition of fat content (0.230%), extractive content (1.05%), Lignin Content (5.53%) was higher than others. Fat content (0.230%), Moisture Content (8.56%), Vit. C content (64.63%) and Oxygen contents (36.655 %) were observed to be higher in Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaf than others. The concentrations of Crude Fibre (14.49 %), Moisture Content (8.56%), Protein content (12.16%), Carbon content (75.66 %), Cellulose content (47.63 %) were observed to be highest in Costus speciosus species than others. Carbon content (48.77%) and Hydrogen Content (24.490%) were higher in Andrographis paniculata than in others.

THE LOCAL COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DECLINE OF SANINTEN (CASTANOPSIS ARGENTEA (BLUME) A.DC.) AND TUNGURUT (CASTANOPSIS TUNGURRUT (BLUME) A.DC.) IN THE BUFFER VILLAGES OF THE GUNUNG HALIMUN-SALAK NATIONAL PARK

Saninten (Castanopsis argentea) and tungurut (Castanopsis tungurrut) are plant species belonging to the family Fagaceae, native to the mountainous forest ecosystem within the Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park (GHSNP). These species are currently classified as endangered according to the IUCN Red List due to their significance in providing seeds for consumption and wood for construction materials. This research aims to examine the local community’s knowledge concerning the presence, scarcity, and underlying causes of the decline of both species in the buffer villages of GHSNP. In this study, we employed survey methods and semi-structured interviews conducted with various informants. The data collected were meticulously described and analyzed descriptively. The findings revealed that the local community, in general, holds knowledge about the scarcity of species primarily based on field observations rather than legal or conservation status. Currently, both species are challenging to locate in the buffer villages of the GHSNP. According to the local community’s knowledge, the causes of species scarcity can be categorized into internal and external factors. Internal factors include both species having a slow natural regeneration pattern, difficulties in germination, and vulnerability of seedlings to environmental conditions. Meanwhile, external factors encompass seed and timber exploitation, habitat loss, climate changes, limited knowledge, skills, and understanding of forest plants, and the current perception among locals that C. argentea and C. tungurrut offer limited economic benefits, leading to the gradual neglect of these species’ existence.

Raman Spectroscopy for Plant Disease Detection in Next-Generation Agriculture

The present review focuses on recent reports on the contribution of the Raman method in the development of digital agriculture, according to the premise of maximizing crops with a minimal impact of agriculture on the environment. The Raman method is an optically based spectrum technique that allows for the species-independent study of plant physiology as well as the real-time determination of key compounds in a non-destructive manner. The review focuses on scientific reports related to the possibility of using the Raman spectrometer to monitor the physiological state of plants and, in particular, to effectively diagnose biotic and abiotic stresses. This review primarily aims to draw attention to and raise awareness of the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a digital tool capable of bridging the gap between scientists’ detailed knowledge of plants grown under laboratory conditions and farmers’ work. The Raman spectrometer allows plant breeders to take appropriate measures in a well-defined area, which will reduce the territory occupied by biotic and abiotic stresses, thus increasing yields and improving their quality. Raman technology applied to modern agriculture can positively affect the accuracy and speed of crop quality assessments, contributing to food safety, productivity and economic profitability. Further research and analysis on cooperation between farmers and scientists is indispensable to increase the viability and availability of Raman spectrometers for as many farmers and investors as possible.

Ethnobotany of Zmeyovski pelin: A Traditional Artemisia-Flavored Wine from Bulgaria

Flavoring wine with Artemisia species, together with other aromatic herbs and/or fruits, is a practice that has evolved in different parts of Bulgaria. The aromatized wine-based beverage, called pelin, is named after the Bulgarian common name for the genus Artemisia. In this paper, we present Zmeyovski pelin, the history of which dates back to the early 20th century. We employed semi-structured interviews with 15 pelin producers from the Zmeyovo village with an age span from 44 to 83 years. The relative frequency of citation for each stated taxon was recorded. We explored the changes in the plant knowledge of the pelin makers and discussed the drivers for it. From a modern perspective, pelin can be considered a functional beverage since the aromatic plants and fruits adds a variety of biologically active substances to it, thus enhancing its health benefits. We regard the consumers’ inquiry about the benefits of the added plants as a driver for mitigating the plant awareness disparity among the local community.

Ways of identifying lichen and plant species by the Nenets reindeer herders in Yamal

Yamal Nenets herders have historically developed a rich knowledge of lichens and vascular plants, which feature in the diet of their migratory reindeer herds in the tundra zone of northwest Siberia. In the Nenets language there are native names for certain species of lichens and other reindeer forage plants, including graminoids, herbs, shrubs, berries, and mushrooms. During participant fieldwork together with nomadic tundra Nenets herders, we documented names and definitions of reindeer food on herding territories during their long migration routes from the northern forest-tundra transition zone to the northern coastal tundra. Like many other Indigenous peoples of Siberia, Nenets have noticed that the Arctic is changing and some of its recent dynamics are seriously affecting their livelihood. The degradation of some lichen composition and cover on tundra pastures has also contributed to a decrease of herders’ linguistic palette for describing these losses in a concrete manner. Since the Nenets language is on the list of endangered languages of the world, this has an especially negative impact on the language skills and traditional knowledge of the younger generations of Nenets people, who may not know what these lichens look like and why they are important for the Nenets reindeer herding culture.

Medicinal flora of the baiku yao people — An ethnobotanical documentation in South China

BackgroundThis study explores the medicinal plant knowledge of the Baiku Yao, a unique ethnic group in China. Despite existing research on their ethnobotanical practices, a comprehensive understanding of their medicinal flora remains lacking. This study aims to document and analyze the species distribution, utilization, and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Baiku Yao.MethodsEthnobotanical surveys were conducted in various Baiku Yao villages across different seasons from 2019 to 2023. Informants were interviewed, and plant specimens were collected and identified. Statistical analyses, including the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), were employed to understand plant importance in Baiku Yao culture.ResultsIn an ethnobotanical survey conducted in the Baiku Yao region, 434 medicinal plant species were documented, highlighting significant ethnobotanical diversity and a deep cultural integration of traditional medicinal practices. The study revealed pronounced geographical variations in plant knowledge among villages, with a notable reliance on wild plants, as 85.48% were sourced from the wild, reflecting unique local ethnobotanical knowledge. Predominantly herbs and shrubs were used due to their accessibility and abundance in the local environment. High Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) values for certain species underscored their importance for local health needs and additional economic value. The utilization of various plant parts, particularly whole plants, roots, and leaves, indicates a holistic approach to medicinal applications, adapted to combat prevalent health issues such as skin and infectious diseases. The study also uncovered the Baiku Yao’s cultural practices for countering “Gu” afflictions—a range of pathogenic conditions—with 18 diverse antidote plants used for skin, digestive, and musculoskeletal disorders. The study underscores the imperative of preserving this rich medicinal heritage through innovative models that engage youth and leverage new media, ensuring the inheritance and evolution of Baiku Yao’s traditional knowledge.ConclusionsBaiku Yao’s medicinal plant use reflects a deep, culturally ingrained knowledge, closely tied to local ecology. The study highlights the importance of preserving this unique ethnobotanical heritage and suggests interdisciplinary approaches for future research.

Traditional knowledge of wild plants on traditional tools, materials, products and economic practices in southern Yemen

BackgroundThe traditional knowledge in southern Yemen is rich in wild medicinal and food plants, which has been documented in our previous studies. In addition, other significant and general traditional usage for the daily livelihood requirements of local people (beyond medicinal and food plant uses) has not been studied before and needs urgent documentation.MethodsEthnobotanical data on of wild plants used by local people in southern Yemen were collected by oral questionnaire interviews. Most informants (n = 1020) were local elderly from 15 different localities in southern Yemen. The local names and non-medicinal and non-food uses of plants were identified and analyzed.ResultsThe ethnobotanical data resulted various traditional uses of 73 plant species distributed in 28 families. The most represented families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Malvaceae. The most growth forms were trees and shrubs. Seven main and common categories of traditional uses were determined and classified as handicraft, health aids, livestock husbandry and beekeeping, economic and commercial plant products, agriculture tools, construction timber and fuel. The most cited species were identified for Ziziphus spina-christi, Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia nilotica, Anisotes trisulcus, Dracaena hanningtonii (Sansevieria ehrenbergii) and Aerva javanica, which have multi-purpose values of traditional usage. Nine major traditional uses of local wild plants were recorded: handicraft, agriculture tools, products aid general health, economic products, construction timber, livestock husbandry, bee keeping, fuel and ornamental.ConclusionsDespite the challenges on local traditional knowledge of wild plants, it still requested vital to many usages of traditional life and still have an economic value and heritage required of develop the daily livelihood level of the local people especially in rural areas. This includes the traditional uses of wild plants in handicraft skills, tools of agriculture, constructions. The importance of the continuity of traditional industries and their transmission to generations lies in the local population’s reliance on local natural resources without relying on external resources in situations such as wars. This is the first study that contributes to documenting and analyzing the indigenous knowledge on traditional general usage of wild plants in southern Yemen.

AI-Enhanced Medicinal Plant Identification System with Multilingual Social Media Integration

Sri Lanka is a country with a Ayurvedic culture which cannot be experienced anywhere in the world. This cultural system is based on a series of knowledge passed on from generations over 3000 years that could treat a variety of diseases. This traditional ayurvedic system consist of a vast herbal plant collection. Most of the information about this ayurvedic system is written in manuscripts for thousands of years. Sri Lanka lacks a proper system which is specific to ayurvedic sector is a major concern that should be addressed at present. Absence of a system has lead to problems and difficulties in identification and classification of herbal plants, to transfer knowledge about herbal plants and to conserve these ayurvedic plants for the future generation. Another concern is that Ayurvedic undergraduate students face many difficulties when gathering knowledge of these herbal plants and medicinal practices. Sri Lanka does not comprise with a full ayurvedic plant inventory system is another major concern that identified in the country. By considering all the problems an intelligent system has been recognized as a solution. The system will be based on Deep Learning, CNN, GIS, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based principals to cater all the identified problems. The system will be able to identify ayurvedic plant with an image of a leave, flower, or fruit as input. And also, system will be able to classify and provide a detailed description about the identified plant including medicinal value and the distribution of the plant in the island. System will provide a crowdsourcing social media facility with both English and Sinhala languages to share information with fellow herbalist in the country.

An Ethnobotanical Study of Antidote Medicinal Plants in Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District

Ethnobotany is the field of science that deals with the association between plants and humans, the term implies the study of indigenous or traditional knowledge of plants. This ethnobotanical survey focused on prevalence of antidote medicinal plants and the traditional knowledge of that plants among the local people of Kalkulam taluk, Kanyakumari district. The information was collected from local communities. The antidote plant species that used for different types of poisons in the study area, were documented on the basis of identification of antidote plants. A total of 45 antidote medicinal plants, belonging to 25 families were collected and identified. Plant family with the highest antidote plants in the study area used for various types of poisons was Fabaceae (17%). The result of growth form analysis showed that Shrub constituted the highest proportion of antidote plants (34%), Roots (39%) were the most frequently utilized plant parts for preparation of traditional antidote remedies. Most of the antidote plants in the study area used for animal poison with the proportion of (92%). Decoction was a widely used method of preparation of traditional antidote remedies where oral administration 92% was the dominant route. The study revealed people of the Kalkulam area are well known about the antidote plants and mostly used for poisoning and post poisoning symptoms and also used as first aid therapy in poisoning cases. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Antidote, Medicinal plants, Poisons, Traditional remedies

Exploring the power of data mining for uncovering traditional medicinal plant knowledge: A case study in Shahrbabak, Iran.

The present study recorded indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Shahrbabak, Iran. We described a method using data mining algorithms to predict medicinal plants' mode of application. Twenty-oneindividuals aged 28 to 81 were interviewed. Firstly, data were collected and analyzed based on quantitative indices such as the informant consensus factor (ICF), the cultural importance index (CI), and the relative frequency of citation (RFC). Secondly, the data was classified by support vector machines, J48 decision trees, neural networks, and logistic regression. So, 141 medicinal plants from 43 botanical families were documented. Lamiaceae, with 18 species, was the dominant family among plants, and plant leaves were most frequently used for medicinal purposes. The decoction was the most commonly used preparation method (56%), and therophytes were the most dominant (48.93%) among plants. Regarding the RFC index, the most important species are Adiantum capillus-veneris L. and Plantago ovata Forssk., while Artemisia auseri Boiss. ranked first based on the CI index. The ICF index demonstrated that metabolic disorders are the most common problems among plants in the Shahrbabak region. Finally, the J48 decision tree algorithm consistently outperforms other methods, achieving 95% accuracy in 10-fold cross-validation and 70-30 data split scenarios. The developed model detects with maximum accuracy how to consume medicinal plants.

Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar District, Assam (India)

Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Mishing community in Sivasagar District, Assam (India)

Valorization of Wild Edible Plants as a Potential Source of Alternative Nutrition among the Tribal Communities of West Bengal, India

Being very close to nature, tribal people extensively use non-cultivated naturally found plants for their alternative source of nutrition. The present study conducted for documenting the available wild edible plants used by tribal people located in the districts of Purulia, West Midnapur and Bankura. Using wild edible plant is economical, nutrient rich and promotes sustainable utilization. The ethnobotanical study surveyed the knowledgeable informants of the tribal population and found 27 plants that are majorly used for alternative source of nutrition. Different parts like leaves, stem, flower, fruit, tuber etc. are used as food sources. Apart from food source, the tribal people also earn their livelihood by selling these plants in the local market. However, the present generation of the tribal population is not very interested in acquiring the knowledge of these non-cultivated plants therefore documentation of the use of these plants becoming very important for future.

Enhancing Efficiency and Energy Optimization: Data-Driven Solutions in Process Industrial Manufacturing

This paper reviews the current state of research in data analytics and machine learning techniques, focusing on their applications in process industrial manufacturing, particularly in control and optimization. Key areas for future research include selection and transfer learning for process monitoring, addressing time-varying characteristics, and enhancing data-driven optimal control with domain-specific knowledge. Additionally, the paper explores reinforcement learning techniques and robust optimization, including distributional robust optimization, for high-level decision-making. Emphasizing the importance of historical knowledge of plants and processes, this paper aims to identify knowledge gaps and pave the way for future research in data-driven strategies for process industries, with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency and optimization.

Traditional knowledge of medicinal and aromatic plants after the demographic changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Traditional knowledge of medicinal and aromatic plants after the demographic changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina

How do young identify plants? Using the drawing method to explore early ethnobotanical knowledge in Madagascar

Abstract In small‐scale societies, people learn to identify plant species during childhood. Plant recognition is an important baseline knowledge, immediately useful to avoid intoxication risk due to wrong identification. Plant recognition is the basis of other ethnobotanical knowledge essential for safeguarding biocultural diversity. However, despite many studies on folk classification, we still have a narrow understanding of the criteria locally used for species identification; the gap being even larger regarding children's plant identification criteria. Here, we study the criteria used by Betsileo children and adolescents to identify wild edible plant (WEP) species using a child‐adapted method including drawings and follow‐up interviews. We worked with 80 teenagers (from 12 to 17 years old; 51 girls, and 29 boys). Our results suggest that teenagers use a large spectrum of visual criteria to identify plants and that these criteria match with botanical and ecological knowledge documented in the literature and herbarium vouchers. We found that 35% of the identification criteria used were non‐morphological (e.g. phenology, biotic interactions), suggesting deep ecological knowledge. On average, teenagers use more than nine distinct criteria per plant, which allows them to identify most plant species with a very high level of precision. The precision level of plant representation increases with age for boys, but remains constant for girls, suggesting different dynamics in plant identification knowledge acquisition. We also found that boys and girls use different identification criteria: girls focus on morphological criteria while boys also incorporate ecological criteria, such as landscape features and biotic interactions, in their spectrum of identification keys. Our results highlight the complexity of teenagers' plant knowledge and the importance of the ecological context and gender in plant identification's knowledge acquisition. This knowledge acquired very early in childhood, constitutes the foundation of future interactions with nature and should be at the heart of environmental humanities studies and knowledge co‐production projects to tackle socio‐ecological concerns. Hence, we urge further research to explore innovative methods that complement traditional ethnoecological tools and capture complex sensory aspects of folk children's taxonomy to better understand human‐plant interactions and knowledge. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Antioxidative Response of Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) to Rhizosphere-Associated Pseudomonas Strains and Exogenous Indole-3-Acetic Acid

Aquatic plants, just like terrestrial plants, are exposed to oxidative stress. However, their responses are still under-researched. In this study, we examined the physiological and antioxidative responses of an aquatic plant, duckweed (Lemna minor L.), to four indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-degrading and -producing Pseudomonas bacteria (Pseudomonas oryzihabitans D1-104/3, P. putida A3-104/5, P. gessardii C31-106/3 and P. yamanorum C44-104/1) and/or a supraphysiological level of IAA (10 mg L−1). Growth characteristics, total photosynthetic pigment content, histochemical localization of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT and POX) were evaluated at two time points, after 3 and 7 days of co-cultivation. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide were produced and accumulated mainly in the roots, daughter fronds and veins of duckweeds. Duckweeds’ responses depended on the strain of Pseudomonas, time and exogenous IAA. Co-cultivation of duckweed with bacteria has positive or neutral effects. Exogenous application of IAA had a negative or neutral effect on enzyme activity and other parameters. Co-cultivation with P. gessardii C31-106/3 showed plant-growth-promoting effects on duckweed: increased biomass production, modulation of duckweeds’ antioxidant enzymatic activity and reduction in hydrogen peroxide content. This study widens our knowledge of aquatic plants and their response to oxidative stress, supports the hypothesis that plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) induce tolerable levels of oxidative stress in plants and introduces a new PGPB strain, P. gessardii C31-106/3.

The Role of Wild Plants in Cultural Restoration: Community Collaboration and Engaged Ethnobotany in the Nineveh Plains, Northern Iraq

The Nineveh Plain region of Northern Iraq is a site of ecological and cultural diversity. Between 2014 and 2017, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh, severely disrupted the region, resulting in community displacement, particularly for members of ethnic minority groups. This article highlights an ongoing multinational, multidisciplinary collaboration between botanists, ecologists, mental and public health specialists, sociologists, and anthropologists to foster cultural and ecological restoration among the Christian, Yezidi, Shabak, Turkman, and Kaka’i minority groups of the Plains. Members of these groups identified wild plant collection as an important cultural and economic practice and expressed a shared concern over the decreased access to wild plant resources. Researchers are partnering with local communities using engaged, decolonial methodologies to bring communities together around this shared interest in wild plants. Project activities include producing videos highlighting local plant knowledge, hosting workshops on using wild plants for art and textile design, offering trainings on herbal medicine, collecting recipes for a wild plant cookbook, and increasing awareness of the sustainable use of wild plants. Through collaborative knowledge production, this partnership aims to bring diverse stakeholders together around an interest in wild plants to promote cultural understanding and exchange.