Plants For Primary Health Care Research Articles

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of respiratory system disorders in the Southeast region of Morocco

The use of medicinal plants in primary healthcare in Africa, especially among populations in developing countries, is a common practice. To identify the most commonly used medicinal plants in traditional medicine for treating common respiratory disorders, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Draa Tafilalet region, South-Eastern Morocco, involving 235 herbalists and sellers of medicinal plants from three provinces (Errachidia, Tinghir, and Zagora). Ethnobotanical data were evaluated using use value (UV), frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and family importance value (FIV). The survey identified a total of 76 species belonging to 39 families, with the most represented being Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae, followed by Fabaceae. As for the most commonly used species against respiratory disorders, they include Origanum vulgare L. (UV = 0.413), Artemisia herba-alba (UV = 0.370), Foeniculum vulgare (UV = 0.357), Thymus vulgaris (UV = 0.332), Lavandula dentata (UV = 0.319), Matricaria chamomilla (UV = 0.311), Nigella sativa (UV = 0.302), Allium sativum L. (UV = 0.298), Eucalyptus globulus (UV = 0.289), and Plantago major L. (UV= 0.281). Decoction (48.68%) and infusion (47.37%) are the most recommended preparation methods by herbalists for remedies. Leaves are the most prescribed part, while the majority of plants are exclusively administered orally (92.11%). This ethnobotanical survey holds the potential to aid scientists and researchers in identifying plants that treat common respiratory disorders, potentially invaluable for the development of novel drugs.

Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal

BackgroundOkhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analysis, we documented and tested the hypothesis that use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, depends on socioeconomic variables.MethodsWe interviewed 224 respondents, 53.12% female and 46.88% male, including 31 Brahmin, 157 Chhetri, 13 Dalit, and 23 Janajati, and conducted three focused group discussions and seven key informant interviews to record the ethnomedicinal plants used in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga District. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was computed to know the importance of the species. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to see the relationship between medicinal plants reported with the sociocultural variables, which include age, gender, occupation, education, ethnicity, and religion.ResultsWe documented 149 medicinal plants, including 69 herbs, 22 shrubs, nine climbers, 48 trees, and one parasitic plant, belonging to 68 families and 130 genera, and used to treat 48 distinct diseases and ailments. Plant parts, leaf, and digestive disorders were frequently treated during healing. Curcuma angustifolia was the most cited species with RFC 0.9554. The respondents' knowledge of medicinal plant use varied significantly with age (p = 0.0001) and occupation (p = 0.003). Changes in land use, population decline of medicinal plant species, and unsustainable harvesting practices constituted the local threats to medicinal plants and associated knowledge. Elders died without passing on their knowledge to the younger generations during sociocultural transformation, and youth disinterest coupled with the free availability of allopathic medicine led to knowledge erosion.ConclusionsThe use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, was significantly depended on two socioeconomic variables age and occupation. Ethnomedicinal plants are essential in the primary healthcare system in Nepal; however, their availability and practices are declining. Thus, plans regulating land use change and human migration, acknowledging traditional healthcare practices, and raising awareness of the significance of traditional medical practices as complementary healthcare practices should be strengthened.

An ethnobotanical study of herbs and medicinal plants used in Western, Copperbelt, Central and Northern provinces of Zambia

BackgroundAbout 70 % of the population in Zambia still depend on medicinal plants for primary health care. The limited number of published and documented information on medicinal plants in Zambia remains a challenge. Thus, the aim of this study was to compile some plants used traditionally as medicines in Western, Copperbelt, Central, and Northern Provinces of Zambia, indicating their local and botanical names, parts of the plants used, indications and dosage forms. MethodsConvenient sampling approach was used to collect data. Four (4) provinces in Zambia were conveniently selected and 10 plants for each province were identified except for Northern province where only 5 plants species were again randomly selected. Based on this criterion, a total of 35 plant species were compiled, representing 20 families. Data was mainly collected from primary sources that included elders in communities, few from available literature and none from traditional healers/herbalists. ResultsThe roots were the commonly used part at 38 %, followed by leaves and stem bark for most woody plants and trees. The most mentioned plant was Cassia abbreviata- Fabaceae family (Umunsokansoka) in Northern (RFC=1), followed by Kigelia Africana-Bignoniaceae family (Umufungufungu) (RFC=0.8) on the Copperbelt. Combretum hereroense-Combretaceae family (Mububu), Cassia occidentalis-Fabaceae family (Changu) from Western, while A. Spinosus, A. viridis, A. gangeticus-Amaranthaceae, Amarathus spp fmily (Bondwe) on the Copperbelt and Ficus sycomorus-Moraceae family (Mukuyu) in Central Province recorded an RCF=0.6 respectively. The Fabaceae family contributed 20 % of the plants sampled showing high use of plants from this family. ConclusionsThe regions sampled shows a rich biodiversity of plants with important medicinal properties against various health conditions such as tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension and sexually transmitted infections as well as HIV. More work needs to be done to assess quantitatively the many claims in a scientifically approved manner to assess viability of the same as complementary alternative medicines.

An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for Primary Health Care from Patan Sher Khan and Surrounding Areas of District Sudhnoti, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Life on mountains is difficult and people depend on medicinal plants for primary health care. Many of mountain areas of Azad Kashmir are unexplored from taxonomic and ethnobotanical point of view. This study was conducted to document the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants of village Patan Sher Khan and allied areas of District Sudhnuti Azad Kashmir Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted during March 2020 to March 2021 for collection of medicinal plants knowledge following standard ethnobotanical methods. A total of 120 key informants were interviewed by using semi-structured questioners. The data were analyzed through ethnobotanical indices i.e., Relative frequency of citation (RFC), Use value (UV), Informant consensus factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL). A total of 37 medicinal plant species belonging to 32 genera and 25 families were recorded during the study. Dominant ethnomedicinal families were Fabaceae with 4 species followed by Moraceae and Rosaceae with 3 species each. Leaves were the most frequently used parts (36 %) and decoction was preferred medicinal preparation (19 use reports). Highest relative frequency of citation was recorded for Ficus palmata (0.15) followed by Melia azedarchta (0.14) and highest use value was found for Dodonaea viscosa (0.58). The most valuable plant species of the study area are Ficus carica with 8 use reports and 48 use citations, Bauhinia variegata with 7 use reports and 45 use citations. The maximum value of FL was recorded for Berberis lyceum (100 %) and Plantago lanceolate, (100%). Based on documented data the reported ailments were grouped into 9 categories, The ICF values ranges between 0. 33 (sexual) to 0.90 (teeth and urinary). Medicinal plant knowledge is still alive and large papulation of area still depend on medicinal plants for primary healthcare. But medicinal plant knowledge is declining especially among younger people. Hence, there is an urgent need to document such precious knowledge by continuous ethnobotanical studies.

Phytochemistry Analysis and Anti-Bacterial Properties of Rwandese Medicinal Plants

Antimicrobial resistance is becoming an important health threat worldwide. The utilization of natural products of plants could be an alternative safe long solution. Asian and African populations (including Rwanda) are utilizing medicinal plants for primary health care. In the present investigation, the effect of 35 Rwandese medicinal plant extracts against pathogenic bacteria was studied. Methanol, hexane and/or petroleum ether were utilized as extraction solvents. The plant parts considered were roots, stems, leaves, barks, and/or flowers. The phytocompounds noticed were glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids and saponins. In general, the pathogenic bacteria inhibited were Salmonella typhi B69, S. typhi B71, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, S. aureus ATCC 43300, Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 700524, Streptococcus pneumonia ATCC 49619, S. pneumonia ATCC 49313, Streptococcus pyogene ATCC 12344, Shigella Sonei ATCC 25931, Haemophilus influenza ATCC 9007, Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, and/or E. coli ATCC 25922, and this can be attributed to the active various phytochemicals’s presence. The extracts from methanol solvent had more antibacterial potential compared to hexane and petroleum ether, and this can be ascribed to its polar nature. The Rwandese medicinal plants can thus be used to treat different and various diseases that may result from the investigated pathogenic bacteria. Toxicity analysis, side effects, and mechanisms of action have to be cost-effectively investigated before utilizing these plants / plant parts as antibacterial agents

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used in the Health Care System: Survey of the Mid Hills of Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The study was performed in the mid hills of the Dharampur region in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. At the study site, a total of 115 medicinal plants were documented (38 trees, 37 herbs, 34 shrubs, 5 climbers, 1 fern, and 1 grass). In the study region, extensive field surveys were performed between March 2020 and August 2021. Indigenous knowledge of wild medicinal plants was collected through questionnaires, discussions, and personal interviews during field trips. Plants with their correct nomenclature were arranged by botanical name, family, common name, habitat, parts used, routes used, and diseases treated. In the present study, the predominant family was Rosaceae, which represented the maximum number of plant species, 10, followed by Asteraceae and Lamiaceae, which represented 8 plant species. The rural inhabitants of the Dharampur region in the Solan district have been using local plants for primary health care and the treatment of various diseases for a longer time. However, information related to the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants was not documented. The rural inhabitants of the Dharampur region reported that the new generation is not so interested in traditional knowledge of medicinal plants due to modernization in society, so there is an urgent need to document ethnomedicinal plants before such knowledge becomes inaccessible and extinct.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Degenerative Disease in East Lombok

Degenerative diseases have become a complex problem around the world. Until now, degenerative diseases have become the biggest cause of death in the world. Approximately, 17 million people die early each year due to the global epidemic of degenerative diseases. Peoples in developing countries still rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The knowledge for medicinal plant were passed down through generation with little written documentation. This study aimed to document the indigenous medicinal plants used for the treatment for degenerative diseases in East Lombok, Indonesia and to find leads on prospective plants for further ethnopharmacology research based on quantitative ethnobotany index. The ethnomedicinal data were collected through interview and discussion among local healers and plant collected with the help of local guide also herbarium was made to aid specimen confirmation. Ethnomedicinal data was analyzed using use value (UV) along with fidelity level (FL). A total of 20 informants (traditional healers) were interviewed and from the study we can documented the use of 63 plants for the treatment of degenerative diseases. The UV ranged from 0,05 (Sesbania grandiflora) to 0,35 (Carica papaya), while the highest FL (100%) was found for 29 species. Based on the ethnobotanical index (UV and FL) from each plant we can recommend 15 species for further ethnopharmacological study to determine their therapeutic effects and mechanism of action. This study revealed rich ethnomedicinal knowledge from the community in East Lombok for the treatment of degenerative disease.ÂÂ

The registration of the usage of medicinal plants on e-SUS program: a case study in a city in the upper Jequitinhonha Valley

Abstract The e-SUS is a software used to computerize the health work process in Brazil. Among the population registration data is the record about the use of medicinal plants in Primary Health Care (AB). Thus, our objective was to analyze the records of the e-SUS in a Basic Health Unit (UBS) in the Jequitinhonha Valley and conduct a survey with individuals from the same UBS, where they were asked about the use of medicinal plants. The hypothesis of the study is that although the registration is relevant, the software data underestimate the reality about medicinal plants use. In a survey with 77 users of an UBS randomly selected, 93.5% reported using medicinal plants, while in e-SUS reports only 0.8% of the individuals from the same UBS use medicinal plants. Therefore, the recorded data cannot yet be used to develop medicinal plant policies in the AB. Reliable record of medicinal plant use in e-SUS is still a challenge. It is important to make professionals aware of the benefits of correctly completing the forms for the development of public policies that include what is recommended by the National Medicinal Plants Policy in order to recognize, guide and value the use of medicinal plants.

Phytochemical Study and Biological Activities of Two Medicinal Plants used in Burkina Faso: Lannea velutina A. Rich (Anacardiaceae) and Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae)

Background: Bacterial infections are at the origin of a number of serious pathologies, including meningitis, bronchopneumopathies, typhoid fever and especially diarrhea, which are still a real public health problem for the child population in developing countries. In most of these countries, people use medicinal plants for primary health care. The objective of this study was to determine the content of phenolic compounds, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of extracts from two plants used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso, Lannea velutina and Ximenia americana.
 Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Applied Chemistry (LABIOCA).
 Methods: The total phenolics and flavonoid content of the ethanolic extract extracts were determined by spectrometric assay. The DPPH and FRAP method were used to measure the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. The antibacterial potential was determined on five bacterial strains.
 Results: The ethanolic extracts of Lannea velutina showed the best polyphenol content with 969.67±8.23 ​​mgGAE/g extract against 753.145917±66.31 mgGAE/g extract for Ximenia americana. On the DPPH radical Ximenia americana gave the best activity with a percentage inhibition of 62.32±0.17% compared to Lannea velutina. This species also gave the best reducing activity with a reducing capacity of 3.45±0.97 mmol EAA/10 g of extract. Shigella dysenteria and Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to Lannea velutina and Ximenia americana with inhibition diameters greater than 8 mm.
 Conclusion: These results showed that the extract has good antioxidant potential as well as antimicrobial activity. These extracts could be used to prevent damage from oxidative stress and infections.

English

Medicinal plants play important roles in human and animals disease treatment. 1000 medicinal plant species are identified and reported in the Ethiopian Flora. They contribute and is more preferable for new drug development. Ethiopia has the potential to become an important source country, given the diversity of plants and the rich traditional knowledge regarding their use. The main sources of medicinal plants for utilizers are the wild forests. There is also cultivation practice of medicinal plants in home garden. About 80% of human and 90% of livestock population in Ethiopia depends on utilization of medicinal plants for primary health care. The knowledge transfer of medicinal plants in Ethiopia is largely oral. Most parts of medicinal plants commonly used are leaves and roots. Utilization of leaves for drug preparation is important for conservation of medicinal plants since harvesting leaves may not cause detrimental effect on the plants compared to the root or whole plant collections. Medicinal plants play a crucial role in health care needs in Ethiopia, because modern health care do not have adequate and equitable health service. Moreover, they depend on medicinal plants due to financial limitations related to rapid population growth and poor economic performance. In Ethiopia the market for essential oils of medicinal plants is very high and increasing in alarming rate. In the year 2011, 1,596.5 tons of essential oils of medicinal plants was imported and more than 30 million USD spent. Through increasing production potential and modernizing the sector of medicinal plants, they play a great role to substitute import and export. Medicinal plants have great potential to contribute to economic development and poverty alleviation in Ethiopia. Environmental degradation, deforestation, agricultural expansion over exploitation and population growth is the principal threats to medicinal plants in Ethiopia. Key words: Medicinal plants, utilization, economic role.

Medicinal plant species used in the treatment of skin diseases in Katabi Subcounty, Wakiso District, Uganda

Background : The use of medicinal plants in primary healthcare is central among rural communities in Uganda given the expensive and often inaccessible conventional healthcare. Skin diseases pose a serious health risk given the challenge of HIV-AIDS whose opportunist infections manifest as skin complications.The study identified and documented plant species used to manage skin infections, plant parts used, methods of preparation and administration of herbal remedies. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey of plant species used to treat skin diseases was conducted in Katabi Sub-County, Wakiso District in Uganda using semi structured interviews. Twenty villages were surveyed with at least three respondents from each village interviewed. A questionnaire, checklist, and personal observation were the research instruments used. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Results: A total of 52 plants belonging to 33 families were documented. The highest proportion of species (25%) was used against fungal infections. Other proportions of plants against their respective diseases were; 24%, 20%, 16% and 16% for allergies, wounds, skin rash and warts respectively. The commonly used species were Iboza multiflora , Psorospermum febrifugum , Albizia coriaria , Hoslundia opposita , Justicia betonica , and Euphorbia tirucalli. Herbs (55%) were the main growth habit followed by trees (25%), shrubs (17%) and vines (and grasses) (3%). Leaves (54%) and flowers (11%) were the most commonly used plant parts while topical administration to affected parts was the major method of administration. Conclusion: Plant species used against skin diseases in Katabi Sub-County provides basic data for further studies focused on their pharmacological activity and conservation.

Enquête Ethnobotanique Auprès Des Tradipraticiens De Santé Des Régions De Niamey Et Tillabéri Au Niger: Données 2012-2017

Introduction: In Niger, people employ the services of traditional health practitioners who use medicinal recipes and plants for primary health care. Scope: Identify medicinal plants for primary health care. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in two regions of Niger, Tillabéri and Niamey, according to a questionnaire. Results: This study assessed the transmission of knowledge, understood the concept of dosage in traditional medicine, and established a repertoire of recipes and plants of the traditional pharmacopoeia. A total of 913 therapeutic recipes for 226 species belonging to 77 families were collected from 168 traditional practitioners. The species most frequently encountered are: Sclerocarya birrea, Acacia nilotica, Guiera senegalensis, Annona senegalensis, Combretum micranthum, Balanites aegyptiaca, Pennisetum americanum, Piliostigma reticulatum, Cassia sieberiana, Ziziphus mauritiana, Azadirachta indica, Cassia occidentalis, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Combretum glutinosum, Khaya senegalensis, Momordica balsamina, Tephrosia lupunifolia, Prosopis africana, Alysicarpus ovalifolius, Bauhinia rufescens. The most common among them is the Combretaceae (10.68%), followed by Fabaceae (9.67%), Caesalpiniaceae (8.49%), Mimosaceae (7.82%), and Anacardiaceae (5, 55%). Among these plants, 60 belonging to 31 families, including 6 new families, were recorded. Several pathologies were treated. The most frequent of them are digestive disorders, hemorrhoids. Conclusion: These plants will be subjected to experimental studies before the development of new phytomedicines.

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY ON MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ACHANAKMAR AMARKANTAK BIOSPHERE RESERVE, CENTRAL INDIA

An ethno-botanical survey was conducted in Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR) of central India to document the indigenous knowledge and utilization pattern of medicinal plants for primary health care by local communities mainly comprised of Baigas, Gonds, Oraons and Pradhans. The communities still rely on herbal medicines for primary health care due to inadequate modern health care facilities. The rich wealth of traditional knowledge and repository of herbal resources are rapidly eroding due to over exploitation in unscientific manner over the last few decades. This has spurred an interest to undertake the present investigation on ethno botanical studies in biosphere reserve. Data collection was done by participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and focus group discussion methods. The different age groups, gender and communities were considered in collecting the data and gathering information on traditional knowledge. The study revealed that a sum total of 70 plants representing 37 families were identified as potential medicinal values by local communities. Out of which 31species were trees represented by18 families, 24 species of shrubs by19 families, 15 species of herbs by 11 families and 16 species of climbers belonging 10 families. The highest number individuals were recorded in Fabaceae family.Seventeen (17) plants are used in home remedies by local communities.There are traditional healers popularly known as Baiga Vaids had rich knowledge of herbal medicines and utilizing almost 48 species belonging to 28 families for preparing crude drugs treating the various ailments like diarrhoea, wounds, fever, cough, cold, jaundice, snake and scorpion bite, infections, malaria, filarial, digestive, gynaecological problems etc. Besides, the local communities were using herbal drugs as home remedies for primary health problems. The study also documented a list of ten rare, endangered and threatened (RET) medicinal flora, which require special attention for their protection and conservation. The study further suggests exploiting potential medicinal flora by detailed pharmacological investigations to design and synthesize novel drugs. Article DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.20319/mijst.2017.32.577587 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

Traditional phytotherapy used by the rural peoples of Hamirpur District of HP in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases mainly Gonorrhea and Syphilis

Indigenous knowledge about particular floral diversity of an area is necessary for the identification of plants and their traditional uses for the purpose such as for food, fibres, fertilizer, fodder, fuel ritual and medicinal importance. In present paper the emphasis will be given on medicinally importance plants for primary health care. The present paper reveals that there are sixteen plants species which belongs to thirteen families are used for therapeutical or traditional uses as indigenous plants of Hamirpur district for the primary health care or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

Fitoterapia na estratégia de saúde da família: revisão integrativa de literatura

Estudos realizados em diferentes regiões brasileiras mostram que os conhecimentos obtidos nas instituições de ensino sobre plantas medicinais e sua indicação terapêutica ainda são insuficientes para a formação dos profissionais de saúde. A Estratégia de Saúde da Família é um espaço que propícia a gestão do cuidado com as plantas medicinais, a ser ensinada e aprendida. Esse é um processo que envolve as categorias profissionais implicando também, em alguma medida, a participação comunitária. Assim, o objetivo deste artigo é identificar o perfil, as motivações, conclusões e recomendações que caracterizem as Práticas Integrativas e Complementares Plantas Medicinais e Fitoterapia na Atenção Básica de Saúde. A amostra foi composta por 13 artigos originais, publicados no período de 2006 a 2014, disponibilizados na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde/Biblioteca Regional de Medicina (BVS/BIREME) e a coleta dos dados foi realizada no período de março a abril de 2015. Utilizou-se como metodologia a organização, categorização e análise dos dados de interesse. Os resultados mostraram que existe um campo de interação de saberes e práticas para enriquecer as possibilidades terapêuticas com plantas medicinais no contexto da Estratégia de Saúde da Família, mediado por relações que podem ser fortalecidas mutuamente pela consolidação da participação, da autonomia e do cuidado integral. Conclui-se que os estudos revisados evidenciam a importância do conhecimento da temática para ampliar a atenção em saúde.

From traditional uses of Mesoamerican medicinal plants to modern phytotherapy in Guatemala

Mesoamerica is a region of high biological and cultural diversity, where several cultures have flourished. Since 1976, the non-governmental organization Center for Mesoamerican Studies on Appropriate Technology (CEMAT) started a project for detection, production and validation of medicinal plants for primary health care (PHC). Until 1990, its activities consisted of several ethnobotanical surveys conducted among ten Guatemalan ethnical groups. From these surveys, more than 650 plant species used for medicinal purposes were detected. Complementary to this detection, production (collection or cultivation) started of some of the promising species. Initially in cooperation with multidisciplinary teams in USAC, and later with other academic institutions in Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Spain and United States, in vitro and in vivo validation activities were performed, particularly about biocidal, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and other activities. After 15 years as a development project, it became the family business Farmaya natural products laboratories. Based on traditional utilization and preclinical or clinical evidence several national and international projects were conducted. The most interesting results include anti-candidal activity of Solanum nigrescens, anti-warts activity of Jatropha curcas, anti-menopause activity by Piper hispidum, and further prospection of this genus. With this information specific formulas were prepared for the treatment of different pathologies, particularly anti-infective, sedative, analgesic, diuretic and others, leading to twelve products that were registered as phytotherapeutical products in Guatemala and are presently sold as OTC products in the form of tisanes, tinctures, elixirs, syrup and capsules at a national level. Some of the best-sold products based on native plants include Bronquiol, Jacameb and Tincalmol. The information and products generated has helped other sectors, in one hand the technology transfer to community group to develop products and rural laboratories for PHC, and in the other, commercial groups that request from Farmaya the design and production of new natural products.

Use of medicinal plants in Primary Health Care in Paraguay: some considerations for its safe and effective use

La incorporacion de las plantas medicinales en la Atencion Primaria de Salud (APS), constituye un gran desafio. Segun la OMS, el uso de las plantas medicinales constituye una terapia mas natural, mas inocua, efectiva, de un costo racional y asequible a las poblaciones. Para establecer el uso seguro y eficaz es necesaria la correcta identificacion taxonomica de las especies y el origen de las mismas. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar taxonomicamente las plantas medicinales utilizadas por pacientes que consultaron en los servicios de Unidad de Salud Familiar (USF) de la IV Region Sanitaria del Guaira, Paraguay, de agosto a diciembre de 2.011, ademas del habitat de procedencia de las mismas. Los pacientes fueron encuestados sobre las plantas medicinales utilizadas y el modo de empleo de las mismas. Las encuestas fueron acompanadas por muestras de las plantas medicinales utilizadas que posteriormente fueron identificadas taxonomicamente. Se identificaron 56 especies utilizadas para diversos fines medicinales, de las cuales las mas mencionadas fueron menta’i (Mentha x piperita), nangapiry (Eugenia uniflora), salviara (Lippia alba), koku (Allophylus edulis), typycha curaty (Scoparia dulcis) y ka’are (Chenopodium ambrosioides). Dos especies estan consideradas en la literatura como toxicas: “mil hombres” (Aristolochia triangularis) y “cepacaballo” (Xanthium spinosum) y una especie ka’oveti (Solanum granulosum-leprosum) fue mencionada por primera vez para fines medicinales. Dos de las especies utilizadas son toxicas y su empleo debe evitarse; de ahi la importancia de la correcta identificacion taxonomica de las plantas medicinales utilizadas por la poblacion paraguaya, de manera a dar a conocer su toxicidad potencial.

English

Cancer is a major health problem, not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries where the number of cancer-related ailments is growing. Chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment option but side effects associated with its use necessitates the search for alternatives. Over 80% of the population in developing countries relies on ethnomedicinal plants for primary healthcare including cancer. There are concerns about the safety and efficacy of such ethnomedicines but unfortunately, the prerequisite laboratory set up for such evaluation is usually lacking. An inexpensive, sensitive, field oriented assay would greatly facilitate and improve research into alternative anticancer plant based medicinal therapies. This study proposes to evaluate the suitability of Dugesia dorotocephala as an alternative laboratory method for antiproliferative properties of indigenous plant extracts. Brown planaria, D. dorotocephala maintained under laboratory settings were divided into three groups, each containing a minimum of three planaria. Each planaria was dissected into two using a sterile scalpel. The tail section was transferred into a 24 well plate, after measuring its length in mm. Root and bark extracts of Colophospermum mopane and Schinziophyton rautanenii were prepared at concentrations (5 and 20 µg/ml) and incubated with dissected planaria for 8 days, fresh extracts were replaced every two days and the planaria was observed for its length in addition to the development of eye spots. Planaria regeneration was observed in control wells receiving no treatment, however, a growth promoting effect was exhibited by S. rautanenii root extract in a time and concentration dependant manner at 5 µg/ml. An anti-proliferative effect was observed for S. rautanenii bark extracts and this was observed at both concentrations, with the higher extract of 20 µg/ml exhibiting more growth antiproliferative activity. The extract of C. mopane root had a cytotoxic effect at concentration 20 µg/ml, causing planaria death. The use of Planaria represents an inexpensive, quantifiable, field oriented method to evaluate the effect of indigenous plant extracts in the absence of cell culture. This method is capable of distinguishing between different treatments, extract concentrations as well as time points. Key words: Dugesia dorotocephala, plant extracts, anti-proliferative, alternative method.

Prospects and Challenges of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Traditional Medicine in Tanzania

A qualitative study was carried to assess prospects and challenges of medicinal plants conservation and traditional medicine in Tanzania. The study shows that TRM and medicinal have great prospects in healthcare delivery worldwide. These prospects have more impact in developing countries where 70%-80% of population used TRM for Primary Healthcare (PHC). It is reported that 25% of prescribed drugs in conventional healthcare were derived from their ethnomedicinal use in TRM. Medicinal plants still provided hope for discovery of new drugs for the resistant diseases and those that were not treated by conventional prescribed drugs. Traditional medicine and medicinal plants were faced with challenges notably; threats due to increasing depletion of the natural resource as an impact of population increase, urbanization, modernization of agriculture and climatic change. There was erosion of indigenous medical knowledge as most of the traditional health practitioners were aging and dying, while the expected youths to inherit the practice shy away from practice. The youths in rural settings who were willing to practice some of them die because of AIDS. The other major challenges on traditional medicine and MPs were constraints and include lack of data on seriously threatened and endangered medicinal plant species. Others include inadequate and conflicting guidelines on management and utilization of natural resources, especially medicinal plants. Efforts for scaling up the practice of TRM and medicinal plant conservation have been suggested. These were creating awareness of the importance traditional medicine and medicinal plants in healthcare; training THPs on good practices for provision of healthcare; conserving medicinal plants through in-situ and ex-situ programs and sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants resources and training conventional health workers on the contribution of TRM and medicinal plants in PHC. Traditional health practitioners, TRM and medicinal plants should be essential components in PHC in order to meet the health millennium goals by 2025.

Ethno-Medico-Botanical Study in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh

Use of medicinal plants for primary health care by the local people in and around the Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh was recorded. A total of 56 plant species under 30 families with 70 formularies (treatment mode) have been documented. Among the medicinal species, Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f., C. maxima (Burm.) Merr., Cucurbita pepo L., Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh., Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotz., Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauv. have been reported as new medicinal species from Bangladesh. Out of these plant species, 39.29% belonged to herbs, 19.64% shrubs, 3.71% trees and 5.36% climbers. In majority cases, leaves of the medicinal plants were found leading in terms of their use followed by fruit, bark, stem, seed, whole plant, latex, rhizome and inflorescence. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i1.11087 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(1): 97-104, 2012 (June)