Plants For Health Care Research Articles

Genetic diversity, essential oil's chemical constituents of aromatic plant Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze Syn. Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. and its uses in crop protection: a review.

This review provides evidence on the genetic diversity, chemical constituents, and ecotoxicology of Mesosphaerum suaveolens ' essential oil. It emphasizes the agricultural benefits such as crop protection effectiveness of the plant and highlights the existing knowledge gaps and research perspectives to promote its utilization in agriculture. A systematic and extensive review of the literature was done and all pertinent full-text articles and abstracts were analyzed and incorporated into the review. Mesosphaerum suaveolens is used traditionally in pharmacology to treat several diseases such as malaria, constipation, stomach problems, and renal inflammation. It also treats cramps, digestive infections, headaches, and skin infections. To date, very few studies have been conducted worldwide about its genetic diversity. These studies highlighted three morphological variants, the blue-flowering, the white-flowering, and the light-purple flowering M. suaveolens. Its wide biological actions may be attributed to the numerous groups of chemical constituents in its essential oil including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. Biological studies highlighted evidence of M. suaveolens being used as an antifungal, bactericidal, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and repellent plant. The essential oil extracted from M. suaveolens showed significant potential for the control of agricultural pests such as Sitiophilus zeamais, Helicoverpa armigera and Helminthosporium oryzae. M. suaveolens is commonly used worldwide as a pesticidal plant in healthcare, agriculture, and food preservation. However, there is a lack of studies concerning the toxicity and effectiveness of isolated potent phytotoxic substances, the efficacy screening in the field, the genetic diversity, the essential oil yield, and productivity. Consequently, further studies are required to fill the knowledge gaps.

Lessons From the Use of Medicinal Plants During COVID-19

Lessons From the Use of Medicinal Plants During COVID-19

Free Radical Scavenging, Metal chelating and Antiperoxidative Activities of M. communis Berries Methanol extract and its Fractions

Oxidative stress resulted from free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with many diseases. Phytotherapy has known a great evolution all the world and some medicinal plants are important remedies of some diseases. Myrtle (Mrytus communis L.) is a plant of Myrtaceae family which is common in the Mediterranean region, with flowering, always green leaves and fruit. This study aims to investigate in vitro antioxidant capacity of Myrtus communis berries methanol extract and its three fractions using five assays: ABTS scavenging radicals, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide and inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. EAE extract possessed the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS (EAE (IC50=2.5 µg/ml ) and lipid peroxidation models (90.17%). Whereas, AqE is the most active extract in metal chelating activity (IC50=0.73±0.03 mg/ml) and H2O2 assay. These results support the traditional use of this plant in healthcare and it could be a new source of antioxidant natural drugs.

Plants in healthcare: past, present and future

Plants in healthcare: past, present and future

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil and Antimicrobial Properties of Crude Extract From Tanacetum Corymbosum (L.) Shi. Bip.

The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil from Tanacetum corymbosum revealed the presence of 38 compounds, including terpenes - germacrene D, (Z)-β-farnesene, g-elemene, β-caryophyllene, aliphatic - palmitic and linoleic fatty acids, fatty alcohol n-octadecanol, higher alkane n-heneicosane as the major constituents. The in vitro antimicrobial assessment of the ethanolic extract showed promising antibacterial/antifungal activities against five Gram-(+), Gram-(-) and phytopathogenic bacteria species and two fungi strains. The data obtained in this study may be useful both for researchers and for producers interested in new or less studied species of medicinal plants in healthcare and their biological activities.

Halk Hekimliğinde Holistik/Bütüncül Yaklaşım: Üzerlik Otu (Peganum Harmala) Örneği

Üzerlik otu (peganum harmala) tarihin çeşitli dönemlerinde özellikle hastalık tedavilerinde ve geleneksel olarak nazardan korunmak için kullanılan bir bitkidir. Bu yazıda, çeşitli kültürlerden ve özellikle Anadolu'dan örnekler verilerek, üzerlik bitkisinin (otunun) halk hekimliğinde kullanımı başta olmak üzere, halk kültüründeki farklı kullanım alanlarının değerlendirmesi yapılmaktadır. Holistik yaklaşım, tedavi pratiklerini öncelikle ruh ve beden bütünlüğünde inceler. Halk hekimliği alanı, bu alandaki uygulamaları şifalı bitkiler ve dinsel-büyüsel pratikler olmak üzere iki alanda sınıflandırır. Ancak, üzerlik otu hem şifalı bitkiler içinde hem de inanca dayalı uygulamalar kapsamında özel bir örnektir. Bu nedenle bu yazıda üzerlik otunun halk hekimliğindeki kullanımı holistik yaklaşım çerçevesinde değerlendirilmektedir. Hastalık sağaltma ve nazardan korunma dışında farklı kültürlerde üzerlik otunun zararlı böceklerden korunma, süs eşyası olarak kullanılma, tütsü olarak yakılma gibi amaçlarla kullanıldığı da gözlenmektedir. Halk hekimliği ve etnobotanik araştırmaları üzerlik bitkisinin sağlık alanındaki kullanımına ilişkin önemli bilgiler vermektedir. Bu çalışmada Ankara'ya bağlı ilçelerin köyleri/mahalleleri başta olmak üzere yaptığımız saha araştırmaları verilerinden yola çıkarak ilişkili bilim dallarının araştırmaları ile Anadolu'da günümüzdeki kullanımları ve yaygınlığı konusundaki veriler sunulmaktadır.

Forest Fevers: traditional treatment of malaria in the southern lowlands of Laos.

Malaria is still a highly challenging public health issue in southern Lao PDR, with increasing cases of artemisinin resistance and Plasmodium vivax infections which are more complicated to treat. Traditional medicine has a long history of use in Laos, and is primarily practised by traditional village healers, who possess unique bodies of transmitted knowledge focused on herbal prescriptions, including those for the treatment of malaria. Villagers also use plants for healthcare in the home. The aim of the study is to document local fever concepts and use of herbal remedies, and examine whether they may have potential as complementary treatments against malaria. The study took place in Champasak province in the far south of Laos, in primarily lowland areas. First, 35 traditional healers across the 10 districts of the province were interviewed to elicit details about knowledge and treatment of fevers. Second, a household survey was conducted in a village in a malaria-endemic area; 97 households were interviewed on fever incidence, differentiation, treatment-seeking behaviour and knowledge of plant-based remedies for fevers. Plants indicated by both healers and villagers were collected and voucher specimens deposited in the herbarium of the National University of Laos for identification. Malaria is a well-known pathology among the healers and villagers of lowland Champasak province; biomedical treatments are preferentially used, but traditional medicine is a popular complementary method, especially in chronic cases with additional symptoms. 30 different fever types were recorded, which were usually named symptomatically, and grouped into 12 categories. Some were described as forms of malaria, which was conceived as a dynamic, changing pathology affecting many body systems. Healers formulate treatments based on symptoms and the person's constitution, and with the intention of creating specific pharmacological actions associated with temperature or flavours. 11 of the healers gave prescriptions for malaria (27 in total), including 47 identified plant species. The most-used plants (4 or more use-reports) were also the most cited in the literature for use against malaria, demonstrating a correspondence between Lao healers and other traditional medical systems. Furthermore, some of these species show promising results for future research, especially Amorphophallus paeniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson and Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don. Traditional healers are important actors in the treatment of malaria in southern Laos, and herbal remedies should be evaluated further by the use of reverse treatment outcome trials, especially those which may be of use as complementary remedies in treating P. vivax. Initiatives on knowledge transmission, medicinal plant conservation and healthcare integration are also urgently needed.

Herbal medicine: Who cares? The changing views on medicinal plants and their roles in British lifestyle.

Herbal medicines are not only widely used but also contentious health care products. Currently, little is known about the products' place in people's health care strategies and their views about such products. The aims of the study are to gain insight into the public's perception of herbal medicine/general use of herbs for health, as well as on the growing of plants for medicine. Core to the research was a survey that covered participants' views about herbal medicines. Data were collected online and from visitors at the Eden Project, as well as some other garden events. Survey responses were categorized and analysed using Qualtrics. Overall, 408 participants participated though numbers varied across questions. Results show that herbal medicines are popular, particularly amongst the 36- to 55-year-old age group. Participants mostly used herbal medicines for minor self-limiting conditions. Popular reasons for use included that plant medicines are natural and have fewer side effects, as well as for a few changing relationship with conventional medicines. Around a third of participants grew their own plants for health care. This is the first larger U.K.-based survey indicating a wide use of such products, and it is therefore recommended that there is an increase in quality control and wider regulation. Access to high-quality products should be prioritized.

Gardens in health care: healing gardens, therapeutic gardens, and horticultural therapy gardens

Health benefits, which range from stress reduction to improvement in diagnosed health issues, are gained from working with plants, merely being in the presence of plants and viewing them, in addition to consuming healthful fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Healing landscapes, therapeutic landscapes and horticultural therapy gardens have become increasingly viable fields of research. As the use of plants in health care continue to expand internationally and involves action and discussion by both the general public and professionals from several fields there remains some confusion on the terminology and proposed use of the types of landscapes, thus potentially impacting the design process and the efficacy of landscape in meeting its goals. This paper addresses some of the most widely held concepts and the relationship between the various landscapes.

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and perception of managing disease among the Yanadi Tribe of Veyi Lingala Kona

BACKGROUND: Inspite of advances of medical sciences and availability of treatment options in remote places of India, there are few inaccessible places which are devoid of the basic healthcare facilities. One among them is the Yanadi tribe of Veyi Lingala Kona who are still reliant on traditional medicinal knowledge till date. AIM: To understand how the Yanadis cope with some common illnesses given the geographical isolation and conviction of dependence on the traditional knowledge. MATERIALS & METHODS: The study was conducted over a period of 28 days and recorded actual healing procedures of different health problems suffered by the Yanadi people during this period. Most of the ethno-botanical studies in India use ‘recall method’ (retrieval of information from the past or experience or repository of oral knowledge). Real life observation of treatment procedures is chance determined and hence studies adopt ‘quick’ techniques. The study was specifically conducted to observe and record the actual incidences of health problems suffered and actual treatment procedures administered by the Yanadi during the period of the study. The chief methods used were interview and observation. The interviewees were interacted to gain information on the nature of health problem, decisions on choosing a specific plant and mode of treatment of administering plant medicine. Yanadi medical practitioners, patients and elderly people were interviewed to elicit data on the use of plant species in curing common illnesses. RESULTS: The study was conducted in an inaccessible place devoid of communication facilities and health care services. Fourteen individuals were found to be suffering from various illness or crippled health conditions during the study period. They were under treatment of using plant medicines. Fourteen plants were identified with the help of key informants. Data was also collected on the method of usage of plants. Some crucial issues are identified in the nature of ethno-medicine of the Yanadi and its prospective future. It was observed that the Yanadis of the study area were reluctant to undergo allopathic treatment. Herbal medicine is more comfortable for those ailments about which some etiological knowledge is known. They inherit this knowledge from their ancestors and transmit this to the successive generations. CONCLUSION:The traditional knowledge is closely interlinked with bio resources. Medicinal plants for health care are derived by continuous access to and observation of the natural resources. They have rich indigenous traditional knowledge on medicinal plants to cure various diseases by using various plants parts.

Diálogo sobre plantas medicinais: significados de escolares

This study aims to know the meanings attributed by students to dialogue about medicinal plants in health care. It is a qualitative research with 65 students of two schools in the city of Pelotas/RS, from September 2011 to August 2012. The analyzed data was produced after 18 workshops from essays written by students and focus groups. The meetings allowed us to stimulate in the students values directed to the recognition of the family knowledge and the development of critical thinking about the safe use of medicinal plants, awakening them new visions of the world and providing a reflexion on the care practices. The use of Geertz and Freire referential in the workshops allowed dialogue with the culture of the students and discuss situations of life, becoming in perspective for educational practice nurses.

The use of medicinal plants and the role of faith in family care.

To understand the use of medicinal plants and the role of faith in the family care system. The adopted methodology is qualitative research, conducted in April and July 2015, in a municipality of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Brazil, with three informants who have knowledge of the healthcare practices. The data were interpreted using interpretive anthropology. Data interpretation led to two categories: Medicinal plants in health care and Care with the use of plants in the blessing ritual. It was identified that the use of plants and faith healing is a particular form of self-care in that given community. The purpose of this practice is to cure people from a biological and comprehensive perspective, involving the body, soul, spirit, and environment. The research revealed that medicinal plants go beyond the merely biological relationship in the family care system. Use of these plants is not based on the principle of buying and selling, but rather on the act of exchanging, giving, receiving, and reciprocating.

Phytochemical and TLC Profiling of Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa

The humans have used medicinal plants for healthcare since the time immemorial. The systematic phytochemical analysis of traditionally used medicinal plants is needed to establish their use as medicine. Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa have been used in India and China to treat various health related disorders. Therefore it was decided to undertake phytochemical and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) profiling of different extracts of Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa using standard procedures. The dried powder of stem bark of Oroxylum indicum and root bark of Milletia pachycarpa was sequentially extracted in chloroform, ethanol and water. The dried extract of each plant was phytochemically analyzed for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, phytosterols, saponins, tannins steroids and phlobatannins. Each extract from both plants was processed for TLC profiling on silica gel using various solvent combinations as mobile phase. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids in chloroform and ethanol extracts, whereas alkaloids were absent in aqueous extract of both Oroxylum indicum and Milletia pachycarpa. The flavonoids were observed in all extracts of both plants. However, cardiac glycosides were absent in the aqueous extract of Milletia pachycarpa. The saponins were detected in all the extracts of both plants except the chloroform extract of Oroxylum indicum. The tannins could not be detected in the aqueous extract of M. pachycarpa. The phlobatannins were absent in all extracts of both plants. Steroids were present in the ethanol extract of both plants. The TLC profiling confirmed the presence of different phytochemicals as evidenced by different Rf values. The present study indicates that the properties of both O. indicum and M. pachycarpa may be due to presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins and phytosterols.

From past to present: traditional herbs used in the treatment of nephrologic diseases in southeast Turkey.

The use of plants for health care is as old as human history. In cases of disease, the first thing that comes to mind is usually herbs, recommended by older family members who have a knowledge and experience passed down through the generations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than three quarters of the world population trust in herbs as a traditional medicine for health care (1). Unfortunately, most of these plants are consumed as if “harmless.” However, each plant has side effects and toxic properties besides the intended positive effect. A herb may contain hundreds of components having additive or synergistic effects. Root, leaf and flower of the same plant may contain different chemicals. The acidity, mineral content and heavy metal contamination of the plant’s soil would also effect its contents (2). The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with herbs has been maintaining its popularity since ancient times at an increasing rate, especially in chronic, recurrent and/or incurable diseases. As a Mediterranean country, Turkey has a rich flora and therefore has vast experience of the use of plants for therapeutic purposes. Gaziantep is one of the major cities located on the historical Silk Road in southeast Turkey. It hosted various civilizations, and it inhabitants have a long experience of the use of herbs. In this article, the mostly used traditional plants in the treatment of nephrologic diseases in that region will be discussed. The duties of health professionals to create awareness about the side effects, interactions and toxicities of herbal treatments will be highlighted. The main diseases for CAM in nephrology are hypertension, urolithiasis, recurrent urinary tract infections and enuresis. Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep Turkey Ayse Balat From past to present: traditional herbs used in the treatment of nephrologic diseases in southeast Turkey originAl ArTicle

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.

Use of medicinal plants in health care in Brazil: an integrative literature review

ABSTRACT Objective: outlining a profile of medicinal plant consumption in Brazil. Method: An Integrative Review of Literature held in the Scientific Electronic Library On-line database, from 2005 to 2010, with the use of the descriptor "medicinal plants", having, then, 12 articles been selected. The search was conducted in February 2011. Results: there was a predominance of botany journals, surely justified by the specificity of the magazines and the concern of researchers acting in this field. It was found that the populations studied have, at least once, consumed medicinal plants in health care. Based on “Fator Consensual de Uso de Plantas entre Estudos” (FCUPE) [Researches' Consensual Factor for Plant Usage] ≥ 50%, 15 medicinal plants commonly used in 12 states of Brazil have been found, 12 of them having their therapeutic properties described in the literature referred. Conclusion: these are factors of concern and deserve attention in the academic and scientific fields: the low involvement of health professionals with this therapy; the attribution of innocuous character to natural products by the population; the lack of knowledge of the herbalists; the poor commercializing conditions; and the properties of plants that pose harm to consumers. We stress the importance of health education in the context of population's health care as well as of continuing health education activities for professionals in the area. Descriptors: plants, medicinal; community health nursing; surveillance; health education.RESUMOObjetivo: traçar um perfil de consumo das plantas medicinais no Brasil. Método: Revisão Integrativa da Literatura realizada na base de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online, período 2005-2010, com o emprego do descritor “plantas medicinais”, sendo selecionados 12 artigos. A busca foi realizada em fevereiro de 2011. Resultados: houve predominância de periódicos da área botânica, certamente justificado pela especificidade das revistas e preocupação dos pesquisadores da área. Constatou-se que as populações estudadas já consumiram, alguma vez na vida, plantas medicinais no cuidado à saúde. Com base no Fator Consensual de Uso de Plantas entre Estudos (FCUPE) [Factor consensuales uso de Investigación de Plantas] ≥ 50%, foram encontradas 15 plantas medicinais comumente empregadas em 12 estados do Brasil, 12 com suas propriedades terapêuticas descritas na literatura consultada. Conclusão: são fatores que preocupam e merecem atenção no âmbito acadêmico/científico: o pouco envolvimento dos profissionais de saúde com esta terapêutica; a atribuição de inocuidade aos produtos naturais pela população; o déficit de conhecimento dos herbolários; as precárias condições de comercialização; e as propriedades das plantas que oferecem perigo ao consumidor. Ressalta-se a importância da educação em saúde no contexto do cuidado à saúde da população e das atividades de educação permanente em saúde para os trabalhadores da área. Descritores: plantas medicinais; enfermagem em saúde comunitária; vigilância; educação em saúde.RESUMENObjetivo: delinear un perfil de consumo de plantas medicinales en Brasil. Método: revisión integradora de la literatura realizada en la base de datos Scientific Electronic Library Online, período 2005-2010, con el uso del descriptor “plantas medicinales", y seleccionados 12 artículos. La búsqueda se realizó en febrero de 2011. Resultados: hubo un predominio de las revistas de botánica, ciertamente justificada por la especificidad de las revistas y por la preocupación de los investigadores del área. Se constató que las poblaciones estudiadas ya habían consumido, en algún momento de sus vidas, las plantas medicinales en el cuidado de la salud. Basado en el Factor Consensual de Uso de Plantas entre Estudios (Fator Consensual de Uso de Plantas entre Estudos - FCUPE) ≥ 50%, se encontraron 15 plantas medicinales comúnmente utilizadas en 12 estados de Brasil, 12 con sus propiedades terapéuticas descritas en la literatura consultada. Conclusión: los factores de preocupación y que merecen la atención en los ámbitos académico/científico son: la baja participación de profesionales de la salud con este tratamiento; la atribución de inocuidad a los productos naturales por la población; la carencia de conocimiento de los herbolarios; las condiciones de comercialización deficientes; y las propiedades de las plantas que representan un peligro para los consumidores. Destacamos la importancia de la educación para la salud en el contexto del cuidado de la salud de la población y de las actividades de educación permanente en salud para los trabajadores del área. Descriptores: plantas medicinales; enfermería en salud comunitária; vigilancia; educación en salud.

Folk Medicinal Practices in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya

The importance of folk knowledge in improving livelihood and biodiversity conservation is now well recognized (Alcorn 1993; Gadgil et al. 2000). Of the various sectors that have benefited from folk knowledge, healthcare is the most important (Patwardhan 2007; Chadwick and Marsh 2007). Considering the growing acceptance of herbal medicine, almost 25% of prescribed drugs available in the market are plant based (Farnsworth et al. 1985), and novel plant based cures are being sought. In this regard, observations of folk medicinal practices are of great significance (Fabricant and Farnsworth 2001). In India, utilization of plants for medicinal purposes has been documented in ancient texts (Charak and Drdhbala 1996; Tulsidas 1631) and more than 40% of the Indian flora is reported to be used for medicinal purposes (Pushpangadan 1995). In the interior of the country such as the Himalayan region, dependence on plants for healthcare is much higher. No wonder it is said “folk medicine is the mother of the healing systems of India” (Valiathan 2006). However, now concerns are being raised about the erosion of this knowledge (Uniyal et al. 2003). Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh where dependency on medicinal plants is high (Brij Lal et al. 1996; Chauhan 2003; Kapur 1993; Sharma and Chauhan 2000; Singh and Kumar 2000; Uniyal et al. 2006), yet detailed information on the plants used for treating different diseases by the local people and the techniques of treatments is lacking.

The present status of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh

In an estimate, the international market of medicinal plants related to trade stood at 60 billion US Dollar per year. The demand for medicinal plants based raw materials are growing at an approximate rate of 10-15% per year internationally. Medicinal plant sector has traditionally occupied an important position in the socio-cultural, spiritual and medicinal arena of rural and tribal lives of Bangladesh. In recent years, the growing demand for herbal product has led to a quantum jumping in volume of plants materials trade within and across the country. Bangladesh there is no systematic cultivation process or conservation strategies about medicinal plants. The local people conserve traditional knowledge through their experience and practice, which is handed down orally without any documentation. This knowledge now under threat to extinction. This is a very alarming situation with regard to natural growth of medicinal plants in the wilderness in this country. In this scenario, the survey on “Traditional and industrial use and market Scenario of Medicinal plants in Bangladesh.” has been conducted by the DEBTEC researchers at Chakbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. We have found that there is worth of 11 million US dollars medicinal plant market in Bangladesh, which have been imported but not in the name of medicinal plants rather in the name of spices and other products. This research aimed at documenting the ‘Present Status and Market Scenario of Medicinal Plants’ in Bangladesh. Our research finding shows that 84.1% of the respondent use medicinal plants in health care. 18.3% of the villagers use Kabirazi in the disease in medium category.55.0% of our respondent’s source of knowledge of using medicinal plant is family where 34.7% gained knowledge from neighbor. Only 14.3% of the respondents are involved with trading of medicinal plant. About 10.4% of the villagers are involved in cultivation, collection or business of medicinal plant. From the survey report it has been found that 46.6% industries are using above 60% of imported medicinal plants as their raw materials and 53.3% of the industries are using below 40%. The study revealed that 86.7% industries are importing Indian raw materials, 53.3% are importing the Pakistani one and very few of them are importing the raw materials from Nepal, Iran and Korea. According to the response of shop owners, the local raw materials of their products are mostly coming from 5 different areas of the country. Among those 90% are coming from Chittagong and again 76.6% from Tangail, 30% from Gazipur and another 30% from Khulna. In this scenario, appropriate steps must therefore be taken immediately in order to save this situation with regard to growth, conservation and supply of medicinal plants in the country. The best possible way of doing this is to bringing this more and more of these plants under planned cultivation. The cultivation of medicinal plants in Bangladesh will lead to the conservation and also protect the biodiversity. Ecological and biotic factors are suitable in Bangladesh for the cultivation of medicinal plants. We have been successful to sensitize the policy makers. In Bangladesh there is no facilities and skilled manpower for the processing of MPs. Our research is now aiming to develop processing unit and to train the garden owner for skilled manpower to value addition of MP, which will create the income generating women in rural areas.

Role of ethnopharmacology in the development of modern medicine

According to WHO, about three-quarters of the world population rely upon traditional medicine (TM) mainly herbs for the healthcare. Apparently all primitive peoples used herbs-often in a sophisticated way. By the middle of the 19th century at least 80% of all medicines were derived from herbs. Then came the revolution inspired by the development of the pharmaceutical industry and synthetic drugs dominated, though herbal medicine has never been out of scene. Even today if you walk into any pharmacy in the West, you will find at least 25% plant-derived drugs. Morphine, digoxin, quinine, quinidine, atropine, physostigmine, pilocarpine, vincristine, vinblastine, taxol and artimesinin are a few examples of what traditional medicine has given us in the past. Most of these plant-derived drugs were originally discovered through the study of traditional cures and folk knowledge of indigenous people. There is a revival of interest in TM, the revival which has been so dramatic that the current global herbal industry is over US $ 100 Billions a year. Ispaghul, Garlic, Ginkgo, Ginseng, St. John’s Wort and Saw palmetto are a few examples of botanicals which are gaining popularity amongst the physicians of modern medicine and known to contain interesting combination of pharmacological activities. TM is now increasingly becoming essential part of the medical curriculum. Interestingly, citations of studies on TM and the impact factor of the respective journals are growing with rapid pace. Thus there is a huge potential of medicinal plants in healthcare of not only in developing countries but also in the industrialized world and the acceptance of botanicals in modern medicine is likely to be increased in the years to come. A team work amongst the ethnobotanists, ethnopharmacologists and the phytochemists is essential for the meaningful out come.

A Study of Antimicrobial Activity of Few Medicinally Important Herbal Single Drugs Extracted in Ethanol, Methanol and Aqueous Solvents

There is a currently worldwide upsurge in the use of herbal preparations and active ingredients of medicinal plant in health care. This is particularly true in the rural areas of Asian countries where herbal medicines are the only choice for treating human ailments. Present study reveals the difference in the antimicrobial activity pattern of Hemidesmus indicus, Smilax china,Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum cannum, Azadirachta indica A.Juss, Trigonella Foenum graceum and piper cubeba extracted in Ethanol, Methanol and Aqueous solvents against the pathogenic organisms E.coli (ATCC-25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-25923), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC-27853), Bacillus subtilis(L10969), Bacillus subtilis (SL5740) and clinically isolated strains Shigella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella typhi and Stapylococcus aureus. Among all the extracts Ethanol shows more activity with a zone of inhibition ranges from 10mm to 22mm. And Aqueous extract shows less inhibition which ranges from 6mm to 11mm.