Single Remedy Research Articles

Farmers’ knowledge in the Swiss canton Valais: cultural heritage with future significance for European veterinary medicine?

BackgroundThe demand for natural product-based treatment options for livestock is increasing by animals’ owners, veterinarians and policy makers. But at the same time, the traditional knowledge about it is at risk of falling into oblivion in Europe. The present study recorded this knowledge for the linguistically and geographically interesting Swiss canton of Valais.MethodOpen, semi-structured interviews were used to collect detailed information on formulations and applications, including plant species and natural substances, origin of material, extraction and preparation of herbal products, indication and type of application, dosage, sources of knowledge, frequency of usage and self-assessment of the treatment.Results and discussionIn the course of 43 interviews, 173 homemade single species herbal remedy report (HSHR) were recorded. They included 53 plant species from 30 botanical families. Plant species from the botanical families of Asteraceae, Rubiaceae and Cupressaceae were mentioned the most, while the most frequently documented plant species were Coffea arabica L., Juniperus sabina L., Arnica montana L. and Matricaria chamomilla L. For the 173 HSHR, a total of 215 uses were mentioned, most of which were for the treatment of gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders, followed by skin lesions and genito-urinary tract problems. Regional peculiarities emerged, such as the use of Leontopodium alpinum Cass. for diarrhea in the French-speaking Valais, while Matricaria chamomilla and Camellia sinensis L. were used in the German-speaking part instead. In comparison with other regions of Switzerland, 10 plants were reported for the first time, including Juniperus sabina with 18 use reports.ConclusionThe daily use on farms and the high satisfaction of farmers with homemade herbal remedies demonstrate their high practical relevance. In conclusion, the traditional regional knowledge about the use of medicinal plants is not only a cultural heritage worth protecting, but also an essential resource for the further development of European veterinary medicine.

Nano-Food Farming Approaches to Mitigate Heat Stress under Ongoing Climate Change: A Review

Increased heat stress is a common feature of global climate change and can cause adverse impacts on crops from germination through maturation and harvest. This review focuses on the impacts of extreme heat (>35 °C) on plants and their physiology and how they affect food and water security. The emphasis is on what can be done to minimize the negative effects of heat stress, which includes the application of various materials and approaches. Nano-farming is highlighted as one promising approach. Heat is often combined with drought, salinity, and other stresses, which together affect the whole agroecosystem, including soil, plants, water, and farm animals, leading to serious implications for food and water resources. Indeed, there is no single remedy or approach that can overcome such grand issues. However, nano-farming can be part of an adaptation strategy. More studies are needed to verify the potential benefits of nanomaterials but also to investigate any negative side-effects, particularly under the intensive application of nanomaterials, and what problems this might create, including potential nanotoxicity.

A Case Study Using Chirabilva as a Single Drug Remedy to Manage Kitibha Kushta

Introduction: Kitibha is a skin disease, explained in Ayurveda under the broad term kushta. It is characterized by shyava, kinakharasparsha, parusha, and khandu. It can be correlated with psoriasis based on clinical features. Psoriasis is a proliferative autoimmune skin disease. About 2-3% of the population have psoriasis according to the World Psoriasis Day Consortium. Materials and Methods: Chirabilva Kashaya internally and Chirabilva Taila externally were advised for the patient diagnosed as Kitibha Kushta for 30 days and assessment done before treatment, after treatment, and after follow-up. Discussion: The drug Chirabilva having the Kustahara, Lekhaniya, Bhedaniya, and Krimihara properties was selected for the treatment of Kitibha Kushta and it was administered both internally and externally in kashaya and taila form, respectively, to study the effectiveness of single drug in Kitibha Kushta of recent origin. Conclusion: Chirabilva as a single drug when given internally and externally relieved the symptoms, so in acute cases even without panchakarma single drug can be effective in managing the disease.

The Invention of the Mid-Infrared Generating Atomizer and its Human and Veterinary Medicinal Applications– A Pioneering Research

1.1. Background and Objectives: In the current scenario, there are different therapies for different diseases of human and animals. The existed therapies are associated with hurdles like drug resistance, less sensitivity, side effects, uneconomical, etc. However, none of the therapies provide multi-disease management on a molecular basis. Every disease originates due to inter and/or intra-molecular (cell/ tissue) changes, which changes their respective chemical bonds. Therapies focusing to rectify the molecular changes (molecular medicine) are growing slowly, which could act as a single remedy, but needs extensive multi-faculty research.

CELL MEMBRANE COATED POLYMERIC NANOCARRIERS: A NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY APPROACH FOR THE TARGETED THERAPY OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the joints and can lead to significant disability. RA may affect other parts of the body, leading to various issues including damage to the joints, deformity, disability, and reduced mobility. The pathogenesis of RA involves a complex interplay between genetic, environmental and immunological factors. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis typically reduces inflammation, manages pain, stiffness and prevents joint damage. However, these medications have several side effects no single therapeutic remedy directly targets the disease. Researchers in the field are focused on developing new treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects as well as understanding the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Some areas of current research include the use of nanotechnology such as cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for the treatment of RA as well as the development of new biologic drugs that target specific molecules involved in inflammation. The use of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has several potential benefits including targeted drug delivery, reduced inflammation, improved safety and biocompatibility, and reduced frequency of administration. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and limitations of this approach to develop effective cell membrane coated nanoparticle-based therapies for RA. In this review cell membrane-coated nanoparticles may become valuable for numerous biomedical problems.

A Study on Judicial Intervention in China’s Corporate Impasse: Focusing on the Application of Judicial Dissolution of a Company

Purpose - As one of the great inventions of modern society, the company system is an important driving force for social progress. As a malpractice in the operation of the company, the deadlock of the company is harmful to the company itself, its shareholders, creditors and even the public.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - The judicial dissolution system in Article 183 of China’s current Company Law provides a legal basis for judicial intervention in the deadlock of the company and fills the legislative gap. Yet the corporate stalemate is not simply linked to judicial dissolution (Bao Weimin, 2005). Corporate deadlock is only one of the reasons why shareholders have the right to request judicial dissolution; judicial dissolution should not be the only solution to the deadlock.
 Findings - Forcing the dissolution of the company to resolve the deadlock is clearly wrong for shareholders who want to resolve the deadlock but do not want to destroy the company.However, China’s current Company Law provides too single judicial remedy, too general regulations and weak operability.
 Research Implications - This paper discusses the extension and connotation of corporate deadlock and analyses the rationality of judicial intervention (Wang Jianjian, 2013). This paper also analyzes the concept and characteristics of the company deadlock, and provides a standard for the determination of the company deadlock, limits the environment of the company deadlock to limited liability company and further limits the scope of the discussion.

Strange, Rare and Peculiar Symptoms of COVID-19 Cases Managed by Practitioners of the Homeopathy Help Network.

More than 670 million people have been infected by COVID-19. This case series reports 8 of 55 cases in a broader study of COVID-positive clients who sought homeopathic care for symptoms. Existing studies of homeopathy and COVID-19 have sometimes failed to employ the underpinning theoretical framework of homeopathy-the genus epidemicus. Special focus has been placed on standout symptoms not often reported in conventional medical outlets, known among homeopaths as "strange, rare and peculiar" (SRP) symptoms. The Homeopathy Help Network (HHN) team of practitioners noted SRP symptoms across dozens of cases and studied how they shifted collectively as different variants of the virus emerged. COVID-positive individuals self-selected for individualized care for their symptoms using homeopathy. They received tele-health consultations and individualized homeopathy interventions in an out-patient homeopathy clinical setting. Clients were seen by individual professional homeopathy practitioners and students under supervision working at the HHN in the United States. Cases for the series were hand-picked with the aim of being an average representation of the more than 4,000 COVID-positive cases seen by members of the HHN. Cases in the full compendium are grouped according to a predominant case feature: Multiple remedies, Posology, Time ill, Single remedy resolution, Hospitalization and, in this case series, SRP symptoms. SRP symptoms included: continually on the verge of unconsciousness; dark green stools; very low pulse alternating with tachycardia; sensation of strong or burning chemical smells; sensation of inhaling water through the nose; recurring electric shock sensations in head or extremities; yellow-green stools. Collective SRP symptoms from the pandemic provided the opportunity to study the hallmark features of COVID-19 in depth. The importance of these symptoms highlights the applicability of Hahnemannian principles and good case-taking practices.

A Multi-Centric Single-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of the Individualized Homeopathic Intervention in Breast Fibroadenoma

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of homeopathic medicines in the reduction or resolution of breast fibroadenoma (FA) through ultrasound (US) assessment in intervention and control groups. The secondary objective was to compare the efficacy of the homeopathic intervention in single and multiple fibroadenomas. A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted from January 2014 to June 2018 at 4 research centers with 6 months of follow-up. Females in the age group 18 to 35 years, with a confirmed diagnosis of breast fibroadenoma measuring between 1 cm and 5 cm, measured by the US, with only one fibroadenoma per quadrant were randomized to either homeopathic intervention (HI) or identical placebo (P) (n = 85) in each group. All the patients were enrolled in the study with due consent from them. The Ethical Committee, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi, India, approved the study. The trial was registered with the Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI) vide no. CTRI/2013/11/004144 [Registered on: 14/11/2013]. Out of the 85 cases enrolled in each group, the ITT analysis was done for n = 73 participants with a mean area of FA (3.11 ± 3.00) in HI and n = 77 participants with a mean area of FA (3.65 ± 3.29) in the P group at baseline. US assessment of 12 cases in the intervention group and 8 cases in the placebo group exceeded the study duration. Therefore, was analyzed as a sub-group and was not considered under ITT analysis. FA was the unit of analysis. At 6 months, complete resolution occurred in 2 participants in the intervention group and none in the placebo group. Although there is a significant difference between the intervention and the placebo groups at 3<sup>rd</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> months, the within-group difference is insignificant. No significant difference is observed between and within the single and multiple FAs groups. Out of the 85 cases in the medicine group, 78 received a single remedy throughout the study in centesimal potencies. The frequently prescribed medicines were Pulsatilla, Silicea, Phosphorus, Sepia, and Calcarea Carbonica. IIndividualized homeopathy has significantly reduced FAs compared to the placebo group. However, the difference within the groups is not statistically significant. Future studies should be conducted based on adequate samples with long-term follow-up for resolution and recurrence if any.

A Study on Disease Resistance on Rice: Strategies and Challenges

Though Rice is cultivated in huge quantities, various disease causing agents will reduce the yield leading to not only losing the economy but also a food crisis. Production of rice is constrained by fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. In the current review, we focused on various pathological symptoms in Oryza species that cause high yield losses. In this context, plant breeders are attempting progressive research activity to achieve more yield and disease-resistant varieties that balance the world’s rice demand and increase the farmers' income. Rice was recognized as a genetic model for research in genetics and molecular biology, for understanding growth, development, tolerance to stress and disease resistance because of its small genome. The present review focuses on the various causative agents of diminishing rice yield along with the strategies to eradicate the pathogen and thereby increasing the yield. Recent research advances at genetic level have paved a way for novel approach to understand the significance between the pheno-genotypic variations with the crop yield of rice. Further, the review also includes the advanced methodologies at molecular level so as to save the rice cultivators from economic crisis. Disease resistant genes are identified and screened using molecular markers like SSR (simple sequence repeats), RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA), and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) analysis. There exist few reports in the literature about rice cultivation, but to the best of our knowledge in a single review both cause and remedy were not discussed in detail. In this context, our review provides an insight into the aspects attributing the crop loss followed by suggesting the suitable alternative method for enhancing crop yield.

Immune-boosting effect of natural remedies and supplements on progress of, and recovery from COVID-19 infection

Purpose: To investigate the effect of natural remedies and supplements on the progress of andrecovery from COVID-19 infection, and the role of safety precautions in controlling the spread of its causative pathogen.Methods: A questionnaire was designed and electronically distributed among previously infected individuals across countries. The survey included questions about the participants’ demographic information, medical history, how they were infected, symptoms they have experienced, where they were isolated, the degree of precautions taken against the virus, and their consumption of natural remedies or supplements before and during the infection period.Results: The results showed that natural remedies and supplements are widely consumed among COVID-19 patients both before and during infection, either as a single remedy or in combination with other remedies. As the age of the participants increased, the incidence of their hospitalization increased. Significant results were observed when comparing the severity of infection with the number of natural remedies and supplements taken before (P 0.000) and during the infection (P 0.003).Conclusion: Increasing the intake of natural remedies and/or supplements before and during COVID-19 infection lowers the severity of the infection. Vitamin C, honey, and citrus fruits such as orange and lemon were the major remedies consumed before and during infection. A large number of the participants that experienced severe COVID-19 conditions, did not consume any natural remedies or supplements.

Towards evidence-based conservation of subterranean ecosystems.

ABSTRACTSubterranean ecosystems are among the most widespread environments on Earth, yet we still have poor knowledge of their biodiversity. To raise awareness of subterranean ecosystems, the essential services they provide, and their unique conservation challenges, 2021 and 2022 were designated International Years of Caves and Karst. As these ecosystems have traditionally been overlooked in global conservation agendas and multilateral agreements, a quantitative assessment of solution‐based approaches to safeguard subterranean biota and associated habitats is timely. This assessment allows researchers and practitioners to understand the progress made and research needs in subterranean ecology and management. We conducted a systematic review of peer‐reviewed and grey literature focused on subterranean ecosystems globally (terrestrial, freshwater, and saltwater systems), to quantify the available evidence‐base for the effectiveness of conservation interventions. We selected 708 publications from the years 1964 to 2021 that discussed, recommended, or implemented 1,954 conservation interventions in subterranean ecosystems. We noted a steep increase in the number of studies from the 2000s while, surprisingly, the proportion of studies quantifying the impact of conservation interventions has steadily and significantly decreased in recent years. The effectiveness of 31% of conservation interventions has been tested statistically. We further highlight that 64% of the reported research occurred in the Palearctic and Nearctic biogeographic regions. Assessments of the effectiveness of conservation interventions were heavily biased towards indirect measures (monitoring and risk assessment), a limited sample of organisms (mostly arthropods and bats), and more accessible systems (terrestrial caves). Our results indicate that most conservation science in the field of subterranean biology does not apply a rigorous quantitative approach, resulting in sparse evidence for the effectiveness of interventions. This raises the important question of how to make conservation efforts more feasible to implement, cost‐effective, and long‐lasting. Although there is no single remedy, we propose a suite of potential solutions to focus our efforts better towards increasing statistical testing and stress the importance of standardising study reporting to facilitate meta‐analytical exercises. We also provide a database summarising the available literature, which will help to build quantitative knowledge about interventions likely to yield the greatest impacts depending upon the subterranean species and habitats of interest. We view this as a starting point to shift away from the widespread tendency of recommending conservation interventions based on anecdotal and expert‐based information rather than scientific evidence, without quantitatively testing their effectiveness.

A Study on Disease Resistance on Rice: Strategies and Challenges

Though Rice is cultivated in huge quantities, various disease causing agents will reduce the yield leading to not only losing the economy but also a food crisis. Production of rice is constrained by fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. In the current review, we focused on various pathological symptoms in Oryza species that cause high yield losses. In this context, plant breeders are attempting progressive research activity to achieve more yield and disease-resistant varieties that balance the world’s rice demand and increase the farmers' income. Rice was recognized as a genetic model for research in genetics and molecular biology, for understanding growth, development, tolerance to stress and disease resistance because of its small genome. The present review focuses on the various causative agents of diminishing rice yield along with the strategies to eradicate the pathogen and thereby increasing the yield. Recent research advances at genetic level have paved a way for novel approach to understand the significance between the pheno-genotypic variations with the crop yield of rice. Further, the review also includes the advanced methodologies at molecular level so as to save the rice cultivators from economic crisis. Disease resistant genes are identified and screened using molecular markers like SSR (simple sequence repeats), RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA), and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) analysis. There exist few reports in the literature about rice cultivation, but to the best of our knowledge in a single review both cause and remedy were not discussed in detail. In this context, our review provides an insight into the aspects attributing the crop loss followed by suggesting the suitable alternative method for enhancing crop yield.

A Study on Disease Resistance on Rice: Strategies and Challenges

Though Rice is cultivated in huge quantities, various disease causing agents will reduce the yield leading to not only losing the economy but also a food crisis. Production of rice is constrained by fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. In the current review, we focused on various pathological symptoms in Oryza species that cause high yield losses. In this context, plant breeders are attempting progressive research activity to achieve more yield and disease-resistant varieties that balance the world’s rice demand and increase the farmers' income. Rice was recognized as a genetic model for research in genetics and molecular biology, for understanding growth, development, tolerance to stress and disease resistance because of its small genome. The present review focuses on the various causative agents of diminishing rice yield along with the strategies to eradicate the pathogen and thereby increasing the yield. Recent research advances at genetic level have paved a way for novel approach to understand the significance between the pheno-genotypic variations with the crop yield of rice. Further, the review also includes the advanced methodologies at molecular level so as to save the rice cultivators from economic crisis. Disease resistant genes are identified and screened using molecular markers like SSR (simple sequence repeats), RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA), and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) analysis. There exist few reports in the literature about rice cultivation, but to the best of our knowledge in a single review both cause and remedy were not discussed in detail. In this context, our review provides an insight into the aspects attributing the crop loss followed by suggesting the suitable alternative method for enhancing crop yield.

Galantamine tethered hydrogel as a novel therapeutic target for streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's disease in Wistar rats

Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque formation, neuronal cell death, and cognitive impairment are the unique symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). No single step remedy is available to treat AD, so the present study aimed to improve the drugability and minimize the abnormal behavioral and biochemical activities in streptozotocin (STZ) induced AD experimental Wistar rats. In particular, we explored the utilization of methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), which is a biopolymeric hydrogel that mimics the natural tissue environment. The synthesized biopolymeric gel contained the drug galantamine (Gal). Investigations were conducted to evaluate the behavioral activities of STZ-induced AD experimental rats under STZ ​+ ​GelMA ​+ ​Gal treatment. The experimental groups comprised the control and STZ, STZ ​+ ​GelMA, STZ ​+ ​Gal, and STZ ​+ ​GelMA ​+ ​Gal (10 ​mg/kg) treated rats. Intracerebroventricular STZ ensures cognitive decline in terms of an increase in the escape latency period, with a decrease in the spontaneous alteration of behavioral activities. Our results indicated decrease Aβ aggregation in the hydrogel-based drug treatment group and significant decreases in the levels of acetylcholinesterase and lipid peroxidation (p ​< ​0.001). In addition, the glutathione and superoxide dismutase activities appeared to be improved in the STZ ​+ ​GelMA ​+ ​Gal group compared with the other treatment groups. Furthermore, histopathological and immunohistochemical experiments showed that the GelMA ​+ ​Gal treated AD rats exhibited significantly improved behavioral and biochemical activities compared with the STZ treated AD rats. Therefore, STZ ​+ ​GelMA ​+ ​Gal administration from the pre-plaque stage may have a potential clinical application in the prevention of AD. Thus, we conclude that hydrogel-based Gal drugs are efficient at decreasing Aβ aggregation and improving the neuroinflammatory process, antioxidant activity, and neuronal growth.

Evidence-Based Homoeopathic Treatment of Acute Herpes Zoster (Shingles): A Case Report

AbstractHerpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, occurs due to reactivation of varicella zoster. It is manifested by unilateral, painful, vesicular rashes following a dermatome. Homoeopathy is well known for its tremendous results in chronic cases. This article presents the evidence-based significant result of single homoeopathic remedy in an acute case of HZ within a short time period without any post-herpetic neuralgia which usually follows the HZ for months. Three to four doses of Hypericum 30 CH provided significant relief within a day and complete recovery within 10 days. Modified Naranjo score is 9, indicating definite causal attribution. This case proves that by selecting appropriate similimum, promising and positive results are achieved by homoeopathy, be it acute or chronic cases in a safe and gentle way. No such existing homoeopathic literature provides any characteristic information particularly related to HZ in Hypericum. So, future research and clinical trials could be beneficial for better validation of Hypericum as a therapeutic for HZ.

Legal Reconstitution of Remedies for Damage Caused by Genetic Pollution

Damage caused by genetic pollution is a new type of damage. At present, there are problems with the existing legal remedies for damage caused by genetic pollution. The purpose of this research is to explore the problems of the legal remedies for damage caused by genetic pollution, and discuss how to solve these problems by means of reconstitute the law. Doctrinal legal research methodology and Comparative legal research methodology is the main methodology in this research. Through discussing the logic of the relevant rules and comparing analysis of legal remedies under different countries, this research expounds the existing problems of the current legal remedies from three aspects and puts forward corresponding countermeasures. From the perspective of interpretation and application of relevant norms, based on the existing norms, there is an improper connection between the basic norms and the norms related to liabilities, which leads to ambiguities in the application of liability clauses. Therefore, relevant norms should be further explained or revised. Specifically, genetic pollution can be classified, and link with different forms of liability through legal interpretation. In legal practice, a single remedy mechanism based on civil liability is contrary to the complexity of genetic pollution. Introducing socialized remedies to construct multiple remedy mechanisms is a more reasonable path. The legal form based on administrative regulations and departmental rules also makes the legislation scattered and uncoordinated and lacks scientific and professionalism. Comprehensive and specialized legislation should be formulated to enhance the scientific and professional nature of the legislation.

A CLINICAL EVALUATION OF JATIPHALA CHURNA LEPA IN VYANGA WSR TO MELASMA

Vyanga is the one of the Kshudra Roga, characterised by Niruja (painless), Shyava Varna Mandalas (bluish black patches) occurring especially on the face. While considering the pathogenesis of Vyanga, involvement of Pitta is more and it is Rakta Pradoshaja vyadhi. On the basis of clinical features it is correlated with melasma, or facial melanosis, one of the hyper pigmented disorders. Melasma is a common acquired hypermelanosis that affects sun- exposed areas of skin. This study is important since melasma is a disease causing mental side effects in patients, due to darkness and opacity of the skin; therefore, the treatment of melasma in terms of its psychological complication is of particular importance. Jatiphala (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is an important drug which has got various medicinal uses. The seed and aril of Jatiphala (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) of family myristicaceae have the utilized therapeutically as medicine as well as a spice. Acharya Bhavamishra have mentioned Jatiphala (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) as a single herbal remedy for its action on Vyanga.&#x0D; Intervention and duration: 30 patients having hyperpigmentation on face with clinical manifestations, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of Vyanga, the prepared Lepa churna was applied over the affected area, once a day for 60 days. Pre test assessment was done on 15th day, 30th and 60thday. Results: The subjective and objective parameters of the study were graded and the results of the study were analysed statistically using descriptive statistics where the study has shown statistically significant in the subjective and objective parameters. Conclusion: This clinical study of Jatiphala churna lepa showed the result in 50-60% of people in the group of Vyanga.

Plant and natural product based homemade remedies for veterinary uses by the Peul community in Benin

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAcross Africa, Peul community typically rely on plant-based veterinary knowledge to manage common livestock health problems. Unfortunately, their nomadic life-style being affected by conflicts, land tenure constraints, and drought, they have been shifting to a sedentary life. The process of their settlement led to the erosion of the vast ethnoveterinary skills they had acquired over centuries and forced them to replace the plant and other species they used by commercial products. Aim of the study1) To collect comprehensive data from the Benin Peul community on common plant-based remedies used to treat livestock diseases and document their preparation and administration. 2) To evaluate the differences and consensus among the Peul community across ecological regions in Benin. Materials and methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews among 88 Peul camps, three (03) bioclimatic zones, and 225 transhumant dialog partners, including agro-pastoralists, healers and pastoralists from mid-July to end of December 2015. Detailed information about homemade herbal remedies (plant species, plant part, manufacturing process) and the corresponding use reports (target animal species, category of use and route of administration) was collected. ResultsA total of 418 homemade remedies were reported, of which 235 involved only one plant species (Homemade Single Species Herbal Remedy Reports; HSHR). Information on a total of 310 use reports (UR) were mentioned for the 235 HSHR, and they included 116 plant species belonging to 39 botanical families. Among them, 229 UR were indicated for cattle, 43 UR for poultry, and 38 UR for sheep and goats. The most cited plant species were Khaya senegalensis (19 HSHR; 8.08%), Parkia biglobosa (14 HSHR; 5.95%), Euphorbia unispina (11 HSHR; 4.68%), and Anogeissus leiocarpus (6 HSHR; 2.55%). The URs were indicated for the treatment of viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases but also for multifactorial disorders like diarrhoea, fever, threatened abortion, agalactia etc. The number of plants referred to HSHR decreased from Sudanian to Guineo-congolian zones in concordance with the presence of Peuls. ConclusionThe Peul community holds a huge ethnoveterinary knowledge, which needs to be documented, valorised, and promoted. It appears vital to assess phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the most reported species, and their availability across the ecological zones in order to ensure their sustainable use and before this indigenous knowledge disappears completely.

Rational design of universal immunotherapy for TfR1-tropic arenaviruses

Certain arenaviruses that circulate in rodent populations can cause life-threatening hemorrhagic fevers when they infect humans. Due to their efficient transmission, arenaviruses pose a severe risk for outbreaks and might be exploited as biological weapons. Effective countermeasures against these viruses are highly desired. Ideally, a single remedy would be effective against many or even all the pathogenic viruses in this family. However, despite the fact that all pathogenic arenaviruses from South America utilize transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) as a cellular receptor, their viral glycoproteins are highly diversified, impeding efforts to isolate cross-neutralizing antibodies. Here we address this problem using a rational design approach to target TfR1-tropic arenaviruses with high potency and breadth. The pan-reactive molecule is highly effective against all arenaviruses that were tested, offering a universal therapeutic approach. Our design scheme avoids the shortcomings of previous immunoadhesins and can be used to combat other zoonotic pathogens.

Ethnoveterinary knowledge of farmers in bilingual regions of Switzerland – is there potential to extend veterinary options to reduce antimicrobial use?

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn the pre-antibiotic era, a broad spectrum of medicinal plants was used to treat livestock. This knowledge was neglected in European veterinary medicine for decades but kept alive by farmers. Emergence of multidrug resistant bacterial strains requires a severely restricted use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. We conducted a survey on the ethnoveterinary knowledge of farmers in the bilingual (French and German speaking) Western region of Switzerland, namely the cantons of Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Jura, and in the French speaking part of the canton of Bern.Aim of the studyTo find out whether differences exist in plants used by farmers in French speaking and bilingual regions of Switzerland as compared to our earlier studies conducted in Switzerland. Additional focus was on plants that are used in diseases which commonly are treated with antimicrobials, on plants used in skin afflictions, and on plants used in animal species such as horses, for which the range of veterinary medicinal products is limited.Material and methodsWe conducted in 2015 semistructured interviews with 62 dialog partners, mainly cattle keeping farmers but also 18 horse keeping farmers. Of these, 41 were native French (FNS) and 21 native German speakers (GNS). Detailed information about homemade herbal remedies (plant species, plant part, manufacturing process) and the corresponding use reports (target animal species, category of use, route of administration, dosage, source of knowledge, frequency of use, last time of use and farmers satisfaction) were collected.ResultsA total of 345 homemade remedies were reported, of which 240 contained only one plant species (Homemade Single Species Herbal Remedy Reports; HSHR). A total of 289 use reports (UR) were mentioned for the 240 HSHR, and they comprised 77 plant species belonging to 41 botanical families. Of these, 35 plant species were solely reported from FNS, 20 from GNS, and 22 from both. Taking into account earlier ethnoveterinary studies conducted in Switzerland only 10 (FNS) and 6 (GNS) plant species connected with 7% of FNS and GNS UR respectively were “unique” to the respective language group.The majority of the UR (219) was for treatment of cattle, while 38 UR were intended to treat horses. The most UR were for treatment of gastrointestinal and skin diseases. The most frequently mentioned plants were Linum usitatissimum L., Coffea L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, and Quercus robur L. for gastrointestinal diseases, and Calendula officinalis L., Hypericum perforatum L. and Sanicula europaea L. for skin afflictions.ConclusionNo clear differences were found between the medicinal plants used by French native speakers and German native speakers. Several of the reported plants seem to be justified to widen the spectrum of veterinary therapeutic options in gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders in cattle and horses, and to reduce, at least to a certain degree, the need for antibiotic treatments. Our findings may help to strengthen the role of medicinal plants in veterinary research and practice, and to consider them as a further measure in official strategies for lowering the use of antibiotics.