Traditional Medicinal Species Research Articles

Yeast extract and chitosan elicitation improves essential oil, regulates plant growth and antioxidative system in Lippia alba (Mill) N.E. Brown (Verbenaceae)

Lippia alba is one of the most used species in traditional medicine, having been the subject of intense exploration in search of the extraction of its essential oil, which contains several compounds of pharmacological importance. This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of two biotic elicitors: yeast extract (YE) (0, 1, 2 and 4 g L−1) and chitosan (CH) (0, 1, 2 and 4 g L−1) in the accumulation of biomass, gas exchange, antioxidative system response, and production and profile of bioactive compounds (BCs). Foliar spraying with 4 g L−1 of CH favored the accumulation of shoot dry biomass and significantly increased the levels of chlorophyll a and carotenoids. Both elicitors were efficient to increase the essential oil content extracted from the leaves of L. alba and, in general, the elicitors tested at concentrations of 2 and 4 g L−1 showed the highest amounts of BCs and glandular trichome density. Chemical analysis of BCs revealed 46 different compounds, with Geranial and Geraniol being the main components. The application of YE induced the production of an exclusive compound (Trans-piperitol), while CH induced the formation of seven exclusive compounds (Santolina triene, Myrcenol, Neral, Cis-Pinocarvyl acetate, Dimethoxy-(Z)-citral, Geranyl acetate and Limonene aldehyde). Yeast extract and Chitosan proved to be efficient to increase the BCs content in Lippia alba, however, the application of 4 g L−1 of CH resulted in a higher production of shoot dry biomass, photosynthetic parameters, in the density of glandular trichomes and in the production of BCs.

Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of the Anti-Sickle Cell Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Two Medicinal Plants from Niger: Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle and Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.

Sickle cell anaemia is a hereditary blood disorder that attacks the red blood cells and deforms them, giving them a sickle shape. Sickle cell anaemia is a serious health problem in the West African country of Niger. Moreover, the cost associated with medical care is very high. The main objective of this study is to contribute to the valorisation of Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle (aerial part), Kigelia africana (lam), and Benth (leaves) from Niger were used to treat sickle cell disease using aqueous and ethanolic extracts of phytochemical compounds. To achieve this objective, the evaluation of anti-sickle cell activity was carried out in vitro using the Emmel technique through the normalisation rate. The analyses showed that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts contained various classes of bioactive substances known for their valuable biological activities. The chemical composition rich in bioactive compounds led to very good results in biological assays. Thus, from a dose of 0.05 mg/mL, the ethanolic extracts of the two plants normalised up to 75% of the sickle cells. As the rate of normalisation was shown to be dose-dependent, at a dose of 10 mg/mL, the ethanolic extracts showed the best rates of sickle cell normalisation, with 95% for F. virosa and 93% for K. africana. Phytochemical screening was used to correlate the secondary metabolite and anti-sickle cell activities of the extracts from the two plants. These results may justify the use of these two species in traditional medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease in Niger. The inclusion of these plants in phytomedicines could provide significant relief to people suffering from sickle cell disease.

Evaluation of physicochemical parameters, acute and subchronic toxicities, and anti-diabetic activity of Spondias venulosa (Engl.) Mart. ex Engl. leaf extract on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Spondias venulosa is a medicinal plant whose leaves are popularly used for decades in Northeast Nigeria as a first-choice medicinal plants for the treatment of diabetes. This claim has not been proven scientifically. The present study was carried out to determine the physicochemical profiles, acute, sub-chronic toxicities, and antidiabetic activity the leaf extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The physicochemical parameters of S. venulosa leaves, acute, subchronic toxicities, and antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats were determined using standard procedures. All physicochemical parameters were carried out triplicate. Acute and subchronic toxicity studies were carried out following OECD guidelines by administering maximum extract dose of 2000mg/kg orally to Wistar rats. Subchronic toxicity and antidiabetic studies were carried out in rats of opposite sexes at doses 300, 600, and 1200mg/kg (orally). Results obtained showed that the moisture content, water soluble extractive, and organic matter had values of 4.98±1.01, 12.04±1.24 and 1.01±0.01% w/w respectively. The metallic contents of the methanol leaf extract revealed the presence of zinc with value of 12.01±1.01ppm (normal range:< 100mg/kg DM) and copper with value of 6.24±2.14ppm (normal range:< 30mg/kg DM). Oral median lethal dose (LD50) was estimated to be greater than 2000mg/kg since the extract did not produce any sign of toxicity or death in short term while, subchronic toxicity study showed that there was no significant weight loss in the rats after 28 days of extract administration. All hematology and biochemical parameters showed no elevated values when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Histopathological examinations of major organs do not show signs of organ damages which indicate that the extract was safe at the doses administered. Oral administration of extract doses for 30 days reduced blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats in dose-dependent manner compared (p<0.05) to standard drug (Glibenclamide). Our study showed some physicochemical parameters of S. venulosa leaf which are essential for its identification from closely related species in traditional medicine. The study further showed that S. venulosa methanol leaf extract possessed antidiabetic activity, thus, justifying its use for the treatment of diabetes in Nigeria. However, there is need to identify and investigate the bioactive compound(s) responsible for the activity towards drug discovery.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial Activities and Synergistic Effect with Antibiotics of Fruits and Stems Extracts from Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott extracts. Results showed that the total phenols and flavonoids contents of the extracts ranged from 24.57 to 316.11 mg GAE/g and from 1.80 to 12.41μg QE/mg, respectively. Ethyl acetate (EaES) and aqueous (AqES) extracts from seeds showed the highest DPPH scavenging capacity (IC50= 5.51 and 23.43 μg/mL). EaES from seeds, stem bark and fruit pod were the most active in inhibiting β-carotene oxidation. While, aqueous extracts have the ability to chelate ferrous ions. Significant antibacterial activity was obtained against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa; and inhibition zones varied between 10 to 29.5 mm. MIC and MBC ranged from 0.7–11.25 mg/mL and 5.63–22.5 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, synergistic effects were obtained, where inhibition zones varied between 7 and 50 mm. These results support the use of this species in traditional medicine in many physiological disorders and could be used where antioxidant and antibacterial are warranted.

De Novo Assembly and Comparative Analysis of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai Revealed the Existence of Two Structural Isomers.

As a valuable Chinese traditional medicinal species, Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai (C. speciosa) is a natural resource with significant economic and ornamental value. However, its genetic information is not well understood. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of C. speciosa was assembled and characterized to explore the repeat sequences, recombination events, rearrangements, and IGT, to predict RNA editing sites, and to clarify the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship. The C. speciosa mitochondrial genome was found to have two circular chromosomes as its major conformation, with a total length of 436,464 bp and 45.2% GC content. The mitochondrial genome contained 54 genes, including 33 unique protein-coding genes, 18 tRNAs, and 3 rRNA genes. Seven pairs of repeat sequences involving recombination events were analyzed. Both the repeat pairs, R1 and R2, played significant roles in mediating the major and minor conformations. In total, 18 MTPTs were identified, 6 of which were complete tRNA genes. There were 454 RNA editing sites in the 33 protein-coding sequences predicted by the PREPACT3 program. A phylogenetic analysis based on 22 species of mitochondrial genomes was constructed and indicated highly conserved PCG sequences. Synteny analyses showed extensive genomic rearrangements in the mitochondrial genome of C. speciosa and closely related species. This work is the first to report the C. speciosa mitochondrial genome, which is of great significance for conducting additional genetic studies on this organism.

Cucurbitaceae species used as traditional medicine in West Africa

Background: The use of some Cucurbitaceae species for the treatment of diseases is an ancient practice in traditional medicine systems in Africa and the cucurbitacins among others have been reported to be responsible for most of these healing activities.Aim: This review discusses the relevance of Cucurbitaceae species in traditional medicine in some west African countries.Methods: A literature search was conducted on electronic databases such as Google Books, Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science. The search involved the use of several terms and free text words which include ‘Cucurbitaceae species in West Africa traditional medicine’; ‘medicinal plants of the Cucurbitaceae family used to treat diseases in west African communities’.Results: Several Cucurbitaceae species are used in the region either in similar ways or different ways for the treatment of different diseases. The leaves are the most utilised plant parts and decoctions are the most common method of preparation. From this study, 18 species of Cucurbitaceae used for medicinal purposes were reviewed from Nigeria; 4 from Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, respectively; 1 from Togo; 5 from Senegal; 9 from Cameroon and 3 from Gabon and Burkina Faso, respectively. Momordica charantia and Momordica balsamina are often utilised for abortion in some west African countries. Momordica species and Lagenaria breviflora are utilised to treat diabetes, cough related to respiratory infections and viral infections such as measles and chickenpoxConclusions: In-depth research into these plants could help to develop a natural, novel cure for diabetes and coronavirus (COVID-19) and effective, cheap contraceptive.Contribution: This review highlights the significant role of Cucurbitaceae species in the treatment of a wide range of diseases and health issues in the WestAfrican traditional medicine system. The information provided could be used as a guide by research scientists for the formulation of natural products to cure a variety of diseases.

Micromorphology and Histology of the Secretory Apparatus of Diospyros villosa (L.) de Winter Leaves and Stem Bark.

Diospyros villosa is a perennial species prominently acknowledged for its local medicinal applications. The native utilisation of this species in traditional medicine may be ascribed to the presence of secretory structures and their exudate (comprised of phytochemicals). However, the morphological nature and optical features of the secretory structures in D. villosa remain largely unclear. This study was directed to ascertain the occurrence and adaptive features of structures found within the leaves and stem bark of D. villosa using light and electron microscopy techniques. The current study notes the existence of trichomes, and other secretory structures were noted. SEM indicated the presence of non-glandular hirsute trichomes with bulky stalk on both leaves and stem surfaces. Transverse stem sections revealed the existence of crystal idioblasts. Moreover, the presence of the main phytochemical groups and their localisation within the foliage and stem bark was elucidated through various histochemical tests. The trichomal length and density were also assessed in leaves at different stages of development. The results indicated that the trichomal density at different stages of development of the D. villosa leaves and stem bark was not significantly different from one another, F(3,39) = 1.183, p = 0.3297. The average length of the non-glandular trichomes in the emergent, young and mature leaves, as well as in the stem, was recorded to be 230 ± 30.6 µm, 246 ± 40.32 μm, 193 ± 27.55 µm and 164 ± 18.62 µm, respectively. The perimeter and circumference of the observed trichomes in the developmental stages of D. villosa leaf and the stem bark were not statistically different, F(3,39) = 1.092, p = 0.3615. The results of histochemical tests showed the existence of phenols alkaloids, which are medicinally important and beneficial for treatment of diseases. The findings of this study, being reported for the first time may be considered in establishing microscopic and pharmacognostic measure for future identification and verification of natural herbal plant. Trichomal micromorphology and histological evaluations could be utilised as a tool for appropriate description for the assessment of this species.

High Diversity of Medicinal Uses of Thai Legumes (Fabaceae) and Their Potential in Public Herbal Medicine

Ethnomedicinal studies have demonstrated that Fabaceae include the highest number of medicinal species of all plant families in Thailand. To evaluate which legumes hold the greatest potential for development of public herbal medicines, we used ethnobotanical indices to screen traditional medicinal species from 152 literature sources published from 1986–2019. The homogeneity of each use category was evaluated using the informant consensus factor (ICF). The popularity of the used species was evaluated by percentage of fidelity level (FL) and use value (UV). A total of 261 species from 98 genera of legumes were recorded for their traditional medicinal uses. The uses included 5387 use reports that covered treatments of 420 disorders. The ethnobotanical indices pointed to 15 species with high use values (e.g., Biancaea sappan (L.) Tod., Cassia fistula L., Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S.Irwin &amp; Barneby). Nine of these species are already used in public herbal medicine. The other six species should be studied in greater depth, especially to identify their bioactive compounds so they can be developed for use in public herbal medicine.

Study of the gastroprotective action and healing effects of Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) against acidified ethanol- and acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats / Estudo da acção gastroprotectora e dos efeitos curativos de Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) contra úlceras gástricas induzidas por etanol acidificado e ácido acético em ratos

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (Crassulaceae) is a commonly used species in traditional medicine in Brazil for the treatment of various diseases, including gastric ulcers. This research aims to evaluate the antiulcer aspects of Kalanchoe pinnata leaves. The LD50 value of the hydroethanolic extract (HE) of K. pinnata was 1341.46 mg/kg, after the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. In the phytochemical analysis, several flavonoids were identified in the HE and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of K. pinnata. It was verified that the gastroprotective activity of the HE of K. pinnata involved prostaglandins and sulfhydryl compounds. However, the mechanism of gastroprotection of the EAF of K. pinnata is dependent on prostaglandins and nitric oxide. The ulcer healing activity of the HE of K. pinnata was also evaluated. According to the macroscopic results, doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg reduced the injury area, with rates of 33% and 39%, respectively, after 7 days of treatment (p &lt;0.05). Histological analysis showed regeneration of the gastric mucosa and re-establishment of the glandular architecture in groups treated with the HE (200 and 400 mg/kg). Antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) were evaluated in the mechanism of gastric ulcer healing. The results showed that the antiulcerogenic activity was mediated by SOD. The anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was also evaluated; however, the HE did not show anti-H. pylori activity. Analysis of the results suggests that K. pinnata has therapeutic potential against gastric ulcers and that the flavonoids may be linked to the biological effects.

Curcumin-Based Inhibitors of Thrombosis and Cancer Metastasis Promoting Factor CLEC 2 from Traditional Medicinal Species Curcuma longa.

The CLEC-2 receptor protein belongs to the C-type lectin superfamily of transmembrane receptors that have one or more C-type lectin-like domains. CLEC-2 is a physiological binding receptor of podoplanin (PDPN), which is expressed on specific tumour cell types and involved in tumour cell-induced platelet aggregation and tumour metastasis. CLEC-2 and podoplanin-expressing tumour cells interact to increase angiogenesis, tumour development, and metastasis. CLEC-2 is a hemi-immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (hemi-ITAM) receptor located on platelets and a subset of dendritic cells that are expressed constitutively. This molecule is secreted by activated platelets around tumours and has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation and tumour metastasis in colon carcinoma by binding to the surface of tumour cells. Pharmacokinetic studies were carried using a DrugLiTo, and molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 (ADT). Twenty-nine bioactive compounds were included in the study, and four of them, namely, piperine, dihydrocurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and demothoxycurcumin, showed potential antagonist properties against the target. The resultant best bioactive was compared with commercially available standard drugs. Further, validation of respective compounds with an intensive molecular dynamics simulation was performed using Schrödinger software. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on major bioactive found on clove as natural antagonists for CLEC-2 computationally. To further validate the bioactive and delimit the screening process of potential drugs against CLEC-2, in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to prove their efficacy.

Contribution to traditional knowledge used for the prevention and healing of the Covid-19 symptoms by local people of Deng-Deng massif forest Cameroon

SARS-CoV-2 which causes the corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to spread worldwide, causing death and panic in rural communities with little emergency medical facilities. The efficiency of traditional medicine has become the priority to prevent this pandemic. The aim of this study was to identify local knowledge and forest plant species used by local populations of the Deng-Deng massif forest against the Covid-19 pandemic. Semi-structured questionnaires was used; and inquired including the naturopaths, healers and heads of households (men and/or women). A total of 405 people were interviewed in 22 villages. Available lexicons were used to find correspondence to the vernacular/common names provided by inquired people. Five major Covid-19 symptoms including fever, headache, cough, dyspnea, cold/nasal discharge were identified by local people and 48 forest plants species were identified to prevent these symptoms, while 26 plant species were identified as treatment of specific Covid-19 symptoms. The frequent use of the various plant species for the prevention of the Covid-19 emerged as follow: Alstonia booneii (95%), Annickia chlorantha (72%), Picralima nitida (50%), Pycnanthus ivorensis (20%) and Milicia excelsa (16%). This study confirms the importance of forest plant species in traditional medicine against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Genome sequencing and annotation and phylogenomic analysis of the medicinal mushroom Amauroderma rugosum, a traditional medicinal species in the family Ganodermataceae

ABSTRACT Amauroderma rugosum is one of the traditional Chinese medicinal mushrooms and is used to reduce inflammation, treat diuretic and upset stomach, and prevent cancer. Here, we present a genomic resource of Amauroderma rugosum (ACCC 51706) for further understanding its biology and exploration of the synthesis pathway of bioactive compounds. Genomic DNA was extracted and then subjected to Illumina HiSeq X Ten and PacBio Sequel I sequencing. The final genome is 40.66 Mb in size, with an N50 scaffold size of 36.6 Mb, and encodes 10 181 putative predicted genes. Among them, 6931 genes were functionally annotated. Phylogenomic analysis suggested that A. rugosum and Ganoderma sinense were not clustered together into a group and the latter was grouped with the Polyporaceae. Further, we also identified 377 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and 15 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. This is the first genome-scale assembly and annotation for an Amauroderma species. The identification of novel secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters would promote pharmacological research and development of novel bioactive compounds in the future.

Ethnobotanical Study of Fig Tree (Ficus Carica L.) And Olive (Olea Europaea L.) From Tetouan Province In Morocco And Study Their Antimicrobial Activity

This study we have conducted an ethnobotanical survey and antimicrobial activity in Tetouan province to identify the use of the famous plant species in traditional medicine : fig tree and Olive and follow-up of antimicrobial activity during three stages for green, pink and black olives and mixing activity of olive and fig extracts. 80 questionnaire sheets were done during April-June 2019, and the method of diffusion was used for the antimicrobial activity.Bacteria and yeasts were used: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli and Candida albicans. The results revealed that 32% of farmers use olive oil for the initial treatment of respiratory diseases, and 22% use it for digestive system problems and 13% use it as a treatment of the nervous system.However, fig tree is used against insect bites, as an inhibitor of the growth of certain cancerous tumors, diabetes and certain viral infections. The ethanol extracts showed good inhibitory effects against most strains of bacteria and yeast. Also for the majority of strains tested, it was found that in December (black olive), activity is stronger, and that the mixture of ethanol extracts with ethanol extracts of fig tree it strengthened them.

Assessing the genetic and chemical diversity of Taraxacum species in the Korean Peninsula

The genetic relationship between Taraxacum species, also known as the dandelion, is complicated because of asexual and mixed sexual apomictic reproduction. The usage of Taraxacum species in traditional medicines make their specialized metabolism important, but interspecific chemical difference has rarely been reported for the genus. In this study, we assembled the chloroplast genome and 45S rDNA of six Taraxacum species that occur in Korea (T. campylodes, T. coreanum, T. erythrospermum, T. mongolicum, T. platycarpum, and T. ussuriense), and performed a comparative analysis, which revealed their phylogenetic relationships and possible natural hybridity. We also performed a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based phytochemical analysis to reveal interspecific chemical diversity. The comparative metabolomics analysis revealed that Taraxacum species could be separated into three chemotypes according to their major defensive specialized metabolites, which were the sesquiterpene lactones, the phenolic inositols, and chlorogenic acid derivatives. The CP DNA- and 45S rDNA-based phylogenetic trees showed a tangled relationship, which supports the notion of ongoing hybridization of wild Taraxacum species. The untargeted LC–MS analysis revealed that each Taraxacum plant exhibits species-specific defensive specialized metabolism. Moreover, 45S rDNA-based phylogenetic tree correlated with the hierarchical cluster relied on metabolite compositions. Given the coincidence between these analyses, we represented that 45S rDNA could well reflect overall nuclear genome variation in Taraxacum species.

Acute oral toxicity test from leaf exudates of 17 Aloe species from East and South of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Aloe species were used for diverse traditional medicines but some species have been reported for potential toxicity. Therefore, oral acute toxicity test were done from leaf exudates of 17 Aloe species using Swiss albino mice (n = 5/cage). A single oral dose of 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight at a rate of 1 mL/100 gm administered and major toxicity symptoms were monitored; and relative body and organs weights were measured daily until day 14. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. Groups treated with exudates of Aloe calidophila, A. trichosantha subsp. longiflora, A. megalacantha subsp. alticola, A. megalacantha subsp. megalacantha, A. otallensis, A. pubescens, A. rivae, A. rugosifolia, A. secundiflora, A. tewoldei and A. yavellana did not showed any signs of toxicity at both dose levels. These groups showed no significance difference (P > .05) in percentage body weight, relative organs weight and food and water consumption compared to control group and Median Lethal Oral Dose (LD50-value) was estimated to be > 2000 mg/kg body weight. Groups treated with A. harlana, A. mcloughlinii, A. pirottae and unidentified/AHU53 showed overt signs of toxicity and significance difference (P 300 mg/kg body weight. This acute oral toxicity test revealed the importance of safety concern while using Aloe species in traditional medicines.

Streptomyces from traditional medicine: sources of new innovations in antibiotic discovery.

Given the increased reporting of multi-resistant bacteria and the shortage of newly approved medicines, researchers have been looking towards extreme and unusual environments as a new source of antibiotics. Streptomyces currently provides many of the world’s clinical antibiotics, so it comes as no surprise that these bacteria have recently been isolated from traditional medicine. Given the wide array of traditional medicines, it is hoped that these discoveries can provide the much sought after core structure diversity that will be required of a new generation of antibiotics. This review discusses the contribution of Streptomyces to antibiotics and the potential of newly discovered species in traditional medicine. We also explore how knowledge of traditional medicines can aid current initiatives in sourcing new and chemically diverse antibiotics.

Phytochemical Profile, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Cistus clusii Essential oil From Algeria

Objective: In this work, we investigated the chemical composition and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the Algerian Cistus clusii Dunal essential oil. Methods: Cistus clusii essential oil has been extracted using hydrodistillation method and characterized by GC/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two different methods DPPH free radical scavenging, and β-carotene bleaching test. The antimicrobial activity was carried out using disc diffusion method against reference strains; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27865), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), clinical bacterial (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal (Candida albicans) isolates. Results: The chemical profile of the oil showed 31 compounds. This profile was dominated by the presence of monoterpene hydrocarbons (78.4%), oxygenated derivatives (18.8%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as minor constituents of this essential oil (1.9%). The major constituents were Camphene (20.6%), γ-Terpinene (16.5%), Sabinene (12.8%), and Terpineol-4 (13.5%). Other compounds were found in moderately good amounts like α-Terpinene (8.9%), α-Thujene (5.9%), α-Pinene (4.2%), and α- Terpinolene (3.1%). The results of the antimicrobial activity showed that the highest activity was observed against C. albicans and it was higher than positive control Fluconazole. The essential oil exhibited a strong antioxidant activity, especially in the β-carotene system. Conclusion: This study indicates that Cistus clusii essential oil showed potent antioxidant and moderate antimicrobial activities which could be used to explain the use of this species in traditional medicine.

Ziziphus mucronata Willd. (Rhamnaceae): it's botany, toxicity, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities

Ziziphus mucronata is an important multi-purpose plant species that has been used in African traditional medicine for ages in the treatment of various devastating human and animal infections. The current paper is aimed at providing an overview of uses, toxicology, pharmacological properties and phytochemistry of Z. mucronata. The information used in the current work was retrieved using various search engines, including Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scielo, SciFinder and Scopus. The key words used included Ziziphus mucronata, secondary metabolites, chemistry, biological activity and pharmacology, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, ethnobotanical survey, medicinal uses, safety, toxicology and other related words. Out of the 46 infections which the plant species is used to treat, the most common uses includes sexually transmitted infections, skin infections, diarrhoea and dysentery, respiratory and chest complaints and gynaecological complaints (citations ≥6). Pharmacologically, the plant species exhibited a potential antimicrobial activity yielding a minimum inhibitory concentration of <1 mg/ml against important pathogens which includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Propionibacterium acnes, Candida albicans, Cryptoccoos neoformans amongst other microorganisms. Furthermore, the extracts and compounds from Z mucronata revealed potent antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other activities in vitro. Phytochemically, cyclo-peptide alkaloids (commonly called mucronines) dominates and in conjunction with triterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids and anthocyanins. Besides these compounds, the plant species exhibited the presence of important in minerals. These phytoconstituents may well explain the reported biological activities. Although the extracts revealed no cytotoxic effect to Vero cells, further toxicological characteristics of the plant species still needs to be explored. There is also a need to carry out the comprehensive safety profiles of the plant species, including heavy metal detection. Although the plant species revealed important biological activities, which includes antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-plasmodial, anthelmintic, and anti-anaemic activity in vitro, further research is needed to explore the in vivo studies, other compounds responsible for such activities and the mechanisms of action thereof. Such activities validates the use of the plant species in traditional medicine. The data on the possible use of the plant species in the treatment of diarrhoea, sexually transmitted infections, skin related and gynaecological complaints are scant and still needs to be explored and validated both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the anticancer and anthelmintic activity of the plant species also needs to be explored.

Uses of wild vertebrates in traditional medicine by farmers in the region surrounding the Serra do Conduru State Park (Bahia, Brazil)

Abstract: Wild and domestic animals and their by-products are important ingredients in the preparation of medicines traditionally used in folk medicine, present in various human cultures since antiquity. However, the decline in the number of species in neotropical regions as a result of hunting for various purposes, including food, medicine and magico-religious use, has placed some species - especially endemic species - at risk of extinction. In this context, the present study aimed to identify the wild vertebrate species used in folk medicine in five communities in the region surrounding the Serra do Conduru State Park (PESC), Bahia, Brazil. Forty-five hunter-farmers were interviewed, citing 23 species, from which 17 raw materials are extracted for prevention and/or treatment of 19 illnesses. Mammals were the most cited taxon followed by birds and reptiles. Among the species mentioned, Cuniculus paca is the most used for zootherapy purposes, followed by Salvator merianae and Sphiggurus insidiosus. There was dissimilarity between the communities in relation to the diversity of species used for zootherapy. Ten categories of body systems were classified for which the therapeutic resources are recommended. Disorders related to the middle and inner ear were the most cited. Some of the species mentioned are endangered, such as Bradypus torquatus and Lachesis muta. This research demonstrated that zootherapy is a traditional practice embedded in these communities. Further studies are needed to broaden knowledge of other species that may have important cultural value for these families, as well as to evaluate the potential implications of the uncontrolled use of these species in traditional medicine in an ecological context, since the practice of zootherapy can excerpt pressure on critical animal populations and threaten biodiversity.

The complete chloroplast genome, Duchesnea chrysantha (Zoll. & Moritzi) Miq. (Rosoideae)

Duchesnea chrysantha (Zoll. & Moritzi) Miq. is a traditional medicinal species of genus Duchesnea nested in Potentilla genus but having a significant key to be independent genus. In this study, we presented first complete chloroplast genome of D. chrysantha which is 156,329 bp long and has four subregions: 85,568 bp of large single copy (LSC) and 18,757 bp of small single copy (SSC) regions are separated by 26,002 bp of inverted repeat (IR) regions including 129 genes (84 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs). The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 37.0% and those in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 34.9%, 30.5%, and 42.8%, respectively. Phylogenetic trees show that D. chrysantha is clustered with D. indica and Duchesnea clade is nested in Potentilla clade with high bootstrap support.