Traditional Knowledge Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Ethnobotanical study and vulnerability of medicinal plants used against the symptoms of COVID-19 in the Lomié subdivision, East Region of Cameroon

Science has advanced to the point that traditional medicine is now a useful instrument for treating a wide range of human ailments. Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) do not, however, have access to the contemporary healthcare system. As a result, they turn to biological resources, which are the only readily available and accessible means of treating diseases like COVID-19 and flu outbreaks. In response to worldwide illnesses, this study aligns with the perspectives of traditional knowledge of biological resources, particularly therapeutic plants. Therefore, this study was aimed to document the use of the potential of medicinal plants by IPLCs in the Lomié subdivision to manage COVID-19 symptoms. In four villages in the Lomié subdivision Ekom, Payo, Eschiambor, and Kongo, ethnobotanical surveys, including semi-structured interviews on traditional usage of plants against Covid-19 symptoms, were carried out with 80 participants in order to meet all of the study specific objectives. For every species, a vulnerability index was established in order to evaluate the species fragility. To analyze the data, both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. The findings show that the respondents are well aware of the symptoms of the COVID-19 and that gave them the ability to provide timely and efficient responses. The survey identified 43 species from 39 genera grouped in 28 families were used to treat COVID-19 symptoms, with bark being the most commonly used plant part (43.8%). Decoction was the most frequently used method of preparation (50%), and oral administration was the main route of administration (56.3%). Most of the plant species were harvested from secondary forests (44.2%), of which trees formed 48.8%. A total of 30 species were recorded to be vulnerable, with Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) Sprague, Milicia excelsa (Welw.) Benth, Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv., and Trichoscypha aborea (A. Chev.) A. Chev being the most vulnerable, with vulnerability index of 2.4. The results showed a strong non-causal relationship between vulnerability and the continuous and discontinuous explanatory parameters. The susceptibility of medicinal plants used to treat COVID-19 symptoms and the explanatory parameters had a statistically significant causal association, according to the binomial logistic regression model. In light of novel diseases like COVID-19, this study finds that traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is still widely held, especially among the indigenous and local population. It can also be very beneficial in the development of new medications for a variety of illnesses.

Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants used by the local Gamo people in Boreda Abaya District, Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundMedicinal plants have been used for centuries and are still relied upon by over 80% of the Ethiopian population. The people of Gamo, southern Ethiopia, have a rich cultural and traditional lifestyle with a long history of using plant resources for various uses including traditional herbal medicine. However, their traditional knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Boreda Abaya District has not been explored Ethnobotanically yet, despite preserving diverse indigenous traditional medicinal plants. Hence, the study aimed to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge and practices used by local people.Materials and methodsQuantitative ethnobotanical data were collected via semi-structured interviews, face-to-face conversations, group discussions, and guided field trips between September 2022 and February 2023. In total, 92 informants participated, of which 25 were key informants. Quantitative data indices (informant consensus factor—ICF—and use report—Ur) were computed by MS Excel spreadsheet software. Scientific names of medicinal plants were checked via World Flora Online.ResultsIn the present study, we recorded 188 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 163 genera and 73 plant families. Lamiaceae (16 species), Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (11 species), and Euphorbiaceae (8 species) contributed highest number of species and were found to be predominant family in the area. Leaves and seeds were most frequently used plant parts, and pounding (46%) was the main method to prepare remedies. The sudden sickness disease category scored the highest consensus (ICF: 0.35), followed by blood and circulatory-related disease categories (ICF: 0.33). The highest number of plant taxa (61 species) used to treat dermal disease has a 71-use report score, while fewer plant taxa (21 species) were utilized to treat genitourinary system-related disease category, having 25 use reports. Ocimum lamiifolium (Ur:56) and Moringa stenopetala (Ur:51) are widely used species and received highest use report value.ConclusionGamo people possess extensive traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine. The region's vegetation hosts diverse medicinal species, but deforestation, agriculture, and droughts threaten them. Local conservation practices require scientific support, prioritizing species having higher use reports (Ur), and in-depth investigations of promising species for drug development are essential.

Assessment of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants practiced by rural communities residing around Musk Deer National Park, Kashmir Himalaya, Pakistan

Assessment of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants practiced by rural communities residing around Musk Deer National Park, Kashmir Himalaya, Pakistan

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Xiaoliangshan, Yunnan Province, SW China

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe Yi people in the Xiaoliangshan region in southwest China have a unique practice of combining ritual treatment and traditional medicine to care for patients. Despite increasing urbanization in the area, they have managed to preserve their distinctive lifestyle and extensive knowledge of traditional medicinal plants, setting them apart from other regions. However, there is a lack of systematic documentation on the knowledge of traditional medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Xiaoliangshan. Aim of the studyThis research aims to achieve the following objectives: 1. Document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Yi people and explore their therapeutic usages. 2. Evaluate and analyze the main types of diseases with a high incidence in the local area and identify the types of medicinal plants used to treat these diseases. 3. Explore the underlying geographical and human factors influencing both disease prevalence and medicinal plant usage. MethodsEthnobotanical research methods were used to record and analyze the medicinal plants used by the Yi in Xiaoliangshan. Experts identified all plant specimens collected during ethnobotanical field surveys. The types of diseases treated by medicinal plants were classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care -2nd. ResultsA total of 125 medicinal plants were recorded after interviewing 193 participants. Of the medicinal plants identified, those with over 100 use reports were Paris polyphylla (202 use reports), Taxillus sutchuenensis (183), Artemisia indica (149), and Papaver somniferum (113). A total of 14 disease categories were recorded, with those related to the following categories having higher Informant Consensus factor values (ICF ≥0.85): Pregnancy, Childbearing, Family Planning, General and Unspecified, Urological, Respiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Skin. The highest quantity of medicinal plants is utilized to improve specific diseases and health problems, namely those related to Digestion, Skin, and Musculoskeletal. Fewer plant species were utilized for diseases or health issues associated with Eyes, Psychological, or Pregnancy, Childbearing, and Family Planning. The use reports from the informants also revealed how some medicinal plants are used to treat a variety of diseases or health issues. For instance, Malva pusilla is used for inducing abortion, treating postpartum hemorrhage, and joint sprains; Artemisia indica is used for treating malaria; Argentina lineata is used to remedy tuberculosis and malaria. Taxillus sutchuenensis is used for dealing with cold, pneumonia, and other ailments. ConclusionsThe Yi people in Xiaoliangshan have a rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. Decoction and wine brewing are the most common processing methods used for these plants, which are utilized to treat a wide range of diseases. The characteristics of the medicinal use of the Yi people reflects the alpine mountainous environment in which they live, and their medical practices are closely related to traditional healing culture. This study enhances our understanding of the Yi traditional medicine via documentation and offers a valuable reference for future research and the development of new drugs.

The potential of Ethiopian medicinal plants to treat emergent viral diseases.

Ethiopians have deep-rooted traditions of using plants to treat ailments affecting humans and domesticated animals. Approximately 80% of the population continues to rely on traditional medicine, including for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Many antiviral plants are available to and widely used by communities in areas where access to conventional healthcare systems is limited. In some cases, pharmacological studies also confirm the potent antiviral properties of Ethiopian plants. Building on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and testing their antiviral properties may help to expand options to address the global pandemic of COVID-19 including its recently isolated virulent variants and prepare for similar outbreaks in the future. Here, we provide an ethnobotanical and pharmacological inventory of Ethiopian medicinal plants that might contribute to the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. We identified 387 species, about 6% of Ethiopia's known flora, for which records of use by local communities and traditional herbalists have been documented for the treatment of viral diseases. We provide a framework for further investigation and development of this vital resource much anticipated to help combat emergent viral diseases along with existing ones in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in The Fez-Meknes Region

Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in The Fez-Meknes Region

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of lake Abaya basin, southern Ethiopia

IntroductionEthnobotanical study was conducted in lake Abaya basin, southern Ethiopia. The study aimed at documenting indigenous and local knowledge and use of traditional medicinal plants for treating human and livestock ailments. MethodsA survey was conducted among purposively selected traditional healers and randomly selected herbal medicine practitioners of the local communities. Guided field observations, semi-structured interview, group discussions and market survey were used for ethnobotanical data collection. Preference and direct matrix rankings including descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. ResultsSeventy-one medicinal plant species belonging to 64 genera and 36 families were used as remedies for human and livestock ailments. Among these, 51 were reported for human, 13 for livestock ailment treatments and seven for both. Most of them were collected from the wild. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves followed by roots. The largest numbers of remedies were used to treat abdominal disorders. The major routes of administration include oral, dermal and nasal. Leucas abyssinica ranked first and most effective to cure abdominal disorder followed by Lepidium sativum and Stephania abyssinica. Moringa stenopetala was most preferred multipurpose plant by local people. Agricultural expansion was the major threatening factor followed by firewood consumption. ConclusionsTraditional healers apply diversified traditional medicinal plants for healthcare of the community and domestic animals. However, traditional medicinal plants and the associated indigenous knowledge of local community were under threat. Thus, public awareness and community-based management need to be encouraged to maintain indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge of the study area.

KEPRAKTISAN BUKU ILMIAH POPULER ETNOBOTANI TUMBUHAN OBAT DI KOTA TIDORE KEPULAUAN

The importance of traditional knowledge about medicinal plants needs to be documented in the form of references through scientific research so that it is not lost by cultural modernization so that it can be preserved by the next generation. Written references about traditional knowledge of medicinal plants can be written in the form of books, one of which is popular scientific books. The purpose of this research is to develop a popular scientific book on medicinal plants in the city of Tidore Islands. The type of research used is research and development with the ADDIE development model consisting of 5 stages, namely analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation. The research subjects consisted of 12 students in the 3rd semester of the Biology study program, 3 students in the 5th semester of the Biology study program, and 4 people from the community who represented the city of Tidore. The data collection technique uses a validation questionnaire for experts and small-scale trials. The results of the development of popular scientific books show that the average results of the validation and testing are in the appropriate category for use with good predicates in accordance with the table of eligibility criteria and product revisions.

Exploration of ethno-medicinal herbs and their practices by indigenous people of Achanakmar regions of Chhattisgarh State, India

The study was performed in the Achanakmar regions of Chhattisgarh state, India.  At the study site, a total of 54 herbaceous medicinal plants belonging to 30 families were documented. Between March 2020 and March 2022, intensive field surveys were conducted in the research areas. Native knowledge of wild medicinal plants was obtained on field trips through questionnaires, discussions, and in-person interviews. In accordance with their correct nomenclature, plants were organized according to their botanical name, family, common name, parts used and diseases treated. The Zingiberaceae family was the most prevalent in the current study, accounting for 5 plant species used by the region's indigenous people. This was followed by the Amaranthaceae, Acanthaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families, each representing 3 species of plants. For a longer period of time, the rural residents of the Achanakmar region have used native flora for primary healthcare and the treatment of various diseases. However, there was little information about traditional knowledge of medicinal plants documented. Rural Achanakmar people asserted that younger generations are less interested in traditional knowledge of medicinal herbs due to societal development. Therefore, it is crucial to document ethnomedicinal plants before they are no longer available and go extinct. In order to effectively conserve plants and traditional knowledge for the future, this ethnobotanical database will be helpful to scientists, naturalists, planners, policymakers, and chemists.

Ethnobotanical Study of Plants Used in the Management of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent illness in older men. It is a condition where the prostate becomes  enlarged and blocks the ease of urine passage out of the bladder. Around 50% of the male population develops symptoms of BPH around  51- 60 years of age. Current therapeutic management options come with undesirable side effects like weight gain, dizziness, and  impotence, hence, the need to source for safer alternatives initiated by the acquisition, recording, and preservation of traditional  knowledge of medicinal plants.
 Objective: This study aims to preserve indigenous knowledge by documenting medicinal herbs in use as therapy for BPH.
 Materials & method: Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the study areas through interviews using a semistructured questionnaire.  Respondents included elderly members of the communities, herbalists, and practitioners of traditional medicine. Quantitative  ethnobotany index (Use value index) and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data.
 Results: 50 respondents were interviewed, 64%  were Herb sellers, 22% TMPs, Others 14%. 37 plants belonging to 24 plant families were mentioned in the survey. Methods of preparation  of recipes mentioned includes: maceration (37%), decoctions (52%), juice (7%), infusions and paste/powder (4%). Method of  administration were majorly oral route. The plant family Fabaceae (19%) had the highest representation. This was followed by the families  Annonaceae (8%), Euphorbiaceae (6%), Curcubitaceae, Menispermaceae, Combretaceae, Apocynaceae and Rutaceae with 5% each.  Other plant families represented 42% of the total number of plants mentioned.
 Conclusion: The study areas are endowed with abundant  flora which serves as a repository for researchers in the quest to develop less toxic drugs with little or no side-effect for the management  of BPH 

Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants in Relation to Local Customs and Practices of the North Black Sea Coast Population

Abstract This comprehensive ethnobotanical study was conducted along the North Black Sea coast area to find of the extent to which indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and their relation to Bulgarian traditions and customs is preserved. We aim to identify the tendencies of passing this knowledge to future generations. The survey was conducted in 2015 in various urban and rural North Black Sea coast areas, using a face-to-face interviews technique. We used the Chi-square test to analyse the results. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for the assessment of the impact of demographics on respondents' answers. More than half of the respondents (61.08%) are not familiar with rituals and traditional practices related to medicinal plants. Moderate influence on respondents' answers is rendered by age only. For the local population of the North Black Sea coast, Enyovden turns out to be the most popular holiday related to medicinal plants. Enyovden is the herbalists' feast and is cited by 20% of respondents. The same percentage of interviewees mention Geranium spp. and Ocimum basilicum L. as the most favoured herbs related to local traditions and customs. Traditional knowledge of the relation between Bulgarian rituals and customs to medicinal plants and their magical powers is fading.

Medicinal plants traditionally used in the health care practices by the indigenous communities of the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, India

Ethnopharmacological relevanceLadakh, “the land of high-rising passes,” is a cold arid desert located in the India's northernmost part of the Trans-Himalayan region. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in this fragile ecosystem is an important part of the primary healthcare system, particularly in remote areas where modern medical facilities are not fully operational. There is a need to update the traditional information on medicinal plants from time to time to understand any addition of plants or uses to assist in developing new drugs through pharmacological and phytochemical studies. Aim of the studyThe study was conducted to document the traditional knowledge and current therapeutic practices of the indigenous communities of Ladakh. Besides, the study strives to evaluate previous studies from Ladakh to identify plants that have not been previously reported for medicinal use. Material and methodsEthnomedicinal information was collected from 350 local informants through open and semi-structured questionnaires and field surveys in 35 villages of 8 regions of Ladakh. The primary data were analyzed for use reports (UR) and the informant consensus factor (ICF). The reported diseases were classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2). New reported medicinal plants and unreported medicinal uses in this study were identified and compared to 36 prior studies conducted in Ladakh. ResultsIn the study, 176 medicinal plants belonging to 45 families and 131 genera were reported to treat 116 diseases of 16 (ICPC-2) groups with a total of 4841 use reports. Based on the highest use reports (UR), the most utilized species were Thymus linearis Benth. (134), followed by Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. (127) The highest informant consensus factor (ICF) was reported for Pregnancy, Childbearing, and Family Planning (ICF = 1) followed by respiratory (ICF = 0.91), and digestive (ICF = 0.90) disorders. Based on the comparative literature review, a total of 518 plant species (502 previously reported plus 16 newly cited) are being used in the Ladakh region. A total of 133 use reports for 16 newly cited plants using 30 diseases were recorded. The highest degree of overlapping of medicinal plants and uses for medicines was recorded in regions with comparable ethnicity, and shorter geographical distances. Based on the IUCN Red List, recorded medicinal plants include 7 critically endangered, 9 endangered, and 13 vulnerable species. ConclusionLadakh's indigenous populations use a diverse range of medicinal plants to treat a variety of illnesses. The introduction of species and medicinal uses not previously cited in the primary health care system demonstrates that shared knowledge of traditional medicine among Ladakhi is still rich. The medicinal value of preferred medicinal plants has already been validated, but some medicinal plants lack scientific validation. We recommend further scientific studies on Aconitum violaceum Jacquem. ex Stapf,Anaphalis nepalensis var. monocephala (DC.) Hand.-Mazz., Allardia nivea Hook. f. & Thomson ex C.B. Clarke, Atriplex hortensis L., Eriophyton tibeticum (Vatke) Ryding, Iris lactea Pall. and Rheum webbianum Royle.

Diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Shui people in Southwest China

BackgroundThe Shui are a small Chinese sociolinguistic group living in Sandu Shui Autonomous County, south of Guizhou Province. The Shui people have accumulated and developed rich traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a significant role in their healthcare. Traditional ethnic herbal medicines, like Shui ethnomedicine, have become an important resource of rural development in Guizhou Province. However, not much research has been conducted to document the medicinal plants traditionally used by the Shui people. This study’s aims are (1) to record the current use of medicinal plants in Sandu County and associated traditional knowledge, including the medicinal plant species used and the types of diseases treated by local healers and any unique aspects of their preparations; (2) to analyze the most important medicinal plant species using relative frequency of citation (RFC); and (3) to provide useful information and data for possible future development and application of ethnomedicine and promote the conservation and preservation of Shui traditional medicinal knowledge.MethodsField surveys were conducted between July 2015 and August 2022 in Sandu County. A total of 15 local healers as key informants were interviewed. An additional 132 informants from villages and local markets were also interviewed through semistructured interviews and focal group discussions. Local Shui healers were followed during their collection of medicinal plants in the fields and recorded the medicinal plants’ names, uses, and parts used. An ANOVA was used to evaluate the number of medicinal plants recognized by local healers across age-groups and townships, and relative frequencies of citation values were determined for the recorded medicinal plants.ResultsIn this study, data collected from 15 Shui healers and 132 other informants were analyzed. The healers used fresh or dried parts of 505 plant species as medicine to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases. These plants belong to 405 genera from 156 families, with Fabaceae being the highest represented plant family. The Jiuqian township had the highest distribution of per capita healers (pch); only one local healer was in Zhonghe. Of the 15 local healers, only two were younger than 40 years of age. There is a major concern that traditional medicinal knowledge may be lost if there are not sufficient trainees or suitable successors. Among the common medicinal plants, most are herbaceous and the Shui typically use the whole plant in their medicines. There are 85 different recorded diseases treated by Shui medicinal plants, and among them, rheumatism and bone fractures have the largest number of species used. Three medicinal plant species, Isodon amethystoides, Asarum insigne, and Acorus tatarinowii, are the most commonly used ethnomedicines by the Shui people.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that Shui people have extensive knowledge of a diverse range of medicinal plants, many of which had not been systematically recorded before the current study. Further research on the chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Shui medicinal plants will be useful for developing functional foods or pharmaceutical products, particularly those of Isodon amethystoides, Asarum insigne, and Acorus tatarinowii. Additionally, as a result of rapid economic growth, fewer young people in Shui communities pursue traditional medicinal studies. Only 15 traditional Shui healers remain in the county, and only two of them are below the age of 40 years. Therefore, to conserve Shui’s traditional medicinal knowledge, initiatives and policies are required to regenerate, strengthen, and promote Shui medicinal knowledge.

Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity Studies on the Crude Leaf Extract of Solanum sisymbriifolium: Traditional Ethiopian Medicinal Plant

Ethiopians have used medicinal plants for centuries. In some cases, it is important and the only treatment source. However, these plant species have not been fully studied. In addition, society is inevitably losing knowledge of traditional medicinal plants as society adopts new lifestyles. Consequently, the objective of this research was to determine the phytochemical components and antibacterial activity of Solanum sisymbriifolium, a traditional medicinal plant used in Ethiopia to treat arthritis. Phytochemical analyses were performed on the leaf extracts to identify the bioactive constituents. The results of this study indicated that the plant contains carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, steroids, saponins, and terpenoids. Tannins and anthraquinones were absent. Alkaloids and terpenoids’ presence in the leaves of these plants is a potential bioactive for bacterial inhibitors. At optimal conditions (62°C, 72 hr, and 1 mm particle size), the maximum extraction yield is 38.538.5 ± 1.15 %. Crystals obtained from aqueous methanol extracts were subjected to FT-IR, and the compound spectrum showed a characteristic absorption band for the N-H group at 3500 cm-1 and 1700 cm-1 for the C = O group, and the medium intensity at 1236 cm-1 indicates a C-O stretching. Sharp absorption at 707 cm-1 is inductive for = C-H bending. According to agar disc diffusion tests, plant extracts of 50 mg/mL produced 14.04 mm growth inhibition zones of Bacillus subtilis. Phytochemical and antibacterial studies of Solanum sisymbriifolium indicated that the plant is a source of highly valued compounds for the preparation of medications.

Evaluation of Semecarpus kurzii Engler from Bay Islands for oxidative DNA damage protective activity and in vitro antioxidant potential

Introduction and Aim: Harnessing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is important for the betterment of mankind. We must safeguard traditional knowledge from misuse by miscreants living in modern societies and knowledge must be available in the public domain for use in drug designing in the healthcare system. Since the beginning of recorded history, Indians have used plants as a source of medicine, and their cultural past is incredibly rich. This study was conducted to evaluate the oxidative stress-induced DNA damage prevention and antioxidant potential of Semecarpus kurzii found in the Bay Islands.   Materials and Methods: The scavenging of superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide (NO), 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) radicals, ferric reducing power (FRAP), and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity were tested to determine antioxidant activity. DNA damage inhibition test was used to evaluate the protection against oxidative DNA damage.   Results: The S. kurzii extract showed dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH, superoxide anion, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical and reducing power evaluated by comparing with standard antioxidants (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and BHT). However, the nitric oxide scavenging (IC50 =186.47) and superoxide scavenging (IC50 = 678.32) was more than that of DPPH (IC50 =28.03) and Hydroxyl radical (IC50 =89.10) scavenging capacity. In addition, S. kurzii extract and ascorbic acid showed lipid peroxidation inhibition activity. The extract also exhibited DNA protection which was confirmed by the DNA damage inhibition assay.   Conclusion: Our results corroborated that, the methanolic extract of S. kurzii bark has substantial antioxidant activity and DNA damage inhibition. The potential antioxidant and oxidative DNA damage preventive activity could be due to the existence of polyphenolic compounds in the S. kurzii bark.

Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Study in the Bulgarian Mountain Rhodopes: Part II—Contemporary Use of Medicinal Plants

Rhodopes Mountain is ethnobotanically poorly studied, but our preliminary observation in a number of settlements revealed that even nowadays, the local population relies solely on previously collected medicinal plants. We aimed to assess the contemporary use of medicinal plants in the Central and East Rhodopes and the health conditions that local communities address with them. The ethnobotanical field data were collected through an in-depth method in combination with semi-structured face-to-face interviews, adapted with modifications to the objectives of this study. The following quantitative ethnobotanical indices were used in this study: informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), and Jaccard similarity coefficient or Jaccard index (JI). Data analyses from our field research showed that 92 informants mentioned the utilization of a total of 114 plant species. The results of this study reveal that in both regions of the Rhodopes, medicinal plants are mentioned most often in relation to diseases affecting nervous, respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems, followed by reproductive, urinary, immune, and musculoskeletal. The risk of disruption or loss of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is expected in the condition of cultural globalization. However, there is no metrified data about the use of medicinal plants in the Rhodopes from the past. The application of statistical indices in this research will make such assessment and monitoring possible in the future.

Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Kigwema village of Kohima district, Nagaland (India)

Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Kigwema village of Kohima district, Nagaland (India)

Antileishmanial Activity and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Malachra alceifolia Jacq. Fractions against Leishmania mexicana Amastigotes

Malachra alceifolia Jacq. (family Malvaceae), known as "malva," is a medicinal plant used as a traditional therapy in many regions of America, Africa and Asia. Traditionally, this plant is used in the form of extracts, powder and paste by populations for treating fever, stomachache, inflammation, and parasites. However, the ethnopharmacological validation of M. alceifolia has been scarcely researched. This study showed that the chloroform fraction (MA-IC) and subfraction (MA-24F) of the leaves of M. alceifolia exhibited a potential antileishmanial activity against axenic amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana pifanoi (MHOM/VE/60/Ltrod) and had high and moderate cytotoxic effects on the viability and morphology of macrophages RAW 264.7. This study reports, for the first time, possible terpenoid metabolites and derivatives present in M. alceifolia with activity against some biosynthetic pathways in L. mexicana amastigotes. The compounds from the subfractions MA-24F were highly active and were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and by a molecular docking study in L. mexicana target protein. This study demonstrates the potential modes of interaction and the theoretical affinity energy of the metabolites episwertenol, α-amyrin and methyl commate A, which are present in the active fraction MA-24F, at allosteric sites of the pyruvate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase, aldolase, phosphoglucose isomerase, transketolase, arginase and cysteine peptidases A, target proteins in some vital biosynthetic pathways were responsible for the survival of L. mexicana. Some phytoconstituents of M. alceifolia can be used for the search for potential new drugs and molecular targets for treating leishmaniases and infectious diseases. Furthermore, contributions to research and the validation and conservation of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants are needed globally.

Ethnomedicinal Plants Diversity in R. V. Nagar Forest Range, Alluri Sita Rama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present investigation the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants that are in use in R.V. Nagar Forest range in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Ethnomedicinal uses of 165 plant species along with botanical name, family, habit, parts and diseases are presented. They belong to 137 genera and 74 families. These plants used to cure 59 types of ailments. Most remedies were taken orally, accounting for 78% of medicinal use. Most of the remedies were reported to have been from herbs and tree species.

The Roots of Neorautanenia mitis (A. Rich) Verdcourt: Further Evidence of Its Antidiarrhoeal Activity.

Despite the current management options and therapeutics used in the treatment of diarrhoea, in Africa and Asia, diarrhoea remains a major concern, especially in children under the age of 5 years. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used in the management of diarrhoea symptoms can be explored for their efficacy. In Nigeria, the TMPs (Traditional Medicine Practitioners) have, over the years, employed medicinal plants in the management of diarrhoea symptoms. In our current and previous studies, we aimed at validating the effectiveness of Neorautanenia mitis in the management of diarrhoea as claimed by the TMPs. Out of the 20 compounds isolated from N. mitis, the compounds neodulin, pachyrrhizine, neotenone and dolineone were the most abundant, and in this study, neodulin showed a pronounced relaxation of the rhythmic contraction of the isolated rabbit jejunum in an organ bath in a concentration-dependent manner, with a complete relaxation at 60 µg/mL. Neotenone and dolineone showed a dose-dependent inhibition of defecation of 65.07%, and 50.01%, respectively, at 20 mg/kg in a castor-oil-induced diarrhoea model. This is a strong indication that compounds from N. mitis possess antidiarrhoeal properties, thereby giving credence to its traditional usage in diarrhoea therapy, and therefore validating its antidiarrhoeal activity and its being worthy of further investigation.