Traditional Use Of Plant Research Articles

CARING FOR PUERPERIAL MOTHERS THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF TRADITIONAL HERBS TO OPTIMIZE THEIR HEALTH

Puerperium is a critical period in which mothers often experience physical and psychological problems, however it is the beginning of the breastfeeding process and determines the success of exclusive breastfeeding. The use of traditional herbs for postpartum mothers is part of Indonesian culture that is starting to be abandoned in urban area. This community service activity aims to increase the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the community regarding the importance of postpartum maternal health care and the use of traditional herbs with proper processing methods as a promotive and preventive treatment. This activity was carried out in Gubeng Surabaya District with three stages including preparation, implementation of activities and evaluation. In the preparation stage, a situation analysis was performed. Activities were conducted by delivering lectures, discussions, video demonstrations and training. The evaluation was carried out by obtaining feedback from the social and community empowerment section as well as the pre-test and post-test questionnaires filled out by the participants. Based on the evaluation, the community service can increase participants' knowledge about postpartum health care and lactation management, thereby increasing awareness to play an active role by disseminating information to the community about the importance of family and the neighbourhood support for postpartum and breastfeeding mothers. The participants 'knowledge about the use of traditional medicinal plants for the maintenance of postpartum health and successful breastfeeding also increased, accompanied by an increase in the participants' willingness to prepare traditional jamu from fresh herbal ingredients themselves. This community service needs to be carried out in a sustainable manner with innovative delivery methods.

Utilization of Plants in Postpartum Maternal Care in Watulea Village, Central Buton Regency

The fact is that some people have giving birth medically, but postpartum care is still done traditionally. The treatment used concoctions of various types of plants. This study aims to preserve traditional knowledge through documenting community knowledge regarding postnatal care using plants by traditional methods in Watulea Village, Central Buton. The selection of respondents was carried out by purposive sampling technique. Data related to goals was collected by semi-structured interviews with 3 healers and 11 women who had used plants in postpartum care. Data from the interviews were the plant information such as local names, parts of the plants used, and descriptions of the traditional use of plants, including how to prepare and utilization. Data processing is done by descriptive analysis and presented in the form of tables and narratives. The result show that 23 species, belonging to 16 families which were used either singly or a mixture of various plants in the form of 3 types concoction, namely ramuan minum, ramuan mandi, and ramuan balur. Even though the plant compounds used have not been fully scientifically proven regarding the intended properties although it is proven that some of the ingredients used in these ingredients contain substances that are beneficial to the body-, their use has been going on for generations because of the positive impact felt directly by consumers.

Uncovering the ethnobotanical importance of community forests in Chai Nat Province, Central Thailand

Abstract. Chaiyong S, Pongamornkul W, Panyadee P, Inta A. 2023. Uncovering the ethnobotanical importance of community forests in Chai Nat Province, Central Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 2052-2063. Ethnobotanical studies are crucial for understanding local communities' traditional knowledge and use of plants and conserving biodiversity. This is the first public ethnobotanical study in the Chai Nat Province. It is an essential contribution to the limited knowledge of the traditional use of plants in this region. Three key informants with high experience in traditional knowledge were selected through a small meeting in the village. Using a semi-structured interview method during the walk-to-the-wood method, we gathered data on 103 plant species belonging to 92 genera and 49 families. The majority of the plant species (57) were used for medicinal purposes, followed by food (38), materials (17), and other small categories. It is worth noting that some plant species were used in more than one category. Our study provides an in-depth understanding of local communities’ traditional knowledge and use of plants which is essential for managing and conserving these important resources. This study not only contributes to the field of ethnobotany but also highlights the importance of preserving traditional ecological knowledge for future generations.

Evaluation of Using Medicinal and Aromatic Plants by Healthcare Professionals During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) Period

Bu çalışmada, Covid-19 (Kovid-19) pandemisine karşı sağlık çalışanları tarafından, geleneksel olarak kullanılan tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma tanımlayıcı modelde tasarlanmış olup 10 Temmuz-31 Aralık 2021 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Türkiye’deki sağlık çalışanları araştırma evrenini oluşturup basit rastgele örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Verilerin toplanmasında, alan uzmanlarınca hazırlanan yarı yapılandırılmış anket formu kullanılmıştır. Demografik bilgiler ve tıbbi ve aromatik bitkiler olmak üzere iki kısımdan oluşan anket, Google forms üzerinden online olarak uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 24 paket programı kullanılmış, yüzdelik ve frekans hesaplamaları yapılmıştır. Araştırmaya, Türkiye genelinde 1320 sağlık çalışanı katılmış olup, katılımcıların %55’i kadın, %45’i erkektir, meslek gruplarına göre dağılımı; %18’i hemşire, %16’sı sağlık memuru, %12’si hekim, %10’u ATT, %9’u paramedik, %9’u ebe, %8’i tıbbi sekreter, %7’si eczacı, %6’sı psikolog ve %5’i diğer (sosyal çalışmacı, müdür, diş hekimi vs.) şeklindedir. Çalışma sonucuna göre; sağlık çalışanlarının %77’si Covid-19 pandemisinde tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerin tamamen ve kısmen etkili olduğuna inandığını belirtmiş ve bunların %63’ü şifalı bitkileri kullanmıştır. Kullanılan bitkiler içinde kekik/Origanum sp. (%99), narenciye/Citrus sp. (%94) ve sarımsak/Allium sativum (%93) en yüksek düzeyde tercih edilmiştir. Tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerin kullanımı hakkındaki bilgilerin en çok sosyal medya (%99) aracılığıyla elde edildiği görülmüştür. Katılımcıların %94’ü bitkileri aktardan temin etmiştir. Bitkiler daha çok demlenerek (%99) ve çiğ gıda (%91) şeklinde tüketilmektedir. Bu süreçte tıbbi ve aromatik bitki kullananların %63’ü Covid-19’a yakalanmadığını bildirmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Covid-19 sürecinde sağlık çalışanlarının büyük çoğunluğunun tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerin etkisine inandığı ve şifalı bitkileri kullanmayı tercih ettikleri ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Bu çalışma modern tıp ilmi almış bireylerin tamamlayıcı tıbba olan bakışını yansıtması açısından önemli bir değere sahiptir.

Anticholinergic effects of Taraxacum Genus Dandelion Grass consumption: A case report

Objective: The traditional use of plants and plant-derived products as alternatives to synthetic medicinal and chemical drugs is a well-established practice, and dandelion is commonly used as a herbal remedy. However, it's important to note that the side effects of dandelion can vary depending on the person. In this particular case, a 55-year-old male patient presented with anticholinergic symptoms after consuming dandelion. Case Presentation: A 55-year-old male was admitted to the emergency room with altered consciousness. While his vital signs were normal, except for a heart rate of 110 beats per minute and a high glucose level of 280 mg/dL, he exhibited confusion and mydriatic pupils. Although his muscle and tendon examinations were normal, tongue fasciculations were observed, indicating anticholinergic symptoms. The patient's symptoms were monitored for 18 hours until they subsided, and he was discharged after a full recovery. Conclusion: Dandelion grass has potential therapeutic benefits, but its side effects may vary depending on dosage and application. Patients should inform their healthcare providers and only use products from reputable sources to avoid potential interactions or adverse effects.

Quantitative ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the indigenous communities of Shawal Valley, District North Waziristan, Pakistan

Background: The current survey aimed to assess the traditional knowledge and use of therapeutic plants to treat various respiratory disorders by traditional healers. The local communities of District North Waziristan are reliant on therapeutic plant species for their primary health care needs. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews. A sum of 130 informants (107 male and 23 female) selected randomly. Ethnobotanical data was quantitatively analyzed by using Use Value (UV), Relative Citation of Frequency (RFC), and Fidelity Level (FL). Results: A total of 56 plants related to 32 plant families were recorded which were used to cure 24 various respiratory disorders. Lamiaceae (7 species) was the most prevalent plant family, followed by Asteraceae (5 species), Moraceae and solanaceae (4 species) each, 8 families have (2 species each), while the remaining 20 families has only (1 species each).The dominant growth form was herbs (53.57%), while leaves (28.57%) were the leading plant part used in remedies preparation for respiratory disorders. The dominant method of medications preparation was decoctions (42.86%), which were all administered orally. The plant species with highest use values were Ephedra procera (0.87), followed by Morus nigra (0.86), while the highest RFC values were recorded for Ephedra procera (0.36), followed Cydonia oblonga (0.35), Morus nigra (0.34). The therapeutic plant species with maximum use values reported in the survey may indicate the possible presence of important bioactive compounds which need a search for potential new drugs to treat various respiratory disorders. Conclusions: The study accomplishes that indigenous communities yet prefer therapeutic plants species over allopathic drug for curing different disorders. However this valuable traditional information is limited to elder people. So, attention is required to conserve this traditional knowledge.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of four medicinal plants from Algeria

Medicinal plants are used in folk medicine to cure several human diseases. This work was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of different extracts of Globularia alypum, Dittrichia viscosa, Juniperus oxycedrus, and Retama sphaerocarpa. The total phenolic content (TPC), the total flavonoid content (TFC), and the condensed tannin content (CTC) were determined spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activity was tested using TAC, DPPH and reducing power assays. The agar diffusion method was used to determine antimicrobial activity against four bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungus (Candida albicans). J. oxycedrus acetone extract showed the highest extraction yield (35.56±0.45%), TPC (504.96±14.82 mg GAE/g DE) and TFC (43.91±0.87 mg QE/g DE). The same extract exhibited the highest TAC (350.67±6.05 mg GAE/g DE) and was the most effective against the DPPH free radical (IC50 = 0.21±0.01 mg/mL). In contrast, the J. oxycedrus methanol extract showed the highest reducing power (A0.5 = 0.39 ± 0.09 mg/mL). All extracts tested showed antibacterial and anticandidal activities at different concentrations. The best antimicrobial effect was also observed with the acetone extract of J. oxycedrus against P. aeruginosa (26.77±0.06 mm), B. cereus (17.16±0.08 mm), E. coli (15.84±0.04 mm), and C. albicans (21.36±0.11 mm), while the ethanol extract of D. viscosa was the most active against S. aureus (24.54±0.03 mm). The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the traditional use of these local plants and demonstrate their potential as sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive compounds.

Understanding old herbal secrets: The renaissance of traditional medicinal plants beyond the twenty classic species?

The use of traditional medicinal plants plays an important role especially in remote rural and marginalized landscapes at different latitudes. In the development of nature conservation strategies based on local knowledge and sustainable resource management, medicinal herbs have been hypothesized to be cultural key stone species. Environmental education is a crucial driver for fostering environmental literacy and preserving local knowledge across generations. We conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the Autonomous Province of Bozen-South Tyrol (N Italy) to gain insights into, and reflections on, the cultural value of traditional medicinal plants and their interplay within the local landscape, nature conservation and their role in environmental education and knowledge transfer across generations. We also used a combination of purposive and snowball sampling to identify relevant actors. The different voices collected in the study clearly highlight the role of medicinal herbs in healthcare, for cultural identity of local communities and demonstrate a growing commercial market niche that maintains the local economy and services, including widespread offers related to environmental education, that have not, unfortunately, been used yet in the formal curricula of local schools. The latter is crucial for a holistic approach taking medicinal plants as an ideal vehicle to connect especially children with nature and history of South Tyrol, strengthening health education and overall environmental literacy, including species knowledge. However, the revival of herbal medicine and related knowledge do not prevent the continuous loss of local traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants, recipes and use. More species and their uses are being forgotten due to superficialisation of knowledge and of mainstreaming and homogenization of the global market of herbal medicine. Safeguarding the natural and cultural treasures of South Tyrol for future generations is in the hands of the local communities.

Ethnobotanical Survey and Pharmacological Screening of Medicinal Plants Used as Antihypertensive in Sefrou Province (Middle-North of Morocco): Benefits and Challenges

Herbal medicine was used since the old time in the treatment of different types of diseases in Sefrou province, Morocco. However, few studies have been carried out to identify local medicinal flora and to scientifically document the knowledge of the traditional use of these medicinal plants by the population. This study aims to investigate the medicinal plants in Sefrou province, record their usage in folk medicine by the population and evaluate the hypotensive effect of selected plants using in vitro vascular activity. For that, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted among the Arabs and Amazighs population of Sefrou province from January 2017 to December 2018. The survey was conducted through oral interviews with a structured questionnaire. It covered those who knew and/or used plants for medicinal purposes, retailers, and wholesalers, and also included ecological repartition as well as the mode of administration. Then we selected some plants to evaluate the antihypertensive activity based on the in vitro bioassay. A total of 134 medicinal plants belonging to 52 families were identified; 61% are wild species, 49 (36%) are cultivated and 4 (3%) are cultivated as well as spontaneous. Medicinal plants used in Sefrou folk medicine have been investigated for their antihypertensive activity. They were selected based on their usage as cardiotonic, diuretics, and other uses related to the symptoms of hypertension. Most of the plants tested in this study were found to be more sensitive to relaxing contractions induced by noradrenaline. Out of 32 species examined, 14 (44%) showed more than 50% inhibition in isolated rat aortic rings, the vasorelaxant activity of these plants used for the screening was mostly inhibited by pre-treatment with N-ω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOArg). The plants inventoried are alleged to be active against 104 therapeutic indications. Nine common symptoms are widely treated in indigenous pharmacopeia: gastrointestinal (19 plants), renal (27 plants), broncho-pulmonary system (7 plants), skin (13 species), diabetes (12 plants), cardiovascular (13 plants), eye, ear, nose, teeth, and throat diseases (5 plants); gynecological disorders (6 plants); rheumatism and gnawing pain (11 plants). 14% (19 species) of the plant inventoried are traded on a large scale and scope and more than 90 percent of the medicinal plants purchased from Sefrou go to big cities for export. The expansion of unregulated trade and commercial use of medicinal and aromatic plants poses a major threat to biodiversity in the region. Overall, people in Sefrou hold rich knowledge of herbal medicine. The vasorelaxant activity proved for the documented plants will provide a basis for other preclinical and clinical investigations.

Evaluation of Antidiarrheal, Antispasmodic, and Antisecretory Activities of Extract and Fractions of Castanopsis costata Leaves in Animal Models

Background: The use of traditional medicinal plants Castanopsis costata in the management of diarrhea is an ancient practice in North Sumatra, Indonesia, but its safety and efficacy have not been examined scientifically in animal models. Therefore, this study aims to determine the antidiarrheal effect of C. costata leaf extract and fractions in vivo. Methods: The antidiarrheal activity was evaluated against animal models of diarrhea induced by castor oil, charcoal meal, and entero-pooling test. The extract group received doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, while the fraction groups was treated with WFCC, EAFCC, and nHFCC, in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The negative control received 10 mL/kg of the dissolving vehicle, while the positive was treated with loperamide 3 mg/kg. Results: The results showed that EECC doses of 200 mg/kg, WFCC, and EAFCC at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea, while WFCC and EAFCC at 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the amount of wet feces output and total feces output. In addition, only WFCC and EAFCC (at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively) significantly reduced the mean weight of wet feces and total feces. The percentage of maximum diarrhea inhibition was observed at the EAFCC dose of 100 mg/kg. Based on the charcoal meal test results, only EAFCC significantly inhibited the distance traveled by charcoal meal and reduced the peristaltic index at a dose of 100 mg/kg, while the percentage decrease in gastrointestinal motility was 46.87%. Similarly, in the entero-pooling test, WFCC and EAFCC significantly reduced the volume and weight of intestinal contents at a dose of 100 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: The results confirm that the extract and fractions of C. costata have antidiarrheal activity. Therefore, this study provides scientific support for the traditional use of C. costata in treating diarrhea.

Ethnobotanical survey of the traditional antiparasitic use of medicinal plants in humans and animals in Laghouat (Southern Algeria).

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the inhabitants of the Aflou region of Laghouat (Southern Algeria). This study was considered as a first step toward the identification of new bioactive antiparasitic molecules. The preservation and documentation of this traditional knowledge will ensure its continuity and transmission from one generation to another, especially because of the emergence of resistant parasites and the lack of references caused by the lack of work in this area; therefore, we intended to inventory and collect the maximum amount of information on medicinal plants that are traditionally used by the local population as antiparasitic in humans and animals (small ruminants, cattle, and livestock). The information was collected using open interviews; the ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the area mentioned above from April to July 2021 using a semi-structured questionnaire and a global sample of 200 respondents. The data were analyzed using the System Package for the Social Sciences software and Microsoft Excel 2010 using the following quantitative indices: Relative frequency of citation (RFC), family importance value (FIV), fidelity level, and informant consensus factor (ICF). The investigation uncovered the antiparasitic use of 58 plant species belonging to 30 families. The family Asteraceae had the highest FIV (FIV = 0.23). The pathology with the highest degree of agreement among the informants was genitourinary parasitosis (ICF = 0.930). The species that was most commonly cited by the local population was Artemisia herba-alba Asso (RFC = 1), and the foliage was the most commonly used part (46.4%). Infusion (38.8%) was the most-used preparation for remedies. This investigation revealed a rich ethnopharmacological knowledge in southern Algeria; therefore, the data gathered in this survey may be utilized to create novel antiparasitic compounds with activity in humans and animals.

The traditional use of wild edible plants in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities of Mieso District, eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe populations in Ethiopia have developed their indigenous knowledge to use, manage and conserve wild edible plants (WEPs). In the eastern part of Ethiopia, wild edible plants are used as a means of survival during times of food shortage and as dietary supplements. Documenting the traditional and cultural use of wild food plants is a vital step in obtaining baseline data for investigating nutritional values and possible side effects, preserving indigenous knowledge, and ultimately interesting in wild edible plant conservation. However, their significance, management and utilization have not been documented in Mieso District. Therefore, this study aimed to provide documentation of wild edible plant use associated with ethnobotanical knowledge in Mieso District, eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn ethnobotanical study of wild edible plant species was conducted from March 2021 to May 2022. A total of 120 (72 males and 48 females) informants were selected using the snowball method. Data collection methods, including semistructured interviews, direct observation and field walks were used. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including independent sample t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). We calculated use values (UVs) to analyse the relative cultural importance of each plant species.ResultsA total of 41 wild edible plant species belonging to 33 genera in 21 families were documented to be used as food sources both during times of food shortage and as dietary supplements. Family Malvaceae was best-represented with 6 species, followed by Fabaceae and Rhamnaceae (4 species each). The dominant growth form (habit) was shrubs (30 species), followed by trees (11 species). The most widely used plant parts were fruits (covering 39 species, 95%). The largest number (23 species) was collected from forest habitats only, followed by both village and forest habitats (8 species). The majority of wild edible plants (28 species or 68%) were consumed only during famine or in the time of food shortage followed by supplementing staple foods (9 species or 22%). Wild edible plants in Mieso are used for multiple other uses, including for fodder, fuel, medicine, construction, cosmetics and bee keeping. Twenty-three species were mentioned for fodder use, followed by fuel purpose (21 species) and medicinal value (13 species). The species that had the highest use values were Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr. (1.4), Carissa spinarum L. (1.1), Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. (0.6), Grewia villosa Willd. (0.5), Cordia monoica Roxb. (0.3) and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (L.) (0.2). Most WEPs were collected from March to May (Badheysa) (33 species). The highest mentioned wild edible plant sold in the market was F. indica (Burm.f.) Merr. mentioned by 20 informants, followed by Z. spina-christi (L.) Desf. (14).ConclusionThe people in Mieso use wild plants as supplementary food to cultivated crops, during famine, and many could be utilized for day-to-day human consumption. Some plants in the district provide cash income for local people. However, deforestation (54%), drought (22%) and agricultural expansion (12%) were the highest threats to wild plants in Mieso District. Hence, on-site and off-site conservation would help protect wild plant resources in Mieso, eastern Ethiopia.

Parasiticides: Weapons for Controlling Microbial Vector-Borne Diseases in Veterinary Medicine; The Potential of Ethnobotanic/Phytoparasiticides: An Asset to One Health.

Some ectoparasites are vectors of illness-causing bacteria and viruses, and these are treated with antibiotic and antiviral drugs, which eventually contribute to the excessive use of antimicrobials. Therefore, the control of ectoparasites is crucial, and the challenge will be to manage them in a sustainable way. Data from a preliminary ethnobotanical survey was reanalyzed to obtain information on the use of various plant species in companion animals and livestock as ectoparasiticides. The survey responses were reviewed for traditional use of plants as ectoparasiticides, and cross-sectional bibliographic research was undertaken. The following plants were selected among the nine mentioned plants: Juglans regia, Daphne gnidium and Ruta graveolens, which have the most potential to be developed as veterinary ectoparasiticides. Moreover, the absence of published data for Plantago lanceolata and Cistus populifolius suggests that their traditional use as ectoparasiticides is noted here for the first time. In summary, these plants could give promising plant-derived veterinary ectoparasiticides that, ultimately, will help reduce and even avoid the excessive use of antimicrobials.

The traditional use of southern African medicinal plants to treat oral pathogens, and studies into their relevant antimicrobial properties

The traditional use of southern African medicinal plants to treat oral pathogens, and studies into their relevant antimicrobial properties

Ethnomedicinal plants uses for the treatment of respiratory disorders in tribal District North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Pakistan Authors

Background: The current survey aimed to assess the traditional knowledge and use of therapeutic plants to treat various respiratory disorders by traditional healers. The local communities of District North Waziristan are reliant on therapeutic plant species for their primary health care needs. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews. A sum of 130 informants (107 male and 23 female) selected randomly. Ethnobotanical data was quantitatively analyzed by using Use Value (UV), Relative Citation of Frequency (RFC), and Fidelity Level (FL). Results: A total of 56 plants related to 32 plant families were recorded which were used to cure 24 various respiratory disorders. Lamiaceae (7 species) was the most prevalent plant family, followed by Asteraceae (5 species), Moraceae and solanaceae (4 species) each, 8 families have (2 species each), while the remaining 20 families has only (1 species each).The dominant growth form was herbs (53.57%), while leaves (28.57%) were the leading plant part used in remedies preparation for respiratory disorders. The dominant method of medications preparation was decoctions (42.86%), which were all administered orally. The plant species with highest use values were Ephedra procera (0.87), followed by Morus nigra (0.86), while the highest RFC values were recorded for Ephedra procera (0.36), followed Cydonia oblonga (0.35), Morus nigra (0.34). The therapeutic plant species with maximum use values reported in the survey may indicate the possible presence of important bioactive compounds which need a search for potential new drugs to treat various respiratory disorders. Conclusions: The study accomplishes that indigenous communities yet prefer therapeutic plants species over allopathic drug for curing different disorders. However this valuable traditional information is limited to elder people. So, attention is required to conserve this traditional knowledge.

Traditional Plants Used in Southern Brazil as a Source to Wound Healing Therapies

In southern Brazil, the biodiversity is great and the traditional use of medicinal plants for wound healing has been documented in ethnobotanical studies and pharmacological studies have assessed their wound properties and phytochemistry. Therefore, this study evaluated ethnobotanical surveys regarding medicinal plants used in southern Brazil for wound healing and studies about the healing properties of these plants published between 2000 and 2022. To retrieve articles related to the study, Web of Science, PubMed (NLM), Open Access Journals, Scielo, Lilacs, and Google Scholar, with keywords including medicinal plants, wound healing, and South of Brazil, have been used. As a result, 73 medicinal plants belonging to 39 families were found in ethnobotanical surveys as a traditional resource used for wound healing in southern Brazil, 15 of which were cited more than once. Besides, 14 of these 15 plants were also used as healing agents worldwide. The most cited plant with healing actions in southern Brazil was Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey). From 2000 to date, 44 articles scientifically demonstrated the wound-healing effects of the southern Brazilian plants found in ethnobotanical surveys reviewed. The folk medicine of southern Brazil presents a variety of medicinal plants for wound-healing purposes, and scientific data were found for some of those plants. However, the wound-healing properties of many plants have yet to be investigated, and the current literature still needs more phytochemical information about the plants studied. Aside from this, the future focus should be on the standardization of herbal extracts, and further research is required to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms. Clinical research in this area remains in its infancy and warrants more robust further clinical studies.

Ethnomedicinal Value, Phytochemical Evaluation, and Pharmaco-Toxicological Profiling of Cipadessa Baccifera (Roth) Miq. among Communities of Bokod, Benguet

Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq was studied for its traditional use, phytochemical properties, and pharmaco-toxicological properties. The descriptive qualitative method was used in this study to describe the traditional use of the medicinal plant, and the experimental quantitative method was used to determine the plant’s components and capabilities. Assays such as Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay (CAM), Brine Shrimp Assay, and Zebrafish Embryotoxicity Assay were done to profile the C. baccifera. Based on the results, traditionally, the plant parts were used as a treatment for diarrhea, toothache, cough, colds, indigestion, flu symptoms, dysmenorrhea, urinary tract infection, bleeding and swelling of gums, skin rashes, lowering blood sugar, dandruff, natural family planning, animal farm deworming and skin diseases. Its phytochemical contents include anthraquinones, anthrones, alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids, triterpenes, steroids, phenols, and essential oils. Furthermore, the CAM vascularity inhibition of Cipadessa baccifera concentrations increased with concentration, indicating that the inhibition of vascularity increased with concentration. Similarly, the brine shrimp cytotoxicity test revealed that the number of shrimp deaths increased as the concentration of plant extract increased. Furthermore, the plant extract’s calculated LC50 was 434ppm. Microscopic analysis of the zebrafish embryo exposed to the ethanolic extract of the plant sample, on the other hand, revealed malformation in the larvae exhibiting scoliosis at 100ppm extract concentration. Additionally, at plant extract concentrations ranging from 250ppm to 1000ppm, retarded and coagulated embryos were observed. Given the findings of the research study, it is highly recommended that future studies include the ecology and biology of C. baccifera in the Philippines to establish a further taxonomic classification of C. baccifera endemic to the country. Keywords: Pharmaco-toxicological properties, phytochemical analysis, CAM Assay, Embryotoxicity, Philippines

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Asagirt District, Northeastern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe people in Ethiopia have developed their own specific knowledge to use, manage and conserve plant resources, giving traditional medicine its diverse nature. Documenting and investigating the traditional and cultural use of remedial plants is vital to extract bioactive chemicals and preserve plant species. This research was conducted with the aim of documenting ethnobotanical and associated knowledge on medicinal plants in Asagirt District, northeastern Ethiopia.MethodologyThe study was conducted from September 27, 2018, to April 9, 2019. A total of 367 informants (244 males and 123 females) were involved in the interviews. General informants (n = 349) were randomly selected, whereas key informants (n = 18) were selected purposively. Data were collected by using semistructured interviews, group discussions and guided field walks. We performed direct matrix ranking and preference ranking, and calculated the fidelity level and informant consensus factor (ICF). Descriptive statistics, including analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample t-test were used to analyse the data.ResultsOverall, 103 medicinal plant species belonging to 96 genera under 45 plant families were recorded to be used by Asagirt people to alleviate different health problems. The species used to heal human diseases only were (64%, 66 species) followed by both livestock and human ailments (31%, 32 species) and livestock diseases only (5%, 5 species). Asteraceae and Fabaceae were best-represented (10.7%, 11 species each). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (28%, 29 species), followed by seeds (16%, 17 species). The most important method of herbal remedy preparation was crushing (20.4%, 21 species). The common route of administration was oral (46.6%, 48 species), followed by dermal (22.3%, 23 species). Febrile illness, fever, headache, amoebiasis, typhoid and diarrhoea ailment categories had the highest ICF value (0.99). Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth. scored the maximum fidelity level value (98%).ConclusionAsagirt District is comparatively rich in medicinal plants and their associated knowledge. However, firewood collection, construction, the expansion of agricultural activities and timber production are the major challenges to medicinal plants. Hence, joint management with the people in Asagirt District in overall medicinal plant conservation would save medicinal plant resources.

Treatment of Neurological Diseases in Pakistan and Medicinal Plants - Letter to Editor

In developing and developed countries, neurological diseases contribute to the major reason for morbidity and mortality. The overall burden is 6.5% globally, of which advanced countries contribute 10 to 11%, whereas progressive countries constitute 4 to 5%. The higher ratio in technologically advanced countries might be due to their advanced system providing complete patient data. Some neurological diseases are common and wellestablished, whereas others occur rarely or are poorly ordered. Schizophrenia affects 45 million people, whereas depression affects 340 million globally. The people living with Alzheimer’s constitute 11 to 45 million people, accounting for 1% of the total disease load. 10% Pakistani community suffer from mental disorders, with 1% Alzheimer’s, 5% depression, 2% epilepsy and 1.5% schizophrenia. Medicinal plants play a vital role in treating several neurological disorders. Due to the upsurge in the cost of the available drugs, the local population is dependent on the use of medicinal plants to treat these neurological disorders. Medicinal plants possess a great therapeutic potential and fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. In Pakistan, research on medicinal plants is increasing day by day. The Pakistani population traditionally depends on herbal medications to treat several neurological disorders. The use is more in rural areas due to easy access and costeffectiveness. In Pakistan, there is a stern gap between the availability of neurological care and a trained neurologist. In this scenario, the use of traditional medicinal plants for aiming to treat neurological disorders is obvious.

Medicinal plants used in Soran district Kurdistan region of Iraq, an ethnobotanicals study

Context: The current study, the first of its type, focuses on the ethnobotanical uses of 97 medicinal plant species by the inhabitants in the Soran area, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Aims: To evaluate local knowledge of medicinal plants and provision of preliminary data on the user-benefit of the accessible plant species in the area. Methods: Between October 2021 and May 2022, key informant interviews were conducted as part of an ethnobotanical survey. Information about a particular study through face-to-face interviews with 171 participants (98 males and 73 females) were collected. For the therapeutic plants considered in the study, quantitative indices such as use value (UV), family use value (FUV), the relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), and informant consensus factor (ICF) were applied in addition to detailed notes on each plant species. Results: The survey discovered 97 plant species and 41 plant families. Leaves were the plant portion that was used the most (44%) while seeds were the least (12%). The most popular three methods of preparation were decoction (52%), row (36%), and crushed (6%). The Olea europaea species had the highest use values (0.82), while Vitex agnus-castus had (0.005). Amaryllidaceae had the highest family use value (1.218), while Asteraceae had (0.005). According to the consensus index, Ficus carica and Datura stramonium had (140.84%) and (1.011%). The digestive tract disease category was shown to have the highest informant consensus factor value out of all disease categories (0.57), while the lowest value ICF was (0.0) for tooth pain. Conclusions: As a result of the development of natural medicines, this study gives information on the indigenous medicinal plants utilized in the Soran district to treat common illnesses that are ready for additional pharmacological and phytochemical examination. For better use of natural resources, the traditional use of plants requires conservation methods and additional research.