Wild Medicinal Plants Research Articles

The Metabolomic study of Calotropis procera Ait. from Burkina Faso, based on chemical functional groups profiling using FTIR.

Background C. procera is an important wild medicinal plant used in different area of Burkina Faso for the neuropsychiatric disorders treatment. It was reported to possess many pharmacological properties because of its phytochemical diversity. This study was carried out to identify possible specific chemical characteristics form C. procera leaves and root-bark samples, harvested in two regions of Burkina Faso, for a better selective use of specimens in traditional medicine. Methods Plant materials (leaves and root-bark) were collected from five sites in each region. Samples powders and extracts were mixed with potassium bromide for the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. A multivariate data analysis was performed to highlight differences in the FTIR spectral profile of samples. Therefore, phytochemical contents such as phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids were evaluated with aqueous and methanolic extracts, using UV/visible light spectrophotometer method. Results Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed a significant difference between leaves and root-bark spectral profile, independently to the region of collection. These profiles possess characteristic signals which could be exploited as biomarkers for plant organ discrimination. The phytochemical contents evaluation showed that C. procera leaves contain more significant phenolics, and root-bark possess more terpenoid compounds. This study of C. procera Ait. based on FTIR spectral characteristic and phytochemical content, suggest that terpenoids, notably cardenolide-type could be a good biomarkers for C. procera samples characterization and to explain root-bark therapeutic potential.

Therapeutic propensities, phytochemical composition, and toxicological evaluation of Anagallis arvensis (L.): A wild edible medicinal food plant

Anagallis arvensis (L.) is a wild edible food plant that has been used in folklore as a natural remedy for treating common ailments. This study aimed to explore the biochemical properties and toxicity of methanol (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of A. arvensis (aerial and root parts). Bioactive contents were assessed spectrophotometrically, and the secondary metabolites were identified by UHPLC-MS analysis. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating assays were employed to assess antioxidant activity. Inhibitory potential against key enzymes (α-glucosidase, urease, lipoxygenase (LOX), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)) were also assessed. MTT assay was employed to test toxicity against SW-480, MDA-MB-231, CaSki, MCF-7, and DU-145 cancer cell lines. Methanolic extracts showed highest phenolic (aerial-MeOH: 27.5 mg GAE/g extract; root-MeOH: 21.17 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (aerial-MeOH: 26.15 mg QE/g extract; root-MeOH: 19.07 mg QE/g extract) contents, and potent antioxidant activities. The aerial-MeOH extract was most potent for DPPH (IC50: 231 ug/mL), ABTS (131.12 mg TE/g extract), FRAP (82.97 mg TE/g extract), and CUPRAC (137.15 mg TE/g extract) antioxidant assays. All extracts were cytotoxic towards tested cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 12.57 to 294.5 µg/mL and conferred a comparatively strong inhibition against α-glucosidase (aerial-DCM extract showed the highest inhibition against α-glucosidase with IC50 value of 20.97 µg /mL), while aerial extracts were also considerably active against BChE (aerial-MeOH IC50: 224.63 µg /mL), LOX (aerial-DCM IC50: 385.7 µg /mL). Likewise, aerial-MeOH extract was most active against urease enzyme (IC50: 129.72 µg /mL). UHPLC-MS investigation of methanolic extracts showed the existence of important phenolics, flavonoids, and saponins, including methyl gallte, quercetin, lanceoletin, and balanitesin, amongst others. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted the correlation amongst bioactive contents and observed biological activities. A. arvensis extracts could be regarded as a natural source of bioactive antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors and anticancer agents and can be further investigated as a lead source for food and pharmaceutical products. However, further studies to isolate, purify, and to characterize its bioactive phytochemicals are needed.

Anti-inflammatory activity of ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts from Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. and their phenolic profile

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe members of the genus Ranunculus have counter-irritating properties and thus, they are traditionally used for treating anti-inflammatory disorders and other skin conditions. Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. is a wild medicinal plant growing in Algeria and traditionally used to treat some cutaneous skin disorders. AimThe aim of this study was to characterize the composition of the ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts from Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. as well as to elucidate and to compare their effect against acute skin inflammation. Moreover, both the antioxidant activity and the acute toxicity of the plant extracts were also studied. Materials and methodsSpectrophotometric and chromatographic methods were employed to identify and quantify phenolic compounds and triterpenoids from R. macrophyllus Desf. fractions. The antioxidant activity was estimated using the phosphomolebdenum, DPPH, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assays. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts were screened for their anti-inflammatory activities using ex-vivo membrane stabilizing assays and in-vivo acute skin inflammation model. ResultsEthyl acetate fraction showed the highest amounts of total phenolic compounds (413 ± 4 μg GAE/mg extract) and triterpenoids (70.4 ± 1.8 μg UAE/mg extract). Rutin, hesperidin, myricetin and kaempferol were the major compounds identified in the different fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction exhibited strong DPPH• radical scavenging ability (IC50 1.6 ± 0.2 μg/mL), high total antioxidant capacity (447 ± 7 μg AAE/mg extract) and reducing power (514 ± 8 μg AAE/mg extract). Ethyl acetate fraction inhibited (73.4 ± 0.3) % of linoleic acid peroxidation. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions did not have any visible toxicity at 2000 mg/kg and presented excellent membrane stabilizing ability. The inhibition of xylene induced ear inflammation was (38 ± 4) % and (46 ± 1) % for RM-B and RM-EA, respectively. ConclusionsThe high content of both phenolic compounds and triterpenoids combined with the remarkable anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts from R. macrophyllus Desf. support the wide spread use of this traditional plant on some skin disorders (inflammatory skin disorders).

Integrating endemic medicinal plants into the global value chains: the ecological degradation challenges and opportunities

Though innovations for sustainable management of natural resources have emerged over time, the rising demand for nature based health solutions and integration of endemic flora into global value chains could have adverse impacts on ecosystems. The ecological risks in the exploitation of the wild endemic medicinal plant resources are exacerbated by a myriad of agrotechnological risks and challenges that highly constrain their domestication. Successful exploitation and commercialisation of medicinal plants thus require a clear understanding of their demand and production systems or value chain analysis. Accordingly there is need for innovative approaches towards their integration into global value chains. Since quality and safety, traceability, certification, as well as consumer tastes and preferences are critical drivers in purchasing decisions by global consumers, they are inadvertently exploited to weaken Indigenous knowledge (IK), undermine common property rights and entrench value chains that favour a few elite buyers. This tend to create pervasive incentives for overexploitation of medicinal plant resources and environmental degradation. Potential solution lies in the recognition of drivers of vulnerability to environmental degradation and the innovative use of policy bricolage, feedback loops and interactions between knowledge, power and agency on one hand, and collective action and property rights institutions on the other hand. We conceptualise a framework that can mediate a transformational agenda and enhance systematic understanding of sustainability lenses in endemic medicinal plant resources value chains. This could strengthen IK, enhance collective action and promote participation of local actors with positive impact on the utilisation and integration of endemic medicinal plant resources into global value chains.

Ethno Botanical Study of Wild Medicinal Plants of Peerano Valley, District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan

The ethno medicinal study play a key role in the control of various disorders and provide a base for further study on scientific lines. The purpose of the survey was to observe the traditional medicinal plants and their uses for the various common disorders in Peerano Valley, district Malakand Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan. The study was carried out from March, 2015 to April, 2016 and collected the data from the local inhabitants through questionnaires, interviewed regarding the available medicinal plants. The total 35 plants are recorded as medicinal belonging to 31 families. The study showed that 20 plants species were herbs, 8 tress and 7 were shrubs. The common parts were leaf, fruit, and whole plant, which were used in greater numbers. The inhabitants used them for stomachache, fever, cough, healing of wounds, diuretic, antiseptics, hepatic disorders, diarrhea and digestive disorders. The survey aims to aware about valuable plants and to protect them from extinction. The old people are aware of the accurate knowledge of medicinal plants, it is needed to preserve this knowledge for the next generation.

Trace elements in commonly used medicinal plants from Varna region, Bulgaria.

In this study, we assessed the concentrations of some trace and toxic elements (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Fe, and Mn) in traditionally used wild medicinal plants: chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), white yarrow (Achillea millefolium), linden (Tilia sp.), and elder (Sambucus nigra L.) collected from urban and rural region near Varna, Bulgaria. Concentrations of examined elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after sample mineralization. The samples were digested with concentrated nitric acid in a microwave system. Mean element levels in medicinal herbs were established in decreasing order as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn ≈ Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd. The content of toxic elements in medicinal herbs was found significantly higher in areas with intensive traffic compared with a suburban area. Instead discrimination between metal content in rural and urban samples was confirmed by PCA. Concentrations of toxic elements Cd and Pb in all plant species from the rural region were found in the range from not detected to 0.08 and 0.796 ng/kg, respectively and were below the permissible limit of the WHO.

Biochemical profile and bioactive potential of thirteen wild folk medicinal plants from Balochistan, Pakistan.

The recent focus is on the analysis of biological activities of extracts from thirteen folk medicinal plants from arid and semi-arid zones of Balochistan, Pakistan. Only a small proportion of them have been scientifically analyzed. Therefore the present investigation explores the biochemical and bioactive potential of different plant parts. Superoxide dismutase was detected maximum in Fagonia indica, (184.7±5.17 units/g), ascorbate peroxidase in Tribulus pentandrus (947.5±12.5 units/g), catalase and peroxidase were higher in Peganum harmala (555.0±5.0 and 2597.8±0.4 units/g, respectively). Maximum esterase and α-amylase activity was found in Zygophyllum fabago (14.3±0.44 and 140±18.8 mg/g, respectively). Flavonoid content was high in T. pentandrus (666.1±49 μg/ml). The highest total phenolic content and tannin was revealed in F. olivieri (72125±425 and 37050±1900 μM/g, respectively). The highest value of ascorbic acid was depicted in F. bruguieri (F.b.N) (448±1.5 μg/g). Total soluble proteins and reducing sugars were detected higher in P. harmala (372.3±54 and 5.9±0.1 mg/g, respectively). The maximum total antioxidant capacity was depicted in Tetraena simplex (16.9±0.01 μM/g). The highest value of lycopene and total carotenoids exhibited in T. terrestris (7.44±0.2 and 35.5±0.0 mg/g, respectively). Chlorophyll contents were found maximum in T. pentandrus var. pterophorus (549.1±9.9, 154.3±10, and 703.4±20.2 ug/g, respectively). All taxa exhibited anti-inflammatory activity and anti-diabetic potential. Z. eurypterum seeds exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory potential (96%), along with other taxa indicated (96–76%) activity when compared with the standard drug diclofenac sodium (79%). Seeds of T. pentandrus (85%) exhibited the highest anti-diabetic activity. The other taxa also exhibited inhibitory activity of α-amylase ranging from (85–69%) compared with Metformin (67%) standard drug. Phytochemical screening revealed that selected taxa proved to be the potential source of natural antioxidants and could further be explored for in-vivo studies and utilized in pharmaceutical industries as potent therapeutic agents validating their ethno-pharmacological uses.

Utilization pattern and indigenous knowledge of wild medicinal plants among three ethnic groups in Makawanpur district, Central Nepal

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn Nepal, wild plant resources play an important role in local communities’ health care. However, this role and its patterns are poorly studied in many regions of the country. This study aimed at documenting the indigenous knowledge on the use patterns of medicinal plants of three ethnic groups from Makawanpur district, Central Nepal. Materials and methodsEthnobotanical information was collected through interviews with 165 respondents from the Bankaria, Newah and Tamang ethnic groups across five locations of different altitude levels. Botanical voucher samples were collected for scientific identification. Informant consensus factor (ICF) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) were calculated and relationships between knowledge on medicinal plants and location, ethnic group, gender and age of the respondents were analysed. ResultsAltogether, 189 plant species were reported by the respondents. Medicinal plants were mostly collected from forest (130 spp.) and fallow land (49 spp.). Only few species such as Acorus calamus L., Cheilocostus speciosus (J. Koenig) Sm. and Mentha spicata L. were cultivated in homegardens. ICF values highlighted that common diseases treated were disorders of the digestive system, the skin and the respiratory system. Highest RFC values were found for Urtica dioica L., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten. Gender of the respondent had no influence on medicinal plant knowledge while a higher knowledge was detected in rural than urban locations and in those located in the lowlands. Respondents from the Newah ethnic group had significantly lower knowledge on medicinal plants than those from the Bankaria and Tamang ethnic groups. Age of respondents was significantly positively correlated with the reported use number of medicinal plants (r = 0.450; p < 0.001), species number (r = 0.468, p < 0.001) and number of illnesses treated (r = 0.468, p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe knowledge and use patterns of medicinal plant species were related to the location as well as to the ethnic group and age of the respondents. This shows that it is important to cover a wide range of respondents in such a study to cover the different socio-cultural backgrounds and age classes. The presented study can help to identify those medicinal plant species with the highest importance and the highest utilization potential by integrating ethno-botanical information from the different ethnic groups and age classes. The most important medicinal plant species should be considered for pharmacological testing and for domestication.

Diversity and Utilization of Medicinal Flora of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Campus Rajouri Jammu and Kashmir, India

Background: Indian Himalayan region has a rich heritage of species and genetic strains of flora and fauna and is considered as mega hot spot of biological diversity. Wild plant raw material is in great demand around the world for use by pharmaceutical companies, ethnomedicinal practitioners and variety of traditional medicines. India is one of the world’s major exporters of raw herbal drugs and the Himalayas are renowned for their vast storehouse of medicinal plants. The present study conducted at Baba Ghulam Shah Basdshah University located in District Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the presence of 46 species of medicinal plants belonging to 34 families. Methods: The plant specimens were collected from different parts of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Campus. All the parameters like habit, habitat, life form, parts used, methods of use were recorded on filed notebook along with date of collection. Routine herbarium practices were followed for preserving the plant specimens. The plant specimens were collected and their external morphology was studied and examined carefully. The specimens of medicinal plants were properly labelled and subsequently deposited in the Herbarium, Centre of Biodiversity Studies, BGSBU, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Result: During ethnobotanical exploration, 46 species distributed over 44 genera in 34 Families of wild medicinal plants were documented from four sampling sites. The details pertaining to common names, part used, medicinal uses and active constituents of each species were tabulated. Among the plant parts used, leaves contributed for medicinal use in about 63% species, followed by fruits in 19% species, underground parts in 10.8% species and flowers in 6.5% species. The enlisted plant species belonged to three life forms viz., herbs (21), shrubs (15) and trees (10). Asteraceae was the most dominant family represented by 4 species followed by Moraceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae each represented by 3 species, while as families like Meliaceae, Violaceae, Berberidaceae were represented by 01 species each.

An overview of Ethnomedicinal plants of Uzbekistan

Background: The Flora of Central Asia is extremely rich, with about 9800 species of vascular plants. Uzbekistan, with over 4500 species, has a central position in the region, and is regarded as one of the main centers of medicinal plants diversity, in particular because of its high percentage of local endemism. About 600 species of medicinal plants have been documented in Uzbekistan for the treatment of numerous diseases, many of them endemic. These plants are still used for the medicinal traits in industrial scale as well as by local tabibs (local practitioner).Methods: During research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with tabibs, elders and herders with experience in healing by using medicinal plants. During expedition visits, herbarium material and samples of medicines from vegetative raw materials were collected. Collected materials were determined using local floristic monographs and herbarium vouchers.Results: During fieldwork, we recorded 117 medicinal plants belonging to 45 families and 94 genera, used widely for the treatment of various diseases. Traditional practitioners prepared the plants mostly as extract, decoction, powder, bathing and sometimes used them fresh. Extract and decoction were generally preferred, and the preparations were normally made fresh just before use. Some of the encountered plants are now also used by private entrepreneurs for the production of herbal medicines for various purposes.Conclusions: Our results show that despite the achievements of modern allopathic medicine, the population in Uzbekistan continues to actively use wild medicinal plants for health purposes. The wide availability of medicinal plants, low costs, and perceived efficacy contribute to popularization of traditional medicine.Keywords: Ethnobotany; ethnopharmacology; medicinal plants; Uzbekistan; Central Asia.

Local knowledge about sustainable harvesting and availability of wild medicinal plant species in Lemnos island, Greece

BackgroundIn Europe and the Mediterranean, over-exploitation and destructive harvesting techniques have been identified as two critical threats affecting the sustainable harvesting of wild medicinal plant (WMP) species. However, unsustainable harvesting is not an issue everywhere and localized assessments are needed. Local knowledge has been praised for its potential for local short-term assessments. In this study, we aimed to register the known, harvested, and locally utilized WMP species and understand local knowledge of harvesters about the ecological sustainability of WMP harvesting and the perceived changes of WMP availability.Materials and methodsThis study was conducted on Lemnos island, Greece, in July and August 2018. Sixteen harvesters knowledgeable about gathering and using WMP were chosen through purposeful and snowball sampling. Successive free-lists provided insights on the taxa known, harvested, and utilized by harvesters and subsequent semi-structured interviews served to understand harvesting practices and perceived changes of WMP availability. Participant observation during seven harvesting walks allowed for additional insights and facilitated the collection of voucher specimens.ResultsIn total, 144 different plant taxa were listed as useful and 81 had been harvested in the prior 4 years. Medicinal applications were mainly related to digestive and respiratory system issues. A number of favorable harvesting practices suggested a high potential towards an ecologically sustainable harvest. Although, a decreased availability for certain plant taxa and harvesting sites was reported and mainly attributed to external factors such as pollution, unusually dry weather, intentional pastureland burning or chemicals in agriculture, but also destructive harvesting by less knowledgeable harvesters.ConclusionsKnowledgeable harvesters of Lemnos gather and use a considerable number of WMP taxa and possess local knowledge that supports an ecologically sustainable harvest. However, certain plant taxa and areas of the island were indicated to be under pressure from harvesting, unusual climatic conditions, and agricultural practices. Our approach confirmed that local knowledge should be taken into account for assessing the sustainability of WMP harvesting.

Profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds in Wild Indigenous Medicinal Ginger (Zingiber barbatum Wall.) from Myanmar.

The emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) strongly depend on the plant species and are differently represented in specific taxa. VOCs have a degree of chemical diversity and also can serve as chemotaxonomic markers. Zingiber barbatum Wall. is a wild medicinal ginger plant endemic to Myanmar whose VOC composition has never been screened before. In this study, we screened the rhizome of Z. barbatum to identify the VOC composition by the application of gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS). The resulting VOC profile of Z. barbatum showed that it consists mainly of monoterpenes (21%) and sesquiterpenes (30%). Intraspecific similarities and dissimilarities were found to exist between Z. barbatum genotypes in terms of VOC composition. Four accessions (ZO191, ZO223, ZO217, and the control accession ZO105) collected from the Shan State and Mandalay region of Myanmar were found to share a similar VOC profile, while two accessions (ZO64 and ZO160) collected from the Bago region were found to vary in their VOC profiles compared with the control accession. The two identified compounds, i.e., α-bergamotene and β-(E)-guaiene may serve as discriminative chemical markers for the characterization of Z. barbatum species collected in these three geographical regions of Myanmar. This study represents a first attempt to identify and describe the VOCs in the medicinal species Z. barbatum that have not been reported to date.

Aspergillus creber and A. keveii, two new records as endophytes from wild medicinal plants in Egypt

Aspergillus creber and A. keveii, two new records as endophytes from wild medicinal plants in Egypt

Ethnomedicinal knowledge of a marginal hill community of Central Himalaya: diversity, usage pattern, and conservation concerns

BackgroundIndigenous communities use wild plants to cure human ailments since ancient times; such knowledge has significant potential for formulating new drugs and administering future health care. Considering this, the present study was undertaken to assess use value, diversity, and conservation concerns of medicinal plants used in traditional herbal care system of a marginal hill community in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand in the Central Himalayan region of India.MethodologyExtensive surveys were made in 73 villages to gather information on the ethnomedicinal use of plant species used in the traditional herbal healing system. A total of 100 respondents were identified (30 herbal healers called Vaidyas and 70 non-healers/natives) and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires, target interviews, and group discussion. Some important indices such as the use-value index (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), cultural importance index (CI), and informant consensus factor (Fic) were calculated for the medicinal plants included in the present study.ResultIt was recorded that the community uses a total of 70 species with 64 genera and 35 families for curing various ailments. Family Lamiaceae recorded the maximum number of medicinal plants. Twenty-one species used most extensively in the traditional health care system. The major parts of the identified plants used for the treatment of various ailments were root/rhizome and leaf. The most common methods used for the preparation of these plants were decoction and infusion. Ocimum basilicum L., Cannabis sativa L., Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Sw., Curcuma longa L., and Setaria italica L. had the highest rate of use report. RFC value ranged between 0.03 and 0.91 with highest values for Setaria italica, Zingiber officinale, Ocimum basilicum, and Raphanus sativus. The traditional knowledge is passed verbally to generations and needs to be preserved for the future bio-prospecting of plants that could be a potential cure to any future disease.ConclusionIn recent years, the community has access to modern hospitals and medicinal facilities, although a considerable number still prefer medicinal plants for curing select ailments. It is suggested that these ethnomedicinal species need to be screened and evaluated further for their effectiveness for pharmacological activity. Also, significant efforts are required to conserve traditional knowledge and natural habitats of wild medicinal plants.

Wild plants and fungi sold in the markets of Yerevan (Armenia)

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to record wild plants and fungi sold in the capital of Armenia. This is the first large market survey in the Caucasus region. The area of the Caucasus is characterised by a very high diversity of climates, flora and languages which results in very rich traditions of plant use.MethodsInterviews were conducted and photos and voucher specimens were taken during multiple visits made over 4 years. We studied 37 locations and 136 people were interviewed.ResultsAs many as 163 plant species, belonging to 44 families and 110 genera, were recorded on Yerevan markets. This included 148 wild food species, 136 medicinal species, 45 species sold for decoration, 15 species of wood and 9 species of insect repellents. Also 14 wild species of fungi were sold, including 12 food species.ConclusionsThe list of plants sold in the markets of Yerevan is very extensive and diverse, and includes many species of wild fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants, some of them never listed in ethnobotanical directories before. A characteristic feature of this market is a large representation of lacto-fermented products. Some of the species sold in Yerevan have never been reported as human food either in wild edible plant word lists or in ethnobotanical publications, e.g. Angelica tatianae, Ferulago setifolia and Heracleum chorodanum. Fungi are also well represented.

The virtues of being peripheral, recreational, and transnational: local wild food and medicinal plant knowledge in selected remote municipalities of Calabria, Southern Italy

Background: The Italian “Strategy for Inner Areas” includes a series of actions to avoid depopulation of rural areas by safeguarding the territory from hydrogeological instability and triggering development. Such strategy classified each municipality according to the distance to a centre defined as a town where certain services are provided. This article analyses the ethnobotanical knowledge in four villages distant from a centre. Moreover, it discusses the effect of a millennium-old sacred natural site (SNS), the Certosa of Serra San Bruno, on the local ethnobotanical knowledge.Methods: Sixty semi-structured interviews were conducted among elderly inhabitants of two peripheral and two ultra-peripheral Calabrian villages in 2017 and 2018. The interviews focused on the use of local wild and semi-wild plants currently gathered, for both culinary and medicinal purposes, and the modes of preparation and consumption. Results: Our study reveals that in Calabria ethnobotanical knowledge is better preserved when it can contribute to household food security in contexts of remoteness and extremely poor economic conditions or when relative well-being allows spending time foraging as a recreational activity. Moreover, we found peculiar ethnobotanical practices in Serra San Bruno which may have been introduced by the monastic community and may have contributed to the creation of a “glocal” ethnobotany by introducing knowledge from other European contexts. Conclusions : In conclusion, the “Strategy for Inner Areas” should target the rich ethnobotanical traditional knowledge still present in Calabria as it may represent a powerful tool for achieving sustainable development of peripheral and ultra-peripheral areas.Keywords: Ethnobotany; Inner Areas; Peripheral; Traditional Ecological Knowledge; Sacred Natural Sites

Land use strategy of ecological agriculture of Chinese materia medica in future development

With the rapid development of comprehensive health industry, the demand for Chinese medicinal materials is increasing. There is also a growing demand for land for the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials.Based on the analysis of the demand characteristics of planting habitats for Chinese medicinal herbs, this paper finds that compared with the cultivated environment, the wild environment is more conducive to the improvement of the quality and stress resistance of medicinal plants. The eco-planting for Chinese medicinal materials is the only way to achieve high quality, efficient and sustainable production of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, according to the habitat distribution characteristics of wild medicinal plants, combined with the current situation of land resource utilization in China and the increasing demand for land for Chinese herbal medicine cultivation, the land use strategy of Chinese herbal medicine ecological agriculture was proposed. ① To vigorously develop underwood planting and change the existing field cultivation mode. ② To make full use of mountainous areas and barren slopes to carry out wild planta tending or planting imitates wild condition. ③ According to the development law and biological characteristics of medicinal plants, the land resources should be developed and used rationally according to local conditions.This can not only meet the requirements of the specific growth environment of Chinese medicinal materials, realize the sustainable development of the Chinese medicinal materials industry, but also increase the economic income of people in mountainous areas, provide scientific and effective solutions for the land use of Chinese medicinal materials, and also have important significance for the protection of wild Chinese medicinal materials.

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by tribal migratory shepherds in hills of Tungasigarh of Thunag Subdivision of district Mandi Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh tribal migratory shepherds carry rich repository of traditional knowledge of wild medicinal plants and its uses, in this respect, an ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Tungasigarh and its surrounding area of Thunag Subdivision district Mandi Himachal Pradesh from 2018 to 2019. The required information on ethnomedicines used by tribal migratory shepherds was collected through personal field visits, interview method and by using a pretested questionnaire. Total 64 medicinal plant species were reported viz. Aconitum heterophyllum Allium ursinum, Allium humile, Trillium govaninum, Bergenia ciliata, Berberis lyceum, Cannabis sativa, Dioscrea deltoidea, Rhododendron arboratum, Pistacia integerrima, Zanthoxylem armatum was recorded. Total of 64 species were documented herb species were dominant (48) followed by shrub (9), tree (7). This study shows that shepherds in tribal areas are highly dependent on ethnobotanical medicines, which evolved over generations of experience, for the healthcare. This survey can help as baseline data on ethnomedicinal plants used in Thunag sub division of Mandi district and could be helpful in conservation of traditional knowledge as well as medicinal plants.

BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF SAINT MARY'S THISTLE (SILYBUM MARIANUM (L) GAERTN.) CULTIVATED IN SOIL-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF KHOREZM REGION, UZBEKISTAN

In the world economy, in particular in Uzbekistan, the demand for herbal medicines remains stable and quite high every day. In this regard, there is a need to expand the raw material base due to cultivated and wild medicinal plants. Among them, St. Mary's Thistle (Silybum marianum (L). Gaertn.), Which is considered a new culture in the Republic of Uzbekistan, in particular the Khorezm region, is very significant. However, the possibilities of its application and cultivation technology, varietal differences, biological, physiological and biochemical features in the Khorezm region have not been studied. This article presents the results of studies of varietal differences in the dynamics of growth of the leaf surface, photosynthetic potential, the accumulation of green and dry biomass in the development phases of varieties of St. Mary's Thistle cultivated on saline soils of the Khorezm region. The study of the biological characteristics of various varieties of St. Mary's Thistle (Silybum marianum (L). Gaertn.) Panacea, Debut and Samaryanka. Thus, based on the research results and the noted biological features and varietal differences of the St. Mary's Thistle, the possibility and expediency of expanding the crops of this crop in the soil and climatic conditions of the Khorezm region are shown.

Assessing sustainable use of wild medicinal plants: a case study in the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (NRWNNR), Yunnan/China

Background : Commercially harvested wild medicinal plants are often subject to overharvesting. This study aims to examine the ecological requirements, collection status, harvest practices, sustainability of harvest and trade chain of five medicinal plant species and assesses the socio-economic importance of these medicinal plants for local households. Methods : We studied the abundance of five selected medicinal plant species in the surrounding areas of five selected villages. Harvest and trade related information was recorded by interviewing plant collectors and middlemen as well as pharmacies in Germany. For the ecological analyses concerning the occurrence of plants we performed ANOVA followed by LSD Post-Hoc tests. Correlations between profit from collection of medicinal plants and income per household in the five villages were calculated with the Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results : The results showed that (1) harvest practices are destructive for individual plants, (2) economic contribution of plant harvest varies between villages and species and (3) the amount of cash earned is negatively related to average per capita income in the village. Conclusion : A management plan for sustainable harvest or cultivation is recommended to ensure the future existence of the plant species as well as the sustainability of market supply. Keywords : Non- Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), wild collection, household economics, Traditional Chinese Medicine, sustainable harvest