Wild Medicinal Plants Research Articles

An Ethno-Pharmacological Study of Wound Healing Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, India

Ethno-pharmacology is "the multidisciplinary scientific investigation of the biologically active substances that are customarily used." As a result, the ethno-pharmacological approach is founded on a corpus of research encompassing pharmacology, chemistry, and botany, among other fields. The research was conducted in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari areas. Fifteen families and a total of eighteen therapeutic plants with ethno-pharmacological potency, particularly in wound healing, were identified at the study site. In the research areas, extensive field surveys were carried out between March 2021 and February 2023. On field excursions, native knowledge of wild medicinal plants was gathered through conversations, questionnaires, and in-person interviews. Plants were arranged according to their scientific names, families, common names, and parts that were utilised to cure or promote wound healing. In the survey, the dominant families of plants like Amaranthaceae, Liliaceae, and Fabaceae had two (02) species of medicinal importance, particularly for wound healing treatment. The Dhamtari region's rural inhabitants have traditionally utilised native flora for primary healthcare and the treatment of a variety of ailments. On the other hand, hardly much was recorded regarding traditional knowledge of therapeutic herbs. The Dhamtari people of the countryside claimed that as society developed, newer generations became less interested in the traditional knowledge of therapeutic herbs. Therefore, before they become extinct and are no longer available, it is imperative to document ethno-medicinal plants that can heal wounds. In order to properly conserve plants and traditional knowledge for the future, this ethno-botanical database will be valuable to scientists, naturalists, planners, policymakers and chemists.

Assessment of cancer risk and radiological effects from 210Po and 210Pb with consumption of wild medicinal herbal plants

BackgroundPlants' raw materials can accumulate chemical elements, including radioisotopes, to some extent and reflect the region they grow in. Due to their high environmental content and toxicity, natural radionuclides – polonium 210Po and lead 210Pb are the most dangerous radioisotopes for human health. Methods70 raw medicinal herbal materials from 54 popular wild-growing medicinal plant species, most of them included in the European Pharmacopoeia, were collected across three regions. In 210 samples, the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were determined, and their radiotoxicity and cancer risk were calculated. ResultsThe results of 210Po and 210Pb activities measured in herbal raw material were from 0.12 mBq g−1 dry weight in the fruits of the common chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) to 19.7 mBq g−1 dw in herb of ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) for 210Po, while for 210Pb ranged from 0.16 mBq g−1 dw to 34.3 mBq g−1 dw in the same plants. There were statistically significant differences between 210Po and 210Pb content in leaves, herbs, flowers, and fruit. The studies indicated that the estimated annual effective radiation dose from Polish medicinal herbs consumption was low, ranging 0.03–105 µSv from 210Po and 0.02–98.2 µSv from 210Pb, while the risk of cancer morbidity and mortality ranged from 10−5 to 10−9. ConclusionsConsumption of the tested medicinal herbs is safe from the radiological point of view and, based on the predictions related to the calculated risk of cancer, should not increase the probability of its occurrence.

The factors affecting the development of medicinal plants from a value chain perspective.

From a value chain perspective, this paper examines the important factors from the selection of planting areas to storage, which restrict the development of medicinal plants. The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical basis for the sustainable development of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants have significant economic and medicinal value. Due to the gradual depletion of wild medicinal plant resources, cultivators of medicinal plants must resort to artificial cultivation to cope. However, there are still many problems in the production process of medicinal plants, resulting in decreases in both yield and quality, thus hindering sustainable development. To date, research on the value chain of medicinal plants is still limited. Therefore, this paper analyzes the factors affecting the development of medicinal plants from the perspective of the value chain, including the selection of growing areas to the storage process of medicinal plants, and summarizes the challenges faced in the production process of medicinal plants. The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical basis for the sustainable development of medicinal plants.

Ethnobotanical Exploration of Traditional Medicinal Plants Among the Rural Inhabitants of District Muzaffarabad, Kashmir Himalayan Region

Indigenous knowledge provides insights into the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants used in local communities for basic healthcare. This research focuses on documenting the medical knowledge of rural communities that rely on medicinal plants in their traditional healthcare practices in the district of Muzaffarabad, Kashmir Himalayas. A field survey was carried out in 2022 and 2023 to collect data on wild medicinal plants. Informants were selected at random to learn about indigenous medical practices through semi-structured interviews and group discussions with 95 informants. The ethnomedicinal data were quantitatively analyzed using indices of use value (UV) and relative frequency citation (RFC). The study area documented 57 medicinal plants from 34 different families. Polygonaceae was the most dominant family, contributing 14.03% to medicinal plants, followed by Lamiaceae (10.52%) and Rosaceae (7.01%). Among medicinal plants, communities predominantly used herbs (64.91%) and leaves (29.09%) to treat several health problems. Mentha longifolia had the highest reported use value (1.71), and Bergenia ciliata had the highest recorded RFC value (0.72). Rural inhabitants continue to rely on wild medicinal plants as their primary source of medication. The transmission of indigenous knowledge to descendants is steadily declining and is primarily limited to healthcare practitioners and the elderly. These communities have kept important indigenous knowledge, which must be preserved for sustainable resource management and conservation. A more extensive field exploration is required to discover all of the indigenous knowledge in rural areas of Kashmir.

Fluorescence Cell Imaging by Carbon Quantum Dots Derived from the Medicinal Plant Malva Sylvestris

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) derived from biological samples exhibit low cytotoxicity and are often used as fluorescent agents for bioimaging cells or bacteria. In this study, fluorescent CQDs derived from Malva sylvestris, a wild edible medicinal plant (common mallow), were used to visualize the human epithelial cells (PNT1A). CQDs with strong blue photoluminescence were synthesized by microwave irradiation of dried M. sylvestris in water. CQDs' structural, morphological, surface features and photoluminescence properties were evaluated. In vitro, cytotoxicity assays revealed that carbon quantum dots from M. sylvestris have no cytotoxic effects on human epithelial cells. Non-cytotoxic and high photoluminescent CQDs from M. sylvestris can be exploited in bioimaging applications as a fluorophore agent

Climate change and the future of medicinal plants research

Due to their pharmaceutical properties and secondary metabolites, medicinal plants have played a crucial role in alleviating human suffering from various illnesses, disorders, and diseases. Along with other natural and artificial disasters, rapid climate change is one of the critical causes of the decline in wild medicinal plant species. Therefore, considering their significance in traditional medicine practices and economic value, investigating the potential consequences of climate change on medicinal plants is specifically relevant. This review aimed to investigate the diversity of species of medicinal plants within current climate scenarios. Additionally, it assesses the potential implications of climate change on the projected distribution of these species in subsequent scenarios and evaluates the possible impacts of these changes on the trajectory of future research in medicinal plants. The distribution and life cycles of all vegetation, including medicinal plants, are significantly impacted by climate change. Additionally, future climate scenarios have been shown to affect the physiological performance of all vegetation worldwide. Various aspects related to climate change and its repercussions on medicinal plants are explored including the impact of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone (O3) levels, the effect of low temperature (Cold), climate warming, drought on the production of secondary metabolites, impact of threats on medicinal plants, and phenological changes. Each of these environmental factors influences the productivity and quality of different products and components of medicinal plants, either positively or negatively. Consequently, there is excellent complexity surrounding how climate change affects medicinal plants. Thus, for human survival on Earth, future researchers should carefully examine the interactions of various direct and indirect causes and their corresponding effects. Keywords: Secondary metabolites, Climate change, medicinal plants, Phenology.

Distribution and protection of Thesium chinense Turcz. under climate and land use change.

Wild medicinal plants are prominent in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), but their availability is being impacted by human activities and ecological degradation in China. To ensure sustainable use of these resources, it is crucial to scientifically plan areas for wild plant cultivation. Thesium chinense, a known plant antibiotic, has been overharvested in recent years, resulting in a sharp reduction in its wild resources. In this study, we employed three atmospheric circulation models and four socio-economic approaches (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) to investigate the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of T. chinense. We also examined changes in its suitable area using the Biomod2 package. Additionally, we utilized the PLUS model to project and analyze future land use changes in climate-stable regions for T. chinense. Our planning for wild tending areas of T. chinense was facilitated by the ZONATION software. Over the next century, the climate-stable regions for T. chinense in China is approximately 383.05 × 104 km2, while the natural habitat in this region will progressively decline. Under the current climate conditions, about 65.06% of the habitats in the high suitable areas of T. chinense are not affected by future land use changes in China. Through hotspot analysis, we identified 17 hotspot cities as ideal areas for the wild tending of T. chinense, including 6 core hotspot cities, 6 sub-hotspot cities, and 5 fringe hotspot cities. These findings contribute to a comprehensive research framework for the cultivation planning of T. chinense and other medicinal plants.

Ethnobotanical inventory and indigenous therapeutic applications of wild medicinal plants in Parishing valley, District Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Ethnobotanical inventory and indigenous therapeutic applications of wild medicinal plants in Parishing valley, District Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

The presence of radiotoxic 210Po and 210Pb in Ukrainian wild medicinal plants and the assessment of related dose and cancer risk.

Herbal plants are considered natural pharmaceuticals but also accumulate chemical elements and compounds at high levels. 210Po and 210Pb are highly radiotoxic and may cause carcinogenesis due to ionizing radiation. Thirteen of the most popular wild-growing herbaceous plant species, mostly included in the European Pharmacopoeia, were collected across Ukraine. 210Po and 210Pb were determined in the medicinal plants, and their radiotoxicity and cancer risk were calculated. The results of 210Po activities measured in herbal raw material ranged from 2.28Bq kg-1 dw (where dw is dry weight) in herb of common horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) collected near Lviv to 37.7Bq kg-1 dw in leaves of common birch (Betula pendula Roth.) from Rava Ruska. The activity concentrations of 210Pb varied from 0.44Bq kg-1 dw in leaves of common birch from Starokostyantyniv to 28.4Bq kg-1 dw in leaves of common birch from Mizhhirya. There were statistically significant differences between 210Po and 210Pb content in flowers, leaves, and aerial portions. The studies indicated that the estimated annual effective radiation dose from Ukrainian herbs consumption was low, ranging 5.00-82.6 µSv from 210Po and 0.56-35.8 µSv from 210Pb, while the cancer morbidity and mortality risk ranged from 10-4 to 10-6. The presented data indicated no radiological risk related to using herbal plant materials.

Using UAVRS and deep learning to conduct resource surveys of threatened Tibetan medicinal plants in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Gentiana szechenyii Kanitz. and Gentiana veitchiorum Hemsl. are two wild medicinal plants widely used in Tibetan medicine. In recent decades, their wild populations have declined rapidly due to persistent over-harvesting of their flowers. Because their flowers are small and dense, it is difficult to rely on manual counting under wild conditions. The combination of deep learning and unmanned aerial vehicle remote sensing (UAVRS) is a new method for plant surveys. We trained 12 of the most advanced or widely used YOLO models on a custom dataset to achieve quantitative detection of both plant flowers in UAVRS images. The accuracy, precision and recall of G. szechenyii Flower (GSF) detection can reach 97.00%, 90.40% and 95.40%, respectively (based on YOLOv7). Similarly, those of G. veitchiorum Flower (GVF) detection can reach 93.40%, 91.30% and 90.60%, respectively (based on YOLOv5n), and the highest mAP can reach 94.90% (based on YOLOv5m). Based on the detection results, it is calculated that the total yield of dried GSF and GVF that can be harvested as medicinal materials in study area ranges from 1.88 to 2.10 g·m−2 and 4.42–4.62 g·m−2, respectively. The results show that deep learning and UAVRS can be used for quantitative detection of GSF and GVF, which is helpful for further research and protection of these two plants.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Mile, Yunnan, China

BackgroundThe Yi people are a sociolinguistic group living in Mile City, which is their typical settlement in southeastern Yunnan, China. Over the long history of using medicinal plants, the Yi people have accumulated and developed a wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a vital role in their health care. However, only a few studies have been performed to systematically document the medicinal plants commonly used by the Yi people. This study provides fundamental data for the development and application of ethnomedicine as well as supports the conservation of the traditional medical knowledge of the Yi people.MethodsThis study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2022 and involved five townships in Mile. Information regarding medicinal plants was obtained through semistructured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. The collected voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation, and fidelity level.ResultsIn total, 114 informants distributed in five townships of Mile were interviewed. The Yi people used 267 medicinal plant species belonging to 232 genera and 104 families to treat various diseases. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae were the most commonly used plant families by the Yi people. In addition, herbs were most commonly used by the Yi people. Whole plants and roots were the preferred medicinal parts. Decoctions were the most common method of herbal medicine preparation. There are 49 different recorded diseases treated by Yi medicinal plants, and among them, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, traumatic injury, fractures, and digestive system diseases have the largest number of species used. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that plants such as Zingiber officinale, Lycopodium japonicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Panax notoginseng, Cyathula officinalis, and Leonurus japonicus played crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment.ConclusionTraditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely associated with the social culture of the local Yi people. The medicinal plants used for health care in the study area were diverse. Local healers were skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Their treatment methods were convenient and unique, exhibiting distinctive regional characteristics. However, the inheritance of their traditional medicinal knowledge and protection of wild medicinal plant resources are facing serious challenges, including the decreasing number of local healers, aging of healers, lack of successors, and excessive harvesting of medicinal plant resources. This ethnobotanical survey provides a useful reference for the sustainable utilization and protection of medicinal plant resources in Mile and the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge of the Yi people.

The sustainable use of diverse plants accustomed by different ethnic groups in Sibi District, Balochistan, Pakistan.

The present study was conducted to analyze the utilization of medicinal plants (traditional as well as cultivated) and there recipes accustomed by different ethnic groups of Sibi District (SD), Balochistan, Pakistan. The study was carried out between 2018 and 2021 by using semi-structured and open-ended questionnaire.. The randomly selected methods applied for this study were mainly based on household surveys walk through and interview with indigenous communityage 40 to 80, a total of 75 plants, belonging to 63 genera and distributed among 33 plant families were recorded. The dominant Plant families were the Fabaceae (12%) of all studied taxa, followed by the Amaranthaceae (7%), Asteraceae (6%), Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae (4% each), Rhamnaceae and Zygophyllaceae (3%). Thirty traditional Food Recipes (TFR) and Traditional Medicinal Recipes (TMR) were novel being first time reported from SD., which are utilized by the local communities in their daily routine. These ethnic TFR and TMR have a tremendous role in preservation and sustainable use of traditional food habits and culture. It was also documented that along with cultivated, the wild edible and medicinal plant preparations play a significant role in in the economic potential and primary health care system of the local communities. The study recommends the specific measures, such as small industries, improved export means, tourism and educational activities, to protect the traditional knowledge and biocultural heritage of the region before its erosion.

The natural vegetation cover of Al-Dafna plateau in Northeast Tobruk, Libya.

The main objective of this study is to assess the current status of the vegetative cover and the biological diversity in Al-Dafna plateau, as the selected study area has never been botanically studied before. A vegetation survey was conducted in the period between 2019-2022 for three consecutive growing seasons. The total number of the recorded plant species surveyed in the study area is 182 species belonging to 36 different families and 139 genera of vascular plants, representing 8.71% of the total species, 16.46% of total genera and 24.82% of total plant families in Libyan flora. These species were classified into three major groups according to their duration (life-span) as follows 62 perennial (33.51%), 118 annual (65.38 %) and 2 biennial species (1.09%). The distribution among the collected plants was characterised by a high proportion of annuals. Asteraceae had the highest contribution 31 species (17%), followed by Fabaceae 21 species (12%), Amaranthaceae 19 species (10%), Brassicaceae 16 species (9%) and Poaceae 12 species (7%). The results showed the largest genera were Plantago L. and Polygonum L. as each genus contained 5 species. Moreover, thirteen wild medicinal plant species were recorded. Importantly, six endemic species were recorded in the study area, representing 7% of the total endemic plant species in Libya. This study concludes that there is a significant diversity of plant species in the area of study. From this study, it seems that overgrazing has the grandest impact on vegetation cover in Al-Dafna plateau. The results of the present research suggest that conservation strategies should be taken to preserve the plant community structure in Al-Dafna plateau.

Ethnobotanical, ecological and health risk assessment of some selected wild medicinal plants collected along mafic and Ultra Mafic rocks of Northwest Pakistan.

The current study investigated wild plant resources and health risk assessment along with northern Pakistan's mafic and ultramafic regions. Ethnobotanical data was collected through field visits and semi-structured questionnaire surveys conducted from local inhabitants and healers. Six potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were extracted with acids and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS, Perkin Elmer-7000) in nine selected wild medicinal plants. Contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were used to determine the health risk assessment of the studied medicinal plants. The results showed that the selected medicinal plants were used for the treatments of cough, joint swelling, cardiovascular disorders, toothaches, diabetes, and skin pimples by the local inhabitants due to their low-cost and easy accessibility. The concentrations of Pb (3.4-53mgkg-1), Cd (0.03-0.39mgkg-1), Ni (17.5-82mgkg-1), Cr (29-315mgkg-1), Mn (20-142mgkg-1), and Zn (7.4-64mgkg-1) in the studied medicinal plants were found above the safe limits (except Zn) set by WHO/FAO/USEPA (1984/2010). The Pb contamination factor was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in A. modesta (7.84) and D. viscosa (6.81), and Cd contamination factor was significantly higher in C. officinalis (26.67),followed by A. modesta (8.0) mg kg-1. Based on PTE concentrations, the studied plants are considered not suitable for human consumption purposes. Pollution load index values for A. modesta, A. barbadensis, A. caudatus, A. indica, C. procera (2.93), D. viscosa (2.79), and C. officinalis (2.83), R. hastatus (3.12), and Z. armatum were observed as 1.00, 2.80, 2.29, 2.29, 2.93, 2.79, 2.83, 3.12 and 2.19, respectively. Hazard index values were in order of R. hastatus (1.32 × 10-1) ˃ C. procera (1.21 × 10-1) ˃ D. viscosa (1.10 × 10-1) ˃ A. caudatus (9.11 × 10-2) ˃ A. barbadensis (8.66 × 10-2) ˃ Z. armatum (7.99 × 10-2) ˃ A. indica (6.87 × 10-2) ˃ A. modesta (5.6 × 10-2) ˃ C. officinalis (5.42 × 10-2). The health risk index values suggested that consumption of these plants individually or in combination would cause severe health problems in the consumers. Pearson's correlation results showed a significant correlation (p ≤ 0.001) between Zn and Mn in the studied medicinal plants. The current study suggests that wild medicinal plants should be adequately addressed for PTEs and other carcinogenic pollutants before their uses in the study area. Open dumping of mining waste should be banned and eco-friendly technology like organic amendments application should be used to mitigate PTEs in the study area.

Assessment of antioxidant potential, cytotoxicity, and anticancer activity of methanolic extracts from selected wild medicinal plants

IntroductionMedicinal plants are considered an important source of human health because of their therapeutic capabilities in treating various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extracts of three wild medicinal plants (Ruta graveolens, Peganum harmala and Citrullus colocynthis). MethodsThe total phenolic content was determined according to the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The total flavonoid contents were measured by the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. The antioxidant activity was estimated based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The phytochemical analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. The cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of each plant extract was investigated against fibroblast and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, respectively, using Giemsa staining assay. ResultsR. graveolens extract exhibited the highest concentrations of total phenols (25.5 ± 0.5 mg GA/g dry extract) and flavonoids (9.8 ± 0.5 mg Rutin/g dry extract). Additionally, it demonstrated the most robust antioxidant capacity, as demonstrated by both DPPH (100.8 ± 0.56 mg GA/g dry extract) and FRAP (91.2 ± 1.33 mg GA/g dry extract) assays. Within this plant, Rutin constituted 13.7 % of the total compounds. Furthermore, R. graveolens displayed the most significant anticancer activity, with statistical significance at p< 0.01. Notably, it exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity against the fibroblast cell line, even at the highest tested concentration of 100 μg/ml. In contrast, both P. harmala and C. colocynthis demonstrated substantial anticancer potential (p< 0.01); however, they both exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the fibroblast cell line (p<0.01). ConclusionR. graveolens extract holds promise as a potential reservoir of safe and effective antioxidant and anticancer compounds for human use.

Phytochemical, Antioxidant Activity, and Toxicity of Wild Medicinal Plant of Melitotus albus Extracts, In Vitro and In Silico Approaches.

Morocco is known for its high plant biodiversity, but many plants are poorly valorized. For this reason, this study aims to valorize the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Melitotus albus leaves by studying their antioxidant activity and toxicity. The extracts' antioxidant activity is assessed using the FRAP, DPPH, CAT, and ABTS methods. The chemical composition was determined using LC-MS analysis and evaluated using in silico studies. The results revealed that the total polyphenol content of the aqueous extract, 259.26 ± 7.79 (mg GAE/g), is higher than that of the methanolic extract, 131.41 ± 12.64 (mg GAE/g). The antioxidant activity by the methods of DPPH, ABTS, and phosphor molybdenum of aqueous extracts (0.087 ± 0.015, 0.014 ± 0.001 and 6.157 ± 1.050 mg eq vit C/g, respectively) is greater than that of methanolic extracts (0.107 ± 0.02, 0.167 ± 0.03, and 0.453 ± 0.014 mg eq vit C/g, respectively). The reducing power of iron (FRAP) shows that the methanolic extract has a greater reducing power than that of the aqueous extract with a low IC50 (0.011 ± 0.003 and 0.199 ± 0.016 mg/mL, respectively). The study of acute and subacute toxicity shows that the administration of the aqueous extract of M. albus at different doses increases the body weight of rats without modifying their general behavior. The M. albus extract had a 99.99% total phenolic content, as determined by LC-MS, consisting of 12 different components. The primary constituents of the extract are chlorogenic acid (43.68%), catechin/epicatechin (24.82%), quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid (9.91%), naringin (7.64%), and p-hydroxybenzoic/salicylic acid (2.95%). The in-silico study showed that these compounds can passively permeate through the blood and have a beneficial effect on various organs of the body. Based on these results, M. albus can be used as a medicinal plant in phytotherapy, cosmetics, or as a dietary supplement. The bioactive compounds of these plants will require a lot of further effort in terms of isolation and characterization.

Global Climate Change and Its Effects on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: A Review Article

Medicinal herbs have been used for a long time to cure health problems and prevent disease, including epidemics. Medicinal plants are used for different purposes and in diverse uses of human beings. People around them have a basic knowledge and using through their traditional medicine from the past several years. Natural and manmade calamities, such as rapid climate change, urban growth, industrial boom, overpopulation pollution, declining forest cover, habitat loss, over-harvesting, destructive harvesting, and floods, are the principal reasons of the reduction of wild medicinal plant species. The life cycles and distribution of the world's vegetation, especially wild medicinal plants, are being affected by climate change. The impact of global climate change on medicinal plants could have a huge influence, especially in terms of their utility in conventional medication systems and as economically useful plants. The current essay emphasises the importance of study to improve our understanding of climate influences on medicinal plants properties, phenology and metabolic responses. The purpose of this paper is to review the impact of abiotic variables on secondary metabolite formation and different adaptation measures as well as future research initiatives. Furthermore, such issues with global climate change will undoubtedly become more visible or immediate threats, putting further strain on medicinal plant species. The impact of global climate change on medicinal plants could negatively correlate with environment concerns parameters, especially in terms of their utility in conventional medication systems and as economically useful plants.

Predicting the potential distribution of 12 threatened medicinal plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with a maximum entropy model.

Climate change is a vital driver of biodiversity patterns and species distributions, understanding how organisms respond to climate change will shed light on the conservation of endangered species. In this study, the MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential suitable area of 12 threatened medicinal plants in the QTP (Qinghai-Tibet Plateau) under the current and future (2050s, 2070s) three climate scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5). The results showed that the climatically suitable habitats for the threatened medicinal plants were primarily found in the eastern, southeast, southern, and some parts of the central regions on the QTP. Moreover, 25% of the threatened medicinal plants would have reduced suitable habitat areas within the next 30-50 years in the different future global warming scenarios. Among these medicinal plants, RT (Rheum tanguticum) would miss the most habitat (98.97%), while the RAN (Rhododendron anthopogonoides) would miss the least habitat (10.15%). Nevertheless, 33.3% of the threatened medicinal plants showed an increase in their future habitat area because of their physiological characteristics which are more adaptable to a wide range of climates. The climatic suitable habitat for 50% of the threatened medicinal plants would migrate to higher altitudes or higher latitudes regions. This study provides a data foundation for the conservation of biodiversity and wild medicinal plants on the QTP.

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal wild plants sold at the Brikama market in The Gambia

Herbal markets, in turn, not only supply herbal treatment for diseases but also conserve biocultural diversity by transferring traditional knowledge to future generations This study aimed to document the vernacular names and therapeutic uses of wild medicinal plants sold and used by Brikama people in The Gambia's West Coast Region. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document the wild medicinal plants sold at the Brikama market. The study was carried out between June and July 2023 using semi-structured interviews with 50 market vendors and 20 clients (laypeople) who uses traditional medicines from different age groups in Mandinka local language. The survey identified and recorded 71 plants species from 41 plant families, used for treating diseases in Brikama and its surroundings. The Fabaceae was the most represented plant family and most of the plants were trees and the leaves were the most commonly used plant part 51% followed by shrubs 38% and herbs 11%. The older generation primarily possesses knowledge about plant medicine, but youth should be encouraged to learn and preserve this knowledge through domestication, cultivation, and conservation measures.

Catechol-type siderophore producer Streptomyces spp. with quorum-quenching activity isolated from wild medicinal plants rhizosphere

Traditional medicinal plants represent a unique source for the isolation of Streptomycetes and antimicrobial compounds. Antimicrobial activity of Streptomyces isolates collected from the rhizosphere of different native medicinal plants in Iran, was investigated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Multi-omics analysis was performed to identify active compounds corresponding to the observed bioactivities. Since cell-to-cell communication mediated by N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) is important for the virulence of Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, quorum quenching activity of the isolates and their ability to degrade C6-HSL and C8-HSL were tested. Two highly related Streptomyces isolates derived from the Helichrysum rubicundum and Rumex acetosa rhizosphere, respectively, exhibited bioactivity against pathogenic indicator bacteria. Metabolite analysis of extracts obtained from liquid cultures of both isolates revealed the production of the catechol-peptide siderophores streptobactin and tribenarthin. Proteomic analysis confirmed the presence of proteins encoded by the streptobactin and lidamycin biosynthetic gene clusters. Quorum quenching activity of the strains and AHL-degrading enzyme production was confirmed using a GFP producing biosensor and LC-MS analysis. This study demonstrates catecholate siderophore production and QQ potential of two Streptomyces isolates from medicinal plants rhizosphere from Mishan Plain, Hamedan Province, Iran using metabolomics and proteomics analysis. Production of streptobactin by terrestrial Streptomyces sp. strains was confirmed for the first time.