Ethnopharmacological field studies: a critical assessment of their conceptual basis and methods.

http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri_enews/newsletter/issue42/bibliography/Ethnobotanical-survey-of-medicinal-plants-commonly-used-by-Kani-tribals-in-Tirunelveli-hills.PDF

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants commonly used by Kani tribals in Tirunelveli hills of Western Ghats, India.

Traditional uses of some medicinal plants in Malatya (Turkey).

Forty four extracts from sixteen plants used traditionally as anticancer agents were evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity against Hep-2, MCF-7, and Vero cell lines. Plants were fractionated using ethanol, methanol, chloroform, n-hexane, distilled water, and butanol. The antiproliferative activity was measured by MTT assay. TLC was used to identify active fractions. The apoptotic activity of active fractions was determined using TUNEL colorimetric assay. 20 of these extracts demonstrated significant antiproliferative activity against one or more of the cell lines. These extracts were prepared from Ononis hirta, Inula viscosa, Salvia pinardi, Verbascum sinaiticum and Ononis sicula. Methanol fractions of Ononis hirta (aerial parts) and Inula viscosa (flowers) were the most active fractions against MCF-7 cells with IC50 of 27.96 and 15.78 μg/ml respectively and they were less toxic against other cell lines. Other extracts showed lower activity against cancer cell lines. TLC analysis showed the presence of flavonoids and terpenoids in active plants while alkaloids were detected in Ononis hirta (aerial parts) extracts. Ononis hirta (aerial parts) and Inula viscosa (flowers) extracts exerted their antiproliferative activity by inducing apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Further studies are necessary for detailed chemical characterization and more extensive biological evaluation of the most active ingredients.

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/78/1/33/pdf

Antiproliferative activity of plant extracts used against cancer in traditional medicine

The genus Inula and their metabolites: from ethnopharmacological to medicinal uses.

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Jordan, the Ajloun Heights region

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Jordan, Mujib Nature Reserve and surrounding area.

A total of 17 pellets from the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan, was analyzed. The remains of two insectivores (Paraechinus aethiopicus, Crocidura suaveolens), three rodents (Jaculus jaculus vocator, Meriones crassus, and Mus musculus), and one bird (Passer domesticus) were identified.

Mammal remains from pellets of the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan

An analysis of the spatial distribution of 12 rodent species in Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan, showed that the Mediterranean zone has the highest number of species whereas the Irano-Turanian mid-altitude steppe zone has the lowest number. Apodemus mystacinus was confined to higher altitudes with a dense vegetation of oak trees, whereas Gerbillus gerbillus was found to be restricted to sand dune habitats with xerophilic vegetation. The distribution of the other species was analysed based on vegetation cover and substratum texture.

/pdf/altitudinal-stratification-and-habitat-selection-of-rodents-29jckb6mb1.pdf

Altitudinal stratification and habitat selection of rodents in Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the most important public health problem in 2020, poses severe health and socioeconomic impact. Many people turn to herbal therapy to prevent infection with the virus or alleviate the symptoms caused by it. This study evaluates the patterns of phytotherapy-based product utilization in the prevention against SARS-COV-2 and their reported effectiveness. This cross-sectional survey used a convenience sample of 287 adults who had used any form of phytotherapeutics to help fight and/or treat COVID-19 infection. The majority (n = 194, 67.6%) of participants had used plants from the Rutaceae family (like lemon and oranges), followed by those of Amaryllidaceous (namely, Garlic and Onion). Participants said that physicians and pharmacists were the primary sources of information about phytotherapy (n=107, 37.3%), and their decision was driven by their positive attitude towards herbal medicine or plant-based products (n=133, 46.3%). Many participants did not notice any side effects of these remedies (n=270, 94%) and believed they were effective (n = 184, 64%). This study provides an overview of the many phytotherapeutic remedies used in the era of COVID-19 by Jordanian society, which could prompt the conduction of interventional trials to assess the effectiveness and safety of this modality of therapy, either as a stand-alone or adjuvant treatment. © 2021 the authors.

/pdf/phytotherapeutic-approaches-and-ethnopharmacological-4pn6b16fin.pdf

Mohammed A. Yousef

Papers

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Jordan, the Ajloun Heights region

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Jordan, Mujib Nature Reserve and surrounding area.

Mammal remains from pellets of the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan

Altitudinal stratification and habitat selection of rodents in Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan

Phytotherapeutic approaches and ethnopharmacological responses against covid-19