Medicinal plants

About: Medicinal plants is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3816 publications have been published within this topic receiving 108681 citations. The topic is also known as: medicinal herbs & medicinal plants.

In Vitro Antioxidant Properties and Total Phenolic Contents of Wetland Medicinal Plants in Taiwan

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the possible antioxidant activities of the methanol and water extracts of 31 medicinal wetland plants in Taiwan. We assayed for such properties such as: TEAC, DPPH radical scavenging, total polyphenol content, total flavonoid and total flavonol contents using the reducing power method. Our results showed that Rotala rotundifolia, Juncus effusus var. decipiens, Cyperus iria, Salix warburgii, Lindernia antipoda, Kyllinga brevifolia, and Typha orientalis possessed both high antioxidant activities and high total polyphenol contents. There was a low correlation between TEAC and total polyphenol content (water extracts, R(superscript 2)=0.14; methanol extracts, R(superscript 2)=0.23) thus eliminating high phenolic content as an important factor in determining the wetland plants' antioxidant capacities. Our results demonstrated that although phytochemicals in the wetland medicinal plants may contribute significantly to their antioxidant activities, these antioxidant activities were not directly related to the polyphenol quantity. Phytochemicals may play key roles in the potent antioxidant activity of wetland medicinal plants. The potential of these easily accessible sources of natural antioxidants should be explored by the pharmaceutical, medical, and health food industries.

Traditional uses of medicinal plants of Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand

Abstract: The present study was carried out in some interior areas of Pauri district of Uttrakhand to collect the information of traditionally used medicinal plants by the communities. A total of 61 medicinal plants belonging to 28 families were used by local people to cure different diseases. . Out of 61 medicinal plant species 13 plant species were having roots and rhizomes as medicinal parts, 7 species containing fruits and flowers as medicinal value, Whereas 28 plant species were having leaves as their medicinal plant parts. Almost all these medicinal plants identified were used to cure human diseases and in which 10 plant species were also used to cure diseases of cattle of the local communities. Local communities, especially, older age class, including women heavily use these traditionally available medicinal plants for health and believe that these are easily available, less expensive, and have no side effects. (Nature and Science 2010;8(6):57-61). (ISSN: 1545-0740).

Anti-quorum sensing and antimicrobial activities of some traditional Chinese medicinal plants commonly used in South-East Asia

Abstract: Aims: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for relief and treatment of ailments dating back thousands of years and continues to the present day, with rapidly increasing interest in evidence-based evaluation of its efficacy. Studies of TCM plants have demonstrated that several have antimicrobial properties but few have explored their antiquorum sensing potential. Quorum sensing (QS), also known as bacterial cell-to-cell communication, is used by a number of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in the regulation of virulence expression. Compounds that interfere with QS signals and attenuate bacterial virulence without killing them may offer an alternative therapeutic solution with less pressure of antibiotic resistance developing. This study screened TCM plants for anti-quorum sensing properties and antimicrobial activities. Methodology and Results: Twenty TCM plants commonly used in South-East Asia were screened for QS inhibitors using two biomonitor strains, Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Ten of these selected TCM plant (50%) were found to have QS inhibitory properties: Angelica sinensis (Umbelliferae), Cnidium monnieri (Umbelliferae), Astragalus membranaceus (Leguminosae), Crataegus cuneata (Rosaceae), Dioscorea nipponica (Dioscoreaceae), Lilium brownii (Liliaceae), Aloe barbadensis (Liliaceae), Magnolia officinalis (Magnoliaceae), Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae) and Panax pseudoginseng (Araliaceae). Of these, six (30%) also showed varying antimicrobial activity against C. violaceum and P. aeruginosa. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The results suggest that traditional Chinese medicinal plants could be a prospective source to explore for useful compounds in the fight against bacterial infections.

Plant secondary metabolites in some medicinal plants of Mongolia used for enhancing animal health and production.

Abstract: Summary The levels and activities of a number of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are known to increase in response to increase in stress. The Mongolian plants considered to possess medicinal properties may contain novel compounds since they are exposed to severe conditions; such plants could become good candidates for modern drug discovery programmes. Information on distribution, palatability to livestock and opinion of local people on their nutritive and medicinal values was compiled for 15 plant materials from 14 plant species considered important for medicinal purposes. These plants were evaluated for nutritive value and PSMs: tannins, saponins, lectins, alkaloids and cyanogens. High levels of tannins were found in roots of Bergenia crassifolia and in leaves of B. crassifolia, Vaccinium vitisidaea and Rheum undulatum. High lectin activity (haemagglutination) was present in B. crassifolia roots, and leaves of R. undulatum, Iris lacteal and Thymus gobicus contained weak lectin activity. Tanacetum vulgare, Serratula centauroids, Taraxacum officinale and Delphinum elatum leaves contained saponin activity (haemolysis). Alkaloids and cyanogens were not present in any of the samples. The paper discusses the known medicinal uses of these plants in light of the PSMs levels, and identifies plant samples for future applications in human and livestock health, welfare and safety.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Arjan - Parishan protected area in Fars Province of Iran.

Abstract: Objective : Today, medicinal plants are widely used in remedies for several ailments and improvement of human health because of their pharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to document important useful medicinal plants and their medicinal characteristics for treatment of human ailments in the Arjan (_) Parishan protected area in Fars province of Iran during 2010-2012. Materials and Methods : Data were obtained using direct interviews with 80 informants particularly those who were more familiar with the herbs and their medicinal properties. Collected plants were recognized and families, genera, and species determined using indispensable references. In this paper, scientific name, local name, parts used, and ways of application and ailments treated using traditional medicinal plant species have been provided. Results : We documented 85 plant species belonging to 39 families and 78 genera used for treating ailments. Among which, Asteraceae with 13 species was the most frequently used family and fruits and leaves were the favored parts for local users. Our results indicated that in this area, the highest compliance in the use of plants in treating ailments were related to the intestinal digestive system (40.8%). Conclusion : The present study is the first contribution to the ethnobotany of this region. Our results showed that some plants are used for medicinal purposes in this region, either for the same or for different purposes. Generally, the results of the present investigation can be used as a basis for selecting useful medicinal plants and also help to preserve precious information that may otherwise be lost to future generations.