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Sambucus williamsii Hance, belonging to the Sambucus L. family (Viburnaceae), possesses medicinal properties in its roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. It is recognized for its ability to facilitate bone reunion, enhance blood circulation, remove stasis, and dispel wind and dampness. This traditional Chinese medicine holds significant potential for development and practical use. Hence, this paper offers an in-depth review of S. williamsii , covering traditional uses, processing guidelines, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics, aiming to serve as a reference for its further development and utilization. Information for this study was gathered from various books, bibliographic databases, and literature sources such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Baidu Scholar, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Wanfang Data. Phytochemical investigations have identified approximately 238 compounds within the root bark, stem branches, leaves, and fruits of S. williamsii. These compounds encompass flavonoids, sugars, glycosides, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, phenols, phenolic glycosides, and other chemical constituents, with phenylpropanoids being the most prevalent. S. williamsii exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, particularly in promoting osteogenesis and fracture healing. This comprehensive review delves into the traditional uses, processing guidelines, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of S. williamsii. It provides valuable insights into this plant, which will prove beneficial for future research involving S. williamsii. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was affected by the occurrence of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT). Yiqi Buxue prescriptions were a class of traditional single or compounded formulations that have become a consensus for NSCLC. There was no clear information and or summary available for Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy for NSCLC in reducing CTR-CVT. To systematically evaluate the Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in reducing CTR-CVT for patients with NSCLC. Search strategies were developed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed and WanFang Data from database inception date to October 2022. The methodological quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias (ROBs) assessment tool, and the meta-analysis was analyzed using RevMan 5.3. A total of 9 studies were included. Compared with the adjuvant chemotherapy group, Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy group showed no statistically significant in reducing CTR-CVT (RR 0.67, 95%CI 0.11 to 3.93, P = 0.65) and in CD4+/CD8+(MR 0.32, 95%CI -0.13 to 0.77, P = 0.16). However, it significantly improved the objective response rate (ORR) (RR 1.57, 95%CI 1.32 to 1.87, P < 0.00001), disease control rate (DCR) (RR 1.25, 95%CI 1.15 to 1.35, P < 0.00001), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) improvement rate (RR 1.34, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.55, P < 0.0001), CD3+ (MR 4.17, 95%CI 3.68 to 4.66, P < 0.00001), CD4+ (MR 4.87, 95%CI 4.28 to 5.46, P < 0.00001), and CD8+ (MR 3.12, 95%CI 2.57 to 3.67, P < 0.00001). The current RCTs are hampered by small sample sizes and poor methodological quality. More rigorously designed and large sample RCTs with primary outcome of CTR-CVT are needed to investigate the effectiveness of Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in reducing CTR-CVT for patients with NSCLC. [Display omitted] • This paper is the first systematic evaluation of the effect of Yiqi Buxue prescriptions in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy on CTR-CVT in NSCLC patients. • Nine RCTs involving 952 patients were included in this meta-analysis. • Current RCTs are simultaneously limited by small sample sizes and poor methodological quality. • More RCTS with CTR-CVT as the primary outcome should be conducted in the future. • More sufficient patients and rigorously designed explanatory RCTs are needed to investigate Yiqi Buxue prescriptions combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of CTR-CVT in NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the important traditional Chinese medicines, Alpinia oxyphylla could warm and tonify the kidney and spleen. It has been used as anti-salivation, anti-diarrhea in various diseases. In recent years, many studies have reported the significant effect of Alpinia oxyphylla on improving cognitive ability, anti oxidative stress and protecting neurons. In this paper, we studied whether AE and its main active components could improve M1 and M2 polarization, inhibit neuroinflammation through triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), and exert anti-inflammatory effects. In this paper, the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines such as NO, TNF-α, IL-10 were assessed using detection kits respectively. Arg-1 and Iba-1, as polarized markers of M1 and M2, were detected by Immunofluorescence staining. CD86 and CD206 were tested by flow cytometry as surface markers of M1 and M2. Furthermore, RT-PCR was performed to determinate TNF-α, IL-10, Arg-1, and Iba-1. Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT/GSK3β and BDNF/TrkB/TLR4 signaling pathways. TREM2 siRNA treatment further verified the action target of Chrysin, the main active ingredient of Alpinia oxyphylla. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the binding mode between Chrysin and the human TREM2. We found that AE could promote the phenotypic transformation of microglia from M1 to M2, and similar effects of Chrysin were observed. Furthermore, downregulation of TREM2 blocked the anti-neuroinflammation of Chrysin, and inhibited the shift of M1 phenotype to M2 phenotype. Additionally, TREM2-siRNA suppressed the effects of Chrysin on PI3K/AKT/GSK3β and BDNF/TrkB/TLR4 signaling pathways. Our findings indicated that AE could improve the polarization response of microglia. TREM2 plays a vital role in the microglial repolarization effects of Chrysin through PI3K/AKT/GSK3β and BDNF/TrkB/TLR4 signaling pathways regulated by neuroinflammation. [Display omitted] • Alpinae Oxyphyllae Fructus could regulate the phenotypic transformation of LPS-induced BV2 cells. • Chrysin is the key component of Alpinae Oxyphyllae Fructus to exert anti-inflammatory activity. • TREM2 plays a vital role in promoting M2 phenotype polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Crinum macowanii is a deciduous bulbous plant which grows in east, central and southern Africa. Crinum macowanii has been used as herbal medicine by the indigenous people of east and southern Africa has for several centuries. The bulb, leaves and roots of C. macowanii are reported to possess diverse medicinal properties and used to treat or manage various human and animal diseases and ailments throughout its distributional range. Crinum macowanii is used traditionally as a remedy for boils, diarrhoea, fever, inflammation, respiratory system problems, skin rashes, tuberculosis, wounds and urinary tract problems. Aim of the review The present review aims to summarize comprehensively the research that has been done on the ethnomedicinal uses, botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of C. macowanii in different locations throughout its geographical range in east, central and southern African region so as to highlight research gaps and provide a foundation for further investigations on the plant species. Materials and methods A review of the literature was undertaken and an in-depth analysis of previous research on ethnobotany, therapeutic value, phytochemistry and pharmacology of C. macowanii throughout its distributional range in east, central and southern Africa. Literature sources included papers published in international journals, reports from international, regional and national organizations, conference papers, books, theses, websites and other grey literature. Electronic search engines such as Google, Google scholar, publishing sites such as Elsevier, scienceDirect, BMC, PubMed and other scientific database sites such as ChemSpider, PubChem were used as well as searching the library collections of the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens (SRGH), Harare, Zimbabwe and the University of Fort Hare, South Africa. Results A total of 32 ethnomedicinal uses of C. macowanii are documented in literature, which can be grouped into seven major ethnomedicinal general purpose usages, namely “fever”, “wounds, sores and skin rashes”, “boils and inflammation”, “respiratory system problems”, “blood cleansing”, “urinary tract problem” and “veterinary uses”. The chemical composition of C. macowanii is dominated by various isoquinoline alkaloids, which have been isolated from the bulbs, flowering stalks, leaves and roots. Major biological activities demonstrated by C. macowanii include antifungal, antiviral and antiplasmodial activities, cardiovascular effects as well as effects on the central nervous system. The population of C. macowanii is declining in the wild as the bulbs are over-collected for sale in medicinal ( muthi ) markets in southern Africa. Conclusion A literature search revealed that C. macowanii has a lot of potential as a possible source of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of a wide range of human and animal diseases and ailments. Some of the alkaloids isolated from C. macowanii have demonstrated various biological activities when investigated in in vitro assays. However, some of the ethnomedicinal uses of C. macowanii still require pharmacological investigations. Therefore, further studies are required to improve our knowledge about the mechanisms of action, efficacy, toxicity and clinical relevance of the plant species as well as its bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This paper illustrates the results of an ethnobotanical study carried out in the Vesuvio National Park (VNP) (Campania, Southern Italy). It describes the medicinal uses of the plants in an ancient area rich in ethnobiodiversity investigated for the first time. Aim for the study The main aim of the study was to understand at what extent current knowledge on medicinal plant uses is still alive in VNP. Materials and methods The informations were collected using semi-structured and unstructured interviews performed on 136 persons living in the investigated area from March to November 2014 and from April to October 2015. The age of the informants ranged from 47 to 85 years old; more than half of the informants aged between 61 and 70. Local plant uses were listed and analyzed in a table and compared with uses in other localities in Italy and in other regions of the Mediterranean basin. Results In VNP were recorded a total number of 132 plant species, belonging to 110 genera and 51 families mentioned for medicinal purposes. Among the recorded 132 plant species, 70 are spontaneous or subspontaneous and 62 are cultivated above all in the kitchen gardens or in the apartments, as food or as ornamental. Herbs represent the majority, followed by trees and shrubs or subshrubs. The investigated plants were used to cure 116 different human health diseases and 4 veterinary problems. The majority of plants are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory problems. Conclusion The number of medicinal plants reported in this paper reflects a well-preserved traditional popular knowledge (TPK) of the elderly people living in the rural areas and in the small villages of VNP. The conservation of TPK is owed to the persistence of an oral tradition that safeguard the use of plants as herbal medicine. We realized that while the use of some wild plants is decreasing, people continue to gather some cultivated and invasive plants for preparing remedies. Researches like this are necessary to protect ancient memories, to promote the transfer of information to the younger generations, to preserve ethno-biodiversity and to provide a starting point fur further biochemical investigations on medicinal entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An herbal pair is a classic form of clinical dispensing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), often used in prescriptions to enhance the effect or reduce potential side effects. It is the smallest component unit of Chinese medicine prescription and an essential bridge between Chinese medicine and prescription. Curcumae Rhizoma (called Ezhu in Chinese) is a representative TCM herb that promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis. It has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Ezhu is generally used in clinical applications as a part of a "drug pair" to treat heartburn, stomach pain, tumour, amenorrhea and abdominal pain caused by blood stasis, qi stagnation and injury. This review aims to summarize the latest and comprehensive situation of the biological activity and clinical application of drug pairs containing Ezhu, find the law of Ezhu compatibility application, and discuss the rationalization of Ezhu drug compatibility. For Ezhu, herb pairs to provide a theoretical basis for clinical research in TCM and serve as a research foundation for developing new drugs. Using a self-built prescription database and Apriori algorithm for association rule mining. A systematic search for studies on herb pairs containing Ezhu was carried out by using the internet databases of PubMed, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar and Web of Science, as well as other relevant textbooks, reviews and documents (e.g. Chinese Pharmacopoeia , 2020 edition, Chinese herbal classic books and PhD and MSc theses, etc.). Among them with keywords including "Curcumae Rhizoma", "Ezhu", "herb pairs", "clinical application", etc. and their combinations. Moreover, the t-copula function was used to analyse the dose-coupling effect of five drug pairs, including Ezhu. The preliminary statistical analysis retrieved Ezhu prescriptions from self-built prescription database and internet databases. The results showed that the compatibility frequency of Ezhu with the other five Chinese medicines was high. Most of these selected herbal combinations are used to treat internal diseases. In this paper, the progress of the ethnopharmacology of Ezhu was reviewed, emphasizing the changes in bioactive components and compatibility of Chinese traditional medicine combinations such as Ezhu and Astragalus Curcuma (Sparganium stoloniferum Buch. -Ham; called Sanleng in Chinese), Ezhu and Astragali Radix (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.; called Huangqi in Chinese). Some other varieties, such as Ezhu and Rhizoma Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.; called Chuanxiong in Chinese), Trionycis Carapax (Trionyx sinensis Wiegmann; called Biejia in Chinese), and Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis chinensis Franch., Coptis deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao, Coptis teeta Wall.; called Huanglian in Chinese), are also recorded in ancient books but rarely researched. The dose of Ezhu is strongly correlated with the amount of Sanleng, Huangqi, Biejia, Chuanxiong and Huanglian, respectively. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between them. The bioactive components and compatibility effects of Ezhu herb pairs were studied in detail using data mining and t-copula function analysis. Ezhu and Astragalus Curcuma (Sanleng) mainly treat gynecological disorders by activating blood circulation and relieving congestion. Ezhu and Astragali Radix (Huangqi) drug pair and Ezhu and Trionycis Carapax (Biejia) drug pair are all commonly used in the clinical treatment of tumors, the former is mainly used clinically for the treatment of digestive tract-related inflammation and tumors, liver cancer and gynecological tumors, and the latter is commonly used for the treatment of malignant tumors, such as liver cancer and mammary cancer. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a "silent killer" that threatens women's lives and health, ovarian cancer (OC) has the clinical characteristics of being difficult to detect, difficult to treat, and high recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be utilized as a long-term complementary and alternative therapy since it has shown benefits in alleviating clinical symptoms of OC, decreasing toxic side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, as well as enhancing patients' quality of life. This paper reviews how TCM contributes to the apoptosis of OC cells through signaling pathways, including active constituents, extracts, and herbal formulas, with the aim of providing a basis for the development and clinical application of therapeutic strategies for TCM in OC. The search was conducted from scientific databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed databases aiming to elucidate the apoptosis signaling pathways in OC cells by TCM. The articles were searched by the keywords "ovarian cancer", "apoptosis", "signaling pathway", "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herbal monomer", "Chinese herbal extract", and "herbal formula". The search was conducted from January 2013 to June 2023. A total of 97 potentially relevant articles were included, including 93 articles on Chinese medicine active constituents or extracts and 4 articles on Chinese herbal compound prescriptions. TCM can induce apoptosis in OC cells by regulating signaling pathways with obvious advantages, including STAT3, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, NF-κB, Nrf2, HIF-1α, Fas/Fas L signaling pathway, etc. Chinese medicine can induce apoptosis in OC cells through multiple pathways, targets, and routes. TCM has special advantages for treating OC, providing more reasonable evidence for the research and development of new apoptosis inducers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new form of crude slices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), traditional Chinese medicine dispensing granules (TCMDGs) have been used for clinical formula. It is necessary to evaluate whether the chemical composition and biological activity are consistent among the different batches. Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR), the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, is one of the most frequently used medicinal materials in gynecology, senile and cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, the quality of TCMDGs is examined taking the Angelica Sinensis Radix dispensing granules (ASRDGs) as a typical case. In this study, integrating bioequivalence and chemical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of dispensing granules taking ASRDGs as a typical case. According to the clinical efficacy of ASR, the intestinal absorption liquid of ASRDGs (IAL-ASRDGs) in 15 batches prepared by the everted gut sac (EGS) method was used to evaluate its effects of vasodilatation on isolated vascular rings. Then, the chemical profiling analysis of IAL-ASRDGs from the 15 batches was carried out by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The components in IAL-ASRDGs were identified using mass spectrometry data and the obtained reference standards. Pearson correlation analysis was further performed for the selection of quality control markers based on the extracted ion chromatograms of the identified compounds and vasodilatory activities of different batches of IAL-ASRDGs. Moreover, the selected chemical components in ASRDGs were further verified by vasodilatory activities and quantitatively analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-MS). The IAL-ASRDGs showed favorable vasodilatory activities. There were significant differences among the 15 batches. The ranges of maximum vasodilation rate (%) and EC 50 were 69.33 ± 7.16 to 19.52 ± 5.05 and 0.07–25.58 g raw materials/mL, respectively. A total of 46 compounds in IAL-ASRDGs were identified based on accurate mass measurements, fragmentation behavior and the reference standards. Among them, 8 compounds including butylidenephthalide, butylphthalide and senkyunolide A showed positive correlation with vasodilatory effect of IAL-ASRDGs. The 8 compounds were further verified, showing obvious vasodilatory activities. The content of the 8 compounds also showed some differences in 15 batches of ASRDGs. Among them, the content of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I and senkyunolide H varied the most in different batches of ASRDGs. By Pearson correlation analysis, the total content of senkyunolides (senkyunolide A, senkyunolide I and senkyunolide H) in ASRDGs was found to reflect the vasodilatory activity of ASRDGs mostly. This study provides new strategies for the quality assessment by bioequivalence and explore the chemical quality control markers for ASRDGs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance A survey was undertaken in Jamaica to document medicinal plants frequently used in the treatment or prophylaxis of illness and trends in their use, following the methodology established by the TRAMIL network. TRAMIL, a Caribbean-wide applied research programme, scientifically evaluates and documents the efficacy and safety of medicinal plant remedies used for primary health care. Initial results from this survey, on an aspect of safety, focusing on the concomitant use and prevalence of medicinal plant use in combination with pharmaceutical drugs in Jamaica, were published in an earlier paper in 2011. This paper now reports survey results on the ethnobotanical use of medicinal plants by Jamaicans. Materials and methods A survey using a structured and modified TRAMIL questionnaire was administered to 407 adults selected randomly from systematically selected households within randomly selected clusters. The clusters were selected from each of the three areas that were purposefully selected. Key findings Respondents identified their use of 107 botanically identified medicinal plants distributed in 51 plant families to treat illnesses or maintain health in the previous twelve months. Fourteen plants, with significant use equal to or greater than 20% for a specified health issue were shortlisted, representing Jamaica׳s first submission to the TRAMIL database. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Rice Bitters) was reported as a plant remedy with significant use for the first time in a TRAMIL survey. Informant consensus factor (ICF) values were high for a number of health issues such as mental health (nerves, insomnia, etc.), respiratory system (cold/flu/cough etc.) and for health maintenance with tonics (washout and blood cleanse), indicating strong cultural coherence in medicinal plant selection for these categories. Forty two per cent (113/270) of medicinal plant users utilised mixtures, combining more than one plant. Leaf material was the most commonly used plant part (69%), with fresh material (98%) most commonly prepared as a tea for internal use by decoction (87%). The majority of medicinal plant respondents sourced plants from their backyards (75%) and cited grandmothers (33%) and mothers (32%) as their main sources of information. Jamaicans reported limited use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), supporting the assertion that a significant number of citizens in developing countries continue to rely on the use of medicinal plants for primary healthcare. Conclusions Medicinal plant use continues to play an important role in primary healthcare in Jamaica. Fourteen plant remedies with significant use are reported, five previously reported elsewhere and recommended (REC) for the same health condition. Eight plant remedies, including one Jamaican endemic, are reported for different health issues for the first time to TRAMIL and will be investigated (INV) for the new health conditions, together with one plant remedy reported for the first time. This latest survey will be followed by literature reviews, appropriate laboratory screens (TRIG) and community outreach activities (TRADIF) in Jamaica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bangladesh has a rich traditional plant-medicine use, drawing on Ayurveda and Unami medicine. How these practices translate into people׳s homes and lives vary. Furthermore, the overlap between food and medicine is blurred and context-specific. This paper explores the food–medicine interface as experienced by Bengali women in their homes, in the context of transnational and generational changes. Aim and objectives The aim is to explore the overlap of food and medicines in homes of Bengali women in Sylhet. The objectives are to explore the influences on medicinal plant practice and to scrutinise how catagories of food and medicine are decided. Material and methods The paper draws on in-depth ethnographic research conducted in Sylhet, North-east Bangladesh as part of a wider project looking at food and medicine use among Bengali women in both the UK and Bangladesh. Methods included participant observation, unstructured interviews and semi-structured interviews with a total of thirty women. Results The study indicates that the use of plants as food and medicine is common among Bengali women in Sylhet. What is consumed as a food and/or a medicine varies between individuals, generations and families. The use and perceptions of food–medicines is also dependent on multiple factors such as age, education and availability of both plants and biomedicine. Where a plant may fall on the food–medicine spectrum depends on a range of factors including its purpose, consistency and taste. Conclusions Previous academic research has concentrated on the nutritional and pharmacological properties of culturally constructed food–medicines ( Etkin and Ross, 1982; Owen and Johns, 2002, Pieroni and Quave, 2006 ). However, our findings indicate a contextualisation of the food-plant spectrum based on both local beliefs and wider structural factors, and thus not necessarily characteristics intrinsic to the products׳ pharmacological or nutritional properties. The implications of this research are of both academic relevance and practical importance to informing health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae) is a multi-purpose plant with a long history of use in African traditional medicine to treat various sexually transmitted infections, hernias, coughs, fever, ascariasis, constipation, headaches, rheumatism, stomach ache, malaria, tuberculosis, pain, epilepsy, pneumonia, skin infections, and it is also used as an aphrodisiac for men. The current paper provides an overview of the present phytochemistry, toxicology, ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological properties of S. longipedunculata . Materials and methods The information reported in this paper was collected from a literature search using various computerised databases including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, PubMed and Google Scholar. The extra information was sourced from various academic dissertations, theses and botanical books. Results Phytochemically, extracts from various parts of S. longipedunculata , especially the root bark, contain numerous valuable compounds including xanthones, some benzyl benzoates and triterpene saponins amongst others. Toxicity studies, both in vivo and in vitro , revealed that extracts are only toxic at relatively high concentrations. Furthermore, extracts have antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, insecticidal, pesticidal, and anticonvulsant properties. Conclusions S. longipedunculata is an important plant species with potential benefits in the treatment of transmissible and infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and those caused by community acquired microorganisms. Although extracts from this species generally have little toxicity at low concentrations, further efforts are required to investigate the potential toxicity of S. longipedunculata . The antimicrobial properties of extracts and purified compounds against microorganisms causing sexually transmitted infections are also deserving of further research. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic properties of extracts and compounds of the species need to be explored as there is insufficient data available on these aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae), widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia, is a popular traditional herbal medicine that can be chewed for the purpose of dispersing accumulated fluid in the abdominal cavity and killing worms. The present paper aims to provide an up-to-date review on the traditional uses and advances in the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of this plant. Furthermore, the possible trends and a perspective for future research of this plant are also discussed. Materials and methods A literature search was performed on A. catechu based on classic books of herbal medicine, PhD. and MSc. dissertations, government reports, the state and local drug standards, scientific databases including Pubmed, SciFinder, Scopus, the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and others. Various types of information regarding this plant are discussed in corresponding parts of this paper. In addition, perspectives for possible future studies of A. catechu are discussed. Results The seeds of A. catechu (areca nut) have been widely used in clinical practice in China, India and other South and Southeast Asian Countries. Currently, over 59 compounds have been isolated and identified from A. catechu , including alkaloids, tannins, flavones, triterpenes, steroids, and fatty acids. The extracts and compounds isolated from A. catechu have many pharmacological activities. These include antiparasitic effects, anti-depressive effects, anti-fatigue effects, antioxidant effects, antibacterial and antifungal effects, antihypertensive effects, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, anti-allergic effects, the promotion of digestive functions, suppression of platelet aggregation, regulatory effects on blood glucose and lipids, etc . Although arecoline is the primary active constituent of A. catechu , it is also the primary toxic compound. The main toxicities of arecoline are the promotion of oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF) and cytotoxic effects on normal human cells, which involve inducing apoptosis. Conclusion As an important herbal medicine, A. catechu has potential for the treatment of many diseases, especially parasitic diseases, digestive function disorders, and depression. Many traditional uses of A. catechu have now been validated by current investigations. However, further research should be undertaken to investigate the clinical effects, toxic constituents, target organs, and pharmacokinetics and to establish criteria for quality control for A. catechu- derived medications. In addition, it will be interesting to investigate the active macromolecular compounds and active constituents other than alkaloids in both raw and processed products of A. catechu . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Rhizoma alismatis (simplified as RA, “Zexie” in Chinese, 泽泻) is a well-known natural medicine with long history in Chinese medicine. As a traditional medicine in China, RA is an important part of many prescriptions and has been commonly used for treating a wide range of ailments related to dysuria, edema, nephropathy, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, inflammation as well as tumor in clinical applications. Based on scientific literatures, the present paper aims to provide comprehensive and up-to date information about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of RA as well as critical analysis of the research. The review will provide a new foundation and direction for the further studies of RA. Materials and methods All available information about RA was supplied by library database and electronic search (ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Pubmed, Google Scholar, etc .). The different types of useful information were collected and arranged in corresponding part of the paper. Results Phytochemical studies showed that the main chemical composition of RA was the terpenoid including sesquiterpene, diterpene and triterpene. The crude extracts and isolated compounds from RA showed diverse pharmacological activities including diuretic, nephroprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, high-dose or long-term use of RA can lead to water-electrolyte imbalance, bloody urine, acidosis and even hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity, which have been proven by several studies. Conclusions Pharmacological researches show RA possessing various bioactivities including diuresis, nephroprotective effect, anti-hyperlipidemia, etc . However, more bioactive components especially diuretic and nephroprotective compounds need to be isolated and identified, and more rigorous researches on action mechanisms are required. More experiments in vitro or in vivo and clinical studies are encouraged to clarify correlation between traditional uses and modern applications, and the toxicity need to be further and precisely explored. In addition, a standardized fingerprint for RA is indispensable and emergent. These achievements will further expand to therapeutic potential and usage of RA and provide a powerful support for clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This research describes the ethnomedicinal plants as used by three Chin indigenous groups inhabiting areas at Natma Taung National Park (NTNP) in bio-culturally diverse Myanmar. The aim of this study was (1) to identify wild medicinal species and evaluate their local importance in local peoples’ healthcare as well as in protected area conservation; and (2) to compare traditional medicinal plant knowledge among the informants. Materials and methods A total of 206 Müün, Ng’gah and Daai informants from 20 villages were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Species use-reports were computed to determine plant local importance and the informant consensus factor. Descriptive and the inferential statistics Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed to evaluate and compare the informants' traditional medicinal knowledge. Results A total of 75 wild ethnomedicinal taxa in 40 plant families across 16 ICPC-based disease categories were recorded. Species which recorded the highest number of use-reports appeared to play an important role not only in informants’ primary healthcare and in park conservation, but also in local livelihood. Conclusion This study presents the diversity of ethnomedicinal plants and their local importance in Chin indigenous peoples’ healthcare. This paper also recognizes the value of these plants and the local traditional knowledge for the conservation and management of NTNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roots of Achyranthes bidentata Blume are one of the regularly used herbal drugs in Chinese medicine, and has been applied for strengthening the muscle and bone for a long time. However, its effect on muscle remains unclear. This paper aims to explore the anti-muscle atrophy effect of A. bidentata , and to clarify the possible signaling pathways involved. The saponin extract of the roots of A. bidentata (ABSE) was prepared and analyzed, and its activity on myoblast differentiation was assayed with C2C12 cell culture. ABSE was then orally administered at dosage of 35, 70 and 140 mg/kg/day to disuse-induced muscle atrophy mice. The studies on mice body weight and muscle quality were conducted, and Western blot was used for exploring the possible signaling pathways involved in the muscle protective action aided with transcriptome analysis. The total saponin content of ABSE was 59.1%. ABSE promoted the C2C12 cells differentiation to myotube in C2C12 differentiation assay. Further study with disuse-induced muscle atrophy mice model demonstrated that ABSE significantly increased muscle fiber diameter as well as the proportion of slow muscle fibers. Possible mechanism study aided with transcriptome analysis revealed that ABSE alleviated muscle atrophy at least through activation of PI3K/Akt pathway in vivo & vitro. The saponin extract of the root of A. bidentata (ABSE) has a protective effect on muscle atrophy, and showed a considerable potential in prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy. [Display omitted] • The saponin extract of A. bidentata (ABSE) was prepared and analyzed. • ABSE promoted the differentiation of C2C12 cells to myotubes. • ABSE displayed a protective effect on muscle atrophy in vivo. • ABSE activated PI3K/Akt pathway in vivo & in vitro. • ABSE increased protein levels of Myogenin and MyoD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Headache has been recognized since antiquity. From the late nineteenth to the early to mid-twentieth century, Italian folk remedies to treat headache were documented in a vast corpus of literature sources. Aim The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the plant-based treatments utilized by Italian folk medicine to heal headache in an attempt to discuss these remedies from a modern pharmacological point of view. Moreover, we compare the medical applications described by Hippocrates, Pliny the Elder, Dioscorides, Galen and Serenus Sammonicus with those utilized by Italian folk medicine to check if they result from a sort of continuity of use by over two thousand years. Results A detailed search of the scientific data banks such as Medline and Scopus was undertaken to uncover recent results concerning the anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities of the plants. Fifty-eight (78.4%) plant-based remedies have shown in vivo, in vitro or in human trials a large spectrum of anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities. Moreover, thirty-one of remedies (41.9%) were already included in the pharmacopoeia between the 5th century BC and the 2nd century AD. Conclusion Italian folk medicine could be a promising source of knowledge and could provide evidences for active principles that have not as of yet been fully used for their potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a major mental disorder and it is currently recognized as the second-leading cause of disability worldwide. However, the therapeutic effect of antidepressants remains unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used for centuries, including commonly-used complementary and alternative medical therapies for depression. Recent clinical trials have been carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of TCM, and to explore the mechanisms of action in relation to the treatment of depression. To summarize frequently used TCM decoctions and Chinese patent medicines (CPM) for treating depression, review their clinical therapeutic effects in treating depressive disorders, consider their possible mechanisms, and characterize the relationships between their efficacy and mechanisms. We performed a computerized literature search using the electronic databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases, with the keywords "depression", "traditional Chinese medicine decoction", "Chinese patent medicine", "application", "mechanism", and their combinations, from January 1, 2000 to August 8, 2022 (inclusive). A total of 51 papers were identified. We reviewed studies on six each TCM decoctions and CPMs, which demonstrated their significant clinical efficacy for treating depression and examined their mechanisms of action. The anti-depressive effects were related to: 1) increased monoamine neurotransmitter levels, 2) inhibiting hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, 3) regulating hippocampal neurons and neurotrophic factors, 4) regulating immune cytokines, 5) counteracting excitatory amino acid toxicity, and 6) regulating microbe-gut-brain axis function. TCM plays an increasingly important role in the management of depression by enhancing the therapeutic effects and alleviating the side effects of antidepressant chemicals. [Display omitted] • Traditional Chinese medical formulas with antidepressant effect have been confirmed. • TCM has the advantage of multi-target antidepressant effects. • The combination of TCM and Western medicine can improve the efficacy and reduce side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Transmission of traditional knowledge over time and across culturally and historically related territories is an important topic in ethnopharmacology. Here, we contribute to this knowledge by analysing data on medicinal uses in two neighbouring areas of the Western Mediterranean in relation to a historical text that has been scarcely mentioned in historical studies despite its interest. Aim of the study This paper discusses the sharing of popular knowledge on the medicinal uses of plants between eastern Morocco and eastern Andalusia (Spain), focusing on one of the most useful plant families in the Mediterranean area: Lamiaceae. Moreover, we used the classical work of Ibn al-Baytar (13th century CE) The Compendium of Simple Medicaments and Foods as a basis to contrast the possible link of this information, analysing the influence of this historical text on current popular tradition of medicinal plant use in both territories. Materials and methods For data collection, we performed ethnobotanical field research in the eastern part of Morocco, recording current medicinal uses for the Lamiaceae. In addition, we systematically reviewed the ethnobotanical literature from eastern Andalusia, developing a database. We investigated the possible historical link of the shared uses and included in this database the information from Ibn al-Baytar's Compendium . To compare the similarity and diversity of the data, we used Jaccard's similarity index. Results Our field work provided ethnobotanical information for 14 Lamiaceae species with 95 medicinal uses, serving to treat 13 different pathological groups. Of the total uses recorded in Morocco, 30.5% were shared by eastern Andalusia and found in Ibn al-Baytar's work. There was a higher similarity when comparing current uses of the geographically close territories of eastern Morocco and eastern Andalucía (64%) than for eastern Morocco and this historical text (43%). On the other hand, coincidences between current uses in eastern Andalusia and the ones related in the Compendium are lower, 28%. Conclusions The coincidence of the current ethnobotanical knowledge in the two territories is high for the Lamiaceae. Probably the shared historical background, recent exchanges, information flow, and the influence of the historical herbal texts have influenced this coincidence. In this sense, there is a high plant-use overlap between Ibn al-Baytar's text and both territories: nearly half of the uses currently shared by eastern Morocco and eastern Andalusia were included in the Compendium and are related to this period of Islamic medicine, indicating a high level of preservation in the knowledge of plant usage. The study of 14 species of Lamiaceae suggests that this classical codex, which includes a high number of medicinal plants and uses, constitutes a valuable bibliographical source for comparing ancient and modern applications of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Among amphibians, 15 of the 47 species reported to be used in traditional medicines belong to the family Bufonidae, which demonstrates their potential in pharmacological and natural products research. For example, Asian and American tribes use the skin and the parotoid gland secretions of some common toads in the treatment of hemorrhages, bites and stings from venomous animals, skin and stomach disorders, as well as several types of cancers. Overarching objective In addition to reviewing the occurrence of chemical constituents present in the family Bufonidae, the cytotoxic and biomedical potential of the active compounds produced by different taxa are presented. Methodology Available information on bioactive compounds isolated from species of the family Bufonidae was obtained from ACS Publications, Google, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Sciendirect and Springer. Papers written in Chinese, English, German and Spanish were considered. Results Recent reports show more than 30% of amphibians are in decline and some of bufonid species are considered to be extinct. For centuries, bufonids have been used as traditional folk remedies to treat allergies, inflammation, cancer, infections and other ailments, highlighting their importance as a prolific source for novel drugs and therapies. Toxins and bioactive chemical constituents from skin and parotid gland secretions of bufonid species can be grouped in five families, the guanidine alkaloids isolated and characterized from Atelopus , the lipophilic alkaloids isolated from Melanophryniscus , the indole alkaloids and bufadienolides known to be synthesized by species of bufonids, and peptides and proteins isolated from the skin and gastrointestinal extracts of some common toads. Overall, the bioactive secretions of this family of anurans may have antimicrobial, protease inhibitor and anticancer properties, as well as being active at the neuromuscular level. Conclusion In this article, the traditional uses, toxicity and pharmacological potential of chemical compounds from bufonids have been summarized. In spite of being reported to be used to treat several diseases, neither extracts nor metabolites from bufonids have been tested in such illness like acne, osteoporosis, arthritis and other illnesses. However, the cytotoxicity of these metabolites needs to be evaluated on adequate animal models due to the limited conditions of in vitro assays. Novel qualitative and quantitative tools based on MS spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy is now available to study the complex secretions of bufonids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Emerging clinical usage and pharmacological effects have been achieved in using Rehmanniae Radix either singly or in combination with other herbs to treat skeletal diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the recent years. This study is aimed to provide a comprehensive review about the historical TCM interpretation of the action of Rehmanniae Radix in osteoporosis, its usage in clinical trials and osteoporotic models, its main phytochemical constituents, and its pharmacokinetics. Materials and methods Several databases included PubMed, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, National Science and Technology Library and the Web of Science Database were consulted to locate the publications pertaining to Rehmanniae Radix . The initial inquiry was conducted for the presence of the following terms combinations in the abstracts: Rehmanniae Radix , Dihuang, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, osteoporosis, bone, osteoclast and osteoblast. About 330 research papers and reviews were consulted. Results In TCM, Rehmanniae Radix exerts the anti-osteoporotic effect via regulating the functions of kidney and liver as well as improving blood circulation. 107 clinical trials are identified that used Rehmanniae Radix in combination with other herbs to treat post-menopausal, senile and secondary osteoporosis. Most of the clinical trials are characterized by high efficacy and no obvious adverse effects. However, the efficacies of these clinical trials are limited because of small patient sample size, short treatment duration and poor clinical design. In addition, TCM herbs under the clinical study are not clear because of a lack of standardization and authentication. The pharmacokinetics data demonstrate that the ingredients of Rehmanniae Radix are widely distributed after administration, and that catalpol and ajugol as well as acetoside are supposed to be the active constituents. More than 140 individual compounds have been currently isolated from this plant and reported to show pleiotropic effects on various diseases. Rehmanniae Radix displays bone protecting features in the osteoporosis models via the delicate balance between osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis through single herb extracts and its isolated compounds. Conclusions The successful inclusion of Rehmanniae Radix in clinical trials and preclinical studies for the management of osteoporosis has attracted rising attentions for identifying potential anti-osteoporotic candidates from this plant and clinical existing TCM formulas, which will further speed up anti-osteoporosis drug discovery processes. Properly designed and well controlled prospective studies are still needed to further demonstrate bone protective actions and safe use of this herb and its ingredients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Metabolomics is the comprehensive assessment of endogenous metabolites of a biological system in a holistic context, and its property consists with the global view of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Shuihonghuazi Formula (SHHZF) has been used for liver cancer early treatment in clinical for more than thirty years, but its mechanism remains unclear completely. This paper was designed to explore the therapeutic effects of SHHZF on liver cancer and its metabolomic characters. Materials and methods All the rats were given diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at the dosage of 70 mg/kg for 14 weeks. From the 7th weeks, SHHZF was given to the rats which lasted for 10 weeks. Therapeutic effects of SHHZF was compared with that of cyclophosphamide (CTX). High performance liquid-chromatography/electrospray-ionization time of flight mass spectrometer (HPLC/ESI-TOF-MS) combined with pattern recognition approaches including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), was integrated to approximate the comprehensive metabolic signature and discover differentiating metabolites by Agilent MPP 12.1. The changes in metabolic profiling in plasma were restored to their baseline values after SHHZF treatment according to the PLS-DA score plots. Results The results indicated that 23 ions as “differentiating metabolites”. The alterations in those metabolites were associated with perturbations in fatty acid and bile acid metabolism, in response to liver cancer through immune and nervous system. And SHHZF could increase the uptake and utilization of linoleic acid and oleic acid, increase arachidonic acid-like substance content and enhance organism immunity of liver cancer rats. And it also could increase the translation from phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to phosphatidylcholine (PC), linoleic acid metabolism and inhibits abnormal metabolism of bile acid. Conclusions The mechanism of therapeutic effects of SHHZF on liver cancer by adjusting the activities of PE N-methyl transferase (PEMT), Lysophospholipase D, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and lysophospholipase was elucidated by the method of metabonomics for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This paper has two overarching aims: (1) presenting the results of studying the Albacete tariff of medicines of 1526 and (2) broadly analyzing the origin and influences of medicinal traditional knowledge in the region of Albacete, Spain. We use historical and modern literature that may have influenced this knowledge. Our primary goal was to determine the ingredients used in the pharmacy in the 16th century CE in Albacete through the analysis of the tariff, and our secondary goal was to investigate until when ingredients and uses present in pharmacy and herbals persisted in later periods. Methods The identity of medicines and ingredients was determined by analyzing contemporary pharmacopoeias and classical pharmaceutical references. We analyzed further 21 sources (manuscripts, herbals, and books of medicines, pharmacopoeias, pharmacy inventories, and modern ethnobotanical records) for the presence/absence of ingredients and complex formulations of the tariff. Using factorial and cluster analysis and Bayesian inference applied to evolution models (reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo), we compared textual sources. Finally, we analyzed the medicinal uses of the top 10 species in terms of frequency of citation to assess the dependence of modern ethnobotanical records on Renaissance pharmacy and herbals, and, ultimately, on Dioscorides. Results In Albacete 1526, we determined 101 medicines (29 simple drugs and 72 compound medicines) comprising 187 ingredients (85% botanical, 7.5% mineral, and 7.5% zoological substances). All composed medicines appear standardized in the pharmacopoeias, notably in the pharmacopoeia of Florence from 1498. However, most were no longer in use by 1750 in the pharmacy, and were completely absent in popular herbal medicine in Albacete 1995 as well as in Alta Valle del Reno (Italy) in 2014. Among the ingredients present in different formulation are the flowers of Rosa gallica , honey ( Apis mellifera ), the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi , and Convolvulus scammonia , pistils of Crocus sativus , grapes and raisins ( Vitis vinifera ), rhizomes of Zingiber officinale , bark of Cinnamomum verum , leaves and fruits of Olea europaea , mastic generally of Pistacia lentiscus , and wood of Santalum album . The statistical analysis of sources produces four well-separated clusters (Renaissance Herbals and Pharmacopoeias, Ethnobotany and Folk Medicine, Old phytotherapy, and Modern phytotherapy including Naturopathy) confirming our a priori classification. The clade of Renaissance Herbals and Pharmacopoeias appears separated from the rest in 97% of bootstrapped trees. Bayesian inference produces a tree determined by an initial set of two well-distinct core groups of ingredients: 64, locally used in Mediterranean Europe during centuries; and 45, imported, used in pharmacy during centuries. Complexity reached its maximum in Albacete 1526 and contemporary pharmacopoeias, gradually decreasing over time. The analysis of medicinal uses of the top 10 ingredients showed low coincidence between Dioscorides and different Renaissance herbals or medical treatises and of all of them with ethnobotany in Albacete. Conclusions Regarding our question: is there something new under the sun? In some aspects, the answer is “No”. The contrast between expensive drugs, highly valued medicines, and unappreciated local wild medicinal plants persists since the Salerno's school of medicine. Old medicine in Mediterranean Europe, as reflected by Albacete 1526 tariff of medicines, involved strict formulations and preferences for certain ingredients despite other ingredients locally available but underappreciated. This confirms the fact that any system of medicine does not get to use all available resources. Ethnobiological records of materia medica, in rural areas of Albacete, describe systems with a high degree of stability and resilience, where the use of local resources, largely wild but also cultivated, is predominant in contrast with the weight of imported exotic products in pharmacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kanglaite injection (KLTi), a Chinese herbal medicine, is used as an adjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To provide an evidence-based endorsement for the clinical application and selection of KLTi by evaluating the reporting quality, methodological quality, risk of bias, and evidence quality of systemic reviews (SRs). SRs of KLTi adjuvant therapy of NSCLC were searched by using 12 databases, consulting experts, and retrieving relevant conference papers until 2022.03.24. The treatment group received KLTi in combination with other therapies, regardless of dosage, duration, or the therapy combined. Network meta-analyses and SRs using repeated data were excluded. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines 2009, A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews, Risk of Bias in Systematic Review, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation were used to assess the quality of reports, methodological quality, risk of bias, and level of evidence; R was used for visual analysis of the relevant contents. Twenty SRs (13 Chinese and 7 English articles), all authored by Chinese authors as the first author, were included. The reporting information of most included studies was relatively complete (21–27 points), accounting for three-fourths of the total literature. The quality of the methods used in all studies was critically low. The risk of bias was mostly high. Results of the evidence summary showed that among the "moderate" evidence, KLTi combined with chemotherapy had benefits of 9.7–16.4% for objective response rate (ORR) (11 SRs), 8.1–14% for disease control rate (four SRs), and 20.1–28.6% for quality of life (12 SRs) compared with those of chemotherapy alone. The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms (five SRs) was reduced by 11.5%–23.2%, while that of leukopenia (four SRs) improved by 19.5–29.2%. Combined radiotherapy and targeted therapy had benefits of 25.9% and 16.8%, respectively, in ORR and 31.3% and 22.8%, respectively, in quality of life (the quality of evidence was "low"). The results depicted that treatment with two courses of KLTi produce the best results. Our results suggest that KLTi, whether combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy, has an effect on ORR and quality of life and induces adverse reactions, such as leukopenia, nausea, and vomiting. It may improve patient survival; however, the impact of its low-grade quality on the immune function remains undetermined. Owing to the low reporting quality and methodological quality and high risk of bias of the SRs and the included studies, clinical application of KLTi remains unelucidated; higher-quality SRs and randomized controlled trials are necessary in the future. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. (ST) herbs have been used as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating colds for thousands of years. The volatile oil is considered as the main material basis responsible for the efficacy of ST and has attracted lots of attention on its anti-inflammatory effect recently. Aim of study This paper investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the distilled volatile oils from Schizonepeta tenuifolia (STVO) that were collected at different harvesting times on carrageenin-induced pleurisy in rats. Based on the anti-inflammatory effects, instead of contents of marker components, we aim to evaluate the quality and determine the appropriate harvesting time of ST. Materials and methods There were eleven groups with eight male rats in each randomly. They were model group, control group, positive group (dexamethasone) and eight groups treated with eight STVOs at different harvesting times. All treatments were performed by gavage and administered once a day on four consecutive days. One hour after the last treatments, except the rats in control group, those in other groups were treated with carrageenin to induce the pleurisy. Four hours later, all the rats were sacrificed and their pleurisy exudates and lung tissues were collected for further analysis. To evaluate the comprehensive anti-inflammatory effect of the eight STVOs, multi-attribute comprehensive index method (MACIM) was used to obtain the integration of various effects. Results All the eight STVOs could decrease the seven indicators relating to pleurisy, which were exudate volume, leukocytes, protein level, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukine-1β (IL-1β). Majority of these decreases were significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). As far as each indicator was concerned, each STVO showed different effect from others. With MACIM, it was found that STVO in Group 6 was the most effective one with the highest V s and appropriate harvesting time of ST was in late September. Conclusions The study may provide scientific basis to further understanding of the mechanism of STVO in anti-inflammatory effect of carrageenin-induced pleurisy. Meanwhile, this study also provides a new access to determining the appropriate harvesting time of TCM and even evaluating the quality of TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Juniperus rigida is used as Tibetan and Mongolian medicine in China for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, nephritis, brucellosis and other various inflammatory diseases. Aim of the study To evaluate antibacterial potential of essential oils from J. rigida leaves against Klebsiella pneumoniae and to examine its possible related mechanisms. The study was undertaken in order to scientifically validate the traditional use of J. rigida. Materials and methods The essential oil was extracted from the leaves of J. rigida by supercritical CO 2 fluid extraction technology. Chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The antibacterial activity was evaluated against 10 bacteria by the paper disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the essential oil were estimated by agar dilution method. The antibacterial mechanism was evaluated by growth curve, the integrity of cell membrane, the SDS-PAGE of protein patterns and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results 61 components were identified from the essential oil. Caryophyllene (13.11%) and α-Caryophyllene (11.72%) were found to be the major components. The antibacterial activities of the essential oil were screened and compared against 10 bacteria. The essential oil showed good antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae , with the biggest diameters of inhibition zones (DIZ) (16.00±0.25 mm) and the lowest MIC and MBC values of 3.125 mg/mL. The increase in proteins, 260 nm absorbing materials of bacterial cells suspension indicated that the cytoplasmic membranes were broken by the essential oil. The SDS-PAGE of bacterial proteins demonstrated that the essential oil could damage bacterial cells through the destruction of cellular proteins. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the essential oil damaged the morphology of cell wall and membrane. Conclusions The essential oil of J. rigida has potential antibacterial activities against K. pneumoniae . The antibacterial mechanism is the essential oil causing the irreversible damage to the cell wall and membrane, leading to the leakage of proteins and 260 nm absorbing materials (DNA and RNA). Further phytochemical and pharmacological studies are required for proper scientific validation of the folk use of this plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims of the study This paper compares sixty-four plants used as ethnoveterinary remedies in British Columbia with First Nations folk medicine. Materials and methods In 2003, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 participants obtained using a purposive sample. The data was then compared with historical documents on First Nations plant use. Results Exact parallels between First Nations/native American folk medicine and ethnoveterinary remedies used for farm animals and horses were Acer macrophyllum Pursh, Epilobium angustifolium L. and Lonicera involucrata (Richardson) Banks ex Spreng., used as stimulants and tonics for goats; Achlys tripylla DC. as a fly repellent in barns, Alnus rubra Bong., for rabbits’ dental care, Berberis repens Lindl., Rumex crispus L., to treat sores and rashes on horses, Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson for stomach problems and Bovista pila Berk. and M. A. Curtis and Dolichousnea longissima (Ach.) Articus used on wounds. Conclusion This study revealed the parallel uses between sixty-four plants used as ethnoveterinary medicines in British Columbia and the folk medicines used by the First Nations peoples and by native American groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The rich floral and ethnic composition of eastern Nepal and the widespread utilization of locally available medicinal plants offer remarkable opportunity for ethnomedicinal research. The present paper aims to explore medicinal plant diversity and use in the remote villages of eastern Nepal. It also aims to evaluate ethnopharmacological significance of the documented use reports and identify species of high indigenous priority. Materials and methods The study was undertaken in four villages located in the Sankhuwasabha district in eastern Nepal. Ethnomedicinal information was collected through structured interviews. The homogeneity of informant's knowledge and the relative importance of documented medicinal plants were validated by informant consensus factor and use value, respectively. Species preference for treatment of particular diseases was evaluated through fidelity level. Results We reported medicinal properties of 48 species belonging to 33 families and 40 genera, for the treatment of 37 human ailments. The uses of 10 medicinal plants were previously undocumented. The informant consensus factor (F IC ) ranged between 0.38 and 1 with about 50% of values greater than 0.80 and over 75% of values greater than 0.70, indicating moderate to high consensus among the informants on the use of medicinal plants in the region. Swertia chirayita was the most preferred species with significantly high use values, followed by Paris polyphylla and Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora. Conclusions The remote villages in eastern Nepal possess rich floral and cultural diversity with strong consensus among informants on utilization of plants for local healthcare. The direct pharmacological evidence for medicinal properties of most species indicates high reliability of documented information. Careful and systematic screening of compounds isolated from these plants could possibly provide good opportunity for the discovery of novel medicines to treat life-threatening human diseases. We recommend prioritization of medicinal plants and reinforcement of existing cultivation practices for sustainable management of high-priority species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Peganum harmala L. is a perennial herbaceous, glabrous plant that grows in semi-arid conditions, steppe areas and sandy soils. It is used to treat fever, diarrhoea, subcutaneous tumours, arthralgia, rheumatism, cough, amnesia and parasitic diseases in folk medicines. In this paper, we aimed to develop a simpler and faster method for the extraction of three alkaloids from Peganum harmala L. than other conventional methods by optimizing the parameters of a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method, and to investigate the acaricidal activities of three compounds against Psoroptes cuniculi . Materials and methods After optimizing the operating parameters with the single factor experiment and a Box-Behnken design combined with a response-surface methodology, a MAE method was developed for extracting the alkaloids from the seeds, and a high-performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify these compounds. An in vitro experiments were used to study the acaricidal activities. Results The optimal conditions of MAE method were as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio 31.3:1 mL/g, ethanol concentration 75.5%, extraction time 10.1 min, temperature 80.7 °C, and microwave power 600 W. Compared to the heat reflux extraction (HRE, 60 min) and the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE, 30 min) methods, MAE method require the shortest time (10 min) and obtain the highest yield of three compounds (61.9 mg/g). Meanwhile, the LT 50 values for the vasicine (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL), harmaline (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL), harmine (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL) and MAE extract (100 mg/mL) against Psoroptes cuniculi were 12.188 h, 9.791 h, 11.994 h, 10.095 h, 11.293 h, 9.273 h and 17.322 h, respectively. Conclusions The MAE method developed exhibited the highest extraction yield within the shortest time and thus could be used to extract the active compounds from Peganum harmala L. on an industrial basis. As the active compounds of Peganum harmala L., vasicine, harmalin and harmine presented the marked acaricidal activities against Psoroptes cuniculi, and could be widely applied for the treatments of acariasis in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic dermatopathy is one of the most serious and common complications of diabetes. It has been found that high glucose can lead to abnormal glycometabolism. The skin microenvironment pollution caused by the increase in glucose and the oxidative stress mediated by the deposition of advanced glycation end products can lead to invisible skin injury, and the interaction between them is the key factor that makes the skin wounds of diabetic rats difficult to heal. Therefore, the main task of promoting healing is to reduce blood glucose levels and relieve the deposition of advanced glycation end products. Polygonatum kingianum Collett & Hemsl (PK) of Asparagaceae is planted in Yunnan, China, and is used by the Bai, Hani and Wa nationalities as a traditional medicine for preventing and treating diabetes. To study the effects of PK extract on skin wound healing in diabetic rats and to explore the regulatory mechanism of PK on wound microenvironment pollution, the antioxidative stress signaling pathway and latent injury of wound skin tissue. First, wounds were prepared after diabetic rats were given PK extract by gavage for 4 weeks, and then gavage was continued for 2 weeks to observe and calculate the wound healing rate. A scanning electron microscope was used to observe the pathomorphological changes in the skin tissue at the edge of the wound. Western blotting was used to detect protein expression. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CD34, AGEs, bFGF and VEGF. The Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in skin tissue was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Serum biochemical indicators and inflammatory cytokine levels were detected by a kit. After PK treatment, the wound healing rate increased significantly (P < 0.001), the infiltration of inflammatory cells in skin tissue of DM lesion rats decreased, the number of new blood vessels increased, and the epidermis and dermis thickened. The content of glucose, AGEs, RAGE protein and RAGE mRNA in skin decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001), while the expression of Nrf2 mRNA, HO-1 mRNA, CD34, bFGF and VEGF increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The levels of SOD, GSH, MMP-9 and MMP-2 in skin decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001), but the level of TIMP-2 increased (P < 0.001). GSP, GHb and ICAM-1 in plasma decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001), while T-AOC, SOD and FINS increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels of MDA, TNF-, IL-6, IL-2 and IFN-γ in plasma and wound skin tissue decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). PK can reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells and glucose content in the skin tissue at the edge of the wound, reduce inflammatory factors in skin and plasma, and increase angiogenesis, thus improving the wound healing rate. PK can alleviate the microenvironment pollution caused by AGEs and glucose metabolism disorder in diabetic rats and induce antioxidant activity through the Nrf 2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thus reducing oxidative damage and offsetting endogenous skin damage and hidden damage. [Display omitted] • There has been no previous report on the study of PK in the treatment of diabetic complications，and this paper is the first time to study the repairing effect of Polygonatum kingianum on diabetic skin injury complications. • This study established a "chain of disease" from beginning to end, and explored the multi-target and multi-link therapeutic effects of Polygonatum kingianum. • This study prove that Polygonatum kingianum can improve the quality of micro-environmental pollution in diabetic rat skin lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance In this paper we present a comprehensive ethnomedicinal study conducted in Mondulkiri province. Traditional knowledge about natural medicine (plants, animals, mushrooms) was investigated in Cambodia’s largest indigenous community: the Bunong people. The survey aims to document the medicinal plant use of this ethnic, by focusing on the eleven most frequent diseases encountered in the area, in order to highlight species that could be recommended in public health programs. Materials and methods During the years 2013 and 2014, 202 villagers were interviewed in 28 villages from the five districts in Mondulkiri. Two types of methodology were employed: (1) an ethnobotanical field survey (walk-in-the-wood interviews) and (2) semi-structured household interviews with a special emphasis on the treatment of 11 most common ailments encountered in the area. Medicinal plants and mushrooms were collected and identified together with medicinal animals. The factor informant consensus (F IC ) and fidelity level (FL) were calculated. Results Bunong people use a total of 214 plants belonging to 72 families, 1 mushroom and 22 animal species in their traditional healthcare practices in order to treat 51 different ailments. Among the medicinal plants, Fabaceae was the most predominant family; Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H.Rob. (Asteraceae), Zingiber montanum (J.Koenig) Link ex A.Dietr. (Zingiberaceae) and Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (Crassulaceae) were the most cited medicinal plants; and four ailments (cold/fever, diarrhea, postpartum disorders and stomachache) were described as major ailments in the community. The root was the most important part of plants used, and decoction was the most cited method of preparation. During our survey, we also discovered a “new to science” plant species called Ardisia mondulkiriensis Hul and Chassagne, and we recorded for the second time the plant species recently described, Solanum sakhanii Hul. Conclusion Most of the species reported for the treatment of the 11 most frequent ailments have already been proven to be efficient and safe. Furthermore, 10 plant species are reported for the first time as medicinal and some of them are widely used in the community. Further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations should be undergone to assess the pharmaceutical potential of these species. While undergoing considerable changes, Bunong people have maintained extensive traditional medicine knowledge. As this indigenous hill tribe depend mainly on natural remedies for their daily healthcare, environmental preservation is of high importance for the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Roots of Angelica sinensis ( Oliv. ) Diels (AS) a commonly used herbal, always act as an anti-inflammatory drug in Chinese traditional therapy. In clinical use, AS is always processed before being used for the reason that processing can increase its therapeutic effect. Recent studies have shown that volatile oil of AS (VOAS), an important component in AS, has evident anti-inflammatory activities. Aim of the study In this study, our aim is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oils from processed products of AS. Materials and methods In this paper, volatile oils from stir-fried AS (C-VOAS), parched AS with alcohol (J-VOAS), parched AS with soil (T-VOAS), and parched AS with sesame oil (Y-VOAS) were applied to intervene the carrageenan-induced acute inflammation model rats. GC–MS based metabolomics was utilized to determine different metabolites in the inflammatory exudate and plasma samples. Results The results showed that VOASs could significantly inhibit the release of PGE2, HIS, 5-HT and TNF- α , among which C-VOAS and J-VOAS expressed better effect. Otherwise, 14 potential biomarkers were identified respectively in inflammatory exudate and plasma, which changed highly significantly ( P <0.01) in C-VOAS and J-VOAS groups. Conclusions We inferred that the anti-inflammatory effect of C-VOAS and J-VOAS were superior to other VOASs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Infection by intestinal parasitic worms (soil-transmitted helminths or geohelminths) is prevalent in many parts of the world, and poses a particular health risk to children. This paper presents findings from a preliminary study with the primary aim to document indigenous knowledge about the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of intestinal worm infections in children among the local communities of Kalat district of northern Balochistan, Pakistan. Materials and methods Ethnomedicinal data were collected through a triangulation approach, that included participant-observation and rapid appraisal methods. Prior-informed consent (PIC) was obtained from participants before conducting structured and semi-structured interviews and delivering an open ended questionnaire. A total of 94 participants, including 28 men (of whom 7 were traditional healers), and 66 women of four different age groups were interviewed. Results were analyzed using quantitative indices of Use Value citations (UVC) and Disease-Consensus Index (DCI). Results Fewer men than women agreed to be interviewed, thus overall women in the area appeared to have more ethnomedicinal knowledge. The majority of study participants belonged to the older age group (>55 years). A total of 49 plant species, belonging to 47 genera, distributed in 30 families were reported. The families Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were most frequently represented, with four species each. Trees were the most common life form, with seeds the most frequently cited plant part used (29%). Nearly a third (31%) of plant-based remedies reported in the treatment of intestinal worms were administered as a decoction. The highest UVC and DCI was reported for the species Ferula assa-foetida sL. (UVC 0.51, DCI 0.46). Conclusions This study provides previously unreported data on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of geohelminth infections in children of Kalat. Eight species, Acacia modesta Wall ., Asparagus capitatus Baker , Microcephala lamellata (Bunge) Pobed., Nepeta praetervisa Rech.f., Plantago ciliata Desf., Pistacia atlantica Desf., Seriphidium quettense (Podlech) Y.R.Ling and Thymus linearis Benth. are reported here as anthelmintics for the first time. Detailed studies on the anthelmintic activity of chemical constituents of these species are lacking from existing literature. Further phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicity studies are required in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these newly reported anthelmintic species. These plants may provide a source of novel anthelmintic drug leads, which are urgently required due to the problem of global anthelmintic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Cancer patients in all cultures are high consumers of herbal medicines (HMs) usually as part of a regime consisting of several complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities, but the type of patient, the reasons for choosing such HM-CAM regimes, and the benefits they perceive from taking them are poorly understood. There are also concerns that local information may be ignored due to language issues. This study investigates aspects of HM-CAM use in cancer patients using two different abstracting sources: Medline, which contains only peer-reviewed studies from SCI journals, and in order to explore whether further data may be available regionally, the Thai national databases of HM and CAM were searched as an example. Materials and methods The international and Thai language databases were searched separately to identify relevant studies, using key words chosen to include HM use in all traditions. Analysis of these was undertaken to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors, as well as sources of information, which may inform the decision to use HMs. Results Medline yielded 5638 records, with 49 papers fitting the criteria for review. The Thai databases yielded 155, with none relevant for review. Factors associated with HM-CAM usage were: a younger age, higher education or economic status, multiple chemotherapy treatment, late stage of disease. The most common purposes for using HM-CAM cited by patients were to improve physical symptoms, support emotional health, stimulate the immune system, improve quality of life, and relieve side-effects of conventional treatment. Conclusions Several indicators were identified for cancer patients who are most likely to take HM-CAM. However, interpreting the clinical reasons why patients decide to use HM-CAM is hampered by a lack of standard terminology and thematic coding, because patients' own descriptions are too variable and overlapping for meaningful comparison. Nevertheless, fears that the results of local studies published regionally are being missed, at least in the case of Thailand, appeared to be unfounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Being one of the most common types of life threatening diseases in Southern Assam, India, the digestive system disorders (DSD) have gained much attention in recent decades. Traditional beliefs and inadequate income of mass population result in the use of alternative phytotherapies to treat the diseases. Aim of the study The present paper documents the medicinal knowledge and utilization of plants for treatment of digestive system disorders in Southern Assam, India by Disease Consensus Index (DCI). It also determines the most suitable plant species used to treat digestive system disorders in the study area. Materials and methods The study was based on ethnomedicinal field survey covering a period of 1 year from 2014–2015. The ethnomedicinal information was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires from different traditional Bengali people having knowledge on medicinal plants. Collected data were analyzed by calculating DCI. Results During the survey, 29 informants were interviewed and a total of 49 plants under 46 genera belonging to 33 families were listed. Data analysis revealed that Litsea glutinosa , Momordica charantia , Andrographis paniculata , Lawsonia inermis , Cleome viscosa , Psidium guajava , Ageratum conyzoides , Cuscuta reflexa , Cynodon dactylon and Carica papaya are the most prominent plants among the people of Southern Assam for treating DSD. Conclusion This explorative survey emphasizes the need to preserve and document the traditional healing practices for managing DSD inviting for more imminent scientific research on the plants to determine their efficacy as well as safety. With the help of statistical analysis (DCI), we propose 10 priority plants for DSD in present work. Systematic pharmacological study with these plants may contribute significant result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Complementary and alternative medicine has been increasingly used to treat chronic illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus. However, various limitations in terms of their application and efficacies exist. Furthermore, there is still much to be done to discover the right herbal medicine for diabetes. Aim of the study This paper aims to evaluate previous herbal studies on the management of diabetes mellitus, to address their strengths and weaknesses and propose a general framework for future studies. Approach and methods Data sources such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SpringerLink, and Wiley were searched, limited to Iran, using 36 search terms such as herbal, traditional, medicine, and phytopharmacy in combination with diabetes and related complications. Reviewed articles were evaluated regarding the use of botanical nomenclature and included information on (1) identity of plants and plant parts used, (2) the processing procedure, and (3) the extraction process. The main outcomes were extracted and then surveyed in terms of the efficacies of herbs in the management of diabetes mellitus. Then a comparative study was performed between Iranian and non-Iranian studies with respect to herbs best studied in Iran. Results Of the 82 herbs studied in Iran, only six herbs were endemic and 19 were studied in detail. Although most of the reviewed herbs were found to decrease the level of blood glucose (BG) and/or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in both Iranian and non-Iranian studies, information on their pharmacological mechanisms is scarce. However, the level of HbA1C was measured in a limited number of clinical trials or animal studies. Available information on both short- and long-term use of studied herbs on diabetes related complications and functions of involved organs as well as comorbid depression and/or simultaneous changes in lifesyle is also insufficient. Furthermore, little or no information on their phytochemical, toxicological, and herb–drug interaction properties is available. It is worth noting that the efficacy of the reviewed herbs has been studied scarcely in both humans and animals regarding both Iranian and non-Iranian studies. A significant number of reviewed articles failed to cite the scientific name of herbs and include information on the processing procedure and the extraction process. Conclusions Treatment of diabetes mellitus as a multifactorial disease using herbal medicines requires a comprehensive approach. In order to discover the right herbal medicine for the management of diabetes many other important factors than the levels of BG, HbA1C and insulin should be considered. According to our criteria, all the reviewed herbs suffered from inadequate investigation in human, animal and in vitro models in this respect, whereas they are worth investigating further. However, more research on endemic plants and the traditional history of herbal medicine is warranted. In our opinion, the pharmacological, toxicological, and phytochemical information should be obtained before clinical trials. Furthermore, information such as botanical scientific nomenclature, side effects, and toxicity will improve the quality and validity of publications in herbal research. In particular, designing a database covering all valid information about herbs and/or diseases will decrease unnecessary costs and increase the efficiency of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Taste ( rasa ) is traditionally valued in Ayurveda as an important ethnopharmacological category, and reported to correlate with certain therapeutic activities ( karman ). The present paper endeavors to provide for the first time a type of mapping of ayurvedic ethnopharmacological space by the integration of medicinal plant taste–activity relationship (TA) data, originating from several traditional sources. Material and methods The present TA database included 183 ayurvedic medicinal plants, with their traditional description of taste and ethnophamacological actions (EPA). 111 plants had a unique taste, and 72 plants a combination of several tastes, consisting of one principal taste, and other 2-4 secondary tastes. 121 ethnopharmacological actions were considered. Potential global or individual associations between rasa and karman were statistically analyzed. Results We found a statistically significant global correspondence between the predominant plant taste and the ethnopharmacological activities (Chi-square test, p <0.05), and the following individual associations (Fisher exact test, p <0.05, positive association if ln OR >0, negative association if ln OR <0): bitter- 11 positive associations (ln OR 0.940 to 3.544) and 8 negative associations (ln OR −0.997 to −3.101), sweet- 14 positive associations (ln OR 0.839 to 3.132) and 20 negative associations (ln OR −0.962 to −3.270), pungent- 23 positive associations (ln OR 0.835 to 4.126) and 11 negative associations (ln OR −1.255 to −3.147), astringent- 7 positive associations (ln OR 1.099 to 3.813) and 7 negative associations (ln OR −1.076 to −2.631), sour- 7 positive associations (ln OR 1.128 to 4.664) and 1 negative association (ln OR −2.244). Among the 109 statistically significant associations, 24 were not traditionally mentioned, and only 4 were in opposition with the traditional ayurvedic sources. Discussions The present study confirms the traditional relationship rasa-karman and demonstrates that statistical models can be used to predict EPAs of medicinal plants depending on their taste. Integration of the ayurvedic concept of taste into ethnopharmacological research might reveal new facets of plant therapeutic potentials and provide a framework for developing a probabilistic approach to drug discovery that can be exploited to increase bioprospecting research efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnobotanical relevance Turkey is one of the richest countries in terms of plant diversity, owing to its unique geographical location with different climatic and geomorphological structures. For this reason interest in ethnobotanical studies has been rising. The goal of this study is to document traditional uses of medicinal plants and supply phytomedicines with efficacy and safety for use in primary health care in Bozüyük in Bilecik district, located in the nortwestern part of Anatolia in Turkey. Materials and methods The ethnomedicinal data was collected during 2009–2010 using semi-structured questionnaires, personal interviews and group discussion with 60 informants (22 men and 38 women). As a statistical method, informant consensus factors ( F IC ) and fidelity level (FL) values were calculated to analyze the importance of ethnobotanical plant species. Results 104 Plant species belonging to 47 families were found in this study. Among them 59 species were wild and 45 species were cultivated plants. The most common wild species belongs to Lamiaceae (15.3%), Apiaceae (6.8%), Fabaceae (5.1%), Asteraceae (5.1%), Polygonaceae (5.1%) and the most common cultivated species belongs to Rosaceae (24.4%), Apiaceae (11.1%), Fabaceae (11.1%), Brassicaceae (8.9%) and Poaceae (6.7%) families. The most common preperation method is infusion with the rate of 45%. According to use value (UV) the most important plant is Linum usitatissimum L. (0.86). The highest Consensus Informants Factor ( F IC ) of the ailments are skeletomuscular and conjunctivitis diseases with the same value of 0.80. The most frequent species is Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson which is used for diuretic ailments with the amount of 88.33% fidelity level. Conclusions This paper reserves valuable ethnobotanical information for research area. The importance of traditional medicines and indigenous knowledge should be conserved and encouraged. In addition to this further laboratory investigations should be conducted on plants to produce pharmaceutical output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Pharmacokinetic studies on traditional Chinese medicine are useful to evaluate and predict the drug efficacy and safety. The renal impairment may affect drug clearance and other pharmacokinetic processes which can increase toxicity and drug to drug interactions or cause ineffective therapy. Pharmacokinetic studies in pathological status rats might be meaningful for revealing the action mechanism and improving clinical medication of the herb medicine. Materials and methods A highly sensitive and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS) method with multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of morroniside and loganin in normal and doxorubicin-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat plasma after oral administration of Shanzhuyu (fruit of Cornus officinalis ) extract. Results Both calibration curves gave satisfactory linearity ( r >0.99) at linear range of 1.96–1962.5 ng mL −1 for morroniside, 1.53–1531.25 ng mL −1 for loganin. The precision and accuracy of the in vivo study were assessed by intra-day and inter-day assays. The percentages of relative standard deviation (RSD) were all within 9.58% and the accuracy (RE) was in the −6.02% to 8.11% range. The extraction recoveries of morroniside, loganin and internal standard (IS) were all >67.62% and the matrix effects ranged from 95.07% to 102.75%. Conclusions The pharmacokinetic behavior of morroniside and loganin in normal and CKD rat plasma was determined in this paper. The significant different pharmacokinetic parameters might partly result from the changes of P-glycoprotein and metabolic enzymes in the pathological state. The pharmacokinetic research in the pathological state might provide more useful information to guide the clinical usage of the herb medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Buruli ulcer (BU) is the third most common mycobacterial infection in the world, after tuberculosis and leprosy and has recently been recognized as an important emerging disease. This disease is common in West Africa where more than 99% of the burden is felt and where most affected people live in remote areas with traditional medicine as primary or only option. Reports indicate that the ethnopharmacological control approach of the disease in such settings has shown promise. However, no or very few compilations of traditional knowledge in using medicinal plants to treat BU have been attempted so far. This review aimed to record medicinal plants used traditionally against BU in three countries in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Ghana and Benin and for which ethnopharmacological knowledge supported by pharmacological investigations has been reported. The information recorded in this review will support further pharmacological research to develop appropriate drugs for a better BU control. Material and methods A systematic review of the literature on ethnobotanical use and anti-BU activity of plants reported for BU treatment was performed. The approach consisted to search several resources, including Technical Reports, Books, Theses, Conference proceedings, web-based scientific databases such as publications on PubMed, Science direct, Springer, ACS, Scielo, PROTA , Google and Google scholar reporting ethnobotanical surveys and screening of natural products against Mycobacterium ulcerans . This study was limited to papers and documents published either in English or French reporting ethnopharmacological knowledge in BU treatment or pharmacological potency in vitro . This review covered the available literature up to December 2014. Results The majority of reports originated from the three most affected West African countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Benin). Though, 98 plant species belonging to 48 families have been identified as having anti-BU use, many have received no or little attention. Most of the pharmacological studies were performed only on 54 species. To a lesser extent, ethnopharmacological knowledge was validated in vitro for only 13 species. Of those, seven species including Ricinus comminus, Cyperus cyperoides (cited as Mariscus alternifolius ) , Nicotiana tabacum, Mangifera indica, Solanum rugosum, Carica papaya, and Moringa oleifera demonstrated efficacy in hospitalised BU patients. Four isolated and characterized compounds were reported to have moderate bioactivity in vitro against M. ulcerans . Conclusions This review compiles for the first time ethnopharmacologically useful plants against BU. The phamacological potential of 13 of them has been demonstrated in vitro and support BU evidence-based traditional medicines. In addition, 7 species showed activity in BU patients and have emerged as a promising source of the traditional medicine for treatment of BU. Yet, further safety and efficacy study should be initiated prior any approval as alternative therapy. Overall, a huge gap in knowledge appeared, suggesting further well-planned and detailed investigations of the in vitro, in vivo, and safety properties of the claimed anti-BU plants. Therefore, plants with medicinal potential should be scrutinized for biologically active compounds, using bioassay-guided fractionation approach to provide new insights to find novel therapeutics for BU control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Sokoto is known for its diverse traditional medicinal wealth and international market of traditional medicines in Africa. However, information of the folk knowledge, especially for the treatment of diabetes, is not documented. Aim of the study This survey identified and documented the information on traditional medicinal plants used by Hausa–Fulani community of Sokoto for the treatment of diabetes. Materials and method Demographic data and information about the medicinal plants were collected via administration of semi-structured oral questionnaires. Willing herbal medical practitioners/traditional healers were interviewed. The medicinal plants mentioned by herbalists were collected and authenticated by a taxonomist and the voucher specimens were preserved. Results Fifty one informants across the state divulged information on traditional medicinal plants and practices used in diabetes and revealed 54 species, belonging to 33 families, with Cassia sieberiana being cited the most (19 times) and ranked first (39%). Azadirachta indica , Ficus exasperata and Schwenckia americana ranked second (15%), each cited 8 times. Conclusion The survey documented the rich wealth of knowledge and usage of plants for the treatment of diabetes in Sokoto. The paper will not only serve as a source of information but will also help to make the knowledge accessible for further drug screening and development, and at the same time underlines the need for biodiversity conservation of this traditional wealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Frankincense (FRA), Ruxiang, is the resin of Boswellia carterii Birdw and Boswellia bhaw-dajiana Birdw which has been used for centuries as formulas to improve the circulation and to relieve pain against carbuncles. Stir-fried Frankincense (SFF) and vinegar processed Frankincense (VPF) are two major processed Frankincense, and the processing procedures reportedly enhance the curative efficacy or reduce the side effects of FRA. This paper describes the comparisons in plasma pharmacokinetic behaviors of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) and 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) in FRA and its processed products, and their effects on coagulation factors and blood clotting tetrachoric, using an acute cold blood-stasis animal model after oral administration of FRA, SFF, and VPF. Materials and methods For pharmacokinetic study, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups, including group FRA, group SFF and group VPF. And the plasma samples were analyzed by HPLC. For study of anticoagulatory effect, SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, including control, acute cold blood-stasis model, Fu-fang-dan-shen tablet- (0.75 g/kg), FRA-, SFF-, and VPF-treated (2.7 g/kg) groups, respectively. The serum contents of thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT), D-dimer (D-D), and prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) of each group were measured by ELISA. The values of prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen (FIB) were also assessed by hematology analyzer. Results Significantly increased levels of C max , AUC, T 1/2, and MRT were found in rats treated with the processed products. In addition, decreased levels of D-D and TAT and increased contents of PGI 2 were observed in rats given FRA and its processed products, compared with that of the model group. Moreover, VPF improved anticoagulation more than SFF in the animals. Conclusions The observed improvement of anticoagulation by processed FRA may result from the increased absorption and bioavailability of triterpenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance During the last few decades there has been an increasing interest in the study of medicinal plants with their traditional use and related pharmacological research all over the World. This paper enumerated folk medicinal plants used by Malayali tribal people in an unexplored and biodiversity rich region of Eastern Ghats in southern India. Aim of study The aim of this study is to collect and identify the plants used in medicinal therapy by the local people and professional traditional healers with quantitative analysis. Materials and methods An ethnobotanical survey was carried out during January to December 2014 among the Malayali tribal people in four villages of Palamalai region in Eastern Ghats, India. The information was obtained through open and semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the local knowledgeable people and professional traditional healers. The statistical analysis, use value, family use value, informants’ consensus factor, fidelity level, frequency of citation, relative frequency citation and informants’ agreements ratio were calculated for the quantitative study of ethnomedicinal data. Results A total of 118 plant species belonging to 95 genera and 55 families dominated by the families like Leguminosae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were enumerated with detailed information on parts used, method of preparation, mode of administration and ailments treated. Leaves were mostly used plant part and predominantly used herbal preparations were decoction and paste. Moringa oleifera Lam. was reported by all the interviewed informants and gives the highest UV of 3.9 with 78 use reports due to its diverse medicinal uses. Conclusion The present study demonstrated the need for importance of documenting the traditional knowledge of forest dwelling people. As a result of the study, Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet., Andrographis echioides (L.f.) Nees., Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., Canarium strictum Roxb., Centella asiatica (L.) Urban., Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. and Tribulus terrestris (L.) were recommended for further ethnopharmacological studies since these plants were recorded with high UV, IAR, RFC and FL values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The aim of the study was to identify and document plants traditionally used to manage HIV and treat its opportunistic infections (OIs) in Mpoza, a rural village located in the Mount Frere Alfred Nzo District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Materials and methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 18 traditional health practitioners from January 2012 to August 2012 to obtain information about medicinal plants used in the management of HIV and treatment of OIs. Results Seventeen plant species belonging to 12 families were identified for the management of HIV and treatment of OIs in Mpoza. The identified plant species belonged mostly to the families Asparagaceae (12%), Araliaceae (12%), Apiaceae (12%), Xanthorrhoeaceae (12%) and Lamiaceae (12%). The remaining 40% of identified plant species was evenly split over seven families - Urticaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Leguminosae, Verbenaceae, Rosaceae, Compositae and Rutaceae. The most frequently used medicinal plants were Hypoxis hemerocallidea (85%), Asparagus densiflorus (68%) and Lessertia frutescens (68%). The leaves (43.5%) and roots (21.7%) were the most frequently used plant parts, usually prepared as infusions and decoctions for oral administration. Conclusion This study provides documentation of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV and treatment of commonly associated OIs, which might provide a potential lead that will significantly contribute in reducing the burden of HIV infections in South Africa. We envisage that this paper will provide some background for further studies in developing new, effective, safe and affordable plant-derived medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Schefflera octophylla (Lour.) Harms, a traditional Chinese herb mainly distributed in Southeast Asia, is extensively prescribed to alleviate pain and treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), influenza, throat swelling, pain, etc. In this paper, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract and its five different polar fractions of this plant were evaluated. Furthermore, the anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity of the ethanol extract and its active fraction (CHCl 3 fraction) were evaluated. And the chemical constituents of the CHCl 3 active fraction displayed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated. Materials and methods Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated by hot plate test, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and formalin test, xylene-induced ear edema test. The anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity was evaluated through the model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats, paw swelling, pain response, arthritis index and histopathological changes of ankle, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and rheumatoid factor (RF) of rats were detected. The chemical constituents of the CHCl 3 fraction were isolated using chromatographic techniques. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. Results The results showed that the ethanol extract of S. octophylla has significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. And its five different polar fractions especially the CHCl 3 fraction significantly inhibited the abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid and ear edema induced by xylene, also increased pain threshold in hot plate test in 120 min and reduced ticking times in formalin test. The ethanol extract of S. octophylla and the CHCl 3 fraction demonstrated an anti-RA effect in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in ethanol extract (600 mg/kg) and CHCl 3 fraction (300 mg/kg) groups were significantly lower than those of the model group. The chemical constituents study of the CHCl 3 fraction from S. octophylla led to six triterpenoids which were identified as taraxerone ( 1 ), 3-epi-taraxerol ( 2 ), aleuritolic acid ( 3 ), 3-oxofriedelan-28-oic acid ( 4 ), 3β,19α -dihydroxy-urs-12-ene- 24,28-dioic acid ( 5 ) and asiatic acid ( 6 ). Compounds 1 – 5 were obtained from this plant for the first time. Conclusion This study proved the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of S. octophylla. Triterpenoids obtained from its CHCl 3 fraction may be responsible for those activities. These results could support the fact that S. octophylla is used traditionally to cure inflammatory and pain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This paper provides new and significant ethnopharmacological information on medicinal plants used by native people who live in Sarigöl and its surroundings in Turkey. Aim of the study To compile herbal remedies from the area of Sarigöl with their traditional uses, parts of the plant used and form of administration as well as to calculate ethnobotanical indices and validate its therapeutic use. Materials and methods Plant samples that have been collected by herbalists or informants from Sarigöl and its surroundings for medical purposes were studied by visiting the villages during the study period, and then brought to the laboratory to identify the species. The relative frequency citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL) were computed for the plants included in the study as well as a pharmacological validation from International Official sources by using WHO, ESCOP and EMA monographs. Results In this research conducted between 2010 and 2013, 141 taxa affiliated with 55 families, including 3 Gymnosperms, were determined as they used for medical purposes. The study was carried out by visiting 15 villages and 4 herbalist shops identified in Sarigöl and its surroundings. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Apiaceae have been detected as the most consumed families for medical purposes. The research showed that most of the informants agreed on the use of Vitis vinifera fruits to cure gastrointestinal diseases that demonstrated the highest fidelity level (0.62). Only 31, out of 141, of the species recorded in this study, currently have a monograph with a validated use. Conclusion During the survey, it was observed that local people consumed plants in the form of the infusion, whereas when using hard organs such as bark or branches, decoctions were preferred. It was identified that most of the medicinal plants have been used for gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders, and they are mainly utilized in the form of infusion or decoction. Vitis vinifera has a different traditional use compared to therapeutic indication proposed by monographs from Official sources like ESCOP or EMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Seven species from the genus Dictamnus are distributed throughout Europe and North Asia and only two species grow in China. One is Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., which could be found in many areas of China and has been recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia . The other is Dictamnus angustifolius G. Don ex Sweet, which is only present in Xinjiang province and has been used as an alternative for Dictamnus dasycarpus in the local for the treatment of rheumatism, bleeding, itching, jaundice, chronic hepatitis and skin diseases. The present paper reviewed the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the genus Dictamnus . Materials and methods Information on the Dictamnus species was collected from classic books about Chinese herbal medicine and globally accepted scientific databases including PubMed, Elsevier, ASC, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, CNKI and others. Results About 170 chemical compounds, which include quinoline alkaloids, limonoids, sesquiterpenes, coumarins, flavonoids and steroids, have been isolated from the genus Dictamnus . The characteristic and active constituents of Dictamnus species are considered to be quinoline alkaloids and limonoids, which exhibited a broad spectrum of biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-microbe, anti-platelet-aggregation, vascular-relaxation, anti-insect, anti-HIV, anti-allergy and neuroprotection. Moreover, quinoline alkaloids and limonoids could be used as quality control markers to distinguish different species from the genus Dictamnus . However, there were also some reports on the toxic hepatitis and phototoxic effect of Dictamnus species, and the related research needs to be further studied. Conclusion In this review, we summarized the chemical constituents, pharmacology, quality control and toxicology of the species from genus Dictamnus . Phytochemical investigations indicated that quinoline alkaloids and limonoids were the major bioactive components with potential cytotoxic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-platelet-aggregation and vascular relaxing activities. These two kinds of compounds have attracted great interests in the past few years and may have great potential to be new drug lead compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has a long-history for treatment of various human diseases including tumors, infection, autoimmune diseases in Asian countries, especially in China, Japan, Korea and India. CHM was traditionally used as water extracts and many Chinese herbs were considered to be good for health, which can regulate immune system to protect host from diseases. With the progress of technology, the components of CHM were identified and purified, which included polysaccharides, saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and so on. Recently, accumulating evidence indicates that CHM and its components can regulate immune system through targeting dendritic cells (DCs). We hereby reviewed the immunoregulatory effects of CHM on the maturation, cytokine production and function of DCs. This should help to shed light on the potential mechanism of CHM to improve the usage and clinical efficacy of CHM. Materials and methods Literatures about the effects of CHM on DCs were searched in electronic databases such as Pubmed, Google Scholar and Scopus from 2000 to 2014. ‘CHM’, ‘DC’ or ‘immune’ were used as keywords for the searches. We only reviewed literatures published in English. Results Over 600 publications were found about ‘CHM&immune’ and around 120 literatures about ‘CHM&DC’ were selected and reviewed in this paper. All publications are backed by preclinical or clinical evidences both in vitro and in vivo . Some CHM and its components promote the maturation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and function of DCs and as the adjuvant enhance immune responses against tumor and infection. In contrast, other CHM and its components suppress the activation status of DCs to induce regulatory T cells, inhibit allergic and inflammatory responses, ameliorate autoimmune diseases, and prolong the allograft survival. A large body of evidence shows that CHM and its components regulate the activation status of DCs through TLRs, NF-κB, MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusion This review provides useful information for understanding the mechanism of CHM on the treatment of diseases, which facilitates to improve the efficacy of CHM. Based on the immunoregulatory effects of CHM on DCs, it indicated that some CHM and its components could be use to develop adjuvant to enhance antigen-specific immune responses or tolerogenic adjuvant to generate antigen-specific immune tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This paper provides important ethnopharmacological information on plants used in neurological and mental disorders in Navarra. Material and methods Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants in 265 locations. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses claimed by the informants, monographs from Official International Agencies (ESCOP, Commission E, WHO and EMA) were reviewed. A literature review was conducted focusing on the plants that were widely used but had no published monograph. Results A total of 172 pharmaceutical uses were reported, for 46 plants and 26 families, mainly represented by Lamiaceae (15%), Asteraceae (13%), Rosaceae and Rutaceae (7%, each one), and Clusiaceae , Malvaceae , Papaveraceae and Urticaceae (4%, each one). The most frequently used parts were inflorescence (39%), flowered aerial parts (16%), and aerial parts (13%), followed by inflorescence bract (8%) and leaves (7%). Nine out of 46 plants (20%) and 81 of 172 uses (47%), have already been pharmacologically validated. The remaining 37 plants (of total 46, 80%) have been reported for neurological and mental disorders and need to be screened through standard pharmacological and clinical procedures for their activities. The most used species are Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All., Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., and Santolina chamaecyparissus L. ssp. squarrosa (DC.) Nyman, in all cases the administration as infusion. Conclusions Data indicate a high degree of plants knowledge in Navarra regarding neurological and mental disorders. The present study constitutes a good basis for further phytochemical and pharmacological research of C. nobile , J. glutinosa and S. chamaecyparissus , which could be of interest in the design of new inexpensive, effective and safe drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The use of medicinal plants in Gabon contributes widely to the primary health care of the people of this area of Central Africa. This paper investigates the pharmacological properties of Dichrostachys cinerea, the plant barks are traditionally used by Gabonese and Ivorian populations to treat bronchial asthma, rheumatism, and other various diseases. Although D. cinerea barks have been reported to be used by population to facilitate childbirth, to the best of our knowledge no scientific evidence has been published. Aim of study In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological properties of D. cinerea methanolic extract, on isolated uterine smooth muscle and compared its effects to those of oxytocin, which is used by obstetricians to facilitate childbirth. We also explored the possible mechanism pathways of the in vitro uterine contraction induced by D. cinerea . Materials and methods The effects of different concentrations (3.2 µg/ml, 16 µg/ml, 80 µg/ml, 400 µg/ml, and 2 mg/ml) of the methanolic extract of D. cinerea on isolated strips of the uteri of pregnant rats were studied. These effects were compared to those of oxytocin (8.4×10 –5 µg/ml, 8.4×10 –4 µg/ml, 8.4×10 –3 µg/ml, 8.4×10 –2 µg/ml). The EC (50) and E (max) was determined graphically and statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett post hoc test. Results Cumulative concentrations of D. cinerea have caused rise in the contractile force of the uterine fragments that were isolated from the pregnant rats, as seen with oxytocin concentrations. We observed contractions amplitude of 30.41 mN (12%) at 80 µg/ml and amplitude of 39.68 mN (14.17%) at 400 µg/ml for D. cinerea. In parallel, oxytocin concentration of 8.4×10 –3 µg/ml induced contractions of 45.82 mN with the highest concentration (8.4×10 –2 µg/ml) that induced contractions of 55.82 mN. Conclusions Our results revealed that D. cinerea increased the contractile force and the frequency of muscle contractions. These findings support the use of D. cinerea to facilitate childbirth, as it has been used in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance This paper provides important ethnopharmacological information on plants used in musculoskeletal disorders in Navarra. Material and methods Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses, monographs from Official International Agencies (ESCOP, Commission E, WHO and EMA) were reviewed. A literature review was conducted focusing on the plants that were widely used but had no published monograph. Results A total of 199 pharmaceutical uses were reported, for 38 plants and 24 families, mainly represented by Asteraceae and Lamiaceae (11%, each), Rosaceae (8%) and Boraginaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Equisetaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae and Urticaceae (5%, each). The most frequently used parts were the aerial parts, roots, followed by inflorescences and leaves. Nine out of 38 plants (24%) and 123 uses (62%), had already been pharmacologically validated. Conclusions The authors propose to validate four species for their use in musculoskeletal disorders: Verbena officinalis , Symphytum tuberosum , Hypericum perforatum and Equisetum ssp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]