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The utilization of medicinal plants has been a longstanding tradition -- providing natural remedies with cultural and therapeutic significance, especially in the context of postpartum care. Thus, this study aims to document the usage of medicinal plants in postpartum recuperation, specifically in herbal steaming and bathing in the upland community of Leon, Iloilo, the Philippines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 key informants using a snowball sampling method from October--November 2022 and in March 2024, thereby resulting in the documentation of 70 medicinal plant species distributed in 64 genera and 35 families. The Fabaceae family was most represented with seven species, followed by Poaceae with six species, and Lamiaceae with five species. Most of the documented species are non-native (51%) and cosmopolitan, categorized as "least concern" (50%) in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. A variety of medicinal plants were documented -- including trees (57%), herbs (20%), shrubs (17%), and climbers (6%). Roots (64%) and leaves (24%) were the plant parts used most often, and decoction was the primary form of preparation. These medicinal plants can be found growing within the community's vicinity, with most of them (51%) found in forested areas and the rest (49%) being cultivated. The use value (UV) and family use value (FUV) indices were calculated to evaluate the plant's importance. Pittosporum pentandrum (Blanco) Merr. had the highest (0.91) UV, followed by Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. and Justicia gendarussa Burm.f. (0.88), and Bambusa spinosa Roxb. (0.85). Pittosporaceae (0.91) and Hypericaceae (0.62) had the highest FUVs. The findings of this study will provide a foundation for additional scientific validation of the biological properties of the documented plants, specifically focusing on the most valued species, and raise awareness for the preservation of cultural practices and beliefs regarding postpartum care for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites (Annonaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been reported for its various pharmacological potentials, such as its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and neuropharmacological activities. This study aimed to analyze the leaf essential oils of P. suberosa (PSLO) collected in different seasons, to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, and to corroborate the obtained results via in-silico molecular docking studies. Methods: The leaf essential oils of P. suberosa collected in different seasons were analyzed separately by GC/MS. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the leaves oil was assessed via colorimetric assay. In-silico molecular docking studies were elucidated by virtual docking of the main compounds identified in P. suberosa leaf essential oil to the active sites in human acetylcholinesterase crystal structure. Results: A total of 125 compounds were identified where D-limonene (0.07 − 24.7%), α-copaene (2.25 − 15.49%), E-β-caryophyllene (5.17 − 14.42%), 24-noroleana-3,12-diene (12.92%), β-pinene (0.14 − 8.59%), and α-humulene (2.49–6.9%) were the most abundant components. Results showed a noteworthy influence of the collection season on the chemical composition and yield of the volatile oils. The tested oil adequately inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme with an IC50 value of 91.94 µg/mL. Additionally, in-silico molecular docking unveiled that palmitic acid, phytol, p-cymene, and caryophyllene oxide demonstrated the highest fitting scores within the active sites of human acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Conclusions: From these findings, it is concluded that P. suberosa leaf oil should be evaluated as a food supplement for enhancing memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high percentages of dental pathologies registered in humans in recent decades, large-scale studies are needed to innovate the field of dentistry for future generations. An element of novelty that could help in the prophylaxis and treatment of dental diseases is phytotherapy and, implicitly, the use of the active principles present in the composition of medicinal plants for combating pathogens. The kingdom of Plantae could also offer the saving answer to the fight against antibiotic resistance, as many phytocompounds have known antibacterial effects, high efficiency and low toxicity upon the human body, as well as antitumoral effects. Elaboration of a database providing information on the use of the active principles present in medicinal plants could facilitate the extension of their use in the field of oro-dental medicine and, at the same time, of the knowledge and indexation of the information thus obtained, leading to the constant evolution of this field of scientific interest. The primary objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive database encompassing the utilization of medicinal plants in Oro-Dental Medicine, with particular focus on their application in the prevention and treatment of dental diseases. The scope encompasses the identification and analysis of active phytochemicals in these plants and their therapeutic potential against common oral pathogens. Significant findings include identification of several plant species with proven efficacy in dental care and their potential role in combating antibiotic resistance. Our conclusions advocate for the integration of phytotherapy in dental medicine and highlight the critical role of multidisciplinary approaches in dental healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Okhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analysis, we documented and tested the hypothesis that use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, depends on socioeconomic variables. Methods: We interviewed 224 respondents, 53.12% female and 46.88% male, including 31 Brahmin, 157 Chhetri, 13 Dalit, and 23 Janajati, and conducted three focused group discussions and seven key informant interviews to record the ethnomedicinal plants used in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga District. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was computed to know the importance of the species. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to see the relationship between medicinal plants reported with the sociocultural variables, which include age, gender, occupation, education, ethnicity, and religion. Results: We documented 149 medicinal plants, including 69 herbs, 22 shrubs, nine climbers, 48 trees, and one parasitic plant, belonging to 68 families and 130 genera, and used to treat 48 distinct diseases and ailments. Plant parts, leaf, and digestive disorders were frequently treated during healing. Curcuma angustifolia was the most cited species with RFC 0.9554. The respondents' knowledge of medicinal plant use varied significantly with age (p = 0.0001) and occupation (p = 0.003). Changes in land use, population decline of medicinal plant species, and unsustainable harvesting practices constituted the local threats to medicinal plants and associated knowledge. Elders died without passing on their knowledge to the younger generations during sociocultural transformation, and youth disinterest coupled with the free availability of allopathic medicine led to knowledge erosion. Conclusions: The use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, was significantly depended on two socioeconomic variables age and occupation. Ethnomedicinal plants are essential in the primary healthcare system in Nepal; however, their availability and practices are declining. Thus, plans regulating land use change and human migration, acknowledging traditional healthcare practices, and raising awareness of the significance of traditional medical practices as complementary healthcare practices should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer (Zhujieshen) is widely used in traditional medicine as a tonic hemostatic and anti-inflammatory agent in China, Japan, and Korea. Furthermore, it is used as an important substitute for ginseng roots by minority ethnic groups in China. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest research on Zhujieshen in recent years, aiming at providing a systematic overview of the current knowledge, and perspectives for future research and exploitation. Main body: This review examines the research advances in botanical profile, phytochemicals, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and authentication of Zhujieshen. Various compounds have been reported as active components, mainly including saponins, volatile oils, and polysaccharides. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated that Zhujieshen is an important herb with significant bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, hepato-protective, cardio-protective, neuro-protective, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic and immunomodulatory activities. Conclusion: Currently, research on Zhujieshen is in the preliminary stages, and further research is required to understand the active compounds present and mechanisms of action. We hope that this comprehensive review of Zhujieshen will serve as a background for future research and exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artemisiae Scopariae Herba (ASH) has been widely used as plant medicine in East Asia with remarkable antitumor activity. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Methods: This study aimed to construct a multi-disciplinary approach to screen topoisomerase I (topo I) inhibitors from ASH extract, and explore the antitumor mechanisms. Bioaffinity ultrafiltration-UFLC-ESI-Q/TOF-MS/MS was used to identify chemical constitution of ASH extract as well as the topo I inhibitors, and in silico docking coupled with multiple complex networks was applied to interpret the molecular mechanisms. Results: Crude ASH extract exhibited toxicogenetic and antiproliferative activities on A549 cells. A series of 34 ingredients were identified from the extract, and 6 compounds were screened as potential topo I inhibitors. Docking results showed that the formation of hydrogen bond and π-π stacking contributed most to their binding with topo I. Interrelationships among the 6 compounds, related targets and pathways were analyzed by multiple complex networks model. These networks displayed power-law degree distribution and small-world property. Statistical analysis indicated that isorhamnetin and quercetin were main active ingredients, and that chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species was the critical pathway. Electrophoretic results showed a therapeutic effect of ASH extract on the conversion of supercoiled DNA to relaxed forms, as well as potential synergistic effect of isorhamnetin and quercetin. Conclusions: The results improved current understanding of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba on the treatment of tumor. Moreover, the combination of multi-disciplinary methods provided a new strategy for the study of bioactive constituents in medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is the world's major public health issue and has been dubbed the "Silent Epidemic" of the twenty-first century. This is the first ethnobotanical exploration to document the folk medicinal usage of plants with therapeutic antidiabetic properties by the Pnar tribes of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Forty-one practitioners and knowledgeable people were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Field inventories were then conducted to collect plant material for botanical identification. In this study, 51 plant species belonging to 34 families and 45 genera have been identified. This study indicates that herbs were the most prevalent living form used (N = 23) for the treatment. Rhus semialata is one of the most frequently cited medicinal plants, with a Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) of 0.73. Moreover, the details about the phytochemicals and the pharmacological activities of identified plant species have been reviewed and disclosed. Agricultural expansion, deforestation, urbanization, and unscientific exploitation of the forests were cited most when respondents were asked about the threat to medicinal plants. Of the 51 plant species, 12 are included on the IUCN Red List. Therefore, this documentation of indigenous plants would create awareness about the importance of medicinal plants and their conservation and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paris polyphylla Smith (Melanthiaceae) is a medicinal plant for treating inflammatory, cancer, and liver-related diseases. Information on in vivo hepatoprotective effects of P. polyphylla rhizome extract has not been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study is to determine the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of P. polyphylla rhizome extract in cyclophosphamide-induced hepatic damaged mice. The beneficial effects on the liver of P. polyphylla extract have been evaluated through biochemical indicators (AST, ALT). Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring levels of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant glutathione (GSH). A histopathological examination was also performed. P. polyphylla extract had DPPH free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 389.15 ± 9.09 μg/mL, 164.06 ± 8.32 μg/mL, respectively. Simultaneously, ALT, AST, and MDA contents decreased, whereas that of liver GSH of mice increased when they received oral doses of 0.75 and 1.5 mg/g. Histopathological analysis of the liver revealed a significant hepatoprotective effect of P. polyphylla extract (1.5 mg/g) with evidence that no histopathological damage was found, there was a reduction in lipid changes, and the degree of necrosis in the cells was reduced. The findings in my control study are evidence of the hepatoprotective potential of P. polyphylla extract, indicating that it might be used to prevent and treat liver-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants recently gained attention due to the presence of many phytochemicals involved in various therapeutical activities. The main aim of this study was to determine the in-vivo and in-silico anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic effects of Citrus paradisi leaf ethanolic extract using albino rats (n = 36). For inducing inflammation, pain, and fever in albino rat's carrageenan, acetic acid dilution in distilled water and yeast dilution in saline were used. The four different concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 400mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of Citrus paradisi leaf were used to prevent inflammation, pain, and fever. Diclofenac and paracetamol were used as standard drugs in this study. The ethanolic extract of Citrus paradisi leaf showed efficient anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory inhibition (90% and 80%, respectively) but less efficient analgesic inhibition (36%). Similarly, in-silico study was done using leaf bioactive compounds such as linalool, beta-pinene, geraniol, citral, and terpinene-4-ol as ligand molecules and proteins for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic activity were PTGS2, TRPV4, and TLR2, respectively. The process of docking was done using ligand and protein molecules. The results of in-silico study were the same as in-vivo study; the binding energy values of anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activity were more efficient than an analgesic. In summary, the ethanolic extract of Citrus paradisi leaf in in-silico and in-vivo studies proved less efficient against pain while more efficient against inflammation and fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Herbal products have been widely used for the treatment of diseases throughout the ages. In this research, we investigated antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-adipogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities of methanolic extracts of five ethnomedicinally important plants; namely, Alnus nepalensis, Dryopteris sparsa, Artocarpus lacucha, Litsea monopetala, and Lyonia ovalifolia. Methods: We investigated the DPPH free radical scavenging potential, sensitivity of selected bacterial strains towards the extracts using a disc diffusion assay, anti-inflammatory activity in RAW-264.7 cells, and anti-adipogenic activity by the ORO assay in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Results and discussion: The extract of A. nepalensis showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50=4.838 μg/mL), followed by A. lacucha, L. monopetala, and L. ovalifolia, exhibiting comparable IC50 values to that of ascorbic acid (IC50=5.063 μg/mL). Alnus nepalensis also showed good antibacterial activity in disc diffusion methods, with remarkable zones of inhibition in A. baumannii (14.66 mm) and P. mirabilis (15.50 mm) bacterial species. In addition, A. nepalensis was found to increase adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, evidenced by increased lipid deposition in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. A similar pattern of increased adipogenesis was observed on treatment with L. ovalifolia extracts. On the other hand, A. lacucha effectively reduced lipid deposition in 3T3-L1 cells at 100 μg/mL (75.18± 6.42%) by inhibiting adipogenesis, showing its potential use in the management of obesity. Furthermore, A. lacucha 100 μg/mL (15.91± 0.277 μM) and L. monopetala 75 μg/mL (12.52± 0.05 μM) and 100 μg/mL (11.77± 0.33 μM) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, A. nepalensis and L. ovalifolia inhibited NO production significantly, endorsing their anti-inflammatory potential. Conclusion: The findings from these in-vitro studies suggest that the selected five plants possess remarkable antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-adipogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study opens the door to conduct further advanced in-vivo experiments to find possible lead compounds for the development of valuable therapeutic agents for common health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, four important ethnomedicinal plants of Sikkim Himalaya viz., Astilbe rivularis Buch-Ham ex. D. Don, Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng., Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb and Artemisia vulgaris L. were investigated to ensure its ethno pharmacological potency. The methanolic root extracts of the selected plants were investigated for total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Among the tested extracts, the root methanolic extract of Bergenia ciliata contained the highest total phenolic content (911.4±0.124 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract) and showed exceptional activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid assays with half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 10 µg/ml and 1.0 µg/ml, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Bergenia ciliata root methanolic extract was also found to be the lowest for gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (600 µg/ml) and actinomycetes Streptomyces sp. (800 µg/ml), suggesting high and effective potency against microbes. Bergenia ciliata and Astilbe rivularis root extracts were further investigated for phenolic compounds using high performance liquid chromatography. The extracts of Bergenia ciliata and Astilbe rivularis were found to contain substantial amount of bergenin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, p-coumeric and m-coumeric acid. In conclusion, this study gives scientific evidence on the biological activities of the selected plant species and recommends Bergenia ciliata and Astilbe rivularis as candidate plants for pharmaceutical drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) is known to cause genital herpes a well-characterized sexually transmitted disease among humans. Although there are a couple of antiviral drugs available, poor adherence toward the treatment makes it more complicated. Recent reports on HSV drug resistance due to mutations have paved the way for the search of new antivirals required to control rising new virus infections. Objectives: The objective of this study was to screen the antiviral property of Coccinia indica ethanolic leaf extracts over the HSV-2 strain. Subjects and Methods: C. indica ethanolic extracts were assessed for anti-HSV-2 properties by the standard in vitro microtissue culture assay. Results: The results presented the least concentration of 75 µg of C. indica ethanolic leaf extract inhibited 100% of HSV-2 propagation and 50 µg inhibited around 60% of virus and showed a residual titer of 1008 ± 004 at day 5. Conclusion: The C. indica ethanolic extracts exhibited a significant antiviral activity against the HSV-2 virus in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants exert therapeutic effects or have beneficial healing functions on the human or animal body. Medicinal plants are widely used in traditional medicine as an interesting alternative and/or complementary to science-based medicine. Compared to chemical drugs, medicinal plants have a lower risk of side effects, are eco-friendly, and have cost-effective production. This encouraged researchers to extensively exploit them for their therapeutic use. One of the most well-known medicinal plants is Vitex agnus-castus L., which belongs to the Verbenaceae family. This shrub tree is mainly grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The parts of VAC, especially berries and leaves, contain essential oils, flavonoids, and diterpenes. Many medical benefits of VAC have already been reported, including mastalgia, regulating menstrual cycles and premenstrual complaints, and infertility. Respiratory and cardiovascular effects are also reported. In this review, we will analyze and characterize the known roles of VAC in mastalgia, as well as the mechanism of action reported in in vitro and/or in vivo studies, and show the potential for alternative therapeutic uses in mastalgia, also known as breast pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder is the most common form of dementia globally. Several studies have suggested alteration in the gut microbiota and HSV-1 infection as contributing factors to the development of the disease. As at now, there are no AD attenuating agents and AD pharmacotherapy is focused on managing symptoms while plants used in ethnomedicine remain potential sources of drugs for the treatment of the condition. Here, we reviewed published databases for African ethnomedicinal plants and functional foods of African origin that are used in the management of AD-related phenotypes, treatment of herpes simplex virus −1 (HSV-1) and/or improvement of gut microbiota. A total of 101 unique plant species and 24 different types of traditionally prepared African functional foodstuff were identified. Of the 101 identified plant species, 50 species serve as functional foodstuffs. Twenty-three (23) of the ethnomedicinal plant families were successfully identified for the treatment and management of AD-related phenotypes and age-related dementia. Eighteen (18) African plant species from 15 families were also identified as potent remedies for HSV-1; while many African wild fruits (3 species), roots and tubers (7 species), leafy vegetables (14 species), and seaweeds (26 species) were functional foods for modifying AD-related phenotypes. It was concluded that African medicinal plants are potential sources of both AD attenuating agents and phytocompounds that may be used against HSV-1 infection and alteration of gut microbiota. Additionally, a number of African functional foods are important sources of prebiotics and probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quercetin is one of the most important bioflavonoids having positive effects on the biological processes and human health. Typically, it is extracted from plant matrices using conventional methods such as maceration, sonication, infusion, and Soxhlet extraction with high solvent consumption. Our study aimed to optimize the environmentally friendly carbon dioxide-based method for the extraction of quercetin from quince fruit with an emphasis on extraction yield, repeatability, and short extraction time. Results: A two-step design of experiments was used for the optimization of the key parameters affecting physicochemical properties, including CO2/co-solvent ratio, co-solvent type, temperature, and pressure. Finally, gas expanded liquid combining CO2/ethanol/H2O in a ratio of 10/81/9 (v/v/v) provided the best extraction yield. Extraction temperature 66 °C and pressure 22.3 MPa were the most suitable conditions after careful optimization, although both parameters did not significantly affect the process. It was confirmed by experiments in various pressure and temperature conditions and statistical comparison of obtained data. The optimized extraction procedure at a flow rate of 3 mL/min took 30 min. The repeatability of the extraction method exhibited an RSD of 20.8%. Conclusions: The optimized procedure enabled very fast extraction in 30 min using environmentally friendly solvents and it was successfully applied to 16 different plant samples, including 14 bulbs and 2 fruits from South Africa. The quercetin content in extracts was quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry. UHPLC hyphenated with high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to confirm chemical identity of quercetin in the analyzed samples. We quantified quercetin in 11 samples of all 16 tested plants. The quercetin was found in Agapanthus praecox from the Amaryllidaceae family and its presence in this specie was reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of losing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their use and conservation is very high. Documenting knowledge on distribution and use of medicinal plants by different ethnic groups and at spatial scale on a single platform is important from a conservation planning and management perspective. The sustainable use, continuous practice, and safeguarding of traditional knowledge are essential. Communication of such knowledge among scientists and policy makers at local and global level is equally important, as the available information at present is limited and scattered in Nepal. Methods: In this paper, we aimed to address these shortcomings by cataloguing medicinal plants used by indigenous ethnic groups in Nepal through a systematic review of over 275 pertinent publications published between 1975 and July 2021. The review was complemented by field visits made in 21 districts. We determined the ethnomedicinal plants hotspots across the country and depicted them in heatmaps. Results: The heatmaps show spatial hotspots and sites of poor ethnomedicinal plant use documentation, which is useful for evaluating the interaction of geographical and ethnobotanical variables. Mid-hills and mountainous areas of Nepal hold the highest number of medicinal plant species in use, which could be possibly associated with the presence of higher human population and diverse ethnic groups in these areas. Conclusion: Given the increasing concern about losing medicinal plants due to changing ecological, social, and climatic conditions, the results of this paper may be important for better understanding of how medicinal plants in use are distributed across the country and often linked to specific ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For obtaining bioactive compounds, decoction of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (ZM) plant materials was interactively evaluated and compared with the modern method of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The interactive effects of several parameters including; liquid to solid (L/S) ratio, extraction time, extraction method, and plant material size were studied and optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). Interpretation of the model outputs revealed that total phenolic content (TPC) of the resulting extracts is mostly affected by the interactive effect of plant material size and the extraction time, while rosmarinic acid (RA) content is only affected by the extraction method. Decoctions was found to have higher RA content (21.19 (mg/g E)) in comparison to UAE extractions (11.64 (mg/g E)), statistically significant at (p = 0.05). In addition, UAE as the modern method of extraction showed no privilege over the conventional method in the case of RA and TPC extraction. However, results suggest higher efficiency of UAE compared to decoction for extraction of antioxidant compounds by water. Eventually, ZM decoction obtained by the optimal extraction conditions was chemically characterized for the first time by the aid of LC-MS/MS chromatography. Naringenin, which is almost exclusively found in Citrus fruits, besides luteolin-7-O-rutinoside and a natural derivative of citric acid were shown to be the major constituents of ZM decoction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimalarial drugs derived from plants have proven their effectiveness for centuries. The discovery of new antimalarials drugs from natural plant products has been widely studied to overcome drug resistance that threatens the control of malaria. The development of new malaria drugs sourced from plants has been widely performed. The purpose of this review was to create a compilation of plant species that had been investigated as antimalarial drug, its molecular mechanisms of action and ligands, from studies that had been published in Pubmed NCBI, Google scholar, and Researchgate. Several plants that have been investigated as antimalarial drugs include Aloe spp, Allium sativum, Alstonia scholaris, Morinda citrifolia, Andrographis paniculate, Carica papaya, Momordica charantia, Tinospora crispa, Moringa oleifera, Physalis angulate, Nigella sativa, Cocos nucifera, Piperaceae. Molecular mechanism of action of Aloe spp, Allium sativum, Alstonia scholaris, Morinda citrifolia, Andrographis paniculata, Carica papaya, Momordica charantia, Moringa oleifera, Physalis angulate, Nigella sativa, Cocos nucifera, Piper spp is by inhibiting the formation of hemozoin, nucleic acids, protein synthesis, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide, affect the transcription and transduction signaling process. Ligands involved in the process were protease, plasmepsin, hemozoin, 3d7 and rkl-9 strains of Plasmodium falciparum, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), Plasmodium falciparum Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase-2 (PfCDPK-2), Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (pfDHFR-TS). However, mechanism of action of Tinospora crispa is still unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fortification of foods with phenolic compounds is becoming increasingly popular due to their beneficial physiological effects. The biological activities reported include antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, or neuroprotective effects. However, the analysis of polyphenols in functional food matrices is a difficult task because of the complexity of the matrix. The main challenge is that polyphenols can interact with other food components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids. The chemical reactions that occur during the baking technologies in the bakery and biscuit industry may also affect the results of measurements. The analysis of polyphenols found in fortified foods can be done by several techniques, such as liquid chromatography (HPLC and UPLC), gas chromatography (GC), or spectrophotometry (TPC, DPPH, FRAP assay etc.). This paper aims to review the available information on analytical methods to fortified foodstuffs while as presenting the advantages and limitations of each technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Artemisia (fam. Asteraceae) is one of the largest and widely distributed with around 500 species, majority used as aromatic and medicinal plants. Artemisia annua L. is widely used as a dietary spice, herbal tea, as a supplement, and in a nonpharmaceutical form for treatment of malaria and fever. It is orally consumed as capsules, extracts and tinctures and topically applied as an essential oil diluted in lotions and ointments. Artemisinin is the main constituent of Artemisia annua L. extracts. Since the discovery that the artemisinin is efficient in malaria treatment, there is also a growth in consumption of A. annua extracts for antitumour and even recently for antiviral treatments against SARS-CoV-2 infections. This study aimed to investigate genotoxic effect in peripheral blood culture and cytotoxic effects in cancer and normal cell lines, of commercially available A. annua L. tincture in series of dilutions. Both comet and neutral red uptake assays revealed dose-dependent genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of A. annua tincture dilutions. Comet assay revealed significantly increased DNA damage in peripheral blood cells while neutral-red assays showed increase in cytotoxicity (p<0.001) in both normal and cancer cell cultures treated with the lowest extract dilution compared to the highest one applied. Obtained results indicate caution needed in A. annua L. tincture use, especially when poorly diluted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model. Methods: For each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentized residuals and underutilized families with highest negative Studentized residuals. The national-level data were collected from online databases and available literature while the community-level data were collected from Baitadi and Darchula districts. Results: Both dataset showed larger variance (national dataset mean 6.51 < variance 156.31, community dataset mean 1.16 < variance 2.38). All three types of regression were important to determine the medicinal plant species selection and use differences among the total plant families, although negative binomial regression was most useful. The negative binomial showed a positive nonlinear relationship between total plant family size and number of medicinal species per family for the national dataset (β1 = 0.0160 ± 0.0009, Z1 = 16.59, p < 0.00001, AIC1 = 1181), and with similar slope and stronger performance for the community dataset (β2 = 0.1747 ± 0.0199, Z2 = 8.76, p < 0.00001, AIC2 = 270.78). Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae were found over-utilized while Rosaceae, Cyperaceae and Caryophyllaceae were recorded as underutilized. Conclusions: As our datasets showed larger variance, negative binomial regression was found the most useful for testing non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis. The predictions made by non-random selection of medicinal plants hypothesis holds true for community-level studies. The identification of over-utilized families is the first step toward sustainable conservation of plant resources and it provides a baseline for pharmacological research that might be leading to drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phytoconstituents are known to have an arena of health benefits. The choice of extraction solvents for a desired pharmacological activity is poorly characterized. Objectives: The present study compared the use of different solvents to extract phytoconstituents, evaluate cytotoxicity and anti-obesity activities. Materials and Methods: Leaves, bark, flowers or tubers of fourteen commonly utilized plants in the Sri Lankan Ayurvedic system were used to prepare extracts of distilled water (DW), ethanol or n-hexane. Phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC), cytotoxicity and triglyceride assays were performed. Results: DW served as the best solvent to extract the highest yield of phytochemicals followed by ethanol marking hexane as the least efficient solvent. The water extract (WE) of Averrhoa bilimbi leaves and ethanol extract (EE) of Cassia auriculata showed the highest TPC. The TFC was lowest in the hexane extract (HE) of all plants. The WE of plants showed =75% cell viability below 500 µg/mL with no potential anti-adipogenic activity. The EE of Justicia adhathoda showed maximum lipid inhibition (88.31%), followed by Aerva lanata (74.65%), and Cyperus rotundus (74.04%) at 100 µg/mL. The EE of Ipomoea aquatica (45.11%), Murrya koenigii (41.04%), and Hemidesmus indicus (32.97%) showed the highest viable anti-adiposity activity at 50 µg/mL. Conclusion: The WE of most plants provided a greater yield of phytoconstituents enabling their safe usage in higher doses during Ayurvedic medication. Ethanol served as a better solvent to extract constituents responsible for anti-adipogenesis and no possible correlation was found between the phenolic content and anti-adiposity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory disorders are known to affect the airways including the nasal passages, bronchi and lungs causing blockages. The advent of COVID-19 has further aggravated the complications of the respiratory systems where conventional medicine is not reachable or affordable by the majority poor in Africa. Hence, the over 80% of the African population who turn to traditional medicine for their primary health care. Objective: This review is aimed to identify plants directed against respiratory diseases which can be useful in the fight against COVID-19. Methodology: Scientific articles selected in this study span the last ten years (2011-2021). Keywords such as “ethnobotany in Africa”, “ethnobotany and respiratory diseases” “medicinal plants and respiratory diseases”, “traditional medicine and COVID-19” were searched in open access search engines such as: Science Direct, Research Gate, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus. The ethnobotanical indices were then calculated using Microsoft excel to determine the plants with the most therapeutic potential to be considered for the local management of COVID-19. Results: Data obtained were classified according to country of origin of the author of the publication, the botanical family and the respiratory pathology being treated. Thirteen (13) references were finally selected with the represented country being Benin Republic. One hundred and forty-three plant species belonging to 60 families were registered. The most recurrent families were the Fabaceae and Lamiaceae (18 citations each). The plants in these families were used for the management of fifteen diseases and / or symptoms relating to the respiratory system. The most cited plants were: Ocimum gratissimum L. (4 citations), Entandrophragma cylindrium (Sprague), Scyphocephalium ochocoa Warb., Rubia cordifolia and Allium sativum L. (3 citations each). Conclusion: Based on the data obtained in this review Ocimum gratissimum stands out as the most used plant for the treatment of respiratory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing frequency of diabetes patients and the reported side effects of commercially available anti-hyperglycemic drugs have gathered the attention of researchers towards the search for new therapeutic approaches. Inhibition of activities of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes is one of the approaches to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia by delaying digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate phytochemicals, antioxidants, digestive enzymes inhibitory effect, and molecular docking of potent extract. Materials and Methods: In this study, we carry out the substratebased a-glucosidase and a-amylase inhibitory activity of Asparagus racemosus, Bergenia ciliata, Calotropis gigantea, Mimosa pudica, Phyllanthus emblica, and Solanum nigrum along with the determination of total phenolic and flavonoids contents. Likewise, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the scavenging of DPPH radical. Additionally, antibacterial activity was also studied by Agar well diffusion method. Molecular docking of bioactive compounds from B. ciliata was performed via AutoDock vina. Results: B. ciliata, M. pudica, and P. emblica exhibit significant inhibitory activity against the a-glucosidase and a-amylase with IC50 (µg/ml) of (2.24 ± 0.01, 46.19 ± 1.06), (35.73 ± 0.65, 99.93 ± 0.9) and (8.12 ± 0.29, no significant activity) respectively indicating a good source for isolating a potential drug candidate for diabetes. These plant extracts also showed significant antioxidant activity with the IC50 ranges from 13.2 to 26.5 µg/mL along with the significant antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia. Conclusion: Bergenia extract appeared to be a potent a-glucosidase and a-amylase inhibitor. Further research should be carried out to characterize inhibitor compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicinal plants are the fundamental unit of traditional medicine system in Nepal. Nepalese people are rich in traditional medicine especially in folk medicine (ethnomedicine), and this system is gaining much attention after 1995. The use of medicinal plants has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a private behavior (not under the control of government). A lot of misinterpretations of the use of medicinal plants to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been spreading throughout Nepal which need to be managed proactively. In this context, a research was needed to document medicinal plants used, their priority of use in society, their cultivation status, and the source of information people follow to use them. This study aimed to document the present status of medicinal plant use and make important suggestion to the concerned authorities. Methods: This study used a web-based survey to collect primary data related to medicinal plants used during COVID-19. A total of 774 respondents took part in the survey. The study calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants. The relationship between plants recorded and different covariates (age, gender education, occupation, living place, and treatment methods) was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon test. The relationship between the information sources people follow and the respondent characteristics was assessed using chi-square test. Results: The study found that the use of medicinal plants has increased during COVID-19 and most of the respondents recommended medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This study recorded a total of 60 plants belonging to 36 families. The leaves of the plants were the most frequently used. The Zingiber officinale was the most cited species with the frequency of citation 0.398. Most of the people (45.61%) were getting medicinal plants from their home garden. The medicinal plants recorded were significantly associated with the education level, location of home, primary treatment mode, gender, and age class. The information source of plants was significantly associated with the education, gender, method of treatment, occupation, living with family, and location of home during the lockdown caused by COVID-19. Conclusions: People were using more medicinal plants during COVID-19 claiming that they can prevent or cure COVID-19. This should be taken seriously by concerned authorities. The authorities should test the validity of these medicinal plants and control the flow of false information spread through research and awareness programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the novel Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has been defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020. The rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus as a global health emergency has emphasized to findeffective treatment strategies in clinical trials. The several drug trials including Lopinavir (LPV) and Ritonavir, Chloroquine (CLQ), Hydroxychloroquine, Favipiravir (FPV), Remdevisir (RDV), Nitazoxanide, Ivermectin and Interferon, have been explored in COVID-19 patients and some of the drugs have been waiting clinical approval for their anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities. Clinical trials are still ongoing to discover promising new multidrug combination treatment for COVID-19 patients. Considering the difficulties to ascertain efficient drug candidates and the lack of specific anti-viral therapies against COVID-19 outbreak, the current management of SARS-CoV-2 should mainly be supportive. From this point of view, enhancing the immune system through medicinal plants with wide range of bioactive compounds, which exhibit antiviral activities, can play significant roles to increase defense barrier in COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, plant-based agents as complementary and alternative therapies have potential advantages to reduce symptoms of this life-threatening disease and could promote the public health. Recently, there has been a remarkable progress in the field of antiviral herbal therapy owing to increasing concerns about the development of drug resistance and limited advances in the field of antiviral drug discovery. This review provides an overview of published information onbiology, genomic structure, replication cycle and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. It also aims to assemble the fact and a scientific intellectual groundwork on development of antiviral herbal therapy on the bases of extensive literature collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since ancient times, medicinal plants performing a very essential role as a source of medicine and their medicinal properties have been well documented in the various traditional systems of medicine including Indian, Chinese and Korean medicines for the management of chronic inflammatory disorders. Arthritis is one of the harmful chronic inflammatory diseases and its pain vastly affects millions of people throughout the world. The inflammatory process of arthritis can stride very promptly causing swelling and destroying bone or cartilage cross the joints by various inflammatory mediators. Presently most commonly prescribed medication for the management of inflammation or arthritic pain is the NSAIDs, DMARDs and corticosteroids. Their prolonged use may cause a high spectrum of toxic effects. Hence, there is a demanding need to develop alternative therapeutic agents with minimum toxic effects. The Eastern Himalayan region is richly furnished with multifarious medicinal plants with potent anti-inflammatory and/or anti-arthritic properties that have been traditionally used by the local people. Few studies have been convened in Himalayan medicinal plants to validate their medicinal values. Thus, from the knowledge of traditional medicine and research on plant materials, one might be able to discover newer and cost-effective drugs for treating diverse forms of inflammation. This review highlights the medicinal plants from the Eastern Himalayan region which showed promising therapeutic activity against inflammatory diseases as well as novel formulation approaches of these medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Bergenia species are perennial herbs native to central Asia, and one of the most promising medicinal plants of the family Saxifragaceae which are popularly known as 'Pashanbheda'. The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant and α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, tyrosinase, elastase, and cholinesterases inhibition potential of Bergenia pacumbis of Nepali origin collected from the Karnali region of Nepal. Methods: The sequential crude extracts were made in hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. Antioxidant activities were analyzed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, tyrosinase, elastase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition were analyzed by the 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA), p-Nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (p-NPG), 4-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB), l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), N-Succinyl-Ala-Ala-p-nitroanilide (AAAPVN), acetylthiocholine, and butyrylcholine as a respective substrate. The major metabolites were identified by high performance liquid chromatography with electron spray ionization- quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS) profiling. Results: Our results revealed the great antioxidant ability of crude extract of B. pacumbis in ethyl acetate extract against both DPPH (IC50 = 30.14 ± 0.14 μg/mL) and ABTS (IC50 = 17.38 ± 1.12 μg/mL). However, the crude methanol extract of B. pacumbis showed the comparable enzymes inhibitions with standard drugs; α-amylase (IC50 = 14.03 ± 0.04 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.29 ± 0.00 μg/mL), lipase (IC50 = 67.26 ± 0.17 μg/mL), tyrosinase (IC50 = 58.25 ± 1.63 μg/mL), elastase (IC50 = 74.00 ± 3.03 μg/mL), acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 31.52 ± 0.58 μg/mL), and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 11.69 ± 0.14 μg/mL). On the basis of HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS profiling of metabolites, we identified major compounds such as Bergenin, Catechin, Arbutin, Gallic acid, Protocatechuic acid, Syringic acid, Hyperoside, Afzelechin, Methyl gallate, Paashaanolactone, Astilbin, Quercetin, Kaempferol-7-O-glucoside, Diosmetin, Phloretin, and Morin in methanol extract which has reported beneficial bioactivities. Conclusion: Our study provides a plethora of scientific evidence that the crude extracts of B. pacumbis from Nepalese origin in different extracting solvents have shown significant potential on inhibiting free radicals as well as enzymes involved in digestion, skin related problems, and neurological disorders compared with the commercially available drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: α-Amylase catalyses the hydrolysis of starch and ultimately producing glucose. Controlling the catalytic activity of this enzyme reduces glucose production in the postprandial stage, which could be a therapeutic benefit for people with diabetes. This study was conducted to evaluate α-amylase inhibition for utilizing the crude extracts of some medicinal plants traditionally used in Nepal for the treatment of diabetes and its related complications. Methods: Microtiter plate approach has been used to assess inhibitory activities of in vitro α-amylase of methanolic extracts of thirty-two medicinal plants. A starch tolerance test was used in rats to investigate the in vivo study of the methanolic extract concerning glibenclamide as the positive control. Results: Acacia catechu, Dioscorea bulbifera, and Swertia chirata exhibited inhibitory activity against α-amylase and with IC50 values; 49.9, 296.1, and 413.5 μg/mL, respectively. Kinetics study revealed that all the extracts displayed a mixed type of inhibition pattern, with Ki values ranging from 26.6–204.2 μg/mL. Free radical scavenging activity was again re-examined and found prominent in extracts of A. catechu. Likewise, A. catechu and S. chirata showed significant reduction of blood glucose concentration up to 30 min after oral dose of 250 mg/kg (F (4, 20) = 4.1, p =.048), and (F (4, 20) = 4.1, p =.036), respectively. Conclusions: Enzymatic assay for α-amylase inhibition using extracts was successfully evaluated. Also, the in-vitro and in-vivo study model revealed that medicinal plants could be a potent source of α-amylase inhibition. So, they could serve as potential candidates for future drug development strategies for curing diabetes with minimal or no adverse side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes are steadily increasing worldwide. In Sudan, there are a variety of plant species used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other symptoms which need to be validated through scientific studies for their claimed traditional uses. Therefore, in the current study, the free radical scavenging activity, α-glucosidase inhibitory and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of 70% ethanol and water extracts of eighteen Sudanese medicinal plants were investigated using various in vitro assays. Moreover, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were assessed for the bioactive plant extracts. Methods: Eighteen plants were selected on the basis of their traditional uses and extracted with 70% ethanol and water to obtain thirty-six extracts. The obtained extracts were screened using different in vitro bioassays namely, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, α-glucosidase inhibitory and pancreatic lipase inhibitory assays. Furthermore, the active plant extracts were investigated for their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity on HeLa cell line using HCS DNA Damage Assay. Results: Both 70% ethanol and water extracts of Acacia nilotica, Ziziphus spina-christi, Abrus precatorius, and Geigeria alata along with the 70% ethanol extract of Martynia annua showed potent free radical scavenging activity. Regarding the α-glucosidase inhibition assay, both extracts of Acacia nilotica, Ziziphus spina-christi, Geigeria alata, and Cyperus rotundus showed potent activity. In general, 70% ethanol extracts were more potent compared to water extracts with exception of Cordia sinensis and Cymbopogon proximus, for which water extracts also showed potent enzyme inhibitory activity. Similarly, water extracts of Acacia nilotica and Ziziphus spina-christi showed potent inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase enzyme. Some of the extracts also showed significant genotoxicity and cytotoxicity at the concentration range used for bioactivities. Conclusion: The extracts of Acacia nilotica, Ziziphus spina-christi, Geigeria alata, Martynia annua and Abrus precatorius exhibited an appreciable range of activity on antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bombax ceiba is used traditionally to treat bone disorders, rheumatism, and joint pain. The aim of the study is to carry out osteogenic activity in-vitro and anti-osteoporotic activity in-vivo of stem bark of B. ceiba in surgical ovariectomy model in female rats. Methods: Plant drug: B. ceiba stem bark was extracted with solvents petroleum ether and methanol using Soxhlet extraction. In-vitro osteoblastic proliferation study was performed using UMR-106 cell lines. Both the extracts were undergone to acute toxicity study as per OECD423 guidelines. Female Wistar albino rats 180-240 g were used ( n = 6). Surgical ovariectomy was performed under anesthesia to induce bone porosity and loss in all animals except normal control and sham control. Each extract was administered at two dose level: 100 and 200 mg/kg and the standard Raloxifene was given at 1 mg/kg orally for 28 days. The phytochemical study of both the extracts was performed using HPLC and HPTLC. Results: A significant osteoblast cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity were observed with B. ceiba extracts in UMR-106 cell lines. Surgical removal of ovaries produced significant ( p < 0.05) decline in bone mineral density, bone breaking strength, serum ALP, calcium, phosphorus, and estradiol level and marked bone tissue destruction in histology. Administration of petroleum ether and methanolic extract for 28 days significantly ( p < 0.05) ameliorated the consequences of ovariectomy induced bone porosity and restored the normal architecture of bone, as compared to OVX control. The phytochemical screening of both the extracts were also carried out. The quantification of phytoconstituents showed the presence of β-sitosterol and lupeol in petroleum ether extract, whereas the lupeol is also quantified in the methanolic extract. The presence of gallic acid was quantified in methanolic extract using HPLC. Conclusion: B. ceiba: stem bark ameliorated the state of bone fragility and fracture possibly due to estrogenic modulation, as also confirmed by in-vitro osteogenic activity which may be due to the presence of lupeol, gallic acid and β-sitosterol constituents of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmetology is the science of change of appearance and has been practiced since ancient times. In South Africa, especially Eastern Cape, the concept of using plants for beautification finds its origin in the traditional medicine literature. Moreover, herbal extract as a whole or part thereof has been used since time immemorial for various ailments of the skin, hair, and for overall appearance. Recently, the interest of consumers in the use of herbal cosmetics has been stimulated by the decline of faith in modern cosmetic products based on the beliefs that herbal cosmetics contain natural ingredients that are less dangerous to the skin and thereby superior to synthetic cosmetics and the reference to successful historical use by different cultures. A number of South African plants have been evaluated for their cosmetic potential. In this article, we reviewed 105 plant species used by the people of Eastern Cape Province for various cosmetic purposes with a majority of them used for skin care (70 species) and dental care (6 species). These plants are distributed in 59 families with the Asteraceae being the most represented with 9 species, followed by Fabaceae (7 species), Asphodelaceae (5 species), Lamiaceae (4 species), Apocynaceae (3 species), Hyacinthaceae (3 species), and other families with two to one species each. The results of the studies conducted confirmed the potential of the Eastern Cape medicinal plants in cosmetic products and identified a number of promising species for further investigation as plant-based cosmetic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are the main natural pools for the discovery and development of new drugs. In the modern era of computer-aided drug designing (CADD), there is need of prompt efforts to design and construct useful database management system that allows proper data storage, retrieval and management with user-friendly interface. An inclusive database having information about classification, activity and ready-to-dock library of medicinal plant’s phytochemicals is therefore required to assist the researchers in the field of CADD. The present work was designed to merge activities of phytochemicals from medicinal plants, their targets and literature references into a single comprehensive database named as Medicinal Plants Database for Drug Designing (MPD3). The newly designed online and downloadable MPD3 contains information about more than 5000 phytochemicals from around 1000 medicinal plants with 80 different activities, more than 900 literature references and 200 plus targets. The designed database is deemed to be very useful for the researchers who are engaged in medicinal plants research, CADD and drug discovery/development with ease of operation and increased efficiency. The designed MPD3 is a comprehensive database which provides most of the information related to the medicinal plants at a single platform. MPD3 is freely available at:http://bioinform.info. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Plant species have long been used as principal ingredients of traditional medicine in far-west Nepal. The medicinal plants with ethnomedicinal values are currently being screened for their therapeutic potential but their data and information are inadequately compared and analyzed with the Ayurveda and the phytochemical findings. Methods: The present study evaluated ethnomedicinal plants and their uses following literature review, comparison, field observations, and analysis. Comparison was made against earlier standard literature of medicinal plants and ethnomedicine of the same area, the common uses of the Ayurveda and the latest common phytochemical findings. The field study for primary data collection was carried out from 2006-2008. Results: The herbal medicine in far-west Nepal is the basis of treatment of most illness through traditional knowledge. The medicine is made available via ancient, natural health care practices such as tribal lore, home herbal remedy, and the Baidhya, Ayurveda and Amchi systems. The traditional herbal medicine has not only survived but also thrived in the trans-cultural environment with its intermixture of ethnic traditions and beliefs. The present assessment showed that traditional herbal medicine has flourished in rural areas where modern medicine is parsimoniously accessed because of the high cost and long travel time to health center. Of the 48 Nepalese medicinal plants assessed in the present communication, about half of the species showed affinity with the common uses of the Ayurveda, earlier studies and the latest phytochemical findings. The folk uses of Acacia catechu for cold and cough, Aconitum spicatum as an analgesic, Aesculus indica for joint pain, Andrographis paniculata for fever, Anisomeles indica for urinary affections, Azadirachta indica for fever, Euphorbia hirta for asthma, Taxus wallichiana for tumor control, and Tinospora sinensis for diabetes are consistent with the latest pharmacological findings, common Ayurvedic and earlier uses. Conclusions: Although traditional herbal medicine is only a primary means of health care in far-west Nepal, the medicine has been pursued indigenously with complementing pharmacology and the Ayurveda. Therefore, further pharmacological evaluation of traditional herbal medicine deserves more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]