An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in silent valley of Kerala, India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Medicinal plants are treating and preventing a variety disease. There is urgency in recording such data. This is the first ethno botanical study in which statistical calculations about plants are done by ICF method. The present study was aimed to identify plants collected for medicinal purposes by the traditional healers of silent valley, located in Palakad district of Kerala, India and to document the traditional names, preparation and uses of these plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Field study was carried out a period of 2 years in Kerala. The ethno medicinal information was collected through interviews among traditional healers. The collected data were analyzed through use value (UV) informant consensus factor (F(ic)) and fidelity level (FL).

RESULTS

A total of 102 species of plants distributed in 95 genera belonging to 53 families were identified as commonly used ethno medicinal plants by traditional healers in silent valley for the treatment of 19 ailment categories based on the body systems treated. Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts and most of the medicines were prepared in the form of paste and administrated orally. F(ic) values of the present study indicated that dermatological infections/diseases and gastro-intestinal disorders had highest use reports and 7 species of plants has the highest fidelity level of 100%. The most important species according to their use value were Moringa oleifera (2.62), Curculigo orchioides (2.5) Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Vitex negundo (each 2.37), Carica papaya (2.12), Annona squamosa (1.87).

CONCLUSION

Gathering the present study, we can recommended the plants Moringa oleifera, Curculigo orchioides, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Vitex negundo, Carica papaya, Citrus hystrix, and Tribulus terrestris (with high use values), Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Aloe vera, Carum capticum and Discorea pentaphylla (newly reported claims with highest FL) for further scientific investigation based upon the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants can be an approach in the discovery and development of novel drug leads.

Facile synthesis of WO3 with reduced particle size on zeolite and enhanced photocatalytic activity

WO₃ supported on zeolite-Y (WO3-ZY) was successfully synthesized by a facile impregnation method and well characterized by various techniques.

Photocatalytic dye degradation properties of wafer level GaN nanowires by catalytic and self-catalytic approach using chemical vapor deposition

We report the photocatalytic dye degradation properties of self-assembled gallium nitride (GaN) nanowires grown using chemical vapor deposition.

A comparative analysis of the efficacy of cortical screws as lag screws and miniplates for internal fixation of mandibular symphyseal region fractures: a randomized prospective study

The management of facial trauma is one of the most rewarding and demanding aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Being the most prominent mobile bone of the facial skeleton, mandible fracture occurs more frequently than any other fracture. In this study, open reduction and internal fixation was performed for isolated mandibular symphyseal region fractures using cortical screws (as lag screws) in 40 patients and using miniplates in 40 patients. Clinical and radiological evaluations were made at 6 months postoperatively. Primary stability of fracture segments, postoperative swelling, restricted lip mobility, infection, wound dehiscence, implant removal, and mal-union or non-union of fracture segments was evaluated. Primary stability was achieved in 100% of cases treated with cortical screws, whereas for patients treated with miniplates, 97.5% attained primary stability, while one case (2.5%) showed persistent clinical mobility. Postoperative complications were noted in 13 (16.25%) of the total 80 patients. The duration of postoperative swelling was less in patients treated with cortical screws compared to patients treated with miniplates. It is concluded that cortical screw fixation is an effective procedure for the treatment of symphyseal region fractures, but the procedure is somewhat technically sensitive.

Gnathic osteosarcoma: a retrospective analysis over a 20 year period

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcomas are very rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasms affecting jaw bones. Only few studies are reported about this lesion in this particular region.

OBJECTIVE

We wanted to assess the demography and tumor behaviour and histopathological pattern, retrospectively in the available cases.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of hospital records for 20 years was carried out. Clinical features, radiographic findings, histopathological details and treatment aspect of each of the lesions was considered.

RESULTS

Findings of this study revealed only 13 cases of gnathic osteosarcomas, usually occurring in middle age, with equal sex predilection and predominantly seen in maxilla. Histopathologically, most of them belonged to osteogenic variant.

CONCLUSION

Only few cases of gnathic osteosarcomas are reported in this region mainly in the young males. Interestingly many of them has history of dental extraction before the onset of disease.

Clinical evaluation of patients patch tested with plant series: a prospective study

Background:

Plants are ubiquitous in nature and are essential for human life, though some do have detrimental effects. In India, there are various indigenous and foreign plants that are well known to cause dermatitis, Parthenium hysterophorus being the foremost.

Aims of the Study:

To study the clinical features of patients presenting with plant dermatitis and evaluate plant allergen series patch test results.

Materials and Methods:

50 patients with suspected plant dermatitis were evaluated regarding evolution of dermatitis, precipitating factors and contact with various plants. 31 patients (62%) complained of photo sensitivity and 24 (48%) had involvement of sun-exposed areas. Our provisional diagnoses included allergic contact dermatitis in 16, air borne contact dermatitis in 9, phytophotodermatitis in 7, photodermatitis in 6, airborne contact dermatitis to other causes in 4, phytodermatitis in 3. Patients were patch tested with Indian standard series of allergens as well as plant allergen series consisting of common allergenic plants of local flora in and around Manipal and also with plants strongly suspected by the patient. 35 tested positive with maximum positives (26 patients, i.e., 52%) to Parthenium hysterophorus (Compositae).

Results:

The result of patch testing was correlated with the history and clinical examination and relevance established.

Conclusions:

Majority of the patients with clinically suspected plant dermatitis belonged to 3^rd or 4^th decade and Parthenium was the leading plant allergen Sensitization to Leguminosae plants and Hopea ponga, seen in 9 cases, have not been reported earlier in literature.