Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Elazığ (Turkey)

Medicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Paddar region of Jammu and Kashmir, India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The present study is the first quantitative assessment of ethno-medicinal plants of Paddar region of Jammu and Kashmir.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to document the relative importance of medicinal plants used in human ailments by the villagers in the Paddar region of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were collected from 132 informants (72 male and 60 female) through semi structured interviews and group discussions. Use report (UR) and Informant consensus factor (ICF) were employed to quantitatively examine the data.

RESULTS

The inhabitants of Paddar reported the use of 98 plants species of 55 families to treat 63 ailments. Rosaceae (10 spp.) was the most frequently used family in the study area. Herbs were dominantly (66 spp., 50%) utilized in herbal preparation and leaves the mostly used plant parts (25%). The highest informant consensus factor (ICF = 0.96) was obtained for parasitic problems. Important new uses for species stated by informants to treat human diseases were; Viburnum grandiflorum Wall. ex DC., Sium latijugum C.B.Clarke, Corylus jacquemontii Decne., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., Cannabis sativa L., Taraxacum campylodes G.E.Haglund, Euphorbia helioscopia L., Juglans regia L., Cotoneaster acuminatus Lindl., Ficus palmata Forssk., Plantago lanceolata L., and Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study contributes towards the preservation of indigenous plants' based knowledge. Although the therapeutic value of most of the preferred medicinal plants has already been validated, some medicinal plants lack proper scientific validation. We recommend further phytochemical investigations and pharmacological validations of Viburnum grandiflorum, C. jacquemontii, F. palmata, Viola pilosa, Cotoneaster acuminatus, Eleucine coracana, Sium latijugum, Aquilegia pubiflora, Euphorbia helioscopia, Plantago lanceolata and Pinus gerardiana.

Microbial Contamination of Herbal Medicines in Africa, 2000-2024: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Herbal medicine has been a cornerstone of healthcare for centuries, with an estimated 80% of the world's population relying on it. In Africa, herbal medicine is the backbone of rural healthcare, serving 80% to 90% of the population. Despite its widespread use, the safety of herbal medicine raises a significant concern considering the lack of regulation and testing, particularly in Africa. Microbial contamination is a primary safety risk threatening consumer health. In this systematic review, we aimed to synthesise evidence on microbial contamination in herbal medicines across Africa, provide a clear understanding of the problem, and inform effective public health interventions regarding microbial contamination of herbal medicines in Africa.

Method

The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar using appropriate search terms. Eligible studies were selected based on predetermined criteria, and data were extracted and analysed.

Results

The review included fifty eligible studies in Africa, with a combined sample size of 1996, of which 1791 showed microbial contamination. Bacterial contaminants were reported in 98% of studies, with Escherichia coli (62%) being the most reported bacteria, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (57%), and Bacillus spp. (55%). Fungal contaminants were reported in 70% of studies, with Aspergillus spp. (40%) being the most reported, followed by Penicillium spp. (27%) and Candida spp. (26%). Parasitic contaminants were reported in 2% of the studies reviewed. A total of 70 bacterial species, 37 fungal species, and 6 parasite species were identified in this review.

Conclusion

Herbal medicines in Africa pose significant health threats to consumers due to the high prevalence of diverse microbial contaminants and clinically significant pathogens. This emphasises the need for stricter regulations and quality control measures in the production, sale and use of herbal medicines.

Evaluation of Phytochemistry and Antidiabetic Potential of an Astragalus Species (Astragalus kurdicus Boiss.)

Astragalus kurdicus Boiss. roots are used in folk medicine for antidiabetic purposes. Different Astragalus plant metabolites have a notable potential for antidiabetic activity through varying mechanisms. Herein, this study is designed to assess the antidiabetic activity of Astragalus kurdicus total (AKM: methanol extract, yield: 14.53 %) and sub-extracts (AKB: n-butanol, AKC: chloroform, AKW: water, AKH: hexane extracts), utilizing a range of diabetes-related in vitro methodologies, and to investigate the chemical composition of the plant. The highest astragaloside and saponin content was seen in AKB extract. Among the measured saponins, the abundance of Astragaloside IV (27.41 μg/mg in AKM) was the highest in high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis. Furthermore, flavonoid-rich AKC was found to be mostly responsible for the high antioxidant activity. According to the results of the activity tests, AKW was the most active extract in protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 B (PTP1B), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4), and α-amylase inhibition tests (percent inhibitions are: 87.17 %, 82.4 %, and 91.49 % respectively, at 1 mg/mL). AKM and AKW demonstrated the highest efficacy in stimulating the growth of prebiotic microorganisms and preventing the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Thus, for the first time, the antidiabetic activity of A. kurdicus was evaluated from various perspectives.

Cultural Use and the Knowledge of Ethnomedicinal Plants in the Pülümür (Dersim-Tunceli) Region

Pülümür has been a refuge place for internal and external exiles several times throughout history, and today it is a district of the province of Tunceli (known as Dersim in the region), which differs significantly from many settlements around it in terms of biodiversity and social aspects. The aim of this study is to identify, catalog, and report the traditional medicinal uses of plants in this province, where every living thing and many natural objects around it are regarded as sacred, with a scientific ethnobotanical approach. The field study was completed between May 2016 and July 2023. The collection of plant excursion and plant usage information was implemented in two stages; in the first stage, a survey about the collection and the uses of medicinal plants was conducted. At this stage, plant samples were collected by visiting 49 villages of the district and performing face-to-face interviews with 112 participants (51 female and 61 male). In the second stage, the usage statistics related to the data obtained from the field studies were determined. For this reason, every informant was interviewed at least twice, people who were previously interviewed were included too. In the course of this study, interviews from 211 participants (95 female and 116 male) were analyzed. As a result of analysis, the traditional medicinal uses of 120 plants belonging to 48 families were identified. The most taxa are identified from the Asteraceae (15), Rosaceae (13), Fabaceae (8), Lamiaceae (8), and Apiaceae (6) families. In Pülümür, these medicinal plants are mostly used for the treatment of wounds, abdominal pain, constipation, and diabetes.

Exploring Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Properties of Glaucium acutidentatum Hausskn. & Bornm. from Turkey Flora: A Novel Source of Bioactive Agents to Design Functional Applications

The present study was performed to determine the chemical constituents, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of the aerial parts of Glaucium acutidentatum Hausskn. and Bornm. (family Papaveraceae). Methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared by maceration, homogenizer-assisted extraction (HAE) and infusion. Results showed that the highest total phenolic and flavonoids contents were obtained from the methanol extracts obtained by HAE (53.22 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g) and maceration (30.28 ± 0.51 mg RE/g), respectively. The aporphine, beznyltetrahydroisoquinoline, and protopine types of Glaucium alkaloids have been tentatively identified. Among them, glaucine was identified in all extracts. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, organic acids and fatty acids were also detected. Methanolic extract obtained using the HAE method displayed the highest anti-DPPH (41.42 ± 0.62 mg TE/g), total antioxidant (1.20 ± 0.17 mmol TE/g), Cu2+ (113.55 ± 6.44 mg TE/g), and Fe3+ (74.52 ± 4.74 mg TE/g) reducing properties. The aqueous extracts obtained by infusion and HAE methods exerted the best anti-ABTS (103.59 ± 1.49 mg TE/g) and chelating (19.81 ± 0.05 mg EDTAE/g) activities, respectively. Methanolic extract from HAE recorded the highest acetylcholinesterase (2.55 ± 0.10 mg GALAE/g) and α-amylase (0.51 ± 0.02 mmol ACAE/g) inhibition activities, while that obtained by maceration showed the best butyrylcholinesterase (3.76 ± 0.31 mg GALAE/g) inhibition activity. Both extracts revealed the best tyrosinase inhibitory activity (25.15 ± 1.00 and 26.79 ± 2.36 mg KAE/g, p ≥ 0.05). G. acutidentatum maceration-derived aqueous extract showed selective anticancer activity against cells originating from human hypopharyngeal carcinoma. In conclusion, these findings indicated that G. acutidentatum is a promising source of alkaloids and phenolic compounds for variable pharmaceutical formulations.

An ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological overview of onion (Allium cepa L.)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most widely distributed species within the Allium genus of family Amaryllidaceae. Onion has been esteemed for its medicinal properties since antiquity. It has been consumed for centuries in various indigenous cultures for the management of several ailments including microbial infections, respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin and cardio-vascular disorders, diabetes, renal colic, rheumatism, sexual impotence, menstrual pain, and headache. However, so far, there is a scarcity of recent data that compiles the plant chemistry, traditional practices, biological features, and toxicity.

AIM OF THE WORK

The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive and analytical overview of ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, industrial applications, quality control, and toxicology of onion, to offer new perspectives and broad scopes for future studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information gathered in this review was obtained from various sources including books, scientific databases such as Science Direct, Wiley, PubMed, Google Scholar, and other domestic and foreign literature.

RESULTS

Onion has a long history of use as a traditional medicine for management of various conditions including infectious, inflammatory, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. More than 400 compounds have been identified in onion including flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, peptides, saponins and fatty acids. The plant extracts and compounds showed various pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anticancer, aphrodisiac, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective activities. In addition to its predominant medicinal uses, onion has found various applications in the functional food industry.

CONCLUSION

Extensive literature analysis reveals that onion extracts and bioactive constituents possess diverse pharmacological activities that can be beneficial for treating various diseases. However, the current research primarily revolves around the documentation of ethnic pharmacology and predominantly consists of in vitro studies, with relatively limited in vivo and clinical studies. Consequently, it is imperative for future investigations to prioritize and expand the scope of in vivo and clinical research. Additionally, it is strongly recommended to direct further research efforts towards toxicity studies and quality control of the plant. These studies will help bridge the current knowledge gaps and establish a solid basis for exploring the plant's potential uses in a clinical setting.

A Review of the Ethnobotany, Biological Activity, and Phytochemistry of the Plants in the Gundelia Genus

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) catalog, and Google Scholar from January 1980 up until October 2023 on plants in the Gundelia genus. Gundelia L. (Asteraceae) has been treated as a monospecific genus with Gundelia tournefortii L. (1753: 814) in most recent floras with wide variation in corolla color, but nowadays, the genus consists of 17 species. The unripe inflorescences of these species, especially G. tournefortii L., are consumed in many ways. 'Akkoub' or 'akko' in Arabic, "Kangar" in Persian, and "Silifa" in Greek are the common names of G. tournefortii L., also known as tumble thistle in English. They have been used in traditional medicine to treat bronchitis, kidney stones, diarrhea, stomach pain, inflammation, liver and blood diseases, bacterial and fungal infections, and mumps. Based on recent studies, their extracts have exhibited hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Moreover, a variety of phytochemicals, including terpenoids, sterols, and fatty acids, as well as vitamins and minerals, have been identified in this genus. This study reviewed the ethnobotany, phytochemicals, and biological activities of the plants in the Gundelia genus as functional foods and herbal remedies.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Allium cepa L. peel extracts via inhibition of JAK-STAT pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Allium cepa L. (A. cepa) is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. A. cepa has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat inflammatory disease in several regions, such as Palestine and Serbia. A. cepa peel has a higher content of flavonoids, such as quercetin, than the edible parts. These flavonoids alleviate inflammatory diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of A. cepa peel extract-obtained using various extraction methods-and their underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Although research to find safe anti-inflammatory substances in various natural products has been actively conducted for many years, it is important to continue identifying potential anti-inflammatory effects in natural materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethnopharmacological properties of the A. cepa peel extract, whose efficacy when obtained through different extraction methods and underlying action mechanisms is not well known. The present study specifically aimed to observe the anti-inflammatory effects of the A. cepa peel extracts obtained using various extraction methods and the related detailed mechanisms of A. cepa peel extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total flavonoid content of the A. cepa peel extracts was determined the diethylene glycol colorimetric method and measured using a calibration curve prepared using quercetin as a standard solution. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the ABTS assay, and cytotoxicity was measured using the MTT assay. NO production was measured using Griess reagent. Protein levels were measured by western blotting, and mRNA expression was measured by RT-qPCR. Secreted cytokines were analyzed using ELISA or cytokine arrays. In the GSE160086 dataset, we calculated Z-scores for individual genes of interest and displayed using a heat map.

RESULTS

Of the three A. cepa peel extracts obtained using different extraction methods, the A. cepa peel 50% EtOH extract (AP50E) was the most effective at inhibiting LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Furthermore, AP50E significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammation cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-27. Additionally, AP50E directly inhibited the Janus kinase-signaling transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that AP50E exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages by directly inhibiting JAK-STAT signaling. Based on these findings, we propose AP50E as a potential candidate for the development of preventive or therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases.

Nutritional and pharmacological potentials of orphan legumes: Subfamily faboideae

Legumes are a major food crop in many developing nations. However, orphan or underutilized legumes are domesticated legumes that have valuable properties but are less significant than main legumes due to use and supply restrictions. Compared to other major legumes, they are better suited to harsh soil and climate conditions, and their great tolerance to abiotic environmental circumstances like drought can help to lessen the strains brought on by climate change. Despite this, their economic significance in international markets is relatively minimal. This article is aimed at carrying out a comprehensive review of the nutritional and pharmacological benefits of orphan legumes from eight genera in the sub-family Faboidea, namely Psophocarpus Neck. ex DC., Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre Hillc., Vigna Savi., Vicia L., Baphia Afzel. ex G. Lodd., Mucuna Adans, Indigofera L. and Macrotyloma (Wight & Arn.) Verdc, and the phytoconstituents that have been isolated and characterized from these plants. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for articles that have previously reported the relevance of underutilized legumes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species was also conducted for the status of the species. References were scrutinized and citation searches were performed on the study. The review showed that many underutilized legumes have a lot of untapped potential in terms of their nutritional and pharmacological activities. The phytoconstituents from plants in the subfamily Faboideae could serve as lead compounds for drug discovery for the treatment of a variety of disorders, indicating the need to explore these plant species.

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Güce district, north-eastern Turkey

This study aims to identify medicinal plants traditionally used to treat diseases by local people living in Güce district, north-eastern Turkey. The study was carried out between 2018 and 2021 using a two-part semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire with 165 local people. Data were analysed using use-report, frequency of citation, and informant consensus factor. Informants identified 128 vascular medicinal plant taxa belonging to 54 families and 106 genera. The most common plant taxa belong to Rosaceae (16 taxa/12.5%), Asteraceae (12 taxa/9.4%), and Lamiaceae (9 taxa/7%) families. The most frequently used preparation method reported was decoction (39.8%); the most commonly utilized plant parts were leaves (40.3%). Statistical analysis reveals that women in Güce district (df = 163, p = 0.043 < 0.05) possess the most traditional knowledge. The highest frequency of citation (61) and use report (92) were recorded for Tilia rubra subsp. caucasica, and the highest informant consensus factors were cited for respiratory system disorders (0.86), digestive system disorders (0.73), and skin disorders (0.71). This study reported nine plant taxa as medicinal plants for the first time, and documented a total of 293 new therapeutic uses. However, the study indicates that the transfer of traditional knowledge to future generations is limited (F = 3.355, p = 0.020). Action should be taken as soon as possible to preserve existing traditional knowledge and to ensure its transfer to future generations.

Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants in Kastamonu province (Türkiye)

This study is aimed at determining some of the plants traditionally used in the treatment of diseases by the local people living in Kastamonu province center and surrounding villages. A face-to-face questionnaire was applied and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 informants, 34 women and 18 men. Identification of 92 plants belonging to 41 families has been confirmed and their medicinal uses have been recorded. The most used families were Rosaceae (13 taxa), Asteraceae (11), and Lamiaceae (11). The most preferred folk recipes of medicinal plants was decoction (55 taxa) and in preparations and applications, the most used were the leaves (45 taxa). According to the International Classification of Primary Care categories, plants were the most used for digestive disorders (37 taxa), respiratory disorders (27 taxa), and urological disorders (24 taxa). The highest use-value was recorded for Urtica dioica (0.519), and highest relative frequency citation was recorded for Tilia rubra subsp. caucasica (0.231). Male genital diseases had the highest informant consensus factor value (0.83). New areas of use were also determined for Pilosella leucopsilon subsp. pilisquama, Galium palustre, and Astragalus nitens. With this study, new information for folkloric medicines is presented and the usage of herbal drugs in the study area are enhanced.

An Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants In Savaştepe (Balıkesir-Turkey)

Objective: This research planned to record traditional uses and preparations of herbal medicines in Savaştepe, Balıkesir. The study was conducted between the years 2012-2016. The Savaştepe district is located on the borders of Balıkesir province. Methods: 44 villages connected to Savaştepe were visited during the research. With the help of the local people, the collected plants were diagnosed and converted into herbarium specimens. All herbarium samples are stored in the Herbarium of Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy (ISTE). Information about the use of plants were collected by the help of interviews with 205 people (107 men, 98 women). Results: As a result of this study, there were 163 medicinal plant taxa belonging to 53 families. Mostly used medicinal plant species families are Lamiaceae (22 taxa), Asteraceae (20 taxa), Rosaceae (16 taxa), Fabaceae (6 taxa), Brassicaceae (7 taxa), Apiaceae (4 taxa), Poaceae (4 taxa), Scrophulariaceae (4 taxa) respectively. According to the informations, the most common diseases were categozied into 12 group and their FIC values are calculated. The highest FIC value (0.852) for hemorrhoids. Having high use value represents that this taxa is commonly used in Savaştepe. The highest use value is 0.93 for Urtica dioica Conclusion: This study documented the medicinal plants used by local people of Savaştepe and also the uses, preparations and vernacular names of medicinal plant species. This study will help to concerve valuable informations of the medicinal plants of Savaştepe.

Medicinal Plants Used Traditionally for Skin Related Problems in the South Balkan and East Mediterranean Region—A Review

A review research was conducted to provide an overview of the ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional medical practices for the treatment of skin disorders in Albania, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. The geographical and ecological characteristics of the Balkan Peninsula and Mediterranean Sea, along with the historical connection among those countries, gave rise to the development of a distinct flora and to the uses of common medicinal plants against various skin ailments, respectively. The review focuses on the detailed study of 128 ethnobotanical surveys conducted in these areas and the species used for skin ailments were singled out. The analysis showed that 967 taxa belonging to 418 different genera and 111 different families are used in the treatment of skin related problems. The majority of the plants belong to the families of Asteraceae (11.7%), Lamiaceae (7.4%), Rosaceae (6.7%), Plantaginaceae (5.4%), and Malvaceae (3.8%). Their usage is internal or external to treat ailments such as wounds and burns (22.1%), hemorrhoids (14.7%), boils, abscesses, and furuncles (8.2%). Beside specific skin disorders, numerous species appeared to be used for their antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiseptic activity (9.1%). Literature evaluation highlighted that, the most commonly used species are Plantago major L. (Albania, Turkey), Hypericum perforatum L. (Greece, Turkey), Sambucus nigra L. (Cyprus, Greece), Ficus carica L. (Cyprus, Turkey), Matricaria chamomilla L. (Cyprus, Greece), and Urtica dioica L. (Albania, Turkey), while many medicinal plants reported by interviewees were common in all four countries. Finally, to relate this ethnopharmacological knowledge and trace its expansion and diversification through centuries, a comparison of findings was made with the use of the species mentioned in Dioscorides’ “De Materia Medica” for skin disorders. This work constitutes the first comparative study performed with ethnobotanical data for skin ailments gathered in the South Balkan and East Mediterranean areas. Results confirm the primary hypothesis that people in Albania, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey are closely related in terms of traditionally using folk medicinal practices. Nevertheless, more field studies conducted, especially in remote places of these regions, can help preserve the traditional medical knowledge, aiming at the discovery of new phytotherapeutics against dermatological diseases.

Floristic diversity and vegetation of the az Zakhnuniyah Island, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

Islands are broadly recognized as hotspots of ecology, biological and geophysical diversity with unique plant species. The present study aimed to address the floristic composition in the Az Zakhnuniyah Island along the Arabian Gulf of Saudi Arabia. A total of 21 quadrats, of 100 m² each were sampled, and both relative density and cover were determined. Classification (Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering {AHC} and ordination [Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA)] were applied to identify vegetation clusters and their correlation to the underlying soil factors. Fifty plant species belonging to 21 families were recorded. Amaranthaceae (22.9%), Poaceae (12.5%), Asteraceae and Zygophyllaceae (8.33% each) were the largest represented families. Therophytes and chamaephytes were the most represented life-forms, indicating saline-desert vegetation. Most of the surveyed plant species are used for medicinal purposes and grazing. AHC and DCA allowed identifying three vegetation clusters within three distinct habitats: cluster (A): Halopeplis perfoliata- Suaeda vermiculata in wet salt-marsh habitat, cluster (B): Limonium axillare- Zygophyllum mandaville in sabkha, and cluster (C): Heliotropium bacciferum- Panicum turgidum in sand dune habitat within the island. The CCA results imply strong relationships between floristic composition and salinity measures (CaCO₃, electric conductivity, Mg⁺², Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^- and SO₄) and soil texture. The current vegetation pattern in Zakhnuniyah Island reflects a salinity gradient with variations in soil texture. Knowledge of the floristic composition and its correlation to the environmental factors within islands should guide future conservation strategy and management efforts.

Effects of Berberine on Liver Cancer

Liver cancer, otherwise known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a chronic disease condition with an excessive deposition and growth of malignant cells in the body. The high incidence and prevalence rates of liver cancer continue to be problems, as well as its poor prognosis and therapeutic limitations involving severe drug adverse reactions linked to the use of synthetic chemotherapeutic compounds. Continuous experimental studies, as well as utilization of pure herbal-based compounds, are essential towards finding more potent cures for liver cancer. Natural bioactive compounds, particularly alkaloids (eg, berberine), have been shown to be highly beneficial in the treatment of various diseases. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, is obtained from stem, bark, roots, rhizomes, and leaves of several medicinal plants, including Berberis species. It is commonly synthesized from the benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline system with the incorporation of an additional carbon atom as a bridge. The multiple attributes of BBR involving effective inhibitory and cytotoxic actions against the proliferation of cancer cells have been demonstrated. The use of BBR in experimental studies (in vivo and in vitro) for over a decade for liver cancer treatment has proven to be highly effective, safe, and potent. Until now, the poor solubility of BBR remains one of the contributing factors leading to its minimal clinical bioavailability. Therefore, BBR could serve as a prospective drug candidate in the future towards drug formulation for liver cancer treatment. The relevant information regarding this review was obtained electronically through the use of databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, Hindawi, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. All the aforementioned databases were searched from 1981 to 2020. This literature represents an update of previous review papers discussing the various positive pharmacological and mechanistic effects (oxidative stress regulation, inflammation reduction, apoptosis activation, overcoming drug resistance, and metastasis inhibition) of BBR for liver cancer treatment, which would be of great significance to drug development and clinical research.

Antioxidant and Wound Healing Potential of Vitis vinifera Seeds Supported by Phytochemical Characterization and Docking Studies

This study explored the in vivo wound healing potential of Vitis vinifera seed extract using an excision wound model with focus on wound healing molecular targets including TGFBR1, VEGF, TNF-α, and IL-1β. The wound healing results revealed that V. vinifera seed extract enhanced wound closure rates (p < 0.001), elevated TGF-β and VEGF levels, and significantly downregulated TNF-α and IL-1β levels in comparison to the Mebo®-treated group. The phenotypical results were supported by biochemical and histopathological findings. Phytochemical investigation yielded a total of 36 compounds including twenty-seven compounds (1−27) identified from seed oil using GC-MS analysis, along with nine isolated compounds. Among the isolated compounds, one new benzofuran dimer (28) along with eight known ones (29−36) were identified. The structure of new compound was elucidated utilizing 1D/2D NMR, with HRESIMS analyses. Moreover, molecular docking experiments were performed to elucidate the molecular targets (TNF-α, TGFBR1, and IL-1β) of the observed wound healing activity. Additionally, the in vitro antioxidant activity of V. vinifera seed extract along with two isolated compounds (ursolic acid 34, and β-sitosterol-3-O-glucopyranoside 36) were explored. Our study highlights the potential of V. vinifera seed extract in wound repair uncovering the most probable mechanisms of action using in silico analysis.

Inventorization and Consensus Analysis of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Knowledge Among the Local People in Eastern India: Perception, Cultural Significance, and Resilience

Livestock is the main backbone of the rural economy of an agriculture-based country like India. To mitigate the economic loss due to livestock’s poor performance and illness, folk phytotherapy for livestock healthcare is still actively practiced in India. Literature survey revealed that the laterite region of eastern India, characterized by its cultural, ethnic, and biological diversities, as well as topographical uniqueness, lacks comprehensive information on ethnoveterinary medicinal knowledge. The objective of the present study includes documentation of traditional knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) from the northern laterite region in eastern India. Ethnoveterinary medicinal data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, free listing, and focus group discussions. The factor for informants’ consensus (Fic), fidelity level (FL), and cultural value (CV) index have been employed for quantitative analyses. Jaccard index (JI) was used to check the knowledge similarity. Altogether, 1,234 citations were made by 132 participants. In total, 232 recorded ethnomedicinal species are used for preparing 306 remedies to treat 79 health disorders of livestock. Recorded species are distributed in 92 families, and Fabaceae is identified as the most medicinally diversified. Uses of 24 angiospermic taxa, one pteridophyte, and two fungal species were exclusively new to the existing inventory of Indian traditional ethnoveterinary medicine. In 20 disease categories, the informant consensus (Fic) value ranges from 0.4 to 0.83. According to the FL value and use-mention factor, 23 EVM plants have been identified as the most important species in the respective disease categories. Value of CV index highlighted nine species as culturally most significant (CV ≥ 0.0025 and frequency of citation ≥20) in the laterite region of eastern India. A large extent of recorded data are quite worthy for the Indian folk veterinary medicinal repository. A handful of new data reported here and statistically justified culturally most significant species will provide the golden opportunity for bioprospecting research.

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used in the Health Care System: Survey of the Mid Hills of Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India

The study was performed in the mid hills of the Dharampur region in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. At the study site, a total of 115 medicinal plants were documented (38 trees, 37 herbs, 34 shrubs, 5 climbers, 1 fern, and 1 grass). In the study region, extensive field surveys were performed between March 2020 and August 2021. Indigenous knowledge of wild medicinal plants was collected through questionnaires, discussions, and personal interviews during field trips. Plants with their correct nomenclature were arranged by botanical name, family, common name, habitat, parts used, routes used, and diseases treated. In the present study, the predominant family was Rosaceae, which represented the maximum number of plant species, 10, followed by Asteraceae and Lamiaceae, which represented 8 plant species. The rural inhabitants of the Dharampur region in the Solan district have been using local plants for primary health care and the treatment of various diseases for a longer time. However, information related to the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants was not documented. The rural inhabitants of the Dharampur region reported that the new generation is not so interested in traditional knowledge of medicinal plants due to modernization in society, so there is an urgent need to document ethnomedicinal plants before such knowledge becomes inaccessible and extinct.

Glycyrrhiza Genus: Enlightening Phytochemical Components for Pharmacological and Health-Promoting Abilities

The Glycyrrhiza genus, generally well-known as licorice, is broadly used for food and medicinal purposes around the globe. The genus encompasses a rich pool of bioactive molecules including triterpene saponins (e.g., glycyrrhizin) and flavonoids (e.g., liquiritigenin, liquiritin). This genus is being increasingly exploited for its biological effects such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic activities. The species Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and the compound glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid) have been studied immensely for their effect on humans. The efficacy of the compound has been reported to be significantly higher on viral hepatitis and immune deficiency syndrome. This review provides up-to-date data on the most widely investigated Glycyrrhiza species for food and medicinal purposes, with special emphasis on secondary metabolites' composition and bioactive effects.

Rosa platyacantha Schrenk from Kazakhstan-Natural Source of Bioactive Compounds with Cosmetic Significance

Plants belonging to the Rosa genus are known for their high content of bioactive molecules and broad spectrum of healing and cosmetic activities. Rosa platyacantha Schrenk is a wild-type species abundant in the mountainous regions of Kazakhstan. The phytochemical composition as well as the bioactivity of R. platyacantha extracts have not been fully investigated to date. In this study, various parts of R. platyacantha plant, collected in Almaty region, Kazakhstan, were used to prepare five hydroalcoholic extracts (R1–R5). The extracts were compared for the content of phytochemicals and selected biological activities, which are important for the potential cosmetic application of R. platyacantha. Extract R3, prepared from flower buds, showed the most significant antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory potential, decreasing the monophenolase and diphenolase activities of tyrosinase. Extract R3 showed also collagenase inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity against human melanoma cells A375, being less cytotoxic for noncancerous skin keratinocytes HaCaT. Analysis of fractions E and F, obtained from R3 extracts, revealed that quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, and their derivatives are more likely responsible for the tyrosinase inhibitory properties of R. platyacantha extracts.

Use of Medicinal Plants for Respiratory Diseases in Bahawalpur, Pakistan

The most common ethnomedicinal plants being effective in respiratory disorders were studied for the first time in Bahawalpur District. The herbal medication represents a low-cost treatment for the local community. There is a need for documenting the traditional uses of plants for further investigation of bioactive compounds. Using a qualitative approach, the ethnobotanical data was collected from the district of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from February 2018 to February 2020 through semistructured interviews with the local people and traditional healers. The quantitative analysis included use value, informant consensus factor, family importance value, and relative frequency citation. A total of 20 indigenous plants belonging to 17 families were documented from 185 informants. These plants were claimed to be used for the treatment of 10 respiratory ailments. The plant habit, part of the plant used, and mode of preparation were standardized for authentication. The herbs are the most used life form (55%), while trees and shrubs are also used. Leaves dominate with high use value (47.62%) followed by fruit, stem, flower, and other parts of plants. For the preparation of traditional remedies, decoction (76.19%) and extract (71.43%) are common preparation methods. However, other methods of paste infusion, powder juice, and ash are used to a lower extent. The plants with higher use value are Glycyrrhiza glabra, Acacia arabica, and Mentha piperita; these have significant potential therapeutic activity for respiratory disease. The ethnomedicinal importance of plants against respiratory diseases used by the local population (traditional healers) is the commercial availability of the herbal product. It is a first-time study in this area to fill the gap between traditional practices and synthetic medicine to screen out the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of plants that have a highly futuristic use value to develop antibiotic drug with least side effects by using sustainable methods.

Vicia plants-A comprehensive review on chemical composition and phytopharmacology

The plants belonging to the genus Vicia are of great interest as a source of many bioactive compounds and micronutrients. A snapshot of their cultivation, habitat, main components, from which essential oils can be obtained, is given. The traditional medicinal uses of Vicia plants are also reported, as well as the wide spectrum of the main biological activities attributed to Vicia plants is discussed regarding potential health beneficial properties, in particular anti-Parkinson, anticholinesterase, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antinociceptive, antidiabetic, antihemolytic, anticoagulant, estrogenic, diuretic, antihypoxic activities.

Ethnobotanical Study Aimed at Investigating the Use of Medicinal Plants to Treat Nervous System Diseases in the Rif of Morocco

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the treatment of neurological diseases in the Rif region of northern Morocco.

Methods

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the Rif (northern Morocco) from 2016 to 2018. In order to gather information about indigenous medicinal plants and local ethnomedical knowledge, 625 local traditional herbalists and users of these plants were interviewed. The data were collected through semistructured interviews and group discussions, analyzed, and compared by quantitative ethnobotanical indices such as family importance value, relative frequency of citation, plant part value (PPV), fidelity level, and informant consensus factor (ICF) .

Results

Data were collected from 31 medicinal plant species belonging to 14 botanical families. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most commonly reported medicinal plants, with 5 species each. Concerning the diseases treated, epilepsy problems have the highest ICF (0.99). The survey revealed that leaves were the most used part of the plants (PPV= 34.7%), and the most commonly used preparation was an infusion (41.6%).

Conclusion

There exists indigenous ethnomedical knowledge of medicinal plants in the Moroccan Rif to treat neurologic diseases. Based on our findings, we recommend that phytochemical and pharmacologic research be considered to discover potential treatments from these documented plants.

The effect of Rheum ribes L. on oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Objectives Rheum ribes L. is a perennial plant that belongs to the family of Polygonaceae, which is often used in traditional therapy because it possesses many bioactivities, such as antioxidant and antibacterial ones. Here we examined the effect of different R. ribes L. extracts on oxidative stress in experimental diabetic rats. Methods Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups as follows: group I, control group; group II, diabetic rats; group III, diabetic rats treated with the aqueous extract of R. ribes L. by gavage at 50 mg/kg for 15 days; group IV, diabetic rats treated by gavage with the ethanolic extract of R. ribes L. at 50 mg/kg for 15 days; group V, nondiabetic rats treated by gavage with the aqueous extract of R. ribes L. at 50 mg/kg for 15 days; group VI, nondiabetic rats treated by gavage with the ethanol extract of R. ribes L. at 50 mg/kg for 15 days. After 15 days, the animals were sacrificed and the liver and kidney tissues of each animal were isolated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the tissue samples were measured, and histopathologic examination was carried out. Results R. ribes L. was effective in reducing the oxidative stress and increasing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes. Increased levels of MDA and decreased levels of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px were observed in both the liver and kidney tissues in group II. Decreased levels of MDA and increased levels of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px were observed in group III compared with group II. In group IV, decreased levels of MDA and increased levels of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px were observed in comparison with group II. Conclusions Diabetes increases oxidative stress and causes a decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. ribes L. decrease oxidative stress activity and increase the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The ethanol extract of R. ribes L. has a higher antioxidant effect than the aqueous extract.

Phytochemical constituents, biological activities, and health-promoting effects of the genus Origanum

Origanum species are mostly distributed around the Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian, and Iran-Siberian regions. Since time immemorial, the genus has popularly been used in Southern Europe, as well as on the American continent as a spice now known all over the world under the name "oregano" or "pizza-spice." Origanum plants are also employed to prepare bitter tinctures, wines, vermouths, beer, and kvass. The major components of Origanum essential oil are various terpenes, phenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids with predominant occurrence of carvacrol and thymol (with reasonable amounts of p-cymen and -terpinene) or of terpinene-4-ol, linalool, and sabinene hydrate. Many species of Origanum genus are used to treat kidney, digestive, nervous, and respiratory disorders, spasms, sore throat, diabetes, lean menstruation, hypertension, cold, insomnia, toothache, headache, epilepsy, urinary tract infections, etc. Origanum essential oil showed potent bioactivities owing to its major constituents' carvacrol, thymol, and monoterpenes. Several preclinical studies evidenced its pharmacological potential as antiproliferative or anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, renoprotective, antiinflammatory, vasoprotective, cardioprotective, antinociceptive, insecticidal, and hepatoprotective properties. Its nanotechnological applications as a promising pharmaceutical in order to enhance the solubility, physicochemical stability, and the accumulation rate of its essential oils have been investigated. However, Origanum has been reported causing angioedema, perioral dermatitis, allergic reaction, inhibition of platelet aggregation, hypoglycemia, and abortion. Conclusive evidences are still required for its clinical applications against human medical conditions. Toxicity analyses and risk assessment will aid to its safe and efficacious application. In addition, elaborate structure-activity studies are needed to explore the potential use of Origanum-derived phytochemicals as promising drug candidates.

Quantitative Ethnobotanical Study of Indigenous Knowledge on Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribal Communities of Gokand Valley, District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The current study on the traditional use of medicinal plants was carried out from February 2018 to March 2020, in Gokand Valley, District Buner, Pakistan. The goal was to collect, interpret, and evaluate data on the application of medicinal plants. Along with comprehensive notes on individual plants species, we calculated Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Report (UR), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (FCI), as well as Family Importance Value (FIV). During the current study, a total of 109 species belonging to 64 families were reported to be used in the treatment of various ailments. It included three families (four species) of Pteridophytes, 58 families (99 species) of angiosperm, one family (three species) of Gymnosperms, and two families (three species) of fungi. The article highlights the significance of domestic consumption of plant resources to treat human ailments. The UV varied from 0.2 (Acorus calamus L.) to 0.89 (Acacia modesta Wall.). The RFC ranged from 0.059 (Acorus calamus L. and Convolvulus arvensis L.) to 0.285 (Acacia modesta Wall.). The species with 100% FL were Acacia modesta Wall. and the fungus Morchella esculenta Fr., while the FCI was documented from 0 to 0.45 for gastro-intestinal disorders. The conservation ranks of the medicinal plant species revealed that 28 plant species were vulnerable, followed by rare (25 spp.), infrequent (17 spp.), dominant (16 spp.), and 10 species endangered. The traditional use of plants needs conservation strategies and further investigation for better utilization of natural resources.

Garlic and onions: An eastern tale

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Garlic and its wild relatives have a long tradition of use world-wide dating back to the early ages as food and medicine. This exceptional group deserves to be taken into consideration to rethink its potential health effects in light of its cultural and historical background, as well as ethnobotanical practices.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Garlic, onion, and other related vegetables have been indispensable for Turkish daily life. This review focuses on the wild, as well as cultivated, Allium species from the broad historical perspective of Turkish culture. Its goal is also analyze how food and medicine have been perceived as closely connected entities in a specific cultural sphere.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature survey was conducted on these species by referencing scientific databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Elsevier E-Book, Scopus, ISI-Web of Science, and E book Central (Ebrary).

RESULTS

The integration of historical and ethnobotanical data have enabled us to understand the unique position of Alliums in a specific human geography. Garlic and onions have been used in this region as food and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The perceived health benefits of consuming garlic and onions are well documented in the literature. There are more than 200 Allium species naturally distributed in Turkey, and around 30 of those have been widely used for various purposes by local people as a vegetable, spice, condiment, and medicine.

CONCLUSIONS

The desire for good health and wellness has been traced across many cultures throughout history. Healthy foods like garlic were and will be a critical component of maintaining good health.

Identification of the main active antidepressant constituents in a traditional Turkish medicinal plant, Centaurea kurdica Reichardt

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Turkish folk medicine, infusions and decoctions prepared from the flowers, fruits and aerial parts of Centaurea kurdica Reichardt (Asteraceae) are used as sedative and antidepressant-like effects of various sedative plants have been identified in many studies. The present study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

n-Hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH) extracts were prepared from the branches with leaves and also flowers of the plant. Antidepressant potentials of these extracts were researched by using the forced swimming test, tail suspension test, and antagonism of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis, hypothermia, and suppression of locomotor activity.

RESULTS

After determination of high antidepressant potentials of MeOH extract prepared from flowers and n-hexane extract prepared from branches with leaves, isolation studies were carried out on these two extracts and the main active components were determined as β-amyrin, mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol and costunolide for the branches with leaves and quercitrin, isoquercetin and naringenin-7-O-glucopyranoside for the flowers.

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of the mechanistic and toxicity studies planned on this plant, it is thought that C. kurdica may be a glimmer of hope for depressed patients.

Ethnobotanical Study of Indigenous Medicinal Plants of Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

For a long time, the people of Saudi Arabia have been using medicinal plants (MPs) as conventional medicine to heal diverse human and livestock diseases. The present work is the first study on ethnobotanical uses of 124 MPs species used by the local tribal communities of Jazan province in the Southwest of Saudi Arabia. Ethnobotanical data were collected by interviewing 174 local informants using semistructured interviews. Informants of different ages, from several settlements belonging to several tribal communities, were interviewed. It is worth noticing that the age of informants and their knowledge of MPs were positively correlated, whereas the educational level and MP knowledge of participants were negatively correlated. To find out if there was agreement in the use of certain plants in the treatment of given ailments, we used Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). To determine the most frequently used plant species for treating a particular ailment category by local people we used the fidelity level (FL%). The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) was used to indicate the local importance of a species and the relative importance (RI) level was used to check the therapeutic potentials of the cited plants. A total of 124 MPs belonging to 103 genera and 48 families were collected and identified. The majority of these plants were shrubs (45%), perennial herbs (21%), annual herbs (19%), or trees (18%). The Asteraceae (10.48%), Fabaceae (7.25%), and Apocynaceae (7.25%) families were the most represented. Leaves, fruits, and whole plant (24%, 18%, and 16%, respectively) were the most used plant parts in formulating traditional medicines. Ziziphus spina-christi and Calotropis procera with the highest RI level (2.0) were found to have the highest range of therapeutic uses. They were followed by Datura stramonium (1.86), Withania somnifera, and Aloe vera (1.81). The ICF ranged from 0.02 to 0.42 covering 12 disease categories with a prevalence of disease categories related to skin and hair problems (ICF=0.42) having 75 species cited, while 73 species were cited for gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders (ICF = 0.40). Senna alexandrina (67%), Tribulus terrestris (64%), Pulicaria undulata (60%), Leptadenia pyrotechnica (55%), and Rumex nervosus (55%) had the highest FL which indicates their good healing potential against specific diseases. The high-FL species are the most promising candidate plants for in-depth pharmacological screening and merit further consideration. Accordingly, Jazan flora has good ethnobotanical potential. Unfortunately, many MP species are endangered by drought, overgrazing, and overexploitation. Some protection measures should be undertaken to prevent these species from becoming extinct. Natural reserves and wild nurseries are typical settings to retain medically important plants in their natural habitats, while botanic gardens and seed banks are important paradigms for ex situ conservation.

Ethnomedicinal uses of the local flora in Chenab riverine area, Punjab province Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Because of diverse topographical habitats, the Chenab River wetland harbors a wealth of medicinal and food plant species. This paper presents first quantitative assessment on the ethnobotanical use of plants by the local peoples residing in the Chenab riverine area.

METHODS

The ethnobotanical data were collected from six parts of the Chenab River wetland: Mandi Bahuddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sargodha, and Sialkot during 2014 to 2015, using semi-structured interviews. Quantitative indices including informant consensus factor (FCI), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance level (RIL), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), and corrected fidelity level (CFL) were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

On the whole, 129 medicinal plant species belonging to 112 genera of 59 families were reported, with herbs as dominant life forms (51%). Poaceae was the leading family with 13 species, and leaves were the most frequently utilized plant parts (28%). Herbal medicines were mostly used in the form of powder or decoction, and were mainly taken orally. Withania somnifera, Solanum surattense, Solanum nigrum, Azadirachta indica, Ficus benghalensis, Morus nigra, Morus alba, Polygonum plebeium, and Tribulus terrestris were among the highly utilized plant species, with highest UV, RFC, RIL, FL, and CFL values. The reported ailments were grouped into 11 categories based on FCI values, whereas highest FIC was recorded for gastrointestinal diseases and glandular diseases (0.41 and 0.34, respectively). The use report (UR) and frequency of citation (FC) depicted strong positive correlation (r = 0.973; p = 0.01). The value of determination (r² = 0.95) indicating 95% variation in UR can be explained in terms of the FC.

CONCLUSION

The significant traditional knowledge possessed by local communities depicts their strong relation with phytodiversity. Reported data could be helpful in sustainable use and protection of plant species in the Chenab wetland, with special emphasis on medicinal plants. Furthermore, screening of plant-borne active ingredients and in vivo/in vitro pharmacological activities could be of interest for novel drug synthesis.

Traceability of wild Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis based on data fusion strategy of FT-MIR and UV-Vis combined with SVM and random forest

Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz (PPY) was a frequently used herbal medicine in pharmaceutical field and different provenances might affect the clinical efficacy. Tracing the geographical origin was an important portion for PPY authentication and quality assessment. Present study was compared low-, mid- and high-level data fusion methodology for geographical traceability of PPY samples (161 batches) combined with multivariate classification methods such as support vector machine gird search (SVM-GS) and random forest (RF) on the basis of Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra. Compared with the low- and mid-level data fusion strategy results basing on SVM-GS algorithm, result of high-level data fusion method (calculated by RF) was more satisfying. Result of RF basing on high-level data fusion strategy showed that merely two samples were misclassified and one sample was multiple assigned after voting with fuzzy set theory. Values of specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy rates were exceeded 0.91, 0.99 and 90.91%, for each class respectively, satisfying results of these were shown in training and test sets for high-level data fusion method. This feasible result indicated that the RF algorithm could establish a reliable and good performance model in geographical traceability on the basis of high-level data fusion strategy. Combination of high-level data fusion and RF algorithm could consider as a good choice for establishing a discrimination multivariate model for origins identification of PPY samples.

Traditional medicinal plants of Ağrı Province, Turkey

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

This study serves as the first investigation of the knowledge of traditional medicinal plants used in Ağrı Province. The mountainous and strongly fragmented area, diversity of local flora, limited access to modern medicines because of the people's seminomadic lifestyle, and harsh climatic conditions have prompted the locals to benefit from natural resources, principally plants.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Although the use of medicinal plant is common in the area, documentation and inventory analysis are not available on the plant taxa used in traditional medicine in Ağrı Province. This study focused on the answer of the following question: What are the most medicinally valuable plant taxa in the province? Therefore, this study aimed to (i) document medicinal plant taxa used in Ağrı Province; (ii) determine the endemic plant species and their risk categories; (iii) determine the most widely used plant taxa for specific ailments to further contribute to drug discovery; (iv) determine the local names, plant part(s) used, preparation, and utilization methods of these local plant medicines to assist with pharmaceutical studies; and (v) reveal the origin(s) of traditional medicinal knowledge of Ağrı Province.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnopharmacological field studies were conducted between 2014 and 2016 in 638 locations within Ağrı Province. Plant samples used in folk medicine were determined through face-to-face interviews with 120 local healers. Traditional medicinal plant samples were collected from wild areas with the help of the local healers and transported to Van Pharmaceutical Herbarium (Van, Turkey) for botanical identification. The statistical analyses of data were conducted using the informant consensus factor (ICF) method.

RESULTS

In this study, 118 medicinal taxa belonging to 35 families of plants were determined to be used in Ağrı Province. Ninety-three different local names were recorded, which mainly described the plant's morphological characteristics. Data analysis (ICF) revealed that the traditional medicinal plants used in Ağrı Province might offer promising information for new pharmaceuticals.

CONCLUSIONS

The local population in the study area has a preserved and comprehensive knowledge of traditional medicine because of its limited access to modern medicine, seminomadic lifestyle, isolated geographical position, traditional taste habits, climatic conditions, diversity of local flora, and mountainous and rugged geography. The medicinal plants presented in this study might provide valuable leads for the identification of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical use and represent a vast and underutilized resource for the development of newer and more efficient pharmacological treatments.

Berberine: Botanical Occurrence, Traditional Uses, Extraction Methods, and Relevance in Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Hepatic, and Renal Disorders

Berberine-containing plants have been traditionally used in different parts of the world for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, skin diseases, wound healing, reducing fevers, affections of eyes, treatment of tumors, digestive and respiratory diseases, and microbial pathologies. The physico-chemical properties of berberine contribute to the high diversity of extraction and detection methods. Considering its particularities this review describes various methods mentioned in the literature so far with reference to the most important factors influencing berberine extraction. Further, the common separation and detection methods like thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry are discussed in order to give a complex overview of the existing methods. Additionally, many clinical and experimental studies suggest that berberine has several pharmacological properties, such as immunomodulatory, antioxidative, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective effects. This review summarizes the main information about botanical occurrence, traditional uses, extraction methods, and pharmacological effects of berberine and berberine-containing plants.

Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of genus Adiantum: A comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Genus Adiantum (Pteridaceae) forms a significant dominant component of many plant communities especially in the tropical and temperate regions. These are commonly known as maidenhair ferns and several have been used medicinally in different parts of the world. They exhibit antidysenteric, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antitumor and antiviral activities. The traditional uses of Adiantum species are known to be for respiratory problems such as cough cold, fever, pneumonia and mucous formation.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to provide a comprehensive and updated, categorized information on the botanical aspects, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicological research of Adiantum species in order to explore their therapeutic potential and evaluate future research opportunities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The available information on various species belonging to the genus Adiantum was collected via electronic search (using Pubmed, SciFinder, Scirus, Google Scholar, JCCC@INSTIRC and Web of Science) and a library search for articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

RESULTS

The literature provided information on several ethnopharmacologically well known Adiantum species, the best studied species being A. capillus-veneris. From these plant species, more than 130 compounds belonging to triterpenoids, flavanoids, phenyl propanoids, phenolics, coumarins, phytosterols, fatty acids and others were identified. Experimental evidences confirmed that the Adiantum species could be used in treating microbial infections, diabetes, liver disorders as well as inflammatory disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Plants belonging to the genus Adiantum have offered bioactive crude extracts as well as pure compounds, thus substantiating their effectiveness in traditional medicine. Although toxicity studies carried out on some Adiantum species have showed them to be non-toxic, further toxicological studies are still required to confirm their safety in humans. Future research should be directed towards implementing an integrated approach through intensive investigations of all the species of Adiantum relating to phytochemical and pharmacological properties, especially bio-assay guided isolation of phytoconstituents, their mechanism of action, as well as their bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy.

An ethnobotanical study in Midyat (Turkey), a city on the silk road where cultures meet

BACKGROUND

Studies of ethnobotanical usages in south-eastern Turkey are rare. To widen this field of knowledge, we conducted an ethnobotanical study in Midyat (Mardin Province), Turkey.

METHODS

The field study was completed during three years (2007-2010). Our aim was to document the ethnobotanical uses of local plants and to make an ethnobotanical inventory of uncommon plants using qualitative interviews.

RESULTS

During field studies, 368 voucher specimens were collected in the investigated area. Ninety-two traditionally used plant species were reported from Midyat and surrounding vicinities in Turkey. Among the 92 taxa (129 usages), 35% were used for medical purposes, 22% for food, 13% for animal fodder, 7% as ornamental plants and dyes, 6% as brooms, 4% for latex and as fragrance, 4% for herbal tea, molasses and wine preparation, 3% for agricultural purposes, and 6% for other purposes. Comparative assessment showed that Teucrium polium (0.51), Matricaria aurea (0.26), Alcea setosa (0.21), and Malva neglecta (0.21) have the highest recorded UVs, and the following taxa had UVs between 0.10-0.20: Anthemis cotula (0.12), Allium cepa (0.13), Alcea striata subsp. striata (0.14), Crupina crupinastrum (0.12), Papaver rhoeas (0.13), Salvia multicaulis (0.14), Thymbra spicata (0.11), and Vicia pannonica subsp. striata (0.15). We reported the ethnobotanical usages of 21 taxa for the first time, in addition to indicating usages previously recorded in the literature. We also recorded four endemic plant usages in the area: Alkanna trichophila var. mardinensis, Centaurea kurdica, Centaurea stapfiana, and Sideritis libanotica subsp. linearis. They have variable leaf and flower morphology that are used traditionally. They are present as well-developed populations and thus their conservation status is not compromised. Additionally, Thymbra sintenisii is a recorded species that is classified as a rare and extensively used species in the region.

CONCLUSIONS

These results contribute to the fundamental knowledge of ethnobotanical usages in Midyat. To date, ethnobotanical studies have not been carried out in this region. This investigation uncovered usages of endemic medicinal plant species and traditional knowledge of Midyat communities living in a mixed culture. The people of Midyat, Batman, and Şırnak are Turkish citizens from various ethnic backgrounds, such as Kurdish, Arabic, and Syriac. We compared our data with results from other studies conducted in Turkey, particularly in south-eastern and eastern regions, as well as with studies from bordering countries, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Iran. Nonetheless, more work needs to be conducted to extend the present knowledge for locals to contribute to and evaluate economic potential in the region.