Do recent research studies validate the medicinal plants used in British Columbia, Canada for pet diseases and wild animals taken into temporary care?

Borago Officinalis L.: A Review Oon Extraction, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Activities

Borago officinalis L., an annual herb belonging to the Boraginaceae family, is used in the traditional medical practices of various countries and for multiple treatments, including respiratory disorders, colds, influenza, diarrhea, cramps, inflammation, palpitation, hypertension menopause, and post-menopausal symptoms. Its pharmacological properties and biological activities - among them antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antigenotoxic, and anti-obesity activity - were demonstrated in vitro and in vivo and are related to its rich content of bioactive compounds (mainly phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, and terpenes) extracted from various parts of B. officinalis including leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots. This review summarizes all updated information on applied extraction processes, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of B. officinalis.

In Vitro Activity of Allium cepa Organosulfur Derivatives against Canine Multidrug-Resistant Strains of Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae

BACKGROUND

The increase of multi-resistant bacteria, especially Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae, constitutes a challenge in veterinary medicine. The rapid growth of resistance is outpacing antibiotic discovery. Innovative strategies are needed, including the use of natural products like Allium species (Allium sativum L. and Allium cepa L.), which have been used empirically for centuries to treat infectious diseases in humans and farm and aquaculture animals due to their antibacterial properties.

METHODS

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of two Allium-derived compounds, propyl propane thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), against multi-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (n = 30) and Enterobacteriaceae (n = 26) isolated from dogs referred to a veterinary teaching hospital in Madrid.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results indicated the in vitro efficacy of PTSO/PTS against the tested bacterial strains, and 56.7% of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and 53.8% of Enterobacteriaceae showed sensitivity to PTS and PTSO compared with classic antibiotics. In addition, 50% of S. pseudintermedius strains resistant to erythromycin, ibofloxacin, difloxacin and orbifloxacin and 50% of Enterobacteriaceae strains resistant to tetracycline and doxycycline were sensitive to PTS and PTSO. Although studies are needed to verify their efficacy in vivo, the combined use of PTS and PTSO exhibits promise in enhancing bacterial sensitivity against S. pseudintermedius and Enterobacteriaceae infections, providing a first insight into the potential of both compounds in veterinary practice.

Remnants from the Past: From an 18th Century Manuscript to 21st Century Ethnobotany in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy)

BACKGROUND

This project originated from the study of an 18th century manuscript found in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy) which contains 200 plant-based medicinal remedies. A first comparison with published books concerning 20th century folk medicine in the Valley led to the designing of an ethnobotanical investigation, aimed at making a thorough comparison between past and current phytotherapy knowledge in this territory.

METHODS

The field investigation was conducted through semi-structured interviews. All data collected was entered in a database and subsequently processed. A diachronic comparison between the field results, the manuscript, and a 20th century book was then performed.

RESULTS

A total of 109 interviews were conducted and the use of 103 medicinal plants, belonging to 46 families, was noted. A decrease in number of plant taxa and uses was observed over time, with only 42 taxa and 34 uses reported in the manuscript being currently known by the people of the valley. A thorough comparison with the remedies in the manuscript highlighted similar recipes for 12 species. Specifically, the use of agrimony in Valle Imagna for the treatment of deep wounds calls back to an ancient remedy against leg ulcers based on this species.

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary results of this study allow us to outline the partial passage through time fragments of ancient plant-based remedies once used in the investigated area.

Diterpenes of Scutellaria spp.: Phytochemistry and pharmacology

Scutellaria genus, a member of the Lamiaceae family, distributed worldwide and known as skullcaps, contains a wide range of pharmacologically active constituents including flavonoids and diterpenes. There are different classes of diterpenes in the plant kingdom, of which many have medicinal applications. Scutellaria spp. contain neo-clerodane diterpenes, a large group of naturally occurring specialized metabolites found in both plant species and in organisms from other taxonomic groups, such as fungi, bacteria, and marine sponges. Although many phytochemical studies have been established reporting interesting specialized diterpene structures from Scutellaria spp., there has not been a comprehensive study reviewing these compounds. Hence, the present review reports on natural diterpenoids from the Scutellaria genus and their pharmacological activities. For this purpose, the scientific databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched using the keywords "Scutellaria" and "Diterpenes" or "Diterpenoids". The literature review showed that up to now, more than 300 diterpenes have been isolated and reported from the Scutellaria genus, belonging to neo-clerodane scaffolds. Anticancer, antifeedant, phytotoxic, antimicrobial, and nitric oxide production inhibitory activities are the most reported properties for the diterpenoids from the Scutellaria genus. Diterpenes of Scutellaria spp. have therapeutic potentials to be used for the treatment of different diseases. Further phytochemical, pharmacological, and clinical studies are required in this regard.

Valuable Hepatoprotective Plants - How Can We Optimize Waste Free Uses of Such Highly Versatile Resources?

Humans used plants for thousand of years as food, drugs, or fuel to keep homes warm. People commonly used fruits and roots, and other parts of the plant were often wasted. This review aims to discuss the potential of rational stem-to-stern use of three highly versatile and valuable plants with hepatoprotective properties. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.), artichoke (Cynara cardunculus), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) have well-characterized hepatoprotective properties. These plants have been chosen since liver diseases are significant diseases of concern worldwide, and all parts of plants can be potentially utilized. Artichoke and chicory are commonly used as food or dietary supplements and less often as phytodrugs. Various dietary supplements and phytodrugs prepared from milk thistle (MT) fruits/seeds are well-known to consumers as remedies supporting liver functions. However, using these plants as functional food, farm animal feed, is not well-described in the literature. We also discuss bioactive constituents present in various parts of these plants, their pharmacological properties. Distinct parts of MT, artichoke, and chicory can be used to prepare remedies and food for humans and animals. Unused plant parts are potentially wasted. To achieve waste-free use of these and many other plants, the scientific community needs to analyze the complex use of plants and propose strategies for waste-free technologies. The government must stimulate companies to utilize by-products. Another problem associated with plant use as a food or source of phytodrug is the overharvesting of wild plants. Consequently, there is a need to use more active cultivation techniques for plants.

Ethnoveterinary for food-producing animals and related food safety issues: A comprehensive overview about terpenes

Alternatives to the use of conventional veterinary drugs in food-producing animals have gained attention, such as the use of natural products (NPs), mainly to soften the risks to the animal, the environment, and consumer's health. Although NPs have consistent advantages over conventional drugs, they cannot be considered risk free under food safety matters. In this way, this document presents a comprehensive overview of the importance of considering both the pharmacological and toxicological properties of the constituents of a NP from plants intending the standardization and regulation of its use in food-producing animals. Terpenes are the most diverse class of natural substances present in NP of vegetal origin with a broad range of biological activities that can be explored in veterinary science; however, certain plants and terpenes also have significant toxic effects, a fact that can harm the health of animals and consequently generate economic losses and risks for humans. In this context, this review gathered scientific data of vegetal species of importance to ethnoveterinary for food-producing animals, which produce terpenes, its biological effects, and their implications on food safety issues for consumers. For this, more than 300 documents were selected from different online scientific databases. The present data and discussion may contribute to the rational commercial exploration of this class of NPs in veterinary medicine.