Ethnobotanical and antibacterial study of Primula plants traditionally used in the indigenous communities of Western Himalaya, Pakistan

Standard medical ethnobotany of Kohistan, North Pakistan

BACKGROUND

This study was exclusively focused on the documentation and cross-cultural evaluation of ethnomedicinal knowledge (EMK) within the diverse linguistic groups of Kohistan situated between the Himalayan and Hindukush Mountain ranges in the north Pakistan.

METHODS

Data were gathered during the field survey (May 2022 to July 2023) through group conversations, semi-structured interviews, and on-site observation. Venn diagrams were employed to illustrate the comparative assessment of EMK, and different ethnobotanical indices were utilized to examine the data.

RESULTS

A total of 96 wild medicinal plant species (MPs) belonging to 74 genera and 52 botanical families were documented. The most reported MPs belong to the family Polygonaceae (11 species), followed by Asteraceae (9 species) and Lamiaceae (8 species). The ethnomedicinal uses of Leontopodium himalayanum, Pedicularis oederi, Plocama brevifolia, Polypodium sibiricum, Pteridium esculentum, Sambucus wightiana, Solanum cinereum, Teucrium royleanum, Rhodiola integrifolia, Aconitum chasmanthum were reported for the first time in this region. Among the reported taxa herbaceous species were dominated (72%), followed by trees and shrubs (17% and 10%, respectively). Digestive problems (40 taxa and 114 use reports) and skin disorders (19 taxa and 549 use reports) were the most cited disease categories, whereas M. communis, M. longifolia, Ajuga integrifolia, Ziziphus jujuba, and Clematis grata exhibited the highest percentage fidelity levels. Out of 109 documented medicinal uses, a mere 12 were shared across all linguistic groups, and Bateri emerges as a notable outlier with the highest number of medicinal uses. In addition, a significant homogeneity was noted in the reported botanical taxa (61 species) among different linguistic groups. However, since the last decade biocultural heritage of Kohistan is facing multifaceted risks that need urgent attention.

CONCLUSION

Our findings could be valuable addition to the existing stock of ethnomedicinal knowledge and may provide ethnopharmacological basis to novel drug discovery for preexisting and emerging diseases prioritizing detailed phytochemical profiling and the evaluation of bioactive potential.

The ethnobotanical heritage of Lotkuh, a high-altitude tribal haven of Chitral, the Eastern Hindu Kush, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

In northwestern Pakistan, Lotkuh is a high-altitude terrain nestled within the eastern Hindu Kush region. Enclaved by towering peaks and harboring a unique culture, the region mirrors the geographical and cultural diversity of Pakistan. In this geographically isolated region, a treasure trove of ethnobotanical knowledge unfolds through generations of interaction between the inhabitants and indigenous plants, resulting in a profound understanding of the plant uses in nutritional, medicinal, cultural, and ritual contexts. Thus, the study seeks to gather, analyze, and document the indigenous knowledge of plant utilization of the distinct tribal culture.

METHODS

Through semi-structured questionnaires, inventory interviews, and participatory workshops, data were collected by engaging a cohort of 120 local respondents. The collected data were then classified into nine distinct use categories, following which quantitative indices were calculated.

RESULTS

The research identified a total of 150 plant species spanning across 59 different families and categorized them into 9 distinct usage groups. Among these, Astragalus oihorensis, Astragalus owirensis, Cicer nuristanicum, Geranium parmiricum, and Rochelia chitralensis stand out as novel species with distinctive applications. Notably, medicinal use garnered 600 reports, while animal feed, veterinary applications, human consumption, and toxicity recorded 500, 450, 425, and 104 reports, respectively. Informant consensus was high ranging between 0.8 and 0.9 with most agreement on human food and animal feed category. Platanus orientalis and Juglans regia, with RFC 0.91, were the most cited. The Family Importance Value (FIV) of Juglandaceae and Platanaceae, each with an FIV of 0.91, and Capparidaceae with an FIV of 0.83 indicate the intricate role the families play.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we explore 150 ethnobotanical species, uncovering novel entries within ethnobotanical literature. Among these, several species showcase unique uses previously undocumented in Pakistani literature. Our research sheds light on the intricate interaction between plants and the distinct cultural landscape of the Lotkuh region.

The local medicinal plant knowledge in Kashmir Western Himalaya: a way to foster ecological transition via community-centred health seeking strategies

BACKGROUND

The mountainous region of Kashmir is a biodiversity hotspot, with diverse local communities and a rich cultural history linked to nature. Mountain ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change. This study emphasises the need to record the indigenous ethnoecological knowledge of wild plants used for the treatment of various ailments at higher elevations in remote areas where globalisation poses a threat to this traditional knowledge.

METHODS

The field survey was carried out in 2020-2022, to collect data on wild medicinal plants. Informants were selected randomly to collect indigenous medicinal knowledge using semi-structured interviews and group discussions. Various quantitative indices were employed to evaluate ethnomedicinal data.

RESULTS

A total of 110 medicinal plants belonging to 49 families were recorded in the study area. These medicinal plants are extensively used by local communities for the treatment of 20 major disease categories. Asteraceae was the dominant family contributing (9.09%) to medicinal plants, followed by Polygonaceae (8.18%), Apiaceae (7.27%), Lamiaceae (5.45%), and Ranunculaceae (5.45%). We observed 166 remedies were used for the treatment of various diseases in humans, and 9 remedies were used for animals. The most frequently used medicinal remedy was tea or decoction (30.91%). Among the medicinal plants, herbs (85.5%) were most frequently used by the local populations of Kashmir, whereas leaves (10.26%) were used for the treatment of various ailments. Out of 110 species, 31 were endemic, 15 of which are endemic to the Kashmir region and 16 to the Western Himalaya. The highest RFC value was reported for Allium humile (0.77), the highest UV value for Fritillaria cirrhosa (1.33), and the highest ICF value for gastro-intestinal/digestive disorders (0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Local communities still rely on wild medicinal plants for primary healthcare. These communities retained valuable indigenous knowledge, which needs to be preserved for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources. Further field exploration is required to fully explore indigenous knowledge in the mountainous regions of Kashmir, and this knowledge has the potential to support the ongoing ecological transition.

Proposed mechanisms of action of herbal drugs and their biologically active constituents in the treatment of coughs: an overview

Various medicinal plants find their use in cough treatment, based on traditions and long-term experience. Pharmacological principles of their action, however, are much less known. Herbal drugs usually contain a mixture of potentially active compounds, which can manifest diverse effects. Expectorant or antitussive effects, which can be accompanied by others, such as anti-inflammatory or antibacterial, are probably the most important in the treatment of coughs. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the effects of medicinal plants or their constituents on cough, based on reliable pharmacological studies. First, a comprehensive description of each effect is provided in order to explain the possible mechanism of action in detail. Next, the results related to individual plants and substances are summarized and critically discussed based on pharmacological in vivo and in vitro investigation.

Developing Strategies to Help Bee Colony Resilience in Changing Environments

Climate change, loss of plant biodiversity, burdens caused by new pathogens, predators, and toxins due to human disturbance and activity are significant causes of the loss of bee colonies and wild bees. The aim of this review is to highlight some possible strategies that could help develop bee resilience in facing their changing environments. Scientists underline the importance of the links between nutrition, microbiota, and immune and neuroendocrine stress resistance of bees. Nutrition with special care for plant-derived molecules may play a major role in bee colony health. Studies have highlighted the importance of pollen, essential oils, plant resins, and leaves or fungi as sources of fundamental nutrients for the development and longevity of a honeybee colony. The microbiota is also considered as a key factor in bee physiology and a cornerstone between nutrition, metabolism, growth, health, and pathogen resistance. Another stressor is the varroa mite parasite. This parasite is a major concern for beekeepers and needs specific strategies to reduce its severe impact on honeybees. Here we discuss how helping bees to thrive, especially through changing environments, is of great concern for beekeepers and scientists.

An In-Depth Study on the Metabolite Profile and Biological Properties of Primula auriculata Extracts: A Fascinating Sparkle on the Way from Nature to Functional Applications

The biological activity of the aerial part and rhizomes of Primula auriculata were assessed for the first time. The biological activities (antioxidant properties, enzyme inhibition, and AGE inhibition) as well as the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the ethyl acetate, ethanol, hydro-ethanol and water extracts of P. auriculata aerial parts and rhizomes were determined. Cell viability assays and gelatin zymography were also performed for MMP-2/-9 to determine the molecular mechanisms of action. The gene expression for MMPs was described with RT-PCR. The levels of various proteins, including phospho-Nf-κB, BCL-2, BAX, p-53, and cyclin D1 as well as RAGE were measured using Western blot analysis. The hydro-ethanol extract of the aerial part possessed the highest phenolic (56.81 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (63.92 mg RE/g) contents. In-depth profiling of the specialized metabolites by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) allowed for the identification and annotation of 65 compounds, including phenolic acids and glycosides, flavones, flavonols, chalcones, dihydrochalcones, and saponins. The hydro-ethanol extract of the aerial parts (132.65, 180.87, 172.46, and 108.37 mg TE/g, for the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, respectively) and the ethanol extract of the rhizomes (415.06, 638.30, 477.77, and 301.02 mg TE/g, for the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, respectively) exhibited the highest free radical scavenging and reducing activities. The ethanol and hydro-ethanol extracts of both the P. auriculata aerial part and rhizomes exhibited higher inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, while the hydro-ethanol extracts (1.16 mmol ACAE/g, for both the aerial part and rhizomes extracts) were more active in the inhibition of α-glucosidase. After the treatment of an HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line with the extracts, the apoptosis mechanism was initiated, the integrity of the ECM was remodeled, and cell proliferation was also taken under control. In this way, Primula extracts were shown to be potential drug sources in the treatment of colorectal cancer. They were also detected as natural MMP inhibitors. The findings presented in the present study appraise the bioactivity of P. auriculata, an understudied species. Additional assessment is required to evaluate the cytotoxicity of P. auriculata as well as its activity in ex vivo systems.