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Vardeman E, Vandebroek I. Caribbean Women's Health and Transnational Ethnobotany. ECONOMIC BOTANY 2021; 76:205-226. [PMID: 34522053 PMCID: PMC8432280 DOI: 10.1007/s12231-021-09526-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Caribbean Women's Health and Transnational Ethnobotany. Immigrants from the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti are among the top foreign-born communities in New York City (NYC). As people migrate to new countries, they bring their ethnomedical beliefs and practices, and adapt their plant pharmacopoeias. Haiti and the DR share a flora on the island of Hispaniola. In NYC, the flora is limited to what is available in the city. We selected plants for future laboratory research based on ethnobotanical data from two surveys among Dominicans in the DR and NYC, and a Haitian literature review. In both Dominican datasets, gynecological infections were the top women's health condition treated with plants. We identified 10 species for this purpose reported by Dominicans that are also known medicines in Haitian culture, although not yet documented for women's health. Plants for gynecological infections potentially cause dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, and may increase rather than prevent disease. There is a public health need to assess traditional medicines for their ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, while causing minimal disruption to the vaginal flora. Several species are known antibacterials, but remain to be tested for their efficacy. These results also provide a foundation for a planned ethnobotanical survey among NYC Haitian women. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12231-021-09526-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Vardeman
- The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Economic Botany, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458 USA
- City University of New York, Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Ina Vandebroek
- The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Economic Botany, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458 USA
- City University of New York, Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA
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Lee J, Moon JY, Lee JC, Hwang TI, Park CH, Kim CS. Simple conversion of 3D electrospun nanofibrous cellulose acetate into a mechanically robust nanocomposite cellulose/calcium scaffold. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 253:117191. [PMID: 33278968 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cellulose and its derivatives are widely used as nanofibrous biomaterials, but obtaining 3D cellulose nanofibers is difficult and relevant research is scarce. In the present study, we propose a simple method for converting electrospun 3D cellulose acetate/lactic acid nanofibers via calcium hydroxide treatment into a 3D cellulose/calcium lactate nanocomposite matrix. The conversion resulted in producing a stronger nanofibrous matrix (1.382 MPa vs. 0.112 MPa) that is more hydrophilic and cell-friendly compared to the untreated cellulose acetate/lactic acid group. The successful conversion was verified via FTIR, XPS, TGA, DTG, and XRD. The ability of the scaffolds to provide a suitable environment for cell growth and infiltration was verified by CCK assay and confocal microscopy. The porous nature, mechanical strength, and presence of calcium make the 3D cellulose/calcium lactate matrix a promising material for bone tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Lee
- Department of Bionanosystem Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Yeon Moon
- Department of Bionanosystem Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Bionanotechnology and Bioconvergence Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Chan Lee
- Department of Bionanosystem Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Bionanotechnology and Bioconvergence Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae In Hwang
- Department of Bionanosystem Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Hee Park
- Department of Bionanosystem Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Bionanotechnology and Bioconvergence Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Division of Mechanical Design Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
| | - Cheol Sang Kim
- Department of Bionanosystem Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Bionanotechnology and Bioconvergence Engineering, Graduate School, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea; Division of Mechanical Design Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
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Liu C, Cui Y, Pi F, Cheng Y, Guo Y, Qian H. Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Pharmacological Applications of Acemannan, a Polysaccharide from Aloe vera: A Review. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24081554. [PMID: 31010204 PMCID: PMC6515206 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24081554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant species of the genus Aloe with a long history of usage around the world. Acemannan, considered one of the main bioactive polysaccharides of Aloe vera, possesses immunoregulation, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, wound healing and bone proliferation promotion, neuroprotection, and intestinal health promotion activities, among others. In this review, recent advancements in the extraction, purification, structural characteristics and biological activities of acemannan from Aloe vera were summarized. Among these advancements, the structural characteristics of purified polysaccharides were reviewed in detail. Meanwhile, the biological activities of acemannan from Aloe vera determined by in vivo, in vitro and clinical experiments are summarized, and possible mechanisms of these bioactivities were discussed. Moreover, the latest research progress on the use of acemannan in dentistry and wound healing was also summarized in details. The structure-activity relationships of acemannan and its medical applications were discussed. Finally, new perspectives for future research work on acemannan were proposed. In conclusion, this review summarizes the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities and pharmacological applications of acemannan, and provides information for the industrial production and possible applications in dentistry and wound healing in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
- Synergetic Innovation Center for Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yan Cui
- Institute of Agricultural Products Processing, Key Laboratory of Preservation Engineering of Agricultural Products, Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ningbo 315040, China.
| | - Fuwei Pi
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
- Synergetic Innovation Center for Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yuliang Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
- Synergetic Innovation Center for Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yahui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
- Synergetic Innovation Center for Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - He Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
- Synergetic Innovation Center for Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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