Scientific validation of medicinal plants used by Yakkha community of Chanuwa VDC, Dhankuta, Nepal

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used to treat human ailments in Quara district, northwestern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Ethiopia is recognized as one of the centers of origin for the diversity of many plant species, including medicinal plants. Throughout the country, a large proportion of the population relies on these therapeutic plant species for primary healthcare. While such traditional medicinal knowledge has been documented in some regions, there is a lack of information from the Quara district of northwestern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to document the indigenous and local knowledge of the use of medicinal plants among three ethnic groups residing in the area.

METHODOLOGY

An ethnobotanical study was conducted from August 2022 to October 2023 in ten kebeles of the Quara district. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field walks, and focus group discussions with 286 informants using snowball, purposive, and random sampling techniques. Quantitative analyses included Rahman's similarity index (RSI), informant consensus factor (ICF), and direct matrix ranking (DMR). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze basic ethnobotanical data.

RESULTS

A total of 128 medicinal plant species from 112 genera and 50 families were documented and used to treat 14 disease categories. There was a 28% overlap in medicinal plant knowledge among the three ethnic groups studied. Fabaceae was the most represented family with 22 species. Trees accounted for the majority of the documented plants (37.5%), and leaves were the most commonly used plant parts (23.1%). Oral administration (56.7%) of plant extracts was the primary mode of remedy preparation and use. The highest ICF value (0.93) was recorded for circulatory and blood-related disorders. The study identified nine plants and 39 therapeutic uses not previously reported in Ethiopia. The RSI showed high overlap with neighboring areas and low similarity with distant areas. Top-ranked multipurpose plants were Ziziphus spina-christi and Terminalia leiocarpa, with agricultural expansion and fuelwood collection identified as major threats.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate the rich diversity of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge in the Quara district. The high ethnobotanical indices warrant further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations. Integrated conservation efforts are recommended to address the challenges facing these valuable plant resources.

Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunberg-An Ornamental Shrub with Medical Properties

Harlequin glory bower (Clerodendrum trichotomum) is a shrub or small tree belonging to the Lamiaceae family, native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China. It has esthetic value and in Europe, it is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Its sweet-smelling flowers have a white or pink crown. The calyx turns from green to pink-purple over time, providing an especially decorative touch around surrounding the ripe deep-blue fruits that persist until winter. In the areas of its natural occurrence, the leaves and young shoots of C. trichotomum, and sometimes the roots, flowers and fruits, are used in folk medicine due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, sedative, and hypotensive effects. Products based on Harlequin glory are also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, skin inflammation, or asthma. Preliminary research on the composition of raw material suggests that its health-promoting effect is associated with the presence of numerous secondary metabolites, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, and anthraquinones. This work reviews the current state of knowledge about the phytochemistry and in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of the extracts and main active components isolated from C. trichotomum. It also indicates that before it can be used in modern medicine, further research is necessary regarding the safety and efficacy of the raw material, its mechanisms of action, and dosage.

Phytochemicals: potential alternative strategy to fight Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

The rise of multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms is a great hazard worldwide and has made it difficult to treat many infectious diseases adequately. One of the most prevalent causes of outbreaks of foodborne illness worldwide is Salmonella. The ability of this and other harmful bacteria to withstand antibiotics has recently proven crucial to their effective control. Since the beginning of time, herbal medicines and phytochemicals have been employed for their potent antibacterial action and there is a growing trend toward the production of plant based natural products for the prevention and treatment of pathogenic infections. Numerous phytochemicals have been proven effective against the molecular determinants responsible for attaining drug resistance in pathogens like efflux pumps, membrane proteins, bacterial cell communications and biofilms. The medicinal plants having antibacterial activity and antibiotics combination with phytochemicals have shown synergetic activity against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The inhibitory effects of tannins on rumen proteolytic bacteria can be exploited in ruminant nutrition. Improved control of the rumen ecology and practical use of this feed additive technology in livestock production will be made possible by a better knowledge of the modulatory effects of phytochemicals on the rumen microbial populations in combination with fermentation. This review focuses on the development of antibacterial resistance in Salmonella, the mechanism of action of phytochemicals and the use of phytochemicals against S. enterica serovar Typhimurium. The advances and potential future applications of phytochemicals in the fight against resistant are also discussed.

Ethnoveterinary use of plants and its implication for sustainable livestock management in Nepal

Traditional herbal remedies are used worldwide for treating both human and livestock health issues. Though such uses are relatively well-explored for humans, the ethnoveterinary uses of plant-based remedies in the healthcare choices of livestock in Nepal and associated knowledge are largely ignored. This is important as sustainable livestock production is an emerging issue. This study reviews the existing ethnobotanical studies conducted in Nepal and reports the use of 393 species of plants from 114 botanical families in ethnoveterinary practices. Thirty-four different ailments were treated using these plants. The present review revealed that Nepal has a rich diversity of ethnoveterinary plants. This study shows that traditional herbal medicine plays a significant role in meeting the livestock healthcare needs of Nepali farmers and hence is a viable practice. The study also contributes a wealth of knowledge about ethnoveterinary practices for further planning and use. This will provide an option for livestock farmers who cannot afford allopathic medicine or who are not allowed to use such medicine under organic farming schemes that are likely to be a part of sustainable livestock farming programs in Nepal soon.

Phytoassisted synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles from Pterocarpus marsupium rox.b heartwood extract and its biomedical applications

BACKGROUND

Unlike chemical techniques, the combination of metal oxide nanoparticles utilizing plant concentrate is a promising choice. The purpose of this work was to synthesize magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) utilizing heartwood aqueous extract of Pterocarpus marsupium. The heartwood extract of Pterocarpus marsupium is rich in polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids that can be used as a green source for large-scale, simple, and eco-friendly production of MgO-NPs. The phytoassisted synthesis of MgO is characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS

The formation of MgO-NPs is confirmed by a visual color change from colorless to dark brown and they displayed a wavelength of 310 nm in UV-Spectrophotometry analysis. The crystalline nature of the obtained biosynthesized nanoparticles are revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. SEM results revealed the synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles formed by this cost-effective method are spherically shaped with an average size of < 20 nm. The presence of magnesium and oxygen were confirmed by the EDS data. TEM analysis proved the spherical shape of the nanoparticles with average particle size of 13.28 nm and SAED analysis confirms the crystalline nature of MgO-NPs. FT-IR investigation confirms the existence of the active compounds required to stabilize the magnesium oxide nanoparticles with hydroxyl and carboxyl and phenolic groups that act as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agent. All the nanoparticles vary in particle sizes between 15 and 25 nm and obtained a polydispersity index value of 0.248. The zeta-potential was measured and found to be - 2.9 mV. Further, MgO-NPs were tested for antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria) by minimum inhibitory concentration technique were found to be potent against both the bacteria. The blended nanoparticles showed good antioxidant activity examined by the DPPH radical scavenging method, showed good anti-diabetic activity determined by alpha-amylase inhibitory activity, and displayed strong anti-inflammatory activity evaluated by the albumin denaturation method.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigation reports the eco-friendly, cost-effective method for synthesizing magnesium oxide nanoparticles from Pterocarpus marsupium Rox.b heartwood extract with biomedical applications.

The Effects of Combining Cancer Drugs with Compounds Isolated from Combretum zeyheri Sond. and Combretum platypetalum Welw. ex M.A. Lawson (Combretaceae) on the Viability of Jurkat T Cells and HL-60 Cells

Combretum zeyheri and Combretum platypetalum have been shown to have anticancer, antibacterial, antituberculosis, and antifungal effects in both in vivo and in vitro studies. This study sought to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of compounds isolated from C. zeyheri and C. platypetalum on Jurkat T and HL-60 cancer cell lines in combination with doxorubicin and/or chlorambucil. At their GI50 concentrations, the isolated compounds were combined with the corresponding GI50 of chlorambucil and doxorubicin. The cytotoxic effects of the combined compounds were determined on BALB/c mouse peritoneal cells. All the 4 isolated compounds had significant cytotoxic effects on Jurkat T cells. Compounds CP 404 (1), CP 409 (2), CZ 453 (3), and CZ 455 (4) had GI50s on Jurkat T cells of 3.98, 19.33, 6.82, and 20.28 μg/ml, respectively. CP 404 (1), CP 409 (2), CZ 453 (3), and CZ 455 (4) showed GI50s of 14.18, 28.69, 29.87, and 16.46 μg/ml on HL-60 cancer cell lines, respectively. The most potent combination against Jurkat T cells was found to be CP 404 (1) and chlorambucil. This combination showed no cytotoxic effects when tested on BALB/c mouse peritoneal cells. It was concluded that the compounds extracted from C. zeyheri and C. platypetalum inhibit the growth of Jurkat T cells in vitro. The combination of the compounds with anticancer drugs enhanced their anticancer effects. The combination of CP 404 (1) and chlorambucil was found not to be toxic to normal mammalian cells. Therefore, CP 404 (1), 3-O-β-L-rrhamnopyranosyl-5,7,3'4',5'-pentahydroxyflavone, has the potential to be a source of lead compounds that can be developed for anticancer therapy. Further structure-activity relationship studies on this compound are warranted.

Reducing Sugar, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Potential of Nepalese Plants

The aim of the present study was to investigate the reducing sugar, total phenolic content, and in vitro antioxidant activity of 70% (v/v) ethanolic extract of seven medicinal plants grown in Nepal. The reducing sugar content and total phenolic content were determined by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The reducing sugar content of the studied plant samples ranged from 6.89 ± 2.44 to 674.13 ± 2.43 mg GE/g dry extract weight and the total phenolic content ranged from 14.87 ± 0.41 to 281.71 ± 1.47 mg GAE/g dry extract weight. The reducing sugar and total phenolic content were found highest in Ficus glaberrima. Antioxidant activity was found highest in Melastoma malabathricum (IC₅₀value = 6.27 μg/mL), followed by F. glaberrima (IC₅₀value = 11.7 μg/mL). A positive and significant correlation was found between (i) total phenolic content and reducing sugar content and (ii) total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The present study is the first study for the analysis of reducing sugar content of selected plants and for the scientific exploration of F. glaberrima. The present result suggests that the various parts of these studied plants could be assumed as a rich source of biologically active compounds and considered beneficial for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Correlative study of heavy metal content with biological importance of Solanum virginianum leaf extract

Background

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly impacted the inherent soil composition. Heavy metals disposed in the environment by anthropogenic activities toxicate flora and ultimately affect the phytochemical profile of medicinal plants. We report here such an investigation of the heavy metal concentrations in the leaf extract of Solanum virginianum (S. virginianum). This work has been extended to observe the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial significance of leaf extracts in methanol and aqueous medium.

Methods

The metal concentration was analysed on ICE 3000 series atomic absorption spectrometer. The antibacterial assessment was carried by disc diffusion technique against three gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria.

Results

The content of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Lead (Pb) were 2.04, 0.47, 0.41, and 0.10 mg/L, respectively. Saponin and coumarin were present in both extracts. Various other phytochemicals like steroids, terpenoid, and flavonoid, were present only in the water extract, while tannin was present only on methanol extract. The methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited their highest inhibition on S. aureus with zones of inhibition of 12 mm and 14 mm, respectively.

Conclusion

The aqueous extract possessed more phytochemicals than the methanol extract, and the aqueous extract exhibited better antibacterial activity. The high Fe content in the leaf extract may suggest its use as an anaemic medicine. Other metal contents are under the WHO range.

Determination of the Cytotoxic Effect of Different Leaf Extracts from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae)

Despite plants being a rich source of useful chemical compounds with different pharmacological properties, some of these compounds may be toxic to humans. Parinari curatellifolia, among its other important pharmacological activities, has been shown to have significant antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines. Toxicity studies are required to determine the safety profile of P. curatellifolia in the consideration of its potential pharmaceutical benefits as a source of lead compounds in cancer therapy. The effects of P. curatellifolia on both the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane and on normal cells were determined. The dried leaf powder of P. curatellifolia was used in serial exhaustive extraction procedures using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water as solvents in addition to extraction using DCM: methanol in equal ratio. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins were isolated from the ethanol extract. The leaf extracts were tested for haemolytic activity on sheep erythrocytes at concentrations of 0.625 to 5 mg/ml. The extracts were also tested for toxicity activity on normal mammalian cells such as the BALB/c mice peritoneal cells using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) at the concentrations of 6.3 to 50 μg/ml. In the haemolysis assays, none of the plant extracts had a significant haemolytic activity with the saponin-enriched extract having the maximum haemolytic activity of 12.2% for a concentration of 5 mg/ml. In the MTT cell viability assay, none of the 11 plant extracts had significant cytotoxicity. The water extract, however, had significant (p < 0.01) proliferative activity towards the murine immune cells at all concentrations. P. curatellifolia leaf extracts were, therefore, not toxic to both erythrocytes and immune cells, and the water extract may have immunostimulatory effects. It is concluded that P. curatellifolia leaf extracts are not toxic in vitro and, therefore, our results support the use of the plant for ethnomedicinal use.

Phytochemical Fingerprinting and In Vitro Bioassays of the Ethnomedicinal Fern Tectaria coadunata (J. Smith) C. Christensen from Central Nepal

Tectaria coadunata, an ethnomedicinal fern used in Nepal to treat a large number of diseases, has been poorly studied with regard to its phytochemical composition and possible bioactivity. This study was performed with the aim of supporting traditional medicine as a new source of bioactive constituents. Phytochemical compositions of methanol extracts were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography–diode array detector–mass spectrophotometry (LC-DAD-MS), and liquid chromatography–fluorescence–mass spectrometry. Quali-quantitative data revealed large amount of procyanidins, mainly of the A-type, as well as eriodictyol-7-O-glucuronide and luteolin-7-O-glucoronide as main constituents. The antioxidant, cytotoxic, and inhibitory activity of five enzymes that are implicated in human diseases was evaluated for the extract and fractions. High free-radical scavenging activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays and inhibitory activities against cholinesterases and tyrosinase were observed. Furthermore, a moderate cytotoxic effect was observed on the 2008 and BxPC3 cell lines. Overall results showed potential usefulness of this fern as a source of phytochemicals for pharmaceutical uses.

Phytochemical screening and study of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of extracts from stem wood of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxburgh

AIMS

The main aims of the study were to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and to study the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities of extracts from stem wood of Pterocarpus marsupium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethanol, acetone and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (1:1) extracts of stem wood of P. marsupium were subjected to phytochemical screening and analysis of biological activities from August 2015 to January 2016. The antioxidant assay was carried out using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging method, antimicrobial activity testing by cup diffusion method, antidiabetic test evaluation by oral glucose tolerance test in mice, anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by hind paw edema method in mice and analgesic test evaluation by a chemical writhing method in mice.

RESULTS

The results of the study revealed that P. marsupium is a source of various phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, proteins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Both the acetone and IPA extract as well as the ethanol extract of stem wood of P. marsupium exhibited a dose-dependent antioxidant activity. Acetone and IPA extract showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, while the ethanolic extract was found to possess antidiabetic activity. The antidiabetic activity of the extract was found to be time and dose-dependent. Similarly, the acetone and IPA extract was found to have anti-inflammatory activity, which was also time and dose-dependent. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract showed analgesic activity, which was dose-dependent. The ethanolic extract was found to be nontoxic.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, this study laid sufficient background for the further research on extracts from stem wood of P. marsupium for identification, subsequent purification and isolation of compounds having antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities.