A comprehensive review of antimalarial medicinal plants used by Tanzanians

CONTEXT

Tanzania has rich medicinal plant (MP) resources, and most rural inhabitants rely on traditional healing practices for their primary healthcare needs. However, available research evidence on antimalarial MPs is highly fragmented in the country.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review compiles ethnomedicinal research evidence on MPs used by Tanzanians as antimalarials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic web search was conducted using various electronic databases and grey materials to gather relevant information on antimalarial MPs utilized by Tanzanians. The review was per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The data were collected from 25 articles, and MS Excel software was used to analyse relevant ethnobotanical information using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 227 MPs belonging to 67 botanical families and 180 genera were identified. Fabaceae (15.9%) is the most frequently utilized family. The ethnobotanical recipes analysis indicated leaves (40%) and trees (44%) are the preferred MPs part and life form, respectively. Decoctions (67%) are the dominant preparation method of remedies. Of the recorded MPs, 25.9% have been scientifically investigated for antimalarial activities with positive results. However, 74.1% of MPs have no scientific records on antimalarial activities, but they could be potential sources of remedies.

CONCLUSIONS

The study discloses a wealth of antimalarial MPs possessed by Tanzanians and suggests a need for research to authenticate the healing potential of antimalarial compounds from the unstudied MPs. Additionally, it indicates that some of the presented MPs are potential sources for developing safe, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.

Exploring the Pharmacological Potential of Lithospermum officinale L.: A Review of Phytochemicals and Ethnomedicinal Uses

Exploring phytochemicals from ethnomedicinal plants for pharmacological applications is a promising research area. By studying ethnomedicine, researchers can identify plants used for centuries to treat ailments and investigate their phytochemicals. Consequently, phytochemicals can be isolated, characterized, and tested for pharmacological activities, leading to new drug development. This research also helps preserve traditional knowledge and biodiversity. Lithospermum officinale L., found in Eurasia, Argentina (South), Colombia, and the United States, is valued for its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. The current review emphasizes L. officinale L. as a significant reservoir of bioactive phytochemicals, with alkaloids, quinones, glucosides, phenolics, flavonoids, and lipids identified as the principal metabolites. It also unveils the unexplored potential of this plant for future research endeavors. Continued research on L. officinale L. can unlock its full potential, providing insights into its medicinal uses and contributing to biodiversity preservation.

Comparative Bioactive Compounds and Mineral Properties of South African and Lesotho Artemisia afra (Jacq.) Genotypes

Artemisia afra is a plant that grows in the northern, central, and coastal regions of South Africa, as well as in neighboring countries such as Eswatini and Lesotho. These phytochemicals can be used as active compounds in plant-based medicine. Therefore, it is important to determine how plant minerals and phytochemicals, particularly bioactive compounds, are affected by the geolocation in which they grow. This study aimed to evaluate the mineral and phytochemical properties of A. afra genotypes in the southern regions of Africa. Leaf samples of A. afra genotypes were collected from Lesotho, in Mohale's Hoek and Roma. In South Africa, leaf samples were collected in Wepener and Hobhouse, and 80 plants were randomly selected for phytochemical and mineral analyses. This study reveals that phosphorus, calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc loaded positively to the first principal component, while copper loaded positively to the second principal component with variabilities of 29.95% and 21.12%, respectively. Furthermore, both the Mohale's Hoek and Hobhouse genotypes exhibited relatively high levels of ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins. It is worth noting that genotypes from Roma and Wepener showed higher levels of foliar magnesium. Thus, the Mohale's Hoek and Hobhouse genotypes could be recommended for their better phytochemical contents.

Ethnopharmacological uses of fauna among the people of central Punjab, Pakistan

Introduction

The utilization of fauna and fauna-based byproducts in ethnomedicinal usages has been a longstanding human activity, practiced across various cultures worldwide. This study focuses on investigating the utilization of animal-based traditional medicine by the people of Pakistan, specifically in the Gujranwala area.

Methods

Data collection took place from January to September 2019 through interviews with local communities. Ethnomedicinal applications of animal products were analyzed using several indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Popularity Level (RPL), Folk Use Value (FL), and Relative Occurrence Percentage (ROP).

Results

The study identified the use of different body parts of 54 species of animals in treating various diseases and health issues. These include but are not limited to skin infections, sexual problems, pain management (e.g., in the backbone and joints), eyesight issues, immunity enhancement, cold, weakness, burns, smallpox, wounds, poisoning, muscular pain, arthritis, diabetes, fever, epilepsy, allergies, asthma, herpes, ear pain, paralysis, cough, swelling, cancer, bronchitis, girls' maturity, and stomach-related problems. Certain species of fauna were noted by informers with high "frequency of citation" (FC), ranging from 1 to 77. For instance, the black cobra was the most frequently cited animal for eyesight issues (FC = 77), followed by the domestic rabbit for burn treatment (FC = 67), and the Indus Valley spiny-tailed ground lizard for sexual problems (FC = 66). Passer domesticus and Gallus gallus were noted to have the highest ROP value of 99.

Discussion

The findings of this study provide valuable preliminary insights for the conservation of fauna in the Gujranwala region of Punjab, Pakistan. Additionally, screening these animals for medicinally active compounds could potentially lead to the development of novel animal-based medications, contributing to both traditional medicine preservation and modern pharmaceutical advancements.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine Cynoglossum amabile: a review

Cynoglossum amabile, a member of the Boraginaceae family, is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and ethnomedicine known as Daotihu. Despite several studies confirming the presence of bioactive pyrrolizidine alkaloids such as amabiline, ambelline, echinatine, europine, and others in C. amabile, there has been no comprehensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology thus far. This review was conducted by thoroughly examining the literature and analyzing network databases. It covers various aspects of C. amabile, including botanical characteristics, geographical distribution, traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and clinical applications. The results have shown that C. amabile has been traditionally used for medicinal, edible, and ornamental purposes in China for many centuries. The whole plant, root, and leaf of C. amabile are used by different ethnic groups, such as Lisu, Bai, Naxi, Yi, Jinuo, and Han, to treat malaria, hepatitis, dysentery, leucorrhea, tuberculosis cough, fracture, joint dislocation, trauma bleeding, and skin carbuncle abscess. A total of 47 chemical components, including alkaloids (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, PAs), sterols, organic acids, and saccharides, were isolated from C. amabile. Pharmacological studies show that the chemical extracts of C. amabile possess various biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, cardiovascular effects, ganglionic action, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. However, it is important to note that C. amabile exhibits hepatotoxicity, with its toxicity being linked to its primary PAs components. Although preliminary studies suggest potential applications in the treatment of prostate diseases and alopecia, further research is needed to validate these clinical uses. Our review highlights the traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activity, toxicity, and clinical applications of C. amabile. It emphasizes the essential guiding role of the indigenous medicinal knowledge system in developing new drugs. Previous studies have shown that the phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of C. amabile are significantly related to its traditional medicinal practices. Cynoglossum amabile has excellent market potential and can be further analyzed in terms of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, which are critical for its clinical drug safety, quality evaluation, and resource development.

Indigenous knowledge and nutritional and morphological characterization of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moecnh) varieties in Western Ethiopia

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moecnh) is a versatile crop that is widely grown in western Ethiopia, despite that it is less researched. This study, therefore, investigates the traditional knowledge, nutritional, and morphological characteristics of two commonly grown okra varieties (Kenketse and Sharma) in west Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire, checklist, and observations were used to collect primary data from households, key informants, and farms. In addition, proximate composition parameters like moisture content, total ash, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, utilizable carbohydrates, and gross energy fruits were measured through laboratory analysis. Fruit morphological traits, including fruit dimensions such as length and width, were determined using a digital Vernier caliper. For data analysis, SPSS software was used. The results revealed that the entire plant is used for both food and ethnomedicinal purposes. Curing ailments such as stomach pain, constipation, wound/cut, heart discomfort, back pain, malaria, diarrhea, and amoebae were among the medical benefits of okra. The proximate composition (%) on a dry matter basis of okra fruits differed significantly (p < .05) by cultivar type and drying method. Moisture (3.69%-5.24%), total ash (6.60%-8.01%), crude fat (4.87%-8.58%), crude protein (4.06%-5.23%), crude fiber (12.85%-15.26%), utilizable carbohydrate (56.42%-67.63%), and gross energy contents (326-341 kcal) were the ranges of the various proximate and energy levels. Morphological characteristics of fruit and leaf length, width, and length-to-width ratio varied with cultivar type, where Sharma had more than double the length of Kenketse (70.1 vs. 187.1 mm). Despite being an undervalued native vegetable crop in Ethiopia, the study's findings show that okra is a multipurpose vegetable for promoting human health and ensuring food and nutritional security. Therefore, stepping up its production, marketing, and consumption could help alleviate the food shortage and improve human nutrition and health in the study areas.

Contemporary Insights into the Biological Mechanisms of Parkia biglobosa

For a long time, traditional medicine has relied on the use of medicinal plants and herbal products which have served as the basis for numerous pharmaceuticals. Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) R.Br.ex. G. Don., commonly called the African locust bean tree, is a perennial deciduous plant native to West Africa where it is highly esteemed for its nutritional and traditional medicinal benefits. Parkia biglobosa's ethnomedicinal uses include microbial infections such as diarrhea and chronic diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This article presents the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkia biglobosa's biological effects. An electronic database search was conducted using P. biglobosa and its synonyms as keywords in Scientific Electronic Library Online, ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Consistently, scientific research has confirmed the medicinal effects of the plant's extracts and active phytochemicals, including antimicrobial, analgesic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and neuroprotective properties, among others. It highlights the contributions of identified innate phytochemicals and existing limitations to therapeutic applications, as well as the need for and prospects for further research. Advancing our understanding of the medicinal plant's biological mechanisms and the contributions of the active phytochemicals would allow for more effective exploration of its vast pharmacological potential and facilitate clinical applications.

A comprehensive review of ethnomedicinal approaches, phytochemical analysis, and pharmacological potential of Vitex trifolia L

Plants, renowned for their rich reservoir of metabolites, play a pivotal role in addressing health-related issues. The Verbenaceae family stands out, showcasing immense potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases. Vitex trifolia L. (V. trifolia), a shrub with a rich history in traditional medicine, particularly in Eastern Asia, has garnered attention for its diverse therapeutic applications. This comprehensive review aims to bridge traditional knowledge and contemporary insights by investigating ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects of V. trifolia. The keyword "V. trifolia" and its synonyms were searched within the main scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar (from 1974 to 2022, last search: 21.10.2023). Phytochemical analyses reveal a spectrum of secondary metabolites in V. trifolia, including terpenoids, flavonoids, lignans, phytosterols, anthraquinones, and fatty acids. Notably, terpenoids and flavonoids emerge as the main bioactive metabolites. Pharmacological studies validate its therapeutic potential, demonstrating significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer, anti-amnesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-malaria, antispasmodic activities, and reported insecticidal effects. Despite existing literature exploring pharmacological attributes and secondary metabolites of related species, a conspicuous gap exists, specifically focusing on the pharmacological activities and novel methods of purification of pure metabolites from V. trifolia. This review aimed to fill this gap by delving into traditional medicinal applications, exploring secondary metabolites comprehensively, and providing an in-depth analysis of pharmacological effects of pure metabolites. Combining traditional uses with contemporary pharmacological insights, this article sought to serve as a crucial reference for future research and practical application of V. trifolia. This approach contributes substantially to understanding the plant, fostering scientific inquiry, and facilitating its broader application in healthcare.

Integrating network pharmacology with molecular docking to rationalize the ethnomedicinal use of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm. for efficient treatment of depression

Background: Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm. (A. laxiflora) has been indicated in traditional medicine to treat depression. However, scientific rationalization is still lacking. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the antidepressant potential of A. laxiflora using network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Materials and methods: The active compounds and potential targets of A. laxiflora and depression-related targets were retrieved from public databases, such as PubMed, PubChem, DisGeNET, GeneCards, OMIM, SwissTargetprediction, BindingDB, STRING, and DAVID. Essential bioactive compounds, potential targets, and signaling pathways were predicted using in silico analysis, including BA-TAR, PPI, BA-TAR-PATH network construction, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Later on, with molecular docking analysis, the interaction of essential bioactive compounds of A. laxiflora and predicted core targets of depression were verified. Results: The network pharmacology approach identified 15 active compounds, a total of 219 compound-related targets, and 14,574 depression-related targets with 200 intersecting targets between them. SRC, EGFR, PIK3R1, AKT1, and MAPK1 were the core targets, whereas 3-acetyloleanolic acid and 3-acetylursolic acid were the most active compounds of A. laxiflora with anti-depressant potential. GO functional enrichment analysis revealed 129 GO terms, including 82 biological processes, 14 cellular components, and 34 molecular function terms. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis yielded significantly enriched 108 signaling pathways. Out of them, PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways might have a key role in treating depression. Molecular docking analysis results exhibited that core targets of depression, such as SRC, EGFR, PIK3R1, AKT1, and MAPK1, bind stably with the analyzed bioactive compounds of A. laxiflora. Conclusion: The present study elucidates the bioactive compounds, potential targets, and pertinent mechanism of action of A. laxiflora in treating depression. A. laxiflora might exert an antidepressant effect by regulating PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. However, further investigations are required to validate.

Ethnomedicinal, Chemical, and Biological Aspects of Lannea Species-A Review

Lannea L. genus belongs to the Anacardiaceae botanical family and has long been used in traditional medicinal systems of many countries to manage several health conditions, but no studies have been conducted regarding its usefulness as a source of herbal medicine for human use. A literature review was conducted on scientific papers indexed on B-On, Pubmed, and Web of Science databases. Our results showed that medicinal plants from this botanical genus, mostly constituted by bark and leaf, are often used to approach a wide variety of disease symptoms, like fever, inflammatory states, pain, and gastrointestinal disorders. Phytochemical profiles of Lannea species revealed that phenolic acid derivatives including hydroquinones, phenolic acids, flavonoids, condensed tannins, and triterpenoids are the main classes of secondary metabolites present. Among the total of 165 identified compounds, 57 (34.5%) are flavonoids, mostly quercetin- and myricetin-derived flavonols and catechin and epicatechin flavan-3-ol derivatives also containing a galloyl group. In vitro and in vivo studies allowed the identification of 12 different biological activities, amongst which antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities were the most frequently cited and observed in in vitro essays. Our review contributes useful information for the scientifical validation of the use of Lannea species in traditional medicinal systems and shows that more research needs to be conducted to better understand the concrete utility of these as herbal medicines.

Plants in Menstrual Diseases: A Systematic Study from Italian Folk Medicine on Current Approaches

Background: Plant-based remedies have been used since antiquity to treat menstrual-related diseases (MD). From the late nineteenth to the early to mid-twentieth century, Italian folk remedies to treat "women's diseases" were documented in a vast corpus of literature sources. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the plant-based treatments utilized by Italian folk medicine to heal clinical manifestations of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and menstrual disorders in an attempt to discuss these remedies from a modern pharmacological point of view. Moreover, we compare the medical applications described by Hippocrates with those utilized by Italian folk medicine to check if they result from a sort of continuity of use by over two thousand years. Results: Out of the 54 plants employed in Italian folk medicine, 25 (46.3%) were already documented in the pharmacopoeia of the Corpus Hippocraticum for treating MD. Subsequently, a detailed search of scientific data banks such as Medline and Scopus was undertaken to uncover recent results concerning bioactivities of the plant extracts to treat MD. About 26% of the plants used by Italian folk medicine, nowadays, have undergone human trials to assess their actual efficacy. At the same time, about 41% of these herbal remedies come back to in different countries. Conclusions: Active principles extracted from plants used by Italian folk healers could be a promising source of knowledge and represent strength candidates for future drug discovery for the management of MD.

African Under-Utilized Medicinal Leafy Vegetables Studied by Microtiter Plate Assays and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography-Planar Assays

Biological activities of six under-utilized medicinal leafy vegetable plants indigenous to Africa, i.e., Basella alba, Crassocephalum rubens, Gnetum africanum, Launaea taraxacifolia, Solanecio biafrae, and Solanum macrocarpon, were investigated via two independent techniques. The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined, and six microtiter plate assays were applied after extraction and fractionation. Three were antioxidant in vitro assays, i.e., ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reduction antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, and the others were enzyme (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase) inhibition assays. The highest TPC and antioxidant activity from all the methods were obtained from polar and medium polar fractions of C. rubens, S. biafrae, and S. macrocarpon. The highest acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition was exhibited by polar fractions of S. biafrae, C. rubens, and L. taraxacifolia, the latter comparable to galantamine. The highest tyrosinase inhibition was observed in the n-butanol fraction of C. rubens and ethyl acetate fraction of S. biafrae. In vitro assay results of the different extracts and fractions were mostly in agreement with the bioactivity profiling via high-performance thin-layer chromatography-multi-imaging-effect-directed analysis, exploiting nine different planar assays. Several separated compounds of the plant extracts showed antioxidant, α-glucosidase, α-amylase, acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase-inhibiting, Gram-positive/-negative antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activities. A prominent apolar bioactive compound zone was tentatively assigned to fatty acids, in particular linolenic acid, via electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry. The detected antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, cytotoxic, and genotoxic potentials of these vegetable plants, in particular C. rubens, S. biafrae, and S. macrocarpon, may validate some of their ethnomedicinal uses.

Revisiting edible insects as sources of therapeutics and drug delivery systems for cancer therapy

Cancer has been medicine's most formidable foe for long, and the rising incidence of the disease globally has made effective cancer therapy a significant challenge. Drug discovery is targeted at identifying efficacious compounds with minimal side effects and developments in nanotechnology and immunotherapy have shown promise in the fight against this complicated illness. Since ancient times, insects and insect-derived products have played a significant role in traditional medicine across several communities worldwide. The aim of this study was to inspect the traditional use of edible insects in various cultures and to explore their modern use in cancer therapy. Edible insects are sources of nutrients and a variety of beneficial substances with anticancer and immunomodulatory potential. Recently, insect derived bioactive-components have also been used as nanoparticles either in combination with chemotherapeutics or as a nano-cargo for the enhanced delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs due to their high biocompatibility, low bio-toxicity, and their antioxidant and anticancer effects. The crude extracts of different edible insects and their active components such as sericin, cecropin, solenopsin, melittin, antimicrobial peptides and fibroin produce anti-cancer and immunomodulatory effects by various mechanisms which have been discussed in this review.

Exploring biodiversity and ethnobotanical significance of Solanum species in Uzbekistan: unveiling the cultural wealth and ethnopharmacological uses

Despite its millennial existence and empirical documentation, the ethnological knowledge of herbs is a more recent phenomenon. The knowledge of their historical uses as food, medicine, source of income and small-scale businesses, and the sociological impacts are threatened due to the slow ethnobotanical research drive. Species of the genus Solanum have long been extensively used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses of humans since the dawn of civilization. All data were systematically obtained from papers, monographs, and books written in Uzbek, Russian, and English through various scientific online databases, including Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science using specific keywords focused on eight Solanum species. Eight native and non-native Solanum species as S. dulcamara L., S. lycopersicum L., S. melongena L., S. nigrum L., S. rostratum Dunal., S. sisymbriifolium Lam., S. tuberosum L., and S. villosum Mill. have been recorded in Uzbekistan of Central Asia. In this article we presented recently obtained data on the diversity, morphological characteristics, global distribution, habitat, population status, phenology, reproduction, pharmacology and phytochemistry of these Solanum species in Uzbekistan. Furthermore, relying on a combination of literature reviews and analyses from various scientific papers, we focus on food consumption coupled with global ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological uses in human diseases of the Solanum species growing in Uzbekistan. Since the dawn of civilization, these eight cultivated and non-cultivated species of Solanum have provided sustainable resources of medicinal plants in Uzbekistan to prevent and treat various human diseases. Based on the collected data, it was shown that Solanum species have not been studied ethnobotanically and ethnomedicinally in Uzbekistan and it is necessary to conduct phytochemical and biotechnological research on them in the future. Traditional uses and scientific evaluation of Solanum indicate that S. nigrum, S. sisymbriifolium and S. tuberosum are one of the most widely used species in some parts of the world. Although considerable progress has been made to comprehend the chemical and biological properties of S. nigrum and S. tuberosum species, more research on the pharmacology and toxicology of these species is needed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of their biologically active extracts and isolated bioactive compounds. Additionally, conducting additional research on the structure-activity relationship of certain isolated phytochemicals has the potential to enhance their biological efficacy and advance the scientific utilization of traditional applications of Solanum taxa.

Moroccan Antihypertensive Plants and their Mechanisms of Action

BACKGROUND

The use of herbal remedies, medicinal plants, and their derivatives for the treatment and control of hypertension is well-known and widespread throughout Morocco.

AIMS

The aim of the study was to review the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant medicinal plants of the Moroccan pharmacopeia.

OBJECTIVE

To date, no review on Moroccan medicinal plants exhibiting antihypertensive effects has been performed, and their mechanism of action has not been specified. The objective of this review was to collect, analyze, and critically assess published publications on experimental and clinical research that explored the blood pressure-reducing abilities of Moroccan medicinal plant extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study collected, processed, and critically analyzed published studies related to experimental and clinical research that investigated Moroccan herbal derivatives' blood pressure-lowering abilities using a number of scientific databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and others. Plantlist.org was used to validate the right plant names.

RESULTS

The results revealed 22 species of Moroccan medicinal plants belonging to 13 different groups with recognized antihypertensive properties. The species were abundant in a variety of chemical elements. Asteraceae (08 species), Lamiaceae (3 species), Apiaceae (2 species), and 1 species each from the following families: Parmeliaceae, Fabaceae, Cistaceae, Malvaceae, Polygonaceae, Brassicaceae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, Amaranthaceae, Rosaceae, and Lauraceae were the most frequently mentioned families for their antihypertensive properties. The most used parts were the leaves and the aerial parts. The two main methods of preparation among Moroccans were decoction and infusion. This study demonstrated the known antihypertensive and vasorelaxant properties of Moroccan medicinal plants in vivo and in vitro, as well as their mechanisms of action. Interestingly, phytochemicals can operate on blood vessels directly via a vasorelaxant impact involving a range of signaling cascades or indirectly by blocking or activating multiple systems, such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), renin-angiotensin system (RAS), or diuretic activity.

CONCLUSION

The review of the available data reveals that more work needs to be done to examine all the Moroccan medicinal plants that have been suggested as antihypertensive in published ethnopharmacological surveys. A review of the literature in this area reveals that methodologies of the experimental study need to be standardized, and purified molecules need to be studied. In addition, mechanistic investigations, when they exist, are generally incomplete. In contrast, only a few advanced clinical investigations have been conducted. However, all studies fail to determine the efficacy/safety ratio.

Biological effects of bergamot and its potential therapeutic use as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer agent

Context: Bergamot, mainly produced in the Ionian coastal areas of Southern Italy (Calabria), has been used since 1700 for its balsamic and medicinal properties. Phytochemical profiling has confirmed that bergamot juices are rich in flavonoids, including flavone and flavanone glycosides which are responsible for its beneficial effects.Objective: Recently, it was shown that the combination of natural compounds with conventional treatments improves the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Natural compounds with anticancer properties attack cancerous cells without being toxic to healthy cells. Bergamot can induce cytotoxic and apoptotic effects and prevent cell proliferation in various cancer cells.Methods: In this review, the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of bergamot are described. Information was compiled from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the key words 'bergamot' accompanied by 'inflammation' and, 'cancer' for data published from 2015-2021.Results: In vitro and in vivo studies provided evidence that different forms of bergamot (extract, juice, essential oil, and polyphenolic fraction) can affect several mechanisms that lead to anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects that decrease cell growth, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.Conclusions: Considering the effects of bergamot and its new formulations, we affirm the importance of its rational use in humans and illustrate how bergamot can be utilized in clinical applications. Numerous studies evaluated the effect of new bergamot formulations that can affect the absorption and, therefore, the final effects by altering the therapeutic profile of bergamot and enhancing the scientific knowledge of bergamot.

Bioactivity of the Genus Turnera: A Review of the Last 10 Years

Turnera is a genus of plants whose biological activity has been widely studied. The importance of this genus, particularly Turnera diffusa, as a source of treatment for various conditions is evidenced by the large number of new studies that have evaluated its biological activity. Accordingly, the objective of this review was to compile the information published in the last ten years concerning the biological activities reported for Turnera spp. The present work includes 92 publications that evaluate 29 bioactivities and toxicological and genotoxic information on five species of this genus. Among the pharmacological effects reported, the antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and aphrodisiac activities seem more promising. Phytochemicals and standardized plant extracts could offer alternative therapeutic remedies for various diseases. Although several flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, monoterpenoids, triterpenoids, and fatty acids have been isolated for Turnera plants, future research should focus on the identification of the main active principles responsible for these pharmacological activities, as well as to perform clinical trials to support the laboratory results.

Antibacterial activity of medicinal plants on the management of mastitis in dairy cows: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Mastitis is a disease of economic importance in dairy production systems. The common management regime for mastitis is the use of synthetic antibiotics, giving a new problem of antibiotic resistance. There is, therefore, a need to prospect for alternatives to conventional antibiotics from herbal plants.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review evaluates the use of plants as alternatives for the control of mastitis in dairy cattle, focussing on the effectiveness of studied plants and plant-based products and possible implications on the use of these products in livestock health.

METHODOLOGY

The PRISMA model was implemented with searches done in five electronic databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Ovid and Research4Life. Data were extracted from 45 studies with 112 plant species from plant species belonging to 42 different families. The specific keywords were 'mastitis', 'dairy cows' and 'medicinal plants'.

RESULTS

The most cited plant species included Allium sativum L., Azadirachta indica and Eucalyptus globulus Labill with the latter further exploring its components. Microbial species causing mastitis mainly were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The extraction methods used included maceration approach using ethanol, methanol and water as solvents for phytochemicals and chromatographic techniques for essential oils. A few studies explored the mode of action, and toxicities of the herbal extracts as well as evaluating their efficacy in clinical trials using animal models.

CONCLUSION

Plants with defined levels of phytochemicals were essential sources of antibacterials. Standardisation of analytical methods is required.

Ethnobotanical Documentation of the Uses of Wild and Cultivated Plants in the Ansanto Valley (Avellino Province, Southern Italy)

With approximately 2800 species, the Campania region has the richest vascular flora in southern Italy and the highest number of medicinal species reported in the Italian folk traditions. The study area is inserted in a wide rural landscape, still retaining a high degree of naturalness and is studied for the first time from an ethnobotanical point of view. By analyzing local traditional uses of wild plants in the Ansanto Valley area, the present study aims to contribute to the implementation of ethnobotanical knowledge concerning southern Italy. To gather ethnobotanical knowledge related to the Ansanto Valley, 69 semi-structured interviews were carried out through a snowball sampling approach, starting from locals with experience in traditional plant uses (key informants). A number of 117 plant species (96 genera and 46 families) were documented for traditional use from a total of 928 reports, of which 544 were about medicinal plants. New use reports on the utilization of plants for medicinal (5) and veterinary applications (8) in the Campania region and the whole Italian territory were outlined from our investigations. Sedum cepaea is reported as a medicinal plant for the first time in Italy and in the whole Mediterranean basin.

Phytochemical Content and Antidiabetic Properties of Most Commonly Used Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants of Kenya

Traditional medicinal plants have been used for decades in folk medicines in the treatment and management of several ailments and diseases including diabetes, pain, ulcers, cancers, and wounds, among others. This study focused on the phytochemical and antidiabetic activity of the commonly used antidiabetic medicinal species in Kenya. Phytochemical profiling of these species revealed flavonoids and terpenoids as the major chemical classes reported which have been linked with strong biological activities against the aforementioned diseases, among others. However, out of the selected twenty-two species, many of the natural product isolation studies have focused on only a few species, as highlighted in the study. All of the examined crude extracts from thirteen antidiabetic species demonstrated strong antidiabetic activities by inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase among other mechanisms, while nine are yet to be evaluated for their antidiabetic activities. Isolated compounds S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide, quercetin, alliuocide G, 2-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3 (2H)-benzofuranone, Luteolin-7-O-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin, 1,3,11α-Trihydroxy-9-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-7-on-2-yl)-5α-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,6,11-hexahydro-5,6,11-trioxanaphthacene-12-one and [1,3,11α-Trihydroxy-9-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-7-on-2-yl)-5α-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,6,11-hexahydro-5,6,11-trioxanaphthacene-12-one]-4'-O-D-gluco-pyranoside from Allium cepa have been found to exhibit significant antidiabetic activities. With the huge number of adults living with diabetes in Kenya and the available treatment methods being expensive yet not so effective, this study highlights alternative remedies by documenting the commonly used antidiabetic medicinal plants. Further, the study supports the antidiabetic use of these plants with the existing pharmacological profiles and highlights research study gaps. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct natural products isolation work on the selected antidiabetic species commonly used in Kenya and evaluate their antidiabetic activities, both in vitro and in vivo, to validate their antidiabetic use and come up with new antidiabetic drugs.

Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties of Suregada Genus: A Review

Plants of the Suregada Roxb. ex Rottler (formerly Gelonium Roxb. ex Willd) are utilized to treat various ailments, namely, hepatic, gum diseases, pyrexia, eczema, and venereal diseases. This review links the reported compounds to ethnomedicinal uses through pharmacological activities. The compounds possess anticancer, anti-allergic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-HIV properties. From the previous reports, 32 known species of the Suregada genus have been investigated morphologically, and nine were investigated for their phytochemistry and pharmacology. Phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal, and pharmacological uses of the other 23 Suregada species are not known and/or not reported. In this review, abietane diterpenoids are the main compounds expressed by the Suregada, accounting for 71 of the 114 reported compounds. Ten triterpenoids and sterols, one aliphatic, two lignans, five flavonoids, and twenty-one nitrogen-containing compounds have been reported from the genus.

Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Uses of Water Beetles (Aquatic coleopterans) in Sub-Saharan Traditional Rituals

The use of wild animals in customary rituals and as a sustenance resource is a longstanding tradition within sub-Saharan Africa. The emergence of commercial trade, has, however, created unattainable demands and has led to the overexploitation of animals. These demands are threatening the conservation of animal species exploited in this trade. Comparatively little research effort has been dedicated to invertebrate species, and, specifically, their non-commercial uses. We explored the uses of water beetles in traditional rituals. We investigate the extent to which each of the non-commercial uses of water beetles exhibits consumptive and non-consumptive use features. The concepts are contested as their application for describing human-animal interactions has been challenged because of insufficient physiological and conservation data on the implications for animals of such interactions. The inadequacy of the available data pertaining to the use of animal resources was particularly pronounced. Most research efforts are skewed towards vertebrates at the expense of invertebrates. Regardless, the study shows that most non-commercial exploitation and uses of water beetles were mainly non-destructive and, if consumptive, the uses could be described as mainly non-lethal consumptive or sub-lethal consumptive. Rituals that could be described as lethal-consumptive comprised a smaller fraction of the uses of water beetles.

Macrofungi as Medicinal Resources in Uzbekistan: Biodiversity, Ethnomycology, and Ethnomedicinal Practices

Interest in edible and medicinal macrofungi is millennial in terms of their uses in health and food products in Central Asia, while interest in inedible and medicinal macrofungi has grown in popularity in recent years. Edible and inedible medicinal basidiomycetes were collected during field surveys from different regions of Uzbekistan. The morphological characters and similarity assessment of rDNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence data were used to measure diversity and habitat associations. A number of 17 species of medicinal macrofungi of ethnomycological and medicinal interest was found associated with 23 species of trees and shrubs belonging to 11 families and 14 genera. Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae were represented by the highest number of species followed by Ganodermataceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Auriculariaceae, Cerrenaceae, Grifolaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, Laetiporaceae, Schizophyllaceae, and Stereaceae. The highest number of medicinal basidiomycete species was reported in the following host genera: Acer, Betula, Celtis, Crataegus, Juglans, Juniperus, Lonicera, Malus, Morus, Platanus, Populus, Prunus, Quercus, and Salix. An updated list of edible and inedible medicinal mushrooms identified in Uzbekistan, their morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic placement are given for the first time. Information is provided on their uses in traditional and modern medicine. Their bioactive compounds and extracts can be applied as medicines, as well as food and cosmetic ingredients.

Yellow Himalayan Raspberry (Rubus ellipticus Sm.): Ethnomedicinal, Nutraceutical, and Pharmacological Aspects

Yellow Himalayan raspberry (Rubus ellipticus Sm., Rosaceae) is a native species of the Indian subcontinent, Southern China, and the Philippines, which has been historically used as a traditional medicine and food. All of the parts of this plant have been used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorder, and as an anti-infective agent. The scientific evaluation revealed a richness of macronutrients, micronutrients, and minerals in the fruits, indicating its potential use as a nutraceutical. Furthermore, this plant has been found to be rich in various secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and terpenoids. Ascorbic acid, kaempferol, gallic acid, and catechin are some of the compounds found in this plant, which have been widely discussed for their health benefits. Furthermore, various extracts and compounds obtained from R. ellipticus have shown antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, antipyretic, anticonvulsant, and anti-infective activities investigated through different study models. These findings in the literature have validated some of the widespread uses of the fruits in folk medicinal systems and the consumption of this nutritious wild fruit by local communities. In conclusion, R. ellipticus holds strong potential for its development as a nutraceutical. It can also improve the nutritional status of villagers and uplift the economy if properly utilized and marketed.

Potential use of the Asteraceae family as a cure for diabetes: A review of ethnopharmacology to modern day drug and nutraceuticals developments

The diabetes-associated mortality rate is increasing annually, along with the severity of its accompanying disorders that impair human health. Worldwide, several medicinal plants are frequently urged for the management of diabetes. Reports are available on the use of medicinal plants by traditional healers for their blood-sugar-lowering effects, along with scientific evidence to support such claims. The Asteraceae family is one of the most diverse flowering plants, with about 1,690 genera and 32,000 species. Since ancient times, people have consumed various herbs of the Asteraceae family as food and employed them as medicine. Despite the wide variety of members within the family, most of them are rich in naturally occurring polysaccharides that possess potent prebiotic effects, which trigger their use as potential nutraceuticals. This review provides detailed information on the reported Asteraceae plants traditionally used as antidiabetic agents, with a major focus on the plants of this family that are known to exert antioxidant, hepatoprotective, vasodilation, and wound healing effects, which further action for the prevention of major diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD), liver cirrhosis, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Moreover, this review highlights the potential of Asteraceae plants to counteract diabetic conditions when used as food and nutraceuticals. The information documented in this review article can serve as a pioneer for developing research initiatives directed at the exploration of Asteraceae and, at the forefront, the development of a botanical drug for the treatment of DM.

Diversity of Culturable Bacteria from Endemic Medicinal Plants of the Highlands of the Province of Parinacota, Chile

Endemic medicinal plants that grow at altitudes in northern Chile have been traditionally used for therapeutic applications by Aymara doctors. Several studies have analyzed the biological properties of these plants for therapeutic purposes. The aim was to characterize at molecular and biochemical levels the bacteria that live in the rhizosphere and roots from endemic medicinal plants that grow between 3681-5104 m.a.s.l. in the province of Parinacota. Thirty-nine bacteria were isolated from nine medicinal plants under our laboratory conditions. These bacteria were characterized by Gram stain, hydrolase production, plant-growth promotion, anti-fungal and antibacterial activities, and 16S rDNA sequencing. A phylogenetic study revealed the presence of three major phyla, Actinomycetota (46.2%), Bacillota (43.6%), and Pseudomonadota (10.3%). The rhizobacteria strains associated with the Aymara medicinal plant exhibited several interesting biological activities, such as hydrolytic enzymes, plant-growth-promoting traits, and antibacterial and antifungal properties, indicating their potential for developing new bio-based products for agricultural or clinical applications. These results are promising and highlight the need to point toward the search for explanations of the bio-molecular basis of the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants.

Temporal Changes in the Use of Wild Medicinal Plants in Trentino-South Tyrol, Northern Italy

Mountain regions are fragile ecosystems and often host remarkably rich biodiversity, and thus they are especially under threat from ongoing global changes. Located in the Eastern Alps, Trentino-South Tyrol is bioculturally diverse but an understudied region from an ethnobotanical perspective. We explored the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the area from a cross-cultural and diachronic perspective by conducting semi-structured interviews with 22 local inhabitants from Val di Sole (Trentino) and 30 from Überetsch-Unterland (South Tyrol). Additionally, we compared the results with ethnobotanical studies conducted in Trentino and South Tyrol over 25 years ago. The historical comparison revealed that about 75% of the plants currently in use were also used in the past in each study region. We argue that the adoption of "new" medicinal species could have occurred through printed and social media and other bibliographical sources but may also be due to limitations in conducting the comparison (i.e., different taxonomic levels and different methodologies). The inhabitants of Val di Sole and Überetsch-Unterland have shared most medicinal plants over the past few decades, yet the most used species diverge (perhaps due to differences in local landscapes), and in South Tyrol, people appear to use a higher number of medicinal plants, possibly because of the borderland nature of the area.

Keeping Healthy in Your Skin-Plants and Fungi Used by Indigenous Himalayan Communities to Treat Dermatological Ailments

Dermatological ailments are a major health problem, especially when related to human immune deficiency syndrome and acquired immune deficiency. The goal of this study was to identify the medicinal plants used by the indigenous peoples of the Northwestern Himalayas to treat dermatological diseases. Several field trips were conducted in the spring and summer seasons of 2020-2021 to collect the plants of dermatological value and information about their use through open-ended semi-structured interviews (n = 53) and group discussions (n = 33). The current investigation found 64 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 34 families commonly used to treat a variety of dermatological ailments. The main growth form was herbs (80%), followed by trees (8%) and ferns (6%). It was found that leaves (51%) were the most commonly used plant part, followed by roots and the whole plant. Wound healing was the most dominant application, with 18 plant species used, followed by skin burns cured by 11 plant species and skin boils by eight plant species. Out of the total (18%) of medicinal plants with cosmetic uses, i.e., roots of Jurinea dolomiaea, Rheum webbianum, and Rheum spiciforme were crushed into powder and mixed with turmeric, and the paste is applied topically for glowing skin. Among the various preparation methods, paste (38%) was the most common way of preparation, followed by poultice (29%) and infusion (9%). Between ethnic groups, the maximum homogeneity was between Gujjar and Bakarwal ethnic groups (23 species, 36%), followed by Gujjars and Kashmiri (14 species, 22%). Bakarwals and Gujjar people live in the same geographical location, and they graze their animals in pastures, practice extensive transhumance pastoralism, and pass through different ecological landscapes, thus having sufficient experiences with certain plants and retaining more knowledge. The species identified with the highest utilization based on the number of citations and use value included Ficus carica, Cichorium intybus, Euphorbia wallichii, Pinus wallichiana, Plantago major, Jurinea dolomiaea, and Artemisia absinthium. The findings of this study demonstrate that people who reside in the Northwestern Himalayas region still rely on medicinal plants.

Attitudes, knowledge and practices of traditional snakebite healers in Nepal: implications for prevention and control of snakebite

BACKGROUND

Traditional healers are a valuable source of information about community-level treatment of snakebite. Snakebite victims in Nepal depend on traditional healers for treatment, but their practices have not been well-documented.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 50 traditional snakebite healers (TSHs) who were selected using a snowball sampling method representing eight districts and four provinces of Nepal. Data were collected using face-to-face-interviews and semi-structured questionnaires.

RESULTS

About half of the respondents liked to gain knowledge on modern care for snakebite management and nearly all respondents (94%) wished to cooperate closely with the local healthcare system to support snakebite management. People's ingrained faith in traditional healing of snakebite (84%), unaffordable modern care of snakebite (60%) and wishes for early treatment of snakebites (44-48%) were the main causes of their dependency on TSHs. Rauvolfia serpentina, Piper nigrum, Momordica charantia and Tinospora cordifolia were commonly used plants in traditional treatment of snakebite.

CONCLUSIONS

Easily accessible and affordable healthcare facilities provided by TSHs, public beliefs in traditional healing and inadequate knowledge of antivenom therapy caused dependency on TSHs. The introduction of snakebite treatment centres in snakebite-prone regions and educational interventions are essential to minimize this kind of dependency and associated deaths and disabilities.

Phytochemical analysis and bioactivity reports of ethnomedicinal plants from West Bengal, India

The biodiversity-rich forests of the Jhargram subdivision of West Bengal, India houses many lesser-known prospective plants. Four ethnomedicinal plants from this locality-Cleistanthus collinus, Tiliacora racemosa, Eupatorium odoratum, and Sida acuta reported for traditional medical uses by local forest tribes have been analyzed for phytochemical constituents and bioactivity potential, viz., antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor activity. Cleistanthus and Tiliacora plants were rich in alkaloids while Eupatorium and Sida showed tannin abundance. Tiliacora showed maximum alkaloid content, that is, 711 mg strychnine equivalent/gm dry weight. Consequently, these plant extracts showed decent antioxidant activity which is reflected in their antibacterial and antitumor potencies. Cleistanthus showed strong bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria, particularly against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while Tiliacora showed robust antitumor activity against cervical cancer cells SiHa at a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 86 µg/ml. Hence, the biodiversity-rich Jhargram forest should be conserved to protect the potential repertoire for ethnomedicinal plants.

Salt-Tolerant Plants as Sources of Antiparasitic Agents for Human Use: A Comprehensive Review

Parasitic diseases, especially those caused by protozoans and helminths, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis, are the cause of millions of morbidities and deaths every year, mainly in tropical regions. Nature has always provided valuable antiparasitic agents, and efforts targeting the identification of antiparasitic drugs from plants have mainly focused on glycophytes. However, salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) have lately attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their medicinal assets, which include antiparasitic properties. This review paper gathers the most relevant information on antiparasitic properties of halophyte plants, targeting human uses. It includes an introduction section containing a summary of some of the most pertinent characteristics of halophytes, followed by information regarding the ethnomedicinal uses of several species towards human parasitic diseases. Then, information is provided related to the antiprotozoal and anthelmintic properties of halophytes, determined by in vitro and in vivo methods, and with the bioactive metabolites that may be related to such properties. Finally, a conclusion section is presented, addressing perspectives for the sustainable exploitation of selected species.

An Inventory of Anthelmintic Plants across the Globe

A wide range of novelties and significant developments in the field of veterinary science to treat helminth parasites by using natural plant products have been assessed in recent years. To the best of our knowledge, to date, there has not been such a comprehensive review of 19 years of articles on the anthelmintic potential of plants against various types of helminths in different parts of the world. Therefore, the present study reviews the available information on a large number of medicinal plants and their pharmacological effects, which may facilitate the development of an effective management strategy against helminth parasites. An electronic search in four major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) was performed for articles published between January 2003 and April 2022. Information about plant species, local name, family, distribution, plant tissue used, and target parasite species was tabulated. All relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed, and 118 research articles were included. In total, 259 plant species were reviewed as a potential source of anthelmintic drugs. These plants can be used as a source of natural drugs to treat helminth infections in animals, and their use would potentially reduce economic losses and improve livestock production.

Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical and Nutra-pharmaceutical Potentials of Indian Arrowroot (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb)

Indian Arrowroot (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb) belonging to the Zingiberaceae family is widely distributed in India and some parts of Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Pakistan. It is traditionally used as medicine for treating various diseases and also used as food. Few data are available about its application in pharmacology and therapeutics. Literature search for related contents, keywords such as "Curcuma angustifolia Roxb", "traditional food", "ethnomedicine", "pharmacology", "phytochemicals", "pharmacological activities" were used in search engines including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Semantic Scholar. Secondary metabolites found in Indian Arrowroot include essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phytosterols, terpenes, phenols, and others. Pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-ulcerogenic, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancerous activities have been shown by Indian Arrowroot (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb). The presence of nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential gained demand in the various food production industries and pharmacology research. It may play a vital role in future studies of Curcuma angustifolia Roxb as ethnomedicine and further exploitation in pharmacological studies.

Evaluation of clinical trials of ethnomedicine used for the treatment of diabetes: A systematic review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a widespread metabolic disorder with a yearly 6.7 million deaths worldwide. Several treatment options are available but with common side effects like weight gain, cardiovascular diseases, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. Therefore, ethnomedicine is gaining the interest of researchers in the treatment of DM. Ethnomedicine works by preventing intestinal absorption and hepatic production of glucose as well as enhancing glucose uptake in muscles and fatty tissues and increasing insulin secretion. A variety of plants have entered clinical trials but very few have gained approval for use. This current study provides an evaluation of such clinical trials. For this purpose, an extensive literature review was performed from a database using keywords like "ethnomedicine diabetes clinical trial", "clinical trials", "clinical trial in diabetes", "diabetes", "natural products in diabetes", "ethno-pharmacological relevance of natural products in diabetes", etc. Clinical trials of 20 plants and natural products were evaluated based on eligibility criteria. Major limitations associated with these clinical trials were a lack of patient compliance, dose-response relationship, and an evaluation of biomarkers with a small sample size and treatment duration. Measures in terms of strict regulations can be considered to achieve quality clinical trials. A specific goal of this systematic review is to discuss DM treatment through ethnomedicine based on recent clinical trials of the past 7 years.

Antidiabetic Potential of Selected Ethnomedicines Utilized for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Trinidad and Tobago: A Review

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder with a high global prevalence and one of the highest morbidity and mortality rates. Despite developments in synthetic medicine, the associated serious side effects with current antidiabetic drugs indicate an urgent need for novel effective treatments. Traditional medicinal plants offer great potential in the treatment of many diseases due to their bioactive phytochemicals and are a useful resource for developing safe and effective hypoglycemic agents.

METHODS

The present review collates the most frequently used ethnomedicines for the management of diabetes mellitus in Trinidad and Tobago. Further, it provides scientific validation of the claimed antidiabetic effects of four selected ethnomedicines: Antigonon leptopus, Gomphrena globosa, Laportea aestuans and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using various electronic scientific databases and search engines. Information was collected on the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of these selected species to illustrate the antidiabetic activity and potential applications of these plants.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the numerous in vitro and in vivo experiments from previously published literature indicate the four candidate plants as promising sources of antidiabetic lead compounds and provide useful information to stimulate extensive studies. Further investigations on the isolation, identification and clinical evaluation of the pharmacologically active constituents from these plants can lead to the discovery of new and effective antidiabetic agents.

Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in Breast Cancer Treatment by Traditional Health Practitioners in Central Uganda

Purpose

The study aimed to document the existing knowledge and practices related to breast cancer recognition and treatment using medicinal plants by traditional health practitioners in Central Uganda.

Methods

This cross-sectional exploratory survey, conducted between February and August 2020, applied a mixed methods research approach. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 119 traditional health practitioners (THPs) in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono. Content analysis of qualitative data was done. Quantitative ethnobotanical survey indices, namely user reports (Nur), percentage of respondents with knowledge (PRK), informant consensus factor (Fic), fidelity level (FL), preference ranks (PR) and direct matrix ranking (DMR) were determined.

Results

Most THPs recognized breast cancer by breast swelling (n=74, 62.2%) and breast pain (n=29, 24.4%). They cited 30 plants from 30 genera in 23 families (Fic 0.75 on breast cancer). Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Rutaceae were the predominant families. The ten most cited plants were Annona muricata L. (Nur=24), Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & R.B.Drumm (Nur =19), Erythrococca bongensis Pax (Nur=11), Ficus sp. (Nur=10), Cannabis sativa L. (Nur=8), Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy (Nur=7), Erythrina abyssinica DC. (Nur=5), Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) R.Br. (Nur=4), Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Nur=4) and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. (Nur=3). Annona muricata L. was highly preferred by THPs (PR 1), Ficus sp. had highest fidelity level (FL=77%) and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. ranked as the highest multipurpose plant (DMR 1). Herbs (n=14, 47%) were the most commonly used life forms besides trees (n=11, 37%) and shrubs (n=5, 16%). THPs mostly used leaves (46%), prepared decoctions (82%) and applied residues on the breast.

Conclusion

THPs in Central Uganda recognized breast cancer by symptoms. Medicinal plants applied in its folk treatment have been documented and the claims of cure by THPs merit further investigation.

Bioactive Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Ponciri Fructus

Ponciri Fructus is a crude drug obtained from the dried immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (L). Raf. (Syn. Citrus trifoliata L.). This study aims to compile and analyze the ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive constituents, and pharmacological activities of Ponciri Fructus. Various online bibliographic databases namely, SciFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were used for collecting information on traditional uses, biological activities, and bioactive constituents. Concerning ethnomedicinal uses, Ponciri Fructus is extensively used in traditional Korean, Chinese, and Kampo medicines to mitigate allergic reactions, inflammation, edema, digestive complications, respiratory problems, spleen-related problems, liver complications, neuronal pain, hyperlipidemia, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular problems, hernia, sinusitis, and insomnia. Several studies have shown that Ponciri Fructus is a major source of diverse classes of bioactive compounds namely flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, phytosterols, and alkaloids. Several in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activity evaluations such as antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antimelanogenic, gastroprotective, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects have been conducted from Ponciri Fructus. However, scientific investigations focusing on bioassay-guided isolation and identification of specific bioactive constituents are limited. Therefore, an in-depth scientific investigation of Ponciri Fructus focusing on bioassay-guided isolation, mechanism based pharmacological studies, pharmacokinetic studies, and evaluation of possible toxicities is necessary in the future.

Acute Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd (Sucuruba) Using the Zebrafish Model

The species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd, (T. rhoifolia), which belongs to the Burseraceae family, is widely used in ethnopharmacological cultural practices by traditional Amazonian people for anti-inflammatory purposes, sometimes as their only therapeutic resource. Although it is used in teas, infusions, macerations and in food, the species is still unexplored in regard to its pharmacophoric potential and chemical profile. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a phytochemical characterization of the hydroethanolic extract of T. rhoifolia leaves (HELTr) and to evaluate the acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of this species using zebrafish (Danio rerio). The extract was analyzed by gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The evaluation of the acute toxicity of the HELTr in adult zebrafish was determined using the limit test (2000 mg/kg), with behavioral and histopathological evaluations, in addition to the analysis of the anti-inflammatory potential of HELTr in carrageenan-induced abdominal edema, followed by the use of the computational method of molecular docking. The phytochemical profile of the species is chemically diverse, suggesting the presence of the fatty acids, ester, alcohol and benzoic acid classes, including propanoic acid, ethyl ester and hexadecanoic acid. In the studies of zebrafish performed according to the index of histopathological changes (IHC), the HELTr did not demonstrate toxicity in the behavioral and histopathological assessments, since the vital organs remained unchanged. Carrageenan-induced abdominal edema was significantly reduced at all HELTr doses (100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) in relation to the negative control, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), while the 200 mg/kg dose showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in relation to the positive control (indomethacin). With these activities being confirmed by molecular docking studies, they showed a good profile for the inhibition of the enzyme Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as the interactions established at the sites of the receptors used in the docking study were similar to the controls (RCX, IMN and CEL). Therefore, the HELTr has an acceptable degree of safety for acute toxicity, defined in the analysis of behavioral changes, mortality and histopathology, with a significant anti-inflammatory action in zebrafish at all doses, which demonstrates the high pharmacophoric potential of the species. These results may direct future applications and drug development but still require further elucidation.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Medicinal plants are utilized around the globe for the treatment of a wide range of ailments. This study is an attempt to document the utilization of medicinal plants across the four different cultural groups residing in the rural and remote villages of the northern districts of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. To gather information related to medicinal plants and health care practices among the local folk, field surveys were conducted from February 2018 to May 2021. The ethnomedicinal information was gathered through semi-structured interviews and group discussions. During the study, a total of 109 plant species belonging to 35 families were recorded as commonly utilized by the local population, with Asteraceae reported as the dominant family. The most common growth form was herbs, with a percentage contribution of 86%. Leaves (38%) were the most commonly used plant part for the preparation of traditional remedies, and most of the remedies were prepared as paste and applied topically. The highest use value of 0.30 was reported for Capsella bursa-pastoris. Greater similarity (14% species) in the usage of plants was shown by Bakerwal, Gujjar, and Pahadi ethnic groups, whereas the least similarity (1%) was observed between Bakerwal and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Based on the results obtained in the present study, further phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of plants is recommended to confirm the efficacy and safety of the remedies used and to possibly elucidate candidates for the development of new drugs.

Ethnomedicinal Plants with Protective Effects against Beta-Amyloid Peptide (Aβ)1-42 Indicate Therapeutic Potential in a New In Vivo Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with unmet medical need. This investigation consisted of testing a range of ethanolic ethnomedicinal plant extracts (n = 18) traditionally used in the treatment of disorders such as anxiety, delirium, and memory loss. They were then screened for in vitro inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butylcholinesterase (BuChE), beta-secretase 1/beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and antioxidant activities. Plants with potent activities were further characterised using a recently developed in vivo model of AD, Globodera pallida. The ability of phytoextracts to protect this organism against amyloid-beta Aβ (1-42) exposure was assessed by measuring chemosensing, survival rate, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant responses. Extracts (n = 5) from Juglans regia (leaves), Ellettaria cardamomum (seeds), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (bark), Salvia officinalis (leaves/flowers), and Hypericum perforatum (flowers) exerted concentration-dependent inhibitory activities against AChE and BuChE. Three of these plant extracts (i.e., J. regia, E. cardamomum, and S. officinalis) possessed strong concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against BACE1. Furthermore, the five selected medicinal plant extracts not only enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) the nematode’s chemosensing, survival rate, and antioxidant responses (i.e., anti-ROS production, mitochondrial reductase activity, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to reduced glutathione (GSH) ratio), but also greatly restored (p < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner the Aβ (1-42)-induced deleterious changes in these same parameters. In brief, this investigation highlights plant extracts with strong anti-AD activities which could be trialled as novel therapeutic supplements or undergo further biodiscovery research.

Local ecological knowledge and folk medicine in historical Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Galicia in Northeastern Europe, 1805-1905

Background: Historical ethnobotanical data can provide valuable information about past human-nature relationships as well as serve as a basis for diachronic analysis. This data note aims to present a dataset which documented medicinal plant uses, mentioned in a selection of German-language sources from the 19 th century covering the historical regions of Estonia, Livonia, Courland, and Galicia. Methods: Data was mainly entered by systematic manual search in various ethnobotanical historical German-language works focused on the medicinal use of plants. Data about plant and non-plant constituents, their usage, the mode of administration, used plant parts, and their German and local names was extracted and collected into a database in the form of Use Reports.

Indigenous Nigeria medicinal herbal remedies: A potential source for therapeutic against rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease associated with locomotion impairment, and conventional therapeutic drugs are not optimal for managing RA. There is an avalanche of medications used for the management of RA. Still, studies have shown that they are associated with severe side effects, including hepatotoxicity, retinopathy, and cardiotoxicity disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), skin, blood, and infections. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is currently gaining attention as a novel panacea for managing debilitating diseases, such as RA. Nigerian folk herbal remedies are replete with a plethora of curative medicine, albeit unvalidated scientifically but with seemingly miraculous provenance. Studies of the identification of bioactive compounds present in these botanicals using advanced spectral analytical techniques have enhanced our understanding of the role of Nigerian herbal remedies in the treatment and management of RA. Interestingly, experimental studies abound that the bioactive compounds present in the extracts of plant botanicals protected animals from the development of RA in different experimental models and reduced the toxicity associated with conventional therapeutics. Validated mechanisms of RA amelioration in human and animal models include suppression of the expression of NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-23, chemokines, TGF-β, RANKL, RANK, iNOS, arginase, COX-2, VEGFA, VEGFR, NFATC1, and TRAP in the synoviocytes. Decreased ROS, NO, MDA, carbonyl groups, and PGE₂ in the synovial fluid increased the expression of PPARα/γ; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules also improve RA etiology. In this mini-review, we discuss the global burden of RA, the novel role of plant-based botanicals as potential therapeutics against signaling pathways in RA. Also addressed is the possible repurposing/reprofiling of plant botanicals to increase their therapeutic index among RA patients that patronize traditional healers in Nigeria with a global projection.

Plants of the Genus Zingiber: A Review of Their Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Plant of the genus Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) have primarily distributed in subtropical and tropical Asia, South America and Africa. The species of this genus have been widely used as food and in folk with a long history for treating various diseases. Reports related to the phytochemistry and phytochemistry of Zingiber species are numerous, but articles on the summary of the genus Zingiber remain scarce. This review aims at presenting comprehensive information about the genus Zingiber and providing a reference for the future application by systematically reviewing the literature from 1981 to 2020. Currently, a total of 447 phytochemical constituents have been isolated and identified from this genus, in which volatile oils, diarylheptanoids, gingerols, flavonoids and terpenoids are the major components. Gingerols, which are the main functional components, are the spicy and aromatic ingredients in the Zingiber species. Extracts and single compounds from Zingiber plants have been discovered to possess numerous biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, larvicidal, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. This review provides new insights into the ethnomedicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Zingiber and brings to the forefront key findings on the functional components of this genus in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Genus Barleria L. (Acanthaceae): a review of its taxonomy, cytogenetics, phytochemistry and pharmacological potential

OBJECTIVES

Barleria, a large genus of the Acanthaceae family, comprises more than 300 species with diverse taxonomy, cytogenetics, phytochemistry and pharmacological potential. Therefore, the aim of this review is to critically assess the research on Barleria and provide guidance for future investigations.

METHODS

The data were obtained from different sources, such as books, theses, journals and some of the websites and internet-based searches, published from 1901 to 2020. Data obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, online electronic journals, SpringerLink, Wiley, etc. have also been used.

KEY FINDINGS

The species of this genus exhibit considerable medicinal properties. Cytogenetical data are scantily available with chromosome counts available for only 24 species. The most common chromosome number is 2n = 2x = 40. So far, 187 compounds are reported from Barleria species. The active principles, their uses, toxicity and pharmacological effects are discussed. Essential oils, flavones, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenes and terpenoids form the major compounds.

SUMMARY

It is highly recommended that the pharmacological and economic potential of Barleria species should be exploited and more detailed studies and attention be geared towards its utilization and conservation. In addition, to ensure maximum pharmacological benefits and sustainable use, it is necessary to have empirical information explaining its ethnobotanical values as well as commercial potential.

Ethnobotanical Documentation of Medicinal Plants Used by the Indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines

The Panay Bukidnon is a group of indigenous peoples living in the interior highlands of Panay Island in Western Visayas, Philippines. Little is known about their ethnobotanical knowledge due to limited written records, and no recent research has been conducted on the medicinal plants they used in ethnomedicine. This study aims to document the medicinal plants used by the indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Panay Island. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 75 key informants from June 2020 to September 2021 to determine the therapeutic use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine. A total of 131 medicinal plant species distributed in 121 genera and 57 families were used to address 91 diseases in 16 different uses or disease categories. The family Fabaceae was best represented with 13 species, followed by Lamiaceae with nine species and Poaceae with eight species. The leaf was the most frequently used plant part and decoction was the most preferred form of preparation. To evaluate the plant importance, use value (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), relative important index (RI), informant consensus factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL) were used. Curcuma longa L. had the highest UV (0.79), Artemisia vulgaris L. had the highest RFC value (0.57), and Annona muricata L. had the highest RI value (0.88). Diseases and symptoms or signs involving the respiratory system and injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes recorded the highest ICF value (0.80). Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob were the most relevant and agreed species for the former and latter disease categories, respectively. C. odorata had the highest FL value (100%) and was the most preferred medicinal plant used for cuts and wounds. The results of this study serve as a medium for preserving cultural heritage, ethnopharmacological bases for further drug research and discovery, and preserving biological diversity.

Homogenisation of Biocultural Diversity: Plant Ethnomedicine and Its Diachronic Change in Setomaa and Võromaa, Estonia, in the Last Century

Simple Summary

To understand how healing practices change over time, it is important to recognize the role and extent of external factors affecting the diversity of uses. Our exemplary case study is part of a larger project studying the influence of centralization on the use of medicinal plants. We examined the current and past plant use of two small communities that reside on the border with Russia and speak two dialects of Estonian, namely Seto and Võro. Our results show that within the lifetime of the people we interviewed, many earlier known uses were abandoned and new uses were strongly influenced by knowledge disseminated through centralized channels. Many such uses have also been recorded in geographically distant regions that once belonged to the Soviet Union. This demonstrates the homogenizing influence of centralized knowledge distribution, which has eroded place-based biocultural diversity. In order to secure the survival of knowledge on how to use locally grown plants, we suggest that more attention on the regional level needs to be given to preserving and supporting the distribution of such place-specific knowledge.

Abstract

When studying the evolution of the use of medicinal plants, it is important to identify what role, and to what extent, external factors and local biocultural diversities play in shaping cultural changes. We chose as a case study, which forms part of a larger project, a religiously and linguistically distinct group, the Seto, and compared their current and past plant use with that of the surrounding Võro. Ethnobotanical fieldwork was conducted in the summers of 2018 and 2019. Current uses of plants constituted 34% of the total registered use reports and 41% of those were used to treat general diseases or used as prophylactics. In total, the medicinal use of 86 taxa was recorded, and of these 48 were prevalent. Strong erosion (the abandonment of 43, mainly wild taxa used historically) and valorisation of the uses shared with neighboring as well as distant regions once part of the Soviet Union, were evident, signalling the potential influence of the centralised distribution of knowledge. The results clearly show that the plant medicine-related biocultural diversities of the two groups have been considerably homogenised, eroded and influenced by the knowledge spread through various means during the Soviet era and over the last 30 years.

Emergence of Ethnomedical COVID-19 Treatment: A Literature Review

The emergence of COVID-19 as a new pandemic in the modern era has led the public to a new perspective of health. In the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many factors made people go on their own ways in finding its supposed "cure". With conventional medicines' limited availability and access, traditional medicines become more appealing due to its widespread availability and increased perception of safety. Several herbal medicines are then believed to be able to alleviate or cure COVID-19 and its symptoms. Similarities and patterns in herbal medicines being used show local wisdom of the respective communities regarding their knowledge of diseases and its treatment, known as ethnomedicine. Despite not being approved yet by regulatory bodies as a definitive guideline in COVID-19 management, the application of ethnomedicine results in several herbal medicine candidates that show a promising result regarding its efficacy in managing COVID-19. This literature review aims to study how a society and its knowledge of medicine responds to a new and currently developing disease, and whether if that knowledge merits further study in search of a cure for the pandemic. Furthermore, the narrative aspect in this review also explores socio-politics and public health aspects and considerations of non-conventional COVID-19 treatment.

Phytochemicals from Indian Ethnomedicines: Promising Prospects for the Management of Oxidative Stress and Cancer

Oxygen is indispensable for most organisms on the earth because of its role in respiration. However, it is also associated with several unwanted effects which may sometimes prove fatal in the long run. Such effects are more evident in cells exposed to strong oxidants containing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The adverse outcomes of oxidative metabolism are referred to as oxidative stress, which is a staple theme in contemporary medical research. Oxidative stress leads to plasma membrane disruption through lipid peroxidation and has several other deleterious effects. A large body of literature suggests the involvement of ROS in cancer, ageing, and several other health hazards of the modern world. Plant-based cures for these conditions are desperately sought after as supposedly safer alternatives to mainstream medicines. Phytochemicals, which constitute a diverse group of plant-based substances with varying roles in oxidative reactions of the body, are implicated in the treatment of cancer, aging, and all other ROS-induced anomalies. This review presents a summary of important phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants which are a part of Indian ethnomedicine and Ayurveda and describes their possible therapeutic significance.

Rumex acetosella Inhibits Platelet Function via Impaired MAPK and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling

OBJECTIVE

To examine the antiplatelet and antithrombotic activity of Rumex acetosella extract.

METHODS

Standard light aggregometry was used for platelet aggregation, intracellular calcium mobilization assessed using Fura-2/AM, granule secretion (ATP release) by luminometer, and fibrinogen binding to integrin α_IIbβ₃ detected using flow cytometry. Western blotting is carried out to determine the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling.

RESULTS

Rumex acetosella displayed the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, calcium mobilization, granule secretion, and fibrinogen binding to integrin α_IIbβ₃. Rumex acetosella has also down-regulated MAPK and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Rumex acetosella extract exhibits antiplatelet activity via modulating GPVI signaling, and it may protect against the development of platelet-related cardiovascular diseases.

Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Review on Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb.: A Special Insight to Antidiabetic Property

Avartaki (Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. syn. Cassia auriculata L.; Family- Fabaceae ) is a traditional medicinal plant, widely used for the treatment of various ailments in Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine in India. Almost all the parts of the plant, such as flowers, leaves, seeds, barks, and roots have been reported for their medicinal uses. Traditionally, it has been used in the treatment of diabetes, asthma, rheumatism, dysentery, skin disease, and metabolic disorders. The principle phytochemicals in Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. are alkaloids, anthraquinone, flavone glycosides, sugar, saponins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, benzoic acid 2-hydroxyl methyl ester, 1-methyl butyl ester, resorcinol, α-tocopherol-β-D-mannosidase, epicatechin, ferulic acid, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, proanthocyanidin B1. The extracts from its different parts and their isolated compounds possess a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, anticancer, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antiulcer, antipyretic, anthelmintic, immunomodulatory, antifertility, anti-venom, and anti-melanogenesis. The toxicological findings from preclinical studies ensured the safety of the plant, but comprehensive clinical studies are required for the safety and efficacy of the plant in humans. The current review article aimed to provide up-to-date information about Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. covering its ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects with special emphasis on its clinical implications in diabetes.