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Ethnopharmacological survey of traditional drugs sold in the Kingdom of Jordan
Abstract
The results of a survey of present-day traditional medicinal materials conducted in 1998-1999 in the Kingdom of Jordan are reported. The study covered selected markets of medicinal substances of ethnic communities throughout the kingdom, and also included questioning of the sellers about the healing characteristics of the various materials. The survey yielded information on many and varied medicinal substances, of which 304 are identified according to the following classifications: 236 species of plants (77.6%); 30 species of animals (9.8%); 29 kinds of inorganic substances (9.6%); and 9 materials of other or mixed origin (3%). Analysis of the data showed that some substances were of local origin (41.8%), but the majority of the substances (45.4%) were imported from other countries. 12.8% of the substances were both local and imported. These data demonstrate that there is still a flourishing and well-developed trade in these materials--a trade that is the remnant of a rich and ancient medical culture, which is disappearing from the modern world.
... However, it can penetrate deeply into the Saharan regions. Moreover, among other species, it is more tolerant to drought [8,9] and salinity [10]. Seed germination is a critical phase in arid and semi-arid lands and variation in germination rates has been interpreted as an adaptation to ecological conditions [5,11,12]. ...
... Moreover, during severe or prolonged stress, inhibition of the mesophyll activity can be linked to lower stomatal conductance (g s ) in Mediterranean sclerophytes [15]. The more stress is accentuated, the more the metabolic regulation of photosynthesis increases, and the assimilation of CO 2 decreases continuously as a function of the severity of the applied water stress [9]. Stomatal control is reported in stressed seedlings as a response to a message from hormonal action in roots, thus limiting the availability of CO 2 in the substomatal chamber [8,35]. ...
... In P. lentiscus, stomatal and non-stomatal controls affect leaf gas exchanges, leading to improvement of instan- Table 2. Variation in leaf area (L A ), root length (R L ), root mass (R M ), the shoot dry mass (S M ), the ratio between shoot dry mass and root mass (S M /R M ) in seedlings of P. atlantica and P. lentiscus subjected to two water regimes: (irrigated and drought) Different superscript letters indicate statistically significant parameter changes during the year at P ≤ 0.05 (analysis of variance ANOVA, Duncan's test, n = 6). taneous water use efficiency [9,17,37], but damages in the mesophyll activity affect photosynthesis rather than transpiration for P. atlantica, limiting the instantaneous water use efficiency [18]. Specific correlation between leaf water status and growth was observed. ...
The rehabilitation of degraded Mediterranean areas requires reintroduction of key-stone woody species. However, seed germination and seedling establishment for native species are poor. Germination behavior of Pistacia atlantica Desf. and Pistacia lentiscus L. in response to temperature (15, 20, 25 and 30°C), salinity (0, 10, 25 and 50 mM NaCl) and scarification (seeds with/without pulp) were analyzed. The response of seedling establishment to water deficit was related to soil moisture at 100 and 50% of the field capacity. Scarification facilitated germination while salinity should not exceed 50 mM NaCl and temperature must be between 20 and 25°C for P. lentiscus and 25°C for P. atlantica. In P. atlantica, seedling establishment was susceptible to water deficit and it showed high-water requirement. The survival of stressed P. atlantica seedlings are attributed to the reduction in stomatal conductance, carbon assimilation and shoot growth, and acceleration of old leaf senescence and root growth. The divergence within both species in seed germination, carbon assimilation, growth and biomass allocation are interpreted as a plasticity response, indicating a specialization to either original or resource habitats. For this reason, in reforestation programs, poor performance of planted seedlings is also associated with soil water deficit.
... Another use of sumac is as a traditional medicine, for instance, to treat conditions such as liver diseases [20][21][22], urinary system issues [20], ulcers [23]. Recently, silico studies predicted that the sumac phytochemicals can inhibit COVID-19 [24]. ...
... Recently, silico studies predicted that the sumac phytochemicals can inhibit COVID-19 [24]. Pulverized fruits have also been used to increase sweating and lower cholesterol levels [22]. These therapeutic uses are generally attributable to its various biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic hypoglycemic activities [25]. ...
... Gastronomically, sumac is used as a flavoring additive in a large variety of recipes (meats, fish, chicken, egg, and salads) but also to brew beverages. Another use of sumac is as a traditional medicine, for instance, to treat conditions such as liver diseases [20][21][22], urinary system issues [20], ulcers [23]. Recently, silico studies predicted that the sumac phytochemicals can inhibit COVID-19 [24]. ...
Rhus coriaria L., commonly known as sumac, is a shrub of the Anacardiaceae family present in various subtropical and temperate regions of the world. Considering the rich array of functional and nutraceutical ingredients, sumac extracts are an underutilized source of health-promoting dietary ingredients. For example, sumac is a spice with remarkable antioxidant activity thanks to the high presence of phenolic compounds. In addition, sumac extracts also possess antimicrobial activity and exhibit antidiabetic and hypoglycemic properties. Based on the scientific records retrieved in reliable citation databases (Scopus and Web of Science), this review comprehensively offers research results on sumac with a focus on the phytochemical profiles, the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the extracts, the pharmaceutical uses, and the genetic diversity. We discuss that the use of sumac as a climate-resilient tree should be promoted to diversify the food basket by leveraging on its multiple health benefits and also to reverse the abandonment of marginal lands under low irrigation.
... Rhus coriaria has been used in homeopathy therapy for thousands of years in the Middle Eastern and South Asian countries [4,61]. It has been traditionally used in the treatment of several illnesses which include liver disease [62], diarrhea [62][63][64], urinary system issues [62], and ulcers [65]. The fruit powder was used to stimulate perspiration [7,64]. ...
... It has been traditionally used in the treatment of several illnesses which include liver disease [62], diarrhea [62][63][64], urinary system issues [62], and ulcers [65]. The fruit powder was used to stimulate perspiration [7,64]. The wide range of the medicinal value of sumac may be attributed to the bioactive constituent and antioxidant potentials. ...
In recent years, utilization of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) is upgrading not only in their culinary use and human nutrition, but also in the pharmaceutical industry, food industry and veterinary practices. This is driven by accumulating evidence that support the ethnobotanical use of this plant; in particular, advanced knowledge of the content of nutritional, medicinal and techno-functional bioactive ingredients. Herein, we discuss polyphenolic compounds as the main bioactive ingredients in Rhus coriaria L., which contribute mainly to the significance and utility of this spice. Most of the antioxidant potential and therapeutic roles of sumac are increasingly attributed to its constituent tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Hydroxyphenyl pyranoanthocyanins and other anthocynins are responsible for the highly desired red pigments accounting for the strong pigmentation capacity and colorant ability of sumac. Certain polyphenols and the essential oil components are responsible for the peculiar flavor and antimicrobial activity of sumac. Tannin-rich sumac extracts and isolates are known to enhance the food quality and the oxidative stability of animal products such as meat and milk. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich sumac extracts and its bioactive ingredients could be exploited towards developing novel food products which do not only address the current consumers’ interests regarding organoleptic and nutritional value of food, but also meet the growing need for ‘clean label’ as well as value addition with respect to antioxidant capacity, disease prevention, and health promotion in humans.
... This fern is present in the Jordan Valley (Danin, 2004, pp. 17) and is used to this day in Jordan for medicinal purposes (Lev and Amar, 2002). However, there is at present no evidence for this plant at Tel Tsaf in the macrobotanical or pollen record (Graham, 2014;Horwitz, 1988Horwitz, -1989. ...
... An alternative suggestion is that the wild plants were used for medicinal purposes, which is supported by ethnographic studies that show such a use for macrophytes, halophytes, horsetail and other plants (e.g. Ksouri et al., 2012;Lev and Amar, 2002;Qasem, 2015;Sanilkumar and Thomas, 2007). These plants represent a wide array of potential remedies. ...
Tel Tsaf is a Middle Chalcolithic (ca. 5200-4700 cal BC) site located in the central Jordan Valley, Israel. The site reflects increasing long-distance trade, organized cereal crop cultivation and possibly olive horticulture. Organic residue analysis of lipids recovered from 100 pottery vessels and three stone vessels and comparison to the botanical and faunal remains suggest that the vessels were used to contain or process various combinations of domestic animal and plant products and that these food products were supplemented by local wild plants. This shows direct continuity of dietary traditions from the preceding Neolithic period; however, there were some developments within the suite of domesticated resources, including the earliest direct evidence for milk exploitation in the southern Levant. Culinary traditions incorporated recipes where these food products were cooked and consumed together in various combinations. These dietary patterns were a part of daily life at Tel Tsaf, adding another layer to our understanding of the village and the culinary traditions of the Middle Chal-colithic period in the southern Levant.
... The most widely employed therapeutically active substances for treating the symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are cholinesterase inhibitors. Since then, peonies have been used in traditional and conventional therapies as protective agents related to autoimmune neurodegenerative diseases (Kayani et al., 2015;Lev and Amar, 2002). Therefore, the potential of the leaf extracts of the studied herbaceous peonies to act as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was investigated. ...
In order to gain further insight into how various extraction techniques (maceration, microwave-, and ultrasound-assisted extractions) affect the chemical profile and biological activities of leaf extracts from Paeonia tenuifolia L., Paeonia peregrina Mill., and Paeonia officinalis L., this research was performed. The targeted chemical characterization of the extracts was achieved using the Ultra-High-Performance-Liquid-Chromatography-Linear-Trap-Mass-Spectrometry OrbiTrap instrumental technique, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was conducted to investigate the structural properties of the examined leaf extracts. According to the results, the species P. officinalis, Božurna locality as the origin of the plant material, and microwave-assisted extraction produced the maximum polyphenol yield, (491.9 ± 2.7 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mL).
The ethanolic extracts exhibited moderate antioxidant activity as evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and phosphomolybdenum tests. With MIC values of 0.125 mg/mL, the leaf extracts produced by ultrasound-assisted extraction and maceration (Deliblato sands and Bogovo gumno) had the best antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella Typhimurium. Ultrasound-assisted extraction has proven to produce the most effective antimicrobial agents. Inhibitory potential towards glucosidase, amylase, cholinesterases, and tyrosinase was evaluated in enzyme inhibition assays and molecular docking simulations. Results show that leaves of P. tenuifolia L. obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction had the highest acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Namely, the complexity of the polyphenol structures, the extraction method, the used locality, and the different mechanisms of the reactions between bioactives from leaf extracts and other components (free radicals, microorganisms, and enzymes) are the main factors that influence the results of the antioxidant tests, as well as the antibacterial and enzyme-inhibitory activities of the extracts. Hydroxymethyl-phenyl pentosyl-hexoside and acetyl-hydroxyphenyl-hexoside were the first time identified in the leaf extract of the Paeonia species. Due to their proven biological activities and the confirmed existence of bioactive compounds, leaf extracts may find use in foodstuffs, functional foods, and pharmaceutical products.
... Oil is taken orally for blood pressure, heart diseases, and sexual weakness. Seeds are ground into paste with olive and applied externally for skin diseases (Lev and Amar 2002;Said et al. 2002). Lebanon: Seeds are used to boost the immune system, and for low blood pressure and epilepsy (Deeb et al. 2013;Marc et al. 2008). ...
... For cough and toothache, fruits are used in maceration (Djahafi et al. 2021). In Israel, this plant is used for local anesthetic, toothache, and warts (Lev and Amar 2002). In Palestine, this plant is used as carminative, dental analgesic, local anesthetic, and antiseptic (Jaradat 2005). ...
... The Mediterranean area and/or the worldwide market still sell or trades 236 plant species, 30 animal species, 29 organic compounds, and 9 materials of other or mixed sources that are still used to cure human ailments [6]. Around 250-290 plant species are still in use in the Mediterranean area, according to ethnopharmacologists' surveys of the region's plant species [101,172]. A total of 129 plant species are used in AM in Israel to treat a range of illnesses. ...
... O. syriacum is an important medicinal plant used in Jordan and neighboring countries, such as Syria and Palestine, as part of folk medicine for treating respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal issues like stomach aches. It is also used to treat chest complaints, indigestion, cough, and rheumatism [8,18,19]. ...
Aims of the Study
This study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants used among Jordanians for the treatment of gastritis and gastric ulcers against H. pylori. Moreover, plants' inhibitory activity against the H. pylori urease enzyme was also evaluated.
Materials and Methods
The activity of 11 medicinal plants used by common people and herbalists to treat ulcers was evaluated against H. pylori (NCTC 11916). Ethanol and essential oil extracts from the tested plants were evaluated using a standard agar dilution method and the MICs were determined. Furthermore, the potential inhibitory effect of each preparation was tested against the enzyme urease using a kinetic colorimetric assay.
Results
Cinnamomum cassia oil showed the highest efficiency against H. pylori with the lowest MIC (0.0122 mg.mL-1), followed by Origanum syriacum and Foeniculum vulgare (MICs of 0.39 mg.mL-1). Furthermore, significant urease inhibition activity was recorded for Carum carvi oil (IC50~0.45 mg.mL-1). C. cassia oil (IC50 ~2.8 mg.mL-1), Aloysia citriodora, and Artemisia Judaica (IC50 5.8 mg.mL-1) reported potential urease inhibition activities.
Conclusion
Herbs used in Jordanian traditional medicine were found to have anti-H. pylori and significant urease inhibitory activity. These findings might support the use of medicinal plants as adjuvant or alternative therapy for the treatment of H. pylori.
... The A sarcocolla Dymock plant is distributed in dry places like the south of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran (Nosrati et al., 2019). Sarcocolla gum offers pain-relieving, anti-infection, and wound-healing activity (Aleebrahim and Nabipour, 2018;Lev and Amar, 2002;Mosaddegh et al., 2012). Reports from the 1930s have documented its usage by Persian Medicine bonesetters in the form of plaster for fractures (Hooper, 1937). ...
Introduction: Recent studies have confirmed the wound-healing activity of plant exudates (PEs) such as gums, gum resins, oleo gum-resins, and latex. This study discusses traditional wound healing formulations containing PEs and the wound-healing properties of selected PEs.
Method: Four main Persian Medicine pharmacopoeias published between the 17th and 19th centuries were searched for wound-healing formulations containing PEs. The ingredients, preparation method, and proportion of exudate to base were extracted and analysed. Relevant studies in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were also searched and reviewed.
Results and Discussions: The PEs were found to be dispersed in honey, oil, beeswax, or animal fat, with an optimal proportion of ingredients for achieving an optimised product. The healing mechanisms expressed in Persian Medicine texts were tissue expansion, tissue adhesion, anti-infection effects, desiccation, anti-inflammatory effects, and astringency.
Conclusions: These findings were consistent with those of current studies involving the use of PEs for treating wounds: PEs, as antimicrobial agents, increase fibroblast growth, collagen synthesis, and tissue granulation, leading to the contraction of wounds in a faster healing process. Further research into the wound-healing properties of PEs will, therefore, be beneficial to the pharmaceutical industry in developing for effective medicines for treating wounds.
... 456 medicinal plant species have been in practically used to formulate about 350 drugs to cure various ailments and diseases. So far many ehnobotanical investigations have been done by different researchers globally as well as in Pakistan (Shah et al. 2017Sargin 2015;Gilani & Attaur Rahman 2005;Hussain et al. 2008;Lev & Amar, 2002;Qureshi et al. 2006Qureshi et al. , 2009Ahmad & Hussain 2008;Jamila & Mostafa 2014Samoisy & Mahomoodally 2015;Ullah et al. 2013;Ahmed et al. 2014;Shah & Rahim 2017;Malla et al. 2015;Said et al. 2002;Idu & Iyamah 2015;Kose et al. 2015, Baydoun et al. 2015Zheng et al. 2013). But a lot of cultures and many remote areas in Pakistan exist where no ethnobotanical expeditions have been done and the field of ethnobotany is still in virgin phase and secondly such areas are inaccessible due to local constraints . ...
Background: This comprehensive ethnobotanical study was undertaken for the first time to explore and document the medicinal plants used by the indigenous ethnic communities of Surghar Range, Pakistan. The study area is situated adjacent to Salt Range, which lies on the most southern part of Himalayan Ranges in Pakistan. Despite occurrence of so many medicinal plants, culture history and herbal medicines used among the indigenous communities, no explicit ethnobotanical studies are available from this unique region because the field of ethnobotany is still getting mature day by day in Pakistan. Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires, open interviews and field surveys were used to collect data on medicinal plants and demography from March 2017 to September 2020 from 500 informants by using different quantitative indices viz. relative frequency citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant census factor (ICF), Jaccard Index (JI) and family use value (FUV) to analyze the data. Results: A total of 417 plants belonging to 89 families were documented that are ethnobotanically used by ethnic communities. Most herbal remedies were used in the form of decoction (33%). ICF values indicate that cardio-vascular complaints ranked (0.7) followed by ENT diseases (0.6). Species like Berberis lyceum, Forsskaolea tenacissima, Kickxia ramosissima, Momordica balsamina, Monotheca buxifolia, Pseudogaillonia hymenostephana, Rumex vesicarius, Ocimum americanum, Schweinfurthia papilionacea and Viola cinerea would be interesting targets for drug discovery and are suggested for further investigations. Conclusions: Current study revealed that the study area has sufficient indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the aboriginal people. Their traditional knowledge about medicinal plants must be validated with phytochemical and pharmacological screening to determine bioactive compounds and needs to be preserved. Keywords: Medicinal plants; Jaccard Index; Surghar Range; Cardio-vascular; Menyanthaceae
... The leaves have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic, astringent, hepatoprotective, expectorant, and stimulant action [5,6]. They are also used in the treatment of other diseases in different countries, such as Palestine [7], Israel [8], the Kingdom of Jordan [9], the Golan Heights, the West Bank region [10], Turkey [11,12], and Egypt [13]. The resin obtained from P. lentiscus is known for its analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiatherogenic, expectorant, stimulatory, diuretic, and spasmolytic effects [14][15][16]. ...
This in vitro study focused on the antimicrobial activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of three organs (stems, roots, and leaves) of Pistacia lentiscus against nine bacterial species, two fungal, and one yeast strain. A comparative study of the yield, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) composition, and polyphenol content of the different extracts was conducted. The obtained data showed that the yield of the methanolic extracts (between 13% and 33.3%) was greater than that of the aqueous extracts (between 10% and 18%). The highest yield recorded was in the presence of the methanolic leaf extract, followed by the stem and root extracts. Methanolic extracts are richer in polyphenols than aqueous extracts. Indeed, the highest content was observed in the leaf methanolic extract (28.4 mg GAE/g), followed by the stem (2.96 mg GAE/g), and then the root (2.62 mg GAE/g). HPLC revealed variability in the chemical compositions of the different methanolic extracts. The leaf extract was richer in phenolic acids and flavonoids than the stem and root extracts. Regarding antimicrobial activity, it was concluded that the different methanolic extracts of lentisk were more active than the aqueous extracts. In addition, the different methanolic extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested strains, despite their morphology and Gram-staining. Indeed, the maximum inhibition zones and the minimum inhibitory concentrations for the bacterial strains sensitive to the different methanolic extracts of the mastic tree were in the range of 7 to 11 mm and 12.5 to 25 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, these extracts showed greater inhibitory activity against the tested fungal strains (A. niger and A. flavus) and yeast (C. albicans) than against the bacterial strains. These extracts can be used to treat antimicrobial infections and as food preservatives.
... These include mixing it with garlic to treat snakebites (Bhattacharjee, 2004), its gum being dissolved in olive oil as a topical treatment for insect and snake bites (Mohammadhosseini, 2016) or reported to treat scorpion stings (Javaid et al., 2012), often misreported as scorpion bites. However, our bibliographical search only found recorded uses of F. assa-foetida in Jordan, consumed as a sugar reduction to induce abortion (Lev & Amar, 2002). ...
... Menstrual cramp is easily reduced by consuming small amount of cumin seeds since it is anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic [37]. ...
Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum) is known by several names such as jeera, haravi, caraway, etc. and is well known for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antioxidants and antimicrobial properties. It is used as a natural remedy for the treatment of numerous ailments such as digestive tract discomforts, nausea, constipation, bloating, dyspepsia and flatulence. Seeds of cumin are heavily consumed in Indian cooking because of its aroma and flavor however over consumption is associated with numerous health related side effects
... With ethnobotanical studies, it is aimed to identify the medicinal plant species in a particular region and as food, in the production of dyes, for cosmetic purposes, in animal diseases and tools. Ethnobotanical studies have been conducted in Turkey and other neighboring countries (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Ethnobotanical studies of Turkey record very important information about the flora of the region, traditional uses of the plants, the cultural values in Turkey. ...
Objective: This research planned to record traditional uses and preparations of herbal medicines in Savaştepe, Balıkesir. The study was conducted between the years 2012-2016. The Savaştepe district is located on the borders of Balıkesir province. Methods: 44 villages connected to Savaştepe were visited during the research. With the help of the local people, the collected plants were diagnosed and converted into herbarium specimens. All herbarium samples are stored in the Herbarium of Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy (ISTE). Information about the use of plants were collected by the help of interviews with 205 people (107 men, 98 women). Results: As a result of this study, there were 163 medicinal plant taxa belonging to 53 families. Mostly used medicinal plant species families are Lamiaceae (22 taxa), Asteraceae (20 taxa), Rosaceae (16 taxa), Fabaceae (6 taxa), Brassicaceae (7 taxa), Apiaceae (4 taxa), Poaceae (4 taxa), Scrophulariaceae (4 taxa) respectively. According to the informations, the most common diseases were categozied into 12 group and their FIC values are calculated. The highest FIC value (0.852) for hemorrhoids. Having high use value represents that this taxa is commonly used in Savaştepe. The highest use value is 0.93 for Urtica dioica Conclusion: This study documented the medicinal plants used by local people of Savaştepe and also the uses, preparations and vernacular names of medicinal plant species. This study will help to concerve valuable informations of the medicinal plants of Savaştepe.
... (12) . Medical practitioners have also used sumac for cholesterol reduction (13) , in the treatment of sore throat, and as an abortifacient (7) . Other reports also show its use in wound healing and as an antimicrobial (14) . ...
Two compounds were isolated from the fruit part of Rhus coriaria that grow wildly or cultivated in the north of Iraq. The compounds were separated by preparative high-Performance Liquid Chromatography and their structures were established based on detailed spectroscopic techniques like FTIR and LC-MS/MS. Keywords: Rhus coriaria, Preparative HPLC, LC-MSMS, FTIR
... According to a survey, out of the 2,600 plant species in the Middle East, more than 700 plant are known to be used as medicinal herbs. Currently, traditional Arab medicine uses less than 200-250 plant species for the treatment of multiple diseases [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. ...
Background
The aims of this article are to assess dental students’ knowledge about herbal medicine usage and the potential benefits and side effects, and to conduct a short course about herbal medicine.
Methods
All fourth-year pre-doctoral students were invited to participate in a herbal medicine course as a test while the sixth-year students were the control group. A survey was tested for validity and reliability. It comprised of 16 multiple choice questions was given before the course and one month after the course. The sum score of knowledge for each participant was calcuated based on the ability to identify the use of herbs in dentistry with high-quality evidence (correct answer) or total answer for periodontal disease and caries.
Results
The response rate for completing the study was 112 fourth-year students (73.7%) and 64 sixth-year students (39.0%). More than half of the participants (52.5%) were unsure about the importance of herbal medicine in dentistry. However, the majority also stated that the most common herbs used in dentistry were clove (62.9%), followed by curcuma turmeric (54.7%) and meswak (43.0%). The fourth-year students displayed evidence of a higher overall knowledge score after the course in herbal medicine related to periodontal disease in total and correct answers (mean 4.48 ± 4.13, 3.73 ± 3.31, respectively) compared to before the course (mean 0.84 ± 1.23, 0.74 ± 1.16, respectively) (p-value < 0.001). The post-course periodontal disease total and correct answers were statistically significant between fourth- and sixth-year students.
Conclusion
Herbal medicine has a potential positive impact on dentistry. However, these effects are not fully investigated and received full attention in academic institute. This short educational program related to medicinal herbs can improve the knowledge of dental students. This will help increase the awareness about the use and potential side effects of herbal medicine in the dental field.
... In Western Medicine terminology, it is used in cases of body weakness, as a diuretic, against digestive system disorders, or simply as a food supplement [451]. This is one of the most widespread plant genuses, and it has numerous ethnobotanical applications [452][453][454][455][456][457][458]. It would be interesting to compare the similarities between the applications of these plants in different medical systems. ...
Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is kaempferol, which can be found in a wide variety of herbs and plant families. Apart from their anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, kaempferol and its associated compounds also exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities. The development of drugs and treatment schemes based on these compounds is becoming increasingly important in the face of emerging resistance of numerous pathogens as well as complex molecular interactions between various drug therapies. In addition, many of the kaempferol-containing plants are used in traditional systems all over the world for centuries to treat numerous conditions. Due to its variety of sources and associated compounds, some molecular mechanisms of kaempferol antimicrobial activity are well known while others are still under analysis. This paper thoroughly documents the vegetal and food sources of kaempferol as well as the most recent and significant studies regarding its antimicrobial applications.
... The essential oil fraction being compounded of mono and sesquiterpenoids, it may not have survived over archaeological times, leaving only the diterpenic resin fraction visible. Moreover, common is the ethnopharmacological evidence of resin-derivatives used as traditional drugs, as much for turpentine oil as for pine tar (Lev and Amar, 2002). For instance, the Turkish Çam preparation is a traditional curing mixture made of pine resin and honey (Satil, Selvi and Polat, 2011). ...
The work presented in this thesis focused on the analysis of archaeological vessels. Through the search for molecular markers, identified by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and the observation of archaeobotanical remains, this study aims to identify the original content of the studied vessels. The analysis of organic residues, both contained in the ceramic sherd and in the waterproofing layer inside the amphora, offers a first reading of the functionality of the object and its content. Particular importance is given to the botanical identification and formulation techniques used to produce a waterproofing matrix that was affixed to the inside of the amphora. The paleobotanical investigation that mainly focused on the search for pollen, brings a new angle of analysis by concentrating on the one hand on the characterization of environmental and/or economic fossil species, and on the other hand on the botanical origin of the identified pollens. In addition to the optimization of existing protocols for the extraction of molecules considered as biomarkers, this study focuses on the benefits of a multi-analytical archaeometric approach through the analysis of different archaeological artifacts from heterogeneous periods and contexts. Focusing on the Roman period, this thesis focuses on the analysis of wine and/or oil amphorae from the Planier 3 shipwreck (France) and the ancient anchorage of San Felice Circeo (Italy) before extending the methodology and the results to a "pouring" vase of singular typology dating from the Bronze Age (West Bank).
... Ethno-botany is the science of documentation and conservation of original knowledge which has been using by ethnic people since ancient history [1]. Today, millions of people around the world consume plant-based medicines as part of traditional medicine for a range of medical disorders. ...
This study were conducted to identify the uses of plant species in traditional medicine in the Fifa
village and to collect this information and save it from loss some of this information is not scientifically
documented but is personally tested by some local communities. The questionnaire was taken with key�informants like traditional healers between the aged of 25 to 60 years. From field surveys conducted among
the population, 17 plants species commonly used as traditional home remedies in Jordan valley were
recorded.
Styrax officinalis L. species is a shrub-shaped plant belonging to the Styracaceae family, distributed in Central America, Southeast Europe, Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region. The Styracaceae family consists of small trees and shrubs mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus Styrax differs from other genera of this family in that it produces a resinous substance that is usually secreted when the bark and stems are damaged. The resin of the Styrax officinalis L. species, which was called “storax” in the past, is used in traditional medicine in the Mediterranean basin, especially for antiseptic purposes and against respiratory diseases. It is also used externally medicinally, to heal skin wounds and to treat scabies. In Latin America it is used as an antiseptic, expectorant and also for the treatment of heart diseases, stroke, leprosy, constipation and bronchitis. The leaves, fruits, resin, fruit peels, flowers and seeds of Styrax officinalis have natural products rich in various biological properties. It has been determined that the herbal materials, crude extracts and isolated chemical components of the plant are used biologically and pharmacologically. As a result of this research; cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, edema, paralysis, leprosy, constipation, skin wounds, scabies, skin rash, diphtheria, intestinal ulcers, acute earache, toothache, eye inflammations, kidney and bladder pain, diphtheria, leukorrhoea have been revealed to be an important medicinal plant used in the treatment of malignant tumors, fever and respiratory diseases.
Having suffered from a global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mutants and variants, the entire world has turned its attention and hope to natural treatments that can keep the immune system active and strong. Recent research on some herbal preparations promises high hopes that they may be potential candidates for developing effective and safe immune-boosting drugs. Considering that Turkey has the richest flora in Europe and the Middle East and has an invaluable ethnomedical background, it offers a treasure-worthy potential for serious researchers. 128 plant taxa belonging to 41 families were determined from 99 works carried out in different regions of Turkey. Of these, only 60 (46.9%) were found to be responded to experimental studies worldwide on immune system enhancement and other similar activities. Quercetin (10.3%), β-glucan, and catechin (5.1%) emerged as the most prevalent effective ingredients among the 39 identified. Urtica dioica (39.4%), Rosa canina (34.3%), and Punica granatum (17.2%) were recorded as the most used plants in Turkey. In addition, Phoenix dactylifera has appeared as the taxon with more active compounds in the literature. This study presents the first national inventory of immune-boosting plants that are regularly used in traditional Turkish medicine, not only against COVID-19 but for the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases in general. We present 68 (53.1%) plants whose effective immune-stimulating and strengthening properties have been confirmed in experimental studies in the world literature as ready-made material for the relevant pharmacological sectors.KeywordsCOVID-19Immune-boostingImmunostimulantMedicinal plantPandemicTurkey
Having suffered from a global epidemic of Covid19 mutants and variants, the entire world has turned its attention and hope to natural treatments that can keep the immune system active and strong. Recent research on some herbal preparations promises high hopes that they may be potential candidates for developing effective and safe immune-boosting drugs. Considering that Turkey has the richest flora of Europe and the Middle East and has an invaluable ethnomedical background, it offers a treasure-worthy potential for serious researchers. 128 plant taxa belonging to 41 families were determined from 99 works carried out in different regions of Turkey. Of these, only 60 (46.9%) were found to be responded to in experimental studies worldwide on immune system enhancement and other similar activities. Quercetin (10.3%), β-glucan, and catechin (5.1%) emerged as the most common active substances among 39 identified active substances. Urtica dioica (39.4%), Rosa canina (34.3%), and Punica granatum (17.2%) were recorded as the most used plants in Turkey. In addition, Phoenix dactylifera has appeared as the taxon with having more active compounds in the literature. This study presents the first national inventory of immune-boosting plants that are regularly used in traditional Turkish medicine, not only against Covid-19 but for the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases in general. We present 68 (53.1%) plants whose effective immune-stimulating and strengthening properties have been confirmed in experimental studies in the world literature as ready-made material to the relevant pharmacological sectors.
The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of Elaeagnus
angustifolia fruit extract (EAFE) on hematology, biochemical parameters, liver
enzymes and damage of different tissues of male mice exposed to graphene oxide
nanoparticles (GO NPs). In this research, 48 mice were divided into six groups.
Hematology parameters including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells
(WBC), hematocrit (Ht), and hemoglobin (Hb), biochemical parameters such as
cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, protein, albumin, creatinine and bilirubin, liver
enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and his�tological damage of liver, kidney, lung and testis of mice were investigated. The
results show that GO NPs in both concentrations (30 and 60 mg/kg/bw) decrease
the number of RBC compared to the control group (p < 0.05). EAFE has no effect
on RBC count while EAFE in combination with both concentrations of 30 and
60 mg/kg/bw GO NPs significantly (p < 0.05) improves the RBC count of mice.
Also, the results show that EAFE improves the number of WBC, Ht, Hb, and
biochemical parameters of mice exposed to different concentrations of GO NPs.
A series of morphological changes were observed in the RBC of rats exposed to
60 mg/kg/bw GO NPs, including Dacrocyte, Poikilocyte and Schistocyte, which
EAFE can improve the morphological changes caused in RBC. A series of his�tological damages such as degeneration and dilatation in the central vein in
liver tissue, thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal capsule,
peribronchiolar inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion in peribronchiolar
blood vessels in lung tissue and decrease in the height of the germinal epithelium
and a decrease in the population of spermatozoid cells in spermatogenic cells were observed in the testis of mice exposed to 60 mg/kg/bw GO NPs. The results
show that EAFE can improve the damage caused by GO NPs in the liver, kidney
and lung tissues, while it has no effect on the damage in the mice testis tissue.
Therefore, GO NPs cause damage in the blood and different tissues of mice, and
the use of EAFE can be effective in improving these damages.
The inability to have a child is couple's tragedy due to personal frustration and social stress. Botanical extracts have been used empirically as crude extracts and semi-purified compounds to treat infertility problems. These herbal extracts are used to treat sperm disorders, sexual asthenia, libido and erection. In vitro and in vivo research have revealed that plant extracts contain a wide range of pharmacological potentials. Secondary metabolites from plants provide a treatment option for infertility due to their accessibility, affordability, and availability. However, botanical products are still traditionally used worldwide to solve reproductive disorders. For instance, extracts of Ferula hermonis have shown positive effects on different fertility problems, such as libido, erection, and sperm parameters. Therefore in this review, we have presented most of the data dealing with the reported activities of F. hermonis in different extracts on reproductive functions.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Background
The conventional treatments for hypercholesterolemia are too atomistic to effectively handle the condition. A phytotherapy which is rich in bioactive compounds could be a more effective approach. This study highlights plants prescribed against high cholesterol by herbalists in Casablanca, Morocco, and investigates their clinical effectiveness through a literature review.
Methods
An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted on 127 herbalists. The socio-demographic profile of the respondents, vernacular plant names, parts used, preparation methods, routes of administration and posology were recorded. The data was analyzed using the Citation Number, Use Value, Family Use Value and Choice Value indices. The literature review of the plants subject to clinical trials was conducted by probing ScienceDirect, Springer and PubMed.
Results
A total of 33 plant species distributed over 19 families were identified. The most represented families were Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. The most prescribed species were Linum usitatissimum, Coriandrum sativum, Avena sativa, Olea europea, Allium sativum, Juglans regia, Glycine max, Curcuma longa, Foeniculum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis. Flax and coriander had the highest Use Value. The literature review on hypercholesterolemia clinical trials revealed 15 common species related to this survey.
Conclusion
To treat hypercholesterolemia, herbalists emphasized 10 relevant plants: Linum usitatissimum, Coriandrum sativum, Avena sativa, Olea Europea, Allium sativum, Juglans regia, Glycine max and Rosmarinus officinalis. Some clinical trials have also shown these plant species to be effective cholesterol-lowering plants. This agreement between herbalists and clinical trials reflects the ability of the Moroccan traditional pharmacopoeia to meet the population health needs. However, serious attention should be given toward the toxicity of plants.
Background:cell lines derived from cancer cells are frequently used in research, including use as a model to understand cancer and to identify potential new treatments. The aim of this study has been
Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is one of the best known aromatic and medicinal plants. The characterization of essential oil variation is of commercial importance as well as helpful for appropriate use of M. spicata. Thirteen strains of cultivated or spontaneous mints were collected from 10 Moroccan regions and acclimatized for two years in Me-knes. Their leaves collected at full flowering were dried for hydro-distillation. Essential oil yields were found to vary from 1.32 % to 5.83 %. Analysis of these oils by GC/MS indicated a large variation in chemical composition among the studied strains of Moroccan M. spicata (9 to 51 compounds). The highest yields characterize the cultivated strains of Agadir (5.83 %), S2 of Larache (4.84 %) and the spontaneous strain S3 of Ifrane (4.17%). The richest strain in number of compounds is S3 of Ifrane with 51 compounds whereas uncultivated S2 from the same region has only 9 compounds. Some strains are rich in carvone such as the cultivated strain of Ouarzazate (65.94%) and the spontaneous S2 of Ifrane (72.3 %). Others are rich in eucalyptol, pulegone or 3-Cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) such as those of Marrakech (21.1 %), Agadir (30.7 %) and S1 of Larache (22.1 %), respectively. The strains of Settat and Ifrane (S1) have high levels of limonene (17.8-18.1%).
Including this studying prepared alcoholic extracts of leaves Ziziphus spina- christi, The inhibitory activity tested alcoholic extracts of leaves Ziziphus spina-christi against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, bacteria and yeast Candida albicans. By using five concentrations: (0.1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2) µg/ml. The phytochemical analysis show that the plant extract contain: Tannen, Glycosides, Saponin, Flavonoids and Carbohydrate. Alcoholic extract concentrations showed an inhibitory activity against pathogenic microorganism, the highest inhibition diameter rate(22.3mm) in concentration 100 µg/ml against C.albicans while P.auroginosa Showed the lowest inhibition diameter (19.3mm) in concentration 100 mg \ ml. The MIC of alcoholic extract was observed to be 80 µg/ml against pathogenic microorganism also MBC of alcoholic extract was observed to be 100 µg/ml against pathogenic microorganism. Also no action of any cytotoxicity against red blood cells had been shown for extracts in concentration 100 µg/ml and have antioxidant agent in low concentration.
Many therapeutic strategies are developed for the major health problems and the key enzyme inhibitory theory is one of the most applied approaches. One of the aspects of the drug discovery process is the identification of small molecules secondary metabolites with enzyme-inhibiting activities. Enzymes play an important role in all aspects of health in life and their overexpression and hypoactivation is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. A wide variety of therapeutics used against a number of diseases are inhibitors of clinically relevant enzymes. Most of the inhibitors interact with particular enzymes by blocking their activity towards their corresponding physiological natural substances without disturbing other enzymes. For instance, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) compounds are potential candidates for treating Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Purified human enzymes are necessary as molecular targets for drug discovery. In this procedure, measurement of product formation is realized by spectroscopic methods and the results are compared by using standard clinically used inhibitors. During the past years, new enzyme inhibiting natural products from medicinally important plants have discovered. This chapter includes the general information about new inhibitors from traditionally used of medicinal plants as well as strategies to purify health related enzyme inhibitors from traditionally used medicinally important plants.
the antioxidant and anti-AChE activities of P. palaestina methanol leaves extract were evaluated and show an antioxidant as well as anticholinesterase activity.
Methanol, hexane, aqueous and petroleum ether extracts of the whole plant Polygonum equisetiforme did not show any activity against ten bacterial and four fungal species. The butanol crude extract and all the pooled groups of this exhibited variable patterns of antimicrobial activity. Quercetin (a flavonol) has been isolated and identified as the major constituent. The antifungal and antibacterial activity of quercetin was compared with the antibacterial drugs gentamycin, streptomycin and ampicillin and the antifungal drug miconazole nitrate. The antifungal activity of quercetin was limited to Candida tropicalis and it had a narrow antibacterial spectrum of activity. However, its activities against Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli were low grade compared with ampicillin, stretomycin and gentamycin. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-arabinoside and isorhamnetin were also isolated in very low yield. They have not been reported previously in this species.
Ethnobotanists are frequently involved in the initial documentation of plant remedies used in traditional and popular domestic
medicine. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of herbal medicine as actually practiced requires the recording of the variables
that can influence the therapeutic outcome. For pharmacological and toxicological testing, the factors controlling the final
amount of active compound(s) taken by the patient are especially critical. Since most ethnobotanical studies omit such information,
a framework for reporting the major factors is given. Topics discussed, including problems of the literature and suggested
formats, are: 1) the plant: common name, scientific name, infraspecific variation, the voucher specimen; 2) preparation of
the medicine: plant part, collection, storage, preparation; 3) therapy: general and adjunct, disorder treated, kind of practitioner,
dosage regimen, route of administration, response to therapy, status of use; 4) the patient.
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Israel on native plants which are known as medicinal plants by different ethnic groups practicing traditional medicine. In this work 43 species are reported, based on quotations and frequency of utilization. Their current medicinal uses, as well as methods of preparation and administration are described and compared with literary evidence.
Petroleum ether, ethanol, butanol, and aqueous crude extracts of the whole aerial parts of nine plants exhibited variable degrees of antimicrobial activity against four bacterial and three fungal species. Methanol and hexane extracts did not show any activity. Compared with standard antibiotics, extracts had low to moderate activity. The activity spectrum is wide against gram-positive and negative bacteria as well as fungi tested. However, the butanol extracts at 4 mg/disc of Ononis spinosa (OS), Bryonia syriaca (BS) had high moderate antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme and Candida albicans relative to miconazole nitrate at 40 microg/disc. Furthermore, higher antibacterial activity was observed though low to moderate compared with streptomycin and very comparable with chloramphenicol. Cyclaman persicum (CP) petroleum ether extracts only exhibited pronounced antibacterial activity.
This paper discusses the use of animals prescribed as medicines by herbalists from Feira de Santana city in the State of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Data were obtained by undergraduates of the Biology course of Feira de Santana State University, who performed open interviews with herbalists at Centro de Abastecimento, the main local market. The medicinally used faunistic resources are echinoderms, arthropods, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Folk remedies are administered as teas, syrups or plasters. Respiratory affections predominated and fat was the most common zootherapeutic. It was observed that some of the useful species are in danger of extinction. It is suggested that the rearing of these species in traditional farming systems will allow their conservation, while at the same time they will also results in people's life improvement. Traditional knowledge on folk medicine is to be studied in order to lead to the discovery of new sources of drugs.
This report deals with the results of a study of present day uses of traditional medicinal materials in Israel. The survey covered selected markets in medicinal materials, belonging to various religious and ethnic communities, and also included questioning of the sellers and buyers about the healing characteristics of the various materials. The survey yielded information on many and varied medicinal materials, of which 310 are identified according to the following classifications, 264 species of plants (85.1%); 20 species of animals (6.5%); 19 kinds of minerals (6.5%); and seven materials of other or mixed origin (2.3%). Analysis of the data showed that a significant proportion of the materials were of local origin (51.5%) and some were imported from other countries. These data demonstrate that there is still a flourishing and well developed trade in these materials - a trade which is the remnant of a rich and ancient medical culture, which is disappearing from the modern world.
This article presents the results of a study of the medicinal uses of natural substances in medieval and Ottoman al-Sham (the Levant). It involved a meticulous survey of a wide range of historical sources spanning approximately 1100 years and including medical and pharmacological literature, travelogues, geographical and agricultural literature, dictionaries, archives, the Genizah and other medieval sources. Our main goal was to arrive at a reconstruction of the unwritten materia medica of the medieval and Ottoman Levant. Of the many and varied medicinal substances on which we were able to extract information, we were able to identify 286. These are presented according to the following classification: 234 species of plants (81.8%); 27 species of animals (9.5%); 15 kinds of minerals (5.2%) and 10 substances of other or mixed origin (3.5%). Analysis of the data showed that the region under study served as the geographic origin of the majority of the substances, only a minority of the materials was imported. The main reason for this is the geographic location of the Levant as a junction between three continents, as a cultural meeting point and as trade center. Finally, our data revealed that the al-Sham region was an independent source of production and marketing of medicinal substances during the medieval and Ottoman periods.
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