Peace through health: traditional medicine meditation in the prevention of collective stress, violence, and war.

In the midst of global armed conflicts, notably the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia wars, there is an urgent need for innovative public health strategies in peacebuilding. The devastating impact of wars, including mortality, injury, disease, and the diversion of healthcare resources, necessitates effective and durable interventions. This perspective aligns with WHO recommendations and examines the role of evidence-based meditation from Ayurveda and Yoga in public health to mitigate collective stress and prevent collective violence and war. It highlights the Transcendental Meditation program, recognized for reducing stress, with contemporary evidence supporting its effectiveness in mental health, mind-body disorders, cardiovascular disease, and public health. Empirical studies with cross-cultural replications indicate that these Traditional Medicine meditation practices can reduce collective stress and prevent collective violence and war activity while improving quality of life. The mechanisms of group meditation in mitigating collective violence are explored through public health models, cognitive neuroscience, population neuroscience, quantum physics principles, and systems medicine. This perspective suggests that Transcendental Meditation and the advanced TM-Sidhi program, as a component of Traditional Medicine, can provide a valuable platform for enhancing societal well-being and peace by addressing brain-based factors fundamental to collective stress and violence.

Bioactive Components of Areca Nut: An Overview of Their Positive Impacts Targeting Different Organs.

Areca catechu L. is a widely cultivated tropical crop in Southeast Asia, and its fruit, areca nut, has been consumed as a traditional Chinese medicinal material for more than 10,000 years, although it has recently attracted widespread attention due to potential hazards. Areca nut holds a significant position in traditional medicine in many areas and ranks first among the four southern medicines in China. Numerous bioactive compounds have been identified in areca nuts, including alkaloids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and fatty acids, which exhibit diverse bioactive functions, such as anti-bacterial, deworming, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, they also display beneficial impacts targeting the nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems. This review summarizes the pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of the bioactive ingredients in areca nut. This helps to ascertain the beneficial components of areca nut, discover its medicinal potential, and guide the utilization of the areca nut.

Folk medicine, biological activity, and chemical profiles of Brazilian Acanthaceae (Lamiales) - A review.

INTRODUCTION: The botanical family Acanthaceae (order Lamiales) potentially comprises 4900 species in 191 genera with extensive morphological, habit and habitat diversity. The family is widely distributed throughout the world but is especially rich in tropical and subtropical regions. Many of its species have great ornamental importance and are broadly used for medicinal purposes in several countries of Asia and Africa. Brazil is a main center of diversity of the family, where they are distributed across all its biomes, mainly in the herbaceous-shrub stratum. Medicinal investigations about Brazilian species are scarce, the exception being a single native species, Justicia pectoralis Jacq., that is widely used and studied chemically. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This work compiled studies that indicated folk medicinal use, investigated biological activity, or evaluated the chemical composition of Brazilian species of Acanthaceae. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medicinal uses, investigations of biological activities and chemical data were collected and summarized through bibliographic surveys. Tables were compiled to standardize the information and the appropriate references were gathered for each species. Registration of chemical components used in the treatment of ailments and in preserving health were emphasized with the aim of stimulating future investigations. RESULTS: The breadths of habitats and morphologies of the family are directly related to its chemical diversity, as confirmed here for Brazilian species. Although the investigated species represent less than 9% of the total richness of the family in Brazil, they encompass a great diversity of chemical substances. The data indicated folk medicinal uses for 26 species and biological tests for 23, while 30 species were investigated chemically. Ruellia and Justicia were the most researched genera with 12 and 11 species, representing approximately 14% and 7% of Brazilian species of each genus, respectively. Two species are native to other countries but become naturalized in Brazil. Studies of native species were carried out in different countries around the world, with many reports of medicinal uses and biological tests. Examples of uses include anticancer and antidepressant actions, as well as activities against respiratory problems and other diseases. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the chemical and biological diversity of the studied Brazilian species of Acanthaceae, which emphasizes the need to expand studies with native Brazilian species.

From immune checkpoints to therapies: understanding immune checkpoint regulation and the influence of natural products and traditional medicine on immune checkpoint and immunotherapy in lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a disease of global concern, and immunotherapy has brought lung cancer therapy to a new era. Besides promising effects in the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and low response rates are problems unsolved. Natural products and traditional medicine with an immune-modulating nature have the property to influence immune checkpoint expression and can improve immunotherapy's effect with relatively low toxicity. This review summarizes currently approved immunotherapy and the current mechanisms known to regulate immune checkpoint expression in lung cancer. It lists natural products and traditional medicine capable of influencing immune checkpoints or synergizing with immunotherapy in lung cancer, exploring both their effects and underlying mechanisms. Future research on immune checkpoint modulation and immunotherapy combination applying natural products and traditional medicine will be based on a deeper understanding of their mechanisms regulating immune checkpoints. Continued exploration of natural products and traditional medicine holds the potential to enhance the efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of immunotherapy.

Food drugs as drivers of therapeutic knowledge and the role of chemosensory qualities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chemosensory qualities of botanical drugs are important cues for anticipating physiologic consequences. Whether a botanical drug is used for both, food and medicine, or only as medicine depends on taste preferences, nutritional content, cultural background, and the individual and overall epidemiological context. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We subjected 540 botanical drugs described in De Materia Medica having at least one oral medical application to a tasting panel. The 540 drugs were grouped into those only used for medicine (388) and those also used for food (152). The associations with chemosensory qualities and therapeutic indications were compared across the two groups. We considered 22 experimentally assessed chemosensory qualities and 39 categories of therapeutic use groups. We wanted to know, 1): which chemosensory qualities increase the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food ? 2): which chemosensory qualities augment the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be only used for medicine? and 3): whether there are differences in therapeutic indications between orally applied botanical drugs also used for food (food drugs) and botanical drugs applied exclusively for medicinal purposes (non-food drugs) and, if yes, how the differences can be explained. RESULTS: Chemosensory qualities augmenting the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food were sweet, starchy, salty, burning/hot, fruity, nutty, and cooling. Therapeutics used for diarrhoea, as libido modulators, purgatives, laxatives, for expelling parasites, breast and lactation and increasing diuresis, were preferentially sourced from food drugs while drugs used for liver and jaundice, vaginal discharge and humoral management showed significant negative associations with food dugs in ancient Greek-Roman materia medica. CONCLUSION: Therapeutics used for ailments of body organs involved in the digestion of food and the excretion of waste products showed a tendency to be sourced from food drugs. Arguably, the daily consumption of food offered the possibility for observing post-prandial physiologic and pharmacologic effects which led to a high therapeutic versatility of food drugs and the possibility to understand benefits of taste and flavour qualities. The difference in chemosensory qualities between food drugs and non-food drugs is demarcating the organoleptic requirements of food rather than that of medicine.

Saving the local tradition: ethnobotanical survey on the use of plants in Bologna district (Italy).

BACKGROUND: Traditional knowledge about plants is unfortunately subjected to a progressive loss, mainly due to globalization and depopulation of the rural areas. This work enhances the ethnobotanical knowledge from Northern Italy, specifically Bologna district, and contributes to preserving Italy's plant-based traditional knowledge and to valorize local resources also in view of an ecological transition. METHODS: The study was conducted between 2010 and 2016 in Bologna district encompassing 22 municipalities, which were grouped into three areas: hill, mountain, and plain. In total, 1172 key informants were interviewed, ranging in age from 50 to 85 years, and having strong links with traditional activities in the area. RESULTS: The final inventory included 374 taxa belonging to 91 families. Among these, 251 were wild native, 40 wild alien, 74 cultivated and 6 were products bought from the market. Hill, mountain, and plain provided information on 278, 213, and 110 taxa, respectively. The most cited families were Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Rosaceae. The information was systematized in 12 use categories (UC): medicinal (MED), food, cosmetic, domestic, superstitious-magical-religious (SMR), agropastoral, craft, repellent-insecticide, veterinary, toxic, games, other uses and information. The most relevant UC were in turn divided into subcategories. A descriptive table with all the results was also created. MED was the most relevant UC (310 taxa), and among the 17 MED subcategories, the most significant ones were: gastroenteric (160 taxa), respiratory (133 taxa), and dermatologic (122 taxa). Food was also relevant (197 taxa, and 16 subcategories), and the widest food subcategory was nutraceutical (98 taxa). In cosmetic, the most relevant subcategory was skin treatment (37 taxa). Within SMR, the majority of the plants were cited to heal a disease in a ritual or superstitious way (15 taxa), while for agropastoral, the majority of the taxa (29) were cited as feed. CONCLUSIONS: The data collected has highlighted a significant traditional use of plants in Bologna district. Some plants or uses emerged for the first time from an ethnobotanical study carried out in Italy. The inclusion of a large number of municipalities and informants enabled the collection of a wide spectrum of data, encompassing various uses, anecdotes, and historical curiosities, which are crucial to preserve from being forgotten.

The effects and mechanisms of natural products on Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication is pivotal for alleviating gastric mucosal inflammation and preventing the progression of gastric diseases. While antibiotic-based therapies have achieved significant success in H. pylori eradication, challenges such as antibiotic resistance, drug toxicity, side effects, nonadherence, inapplicability, and disruption of gastrointestinal microflora have emerged. Updated therapies are urgently needed to suppress H. pylori. Nature has provided multitudinous therapeutic agents since ancient times. Natural products can be a potential therapy endowed with H. pylori eradication efficacy. We summarize the basic information, possible mechanisms, and the latest research progress of some representative natural products in H. pylori eradication, highlighting their safety, accessibility, efficiency, and ability to overcome limitations associated with antibiotic application. This review highlights the potential therapeutic advantages of incorporating ethnomedicine into anti-H. pylori regimens. The findings of this review may provide insights into the development of novel natural products and expand the therapeutic options available for H. pylori eradication.

Scoping review on lessons learnt on the promotion and use of drugs and traditional medicine in Africa during COVID-19.

ABSTRACTScientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical drugs, substances and herbal medicines is important in medical advertising and promotion. Following guidelines for conducting a scoping review, we systematically searched PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science to identify in peer reviewed articles medications that were promoted and used widely in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also searched for information about how safety concerns about untested/or not properly tested drugs were communicated to the public during the pandemic. Of the 2043 articles identified, 41 papers were eligible for inclusion. Most studies were clinical trials (n = 11), systematic reviews (n = 9), quantitative studies (n = 9) the rest were qualitative studies, reviews and reports. We found that following global trends, several drugs, traditional and herbal treatments were used and repurposed for the treatment of respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 in Africa. The results highlighted the value of some herbal medicines for treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the risks posed by the unregulated sharing of advice and recommendations on treatments in Africa, and globally.

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Frankenia Species: A Review.

The relatively small Frankeniaceae family is represented by halophyte plants, growing in arid and semi-arid climates in saline, alkaline or calcareous soils. Due to their living conditions, they usually produce a large diversity of compounds, which often exhibit bioactivities. Some species of this genus have long been used as traditional herbal medicines to treat dysentery, diarrhea, gonorrhea, vaginal leucorrhea, respiratory diseases and wounds. To date, several studies on either phytochemical or pharmacological aspects, or both, have revealed that this genus is a rich source of diverse and novel bioactive chemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and fatty acids. This review describes all the reported chemical profiles of Frankenia species, as well as the corresponding biological properties, when available. The aim of this review is to show the potential of these plants for various applications, especially therapeutic ones.

Ethnobotany of traditional cosmetics among the Oromo women in Madda Walabu District, Bale Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia.

Traditional cosmetics play a significant role in the cultural practices and personal hygiene of many ethnic groups worldwide. The Oromo, an indigenous community in Ethiopia, has a rich history of utilizing local plants for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of plants as traditional cosmetics has only been poorly investigated as more emphasis was given to traditional medicines. The study thus aimed to identify and document plant species, and parts used in traditional cosmetics and associated knowledge, and practices among Oromo women in the Madda Walabu district, Southeastern Ethiopia. A total of 150 Oromo women were interviewed to gather ethnobotanical information including the plant species used for cosmetics, their preparation methods, and their applications. Ethnobotanical indices were computed to determine the most important species used by the women. A total of 48 plant species belonging to 31 families used as sources of traditional cosmetics were recorded. Most of these plants were trees. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part in traditional cosmetics, and maceration and decoction were the most common preparation methods applied to prepare traditional cosmetics. Topical application of traditional cosmetics was the most common, while oral infusions were rarely reported type of administration. All categories had high informant consensus factor (ICF) values, ranging from 0.80 to 0.98. The highest ICF value was found for skin treatment, followed by the hair, and face mask. Overall, Commiphora habessinica, Gnidia stenophylla, Kalanchoe lanceolata, Mimusops kummel, Sesamothamnus rivae, Terminalia brownii, T. laxiflora, Acacia drepanolobium, A. mellifera, and Aloe citrina were the most frequently cited and culturally important plants by Oromo women for traditional cosmetics in the area. The study highlights the importance of local plant resources for maintaining cultural practices and personal hygiene. However, the cultural heritage associated with traditional cosmetics is facing threats from various factors. Therefore, a continuous effort to document and disseminate knowledge about traditional cosmetics practices to ensure their preservation and transmission and awakening younger generations about the importance of traditional cosmetics and their role in cultural heritage is crucial.

Traditional knowledge of animal-derived medicines used by Gelao community in Northern Guizhou, China.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to document and preserve the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Gelao community in Northern Guizhou, China, providing valuable insights for modern pharmacological research and the development of these traditional remedies. METHODS: Our methodology encompassed a blend of literature review, community interviews, and participatory observation to delve into the traditional knowledge of animal-derived medicines among the Gelao community. We employed quantitative ethnological and ecological assessment techniques to evaluate the significance of these practices. Informed consent was secured before conducting interviews, with a focus on ascertaining the types of medicines familiar to the informants, including their local names, sources, methods of preparation, application techniques, diseases treated, frequency of use, and safety considerations. RESULTS: Our research cataloged 55 varieties of animal-derived medicines utilized by the Gelao people. Out of these, 34 originate from wild animals, mainly encompassing small insects, reptiles, and aquatic species; the remaining 21 are derived from domesticated animals, largely involving their tissues, organs, and various physiological or pathological by-products. These medicines are primarily applied in treating pediatric ailments (13 types), internal disorders (11 types), gynecological issues (3 types), dermatological problems (7 types), ENT conditions (3 types), trauma-related injuries (5 types), joint and bone ailments (5 types), infections (2 types), dental issues (2 types), and urolithiasis (1 type), with three types being used for other miscellaneous conditions. Commonly utilized medicines, such as honey, Blaps beetle, chicken gallstones, and snake-based products, are preferred for their availability, edibility, and safety within the Gelao communities. CONCLUSION: The Gelao community's traditional medicines represent a rich diversity of animal sources, showcasing extensive expertise and knowledge in their processing and clinical applications. This wealth of traditional knowledge offers novel perspectives for the contemporary pharmacological study and development of these remedies. Additionally, our research plays a crucial role in aiding the preservation and continuation of this invaluable cultural heritage.

Fraxini cortex: Progresses in phytochemistry, pharmacology and ethnomedicinal uses.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fraxini cortex, which has been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for 2000 years, is made from the dried bark of four plant species: Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla (Hance) A.E.Murray, Fraxinus chinensis Roxb., Fraxinus chinensis subsp. chinensis and Fraxinus stylosa Lingelsh.. In Chinese traditional medicine, it possesses the properties of heat-clearing and dampness-drying, asthma relief and cough suppression, as well as vision improvement. It is utilized for treating bacterial disorders, enteritis, leukorrhea, chronic bronitis, painful red eyes with swelling, lacrimation due to windward exposure, psoriasis, and other diseases or related symptoms. AIM OF THE STUDY: Fraxini cortex is abundant in chemical constituents and has garnered significant attention from plant chemists, particularly regarding coumarins, as evidenced by the recently identified three coumarin compounds. Considering the current dearth of systematic reporting on studies pertaining to Fraxini cortex, herein we provide a comprehensive summary of the advancements in phytochemistry, pharmacology, detection methods, and ethnomedicinal applications of Fraxini cortex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search across online data sources (Web of Science, Public Medicine (PubMed), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), as well as Chinese dissertations) and traditional Chinese medicine classics to gather the necessary literature resources for this review. RESULTS: Briefly, The Fraxini cortex yielded a total of 132 phytochemicals, including coumarins, lignans, secoiridoids, phenylethanol glycosides, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and other compounds. Among them, the main active ingredients are coumarins which possess a diverse range of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory effects, anti-tumor properties, prevention of tissue fibrosis and oxidation damage as well as cardioprotective effects. CONCLUSIONS: All types of research conducted on Fraxini cortex, particularly in the field of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology, have been thoroughly reviewed. However, certain traditional applications and pharmacological activities of Fraxini cortex lack scientific evaluation or convincing evidence due to incomplete methodologies and ambiguous results, as well as a lack of clinical data. To validate its pharmacological activity, clinical efficacy, and safety profile, a systematic and comprehensive research evaluation is imperative. As an important traditional Chinese medicine, Fraxini cortex should be further explored to facilitate the development of novel drugs and therapeutics for various diseases. Greater attention should be given to how it can be better utilized.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Mile, Yunnan, China.

BACKGROUND: The Yi people are a sociolinguistic group living in Mile City, which is their typical settlement in southeastern Yunnan, China. Over the long history of using medicinal plants, the Yi people have accumulated and developed a wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a vital role in their health care. However, only a few studies have been performed to systematically document the medicinal plants commonly used by the Yi people. This study provides fundamental data for the development and application of ethnomedicine as well as supports the conservation of the traditional medical knowledge of the Yi people. METHODS: This study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2022 and involved five townships in Mile. Information regarding medicinal plants was obtained through semistructured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. The collected voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation, and fidelity level. RESULTS: In total, 114 informants distributed in five townships of Mile were interviewed. The Yi people used 267 medicinal plant species belonging to 232 genera and 104 families to treat various diseases. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae were the most commonly used plant families by the Yi people. In addition, herbs were most commonly used by the Yi people. Whole plants and roots were the preferred medicinal parts. Decoctions were the most common method of herbal medicine preparation. There are 49 different recorded diseases treated by Yi medicinal plants, and among them, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, traumatic injury, fractures, and digestive system diseases have the largest number of species used. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that plants such as Zingiber officinale, Lycopodium japonicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Panax notoginseng, Cyathula officinalis, and Leonurus japonicus played crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment. CONCLUSION: Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely associated with the social culture of the local Yi people. The medicinal plants used for health care in the study area were diverse. Local healers were skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Their treatment methods were convenient and unique, exhibiting distinctive regional characteristics. However, the inheritance of their traditional medicinal knowledge and protection of wild medicinal plant resources are facing serious challenges, including the decreasing number of local healers, aging of healers, lack of successors, and excessive harvesting of medicinal plant resources. This ethnobotanical survey provides a useful reference for the sustainable utilization and protection of medicinal plant resources in Mile and the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge of the Yi people.

Assessment of traditional healers' knowledge and utilization of pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies in the Amhara region, North West Ethiopia.

CONTEXT: Although pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies play a vital role in the quality of traditional medicines, they have not received much attention from stakeholders and researchers nationally and internationally. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses traditional healers' knowledge and utilization of pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies in the Amhara region, North West Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 traditional healers. The data were collected using an interview-based questionnaire. The collected data were checked and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 for analysis. The results were presented as percentages. The association between socio-demographic characteristics and traditional healers' knowledge of pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies was examined using Pearson's Chi-squares test. RESULTS: About 90% of traditional healers had information about pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies, and currently 80% of them used different pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies individually and in combination with traditional equipment. Although most traditional healers used different pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies, only 13.3% of them used equipment and supplies a day. Only 15% of traditional healers continuously cleaned their equipment. None of the socio-demographic variables were significantly associated to the knowledge of pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Pharmaceutical equipment and medical supplies used by traditional healers was inconsistent, mainly associated with their habit of using self-prepared and home-available equipment. Moreover, the checkup status of compounding equipment was poor. As Traditional healers provide high-patient care services, emphasis should be given to improving their preparation and treatment strategies.

COVID-19 home remedy consumption and perceived effectiveness among adult population in Brunei Darussalam: a PLS-SEM approach.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 affects the respiratory system and causes severe acute respiratory infections. Several cultures have influenced the use of home remedies to ease mild symptoms of COVID-19 sometimes alongside conventional medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the usage of COVID-19 home remedies among the adult population in Brunei. METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional study using an online survey and distributed nationwide. The statistical analysis of the data included descriptive statistics describing the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, their experience with COVID-19 infection, consumption of general home remedies and COVID-19 home remedy, their practice of COVID-19 home remedy use, and their attitude towards the general use of home remedy. Sub-group analysis including Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test was computed for the variables in relation to the COVID-19 home remedy use and the perceived effectiveness of the types of home remedy. Multivariate analysis including Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to determine the correlations between the factors and outcomes measured. P-value less than 0.05 is considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was a total of 864 eligible responses included in the study. The primary findings showed COVID-19 home remedy was used by 72.2% of the study participants. Most frequently used types of COVID-19 home remedy were cloves (37%), lemon (37%), and honey (23%). There was an infrequent usage of coconut (4.6%), eucalyptus oil (3.7%), habbatussauda (3.5%), traditional/ herbal cough syrup (2.4%), and turmeric (2.2%). The PLS-SEM demonstrated that 'Experience' appears to be a central endogenous variable that affects the decision on the use of COVID-19 home remedy. This relationship is mediated by 'Safety', 'Source', and 'Opinion' which have significant contributions to the outcome, accounting for 98.2% of the variance explained (R-square = 0.982). CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of this study establishes the baseline prevalence of COVID-19 home remedy consumption among Bruneian residents and compared the previous study on Brunei's general use of traditional medicine. The present findings could help nurses and other healthcare professionals in Brunei understand the practice of Bruneian adults on the consumption of home remedies for COVID-19.

Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species.

Ephedra species are among the most popular herbs used in traditional medicine for a long time. The ancient Chinese medical book "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" refers to the classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription Ge Gen decoction, which consists of seven herbs, including an Ephedra species. Ephedra species are utilized all over the world to treat symptoms of the common cold and coughs, and to combat major human diseases, such as asthma, cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive disorders, and microbial infections. This study aimed at identifying specific Ephedra species used traditionally in Morocco for therapeutic purposes. The plant parts, their preparation process, and the treated pathologies were identified and analyzed. The results revealed five ethnobotanically important species of Ephedra: Ephedra alata Decne, Ephedra altissima Desf., Ephedra distachya L., Ephedra fragilis Desf., and Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo. These species are used traditionally in Morocco for treating people with diabetes, cancer, rheumatism, cold and asthma, hypertension, influenza virus infection, and respiratory ailments. In addition, they are occasionally used as calefacient agents, to regulate weight, or for capillary care. Few studies have underlined the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of some of these Moroccan Ephedra species, but little information is available regarding the natural products at the origin of the bioactivities. Further phytochemical investigations and clinical data are encouraged to better support the use of these plants.

Ethnobotanical study of Zhuang medicinal herbs of Ardisia: variety systematization, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and toxicity.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to systematize the Zhuang medicinal herbs of Ardisia (ZMHA) in China, to clarify the traditional use in Zhuang medicine and the dynamics of international research on phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and toxicity. KEY FINDINGS: There are 25 species of ZMHA, approximately 938 compounds from the different part, including triterpenoids, phenolics, volatile oils, etc. Pharmacological activity studies have also shown that this genus has anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, etc., and significant effects on respiratory, digestive, urinary, and musculoskeletal system diseases without toxic side effects. SUMMARY: The Ardisia has a medicinal history of nearly a thousand years, mainly for treating diseases of the injuries, musculoskeletal, and symptomatic system in Zhuang medicine. Some plants, such as A. crenata, A. gigantifolia, and A. japonica, are also commonly used in folk Zhuang medicine formulas, to treat musculoskeletal, injury, respiratory, and urinate systems disease. These diseases are related to inflammation. These could provide a new direction for future new drug development research. Therefore, species identification and resource investigation should be strengthened, and conducted in vitro mechanism, in vivo pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and toxicology studies and establish a perfect quality standard system.

The sustainable use of diverse plants accustomed by different ethnic groups in Sibi District, Balochistan, Pakistan.

The present study was conducted to analyze the utilization of medicinal plants (traditional as well as cultivated) and there recipes accustomed by different ethnic groups of Sibi District (SD), Balochistan, Pakistan. The study was carried out between 2018 and 2021 by using semi-structured and open-ended questionnaire.. The randomly selected methods applied for this study were mainly based on household surveys walk through and interview with indigenous communityage 40 to 80, a total of 75 plants, belonging to 63 genera and distributed among 33 plant families were recorded. The dominant Plant families were the Fabaceae (12%) of all studied taxa, followed by the Amaranthaceae (7%), Asteraceae (6%), Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae (4% each), Rhamnaceae and Zygophyllaceae (3%). Thirty traditional Food Recipes (TFR) and Traditional Medicinal Recipes (TMR) were novel being first time reported from SD., which are utilized by the local communities in their daily routine. These ethnic TFR and TMR have a tremendous role in preservation and sustainable use of traditional food habits and culture. It was also documented that along with cultivated, the wild edible and medicinal plant preparations play a significant role in in the economic potential and primary health care system of the local communities. The study recommends the specific measures, such as small industries, improved export means, tourism and educational activities, to protect the traditional knowledge and biocultural heritage of the region before its erosion.

Regulation and standardization of herbal drugs: Current status, limitation, challenge's and future prospective.

Herbal drugs (HD) or traditional drugs have been used worldwide for centuries, especially in the developing countries. Global market of HD reaches billion of USD annually and increases every year. For ensuring the safety and efficacy of HD, the Drug Agency/Authority issues regulations for the registration & application of new HD, their manufacturing processes, controlling and monitoring in the market. The efficacy and safety of HD depend on their whole chemical contents. Quality assessment of HD should be performed using standardization methods according to the current Pharmacopoeias or Materia Medica. Unfortunately, the official methods of the compendia cannot be applied for evaluation of mixed herbs and their preparations.; HD's producers should develop, validate, and standardize the method for the quality assessment of their own specific products. Therefore, assuring the safety and efficacy of HD remains a challenging task due to the complex nature of HD, that typically consist of many constituents of herbs/extracts whose quality may vary among different sources of materials. This present review will describe, compare, and discuss the regulations and standardization methods of HD from US, EU countries, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia. The official standardization methods of HD, their current criteria, limitations, challenge and future prospective will be described and discussed. Official methods for quality assessment of HD should be state of the art, fast, low-cost, accurate and precise, and could be used for evaluation of all kinds of HD.