Methanol extract of Elsholtzia fruticosa promotes 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation.

Elsholtzia fruticosa (EF) is present in tropical regions throughout South Asian countries as well as the Himalayas. Although it has been used as a traditional medicine to treat digestive, respiratory, and inflammatory issues, its effect on preadipocyte differentiation is unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of a methanol extract prepared from EF on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Cell differentiation was assessed by microscopic observation and oil-red O staining. The expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, including PPARγ and C/EBPα, was measured by western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), to provide insight into adipogenesis and lipogenesis mechanisms. The results indicated that EF promotes the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, with elevated lipid accumulation occurring in a concentration-dependent manner without apparent cytotoxicity. EF enhances the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, including PPARγ, FABP4, adiponectin, and FAS, at the mRNA and protein levels. The effect of EF was more pronounced during the early and middle stages of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation. Treatment with EF decreased C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) mRNA and protein levels, while increasing C/EBPα and PPARγ expression. Treatment with EF resulted in the upregulation of cyclin E and CDK2 gene expression within 24 h, followed by a decrease at 48 h, demonstrating the early-stage impact of EF. A concomitant increase in cyclin-D1 levels was observed compared with untreated cells, indicating that EF modulates lipogenic and adipogenic genes through intricate mechanisms involving CHOP and cell cycle pathways. In summary, EF induces the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by increasing the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, possibly through CHOP and cell cycle-dependent mechanisms.

Prevalence and associated factors of diabetic retinopathy among people with diabetes screened using fundus photography at a community diabetic retinopathy screening program in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and vision threatening DR (VTDR) among people with diabetes screened using fundus photography in Nepal. METHODS: This is a retrospective study among people with diabetes presented for DR screening using fundus photography from 2013 to 2019. Detailed demographics, duration of diabetes, medical history, visual acuity, and grading of DR on fundus photography were analyzed. Fundus camera used in the study were;Topcon digital fundus camera 900 CXR and digital portable fundus cameras (Nidek-10 portable non-mydriatric fundus camera; Versacam & Trade & Alpha, France), and a Zeiss portable fundus camera (Zeiss Visucout 100). Macula centred and disc centred 45 degree two images were taken from each eye. Pupil were dilated in cases where there was media haze in un-dilated cases. DR was graded using early treatment diabetic retinopathy study criteria. The images were graded by fellowship trained retina specialist. DR prevalence included any DR changes in one or both eyes. RESULTS: Total of 25,196 patients with diabetes were enrolled. Mean age was 54.2 years with Standard Deviation (S.D):12.9 years, ranging from 6 years to 97 years. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes comprised of 451 people (1.79%) and 24,747 (98.21%) respectively. Overall, 1.8% of the images were un-gradable. DR prevalence was 19.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 18.8 - 19.7%). DR prevalence in type 1 and type 2 diabetes was 15.5% (95% CI: 12.5 - 18.6%) and 19.3% (CI: 18.8 - 19.8%) respectively. Clinically significant macular edema (CSME) was found in 5.9% (95% CI: 5.6-6.2%) and VTDR in 7.9% (95% CI: 7.7-8.3%). In multivariate analysis, our study revealed strong evidence to suggest that there is meaningful association between DR and VTDR with duration of diabetes, diabetic foot, diabetic neuropathy, agriculture occupation, those under oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin or both as compared to those under diet only, and presenting visual acuity > 0.3LogMAR. CONCLUSION: Prevalence and associated factors for DR and VTDR were similar to other DR screening programs in the region. Emphasis on wider coverage of DR screening could help for timely detection and treatment of STDR to avoid irreversible blindness.

Screening of antioxidant capacity of Nepali medicinal plants with a novel singlet oxygen scavenging assay.

Pollutant exposure due to industrial development increases oxidative stress in human bodies. Dietary intake of antioxidant shows a protective effect against oxidative damage induced by oxidative stress. Therefore, the development of natural antioxidants is needed. In this study, the antioxidant activities of some Nepali medicinal plant extracts were measured. Using Rose bengal and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, a novel assay was utilized to evaluate the singlet oxygen scavenging capacity, and showed a strong correlation with other antioxidant assays. Also, antioxidant capacities based on four assays including the singlet oxygen scavenging assay were highly correlated (≥ 0.858) with the total phenolic contents in the medicinal plant extracts. Among the selected extracts, Persicaria capitata, Elaphoglossum marginatum and Eurya acuminata showed the highest antioxidant capacities. Overall, this study presents a novel approach for evaluating singlet oxygen scavenging capacity, and performed a screening of antioxidant capacities of 54 Nepali herbal medicines. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01175-z.

Pseudoaneurysm of the proximal superficial femoral artery following blunt trauma in a footballer: A rare case report.

Pseudoaneurysm of superficial femoral artery without any femoral fracture following blunt trauma is a rare clinical entity. Most cases of pseudoaneurysm of superficial femoral artery present to the hospital following penetrating injury, femoral fracture, and surgical procedures. Failure of management of pain despite taking analgesics should lead to suspicion of pseudoaneurysm.

Violence and sexual and reproductive health service disruption among girls and young women during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: A cross-sectional study using interactive voice response survey.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on girls and young women. The study examines the prevalence and correlates of violence and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service disruption among girls and young women during COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown. METHODS: An interactive voice response survey was conducted among girls and women aged 18-24 years between 10th March to 24th April 2021. The survey enrolled 1314 participants. Descriptive analysis was used to assess prevalence of violence and SRH service disruption. Two sampled test of proportion was used to asses difference in prevalence of violence before and after the pandemic. Logistic regression was used to examine relationship between the outcome variables and socio demographic predictors. RESULTS: The study did not find significant difference in prevalence of violence before and after the pandemic. Education was found to be protective against experience of both physical and sexual violence after the pandemic. Dalit participants were four times more likely to report physical violence after the pandemic than Brahmin/Chhetri participants (OR:3.80; CI:1.41-10.24). Participants from 22-24-year age group were twice as likely to experience sexual violence compared to girls and participants from 18-21year age group (OR:2.25; CI:1.04-4.84). Participants from urban municipalities were 29% less likely to report SRH services disruption than participants from rural municipalities (OR-0.71, 95% CI: 0.55-0.91). Participants with disability were twice as likely to report disruption than participants without disability (OR-2.35, 95% CI: 1.45-3.82). CONCLUSIONS: To reduce violence against girls and women due to the pandemic, interventions should focus on Dalit women and on preventing education discontinuation among girls and women. SRH service during the pandemic needs to be improved for girls and women with focus on girls and women from rural municipalities and girls and women with disability.

Long Term Versus Short Term Hearing Results in Endoscopic Sandwich Myringoplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The use of the endoscope in otological surgeries has both diagnostic and therapeutic values. It provides an excellent view in difficult nooks and corners. The use of endoscopic sandwich myringoplasty using cartilage and perichondrium has its benefit in hearing outcome and graft uptake in long-term follow-up. The main objective was to compare the long-term with short- term hearing outcomes in those who have undergone endoscopic sandwich myringoplasty with Dhulikhel hospital (D­HOS) technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients who underwent endoscopic sandwich myringoplasty with D-HOS technique using tragal cartilage perichondrium were enrolled in the study. The hearing outcome was analyzed by comparing the pre-operative findings with post-operative findings and amongst post-operative patients, long-term with short-term air bone gap (ABG) and ABG closure in speech frequencies (0.5kHz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz) were compared. RESULTS: Amongst forty-two patients, 40 (95.2%) had graft uptake in both short-term (6.08 months) and in long-term (20 months) follow-up. The mean pre-operative ABG was 28.1±9.3dB whereas the mean short-term post-operative ABG was 14.5±7.2dB, it showed statistical significance (P=0.001). Likewise, while comparing pre-operative with long-term post-operative ABG (13.4±4.8 dB), it showed statistical significance of P=0.000. While comparing short-term with long-term post-operative ABG, it did not show any statistical significance (P=0.065).The mean closure in ABG in both short-term and long-term hearing assessment was not statistically significant (P=0.077). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic sandwich myringoplasty with D-HOS technique is a reliable procedure with good hearing outcome and graft uptake in both short and long-term follow-up.

Global fading of the temperature-growth coupling at alpine and polar treelines.

Climate warming is expected to positively alter upward and poleward treelines which are controlled by low temperature and a short growing season. Despite the importance of treelines as a bioassay of climate change, a global field assessment and posterior forecasting of tree growth at annual scales is lacking. Using annually resolved tree-ring data located across Eurasia and the Americas, we quantified and modeled the relationship between temperature and radial growth at treeline during the 20th century. We then tested whether this temperature-growth association will remain stable during the 21st century using a forward model under two climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5). During the 20th century, growth enhancements were common in most sites, and temperature and growth showed positive trends. Interestingly, the relationship between temperature and growth trends was contingent on tree age suggesting biogeographic patterns in treeline growth are contingent on local factors besides climate warming. Simulations forecast temperature-growth decoupling during the 21st century. The growing season at treeline is projected to lengthen and growth rates would increase and become less dependent on temperature rise. These forecasts illustrate how growth may decouple from climate warming in cold regions and near the margins of tree existence. Such projected temperature-growth decoupling could impact ecosystem processes in mountain and polar biomes, with feedbacks on climate warming.

Prevalence of Aeroallergens in Allergic Rhinitis in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased significantly globally over the last two decades. Detection of sensitizing aeroallergens plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of this troublesome disease. This study aims to investigate the spectrum of aeroallergens sensitization in patients with allergic rhinitis in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of our hospital between January 2016 to December 2019. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (No: 210/19). Patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis were enrolled using the convenience sampling technique. Data entry and analysis was done using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. RESULTS: Among 170 patients, altogether 103 (60.6%) patients yielded positive responses on the skin prick test. The most prevalent aeroallergens were Lepidoglyphus 86 (50.60%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 85 (50%), Dermatophagoides farina 82 (48.20%), Thyrophagus 50 (29.40%), Blomia 46 (27.10%), Acarus 43 (25.30%), cat dander 26 (15.30%), dog dander 24 (14.10%), cow and buffalo dander 20 (11.8%), ragweed 20 (11.8%), grass pollen 18 (10.60%) and mugwort 17 (10%). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that the frequency of aeroallergens based on skin prick test in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital which showed the dominance of house dust mites, dog and cat hair, pollen, and grasses. Reduced exposure and training of patients about protection against these agents will possibly help in controlling the severity of allergic rhinitis in this region.

Predictors of Treatment Regimen Compliance and Glycemic Control among Diabetic Patients Attending in a Tertiary Level Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Treatment regimen compliance is a common problem in individuals with diabetes, making glycemic control difficult to attain. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the predictors of treatment regimen compliance and glycemic control among diabetic patients. METHODS: A descriptive Cross sectional research design was carried out in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Data was collected through purposive sampling technique among 422 respondents attending in medical OPD using structured questionnaire through interview method. Analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The study findings revealed that 20.9 % respondents had good, 53.6% had fair and 25.5% respondents had poor treatment compliance and 60% respondents had good glycemic control. Treatment regimen compliance tends to be significantly associated with sex, education, occupation, attending diabetic counseling, duration of diabetes mellitus, frequency of follow up visit and knowledge level (p value <0.05). The major predictors of treatment regimen compliance were attending in diabetic counseling [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)= 4.972, 95% CI 2.435-10.151] and level of knowledge (AOR=2.351 95% CI 1.897- 6.161) where as duration of diabetes (AOR=0.954 95% CI 0.559-1.628) was the predictor of glycemic control among diabetic patient. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients attending in diabetic counseling, with adequate knowledge have good compliance and longer duration of disease decreases the glycemic control.

Determining bioclimatic space of Himalayan alder for agroforestry systems in Nepal.

Himalayan alder species are proven to be very useful in traditional as well as contemporary agroforestry practice. These nitrogen-fixing trees are also useful in the land restoration. Therefore, understanding the distribution of Himalayan alder and the potential zone for plantation is meaningful in the agroforestry sector. Suitable climatic zones of Alnus spp. were modelled in MaxEnt software using a subset of least correlated bioclimatic variables for current conditions (1950-2000), topographic variables (DEM derived) and Landuse Landcover (LULC) data. We generated several models and selected the best model against random models using ANOVA and t-test. The environmental variables that best explained the current distribution of the species were identified and used to project into the future. For future projections, ensemble scenarios of climate change projection derived from the results of 19 Earth System Models (ESM) were used. Our model revealed that the most favorable conditions for Alnus nepalensis are in central Nepal in the moist north-west facing slope, whereas for Alnus nitida they are in western Nepal. The major climatic factor that contributes to Alnus species distribution in Nepal appears to be precipitation during the warmest quarter for A. nepalensis and precipitation during the driest quarter for A. nitida. Future projections revealed changes in the probability distribution of these species, as well as where they need conservation and where they can be planted. Also, our model predicts that the distribution of Alnus spp. in hilly regions will remain unchanged, and therefore may represent sites that can be used to revitalize traditional agroforestry systems and extract source material for land restoration.

Protective effects of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) leaf extract against cigarette smoke- and lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) leaf has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of neem leaf extract (NLE) against cigarette smoke (CS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary inflammation. Treatment with NLE significantly attenuated the infiltration of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). NLE also reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and the activity of neutrophil elastase in BALF. Moreover, NLE attenuated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 in BALF. NLE inhibited the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the lungs of mice with CS- and LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation. NLE also decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the lungs of the mice CS- and LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation. Furthermore, treatment with NLE significantly attenuated the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the lungs mice exposed to CS and LPS. NLE also inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) in the lungs of mice expose to CS and LPS. These findings thus suggest that NLE has potential for use in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Medicinal plant diversity and traditional healing practices in eastern Nepal.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The rich floral and ethnic composition of eastern Nepal and the widespread utilization of locally available medicinal plants offer remarkable opportunity for ethnomedicinal research. The present paper aims to explore medicinal plant diversity and use in the remote villages of eastern Nepal. It also aims to evaluate ethnopharmacological significance of the documented use reports and identify species of high indigenous priority. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was undertaken in four villages located in the Sankhuwasabha district in eastern Nepal. Ethnomedicinal information was collected through structured interviews. The homogeneity of informant's knowledge and the relative importance of documented medicinal plants were validated by informant consensus factor and use value, respectively. Species preference for treatment of particular diseases was evaluated through fidelity level. RESULTS: We reported medicinal properties of 48 species belonging to 33 families and 40 genera, for the treatment of 37 human ailments. The uses of 10 medicinal plants were previously undocumented. The informant consensus factor (FIC) ranged between 0.38 and 1 with about 50% of values greater than 0.80 and over 75% of values greater than 0.70, indicating moderate to high consensus among the informants on the use of medicinal plants in the region. Swertia chirayita was the most preferred species with significantly high use values, followed by Paris polyphylla and Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora. CONCLUSIONS: The remote villages in eastern Nepal possess rich floral and cultural diversity with strong consensus among informants on utilization of plants for local healthcare. The direct pharmacological evidence for medicinal properties of most species indicates high reliability of documented information. Careful and systematic screening of compounds isolated from these plants could possibly provide good opportunity for the discovery of novel medicines to treat life-threatening human diseases. We recommend prioritization of medicinal plants and reinforcement of existing cultivation practices for sustainable management of high-priority species.

Ethnomedicinal practices in the highlands of central Nepal: a case study of Syaphru and Langtang village in Rasuwa district.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The present paper documents the utilization of medicinal plants for the treatment of various human ailments in two village development committees in the Rasuwa district of central Nepal. It also evaluates the ethnopharmacological significance of the documented reports and identifies species of high indigenous priority in local therapeutics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethnobotanical information was collected by interviews and group discussions using standard ethnobotanical procedures. The homogeneity of informant׳s knowledge was validated by Informant consensus factor (F(IC)) and the relative importance of a plant species used as medicine in the study area was calculated with the help of use value (UV). RESULTS: The present study identified a total of 46 medicinal plants belonging to 26 families used for the treatment of 38 human ailments. Besides medicinal uses, the study has also documented the culinary and cultural use of 13 species of medicinal plants. The most commonly used part was root constituting about 42% of the total utilized plants. The most commonly used form of preparation was paste (31.91%). We found new usage reports for 9 medicinal plants. The F(IC) value in the present study ranged from 0.66 to 1 with 84.6% values greater than 0.8 indicating high consensus among the informants. The most preferred species was Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora (UV=0.96) and the lowest used value was found for Lyonia ovalifolia (UV=0.32). CONCLUSIONS: People of Rasuwa possess rich traditional knowledge in medicinal plants utilization with strong consensus among local people on the utilization of species evident by higher F(IC) values in different ailment categories. Strong pharmacological evidence for a majority of species being currently used as medicines shows that the plants used in local therapeutics are likely to be more effective in treating different medical ailments. The bioactive compounds extracted from these medicinal plants could subsequently be used in the creation of novel drugs to treat life threatening human diseases. The species with high use values are the ones likely to be more vulnerable because of high demand and high collection pressure. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize such species for cultivation and sustainable management in order to ensure their long term availability.

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the endangered species Taxus wallichiana (Taxaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite primers were developed in the endangered tree species Taxus wallichiana from Nepal to investigate regional genetic differentiation, local genetic diversity, and gene flow for the conservation of this species under climate- and land-use change scenarios in mountain regions of Nepal. • METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers from 454 DNA sequencing. Characterization of the new microsatellite loci was done in 99 individuals collected from three valleys with different climatic regimes. The number of alleles per locus varied from four to 12. Observed heterozygosity of populations, averaged across loci, ranged from 0.30 to 0.59. • CONCLUSIONS: The new markers provided by this study will substantially increase the resolution for detailed studies in phylogeography, population genetics, and parentage analysis.

Flowering phenology of tree rhododendron along an elevation gradient in two sites in the Eastern Himalayas.

Flowering phenology of tree rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum Sm.) was monitored in situ along elevation gradients in two distinct ecological settings. Observations were carried out in Gaoligong Nature Reserve (GNR) in China and in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in Nepal. Using the crown density method, flowering events of the selected species were recorded. Flowering duration and synchrony were determined within each site and along the elevation gradient in each study area. Our observations showed high synchrony throughout the elevation gradient, especially for peak flowering. Mean 15-day soil temperature, soil parameters (soil moisture, nitrogen, organic matter and pH), age of the observed trees, and site characteristics (litter cover, canopy cover, inclination) were related to mean initial and peak flowering dates using partial least squares regression (PLS). Results differed between the two sites, but winter temperature was the most important variable affecting the regression model for both initial flowering and peak flowering at both sites. After temperature, soil moisture was the most important variable for explaining initial flowering dates. The distribution of tree rhododendron indicates that it is able to grow in a wide range of habitats with different environmental conditions. The recent trend of rising winter-spring temperature and the detected bloom-advancing effect of high temperatures during this period suggest that tree rhododendron might expand its distributional range in response to global warming.

Diversity of use and local knowledge of wild edible plant resources in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Wild edible plants (WEP) provide staple and supplement foods, as well as cash income to local communities, thus favouring food security. However, WEP are largely ignored in land use planning and implementation, economic development, and biodiversity conservation. Moreover, WEP-related traditional knowledge is rapidly eroding. Therefore, we designed this study to fulfill a part of the knowledge gap by providing data on diversity, traditional knowledge, economic potential, and conservation value of WEP from Nepal. METHODS: The information was collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Percentage of general utility of the plants among the study communities was evaluated using the Chi-square (χ(2)) test of homogeneity. High priority species were identified after consultation with the local stakeholders followed by scoring based on defined criteria. Pairwise ranking was used to assess ethnoecological knowledge to identify the threats to WEP. RESULTS: We documented 81 species belonging to Angiosperms (74), Pteridophytes (5), and Fungi (2). Most of the species were used as fruits (44 species) followed by vegetables (36). Almost half of the species (47%) were also used for purposes other than food. From the species with market value (37% of the total), 10 were identified as high priority species. Pairwise ranking revealed that WEP are threatened mostly by habitat destruction, land-use change and over-harvesting. Some of these plants are crop wild relatives and could thus be used for crop improvement. Interestingly, our study also revealed that young people who spend most of the time in the forest as herdsmen are particularly knowledgeable of wild fruit plants. CONCLUSION: We provide empirical evidence from a relatively large area of Nepal about diversity and status of WEP, as well as methodological insights about the proper knowledge holders to consult. Regarding the unique and important knowledge they have on WEP, young people should be included when recruiting participants to ethnobotanical studies or to any type of consultation about WEP. The habit of using wild edible plants is still alive and is a traditional culinary practice that demonstrates rich traditional knowledge of local people. WEP were found to be important for livelihood as well as showing great potential for crop improvement. Priority species should be promoted for income generation activities through sustainable collection and trade. Communities should engage in minimizing the threats to these valuable resources.

Indigenous use and bio-efficacy of medicinal plants in the Rasuwa District, Central Nepal.

BACKGROUND: By revealing historical and present plant use, ethnobotany contributes to drug discovery and socioeconomic development. Nepal is a natural storehouse of medicinal plants. Although several ethnobotanical studies were conducted in the country, many areas remain unexplored. Furthermore, few studies have compared indigenous plant use with reported phytochemical and pharmacological properties. METHODS: Ethnopharmacological data was collected in the Rasuwa district of Central Nepal by conducting interviews and focus group discussions with local people. The informant consensus factor (FIC) was calculated in order to estimate use variability of medicinal plants. Bio-efficacy was assessed by comparing indigenous plant use with phytochemical and pharmacological properties determined from a review of the available literature. Criteria were used to identify high priority medicinal plant species. RESULTS: A total of 60 medicinal formulations from 56 plant species were documented. Medicinal plants were used to treat various diseases and disorders, with the highest number of species being used for gastro-intestinal problems, followed by fever and headache. Herbs were the primary source of medicinal plants (57% of the species), followed by trees (23%). The average FIC value for all ailment categories was 0.82, indicating a high level of informant agreement compared to similar studies conducted elsewhere. High FIC values were obtained for ophthalmological problems, tooth ache, kidney problems, and menstrual disorders, indicating that the species traditionally used to treat these ailments are worth searching for bioactive compounds: Astilbe rivularis, Berberis asiatica, Hippophae salicifolia, Juniperus recurva, and Swertia multicaulis. A 90% correspondence was found between local plant use and reported plant chemical composition and pharmacological properties for the 30 species for which information was available. Sixteen medicinal plants were ranked as priority species, 13 of which having also been prioritized in a country-wide governmental classification. CONCLUSIONS: The Tamang people possess rich ethnopharmacological knowledge. This study allowed to identify many high value and high priority medicinal plant species, indicating high potential for economic development through sustainable collection and trade.

Karyotypes of three shrew species (Soriculus nigrescens, Episoriculus caudatus and Episoriculus sacratus) from Nepal.

The karyotypes of three shrew species (Mammalia, Soricomorpha, Soricidae) from Nepal were examined for the first time. Based on the karyotypes and overall differences in skull size, the current Episoriculus caudatus appeared to include two distinct species: the larger E. caudatus and the smaller Episoriculus sacratus. Episoriculus sacratus has three subspecies, E. s. soluensis in Nepal and Sikkim, E. s. umbrinus in Assam, Myanmar and the Yunnan Province of China, and E. s. sacratus in the Sichuan Province of China. Soriculus nigrescens had a diploid chromosome number (2n) and fundamental number (FN), including two X chromosomes, of 64 and 92, respectively, consisting of 11 metacentric or submetacentric, two subtelocentric and 18 acrocentric pairs of autosomes, a metacentric X and an acrocentric Y chromosome. Episoriculus sacratus soluensis had 2n = 74 and FN = 126, consisting of 12 metacentric or submetacentric, 13 subtelocentric and 11 acrocentric pairs of autosomes, a submetacentric X and an acrocentric Y chromosome. Episoriculus caudatus had 2n = 60 and FN = 118, consisting of 19 metacentric or submetacentric, nine subtelocentric and one acrocentric pair of autosomes, a subtelocentric X and an acrocentric Y chromosome. The karyotypes of these three species are characterized by their large 2n and FN values compared with other Soricidae.