An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Trinidad.

BACKGROUND: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on the Caribbean island of Trinidad to identify medicinal plants commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions. METHODS: A pilot survey was conducted to identify the top ten most common ailments where medicinal plants were used. The results of the foregoing study guided a wider national survey conducted between October 2007 and July 2008. A total of 450 households from 50 rural communities were interviewed using the TRAMIL (Traditional Medicine in the Islands) questionnaire for data collection. Details of plants, part(s) used, and remedy formulations were elicited from informants and voucher specimens collected for identification at the National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago. The TRAMIL methodology set a limit of a plant with 20 % or more citations for any particular ailment as having significant or popular use. RESULTS: At the end of the survey 917 single plant remedies were identified. The majority of species were from the following families; Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Leguminosae, Verbenaceae and Poaceae. Applying the TRAMIL 20 % citation of a plant for popular use as significant, Leonotis nepetifolia (for cough/common cold), Gomphrena globosa (for "stoppage-of-water"), Curcuma longa and Senna occidentalis (for "afterbirth"), Cymbopogon citratus and Neurolaena lobata (for fever), and Citrus limon (for kidney stones) qualified in our study. Those not reaching the TRAMIL 20 % significant (popular) use were Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl, Senna alata (L.) Roxb.and Momordica charantia L. which were widely used as "'cooling/cleanser'" in our survey. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey showed significant retention of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in rural Trinidad. More interestingly, a large remnant of medico-cultural concepts such as "cooling/cleanser", "afterbirth", "stoppage-of-water" and "womb infection" persist in the rural population. Although the scientific literature show that some of the cited plants possessed antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological activities in laboratory studies, these results must be taken with caution until clinical trials are conducted to establish safety and efficacy.

Eryngium foetidum L.: a review.

Eryngium foetidum L. is a biennial herb which is used extensively as a medicinal plant in most tropical regions. It is of increasing importance as a spice plant cultivated in India, Vietnam, Australia and elsewhere with well documented procedures for maximum yield. It also possesses a wide range of ethnomedicinal uses including treatment for burns, earache, fevers, hypertension, constipation, fits, asthma, stomach ache, worms, infertility complications, snake bites, diarrhea and malaria. Chemical evaluation of the leaves indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, a saponin and several triterpenoids; but no alkaloids were reported. A significant constituent of the essential oil of the plant is E-2-dodecenal ("eryngial"), with isomers of trimethylbenzaldehyde being present in lesser proportions. Variability in the composition of essential oil was clearly dependent on the geographic location of the growing plant. Pharmacological studies of the aerial plant parts have demonstrated anthelmintic activity due to eryngial, anti-inflammatory action due to the phytosterol fractions, anti-convulsant activity in the respective models, and selective antibacterial activity against Salmonella species and the Erwinia genus of bacteria. A fraction of the essential oil rich in eryngial is the subject of a US patent application for its effectiveness against parasitic trypanosomes, nematodes, fungi and bacteria in humans and other mammals. These findings suggest the need for further research of this herb and its products.

Important herbals for the Caribbean community

Objective: To provide a critical review with up-to-date information for the healthcare professional, agriculturist and consumer on the attributes of ten Caribbean medicinal and aromatic plants and their extractives, such as herbal teas, essential oils, herbal remedies or nautraceuticals. Methods:Collecting the data was done by reviewing a selection from the wide variety of available information sources, based on the botany, chemistry, pharmacology, plant taxonomy and quality issues, as appropriate to each plant and the herbal product. Following critical reviews of the data, profiles were compiled for the plants, and these were arranged in alphabetical order by their scientific names. Results and Conclusion: It was necessary to use the current scientific name, to ensure that there was no mis-identification of any plant due to its several common (Caribbean) names. Information about the processing technology, market trends and trade statistics for the selected plants was quite scarce. Among these plants, Aloe and Ginger emerged as the best documented in the scientific literature. Aloe vera, Andrographis paniculata (Rice bitters), Hibiscus sabdariffa (Sorrel), Quassia amara and Senna alata (Wild Senna) also were well documented as sources for their respective nutraceuticals and phytomedicinal products. There is a concern that Carapa seed, Mauby bark and Quassia wood may become scarce as the trees may be at risk of extinction through over-harvesting. The other plants selected in this study were Erynguim foetidum (Shado beni) and Momordica charantia (Corailli), and these are good candidates for further research for essential oil and potential anti-diabetic extractives, respectively. Issues regarding standardization and quality assurance were elaborated for the different categories of herbal products (AU)

Case Study - Regulation of herbal products in Trinidad & Tobago

The use and sale of Herbal Medicinal Products continue to grow rapidly both regionally and globally. Many research institutions around the world are working to provide answers to questions, such as "What is/are the active ingrident(s) in ths plant?", "What is the best /safest dosage?", Are there any side-effects/contraindications?", "is it possible that there can be drug interactions?", Should this product be availabe without consulting a professional" They highlight the importance of safety, efficacy, quality and evidence-based usage when dealing with herbal products, as well as the need for some level of screening and evaluation to be done before these products are officially licensed for sale, -- whether as drugs or as 'food supplements". In Trinidad & Tobago, the (final) Draft Regulations permit the Drug Advisory Committee to the Minister of Health to appoint a Herbal Sub-Committee specifically to assist the Drugh Advisory Committee on Standards, Schedules and Conditions of sale for herbal medicinal products. The "herbal medicinal products" are categorized as either "Herbal Medicine" (HM) or as a 'traditional Herbal Remedy: (THR). some companies and distribution have already started the process of herbal product registration, and once the regulations become law all herbal medicinal products intended for sale will have comply with the legislation under the anticipted, newly revised Food and Drugs ActAU)

An evaluation of the blood glucose lowering effects of Eryngium foetidium

a single oral dose of the aqueous leaf extract of Eryngium foetidum L. was screened for its blood-sugar lowering action in three animal models: normoglycaemic rats, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and normal rats subjected to the oral glucose-tolerance test. High and low doses (351 mg/kg and 176 mg/kg respectively) of the Eryngium foetidum leaf extract were used. The effects were composed with those produced by 200 mg/kg of the extract of commercial Gymnema sylvestre leaf (positive control 1), 3mg/kg glibenclamide (positive control 2) and 15mg/kg distilled water (negative control). Single (acute) oral dose of E. foetidium leaf extract caused no significant reduction in the blood glucose levels of the three animal models. The effect was similiar to that produced by the glibenclamide (positive control 2). The intraperitoneal acute toxicity test result in mice indicated that the E. foetidium leaf extract up to a dose of 702 mg/kg was not toxic. Phytochemical screening showed that essential oils and saponins were present in this extract. The present study suggests that a single oral dose of the aqueous leaf extract of E. foetidum has no significant blood-sugar lowering activity in healthy and experimental diabetic rats

Medicinal plants and rational herbal therapy

Continuing education programmes in botanical medicine for the conventional healthcare professionals have become important since the 1990's. The literature on evidence-based herbal therapy has been growing. But getting reliable data about Caribbean herbs in particular remains a difficult matter. Every herbal extract (phytomedicine) is a complex mixture of different chemical constitutents. Each herbal product must be evaluated on its own merits for safety and efficacy for the benefit of public health. Some herbs are hazardous to health. Others may be harmless placebos which result in good theraputic responses for the patients. But the continuing consumer demand for herbal medicines has increased the likelihood of adverse herb-drug interactions being reported in the literature. The range of herbal medicinal products available to the public is expanding rapidly, and the modern healthcare professionals need to update their knowledge about herbal remedies so as to give good counsel to their patients

Herbal remedies today

In this paper, a critical review has been undertaken of recent scientific and clinical studies which describe a variety of herbal medicinal preparations. An evaluation also has been made of reports describing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals towards herbal medicine. The findings have been translated into suggestions intended to encourage, and, to enable healthcare professionals to raise their awareness, and, to improve their knowledge of the established limitations and benefits of the various formulations of herbal medicinal products in current use (AU)

Herbal remedies today

In this paper, a critical review has been undertaken of recent scientific and clinical studies which describe a variety of herbal medicinal preparations. An evaluation also has been made of reports describing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals towards herbal medicine. The findings have been translated into suggestions intended to encourage, and, to enable healthcare professionals to raise their awareness, and, to improve their knowledge of the established limitations and benefits of the various formulations of herbal medicinal products in current use

Screening of medicinal plants from Trinidad and Tobago for antimicrobial and insecticidal properties.

Antibacterial activity in 51 extracts from 29 plant species currently used in traditional medicine in Trinidad and the neighbouring Caribbean islands was tested for by the agar dilution streak method using six bacteria: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Salmonella tophimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis. The extracts from eight of the plants tested showed significant activity against one or more micro-organisms and the most susceptible bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus. In the bioassays for toxicity towards the Aedes aegypti mosquito the most effective plant extracts were from Justicia pectoralis, Manihot utilissima and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis.

An evaluation of the blood glucose lowering effects of Eryngium foetidium

a single oral dose of the aqueous leaf extract of Eryngium foetidum L. was screened for its blood-sugar lowering action in three animal models: normoglycaemic rats, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and normal rats subjected to the oral glucose-tolerance test. High and low doses (351 mg/kg and 176 mg/kg respectively) of the Eryngium foetidum leaf extract were used. The effects were composed with those produced by 200 mg/kg of the extract of commercial Gymnema sylvestre leaf (positive control 1), 3mg/kg glibenclamide (positive control 2) and 15mg/kg distilled water (negative control). Single (acute) oral dose of E. foetidium leaf extract caused no significant reduction in the blood glucose levels of the three animal models. The effect was similiar to that produced by the glibenclamide (positive control 2). The intraperitoneal acute toxicity test result in mice indicated that the E. foetidium leaf extract up to a dose of 702 mg/kg was not toxic. Phytochemical screening showed that essential oils and saponins were present in this extract. The present study suggests that a single oral dose of the aqueous leaf extract of E. foetidum has no significant blood-sugar lowering activity in healthy and experimental diabetic rats (AU)

Medicinal plants and rational herbal therapy

Continuing education programmes in botanical medicine for the conventional healthcare professionals have become important since the 1990's. The literature on evidence-based herbal therapy has been growing. But getting reliable data about Caribbean herbs in particular remains a difficult matter. Every herbal extract (phytomedicine) is a complex mixture of different chemical constitutents. Each herbal product must be evaluated on its own merits for safety and efficacy for the benefit of public health. Some herbs are hazardous to health. Others may be harmless placebos which result in good theraputic responses for the patients. But the continuing consumer demand for herbal medicines has increased the likelihood of adverse herb-drug interactions being reported in the literature. The range of herbal medicinal products available to the public is expanding rapidly, and the modern healthcare professionals need to update their knowledge about herbal remedies so as to give good counsel to their patients (AU)