An Overview of the Potential Use of Ethno-Medicinal Plants Targeting the Renin-Angiotensin System in the Treatment of Hypertension.

The development of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disorders present a major public health challenge in both developed countries and countries with emerging economies. Hypertension and associated complications including stroke and myocardial infarction have reached pandemic levels. Current management strategies of hypertension predominantly include the utilization of pharmaceutical drugs which are often associated with undesirable side effects. Moreover, the drugs are often too expensive for populations from resource-limited Southern African rural, and some urban, communities. As a result, most patients rely on ethno-medicinal plants for the treatment of a variety of diseases including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. The effectiveness of these plants in managing several cardiovascular diseases has been attributed to the presence of bioactive phytochemical constituents. In this review, the treatment options that target the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the management of hypertension were summarized, with special emphasis on ethno-medicinal plants and their influence on the ACE1 RAS pathway. The dearth of knowledge regarding the effect of ethno-medicinal plants on the ACE2 pathway was also highlighted.

Antifungal potential of bacterial rhizosphere isolates associated with three ethno-medicinal plants (poppy, chamomile, and nettle).

The objective of the present study was to isolate Actinobacteria, preferably Streptomyces spp. from the rhizosphere soils of three ethno-medicinal plants collected in Serbia (Papaver rhoeas, Matricaria chamomilla, and Urtica dioica) and to screen their antifungal activity against Candida spp. Overall, 103 sporulating isolates were collected from rhizosphere soil samples and determined as Streptomyces spp. Two different media and two extraction procedures were used to facilitate identification of antifungals. Overall, 412 crude cell extracts were tested against Candida albicans using disk diffusion assays, with 42% (43/103) of the strains showing the ability to produce antifungal agents. Also, extracts inhibited growth of important human pathogens: Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida glabrata. Based on the established degree and range of antifungal activity, nine isolates, confirmed as streptomycetes by 16S rRNA sequencing, were selected for further testing. Their ability to inhibit Candida growth in liquid culture, to inhibit biofilm formation, and to disperse pre-formed biofilms was assessed with active concentrations from 8 to 250 µg/mL. High-performance liquid chromatographic profiles of extracts derived from selected strains were recorded, revealing moderate metabolic diversity. Our results proved that rhizosphere soil of ethno-medicinal plants is a prolific source of streptomycetes, producers of potentially new antifungal compounds.

A review on the elemental contents of Pakistani medicinal plants: Implications for folk medicines.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Substantially, plants produce chemicals such as primary and secondary metabolites, which have significant applications in modern therapy. Indigenous people mostly rely on traditional medicines derived from medicinal plants. These plants have the capacity to absorb a variety of toxic elements. The ingestion of such plants for medicinal purpose can have imperative side effects. Hence, with regard to the toxicological consideration of medicinal plants, an effort has been made to review the elemental contents of ethno medicinally important plants of Pakistan and to highlight the existing gaps in knowledge of the safety and efficacy of traditional herbal medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature related to the elemental contents of ethno medicinal plants was acquired by utilizing electronic databases. We reviewed only macro-elemental and trace elemental contents of 69 medicinal plant taxa, which are traditionally used in Pakistan for the treatment of sundry ailments, including anemia, jaundice, cancer, piles, diarrhea, dysentery, headache, diabetes, asthma, blood purification, sedative and ulcer. RESULTS: A majority of plants showed elemental contents above the permissible levels as recommended by the World health organization (WHO). As an example, the concentrations of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) were reportedly found higher than the WHO permissible levels in 43 and 42 medicinal plants, respectively. More specifically, the concentrations of Pb (54ppm: Silybum marianum) and Cd (5.25ppm: Artemisia herba-alba) were found highest in the Asteraceae family. CONCLUSIONS: The reported medicinal plants contain a higher amount of trace and toxic elements. Intake of these plants as traditional medicines may trigger the accumulation of trace and toxic elements in human bodies, which can cause different types of diseases. Thus, a clear understanding about the nature of toxic substances and factors affecting their concentrations in traditional medicines are essential prerequisites for efficacious herbal therapeutics with lesser or no side effects.

Ethnomedicinal plants used in the treatment of skin diseases in Hyderabad Karnataka region, Karnataka, India

Objective: To document traditional medicinal plants knowledge used in treating skin diseases at Hyderabad Karnataka Region.Methods:gathered from traditional herbal healers and other villagers through interviews.Results:A total of 60 plants species belonging to 57 genera and 34 families were found useful The information on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of skin diseases was and herewith described them along with the method of drug preparation, mode of administration, probable dosage and duration of treatment. Several new findings on the traditional rural practices were reported.Conclusions:The present study revealed that the Hyderabad Karnataka rural people is primarily dependent on medicinal plants for treating skin diseases.

A study on anti dermatophytic potential of selected ethno medicinalplants against Trichophyton rubrum, a common etiologic agent in and around Visakhapatnam region (India)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical patterns and etiology of dermatophytosis and the anti dermatophytic potentiality of some selected medicinal plants used by tribal people in and around Visakhapatnam region, India. Methods: 62 patients with dermatophytosis who attended the dermatology clinic of King George hospital, Visakhapatnam were studied. Isolation and identification was done by direct microscopic observation, cultural characteristics and by using biochemical tests in the microbiology laboratory. Some ethno medicinal plant parts like Albizia lebbeck bark, Annona reticulata leaf and bark, Cassia fistula leaf, Wrightia tinktoria bark and Couroupita guianensis leaf were tested for anti dermatophytic activity by agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) studies were carried out by broth dilution assay. Results: 51 patients out of 62 were positive (82.2%) by direct smear and culture. Tinea corporis was the most common dermatophytosis which was predominantly caused by Trichophyton rubrum in and around Visakhapatnam. Two dermatophyte species were isolated and identified. Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequent isolate (58.8%) followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (19.6%). Albizia lebbek bark, Annona reticulata bark and leaf extracts showed inhibitory against T. rubrum while Cassia fistula leaf extract did not show significant inhibitory activity. Wrightia tinktoria bark and Couroupita guianensis leaf extracts did not show inhibitory activity. Conclusions: The results showed that tinea corporis was the most common dermatophytosis in and around Visakhapatnam region. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common etiologic agent. Albizia lebbek bark, Annona reticulata leaf and bark extracts showed potential inhibitory activity against Trichophyton rubrum than other tested ethno medicinal plants.

Ethno-medicinal plants and methods used by Gwandara tribe of Sabo Wuse in Niger State, Nigeria, to treat mental illness.

The Gwandara people of Sabo Wuse in Niger State, Nigeria are the original inhabitants of Wuse in Abuja Municipal Area Council. They were resettled at this present location of Sabo Wuse from Wuse in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja when the seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja 30 years ago. Sabo Wuse still remains relatively a remote settlement and their lifestyle unchanged. They still depend to a large extent on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat ailments. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted to identify and document methods traditionally utilized for treatment of mental illness and to expand the quality and quantity of information for research and development especially in the area of new drug discovery and development. About sixty seven (67) Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed orally with use of questionnaire. From our survey, various methods were found to be used by the traditional medicine practitioners to treat mental illness and associated disorders. These include music, incantations and medicinal plants in various formulations--decoction, powder, infusion--which are administered in various ways like fumigation, inhalation, bathing, steaming and drinking. Eighteen plant species belonging to twelve different families were documented to be included in these therapies. In conclusion, there is an array of plants used locally to treat mental illness and it is recommended that such surveys should be funded and leads for drugs to treat mental illness obtained from such, at the same time documenting our indigenous knowledge.