Awareness and possible treatment options toward COVID-19 among selected healthcare professionals in National Capital Region

Background@#Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused worldwide panic and is now a serious problem. As the situation worsens, the need for an official cure becomes more crucial and different methods are being considered for treating infected COVID-19 patients. @*Objectives@#This study aimed to emphasize and further elaborate on the existing and possible treatment methods against COVID-19 and assess the awareness of healthcare professionals (doctors, medical technologists, and nurses) on the treatments for COVID-19. @*Methodology@#The study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design following the treatment and misinformation theories models. The respondents were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and recruited through the snowball sampling technique. The study used an adapted survey questionnaire on the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and possible treatment options. Descriptive statistical analysis for quantitative data and open thematic coding is used in an online qualitative deductive data analysis. @*Results@#Based on the data, webinars, lectures, and discussions were the primary source of information among healthcare professionals. Most of the respondents showed proficiency with remdesivir among investigational selective medicines. Chloroquine was the top choice among selected repurposed drugs. They were aware of the convalescent plasma therapy that uses antibodies from the blood plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients. They were not aware of the different herbal treatments used to treat COVID-19. @*Conclusion@#Hence, chloroquine (repurposed drug), remdesivir (investigational drug), and convalescent plasma (adjunctive therapy) are the most well-known treatments for COVID-19. Most of the respondents were aware of the action and side effects of chloroquine, remdesevir, and convalescent plasma therapy.

Guía técnica para la colecta de plantas medicinales / Technical guide for the collection of medicinal plants

La publicación describe las pautas que contribuyen en la revalorización, rescate, conservación y difusión del conocimiento de las plantas medicinales como componente fundamental de la medicina tradicional o ancestral. Asimismo, brinda orientación técnica al personal de salud para la estandarización de los procedimientos y métodos para la la colecta y recopilación de plantas medicinales e información de su uso tradicional a nivel nacional

Guía técnica para la colecta de plantas medicinales / Technical guide for collecting medicinal plants

La presente publicación describe las pautas de orientación técnica al personal de salud para la estandarización de los procedimientos y métodos para la colecta y recopilación de plantas medicinales e información de su uso tradicional a nivel nacional.

Ethnomedicinal plants by the Subanen of Barangay Lake Duminagat, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Background@#In this modern age of technological advancements, traditional herbal medicine still takes an integral part in an array of medical and scientific studies that deal with drug discoveries and drug development. In the Philippines, ethnomedicinal studies involving different cultural communities have already been conducted. However, these studies focused mostly on well-known tribes whereas knowledge of the many less-known indigenous groups is still untapped. The Subanen is one of this group who resides in Barangay Lake Duminagat situated on Mindanao Island. The Subanen is considered as one of the most prominent of the Lumad or non-Muslim indigenous cultural communities. Prior studies about the medicinal ethnobotany of the Subanen were already recorded but most of these were from Ozamis City, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur. Traditional knowledge from this tribe was passed on from generation to generation through oral communication but the lack of proper documentation poses a threat to this valuable information. @*Objective@#This study was conducted to document the herbal remedies used by the Subanen and identify the plants according to their common name, scientific name, family, habit of growth, plant parts used, modes of preparation, mode of application, and ailments treated. @*Methodology@#Ethnomedicinal information was gathered from 35 respondents through key informant interviews and focused group discussions conducted in Barangay Lake Duminagat, Mt. Malindang, Philippines. @*Results@#Thirty-two plants distributed to 21 families were documented as medicinal plants used by the Subanen respondents to treat various ailments in their community. Asteraceae was the most represented followed by Lamiaceae with seven and three species each, respectively. As to the plant habit, out of the 32 species, 20 plant species are herbs, thus, constituting the highest portion, followed by four tree species, four species of shrub, three species of grass, and one fern species. Leaves were the most frequently utilized (60.7%), followed by roots (19.6%), and whole plant (10.7%). Plants prepared as herbal medicines are utilized in different ways such as decoction, infusion, poultice, heated, chewed, or as extract but the highest mentioned was decoction. As to the mode of utilization, orally administered decoction (27.3%) through drinking ranked the highest. For the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), the highest was calculated for Pletcranthus sculletarioides (1.49), followed by Psidium guajava (0.83), and Kalanchoe pinnata (0.80). Lastly, for the Use Value (UV), the result varied from 0.03 to 0.25 with an average UV value of 0.06. The highest UV was calculated for Pletcranthus sculletarioides (UV=0.23). @*Conclusion@#Compared to previously conducted studies between the years 2014 to 2019, fewer ethnomedicinal plants were recorded in this particular area. This might imply that the ethnomedicinal knowledge of this specific Subanen community is slowly eroding.

Assessing quality of reporting of herbal dermatology trials from the Philippines using the hCONSORT Checklist: A systematic review

Background@#Herbal medicine is a growing and innovative field in Philippine dermatology. There is a need to assess the quality of reporting of published herbal randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in dermatology since these will serve to guide rational development and use of medicinal plants in the Philippines.@*Objective@#The study aimed to assess the quality of reporting of published herbal RCTs in dermatology from the Philippines based on the hCONSORT checklist.@*Methods@#We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, HERDIN (from inception to 20 September 2018), and other secondary sources for published randomized controlled trials that used any herbal preparation as intervention for the treatment or prevention of a dermatologic disease or for maintenance of healthy skin, hair, or nails. We determined the percentage of reported items based from the hCONSORT checklist. @*Results@#We included 41 trials, majority of which were on infections, infestations, and bites (66%). The three most common families of herbs used were Fabaceae/Leguminosae (22%) (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. [kakawati]; Senna alata (L.) Roxb. / Cassia alata (L.) [akapulko]); Arecaceae (12%) (Cocos nucifera L. [coconut]); and Myrtaceae (12%) (Eucalyptus sp [eucalyptus], Psidium guajava L.[guava], and Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel [tea tree]). Most of the trials (27/41, 66%) were conducted in accredited dermatology training programs of the Philippine Dermatological Society. Only 11 trials (27%) were published in PubMED-indexed journals. More than half of articles were published after the CONSORT publication in 2006 (59%). The mean percentage of reported hCONSORT checklist items in included studies was 39.6% (SD 9.9), with only seven studies reporting more than 50% of the hCONSORT checklist items.@*Conclusion@#Published herbal RCTs in dermatology from the Philippines are poorly reported based on the hCONSORT checklist. There is a need for dissemination of the hCONSORT to local researchers and journal editors to ensure thorough and quality reporting.

Content analysis of complementary and alternative medicine literature in the Journal of the Philippine Dermatological Society

Background@#Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a popular treatment option among patients. There is a need to assess the content of published local literature on complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology in the Journal of the Philippine Dermatological Society (JPDS) to provide evidence for its integration into clinical practice and to guide future research.@*Objective@#To analyze the content of published literature on complementary and alternative medicine published in the JPDS@*Method@#We screened the titles and abstracts of all published articles in the JPDS from 1992-2017 and included articles on any aspect of complementary and alternative medicine. We extracted relevant characteristics such as study design, disease, type and details of CAM therapies, from the included articles. We summarized data using descriptive statistics for continuous data, and frequency distribution for ordinal data.@*Results@#CAM articles accounted for 4% of all published articles in the JPDS over the past 25 years of its existence. Most were RCTs (22%) (mean size=69), with the greatest number being on herbal medicine (66%), and for the treatment of infections, infestations and bites (46%). Majority of articles were primarily authored by resident trainees (87%) and the most common institutional affiliation was UP-PGH (24%). Among the herbal articles, the most common herb family was Fabaceae (9%), while coconut had the highest number of articles. Leaves were the most common plant part used (40%), and creams were the predominant type of formulation (29%). Other CAM interventions included were animal products, dietary supplements, and lifestyle modification.@*Conclusion@#The poor representation of CAM in the JPDS may reflect the lack of integration of this field in the local practice of dermatology. There is a need to increase awareness and gather more evidence on the application of CAM in the maintenance of healthy skin as well as prevention and treatment of skin diseases.

Formulation and evaluation of topical herbal gel for the treatment of arthritis in animal model

ABSTRACT The objective of the study is to formulate and evaluate a topical herbal gel containing Cardiospermum halicacabum and Vitex negundo leaf extracts for their anti-arthritic activity in rats. Twelve herbal gel formulations were prepared using 1.5% of gelling agents carbopol 934 (F1-F6) and carbopol 940 (F6-F12) and they were evaluated for physical appearance, net content, viscosity, extrudability, pH, spreadability, in vitro diffusion profile and primary skin irritation tests. The stability study for the topical herbal gel formulation was done as per ICH guidelines and anti-arthritic activity was evaluated by Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis method. Assessment of body weight, paw volume, hematological and biochemical parameters, histopathological examination and In vitro determination of serum biomarkers were also carried out. Formulated gels were homogenous, stable and complied with the guidelines. Among the formulations, F4 showed better release (98.4 %) characteristics than other formulations. No erythema or edema was observed in the skin irritation test confirming the gel was non-toxic and safe. Topical application of the herbal gel F4 containing carbopol 934 displayed significant (p < 0.001) anti-arthritic activity compared to diseased rats. Reduction in paw volume, no agglutination in C - reactive protein and rheumatic factor, reduction in TNF level, regaining of normal hematological, and biochemical parameters, reduction in spleen and thymus weight and histopathological examination supported the anti-arthritic activity of the gel formulation.

Aportes al estudio de la vegetación de playa la vaca, localidad de importancia florística en el municipio moa, holguín, cuba / Contributions to the study of the vegetation from playa la vaca, a locality with floristic significance located at the municipality of moa, holguín, cuba

Playa La Vaca está ubicada al noroeste de la ciudad de Moa y desde principios del siglo XX ha sido objeto de interés para los botánicos. Aunque no se ha constatado la existencia de obras publicadas que caractericen la vegetación de esta área clásica de colecta existen muestras de materiales depositados en los herbarios cubanos y extranjeros. La flora y vegetación de esta localiad se desarrolló en suelos derivados de serpentinitas, de las cuales varios autores expresan que son áreas de gran endemismo; esto fundamenta la necesidad de conocer y registrar los valores de diversidad vegetal de esta localidad. Este trabajo abarca una primera parte de la investigación realizada en esta localidad y tiene como objetivo la delimitación y caracterización de las formaciones vegetales presentes en Playa La Vaca. Para esto se recopiló información de la bibliografía y las colectas de plantas realizadas en Playa La Vaca depositadas en el herbario HAC provenientes de las expediciones botánicas y se efectuaron anotaciones en recorridos del trabajo de campo, identificándose 10 formaciones vegetales. Se obtuvo el mapa de vegetación a través del uso de un Sistema de Información Geográfica.

Playa La Vaca is located northwest of Moa city. Since the early twentieth century it has been an interestin site for botanists. There aren't any publication characterizing the vegetation of this classic collection area but it is possible to find a lot of sample materials from this site in Cuban and foreign herbals instead. The flora and vegetation of Playa La Vaca was developed on soils wich are derived from serpentinite rock, because of this, several authors states that this area is of high endemism. This fact, substantiates the need to study and record the diversity value of Playa La Vaca, thus contributing with the sustainable management of the area. This paper covers the first part of the research work conducted in Playa La Vaca locality and it aims to the characterization of plant communities of this site. For this work, it was used information obtained from fieldwork. Information from bibliography and plants collections from Playa La Vaca, deposited in the HAC herbarium were consulted too. Ten plants communities were identified in the locality. The vegetation map was obtained through the use of a Geographic Information System.

Preliminary Investigation of a Herbal Soap Incorporating Cassia Senna(L) Roxb Leaves and Ageratum Conyzoides Linn Whole Plant Powders

In traditional medicine practice the locally made soap is a vehicle for drug application and drugs are usually incorporated in powder form. Many herbal soaps being made incorporate the extract of the medicinal plant; but this makes the soap very expensive and not easily produced for the use of the majority of people. This study investigates the activity of a herbal soap incorporating two medicinal plants ; Senna alata (L) Roxb (Ceasalpinaceae) and Ageratum conyzoides Linn(Asteraceae) which are well known for their use in the treatment of skin diseases and their antimicrobial activity; comparing it to the extracts of the plants. The study also determines the optimum concentration of the herbs to be incorporated into the soap. Three soaps containing 3;5 and 8of the moderately fine powder of the two medicinal plants were prepared using the normal cold method for preparing hand and body soap with NaOH and Palm kernel oil. Extract of the two plants was prepared by cold extraction with methanol and concentrated in vacuo. The soaps and the extract were tested for antimicrobial activity against typed organisms and clinical isolates; gram negative; gram positive organisms and fungi. The results showed that the soap at 5herbal content was optimal. The soaps showed activity against mainly the gram positive organisms and fungi. The activity of the extract was not different from that of the soaps and therefore shows no advantage in using the extracts to prepare the herbal soap

Investigation into the medicinal plants of \u201dH\u2019Mong people\u201d used for primary health care at the Sa Pa commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province

Background: The communities and social organizations of many nations on the world participated actively in primary health care. According to World Health Organization, 80% of people in the developing countries have needs of primary health care by traditional medicines now. Thus investigation about systemic herbal medicines, remedies of compatriots of various Vietnamese ethnic origins in general, of H\u2019Mong peoples at Sa Pa commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province in particular, is necessary. Objective: To investigate the medicinal plants of the \u201dH\u2019Mong peoples\u201d used for primary health care at the Sa Pa commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province. Subjects: The study includes 28 traditional herbal doctors, 23 commune officers and 289 representatives of families. Method: This was a cross study. Results: The authors collected 158 herbal medicines used for primary health care. Among them, the Asteraceae there were 11 species (7.4%), the Lamiaceae there were 8 species (5.4%). The Rosaceae, Zingilbeaceae, Convallariaceae there were 5 species (3.4%). Herbal medicine groups had 4 species (2.7%) that included the Acanthaceae, Araceae, Poaceae and Ranunculaceae. The used components were all of tree (31.65%), tree root, tuberous root (25.32% and sheets (22.42%). Conclusion: The herbal medicines that the \u201dH\u2019Mong peoples\u201d used for primary health care at Sa Pa commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province had a valuable and plentiful source which needs to be develop and use effectively.

Concentração inibitória mínima e concentração bactericida mínima de três extratos vegetais antibacterianos selecionados da Floresta Amazônica e da Mata Atlântica brasileiras / Minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration results from three selected antibacterial plant extracts from the Amazon and Atlantic Brazilian rain forests

Introdução - Em trabalho prévio, 705 extratos vegetais oriundos de plantas amazônicas e da Mata Atlântica foram triados no teste antibacteriano da microdiluição em caldo. No presente trabalho, os extratos ativos foram identificados e submetidos à avaliação da concentração mínima inibitória e da concentração bactericida mínima usando o mesmo modelo experimental. Material e Métodos - Foi utilizado o ensaio da microdiluição em caldo, que consiste em se avaliar a susceptibilidade das bactérias aos extratos vegetais em meio ágar caldo, em microplacas de 96 poços. Resultados = Os extratos orgânicos obtidos de Rapanea parvifolia (MY841), Smilax rufescens (SM53) e Ruizterania retusa (VO581) mostraram atividade antibacteriana. MY841 e SM53 mostraram atividade contra Enterococcus faecalis CIM = 30 ?g/ml; CBM = 60 ?g/ml e CIM = 80 ?g/ml; CBM = 90 ?g/ml, respectivamente) e VO581 mostrou atividade contra Staphylococcusaureus (CIM = 140 ?g/ml; CBM = 160 ?g/ml) e leve atividade contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CIM = 200 ?g/ml; CBM = 380 ?g/ml). Conclusões - Estes três extratos apresentaram atividade importante contra as bactérias testadas, devendo, portanto, ser fracionados e os compostos majoritários avaliados.

Introduction - Up to 705 plant extracts from Amazon Rain Forest and Atlantic Rain Forest were screened against bacteria using the microdilution broth assay. In the present work, minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration were obtained from the three selected active extracts. Material and Methods - The microdilution broth assay used in the present analysis consists in evaluating small amounts of extract against the bacteria in agar broth medium in 96 well microplates. Results - Three organic extracts obtained from Rapanea parvifolia (MY841), Smilax rufescens (SM53) and Ruizterania retusa (VO581) showed antibacterial activity. MY841 and SM53 showed activity against Enterococcus faecalis MIC = 30 mg/ml; MBC = 60 mg/ml and MIC = 80 mg/ml; MBC = 90 mg/ml, respectively) and VO581 showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 140 mg/ml; MBC = 160 mg/ml) and a mild activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 200 mg/ml; MBC = 380 mg/ml). Conclusions - The three extracts showed important activity against the bacteria, and they are going to be fractionated and the fractions evaluated against the antibacterial model. The major compounds are going to be isolated as well.

Traditional Medicines among the Embu and Mbeere People of Kenya

Ethnobotanical information and traditional medicines were investigated and documented in Embu and Mbeere districts; Eastern Province of Kenya. Oral interviews were obtained from over 100 herbalists; both men and women aged between 40 and 80 years. All the herbalists interviewed were Christians and had little formal education. Non-Christian herbalists were purported to combine herbal medicines with witchcraft and were not interviewed. Of the 40 commonly used herbal plants 25 were used as multi-purpose medicinal plants (mpmp); while 15 were used to treat one disease type. There was a correlation between the outpatient morbidity data at the local District hospital; and the common incident diseases treated by the herbalists. Generally a decoction or infusion of the herb was recommended for the treatment of internal or external condition of the patients. Malaria and typhoid were treatable with a total of 15 and 12 plants respectively and were among the first two commonest diseases found in the study area. Terminalia brownii was found to be the most used medicinal plant either alone or in combination with other herbs. The second and third most utilized medicinal plants were Ovariodendron anisatum and Wurbugia ugadensis respectively

A preliminary report on the Anti-Diarrhoeal benefit of Seleru: A possible adjunct HIV/AIDS Therapy

"Infection with the human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is assuming greater proportion. The global estimates of new infections keep rising. The cure for HIV infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is related to the socio-economic status of the population. In our environment; poverty is a major undoing in the medical management of HIV/AIDS using orthodox antiretroviral drugs. Consequently; great attention is being turn to the exploration of herbal remedies in the management of this dreaded disorder. A concoction ""Seleru"" (Amodmat r) is claimed to have benefits for HIV/AIDS. We investigated the role of this concoction on diarrhoea; a distressing symptom of the syndrome. The antidiarrhoeal property of ""Seleru"" (Amodmat r) was investigated using the charcoal meal preparation; on albino wistar rat. The extract was administered at a dose range of between 100mg/kg to 800mg/kg body weight. Results show an antimotility effect on the gastrointestinal tract; supporting a usefulness of the extract in diarrhoeal states."

Pharmacologic misadventures with herb-drug interactions

This article review and discuss the complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM), where it all began, practices and ideas self- defined by their users as preventing and treating illnesses or promoting health and well-being.

Une solution de pain de singe pour la prevention et le traitement de la deshydratation aigue due aux diarrhees infantiles

L'objectif de cette etude etait d'evaluer de maniere comparative; les resultats de la therapie de rehydratation par voie orale (TRO) avec la solution standard obtenue avec les sachets de l'OMS et une solution a base de pulpe de fruit de baobab (Adansonia digitata); pain de singe; chez les enfants presentant une diarrhee aigue. Un essai clinique de TRO a ete mene chez des enfants diarrheiques; ages de 6 mois a 57 mois et presentant une diarrhee ou une deshydratation moyenne ; 79 enfants ont recu la solution OMS et 82 la solution de pain de singe ; l'evolution de la diarrhee et le gain de poids ont ete evalues. La solution OMS a eu des resultats legerement superieurs a ceux de la solution a base de pain de singe; quant a l'amelioration de la diarrhee et au gain de poids aux 4eme et 48eme heures; mais cette difference etait statistiquement non significative. La solution a base de pain de singe presente en outre des avantages sur le plan nutritif; economique et socio-culturel ; les auteurs la recommandent; en vue d'une utilisation plus etendue de la TRO a domicile

"Etude de l'efficacite parasitologique du ""n'dribala"" dans le traitement du paludisme."

"Afin de verifier les proprietes antipaludiques du ""n'dribala"" (preparation a partir des racines de cochlospermum tinctorium) preconisees dans le traitement du paludisme; une experimentation a eu lieu d'octobre a decembre 1991 dans deux villages du Burkina Faso; (Koro et Tiefora). Sur les 470 enfants de 0 a 14 ans au total; 88 etaient porteurs de plasmodium. Leurs densites parasitaires a J0 variaient entre 500 et 72000 parasites/mm3 de sang. Apres administration du ""n'dribala""; des controles ont lieu a J2; J4; J7. A J7; seulement 2 sujets etaient arriver a se negativer dans le premier village. Par contre dans le second village le seul sujet qui etait negatif a J7 avait pris de la chloroquine auparavent. Ces resultats ne traduisent pas une efficacite de la drogue a eliminer le parasite du sang. Les proprietes febrifuges ont ete observees dans certains cas. Cette etude doit etre poursuivie avec des tests in vitro et avec differents modes de preparation des extraits de la plante avant de statuer definitivement sur son efficacite."