Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:9 Issue: 3, Autumn 2018

The genus Echinacea (family Asteraceae), commonly known as purple coneflower, is an important medicinal plant that has been used for centuries, customarily as a treatment for the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and some inflammatory conditions . The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of six different methods of drying to obtain the highest of active substances from Echinacea purpurea. To determine the effect of drying methods on quantity and quality of active substances, the samples were dried with six drying methods (sun, shade, greenhouse and industrial-drying at 50° C, 60° C and 80 ° C). Active substances of aerial parts were extracted by ultrasonic method and the amounts caffeic acid derivatives, alkamides (8/9) were measured by using high performance liquid chromatography analysis, and also total phenolics determined with spectrophotometer. The results showed that different drying methods had significant effects on active substances. Samples dried in greenhouse had higher amounts of chlorogenic acid (3.18 mg/g.dw), echinacoside (4.29 mg/g.dw), cynarin (1.55 mg/g.dw) and total phenols contents (363 mg / g.dw). Also, samples dried in shade had higher amounts of caftaric acid (25.8 mg / g.dw), cichoric acid (36.57 mg / g.dw) and alkamides (361.1 μg / g.dw).  Greenhouse drying and shade-drying were proper methods of drying to achieve more amounts of active compounds in E. purpurea.

The aim of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants in the central district of Zanjan county. Experimental: In the frequent field trips, plants species were collected, and their ethnopharmacological importance were reported by personal visits to a total of 32 informants. 77 plant species belonging to 32 families were reported. Results revealed that from the total of 32 families, Asteraceae with 14 species was the largest medicinal plant family. The most frequently used plant parts were shoot (27%). Among the 77 species, Achillea millefolium, Achillea tenuifolia, Achillea wilhelmsii, Alcea transcaucasica, Anchusa strigosa, Cichorium intybus, Cichorium pumilum, Descurainia sophia, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Falcaria vulgaris, Fumaria asepala,  Glycyrrhiza glabra, Juglans regia, Malva  neglecta, Mentha longifolia, Nasturtium officinalis,  Peganum harmala, Rosa canina, Stachys lavandulifolia, Thymus kotschyanus, Tragopogon graminifolius, with 32 number of informants was the highest which showed that they were well known and therefore used by most residents. FIC were calculated for each of the 14 categories of disease, and the values revealed that Cold & Pulmonary problems had the highest agreement with an FIC value of 0.92. Considering the great variety of medicinal plants in the region, ethnobotany studies is essential to preserving a valuable treasure of medical experience, preservation and conservation the existing herb resources, cultivating and developing medicinal plants that are adapted to the ecological conditions of the region, acquiring new drugs and advancing the pharmaceutical industry and developing employment plans.

Èfó Wòròwó (Solanecio biafrae) an important vegetable in Nigeria has many health benefits non-scientific claims in herbal practice. This work was designed to evaluate the traditional application of Èfó Wòròwó (Solanecio biafrae) to reduce weight and fats in pre-obesity. 31 pre-obese individuals (35-70 years; females – 20; Males - 11) with BMI of 27 ± 4.0 kg/m2 who were not on any fat or weight reduction medication and 45 age-matched non-obese volunteers with BMI of 19 ± 2.0 kg/m2 were investigated as control test and control subjects respectively. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were measured by spectrophotometry method while BMI was determined by standard method. There was a significantly lower BMI, plasma Total cholesterol and triglycerides in pre-obese subjects after treatment than before treatment (p<0.05). There was a significantly higher total cholesterol, BMI and plasma total triglycerides in pre-obese subjects before treatment than the results obtained in the control subjects (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in plasma  total cholesterol, BMI and plasma total triglycerides in pre-obese subjects after  treatment compared with the results obtained in the control subjects (p>0.05). This work confirms the traditional health benefit claim of Èfó Wòròwó (Solaneciobiafrae) at reducing plasma total cholesterol, BMI and plasma total triglycerides in pre-obese subjects.

 Indigenous knowledge is a part of the unique culture of each country, which has been adapted to the environmental conditions of a particular ecosystem through experience and it has gradually become as a part of the social and productive culture of that community. The purpose of this study was to collect medicinal herbs and treatments associated with gastrointestinal motility by villagers and Semiramis tribes. Medicinal plants were collected from different parts of Semirom and transferred to Isfahan Province Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. Data collection was done by questionnaire and randomly collected from indigenous peoples of the region (village and tribes) regarding the use of medicinal plants for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the method of use, how to prepare and the parts used. Finally, data were recorded in the tables and charts and interpreted.  The results showed that the interviewed 26 people referred to various gastrointestinal diseases, which mostly used the limb. The indigenous people of the Semirom region had fairly large information of plant and medicinal plant in environments around them, especially among nomadic people, because they had to leave for three to four months a year due to changes in the seasons.

 In the recent past, traditional medicines have gained increased awareness among the scientific community and general public owing to the intrinsic value of these systems. They are considered because of the drug resistance and side effects associated with allopathic medicines. Also, in a country like India, where there is availability of rich medicinal flora, herbal medicine can serve as a great alternative to overcome these disadvantages. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of herbal drugs among dental practitioners in Chennai, Tamilnadu. A cross-sectional study was designed where 300 practicing dentists were selected by non-probability convenience sampling. It comprised of 150 dentists with undergraduate qualification and 150 dentists with a postgraduate degree from Chennai, Tamilnadu. A questionnaire was framed containing 17 questions testing the knowledge, attitude and practice of herbal medicines.  When the knowledge about herbal medicines was assessed among dental practitioners, it was found that 76% were aware about herbal drugs in general and 86% were aware of its side effects. 94.7% of the dentists were aware of the interactions of herbal drugs with other conventional medications. Even though dentists seem to have adequate knowledge and attitude of herbal drugs, there seems to be a significant variation in the practice of herbal drugs in clinical scenario From the present study, a clear cut lack in the understanding of herbal drugs is evident. Dentists and other medical practitioners are willing to learn more about it, but find it difficult to access trustworthy information and clinical evidence on the practice of such drugs. The availability of a comprehensive list of herbal drugs is imperative at this juncture, and inter-professional research has to be encouraged to bring out the highest efficiency of such drugs.

 Oxidative stress has been linked to the development of systemic complications in malaria infection. Recent approaches in treatment of malaria suggest that the control of oxidative stress in infected patients may be of therapeutic advantage. The stem bark and leaves of Uapaca togoensis are used locally in the treatment of various diseases including malaria. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the methanol stem bark extract of the plant in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.2 ml of parasitized erythrocytes and parasitemia level assessed after 72 h by the preparation of thin blood films stained with Geimsa stain. The mice were divided into five groups of six mice each. Groups I and V were administered with distilled water (10 ml/kg) and chloroquine (5 mg/kg) orally for four days. The extract at doses of 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg were orally administered to groups II, III and IV, respectively, for the same period. Mice were sacrificed under light chloroform. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and centrifuged at 2,500 rpm for 15 minutes to obtain the serum. The serum was then analyzed to determine the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde - MDA).  Oral median lethal dose of the methanol stem bark extract of Uapacatogoensis was estimated to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg. Administration of the extract to P. berghei infected mice produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase levels in. However, a significant (p<0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation activity in the parasitized mice was observed. The plant possesses antioxidant property which can be exploited in the management of oxidative stress caused by malaria.

Hypertension is an incurable disease which has become a common major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Besides increasing the risk of heart diseases and stroke, hypertension can also lead to other health conditions such as renal disease and diabetes. The prolong use of orthodox antihypertensive are usually associated with many side effects coupled with the millions of dollars spent annually for the treatment and detection of heart diseases. However, herbal products with antihypertensive properties offer an alternative and effective way to decrease the rising number of people with hypertension. AFA Mixture is a bi-herbal antihypertensive product on the essential herbal medicine list of the Ministry Of Health of Ghana, used at the pilot centers by Medical Herbalists for about eight years, for the management of hypertension. It is composed of the aqueous stem back extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria and Alstonia boonei. This study reports on the retrospective clinical study of AFA Mixture, for hypertensive patients reporting at Tafo Government Hospital, Herbal Medicine Unit. Data on two hundred (200) patients who were diagnosed of hypertension from January 2018 to June 2018 were assessed. The results indicated a decline in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with a mean systolic pressure of 130 mmHg from an initial reading of 160mmHg and a mean diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg from an initial reading of 110mmHg. Kidney and liver function tests were within normal range at the end of the study. It was concluded that AFA Mixture could be safe and effective in the management of hypertension in motivated clients.

 The major problem of pharmaceutical industry for herbal product in current scenario is authentication of raw material, and availability of standards. The quality control and quality assurance of herbal drugs still remains a challenge because of the high variability of chemical components involved.

In present research work details of Trisama formulation were noted including preliminary pharmacognostical study. The physicochemical and phytochemical evaluation of Trisama formulation was done using various laboratory chemicals and reagents.

Microscopical characters like boarder pitted vessel, brown content, compound starch grain, cork in surface view, stone cell, lignified collenchyma cell, sclerides, scleriform vessel etc are seen. Physicochemical and phytochemicals parameters also performed in both dosage forms however difference is seen in parameters result. Still both the dosage forms fulfill the minimum qualitative standards at a preliminary level. The following study will improve the quality of drugs as well as help to get more involved in the standardizations of formulations.

The abundant chemical constituents and significant potential could be well and new source of unexplored Ayurvedic formulation in industry.