First Nations Healing: From Traditional Medicine to Experimental Ethnopharmacology

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-175
Author(s):  
Thomas Efferth ◽  
Gladys Alexie ◽  
Kai Andersch ◽  
Mita Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Patent Law ◽  
Current Therapy ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
North West ◽  
Cellular Pharmacology

AbstractFocusing on First Nations traditional medicine, we investigated whether traditional knowledge of medicinal plants can be validated by modern scientific methods of molecular and cellular pharmacology and whether this information is of value for improving current therapy options. Based on two projects on medicinal plants of the Gwich’in – a First Nations group on the Canadian North West Coast – we found that extracts from several plants traditionally used medically were able to kill tumor cells, including otherwise multidrug-resistant cells. Investigating medicinal plants from Indigenous communities raises questions about ownership, appropriation, and commercial use. At the same time, because of the intricacies of patent law, publishing scientific investigations on medicinal herbs represents an effective way to prevent biopiracy. Therefore, research cooperation between industrialized and developing countries, and between Western and non-Western knowledge systems will facilitate ethically sound ethnopharmacological research and merge a diversity of competencies and knowledges.

Antimycobacterial screening of traditional medicinal plants using the microplate resazurin assay

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 487-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Webster ◽  
Timothy D.G. Lee ◽  
Jill Moore ◽  
Tracy Manning ◽  
Dennis Kunimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Acorus Calamus ◽  
Aqueous Extracts ◽  
Resazurin Assay

Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains have rapidly become a global health concern. North American First Nations communities have used traditional medicines for generations to treat many pulmonary infections. In this study, we evaluated the antimycobacterial activity of 5 medicinal plants traditionally used as general therapeutics for pulmonary illnesses and specifically as treatments for tuberculosis. Aqueous extracts of Aralia nudicaulis , Symplocarpus foetidus , Heracleum maximum , Juniperus communis, and Acorus calamus were screened for antimycobacterial activity against Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, Mycobacterium avium, and M. tuberculosis H37Ra using the colorimetric microplate resazurin assay. Extracts of Acorus calamus and H. maximum root demonstrated significant antimycobacterial activity comparable to that of the rifampin control (2 µg/mL). Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of these 2 extracts using the MTT assay also showed that the extracts were less toxic to 3 human cell lines than was the DMSO positive control. This study demonstrates that aqueous extracts of the roots of H. maximum and Acorus calamus possess strong in vitro antimycobacterial activity, validates traditional knowledge, and provides potential for the development of urgently needed novel antituberculous therapeutics.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial activities of herbal plants from Uzbekistan against human pathogenic microbes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilfuza Egamberdieva ◽  
Dilfuza Jabborova ◽  
Svetlana Babich ◽  
Sokhiba Xalmirzaeva ◽  
Kamaliddin Salakhiddinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Antibacterial And Antifungal Activities ◽  
Herbal Plants ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Antibacterial And Antifungal

AbstractIn traditional medicine of Uzbekistan, around 20% of herbal plants are used to treat various ailments, including diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Though conventional medicinal plants are common in Uzbekistan, many plant species potentially useful for new pharmaceuticals are less studied. They contain various biological compounds with antibacterial and antifungal activities, that could be developed into drugs. The search for novel antimicrobial compounds, especially against multidrug-resistant pathogens from aromatic and herbal plants is an essential scientific research line. However, the antimicrobial properties of several medicinally important plants from various countries are still unknown. This review aims to provide an up-to-date report on the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants endemic to Uzbekistan widely used in traditional medicine.

scholarly journals EXPLORING ETHNOMEDICINE PLANTS USED BY THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA: HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 409-425
Author(s):  
Muhammad Fuad Abdullah ◽  
Elizabeth Pesiu ◽  
Mohd Iqbal Mohd Noor ◽  
Azniza Ahmad Zaini ◽  
Amirah Azzeri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Orang Asli ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Head Of Household ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Plant Families

Indigenous communities in Malaysia practice traditional medicine, particularly from the surrounding plants to cure different diseases and illnesses. This traditional way of life has been practised for centuries and passed down through generations. This study aims to document medicinal plants that have been used by the Orang Asli to treat illness. A qualitative ethnomedical study was done to document the species that were believed to have medicinal value. This study was carried at all three resettlement villages in Terengganu. Eleven informants who were the head of household with the age of over 30 years old were interviewed. Fieldwork surveys, observation and face-to-face communication were methods used in this study. The finding shows that most of the Orang Asli community in Terengganu are still dependent on plants and herbs to cure ailments. A total of 106 species that belong to 55 plant families were used by them. This study will encourage researchers in various fields such as ethnobotanical, ethno-zoological, ethnomedicinal and pharmaceutical and toxicological accomplishment of flora and fauna from these areas. As such, these medicinal plants need some more extensive efforts to validate scientifically and clinically were to prove the ethnomedical claims toward them.

Extraction and Phytochemicals Determination of Traditional Medicinal Plants for Anti-microbial Susceptibility Test

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firew Admasu
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Crude Extract ◽  
Susceptibility Test ◽  
Plant Sample ◽  
Traditional Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Health Care ◽  
Susceptibility Tests

Abstract: The study were conducted at Dilla University, College of Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences laboratories. Background: Ethiopia is a country with many ethnic groups, cultures and beliefs which in turn have contributed to the high diversity of traditional health care knowledge and practices of traditional medicine from local growth plants, animals and minerals for various physical and mental disorders of human and livestock population that passed from generation to generation for centuries. Medicinal plants contributors to pharmaceutical, agricultural and food industries in the world. The use of medicinal plants in the industrialized societies has been traced to extraction and development of several drugs used in order to heel some diseases having inhibiting effect against pathogenic microorganism. Objective: The main objective of this study was Extraction and Phytochemicals determination of traditional medicinal plants for anti microbial susceptibility test. Methodology: The extraction and identification of some phytochemicals crude compound which used for antimicrobial susceptibility test from plant sample such as Ocimum lamiifolium (OL), Croton maerosth (Cm) and Ruta chalepesis (RC) were conducted. Plant samples are collected, powdered using mortal and pistil and extracted using ethanol and some susceptibility tests were performed to identify some phytochemicals compound. Result: The main result of Antimicrobial activity test showed that the crude extract of OL has the highest zone of inhibition. The highest yield of crude extract (38.21%) was obtained from Croton maerosth (CM) which followed by Ruta chalepesis (RC) (32.43%). However, the lowest yield (28.37%) was obtained from Oscpmum lamifolium (OL). Conclusion: Traditional Medicine is used by many people to managing numerous conditions; it’s accessible and effective on antimicrobial activity. Therefore, it plays a significant role by reducing life-threatening ailments of people and other animals.

Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan Obat Tradisional oleh Etnis Sangihe di Kepulauan Sangihe Bagian Selatan, Sulawesi Utara (The Usage of Traditional Medicinal Plants by Sangihe Ethnic in the Southern Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi)

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Chrisye Yustitia Pelokang ◽  
Roni Koneri ◽  
Deidy Katili
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
North Sulawesi ◽  
Traditional Medicinal Plants ◽  
Plant Families

Abstrak Tumbuhan obat merupakan tumbuhan yang menghasilkan satu atau lebih komponen aktif yang dipercaya oleh penduduk berkhasiat obat sehingga dimanfaatkan dalam pengobatan tradisional. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi dan mengkaji spesies tumbuhan yang digunakan sebagai obat tradisional oleh Etnis Sangihe di Kepulauan Sangihe bagian Selatan, Sulawesi Utara. Pengambilan data dilakukan melalui wawancara terstruktur  yang diajukan kepada pengobat tradisional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya 38 spesies dari 25 famili tumbuhan yang dimanfaatkan sebagai tumbuhan obat oleh Etnis Sangihe bagian Selatan. Herba merupakan habitus tumbuhan yang banyak dimanfaatkan untuk bahan pengobatan. Bagian tumbuhan yang paling banyak digunakan sebagai obat yaitu daun. Cara pengolahan yang paling banyak digunakan adalah direbus. Jenis penyakit yang dapat diobati dengan tumbuhan obat sebanyak 22 jenis penyakit. Kata kunci: tumbuhan obat, obat tradisional, habitus, Kepulauan Sangihe Bagian Selatan Abstract             Medicinal plants are plants that produce one or more active components that are believed by local people as medicinal plants for traditional medicine practices. This study aimed to identify and to assess the plant species that used as traditional medicine by the Sangihe Ethnic in the Southern Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi. Data collection was conducted by structured interviews to the indigenous medical practitioners. The results showed that 38 plant species from 25 plant families were used as medicinal plants by the Southern Sangihe Ethnic people. Herbs were plant habitus that were widely used for medicinal ingredients. The leaves were widely used as medicinal plant materials. Boiling was the most processing method for preparing medicinal herbs. There were 22 types of diseases that could be treated using medicinal plants. Keywords: medicinal plants, traditional medicine, habitus, Southern Sangihe Islands

Biochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Activities of Indian Medicinal Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulugeta Mulat ◽  
Fazlurrahman Khan ◽  
Archana Pandita
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Chloroform Extract ◽  
Acetone Extract ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Ocimum Sanctum ◽  
Agar Disc

Background: Medicinal plants have been used for treatments of various health ailments and the practices as a remedial back to thousands of years. Currently, plant-derived compounds used as alternative ways of treatment for multidrug-resistant pathogens. Objective: In the present study, various parts of six medical plants such as Solanum nigrum, Azadirachta indica, Vitex negundo, Mentha arvensis, Gloriosa superba, and Ocimum sanctum were extracted for obtaining biological active constituents. Methods: Soxhlet method of extraction was used for obtaining crude extracts. Agar disc diffusion and 96-well plate spectroscopic reading were used to detect the extract’s antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. Results: The obtained extracts were tested for antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties at 25 mg/mL concentrations. Maximum antibacterial activity was observed in O. sanctum chloroform extract (TUCE) against Staphylococcus aureus (24.33±1.52 mm), S. nigrum acetone extract (MAAC) against Salmonella Typhimurium (12.6 ± 1.5 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.0 ±2.0 mm). Only TUCE exhibited antibacterial activity at least a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.781 mg/mL. Better antibiofilm activities were also exhibited by petroleum extracts of G. superba (KAPE) and S. nigrum (MAPE) against Escherichia coli, S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Moreover, S. nigrum acetone extract (MAAC) and O. sanctum chloroform extract (TUCE) were showed anti-swarming activity with a reduction of motility 56.3% against P. aeruginosa and 37.2% against S. aureus. MAAC also inhibits Las A activity (63.3% reduction) in P. aeruginosa. Conclusion: Extracts of TUCE, MAAC, MAPE, and KAPE were exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against the Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. GCMS identified chemical constituents are responsible for being biologically active.

scholarly journals Drinking Water Consumption Patterns: An Exploration of Risk Perception and Governance in Two First Nations Communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6851
Author(s):  
Neal Spicer ◽  
Brenda Parlee ◽  
Molly Chisaakay ◽  
Doug Lamalice
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Consumption Patterns ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Individual Risk

Many Indigenous communities across Canada suffer from the lack of access to clean drinking water; ensuring individuals and communities have safe water to drink either from their home or from their local environment requires the consideration of multiple factors including individual risk perception. In collaboration with local leaders, semi-structured interviews (n = 99) were conducted over a two-year period in the Dene Tha’ First Nation and Kátł’odeeche First Nation to unpack the issue of risk perception and its meaning to local community members. These local metrics of risk perception including smell, taste, safety, health fears and level of concern were then used to explore patterns in other data on drinking water consumption patterns and bottled water use. The results are consistent with previous research related to water insecurity and indicate that both communities consume more bottled water than the average Canadian. Results also varied by jurisdiction; those in Alberta indicated much higher levels of concern and a greater degree of bottled water consumption.

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