scholarly journals Potential of Malawi’s medicinal plants in Covid-19 disease management: A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-107
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Chikowe ◽  
Andrew G. Mtewa ◽  
David Tembo ◽  
Dallas Smith ◽  
Edna Ibrahim ◽  
...  

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered an international pandemic that has led to significant public health problems. To date, limited evidence exists to suggest that drugs are effective against the disease. As possible treatments are being investigated, herbal medicines have shown potential for producing novel antiviral agents for the COVID-19 disease. Aim This review explored the potential of Malawi’s traditional medicinal plants for the management of COVID-19. MethodsThe authors searched on PubMed and Google scholar for medicinal plants that are used in Malawi and published in openly available peer reviewed journals. Plants linked with antiviral treatment, anti-COVID-19 activity or COVID-19 symptoms management were targeted. These included activity against pneumonia, inflammation, cough, difficulty in breathing, pain/aches, fever, diarrhoea, rheumatism, fatigue, asthma, immunocompromised and cardiovascular diseases.Results11 studies were found with 306 plant species. 127 plant species had at least one COVID-19 related pharmacological activity. Of these plant species, the number of herbal entities used for each indication was: pain/aches (87), fever (2), pneumonia (9), breathing/asthma problems (5), coughing (11), diarrhoea (1), immunosuppression (8), blood issues (10), fatigue (2), heart problems (11), inflammation (8), rheumatism (10) and viral diseases (12). Thirty (30) species were used for more than one disease and Azedarachta indica topped the list (6 of the 13 COVID-19 related diseases). The majority of the species had phytochemicals known to have antiviral activity or mechanisms of actions linked to COVID-19 and consequent diseases’ treatment pathways.ConclusionMedicinal plants are a promising source of compounds that can be used for drug development of COVID-19 related diseases. This review highlights potential targets for the World Health Organization and other research entities to explore in order to assist in controlling the pandemic.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1278-1285
Author(s):  
Mohamed Yafout ◽  
Amine Ousaid ◽  
Ibrahim Sbai El Otmani ◽  
Youssef Khayati ◽  
Amal Ait Haj Said

The new SARS-CoV-2 belonging to the coronaviruses family has caused a pandemic affecting millions of people around the world. This pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization as an international public health emergency. Although several clinical trials involving a large number of drugs are currently underway, no treatment protocol for COVID-19 has been officially approved so far. Here we demonstrate through a search in the scientific literature that the traditional Moroccan pharmacopoeia, which includes more than 500 medicinal plants, is a fascinating and promising source for the research of natural molecules active against SARS-CoV-2. Multiple in-silico and in-vitro studies showed that some of the medicinal plants used by Moroccans for centuries possess inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2. These inhibitory activities are achieved through the different molecular mechanisms of virus penetration and replication, or indirectly through stimulation of immunity. Thus, the potential of plants, plant extracts and molecules derived from plants that are traditionally used in Morocco and have activity against SARS-CoV-2, could be explored in the search for a preventive or curative treatment against COVID-19. Furthermore, safe plants or plant extracts that are proven to stimulate immunity could be officially recommended by governments as nutritional supplements.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 3129-3133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalpana Palani ◽  
Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian ◽  
R. A. Kalaivani

Nowadays, the use of medicinal plants for disease treatment has been limited due to widely prevailing toxicity of medicinal plants and their source soil. The major reason for the toxicity in plants might be due to their mineral and chemical content and also related with the toxic materials present in the source soil. The aim of this study was to assess the Aluminum contamination in Mettur, an industrial town of Tamil Nadu, India which has many Al industries. Total Al content in the soil of the region where medicinal plants were cultivated was found to be 16700 mg kg-1. Further, Al content in commonly used medicinal plants Centella asiatica, Bacopa monneri and Euphorbia hirta grown in Al polluted soil was studied. The Al concentration of the medicinal plants ranged from 449 to 801 mg kg-1. All the three plants were found to accumulate level of Al which is above the maximum permissible limits prescribed by World Health Organization and thus, it may cause Al toxicity among the consumers of herbal medicines. From the results of the present study, it is inferred that the medicinal plants used for the human consumption or disease management should be collected from clean environment and processed carefully.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia C. Maramba-Lazarte

There are several problems that continue to plague the Philippine health care system. The cost of branded drugs in the Philippines is 22 times more than international reference prices while generic drugs are 4 times more.1 Despite price reductions due to legislations such as the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008, as well as the Generics Act of 1988, those in the lower-income brackets still cannot afford maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes as well as antibiotics.2 Access to medicines and care from physicians and other healthcare professionals is especially challenging for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas wherein the people are physically or economically inaccessible. Filipino traditional medicine, of which herbal medicine plays a large role has been around for centuries and is wellaccepted in the rural areas. Validating the use of these traditional medicinal plants through research is essential in order to have an evidence-based practice of herbal medicine. The main areas of research can be defined as (1) herbal medicine quality and standardization, (2) preclinical pharmacological assessments and action mechanisms, and (3) clinical efficacy and safety assessments.3 These types of researches aimed at developing safe and efficacious, as well as low-cost Philippine herbal medicines, may well be a long-term solution to the obstacles to a healthy population cited above. Our Philippine medicinal plants are a valuable but often underappreciated resource with innumerable applications for non-communicable and communicable disease indications. Limited research in this field had long been ongoing in the Philippines. Support for this movement came with the passage of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 which affirmed the commitment of the government towards the support and development of traditional medicine including herbal medicine.4 Another boost was the endorsement of the Department of Health of the Sampung Halamang Gamot in the 1990s.5 The World Health Organization has advocated the integration of Traditional Medicine within national health care systems and has urged governments to develop and implement national traditional medicine policies and programs especially with Universal Health Coverage.6 It was the National Integrated Research Program of the Philippines (NIRPROMP) who was at the forefront of this field and conducted the initial studies of these Ten Medicinal Plants.7 Many of them have been developed into modern formulations. These include Lagundi (Vitex negundo) tablet and syrup for cough and asthma, Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) tablet as a diuretic and treatment of urolithiasis, Tsaang gubat (Ehretia microphylla) tablet for gastrointestinal and biliary colic, Akapulco (Senna alata) lotion for cutaneous fungal infections, Yerba Buena (Mentha villosa) tablet as an analgesic, Ulasimang bato (Peperomia pellucida) tablet for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia. Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) tablet was also developed as a glucose-lowering agent, but it is presently undergoing researches on the reformulated tablet.8 Several of the articles in this issue present evidence for the use of some of the mentioned medicinal plants. The NIRPROMP was the forerunner and is still an integral part of the Institute of Herbal Medicine. Lagundi and Sambong have been integrated into the clinical practice of physicians in the Philippines, even by specialists. They have both been scientific and commercial successes.9 Their production has contributed to the revenue and growth of the Philippine Pharmaceutical Industry, as well as improved the economic status of farmers cultivating these crops. Developing more herbal medicines needed for primary health care would decrease our dependence on the importation of medicines, and increase the accessibility of drugs even in geographically isolated areas. Bringing back the herbal medicine gardens to the barangays in the rural communities will also assist in empowering the population. The integration of herbal medicines into mainstream clinical practice will only be possible if the researches performed, both non-clinical and clinical, are as robust as those for synthetic medicine.     Cecilia C. Maramba-Lazarte, MD Director Institute of Herbal Medicine National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila     REFERENCES 1. Paris J. Pharma Companies Offer to Cut Drug Prices [Internet] Rappler. 2019 25 October [cited 2020 Jan 15]. Available from https://www. rappler.com/nation/243372-pharmaceutical-companies-offer-cut-drug-prices. 2. Clarete RL, Llanto GM. 2017. Access to medicines in the Philippines: Overcoming the barriers [Internet]. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. 2017 [cited 2020 Jan 14]. Available from http://hdl.handle.net/11540/7967. 3. Zhang AL, Xue CC, Fong HH. Integration of Herbal Medicine into Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Current Status and Issues. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, eds. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. 4. Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, Republic Act No. 8423, Approved: December 9, 1997. 5. World Health Organization. Report of the Working Group on Herbal Medicines Meeting, March 1997. 6. World Health Organization. WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2014-2023. 7. Eusebio JE, Umali BE. Inventory, documentation and status of medicinal plants research in Philippines. In: Batugal PA, Kanniah J, Young LS, Oliver JT, editors. Medicinal plants research in Asia, Volume 1: The framework and project workplans. Selangor DE, Malaysia: International Plant Genetic Resource Institute-Regional office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), Serdang; 2004. 8. Purificacion J, Maramba N. Research Proposal Phase 1 Clinical Trial: Safety and Efficacy of Lyophilized Momordica charantia (Ampalaya) leaf tablet among Normal Volunteer Subjects (2018 version). 9. From Herbal Folklore to Modern Medicine [Internet]. World Intellectual Property Organization. 2013 [cited 2020 Jan 14]. Available from https://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=3661.


Author(s):  
Claudia Sarmento Gadelha ◽  
Vicente Maia Pinto Junior ◽  
Kevia Katiucia Santos Bezerra ◽  
Patricio Borges Maracajá ◽  
Débora S. S. Martins

<p>A utilização de plantas medicinais como medicina alternativa é uma pratica milenar, no entanto, a inserção de fitoterápicos é recente, porém, tem sido incentivado a sua prescrição pelo SUS.  A Organização Mundial de Saúde,  leva em consideração a cultura e a biodiversidade existentes no Brasil, tendo em vista a complexidade que envolve a fitoterapia, a Política Nacional de Planta Medicinal e Fitoterápico. Esta pesquisa teve como principal objetivo avaliar o uso de fitoterápicos e de plantas medicinais na saúde básica do município de Sousa-PB. Para isso foram aplicados formulários com pacientes/usuários e profissionais de saúde (Médicos e Enfermeiros), a respeito do uso, indicações, contra indicações dentre outros. A pesquisa foi realizada entre os meses de julho a outubro de 2014. Em relação ao faixa etária 90% dos entrevistados possuem idade entre 22 e 59 anos, com relação à renda dos usuários 40% dos mesmos possuem uma renda de menos de R$ 1.000,00, já à indicação do uso de plantas medicinais 96,7% dos usuários utilizam por indicação popular. Em relação as plantas mais usadas pelos pacientes foram citadas: Quebra pedra 58 citações, Hortelã 44, Aroeira 38, Babosa 32, Alecrim do nordeste 16 e unha de gato 10 citações, 58,4% dos usuários acham excelente a ideia de plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos do SUS disponível para a comunidade, 90% dos profissionais de saúde consideram inserção da fitoterapia no SUS e principalmente nas UFS como avanço para a terapia comunitária, 88% dos profissionais de saúde relataram que os conhecimentos que possuem não são suficientes para uma orientação e/ou prescrição adequada e plantas medicinais ou de fitoterápicos, em relação a freqüência e recomendações que os profissionais de saúde prescrevem fitoterápicos foram antidepressivo, calmante com uma freqüência de 0,35, seguidos de tosse, gripe e sistema respiratório com 0,31 e mal estar gástrico com 0,21. Entretanto, de acordo com os dados encontrados na pesquisa, sugerem-se mais incentivos por partes do poder público, além, de capacitação aos profissionais de saúde para que os mesmos se sintam preparados para prescrever fitoterápicos.</p><p class="Default" align="center"><strong><em>Use of herbal and medicinal plants in different segments of society</em></strong><em></em></p><p><strong>Abstract</strong>:  The use of medicinal plants as alternative medicine is an ancient practice, however, the inclusion of herbal medicines is recent, however, has been encouraged their prescription by SUS. The World Health Organization, takes into account the culture and the existing biodiversity in Brazil, in view of the complexity involved in herbal medicine, the National Policy on Medicinal Plant and Herbal. This research aimed to evaluate the use of herbal and medicinal plants in the basic health of the municipality of Sousa-PB. To this were applied forms with patients / users and health professionals (doctors and nurses), regarding the use, indications, contraindications among others. The survey was conducted between the months of July to October 2014. In relation to the age group 90% of respondents have aged between 22 and 59, in relation to income users 40% of them have an income of less than R $ 1,000 , 00, as the indication of the use of medicinal plants 96.7% of users use a popular statement. Regarding the plants most used by patients were cited: Breaking stone 58 quotes, Mint 44, Aroeira 38, 32 Aloe, Rosemary Northeast 16 and cat's claw 10 citations. 58.4% of users find the excellent idea of SUS medicinal plants and herbal medicines available to the community, 90% of health professionals consider insertion of herbal medicine in the SUS and especially in the UFS as an advance for the community therapy, 88% of professionals Health reported that the knowledge they have are not enough for an orientation and / or proper prescription and medicinal herbal plants or in relation to frequency and recommendations that herbal prescribing health professionals were antidepressant, soothing with a frequency of 0.35, followed by cough, flu and respiratory system with 0.31 and 0.21 with gastric discomfort. However, according to the data found in the search, it is suggest more incentives for parts of the government, in addition, training for health professionals so that they feel prepared to prescribe herbal medicines.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Chrisye Yustitia Pelokang ◽  
Roni Koneri ◽  
Deidy Katili

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


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Anzar Alam ◽  
Mohd Abdul Gani ◽  
G. Shama ◽  
Ghulamuddin Sofi ◽  
Mohd Aleemuddin Quamri

AbstractAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral diseases continue to rise, and pose a significant public health problem. Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of COVID-19 is close to Amraz-e-Wabai (epidemic diseases) which was described by Hippocrates, Galen, Aristotle, Razes, Haly Abbas, Avicenna, Jurjani etc. Presently, there is no specific or challenging treatment available for COVID-19. Renowned Unani Scholars recommended during epidemic situation to stay at home, and fumigate the shelters with aromatics herbs like Ood kham (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.), Kundur (Boswellia serrata Roxb), Kafoor (Cinnamomum camphora L.), Sandal (Santalum album L), Hing (Ferula foetida L.) etc. Use of specific Unani formulations are claimed effective for the management of such epidemic or pandemic situation like antidotes (Tiryaqe Wabai, Tiryaqe Arba, Tiryaqe Azam, Gile Armani), Herbal Decoction (Joshandah), along with Sharbate Khaksi, Habbe Bukhar, Sharbate Zanjabeel, Khamira Marwareed, Jawarish Jalinus, and Sirka (vinegar). Such drugs are claimed for use as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cardiotonic, and general tonic actions. The study enumerates the literature regarding management of epidemics in Unani medicine and attempts to look the same in the perspective of COVID-19 prevention and management.


Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dereń ◽  
Justyna Wyszyńska ◽  
Serhiy Nyankovskyy ◽  
Olena Nyankovska ◽  
Marta Yatsula ◽  
...  

Overweight and obesity, as well as underweight in children and adolescents, pose a significant public health issue. This study aimed to investigate the secular trend of the incidence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in children from Ukraine in 2013/2014 and 2018/2019. The studies were conducted in randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Ukraine. In total, 13,447 children (6468 boys and 6979 girls) participated in the study in 2013/2014 and 18,144 children (8717 boys and 9427 girls) participated in 2018/2019. Measurements of body weight and height were performed in triplicate. Underweight, overweight, and obesity were diagnosed according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the group of girls, a significant difference between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019 measurements was found only among 7-year-olds. The percentage of girls at this age exceeding the body mass index (BMI) norm was lower in the 2018/2019 study. In boys, a significant difference was also found in 7-year-olds, and, as in girls, a lower share of overweight and obesity was found in 2018/2019. But for the ages of 12, 13, and 15, the significant differences had a different character—more overweight or obese boys were found in the 2018/2019 study. The proportion of underweight children was similar for the majority of age groups in both genders and did not differ in a statistically significant way.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Most. Rojuba Khatun ◽  
A.H.M. Mahbubur Rahman

Ethnobotanical investigation on traditional medicinal plants used by Santal tribal people of Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh was documented. Frequent field trips were made during January to December 2018 to record ethnobotanical data by interviewing Santals of various age group, mostly ranging between 20-76 years, including the traditional healers. A total of 105 plant species under 97 genera belonging to 57 families were recorded which are used by the Santals for the treatment of 67 ailments. Out of these plant species 44% belonged to herbs, 28% trees, 18% shrubs, 10% climbers. In herbal formulations, leaves were found to be mostly used (29%) followed by roots (12%), fruits (12%), whole plant (10%), seeds (9%), barks (9%), stems (5%), flowers (4%), latex (2%), rhizomes (2%), petioles (2%), gums (2%), bulbs (1%), tubers (1%), pods (1%) and buds (1%). The Santal medicinal wealth have been presented with scientific name, family, Bangla name, Santal name, part(s) used, ailments to be treated and formulations. This study also provides data on diversity, distribution and habitats for conservation and prioritization of the medicinal plants.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed A. Alshawsh ◽  
Ramzi A. Mothana ◽  
Hassan A. Al-shamahy ◽  
Salah F. Alsllami ◽  
Ulrike Lindequist

Developing countries, where malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases, still rely on traditional medicine as a source for the treatment of this disease. In the present study, six selected plants (Acalypha fruticosa,Azadirachta indica,Cissus rotundifolia,Echium rauwalfii,Dendrosicyos socotranaandBoswellia elongata) commonly used in Yemen by traditional healers for the treatment of malaria as well as other diseases, were collected from different localities of Yemen, dried and extracted with methanol and water successfully. The antiplasmodial activity of the extracts was evaluated against fresh clinical isolates ofPlasmodium falciparum. The selectivity parameters to evaluate the efficacy of these medicinal plants were measured byin vitromicro test (Mark III) according to World Health Organization (WHO) 1996 & WHO 2001 protocols of antimalarial drug tests. Among the investigated 12 extracts, three were found to have significant antiplasmodial activity with IC50values less than 4 µg/ml, namely the water extracts ofA. fruticosa,A. indicaandD. socotrana. Six extracts showed moderate activity with IC50values ranging from 10 to 30 µg/ml and three appeared to be inactive with IC50values more than 30 µg/ml. In addition, preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extracts indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides and peptides.


Author(s):  
Sholly. CK

Novel corona virus (COVID-19) is an infectious condition, which can be spread directly or indirectly from one person to another and causes respiratory illnesses, range from common cold to acute respiratory syndrome. The first cases of this virus were found in Wuhan, China. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 is serious health concern and has higher risk for severe illness and spreading rapidly all over the world.This novel coronavirus was named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by WHO in February 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus disease 2019 a pandemic, in the year2020 March. A global coordinated effort is needed to stop the further spread of the virus. Among all cases about 92% of the confirmed cases were recorded from China. Initial reports suggest that death rate ranges from 1% to 2% which varies in the study and country. The most of the death have occurred in patients over 50 years of age followed by young children. For the confirmed cases which included both laboratory and clinically diagnosed till now there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended but there is vaccine currently available. Once the virus develops in people, corona viruses can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into the respiratory tract, where the virus can then lead to an infection. Repercussions of Covid -19 on individuals, families and on front line warriors are countless1.


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