scholarly journals Ethnomedicinal Uses of Some Common Malaysian Medicinal Plants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idris Adewale Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Indigenous Uses ◽  
Local Plants

Historically, natural products have always been a rich source of novel pharmacological leads, thus, making the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological knowledge an important and major asset of the medicinal plant-based drug discovery in providing hints for effective and safe chemotherapeutic compounds. Such knowledge, however, requires a thorough review and documentation of the ethnomedicinal and indigenous uses of local plants of every part of the world. Malaysia is a global hub for natural products which contributes to its GDP. Malaysia is also one of the 12 most diverse Megabiodiversity countries. Its rainforest is ranked 4th on the list of biodiversity hotspots in Asia after India, China, and Indonesia and is also acknowledged as the world’s oldest rainforest. Natural products are relevant to both Malaysian health care and agriculture which are parts of the national key economic areas (NKEA) under the Government’s Economic Transformation Plan as well as parts of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Though the quality, efficacy, and safety of herbal products require global and international standardization, herbal products should be made accessible to low-income and rural communities across the globe. The proper documentation of the ethnopharmacological important plants in addition to their preservation and cultivation would enhance the sustainable use of the various indigenous plants. This work is unique in the sense that it is meant to review some of the most important high-value herbal products in Malaysia. Though it covers only a few representatives of Malaysian medicinal plants.

Medicinal Plants and Natural Products, More Effective and Safer Pharmacological Treatment for the Management of Obesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harsha Negi ◽  
Meenakshi Gupta ◽  
Ramanpreet Walia ◽  
Moayad Khataibeh ◽  
Maryam Sarwat
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Pancreatic Lipase ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Herbal Plants ◽  
New Compounds

: Obesity is a major lifestyle disorder and it is correlated with several ailments. The prevalence of obesity has elevated over the years and it has become a global health problem. The drugs presently used for managing obesity have several side-effects associated with them such as diarrhoea, leakage of oily stools, etc. On the contrary, herbal plants and natural products are considered safe for use because they have lesser side effects. New compounds isolated from medicinal plants are screened and identified to determine their effectiveness and potential in preventing abnormal weight gain. In this review, the medicinal plants and natural materials were surveyed across the literature to cover those that have potential for managing and controlling weight gain, and their mechanism of action, active component, and experimental methodologies are also included. These herbal products can be developed as formulations for therapeutic use in obesity. The herbal plants mentioned in the review are classified based on their mechanism of action: inhibition of pancreatic lipase and appetite suppression activities. The ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase enzyme has been used to determine the effectiveness of herbal products for the prevention of abnormal weight gain because of its action on dietary fat and suppression of appetite. This review is an attempt to summarize the herbal plants and natural products that can be used to develop formulations effective in controlling weight gain and obesity.

scholarly journals An overview of some medicinal plants and isolated active compounds with potential antiprotozoal activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1551-1563
Author(s):  
Oladele T. Ojuromi ◽  
Anofi O. Ashafa
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Protozoan Infections

Diarrhoea associated illness presents with mortality and morbidity in rural communities in most low income countries especially in children < 5 years of age. The continuous emergence of several opportunistic infections in immuno-compromised individuals has worsened the burden of diarrhoea in most of these countries. Protozoan infections caused by species of Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba spp. Giardia intestinalis, Blastocystis hominis and Trichomonas vaginalis have received insufficient attention because data on their prevalence and incidence are scanty. The commonly used drugs to treat infections caused by these organisms are becoming less effective due to the development of drug resistance. Evidence from literature has shown that natural products from medicinal plants are likely to be suitable alternatives and complimentary therapeutic drugs to combat most protozoan infections. Natural products and their bioactive compounds could be the solution to treat most protozoan infections that have developed resistance to these drugs. This review provides comprehensive information on the potential and limitations on activity of medicinal plants and their isolated compounds used in the treatment of protozoan diseases. Especially those considered as neglected diseases such as Cryptosporidium and other protozoans that are inadequately funded and possibility of lack of interest in drug developments have made them  receive little attention. Isolation and identification of bioactive natural products could be the ultimate panacea to cases of metronidazole resistance and discovery of effective and novel drug for Cryptosporidium infection which is currently suffering inadequate treatment options. Keywords: Protozoan parasites, Diarrhoea, Neglected diseases, Medicinal plants, Bioactive compounds

scholarly journals Medicinal Plants – Derived Natural Products and Phytochemical Extract as Potential Therapies for Coronavirus : Future Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 771-791
Author(s):  
S Rehan Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
Special Treatment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Therapeutic Molecules

On 11th March 2020 , the WHO has declared that the Coronavirus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2) or noval coronavirus ( COVID-19) as Global Pandemic in the whole world . Yet there is no vaccine or any kind of special treatment developed even though all the nations are testing several therapeutic molecules. Different herbs that are traditional are also being used with conventional drugs since the COVID-19 outbreak and are showing promising results in for the treatment of the patients. In this paper, we will review on the use of the natural products and its findings on how it is being used for treating and preventing the infection of COVID-19.. Only those reports were included that WHO edited in the situation. The extracts of the various herbal products and the molecules that are purified exert an anti-SARS-CoV-2 action and they inhibit the virus directly since the entry of the virus by replicating them. It is even interesting to find that some of the herb related products are able to block the C-2 receptors that are protease serine TMPRRS2. These are the proteins COVID-19 virus requires to infect the human cells. Additionally it was also seen that the that he natural products we able to inhibit proteins such as papain-like or chymotrypsin-like proteases that were required in the life cycle of the SARS-CoV-2. Hence, it is concluded that the natural products can be used in combination or alone as an alternative for preventing or treating of the novel corona virus infection.

scholarly journals The Ghanaian Flora as a Potential Source of Anthelmintic and Anti-Schistosomal Agents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Asante-Kwatia ◽  
Abraham Yeboah Mensah ◽  
Lord Gyimah ◽  
Arnold Donkor Forkuo Yeboah Mensah
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Drug Molecules ◽  
Live Stock ◽  
Cost Of Drugs

Parasitic infections including schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis are the most commonly encountered Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the world. These diseases remain a major public health concern affecting millions of people especially those living in poor regions where access to effective conventional health care is a challenge. Interventions to control these infections in endemic areas have not been successful due to the high cost of drugs, limited availability as well as inequity of access to preventive chemotherapies. Another problem is the development resistance to the limited number of recommended medications due to their intensive use in both human and live-stock. There is an increasing awareness of the potential of natural products as chemotherapeutic agents to combat parasitic infections. Natural products may offer an unlimited source of chemically diverse drug molecules which may be safe, efficient, less toxic, less expensive and readily available for use especially in low-income countries. The Ghanaian flora provides such a ready source for new therapeutic interventions for the local population. Several researches have provided evidence of the anti-parasitic activity of Ghanaian medicinal plants. This chapter provides a review with special focus on medicinal plants collected from Ghana with anthelmintic and anti-schistosomal activity. Evidence of pharmacological activities of crude extracts, fractions and bioactive phytoconstituents as well as possible mechanisms of action where investigated are discussed.

scholarly journals Indigenous uses of some medicinal plants in Panchthar district, Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilak Prasad Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Indigenous Uses

Plants have been used as a source of medicine since ancient times. These medicines are cheaper and safe. According to WHO about 80% of the world’s population depends on traditional medicine for their primary health care. These traditional knowledge systems have started to disappear with the passage of time due to scarcity of written documents and relatively low income in these traditions. The present paper reports 87 species of medicinal plants from Panchthar district. Medicinal values of the plants are based on concepts and consideration of the local people. The further scientific studies need to evaluate the medicinal value of these plants. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njbs.v1i0.7479 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 1: 125-130 (2011)

scholarly journals Micro Hydro Power: A Source of Sustainable Energy in Rural Communities: Economic and Environmental Perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (4I-II) ◽  
pp. 487-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Umar ◽  
Anwar Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Hydro Power ◽  
Sufficient Energy ◽  
The World ◽  
Development Goals

Energy is an important need of human life. It is the life blood of all economic activities. Due to increase in population and economic activities, the need for energy is increasing at a faster rate. Without having sufficient energy, the goal of economic and social development and the Millennium Development Goals in particular cannot be achieved. Most of the rural areas in different parts of the world are without electricity. About 1.6 billion people in the world who are living in rural areas are without electricity [Greenstone (2014)]. The reason is that it is too costly to provide electricity services to rural communities through conventional means due to remote location and low density of population. Moreover, due to poverty and low income the rural inhabitants are not in a position to afford the main grid electricity. The use of diesel and gasoline has been used for decades for provision of electricity to rural areas. But it was not so successful due to economic, technical and environmental problems [Woodruff (2007a)].

History, Heritage and Sustainable Development: A Position Statement on the Scottish Highlands

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
S. Karly Kehoe ◽  
Chris Dalglish
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Scottish Highlands ◽  
The Past ◽  
Taking Charge ◽  
Rural World ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Crucial Part

Evidence of how history and culture have been or should be harnessed to promote sustainability in remote and rural communities is mounting. To be sustainable, development must come from within, it must serve future generations as well as those in the present and it must attend to the vitality of culture, society, the economy and the environment. Historical research has an important contribution to make to sustainability, especially if undertaken collaboratively, by challenging and transcending the boundaries between disciplines and between the professional researchers, communities and organisations which serve and work with them. The Sustainable Development Goals’ motto is ‘leaving no one behind’, and for the 17 Goals to be met, there must be a dramatic reshaping of the ways in which we interact with each other and with the environment. Enquiry into the past is a crucial part of enabling communities, in all their shapes and sizes, to develop in sustainable ways. This article considers the rural world and posits that historical enquiry has the potential to deliver insights into the world in which we live in ways that allow us to overcome the negative legacies of the past and to inform the planning of more positive and progressive futures. It draws upon the work undertaken with the Landscapes and Lifescapes project, a large partnership exploring the historic links between the Scottish Highlands and the Caribbean, to demonstrate how better understandings of the character and consequences of previous development might inform future development in ways that seek to tackle injustices and change unsustainable ways of living. What we show is how taking charge of and reinterpreting the past is intrinsic to allowing the truth (or truths) of the present situation to be brought to the surface and understood, and of providing a more solid platform for overcoming persistent injustices.

TURNING FARMERS INTO SOCIAL FARMER ENTREPRENEURS FOR DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remus Runcan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Rural And Urban

According to Romania’s National Rural Development Programme, the socio-economic situation of the rural environment has a large number of weaknesses – among which low access to financial resources for small entrepreneurs and new business initiatives in rural areas and poorly developed entrepreneurial culture, characterized by a lack of basic managerial knowledge – but also a large number of opportunities – among which access of the rural population to lifelong learning and entrepreneurial skills development programmes and entrepreneurs’ access to financial instruments. The population in rural areas depends mainly on agricultural activities which give them subsistence living conditions. The gap between rural and urban areas is due to low income levels and employment rates, hence the need to obtain additional income for the population employed in subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, especially in the context of the depopulation trend. At the same time, the need to stimulate entrepreneurship in rural areas is high and is at a resonance with the need to increase the potential of rural communities from the perspective of landscape, culture, traditional activities and local resources. A solution could be to turn vegetal and / or animal farms into social farms – farms on which people with disabilities (but also adolescents and young people with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and alexithymia issues) might find a “foster” family, bed and meals in a natural, healthy environment, and share the farm’s activities with the farmer and the farmer’s family: “committing to a regular day / days and times for a mutually agreed period involves complying with any required health and safety practices (including use of protective clothing and equipment), engaging socially with the farm family members and other people working on and around the farm, and taking on tasks which would include working on the land, taking care of animals, or helping out with maintenance and other physical work”

Ecosan Can Provide Sustainable Sanitation in Emergency Situations with Benefits for the Millennium Development Goals

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. v. Münch ◽  
G. Amy ◽  
J. F. Fesselet
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Value Analysis ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sanitation Systems

This paper describes the potential of ecological sanitation (ecosan) to provide sustainable excreta disposal in emergency situations and in peri-urban areas or slums in developing countries. At the present time, pit latrines are the most common form of excreta disposal both for emergency situations and in low-income peri-urban areas or slums. Although not intended to be a long-term solution, pit latrines provided during emergencies are often used for a long time (more than six months to years). This practice is not sustainable if the area is prone to flooding or there are soil conditions that allow groundwater pollution in areas where groundwater is used for drinking water, to name but two of the main factors. We propose eight criteria for the applicability of ecosan based on analysis of three case studies representing different types of emergency situations. The two most important criteria are awareness and expertise in ecosan within the aid agencies, and availability of standardised, lightweight toilet units that are quick to assemble and easy to transport (e.g. container for faeces, and urine diversion squatting pan made of impact-resistant molded polypropylene). Such toilets could be moved to, or replicated in, other areas in need after the emergency (peri-urban areas or slums). This would provide benefits for Millennium Development Goals achievements (targets on hunger, child mortality, sanitation and slum dwellers) at lower cost than conventional sanitation systems. Costs for sanitation systems should be compared based on the entire system (toilet, transport, treatment, reuse in agriculture), using Net Present Value analysis for capital, and operating and maintenance costs.

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