Medicinal Plants Used in Ethnoveterinary Practices in Adea Berga District, Oromia Region of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, locally available materials, mainly medicinal plants, are commonly utilized to manage livestock diseases. However, this practice is currently being threatened by several factors including loss of traditional knowledge and depletion of plant resources. This calls for an urgent need to document the ethnoveterinary knowledge in the country and conserve the associated medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to document traditional knowledge on use of medicinal plants in the Adea Berga district, Oromia region of Ethiopia, to manage livestock ailments. Ethnobotanical data were collected largely through semistructured interviews conducted with purposively selected traditional healers of the district. The study identified 59 medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary practices in the district. The great majority (90.4%) of the medicinal plants were used in fresh forms, which were mainly administered orally. The majority (65.4%) of the medicinal plants were gathered from the wild. Data revealed that yoke sore (wound) had the highest informant consensus factor (ICF) value (1.00), followed by leech infestation (0.92) and endoparasite infections (0.90). The highest fidelity level (FL) (100%) and rank order priority (ROP) (100%) values were obtained for the plants Nicotiana tabacum, Malva parviflora, and Calpurnia aurea that were used to treat leech infestation, retained placenta, and snake poisoning, respectively. Priority for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations needs to be given to the aforementioned three plants with the highest FL and ROP values as such values may indicate their higher potency against the respective ailments.

Diversidad vegetal, estructura, y usos complementarios en “cercos” realizados por comunidades tradicionales en los Esteros del Iberá (Corrientes, Argentina)

Entre las comunidades que habitan los Esteros del Iberá es común encontrar barreras erigidas a partir de elementos naturales extraídos del ambiente, denominadas comúnmente como “cercos naturales”. Estos cumplen la función de delimitar diferentes espacios, mientras que al mismo tiempo se comportan como fuente de recursos naturales y aportan otros beneficios ambientales. En este trabajo se propuso identificar la diversidad de especies vegetales y usos asociados, así como también los diferentes tipos de construcciones de cercos. La metodología utilizada consistió en la aplicación de entrevistas semi-estructuradas, junto a la recolección e identificación de las plantas utilizadas en la construcción de los cercos. Además, se aplicó el índice de Friedman (“fidelity level”- FL) para identificar las plantas preferidas como material de los cercos. Los resultados reconocieron tres tipos de cercos con características que ponen de manifiesto las adaptaciones culturales y al contexto ecológico local al que se adaptaron las comunidades estudiadas en el tiempo. Finalmente se plantea la necesidad de discutir la emergencia de estas construcciones como una “estrategia agroecológica”, así como también el dar continuidad a estas prácticas tradicionales que generan grandes beneficios para el socioecosistema y la conservación biocultural en ambientes tan versátiles como son los humedales del Iberá.

Simulation of Landing and Take-Off Noise for Supersonic Transport Aircraft at a Conceptual Design Fidelity Level

The German Aerospace Center has launched an internal project to assess the noise impact associated with supersonic transport aircraft during approach and departure. A dedicated simulation process is established to cover all relevant disciplines, i.e., aircraft and engine design, engine installation effects, flight simulation, and system noise prediction. The core of the simulation process is comprised of methods at the complexity and fidelity level of conceptual aircraft design, i.e., typical overall aircraft design methods and a semi-empirical approach for the noise modeling. Dedicated interfaces allow to process data from high fidelity simulation that will support or even replace initial low fidelity results in the long run. All of the results shown and discussed in this study are limited to the fidelity level of conceptual design. The application of the simulation process to the NASA 55t Supersonic Technology Concept Aeroplane, i.e., based on non-proprietary data for this vehicle, yields similar noise level predictions when compared to the published NASA results. This is used as an initial feasibility check of the new process and confirms the underlying methods and models. Such an initial verification of the process is understood as an essential step due to the lack of available noise data for supersonic transport aircraft in general. The advantageous effect of engine noise shielding on the resulting system noise is demonstrated based on predicted level time histories and certification noise levels. After this initial verification, the process is applied to evaluate a conceptual supersonic transport design based on a PhD thesis with two engines mounted under the wing, which is referred to as aircraft TWO. Full access to this vehicle’s design and performance data allows to investigate the influence of flight procedures on the resulting noise impact along approach and departure. These noise results are then assembled according to proposed Federal Aviation Agency regulations in their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, e.g., speed limitations, for Supersonic transport noise certification and the regulations from Noise Chapters of the Annex 16 from the International Civil Aviation Organization in order to evaluate the resulting levels as a function of the flight procedure.

An Ethno Botanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used for Respiratory Tract Disorders in Northern Parts of Palestine

Background: There are many medicinal applications of natural plant remedies. Several illnesses are still being treated by Palestinian people using medicinal plants. This research was intended to study the use of natural plants to treat different types of Respiratory tract disorders. Method: In the Northern part of Palestine, an ethno-pharmacological study of medicinal plants used to treat respiratory diseases has been carried out. A questionnaire was circulated to 120 informants. The details gathered included the names of the plants, the parts used, the diseases for which the products were used, as well as the method of preparation. To evaluate results: percentages (%), Fic (factor of informant consensus) and FL (fidelity-level) was calculated. Results: A total of 120 participants were included in the final analysis. The highest percentage of herbal use was reported for flu (103 participants) followed by cough, while the lowest percentages of users were in bronchitis management. The study showed that 31 plant species of 19 families were used for respiratory disorders. 6 species are from Lamiaceae family, while 3 species from Apiaceae family, two species are from Amaryllidaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae and Zingiberaceae , while the rest of the families only one species was mentioned by the participants, The pieces used most commonly were leaves and fruits. Decoction was the technique of preparation and was taken as a hot drink.Chamomile, mint, sage , lemon and ginger all were in treatment of all of the five respiratory diseases.Conclusions: The information provided on medicinal plants, with maximum percents & FL values can serve as basic data for further research to identify the active biological ingredients in these plants., and to develop new drug preparations for the treatment of disorders of the resapiratory system.

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS INURUG INDIGENOUS VILLAGE, BOGOR DISTRICT, INDONESIA

The ethnobotanical study in this report focuses on traditional therapeutic plants utilized by local societiesin the treatment of human infections. This research was performed from January to February 2018 in Urug indigenous village, Bogor District, West Java, Indonesia. The emphasis of this study was to record curative plants used to treat different disorders in the research region. This ethnobotanical information was obtained with the aid of semi-structural interviews, guided field walks and observations with informants. The species Use value and Fidelity Level were employed in the examination of several species. Furthermore, 102 therapeutic plants, including 96 genera and 48 families were compiled and identified. However, Zingiberaceae (9,8%)family had the highest therapeutic plants used for several therapies in this region. The highest proportion of medicinal plants comprise of herbs (40.2%) while leaves (69%) were the most often used parts in the formulation of traditional drugs. Meanwhile, decoctions (47,8%) were commonly utilized as a traditional medicine preparation method. The frequently applied ethnomedicinal plant types were Centella asiatica (1.0) while the highest Fidelity Level value for the management of sprue was Pterocarpus indicus. Also, indigenes in this survey community have traditional wisdom in the treatment of human diseases using these plants. The significant risk to these herbs is the indifference by youths, therefore there is a need to raise awareness within the local societies with focus placed on sustainable utilization and management of both medicinal plants and traditional knowledge.

Pemanfaatan tumbuhan obat untuk perawatan rambut oleh Suku Dayak Kantuk di Desa Seluan Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu Kalimantan Barat

Tumbuhan obat saat ini masih dipergunakan untuk perawatan tubuh, diantaranya untuk rambut. Penelitian bertujuan menganalisis penggunaan beragam jenis tumbuhan obat untuk perawatan rambut oleh suku Dayak Kantuk di Desa Seluan Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu. Penelitian menggunakan metode survey melalui wawancara terhadap masyarakat suku Dayak Kantuk di Desa Seluan. Pengambilan sampel dengan teknik purposive sampling dengan jumlah responden 146 orang. Sebanyak 15 jenis tumbuhan obat dimanfaatkan oleh suku Dayak Kantuk. Penggunaan bagian tumbuhan tertinggi adalah buah (46,67%) dengan cara pengolahan ditumbuk (50%), cara penggunaan dioles (93,33%), dan bentuk ramuan tunggal (73,33%). Jenis tanaman dengan nilai penggunaan (use value, UV) tertinggi yaitu lidah buaya (Aloe vera) (0,28), sedangkan family importance value (FIV) tertinggi yaitu Arecaceae (28,37). Nilai informants concensus factor (ICF) tertinggi terdapat pada kategori mengatasi rambut bercabang (1,00). Nilai fidelity level (FL) tertinggi (100%) pada kategori penggunaan menghitamkan rambut dengan jenis tanaman yaitu pepaya (Carica papaya), menyuburkan rambut yaitu seledri (Apium graveolens), melembutkan rambut yaitu sawit (Elaeis guineensis) dan bunga kembang sepatu (Hibiscus rosasinensis), menghilangkan ketombe yaitu daun pare (Momordica charantia), jeruk nipis (Citrus aurantifolia) dan mengkudu (M. citrifolia), mengatasi rambut berkutu yaitu akar tuba (Paraderris elliptica), dan mengatasi rambut bercabang yaitu daun bambu (Bambusa vulgaris). Penggunaan beragam jenis tumbuhan obat oleh suku Dayak Kantuk untuk perawatan rambut menambah pengetahuan tumbuhan obat masyarakat di Kalimantan Barat. Kata kunci: Dayak Kantuk; perawatan rambut; tumbuhan obat ABSTRACTThe utilization of medicinal plants for hair care by Dayak Kantuk Tribe in Seluan Village Kapuas Hulu District. Haircare is one of the body treatments that still use the medicinal plants. The purpose of the study was to analyze the use of various medicinal plants for haircare by the Dayak Kantuk tribe in Seluan Village, Kapuas Hulu Regency. This present study uses a survey method through interviews with the Dayak Kantuk people in Seluan Village (146 respondents and selected using the purposive sampling technique). The Dayak Kantuk people in Seluan village use 15 medicinal plants for their haircare. The highest use of plant parts was fruit (46.67%) with crushed in the processing method (50%), the administration method was topically (93.33%), and the potions are mainly a single ingredient (73.33%). The plant with the highest use value (UV) was Aloe vera (0.28), while the highest family importance value (FIV) was Arecaceae (28.37). The highest informant consensus factor (ICF) was in the haircare treatment category of ameliorating split ends (1,00). There are six haircare treatment categories with the highest fidelity level (FL) (100%) and plant used, namely: maintaining black hair (Carica papaya), hair nourishing (Apium graveolens), hair softener (Elaeis guineensis and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), dandruff elimination (Momordica charantia, Citrus aurantifolia, and Morinda citrifolia), hair lice elimination (Paraderris elliptica), and ameliorating split end (Bambusa vulgaris). The use of various species of medicinal plants by the Dayak Kantuk tribe for haircare adds to the knowledge of medicinal plants in West Kalimantan. Keywords: Dayak Kantuk; haircare; medicinal plants

Fidelity of implementation of TB screening guidelines by health providers at selected HIV clinics in Ghana

Introduction Tuberculosis screening of people living with human immunodeficiency virus is an intervention recommended by the WHO to control the dual epidemic of TB and HIV. The extent to which the intervention is adhered to by the HIV healthcare providers (fidelity) determines the intervention’s effectiveness as measured by patient outcomes, but literature on fidelity is scarce. This study assessed provider implementation fidelity to national guidelines on TB screening at HIV clinics in Ghana. Methods It was a cross-sectional study that used structured questionnaires to gather data, involving 226 of 243 HIV healthcare providers in 27 HIV clinics across Ghana. The overall fidelity score comprised sixteen items with a maximum score of 48 grouped into three components of the screening intervention (TB diagnosis, TB awareness and TB symptoms questionnaire). Simple summation of item scores was done to determine fidelity score per provider. In this paper, we define the level of fidelity as low if the scores were below the median score and were otherwise categorized as high. Background factors potentially associated with implementation fidelity level were assessed using cluster-based logistic regression. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as the measure of association. Results Of the 226 healthcare providers interviewed, 60% (135) were females with a mean age of 34.5 years (SD = 8.3). Most of them were clinicians [63% (142)] and had post-secondary non-tertiary education [62% (141)]. Overall, 53% (119) of the healthcare providers were categorized to have implemented the intervention with high fidelity. Also, 56% (126), 53% (120), and 59% (134) of the providers implemented the TB diagnosis, TB awareness and TB symptoms questionnaire components respectively with high fidelity. After adjusting for cluster effect, female providers (AOR = 2.36, 95%CI: 1.09–5.10, p = <0.029), those with tertiary education (AOR = 4.31, 95%CI: 2.12–9.10, p = 0.040), and clinicians (AOR = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.07–3.50, p = 0.045) were more likely to adhere to the guidelines compared to their counterparts. Conclusion The number of providers with fidelity scores above the median was marginally greater (6%) than the number with fidelity score below the median. Similarly, for each of the components, the number of providers with fidelity scores higher than the median was marginally higher. This could explain the existing fluctuations in the intervention outcomes in Ghana. We found gender, profession and education were associated with provider implementation fidelity. To improve fidelity level among HIV healthcare providers, and realize the aims of the TB screening intervention among PLHIV in Ghana, further training on implementing all components of the intervention is critical.

Herbal remedies used for the management of urolithiasis in Abbottabad, Northern Pakistan

The current study was performed to evaluate the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants to treat and prevent kidney diseases, especially urolithiasis in the Abbottabad region, Northern Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted from 2014–2016 in various rural and tribally dwelled hilly areas like Ayubia National Park, Sherwan and Thandiani. Ethnobotanical information about the medicinal plants employed to treat urinary ailments was obtained from well-informed sources like local healers (hakims) and residents (men/women), who had vast knowledge of local plants uses. The questionnaire method was adopted to record the information and queries were made to verify the information. Informed consent was obtained from each informant before conducting the interview process. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices were calculated for each recorded species. Correlation analysis between the RFC, UV and FL% was tested by Pearson’s correlation, SPSS (ver. 16). A total of 38 plant species belonging to 27 families were being used in the study area to treat Urolithiasis or kidney stone diseases. Asteraceae was the most dominant family with 5 species. Local people used different methods of preparation for different plant parts; among them, decoction was the popular and dominant way of preparation (52.6%), followed by powder (18.4%), extracts (15.7%), juice (7.8%) and cooked (5.2%). The highest UV was recorded for Rumex acetosa L. (1.14) followed by Agrimonia eupatoria L. (1.1), Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. (1.05), Aerva lanata L. (1.04), Eclipta alba Hassak. (1.03). Moreover, twenty-three species were recoded with above 50% Fidelity level. It was found that most of the plant species (16 species) were explicitly used to remove kidney stones. All the obtained data about the ethnomedicinal uses of plants to treat urinary tract ailments are alphabetically categorized to their botanical name/family, local name, phytoconstituents, dosage and route of administration, along with quantitative indices value. All the collected ethnomedicinal plants require a thorough scientific investigation for isolation, identification, biochemical assays, toxicities and evaluation of pharmacological activities of the phytoconstituents, especially of the plants recorded with a high-fidelity level before their usage in clinics.

Traditional Medicinal plants Used for the Treatment of Cancer in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Medicinal plants have aided in the establishment and expansion of the modern healthcare system. Plants with medicinal potential are still the only way forward, as their acceptance and recognition spread over the globe. Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary field that studies how people use plants in their daily lives. Nigeria accounted for roughly 20% of Africa's population and slightly more than half of West Africa's projected 681,000 new cancer cases in 2008, accounting for roughly 20% of the continent's population and slightly more than half of West Africa's. For pharmaceutical exploration and conservation, it is important to document the use of medicinal plants in a specific region across time. The study's goal was to find out which plants were used to treat Cancer in Mubi, Northern eastern part of Nigeria. An open ended interview was employed with no sampling size selection. Used Value (UV), Fidelity level (FL) and Relative frequency of citation (RFC) were used to determine the most important and effective plants used for treatment of cancer. Ten plants were documented with Neolamarckia cadamba has 0.9, 1 and 100 % of UV, RFC and FL, respectively. The study will serve as a foundation for subsequent research into developing natural medicine or modern medications to prevent the extinction of the species.