Wonderful Natural Drugs with Surprising Nutritional Values, Rheum Species, Gifts of the Nature

Nutrition therapy on the basis of traditional medicinal plants and herbs is common in many Asian countries, especially Iran and China. Rheum species, especially rhubarbs, belong to plant medicines recognized in 2500 BC. An online search of the literature was carried out at Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and Google scholar, covering all years until April 2021. The following key terms were used, usually in combinations: Rheum species, rhubarb, natural products, pharmaceutical benefits, anthraquinones and anthranone. After performing the literature search, the bibliographies of all articles were checked for cross-references that were not found in the search databases. Articles were selected if they reported any biological effects, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical compounds and botanical description of Rheum species. The most important components of rhubarb are anthraquinones, anthranone, stilbenes, tannins and butyrophenones. Anthraquinones consist of rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin and chrysophanl, and anthranone includes sennosides and rheinosides. The most important health benefits of rhubarb are antioxidant and anticancer activities, antimicrobial activity, wound healing action, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic effects, and nephroprotective effect, as well as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial activities. Integration of both traditional pharmaceutical science and modern medicines may promote sustainability, lead to organic life and promote the cultivation of medicinal plants.

Prospects of Passiflora incarnata L. introduction in the forest-steppe of Ukraine

The information about the fruit and medicinal plant passion fruit flesh-red (Passiflora incarnata L.) is given as a potential introducer of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine and a species that should replenish the research collection of subtropical fruit crops of the open ground of the Khorol Botanical Garden. The botanical description, bioecological characteristics, nutritional and medicinal properties and the proposed agricultural cultivation techniques are given.

Two new species of Rubus L. (Rosaceae) from the western Andes of Ecuador

Two new species of Rubus (Rosaceae) from the western Andes of northern Ecuador are described. Rubus longistipularis D.A. Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. is a scandent or climbing shrub found in the mountain forests of Chocó Andino from northern Ecuador. Rubus maquipucunensis D.A. Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. is a vine or climbing shrub found in the rainforests of Chocó Andino from Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The species mentioned here are morphologically differentiated from all the Rubus species from Ecuador with a detailed botanical description, illustrations and photographs. We also report, for the first time, possible hybridisation between R. longistipularis and R. boliviensis Focke, as the samples reviewed showed mixed characteristics from both species.

Ethnobotany of Valuable Medicinal Plants Available in Chhattisgarh Plain Region of Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh

Background: Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest tribal dominated district in Central India. Baiga and Gond are the main two tribes of the Baihar, Birsa, Paraswada, Langi, Kirnapur, Katangi, Balaghat, Waraseoni and Lalbarra tehsils of Balaghat district. These tribes have enormous knowledge about medicinal properties of the plant species available in natural ecosystems (forests and grasslands). Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the plants used by these tribes for seminal debility and other diseases. Methods: Survey was carried out during 2019-20 in Biahar, Birsa, Paraswada, Langi, Kirnapur, Katangi, Lalburra and Waraseoni tehsils of the district Balaghat. Judgmental/purposive sampling method used to collect the required information from the tribes of the locality. Result: Total 35 most important plants were used for curing various diseases and injuries. Along with their botanical description, we explained the method of intake of the plant medicines to cure the diseases. Around 39% of the plants used to cure seminal debility comes under herb category whereas shrub (28%), climber (11%), grass (6%), twiner (6%), small tree (5%) and big tree (5%). Whereas, 76% herbs utilized for curing other diseases, followed by shrub (18%) and twiner (6%).

Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Trichosanthes tricuspidata: An updated review

Herbal medicines, the backbone of traditional medicine in many countries have played an important role in curing the various diseases of humans and animals since ancient time. Medicinal plants are great source of bioactive compounds that have potential beneficial effects in human life. Electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, books and other sources were searched using subject specific key words that were matched by Trichosanthes tricuspidata medicinal plant related useful information on botanical description, plant distribution, ethanobotanical & therapeutic uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activity etc. Trichosanthes tricuspidata have many medicinal properties like antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, Larvicidal activity, Anticonvulsant activity, Gastro protective activity and other activities. The Bioactive compounds of Trichosanthes tricuspidata responsible for its various medicinal properties and their effects at the molecular level need to be investigated in more detail. The present review summarizes the Ethnobotanical & therapeutic uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activity information of Trichosanthes tricuspidata. The pharmacological properties of bioactive compounds in Trichosanthes tricuspidata are required to confirm the ethno medicinal or traditional claims of Trichosanthes tricuspidata for pharmaceutical therapeutic applications.

Preliminary Quantification of Phytochemicals in Methanolic Extract of Rosmarinus officinalis L Using HPTLC

Rosmarinus officinalis L. commonly known as Rosemary belong to the family Lamiaceae. It is an aromatic herb which is hardy, dense and evergreen in natural habitat. It is one of the medicinal plants which is cultivated around the world for its medicinal, therapeutic purpose and is used as condiment and food preservative. It is one of the oldest Mediterranean shrub having strong, pungent aroma having dark green and elongated leaves with white or purple flowers. It is a perennial herb reaching 100 to 210 cm in height having pointed and hairy, resinous dark green leaves with lower white surface. The present study review about macroscopical/botanical description of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and its methanolic extraction analysis for preliminary quantification of chemical constituents by visualizing TLC plate under different wavelength of UV light i.e., 255nm, 366nm and 566nm to get chromatograph by HPTLC.

The status of the Dactylorhiza incarnata populations in the Kalba Altai, Kazakhstan

Danilova AN, Sumbembayev AA. 2021. The status of the Dactylorhiza incarnata populations in the Kalba Altai, Kazakhstan. Biodiversitas 22: 3180-3195. The article provides a botanical description of the current state of populations of threatened species Dactylorhiza incarnata (L.) Soo in the Kalba. The ecological analysis of the flora, the ecological optimum of the species, the vitality of plant communities, and the degree of anthropogenic load are presented in the research. On the basis of field surveys, four main populations were identified in 13 typical plant communities. Flora of plant communities of D. incarnata on the Kalba Ridge includes 117 species belonging to 30 families and 80 genera. The ecological optimum of D. incarnata can be spotted on the southeastern slopes with diffused lighting and moderate wind impact. The plant communities with optimal conditions are Filipendulo-Sanguisorbo-Thalictrosum and Carexoto-Equiseto-Filipendulo-Festucosum characterized by highly humid meadows and forest edges with low density and competition. Self-maintenance and reproduction of the species are fulfilled mainly by seeds, less often by vegetative reproduction of the finger root. Due to analysis of the age composition of populations and the dynamics and stability of plant communities the recovery index is within the optimum. Typical indicator species are Thalictrum simplex L., Salix viminalis L., Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim., Sanguisorba officinalis L., Geranium pratense L., Festuca pratensis Huds.

PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY OF HOLMSKIOLDIA SANGUINEA RETZ.: A REVIEW

Holmskioldia sanguinea Retz. is a Sub-Himalayan plant that has been cultivated in the Americas, Europe, Indo-china, Asia-Pacific, and Southern Africa. It has been used traditionally to treat rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, dysentery, headaches, hypertension, boils, blain, ulcers, and gynaecological problems, as well as a blood purifying concoction. The botanical description of the plant, its phytochemical constituents, and its pharmacological activities are discussed, with an emphasis on antibacterial, antihepatotoxic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, central nervous system depressant, diuretic, oestrogenic, anti-implantation, and anticancer properties. Most pharmacological effects are a result of plant constituents such as alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides and phenols, to name a few. Conventional wisdom should be confirmed through in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials. Herb's anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties have generated significant interest.

Pedalium murex L.: Potential genetic resource for herbal medicine and mucilage

Pedalium murex (Pedaliaceae), commonly known as large caltrops in English and bada gokharu in Hindi is an underutilized mucilaginous medicinal herb having multiple uses in traditional system of medicine. It is mainly used to cure reproductive disorders, like impotency in men, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhoea as well as leucorrhoea in women. It is also useful in the treatment of urinary and gastrointestinal tract disorders. The present paper deals with botanical identity, vernacular names, ecology, environmental requirement and growth conditions, origin and geographical distribution, morphological/botanical description, propagation and cultivation, usages as a source of food, mucilage, medicine and biodiesel, important Ayurvedic formulations, phytochemical and pharmacological profile, future prospect.