Can Artemisia herba-alba Be Useful for Managing COVID-19 and Comorbidities?

The focus of this roadmap is to evaluate the possible efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) for the treatment of COVID-19 and some of its symptoms and several comorbidities using a combination of in silico (molecular docking) studies, reported ethnic uses, and pharmacological activity studies of this plant. In this exploratory study, we show that various phytochemicals from Artemisia herba-alba can be useful against COVID-19 (in silico studies) and for its associated comorbidities. COVID-19 is a new disease, so reports of any therapeutic treatments against it (traditional or conventional) are scanty. On the other hand, we demonstrate, using Artemisia herba-alba as an example, that through a proper search and identification of medicinal plant(s) and their phytochemicals identification using secondary data (published reports) on the plant’s ethnic uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities against COVID-19 comorbidities and symptoms coupled with the use of primary data obtained from in silico (molecular docking and molecular dynamics) studies on the binding of the selected plant’s phytochemicals (such as: rutin, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and schaftoside) with various vital components of SARS-CoV-2, it may be possible to rapidly identify plants that are suitable for further research regarding therapeutic use against COVID-19 and its associated symptoms and comorbidities.

Ethnolichenology—The Use of Lichens in the Himalayas and Southwestern Parts of China

Lichens are used in traditional medicine, food and various other ethnic uses by cultures across the Himalayas and southwestern parts of China. Evidence-based knowledge from historical and modern literatures and investigation of ethnic uses from 1990 proved that lichen species used as medicine in the Himalayas and southwestern parts of China totaled to 142 species; furthermore, 42 species were utilized as food. Moreover, some lichens are popularly used for lichen produce in ethnic and modern life. An understanding and clarification of the use of lichens in the Himalayas and southeastern parts of China can therefore be important for understanding uses of lichens elsewhere and a reference for additional research of lichen uses in the future.

Ethnobotany of Merpayang (Scaphium macropodum Miq.) Beumee K. Heyne as a Medicinal Plant on The Pengulu Ethnic Sarolangun Jambi

Merpayang fruit (Scaphium macropodum Miq.) Beumee Ex K Heyne has long been known to have medicinal properties, one of them the Pengulu ethnic. The research aimed was to analyze the ethnobotany of merpayang utilization in the Pengulu ethnic community of Jambi. The method used in this study was qualitative. Data collection used direct interviews with informants of Pengulu ethnic community with selected by snowball sampling. Data analysis was carried out by cross checking, summarizing, synthesizing, and narrating with descriptive analysis and evaluation. The results of study showed that the Pengulu ethnic uses merpayang for traditional medicines, including heartburn, fever, laxative, hemorrhoid/Ambien, coughing, and itching. In addition to the fruit, the Pengulu ethnic uses other parts of merpayang plant, such as sap, tree skin, roots as medicines. Keywords: ethnobotany, medicinal plant, merpayang, Sarolangun

Ethnic uses of Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) in Mithila (north Bihar) and other parts of India

The paper provides a report on the ethnic uses of Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) in different parts of India including Mithila area of North Bihar that is known for being a site of its organized cultivation over centuries. In major parts of northern India E. ferox is available in wild or semi-wild forms. A survey on the ethnic uses of Makhana in Mithila and other parts of India has revealed its about a dozen distinct uses. These include its specific association with (i) ‘Kojaagaraa’ (a marital ritual) (ii) ‘Parikramaa’ (for maintaining counts during ritualistic circumambulation around a temple or tree) (iii) ‘Shraaddha Karma’ (last Hindu rites) (iv) Devotional offering to deities or distinguished persons in the form of non-flower garlands (v) ‘Prasaad’ (edible offering to deities) (vi) Sacred thread ‘Yajnopaveet’ as stiffening item (vii) ‘Makhaan Paagal’ i.e., caramelised pops (during Navratri and other festivals). It is used as a ‘Havan Saamagri’ and as a component of ‘Panchamevaa’ (i.e., five auspicious dry fruits). ‘Ghunes’, a head gear ceremonially worn by the bridegroom on the occasion of wedding has streams of Makhana pops hanging downward. This practice is observed by the Srotriyas in this area. The paper further incorporates its other traditional and modern uses mostly in the form of culinary preparations. These are also in practice in other areas of the country and abroad in the form of (i) 2 forms of snacks (ii) Dessert (iii) Sweetened Makhana (iv) Porridge (v) Dal Makhani (vi) Makhana Kofta and (vii) Makhana Dum Aloo.

DYE-YIELDING ARBOREAL SPECIES OF SEHORE DISTRICT OF MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Dye-yielding arboreal species of Sehore district, of Madhya Pradesh (India) is very rich in biodiversity as well in forest cover. The study is based on extensive survey, information and specimen collection and review of concerned relevant literature. The indigenous or local people of this area use different colours obtained from plants for variety of purposes . The study will help to assess the availability of dye-yielding plants in Sehore district and their ethnic uses. It will also help in understanding the socio-cultural and socio-economic life of the rural folks, help in preservation of this wealth of traditional knowledge and conservation of biodiversity at large. During survey work maximum numbers of species belonging to leguminoceae were observed.

BRYOPHYTES, THE IGNORED MEDICINAL HERBALS OF THE BIOLOGICAL WORLD - A SEARCH AT NEYYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TRIVANDRUM, KERALA

Currently, the medicinal potential of bryophytes has received immense value in pharmaceutical industries and many phytochemicals have been isolated, characterized from this group. Native North Americans and Chinese are in forefront in bryological research compared to India. Traditional and ethnic uses of Indian bryophytes with description and illustration were seen in Hortus Malabaricus. Information about the medicinal use of bryophytes in terms of microbicidal, anti-inflammatory and antitumour are traced in developed countries. Despite, the long history of medicinal bryophytes used by tribal and local peoples their significant utilization in medicines is still scanty. Present report is an attempt to create awareness about this group of plants from Neyyar Wild Life sanctuary, Trivandrum, Kerala.

Physicochemical, phytochemical and antibacterial studies of few medicinal plants of Visakhapatnam region against bacterial clinical isolates

The present study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical studies, antimicrobial studies on sixteen medicinal plants collected in and around regions of Visakhapatnam district using methanol as a solvent. Phytochemical screening revealed that methanolic extracts, contained, steroids, alkaloids, phenol, flavonoids, polyphenols and glycosides. The physicochemical parameters like ash and extractive values were determined. The highest percentage of total ash, was found in Catharanathus roseus. The extractive values can be used as a reliable aid for detecting quality of drug adulteration. Antimicrobial efficiency of studies plants was tested against four bacterial clinical pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris. The diameter of zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured and it was found that C. roseus showed maximum zone of inhibition against gram+ve S. aureus and minimum zone of inhibition against gram–ve E. coli. Also the zone of inhibition was increased on increasing concentration. Results observed in the present study help to distinguish the plant extracts from its adulterants and quality and it may be indicative of the methanol extracts of studied plants could be a possible source to obtain new and effective herbal medicines to treat infections, which justify the ethnic uses of C. roseus against various infectious diseases apart from its anticancer properties.