Die NaturwissenschaftenAmna Bibi, Sheikh Zain Ul Abidin, Salman Majeed, Raees Khan, Iman Zaffar, Shehla Nawaz, Naimat Ullah, Khuzin Dinislam
In the present study, quantitative ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants utilized by the local communities for treating different human ailments in selected rural villages of Punjab, Pakistan has been documented. Semi-structured interviews and field surveys were employed to conduct field investigations from March 2024 to April 2025, with a total of 105 informants aged 18-70 years. The total number of plant species recorded and reported for the cure of 14 human ailments was 50 belonging to 25 families. Fabaceae was the dominant family with 6 species, among the documented families. The most abundant life form was herbs (26 species) and the most common part used was leaves (16 species). The highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC = 0.34) was found in Bombax ceiba, Cenchrus echinatus and Sonchus oleraceus. Spinacia oleracea had the highest Use Value (UV = 0.08) while the lowest UV was 0.03. Mentha canadensis recorded the highest Fidelity Level (FL = 93%) for the treatment of hyperacidity and diarrhea whereas Azadirachta indica recorded the lowest FL (69%) in the treatment of scabies and pimples. Three species recorded the highest FC (36) while three other species recorded the lowest FC (24). The results showed a high diversity of medicinal plants in the study area and significant traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. There were not enough up-to-date health care facilities in rural areas, so local residents heavily depended on the use of medicinal plants for basic health care. The study emphasized the need to maintain the knowledge of the indigenous people and conserve medicinal plants resources for sustainable use and future exploration in medicine.
Secondary metabolites derived from medicinal plants represent a critical resource for drug discovery and play an indispensable role in the prevention and treatment of major human diseases. Spatial metabolomics has emerged as a transformative approach that overcomes the inherent limitations of traditional metabolomics, particularly tissue homogenisation, by enabling precise, in situ profiling of the spatial heterogeneity and dynamic accumulation of key bioactive compounds. When integrated with complementary technologies such as spatial multi-omics (SMO), single-cell analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted imaging, this paradigm provides a powerful framework for deciphering the spatiotemporal regulatory networks that govern secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This review systematically compares conventional and spatial metabolomics, synthesises recent advances in medicinal plant research, critically evaluates current technical challenges and optimisation strategies, and outlines future directions enabled by multi-omics integration and intelligent computational analytics. Collectively, these insights aim to establish a theoretical foundation for the in-depth investigation of medicinal plants and to support their translational application and industrial advancement.
Oxidative stress, described as an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant systems, has an important pathogenic role in many chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and neurodegeneration. This narrative review investigates the effect of common herbal medicines and functional foods in oxidative stress, based on available experimental and clinical data. Curcuma longa, Emblica officinalis, Zingiber officinale, berries, and leafy vegetables, which contain bioactive molecules like polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids, have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through activation of Nrf2 and NF-κB signalling pathways. The important findings from this review suggest that curcumin and gingerol possess anticancer properties via the regulation of p53, MAPK, and ROS-JNK pathways, which induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, these bioactive compounds improve mitochondrial dysfunction and redox status in cardiovascular diseases. Bacosides and withanolides can be used for neuroprotection by preventing oxidative injury and protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. The antioxidant-rich herbs and functional foods may have promising roles in oxidative stress-related disorders as preventative and supportive treatment options; however, further research is needed to establish their efficacy and safety in patients.
Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical SciencesPooja Govindaraj, N Sasikaladevi
BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries for their beneficial properties and significant impact on traditional medical systems worldwide. Indian medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties have recently gained increased attention from the global healthcare community. Accurate identification and classification of medicinal plants ensure proper therapeutic applications. However, botanists manually identify these plants, which is subjective, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to develop an accurate and automated classification of these medicinal plants for diverse applications such as conservation initiatives, quality assurance, and the formulation of novel herbal treatments. METHODS: A Deep Fused Explainable Neural Architecture termed MedPlantNet is proposed for robust recognition of medicinal plant leaves. The deep discriminative features are extracted from the medicinal plant images using a fine-tuned Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN). A customized Support Vector Machine is developed to efficiently classify these extracted deep features. To enhance model interpretability, a meta-visualization framework incorporating Grad-CAM and Occlusion Sensitivity visualization is implemented to identify the regions of the image that contribute to the classification decisions. We utilized the Mendeley benchmark Medicinal plant leaf database with 30 classes to train and evaluate the model. RESULTS: To assess the effectiveness of the proposed model, accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and AUC are calculated. The proposed system outperforms existing state-of-the-art (SOTA) algorithms for medicinal plant classification, achieving an optimal maximum validation accuracy of 99.87% and AUC of 1. To further validate the generalizability external validation was performed on Bangladeshi medicinal plant dataset and MedLeaves dataset where the proposed model MedPlantNet attained 99.27% and 99.80% validation accuracy respectively. CONCLUSION: MedPlantNet provides an automatic framework for medicinal plant identification based on deep feature extraction, classification and explainable visualization techniques. The results obtained indicate its potential utility in supporting biodiversity conservation, quality assurance and herbal medicine research.
Veterinary medicine and scienceGebremedhin Gebrezgabiher, Desalegn Meresa
BACKGROUND: Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) remains central to livestock health management in Afar region of Ethiopia. However, this Indigenous knowledge is increasingly threatened by environmental degradation and socio-cultural transformation. This study aimed to document medicinal plants used by pastoralists in the Megale district, Afar region, Ethiopia. METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and field observations involving 13 key informants. Medicinal plant specimens were collected and identified, and their nomenclature was verified using Plants of the World Online following the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification system. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL) and relative importance (RI). RESULTS: Twenty-seven medicinal plant species belonging to 14 families were documented. Euphorbiaceae (35.71%) and Fabaceae (28.57%) were the most represented families. Leaves were the most frequently utilized plant part (54.55%), and crushing was the predominant preparation method (61.77%). Dermal and oral routes accounted for over 70% of administrations. Wound management involved the highest number of plant species (20%), whereas musculoskeletal disorders showed the highest informant consensus (ICF = 0.67). Balanites rotundifolia (RI = 0.88) and Calotropis procera (RI = 0.78) were the most culturally important species. CONCLUSION: Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants remain integral to livestock healthcare in Megale district. High cultural consensus highlights key species priorities for conservation and future pharmacological investigation. The concentration of knowledge among elderly informants underscores the urgency of documentation, conservation and integration into community-based veterinary services.
Drug design, development and therapyAdjeng Pratiwi Djatmiko, Anis Yohana Chaerunisaa, Miski Aghnia Khairinisa, Alfi Khatib, Muhaimin Muhaimin
The Anak Dalam tribe, popularly known as Suku Anak Dalam (SAD), is an indigenous community in the Jambi Province of Indonesia. The traditional knowledge within this group is deeply intertwined with forest resources, particularly regarding medicinal plants utilized for wound healing. Significantly, diabetic wounds are a severe complication of diabetes mellitus. These wounds are typically characterized by delayed healing processes, high susceptibility to infection, and an elevated risk of amputation. Accordingly, this review summarizes medicinal plants traditionally employed by the Anak Dalam community for various wound-related conditions. Beyond simple documentation, the study evaluates the potential relevance of these species as candidate sources for diabetic wound-healing research. In this study, a narrative literature review was conducted utilizing databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, covering publications released between 2015 and 2025. Altogether, 40 medicinal plants were examined. Specifically, several species (ie, Anredera cordifolia, Centella asiatica, Psidium guajava, and Piper betle) demonstrated pharmacological activities directly relevant to wound-healing processes. The primary phytochemical constituents identified across these studies are flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Crucially, these compounds are reported to exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Furthermore, these substances support vital biological processes associated with tissue repair, such as fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization. Most existing evidence, however, is derived from in vitro assays, animal models, or indirect pharmacological investigations. Therefore, the findings of this review should be viewed as a basis for generating potential candidates rather than as definitive proof of established clinical efficacy. This review highlights the necessity of integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with rigorous pharmacological validation. Ultimately, such integration is essential to support future research into evidence-based herbal approaches for the management of diabetic wounds.
Die NaturwissenschaftenSalman Majeed, Muhammad Zafar, Sayyara Ibadullayeva, Nahaa M Alotaibi, Sheikh Zain Ul Abidin, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Sumreen Dawood, Khuzin Dinislam, Adnan Amin
In the desert areas with indigenous communities, they have a rich array of traditional knowledge regarding the usage of medicinal plants and this has become a major form of their primary health care practices. This broad ethnobotanical strategy in the desert ecosystems and the exploration revealed indigenous knowledge, sustainable resource use, and community well-being can be enhanced through the adoption of the traditions of healing. The data collection of the medicinal plants were conducted from Thal desert using semi-structured interviews, guided field interviews, direct observation, focus group discussions, and surveys, between spring and monsoon 2022.The analysis was done in terms of qualitative as well as quantitative indices; Use value (UV), Relative Frequency of citation (RFC) and Cultural Value Index (CVI). An extensive survey documented about 111 plant species of 26 families, of which Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae, were mostly represented, which were typical practices found in Thal desert. Among others, it is worth noting that Tribulus terrestris, Tecomella undulata, and Tamarix aphylla were the most commonly used plants. The most used part of plants was leaves and herbal preparation of traditional remedies mainly the raw, powder and paste application form. In the quantitative analysis, Ziziphus nummularia was found to have the highest RFC value (0.52), while Iphione grantioides had the least RFC value (0.05),The survey uses quantitative ethnobotanical measures, such as the UV, RFC and CVI importance indices to measure and record the indigenous knowledge in a systematic manner in the context of primary health care. Folk tradition in the primary health care practices with an ethnomedical approach to the Thal desert is not only an improved way of improving the well-being of the community, but also an indication of a need to use resources in a sustainable manner.
International journal of molecular sciencesMarta Wojtyś, Ewa Beata Górska, Ewa Osińska, Wojciech Stępień, Dariusz Gozdowski, Barbara Gworek, Angela Cunha, Isabel Natalia Sierra Garcia, Marek Kondras, Ed…
Medicinal plants are rich sources of bioactive secondary metabolites, yet their long-term effects on the rhizosphere (RS) microbial communities remain poorly understood, particularly with respect to microbial selection and functional potential. This study evaluated the number of selected groups of microorganisms culturable in vitro in the RS and bulk soil (BS) within 10-year monocultures of 11 medicinal plant species, and as a targeted case study, we performed shotgun metagenomic profiling for Allium ursinum. The abundance of microorganisms differed markedly among plant species, indicating species-specific RS selection. Azotobacter spp. showed the strongest variation: they were not detected in the RS of Allium ursinum, Thymus vulgaris, and Carum carvi, whereas higher counts were observed under Artemisia dracunculus (135.1 × 102 CFU g-1 DM), Melissa officinalis (67.1 × 102 CFU g-1 DM) and Calendula officinalis (38.8× 102 CFU g-1 DM). Azotobacter spp. may serve as a sensitive candidate indicator of RS imbalance. Metagenomic analysis of the A. ursinum-associated soil revealed fine-scale taxonomic restructuring, while major functional categories remained broadly similar between the RS and BS. The novelty of this study lies in the development of the Integrated Microbiological Health Soil Index (IMHSI) and the proposal of a Nitrogen Enrichment Index (NEI) as exploratory composite metrics that integrate selected functional microbial groups.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)Shengying Lin, Roy Wai-Lun Tang, Ran Duan, Ka Wing Leung, Tina Ting-Xia Dong, Karl Wah-Keung Tsim
Stilbene-type compounds are vital plant secondary metabolites that are classified under polyphenols and generally exhibit significant biological activities, as well as potential health benefits. These compounds, prevalent in food sources and medicinal plants, are recognized for their complex structures and their roles in plant defense mechanisms against environmental stressors. Despite their beneficial properties, the natural stilbenes face limitations related to their bioavailability and solubility, highlighting the need for chemical modifications to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Studies have focused on structural modifications of the stilbene scaffold, including the introduction of carbon-based fragments, aiming to improve the compounds' stability, selectivity, and overall biological activities. The development of stilbene analogues through chemical modifications not only expands the library of valuable stilbene-type compounds but also holds promise for new therapeutic applications in combating chronic diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge on the sources, biological activities, and chemical modifications of stilbene compounds, emphasizing their potential in healthcare and nutrition.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)Yuanyuan Li, Nana Feng, Di Yang, Qian Zhang, Xinyan Zhao, Xing Yang, Qingya Yu, Zhaotong Cong, Tingting Kuang, Ce Tang, Yi Zhang
Bitter phytochemicals, including alkaloids, terpenoids, and bitter glycosides, are abundant in medicinal food plants and exhibit well-documented anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and other bioactivities relevant to human health. However, the inherent bitterness of these compounds presents a significant sensory barrier to patient compliance and limits their application as functional food ingredients. This review provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary synthesis of current knowledge on bitter compounds in medicinal food plants, integrating perspectives from phytochemistry, molecular pharmacology, and sensory science. We summarize the major chemical classes of bitter phytochemicals, critically evaluate methods for their isolation and identification-from classical sensory-guided fractionation to modern computational approaches such as molecular docking and metabolomics-and analyze three principal strategies for bitterness regulation: physical removal, biological transformation, and sensory modulation (including molecular inclusion and TAS2R receptor blocking). We also briefly touch upon the extraoral expression of TAS2Rs and there suggested links to local immune responses and metabolic regulation, noting that this may be relevant to the concept of "taste-bioactivity homology." The review further highlights ongoing challenges, such as the identification of unknown bitter compounds and the lack of standardized sensory evaluation systems, and outlines possible directions for improving bitterness analysis and regulation in medicinal food plants.
Journal of natural medicinesYoshitomi Kudo, Rina Hashimoto, Rajnee Hasan, Connor Pedersen, Hirokazu Ando, Kelly Kindscher, Yohei Sasaki, Toshihiro Obata
Native Americans have historically used roots, shoots, and seeds of Lomatium species for various dietary and medicinal purposes. Lomatium foeniculaceum is a perennial parsley or biscuitroot species endemic to the Great Plains and western U.S. Its seeds are reported to be used as a "love medicine," a unique use compared to other Lomatium species, which are primarily used as a root food and for broad health improvement. We harvested L. foeniculaceum plants from their natural habitat throughout the year and analyzed tissue and seasonal variations in their chemical composition to elucidate the relationship between traditional usage and the plant's metabolism and time of year, and how this might relate to its traditional usage. This species grew vegetatively from March to May and flowered in May and June. The aerial tissues senesced in July, and the root remained dormant from July to March. Leaves and flowers contained significantly higher levels of metabolites than roots. We detected two major essential oil constituents, (E)- and (Z)-ligustilide, and the furanocoumarin, bergapten, at high levels in leaves and flowers. L. foeniculaceum is an uncommon species accumulating less-stable E-form at higher concentrations than the Z-form. This characteristic essential oil composition is probably related to the fragrance of flowers and seeds. On the other hand, the roots of this species contained lower levels of bioactive compounds and nutrients, which, coupled with their toughness and stringiness, make them less desirable as food than those of other Lomatium species.
Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)Luísa Dos Santos Conceição, Sanket Prakash Vanare, Ronald Bruce Pegg, Deborah Murowaniecki Otero
Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem.& Schult.) T.D. Penn, also popularly known as 'quixabeira', is a medicinal species characterized by thorny deciduous vegetation, a short trunk, whitish flowers with a sweet aroma, glabrous leaves, and succulent fruits with seeds. The objectives of this review were to compile and evaluate the literature on quixabeira published over the last fifteen years and to explore the potential applications of each part of the tree. The results of these studies are promising. Studies have shown that the chemical composition of S. obtusifolium extracts varies depending on the plant part and the solvent used, with maceration and immersion being the most common techniques, especially for leaves. Methanol and ethanol are the most commonly used solvents to identify compounds such as phenolics, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and glycolipids. The biological activity of the polyphenols present in the leaf extracts demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antinociceptive, and antimicrobial properties in vitro. In the fruits, extraction is still limited. However, it allows for the identification of carotenoids (47.21 μg/g of β-carotene), flavonoids (55.99 mg of quercetin/100 g), and anthocyanins (58.68 mg/100 g), all of which have nutritional and technological potential. Ethnopharmacological studies indicate that the species is recognized by rural communities, which utilize various parts of the plant for food, medicinal, veterinary, technological, and construction purposes. However, further studies on physicochemical, nutritional, toxicological, and pharmacological composition are needed to ensure safety and validate its biological properties.
Drug design, development and therapyEti Apriyanti, Dikdik Kurnia, Jamaludin Al-Anshori, Akiko Takaya
Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav. (Piperaceae), commonly known as red betel, is a medicinal plant widely used in Southeast Asian traditional medicine and has attracted increasing interest due to its diverse pharmacological properties. However, the relationship between its phytochemical constituents, biological activities, molecular mechanisms, and drug discovery potential remains insufficiently integrated. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided review aimed to summarize the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of P. crocatum and evaluate their relevance as potential lead structures for drug development. Literature published between 2000 and 2026 was retrieved from Scopus and PubMed. A total of 180 records were identified, and 102 eligible original studies reporting phytochemical and/or biological investigations of P. crocatum were included in the final analysis. Forty compounds have been reported from P. crocatum, including phenolic compounds, neolignans, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phytosterols. These constituents are associated with antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities. Mechanistic evidence suggests that these effects involve modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, microbial sterol biosynthesis, biofilm-related proteins, and metabolic enzymes such as α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Among the reported compounds, pachypodol, crocatin derivatives, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol show promising pharmacological profiles and may serve as lead structures for further development. Overall, the chemical diversity and multitarget activities of P. crocatum support its potential as a source of drug discovery candidates. Future studies should prioritize bioassay-guided isolation, molecular target validation, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and structure-activity relationship analysis.
International journal of molecular sciencesChikondi Maluwa, Blecious Zinan'dala, Hataichanok Chuljerm, Wason Parklak, Kanokwan Kulprachakarn
Ocimum species (family Lamiaceae) are among the most extensively utilized medicinal plants across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet their pharmacological evidence base has not been comprehensively synthesized within an LMIC healthcare framework. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a prospectively registered protocol (PROSPERO). Five electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were searched from January 2010 to December 2025. Studies reporting ethnobotanical, phytochemical, or pharmacological data on any Ocimum species were eligible. The study selection, quality assessment and data extraction were done by two independent reviewers utilizing Rayyan software. Findings were synthesized using a narrative approach. Ninety-seven studies were included. O. basilicum, O. tenuiflorum, and O. gratissimum were most studied. Key bioactive constituents rosmarinic acid, eugenol, linalool, β-caryophyllene, and ursolic acid, demonstrated consistent antimicrobial [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.31-1.25 mg/mL], antioxidant [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) IC50: 12.5-89.3 µg/mL], anti-inflammatory (35-55% edema reduction), and antidiabetic (α-glucosidase IC50: 0.3-1.5 mg/mL) activities. Larvicidal efficacy exceeding 90% against Anopheles spp. was demonstrated in field trials. The safety profile was broadly favorable (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg). Ocimum species represent a pharmacologically credible and preclinically well-supported botanical resource with practical relevance for LMIC health systems, particularly in antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and vector-control applications. To realize their therapeutic potential, future research must prioritize LMIC-contextualized randomized controlled trials, standardized phytochemical reporting, and chemotype-aware product development.
Postepy biochemiiAnastazja Woźniczka, Wiktor Pełka, Aleksandra Tarasiuk-Zawadzka, Jakub Fichna
Phytotherapy relies on biologically active plant-derived compounds and preparations. The use of phytotherapeutics in treatment of diabetes consequently increases. Many plant extracts interact with key elements of glucose metabolism, e.g. through modulation of DPP-4 activity, increase in glucose intake by tissues and improvement of pancreatic beta-cells. Experimental data indicates that Hairy Rock-rose, tea plant, European olive, American ginseng, berberis or white mulberry can support glycemic control and limit the development of metabolic side effects. Despite vast literature data, the clinical efficacy of several phytotherapeutics remains ambiguous, what indicates the need to conduct further research, in particular well-designed clinical studies. Here we review plants with therapeutic potential, whose use in the treatment of diabetes has been confirmed by experimental in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies; promising directions in future studies on phytotherapeutics have also been indicated.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVEZihan Li, Zhiqi Liu, Liqi Feng, Qi Zheng, Tao Zhou, Binjie Xu, Yuntong Ma, Yuan Pan
Anisodus tanguticus is an important Tibetan medicinal plant. The tropane alkaloids (TAs), such as hyoscyamine, anisodamine, and scopolamine, exhibit significant analgesic and sedative pharmacological activities, making this species a valuable natural source for extracting these bioactive compounds. However, the chemical composition of A. tanguticus is highly complex. It includes a large number of compounds without elucidated structures, rendering systematic identification and structural characterization of its active constituents particularly important. Although high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been widely used for the separation of extracts from this plant, many unknown components remain challenging to accurately identify, even with spectral database matching. This study established an analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-QQQ-MS) for the determination of tropane alkaloids in A. tanguticus. The method encompasses a series of systematic procedures, including standardized sample preparation, mass spectrometric parameter configuration, LC pre-equilibration, method establishment, acquisition of MS data, multistage mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) scanning, and manual data interpretation. Using this strategy, we successfully identified three representative tropane alkaloids in A. tanguticus: hyoscyamine, anisodamine, and scopolamine. Additionally, it validates the precision of the established HPLC-QQQ-MS method, confirming that the method is rapid, sensitive, feasible, and accurate for the quantitative determination of tropane alkaloids (TAs) in A. tanguticus. The established approach demonstrates good versatility and reliability, and is suitable for the high-throughput identification and quantification of tropane alkaloids in A. tanguticus and other medicinal plants.
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medicaYa-Lin Ye, Meng-Yue Zhang, Lu-Ying Song, Cheng-Yu Zhang, Hui-Juan Yu, Xin Chai, Yue-Fei Wang
A systematic chemical characterization of Bidens pilosa var. radiata was performed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS). A quantitative method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector(UPLC-PDA) was established for phenolic acids and flavonoids, and the impacts of growth stage, geographical environment, and medicinal parts on chemical constituents of B. pilosa var. radiata were comprehensively investigated. This study revealed for the first time its multi-dimensional dynamic variation patterns across harvest time, geographical origin, and medicinal parts. A total of 48 chemical constituents were identified, predominantly flavonoids and phenolic acids. The established UPLC-PDA method achieved accurate quantification of 10 major compounds, including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and hyperoside. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the active ingredients of B. pilosa var. radiata showed significant time-dependent accumulation, with August identified as the optimal harvesting period for samples from Guangxi. The quality of B. pilosa var. radiata varied markedly across regions, with Guangxi specimens exhibiting balanced and higher constituent levels and thus being qualified as premium medicinal references. Climatic conditions significantly influenced component accumulation, with high temperature, humidity, and moderate sunlight in Guangxi favoring flavonoid and phenolic acid biosynthesis. Distinct tissue-specific distribution patterns of phenolic acids and flavonoids were observed, with content levels following the order of leaves > flowers > stems. Furthermore, principal component analysis(PCA) was employed for unsupervised pattern recognition of 14 batches of Bidens medicinal materials to characterize their distribution patterns, while supervised orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) was applied to differentiate samples from different botanical origins. Isochlorogenic acid A, chlorogenic acid, and isochlorogenic acid B were identified as potential differential components. By establishing a chemometric quality evaluation system based on multi-component analysis, this study systematically elucidated the dynamic variation patterns of chemical constituents in B. pilosa var. radiata, providing a scientific foundation for rational quality standards development, medicinal part optimization, origin suitability assessment, and germplasm resource utilization.
The increasing prevalence of male infertility in animals has become a global concern. Recently, the use of herbal medicinal plants to enhance spermatozoa production has attracted increased interest. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the results of available studies on these medicinal plants and determine the effectiveness and safety of their use in improving the fertility of male animals. Medline/PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched for English articles published during 1983-2024 that contained a number of key terms, including animal fertility, animal reproductive, animal spermatogenesis, and medicinal plants. Finally, these studies included five different medicinal plants, namely, Allium sativum, Apium graveolens, Avena sativa, Lepidium sativum, and Spinacia oleracea, which have a clear effect on animal fertility and efficiency. A total of 127 studies were included, including 69 related to fertility and 58 related to phytochemicals, action mechanism, health benefits, and plant characteristics; in addition to 11 related to infertility were excluded. In conclusion, herbal plants are likely to be beneficial in increasing animal fertility due to their antioxidant function and lack of adverse effects.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in many low-and middle-income countries. In most of these countries, including Tanzania, medicinal plants (MPs) are primarily used to manage various ailments, though the majority are not yet documented. Therefore, this study is aimed at documenting MPs used by traditional healers (THs) in managing respiratory infections (RTIs) in the Kagera region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Bukoba, Misenyi and Karagwe districts of the Kagera region using interviews, a semistructured questionnaire and field excursions. Ethnobotanical information on MPs' local names, plant parts used, preparation methods, route of administration, and threats were documented. Twenty-eight plant species from 21 families were recorded, whereby Lamiaceae (14.3%) was the dominant family. Out of 28 MPs documented Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) had the highest relative frequency of citation (RFC) (0.56), followed by Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtaceae) and Citrus limon Osbeck (Rutaceae) (0.33 each). Informant consensus factor (ICF) for RTIs was 0.70. Trees (50%) and leaves (57.1%) were the most prevalent growth form and plant part used, respectively. Decoction (64%) was the most common method used to prepare remedies, and most remedies were administered orally (68%). Urbanisation (29%) and agricultural expansion (24%) reported to threaten MPs existence in the study areas. The findings from this study revealed that the local people from Kagera region are using MPs for management of RTIs, and THs have high level of agreements regarding the specific plant species to manage RTIs, which indicated by extensive knowledge of using them. Most of species reported have been proven to possess different bioactive compounds with pharmacological activities. Therefore, plants reported in this study are important candidate for further studies on their safety and toxicology. Moreover, following MP threats reported in this study, education on conservation initiatives is recommended to ensure their survival and sustainable utilisation.
BACKGROUND: About 80% of the population uses Ethiopian traditional herbal medicine (ETHM) for a variety of medical needs, making it a pillar of the country's healthcare system. The advantages and challenges of integrating ETHM with contemporary medicine in Ethiopia are summed up in this narrative review. METHODS: To explore the integration of ETHM with contemporary medical systems, we carried out a literature search in March 2025 while maintaining methodological transparency. Using a mix of keywords associated with ETHM, integration, obstacles, and pharmacological validation, we searched a number of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar. A total of 110 records were found in the first search. After duplicates were eliminated, and titles and abstracts were evaluated for relevancy, 65 items remained. After a thorough analysis of the remaining literature, we included 38 articles published between January 2015 and March 2025 that satisfied our predetermined inclusion criteria, which were centered on ETHM practices, integration with contemporary medicine, or Ethiopian regulatory frameworks. Studies and publications written in languages other than English that did not particularly discuss ETHM or its integration were excluded. We critically assessed each included study's relevance and trustworthiness based on elements like journal impact factor, authorship, and methodological rigor, even though our narrative evaluation did not employ a rigorous systematic quality assessment. RESULTS: A strong basis for integration is identified by our synthesis, which includes a large pharmacopeia of medicinal plants with encouraging preclinical evidence for conditions including diabetes and wound healing. However, progress is hampered by systemic problems. These include significant problems with product quality and adulteration, a dearth of clinical validation and safety data, a lack of a thorough regulatory framework, and a high degree of mistrust between traditional practitioners and contemporary scientific groups. CONCLUSION: In order to document and preserve indigenous knowledge, we advise the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) to immediately establish a dedicated directorate for traditional herbal medicine and to launch a national digital repository called "EthHerb."