Academic literature on the topic 'Ethnopharmacy study'

ABSTRACT Background: Indonesia consists of various ethnics on each island, one of which is Suku Anak Dalam (SAD) precisely on Sumatra island of Jambi Province. Each ethnic group has a variety of natural and traditional remedies. This observation was conducted from November 2017 to February 2018 in Muara Kilis Village, Tengah Ilir District, Tebo District, Jambi Province.This research purpose to determined of various disease and know the various natural resources that are used as a treatmenton Suku Anak Dalam at Muara Kilis. Method: This research type is descriptive research using qualitative method and purposive sampling for sampling technique and open-ended interview with informant using voice recording media. Results: The disease are often experienced by Suku Anak Dalam among others fever, cough, asthma, measles, gastritis, hemorrhoids, stomachaches, and allergy. To treat the disease by utilizing natural resources like plants and animals. Part of the plants used among others, leaves, sap, and fruit, while for animal parts used are bile, urine, and blood. Processing methods are pounded, boiled, grated, and fried, while the use of these ingredients by eating, drinking, bathed, and applied directly on part of sickness skin Conclusion: Based on the results that has been done there are 8 diseases that often occur and there are 5 kinds of plants and 4 animals from different genus and family that are used as traditional medicine in Suku Anak Dalam Muara Kilis Village. Keywords: (Ethnopharmacy, Suku Anak Dalam, Diseases, Natural Resources)

(1) Medicinal use of bryophytes dates to ancient times, but it has always been marginal due to their small size, difficult identification, lack of conspicuous organs which would attract attention (flowers, fruits) and insipid taste of the herb. The earliest testimonies of their medical use come from the 1500s. The interest in medicinal bryophytes diminished considerably in the 1880s, except for Sphagnum spp., which became a source of dressing material. The second half of the 20th century saw the revival of the study of bryophyte chemistry. (2) Historical printed sources from 1616 to 1889 were queried. Bryophyte species found were taxonomically identified and presented against the background of their confirmed properties and ecology. The study was supplemented with historical vs. modern ethnomedicinal data. (3) In 26 publications, 28 species were identified. Modern usage was known for 10 of them. Medicinal properties of 16 species were confirmed. (4) Species of wide geographical distribution range were (or are still being) used in local folk medicines. Historical ethnobiological and ethnopharmaceutical uses of them are sometimes convergent with their confirmed properties, mostly external (as antimicrobial or cytotoxic remedies).

Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) infection is often associated with thrombocytopenia. Megakaryocytes may be one of the major sites of hCMV infection, then inducing this cell apoptosis. Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) is an important ingredient of many commonly used herbal Medicine for promoting blood production. Our previous study has showed that the hematopoietic effect of Angelica Sinensis is related to its constituent, angelica polysaccharide (APS) (Yang M et al, J Ethnopharma, 2009). This present study investigated the anti-apoptotic effect of APS and TPO on hCMV-induced apoptosis in megakaryocytes. Human bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) or megakaryocytic cell line CHRF-288-11 and hCMV AD169 strain were co-cultured in this study. hCMV significantly inhibited the formation of CFU-MK as shown in three different concentrations of viral infection groups (103, 104 and 105 pfu/ml), compared with blank control and mock control (n=10, P<0.05). hCMV also significantly inhibited the growth of CHRF cells in these three different concentrations after incubation for 3 days, which compared with control group (n=10, P<0.01). hCMV DNA and mRNA were also positively detected in CHRF cells and the cells of CFU-MK with IS-PCR and RT-PCR respectively, while it was negative in blank and mock control groups. We further studied the effect of APS and TPO on CFU-MK formation. Results showed that APS (50 ug/ml) like TPO (50 ng/ml) enhanced hCMV-reduced CFU-MK (P=0.05, n=6). CHRF cells were also analyzed by Annexin V/PI with flow cytometry at day 3 after infection with hCMV AD169. The percentage of apoptotic cells in group of 103 pfu/ml was 19.0 ± 2.0%; The group of 104 pfu/ml was 23.0 ± 1.5%; The group of 105 pfu/ml was 28.0 ± 3.0%. The control group was 2.0 ± 0.5%. The apoptotic cells were confirmed by morphologic observation. In addition, apoptotic signals from megakaryocytic surface, cytoplasma and mitochondria were detected in hCMV infected cells by flow cytometry with Caspase-3 and JC-1 assay. Compared to mock infection control at day 5, Annexin-V positive cells population increased by 58%; active caspase-3 signal increased by 120% in viable cell population; and cell population with damaged mitochondial membrane showed a 5-times increase. Moreover, the anti-apoptotic effect of APS and TPO on CHRF cells was also demonstrated by using Annexin-V assay. Our studies showed that hCMV induces the apoptosis in megakaryocytes via mitochondrial and caspase-3 signaling, and angelica polysaccharide (APS) like TPO has a protective effect on hCMV-induced apoptosis in these cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Hispolon (HIS) is an active polyphenol compound derived from Phellinus linteus (Berkeley & Curtis), and our previous study showed that HIS effectively inhibited inflammatory responses in macrophages [Yang, L.Y., S.C. Shen, K.T. Cheng, G.V. Subbaraju, C.C. Chien and Y.C. Chen. Hispolon inhibition of inflammatory apoptosis through reduction of iNOS/NO production via HO-1 induction in macrophages. J. Ethnopharmacol. 156: 61–72, 2014]; however, its effect on neuronal inflammation is still undefined. In this study, HIS concentration- and time-dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS)/NO production with increased heme oxygenase (HO)-1 proteins in BV-2 microglial cells. Accordingly, HIS protected BV-2 cells from LPS- or LTA-induced apoptosis, characterized by decreased DNA ladder formation, and caspase-3 and poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein cleavage in BV-2 cells. Similarly, the NOS inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME), inhibited LPS- or LTA-induced apoptosis of BV-2 cells, but neither NAME nor HIS showed any inhibition of NO production or cell death induced by the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), indicating the involvement of NO in the inflammatory apoptosis of microglial cells. Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and nuclear factor (NF)-[Formula: see text]B contributed to LPS- or LTA-induced iNOS/NO production and apoptosis of BV-2 cells, and that was suppressed by HIS. Additionally, HIS possesses activity to induce HO-1 protein expression via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in BV-2 cells, and application of the HO inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), or knockdown of HO-1 protein by HO-1 small interfering (si)RNA significantly reversed HIS inhibition of NO production and cell death in BV-2 cells stimulated by LPS. Results of an analysis of the effects of HIS and two structurally related chemicals, i.e. dehydroxy-HIS (D-HIS) and HIS-methyl ester (HIS-ME), showed that HIS expressed the most potent inhibitory effects on iNOS/NO production, JNK activation, and apoptosis in BV-2 microglial cells activated by LPS with increased HO-1 protein expression. Overall these results suggested that HIS possesses inhibitory activity against LPS- or LTA-induced inflammatory responses including iNOS/NO production and apoptosis in BV-2 microglial cells and that the mechanisms involve upregulation of the HO-1 protein and downregulation of JNK/NF-[Formula: see text]B activation. A critical role of hydroxyl at position C3 in the anti-inflammatory actions of HIS against activated BV-2 microglial cells was suggested.

Abstract A herbal decoction (Danggui Buxue Tong, DBT) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula comprising Danggui (Radix Angelicae) and Huang Qi (Radix Astragali), which has been used for promotion of “blood production” for centuries and have shown favorable effects on thrombocytopenia. Previously, we have showed that it has significant effects on promoting hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis (Yang M et al. J Ethnopharmacol, 2009). Many chemical components have been identified in DBT. Among them is the polysaccharides fraction of Angelica sinensis and Radix Astragali. Our study has demonstrated that Angelica Polysaccharide (APS) promotes hematopoiesis and platelet recovery in a mouse model (Liu et al, BMC Complement Altern Med, 2010). In this present study, we further assess the effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide (ASPS) on hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in-vivo and in vitro. A myelosuppression mouse model (4-Gy-irradiated) was treated with ASPS (10 mg/kg/day) and TPO (1 mg/kg/day). Peripheral blood cells from ASPS, TPO and vehicle-treated samples were counted on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Using the colony-forming unit (CFU) assays, we determine the effects of ASPS on the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and megakaryocytic lineages. Analyses of Annexin V, Caspase-3, and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential were also conducted in HL-60 cells and megakaryocytic cell line M-07e. The effects of ASPS on cells treated with Ly294002, a PI3K inhibitor and the effect of ASPS on the phosphorylation of AKT were further studied. Results showed that ASPS, like TPO, significantly enhanced the recovery of WBC and platelet count, and bone marrow CFU-GM and CFU-MK formation (n=8) in this model. Morphological examination of bone marrows also showed that ASPS treatment significantly increased the recovery of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and megakaryocytic series. We further analyzed the in vitro effect of ASPS on CFU-MK and CFU-GM formation. ASPS (50-100 ug/ml) enhanced TPO (50 ng/ml) -induced CFU-MK (p=0.05, n=4), and CFU-GM formation (p=0.04, n=4). However, ASPS alone (1-500 ug/ml) did not show significant effect on CFU-MK and CFU-GM proliferation (n=4). Moreover, the anti-apoptotic effect of ASPS in HL-60 and M-07e cells were also demonstrated by using Annexin-V, Caspase-3, and JC-1 assays. Addition of Ly294002 alone increased the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis. However, additional of ASPS to Ly294002-treated cells reversed the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis. Furthermore, addition of ASPS significantly increased the phosphorylation of AKT. Here, we showed that ASPS, the polysaccharide from the root of Radix Astragali, has hematopoietic and thrombopoietic activities in a mouse model. This effect is likely to result from the stimulation of cell proliferation through the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, the activation of which prevents cells from undergoing apoptosis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng) Pedersen (Amaranthaceae) and other species in this genus, popularly known as “Brazilian ginseng,” have been marketed and used for many years in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases (1). In January 2012, samples of P. glomerata with leaf spots were collected in the city of Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two samples were deposited in the herbarium at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (VIC31849 and VIC31851). The diseased leaves were examined using a stereomicroscope (75×). The fungal structures were scraped with a scalpel from the plant surface and mounted in lactophenol. Thirty measurements of all of the relevant morphological characters were obtained using light microscopy for the identification of the species. To confirm the identification, fungal DNA from single-spore pure culture was isolated from the diseased leaves on PDA, and the DNA was amplified using primers ITS1 and ITS4 for the ITS region (GenBank Accession No. JQ990331) and LR0R and LR5 for partial 28S rDNA (Accession No. JQ990330). Sequencing was performed by Macrogen, Korea. The symptoms observed were leaf spots, subcircular, usually up to 6 mm diameter, initially yellowish becoming brown to reddish, margin indefinite, with the formation of fungal structures, hypophyllous, white, scattered, or grouped. Conidiophores were very numerous in dense subsynnematal fascicles, moderately brown at the base but for most of the length subhyaline, 42.5 to 350 × 2.5 to 3.5 μm, showing conidial scars. Conidia formed singly, 22.5 to 77.5 × 5 to 6 μm, hyaline, hilum slightly thickened, and refractive. These characteristics show that the fungus found on P. glomerata matched well with the description of Cercosporella pfaffiae (2). Koch's postulates were fulfilled by inoculation of 6-mm-diameter PDA plugs with the isolate mycelia on leaves of P. glomerata. Six plants were inoculated with the isolate and six plants were inoculated with an isolate-free agar plug. Inoculated plants were maintained in a moist chamber for 24 hours and subsequently in a greenhouse at 26°C. Leaf spot was observed in inoculated plants 15 days after inoculation, and symptoms were similar to those in the field. All non-inoculated plants remained healthy. A Megablast search of the NCBI GenBank nucleotide sequence database using the ITS sequence retrieved C. virgaureae as the closest match [GenBank GU214658; Identity = 458/476 (96%), Gaps = 2/476 (0%)]. To confirm the identification, Bayesian inference analyses were employed, and the tree was deposited in TreeBASE (Study S12680). The analysis placed our isolate in the same clade with the type species of Cercosporella. Molecular studies and morphological characteristics confirm our identification. C. pfaffiae has been previously reported in P. iresinoides (H.B.K.) Spreng. in Trinidad and Gomphrena glomerata L. in Argentina (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. pfaffiae causing disease in P. glomerata in Brazil and it may become a serious problem for some medicinal plant growers, due to the severity of the disease and the lack of chemical products for this pathogen. References: (1) Neto et al. J. Ethnopharmacol. 96:87, 2005. (2) U. Braun. A Monograph of Cercosporella, Ramularia and Allied Genera (Phytopathogenic Hyphomycetes). Eching bei Müchen, IHW-Verlage. Vol. 1, p. 68, 1995.

Tai būtų pirmasis etnofarmacinis tyrimas Lietuvoje, kuris tiria migruojančių bendruomenių liaudies mediciną bei jos pokyčius, susijusius su gyvenamosios vietos sąlygomis.
This is the first ethnopharmacy study in Lithuania, who researched migrant communities folk medicine and the changes associated with the residence.