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Healing roots : anthropology in life and medicine
\"Umhlonyane, also known as Artemisia afra, is one of the oldest and best-documented indigenous medicines in South Africa. This bush, which grows wild throughout the sub-Saharan region, smells and tastes like \"medicine,\" thus easily making its way into people's lives and becoming the choice of everyday healing for Xhosa healer-diviners and Rastafarian herbalists. This 'natural' remedy has recently sparked curiosity as scientists search for new molecules against a tuberculosis pandemic while hoping to recognize indigenous medicine. Laplante follows umhlonyane on its trails and trials of becoming a biopharmaceutical -- from the \"open air\" to controlled environments -- learning from the plant and from the people who use it with hopes in healing.\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Bug as a Drug. Lytta vesicatoria L. Applications in Nineteenth Century Official Medicine
Nowadays the limited number of animal species are used in official medicine. For example, equine urine is a source of conjugated oestrogens used in menopausal hormone therapy; porcine intestine is the only approved source of anticoagulant and antithrombotic drug- enoxaparin. Until the end of nineteenth century animal-based medicines were very popular. Raw materials included substances obtained from mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects were used. Among insects the most important were red wood ant (Formica rufa L.), cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa), western honeybee (Apis mellifica L.) and cantharides (Lytta vesicatoria L.). Initially this species was only gathered in Spain. Because of that, this beetle was called Musca hispanica (spanish fly). In subsequent years it was found in other European countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Great Britain. In my research | have analyzed six European state pharmacopoeias published in nineteenth century-Pharmacopoea Regni Poloniae (1817), Pharmacopoea Fennica (1819), Pharmacopea Bavarica (1822), Pharmacopea Norvegica (1854), Pharmacopea Belgica (1854) and British Pharmacopoeia (1867). A total of 18 pharmaceutical preparations were noted. Among the analyzed sources, the most frequently reported pharmaceutical preparations were plaster of cantharides (Emplastrum Cantharidum) and ointment of cantharides (Unguentum Cantharidum)-these medications were found in all pharmacopoeias. Less common were tincture of cantharides (Tinctura Cantharidum), concentrated essence of cantharides (Essentia Cantharidum Fortior) and blistering paper (Charta epispatica) - they were presented in two works. Other drugs were reported individually. This study indicates the potential application of L. vesicatoria in contemporary medicine.
Journal Article
Indian doctors in Kenya, 1895-1940 : the forgotten history
\"This pioneering book offers unique insights into the careers of Indian doctors in colonial Kenya. As such, it deepens and broadens modern understandings of the complex constitution of the British Empire. The British Empire, although ideologically racist, nevertheless relied upon staff of all nationalities and ethnicities. Ideas and practices were imported between various colonial dependencies as much as they evolved responsively to local conditions. The book highlights the complex ambiguities of Empire; advancing modern understandings of the British Empire as a linked, multi-centred global phenomenon, while also providing a case study that enriches local understandings of the practice of medicine in a racially segregated context. Chapters examine in turn the main possible career options for Indian medical graduates as well as setting out the racial and political context of colonial Kenya. An impressively large and varied source base has been consulted throughout resulting in startling new insights into the complex operation of western medicine in this racially segregated world. \"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
From Traditional Ethnopharmacology to Modern Natural Drug Discovery: A Methodology Discussion and Specific Examples
Ethnopharmacology, through the description of the beneficial effects of plants, has provided an early framework for the therapeutic use of natural compounds. Natural products, either in their native form or after crude extraction of their active ingredients, have long been used by different populations and explored as invaluable sources for drug design. The transition from traditional ethnopharmacology to drug discovery has followed a straightforward path, assisted by the evolution of isolation and characterization methods, the increase in computational power, and the development of specific chemoinformatic methods. The deriving extensive exploitation of the natural product chemical space has led to the discovery of novel compounds with pharmaceutical properties, although this was not followed by an analogous increase in novel drugs. In this work, we discuss the evolution of ideas and methods, from traditional ethnopharmacology to in silico drug discovery, applied to natural products. We point out that, in the past, the starting point was the plant itself, identified by sustained ethnopharmacological research, with the active compound deriving after extensive analysis and testing. In contrast, in recent years, the active substance has been pinpointed by computational methods (in silico docking and molecular dynamics, network pharmacology), followed by the identification of the plant(s) containing the active ingredient, identified by existing or putative ethnopharmacological information. We further stress the potential pitfalls of recent in silico methods and discuss the absolute need for in vitro and in vivo validation as an absolute requirement. Finally, we present our contribution to natural products’ drug discovery by discussing specific examples, applying the whole continuum of this rapidly evolving field. In detail, we report the isolation of novel antiviral compounds, based on natural products active against influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and novel substances active on a specific GPCR, OXER1.
Journal Article
Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits
Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), belonging to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family, is widely recognized for its uses in culinary and traditional medicine. C. sativum contains various phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamins, and many phytosterols, which account for its properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and analgesic effects. The cardiovascular benefits of C. sativum have not been summarized before, hence this review aims to further evaluate and discuss its effectiveness in cardiovascular diseases, according to the recent literature. An electronic search for literature was carried out using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, preprint platforms, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Articles were gathered from the inception of the database until August 2021. Moreover, the traditional uses and phytochemistry of coriander were surveyed in the original resources and summarized. As a result, most of the studies that cover cardiovascular benefits and fulfilled the eligibility criteria were in vivo, while only a few were in vitro and clinical studies. In conclusion, C. sativum can be deemed a functional food due to its wide range of cardiovascular benefits such as antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic, antiarrhythmic, hypolipidemic as well as cardioprotective effects.
Journal Article
Investigation of the effect and mechanisms of moxa smoke in the treatment of Influenza A Virus
Influenza, primarily caused by the Influenza A virus, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. While moxa burning is a traditional method used to reduce respiratory infections, most studies have focused on the components of moxa and air disinfection, often neglecting the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of moxa smoke. This study aimed to explore the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of moxa smoke in vivo, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved. Utilizing multiple databases, we identified 52 components of moxa smoke that target 384 proteins, with 92 of these potentially linked to protection against H1N1. Network analysis conducted using Cytoscape revealed 16 core targets, including PPARG and STAT3. We performed molecular docking to verify the stable binding affinities of core compounds with their corresponding targets. In vivo experiments demonstrated that moxa smoke significantly decreased the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lowered the levels of H1N1 nucleoprotein (H1N1NP), and reduced the mRNA expression of cytokines with chemokines in lung tissue, including Il-6, Il-1[beta], Tnf-[alpha], Cxcl1, Cxcl2, Cxcl10 and Ccl2. These results suggest a reduction in lung inflammation in mice infected with the PR8 strain of the IAV. Western blot analysis indicated that moxa smoke upregulated PPAR[gamma] and reduced phosphorylated STAT3 levels. GW9662 inhibited the reduction of recruitment of inflammatory cells by moxa smoke, but didn't inhibit the reduction of viral load after moxa smoke treatment. A four-day treatment did not cause functional injury to the lungs, kidneys, or liver of H1N1-infected mice. However, after four weeks of exposure to moxa smoke, the mice exhibited changes in organ weight and pathological damage in the lungs and kidneys. In summary, Moxa smoke suppressed influenza virus-induced inflammatory cell infiltration by upregulating PPAR[gamma], while simultaneously reducing viral load through PPAR[gamma]-independent mechanisms. Short-term exposure to moxa smoke did not cause significant impairment of pulmonary, hepatic or renal function; however, prolonged exposure may result in respiratory and renal dysfunction, potentially leading to more severe adverse effects.
Journal Article
Importance of ethnopharmacological studies in drug discovery: role of medicinal plants
Ethnopharmacology can be basically defined as “the interdisciplinary scientific exploration of the biologically active agents that are traditionally employed”. Therefore, the ethnopharmacological approach is based on a body of work that spans several disciplines such as botany, chemistry, and pharmacology. This includes field observations, descriptions of the utilization and bioactivities of folk remedies, botanical identification of the plant material as well as phytochemical and pharmacological research. Investigations of the indigenous remedies and their possible effects have attracted attention of many researchers for ages. Drug discovery from natural sources in the light of ethnopharmacological studies has an important role in the development of current therapeutic systems. Plants, animals and minerals are among the natural products that have been the basis in the treatment of many diseases for centuries. Recently, much attention has been paid to pharmacognostical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies of traditional medicinal plants. Moreover, biological activity potential of natural medicines has been investigated in many preclinical and clinical studies, revealing diverse biological effects of a wide range of plant derived compounds in various classes of chemical groups. The majority of the natural sources whose active compounds are currently employed actually has an ethnomedical use. Therefore, recently, many of the pharmaceutical companies have renewed their strategies in the field of natural product research in order to bring out potential sources and new molecules for the drug development. For the discovery and development of novel, safe and affordable medicines, the ethnopharmacological knowledge could be beneficial thanks to its approach that could be supported by experimental base. In the present study, ethnopharmacological aspects of herbal medicine and plant-based drug discovery process will be emphasized and important issues in their use as complementary medicine will be mentioned.
Journal Article
Traditional medicines and their common uses in central region of Syria: Hama and Homs - an ethnomedicinal survey
Since ancient times, traditional Arabic medicine (TAM) has been used to treat various diseases in Syria. They are cost-effective with fewer side effects and are more suitable for long-term use compared with chemically synthesized medicines. In addition, the scientific importance is manifested, as this survey proceeds, for the purposes of verifying and documenting these traditional medicines and their common uses.
We conducted ethnobotanical and ethnomedicine research on plants traditionally used to treat various diseases in central region of Syria.
Information was collected from 2019 to 2021 from the cities of Homs and Hama and their villages, which are two governorates located in central Syria, after interviews with traditional practitioners called Attarin, and many other people. Plant specimens were collected according to different references concerning medicinal plants of Syria, to document the traditional uses of plants at least two of the traditional healers and three other people were asked.
In this survey, we listed 76 medicinal plants belonging to 39 families in alphabetical order with the parts used and the method of preparation according to their therapeutic use, which are used to treat 106 ailments.
Many of the uses of medicinal plants mentioned in this survey are still under study. There is no doubt that this study will provide new data that could contribute to further pharmacological discoveries by identifying the active ingredients and their mechanism of effect by doing additional pharmacological work to confirm the alleged biological activities of these plants.
Journal Article