Objective: Manihot esculenta (Crantz) leaves have been used for the management of diabetes based on cited ethnopharmacological studies. However, scientific evidence to support its efficacy is lacking. The aim of the study was to assess the cytotoxicity of the aqueous leaf extract and fractions of Manihot esculenta and its potential hypoglycemic effect on male Swiss albino mice. Methods: The cytotoxicity assay was necessary to screen which extract and fractions will be used for the in vivo hypoglycemic study. : Phytochemical screening identified the composition of the aqueous crude extract and its fractions. The phytochemical results showed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinone glycosides, carbohydrates, phenolic glycosides, saponins, and flavonoids. : Cytotoxicity was screened using CytoTox 96® (Promega), a NonRadioactive Cytotoxicity Assay on liver cancer (HepG2) and normal kidney (HK-2) cell lines. Five samples were tagged as highly cytotoxic and were flagged for further assays. These samples were DCM fraction (100 ppm), n-Hexane fraction (1 and 10 ppm), Ethyl acetate fraction (1 ppm), and Aqueous fraction (100 ppm). Results: The hypoglycemic activity was examined in alloxan-induced diabetic mice using in vivo hypoglycemic study. The aqueous crude extract at dose levels of 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight showed significant reduction in blood glucose levels compared to the diabetic control but not exceeding the results in the metformin treatment group. A p-value of 0.05 set a priori was used to consider whether the intervention had a statistically significant difference compared to the diabetic control. Conclusion The effectiveness of aqueous crude extract in reduction of blood glucose in mice may be attributed to the synergistic effects of phytochemicals present, especially the alkaloids which were retained in the extract but were undetectable in the fractionated samples. The results of this study also support the findings of existing ethnopharmacological studies on M. esculenta leaf extract as a hypoglycemic agent.
alkaloids ; hypoglycemic agents ; ethnopharmacology

Ethnopharmacology, the study of ethnic use of drugs, opens up the crucial gateway to understanding and promoting traditional medicine in the new age. Taiwan is a unique region where traditional medicine and herbal therapeutics have been benefiting its people of multiple races for centuries. This article overviews Taiwan's indigenous traditional medicine and the emerging status of ethnopharmacology study, and outlines the global scenario of the inheritance and development of traditional medicine. In such a scope of knowledge protection, this article particularly highlights the challenges with bioprospecting and biopiracy, and summarizes the current measures for protection of traditional knowledge in Taiwan. Finally, based upon these analyses, we propose rational strategies for promoting Taiwan's ethnopharmacology, from multiple angles of resource, economy, policy and law. We conclude that four measures, namely (1) protecting the natural environment of biodiversity, (2) avoiding unnecessary conflicts caused by bioprospecting and biopiracy, (3) strengthening the international collaboration, and (4) upgrading the legal system of traditional intelligence, would be the right paths for Taiwan to protect its invaluable heritage of traditional medicine and the knowledge of ethnopharmacology therein.
Ethnopharmacology ; Knowledge ; Medicine, Traditional ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVETo investigate and arrange the ethno-pharmacological information of Schisandraceae plants in China.

METHODThe information was obtained by literature search, specimen inspection, field resource investigation and samples collection.

RESULTTwenty-six Schisandraece plants (inlcuding 4 varieties) have been used as folk medicines in different regions of China, the identical medicinal parts of different species in one genus show the similar usage, action and indications, and different medicinal parts with different administrated ways show different action and indications.

CONCLUSIONThe results provide reliable information for resource development and comprehensive utilization of Schisandraece plant resource in China.

China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ethnopharmacology ; Schisandraceae

Through summarizing the applications and funding for research related to ethnomedicine and ethnopharmacology in the department of Health Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China( NSFC) from 1986 to 2018,and analyzing the categories,numbers,funds and research contents of all funded projects including Mongolian,Uygur,Tibetan,Zhuang,Miao,the study is aimed to provide certain reference for the declaration of ethnic medicine project. The results showed that the national medicine project application numbers and the amount of funding growth after 2011 have increased significantly,but the overall level of research remained to be further promoted,and the lack of suitable for the study of ethnic medicine features and ways,has yet to mainland medical universities and research institutions to give more attention and jointly promote the development of basic research in the field of ethnic medicine.
China ; Ethnopharmacology ; Financial Management ; Foundations ; Medicine, Traditional

Ethnomedicine is the precious wealth left by ethnic minorities in their struggle against diseases. It is similar to traditional Chinese medicine in a narrow sense and has the characteristics of multi-component,multi-target and multi-channel synergy. Under the guidance of the theory of ethnomedicine,the combination of ethnomedicine and network pharmacology will help to understand the essence of the prevention and treatment of ethnomedicines in a dynamic and holistic manner. This paper reviews the research progress of network pharmacology applied in ethnomedicine,analyses the problems and challenges existing in the application of network pharmacology in ethnomedicine research at present,such as inaccurate data and information,lack of network analysis platform for effective analysis of dose-effect relationship of chemical constituents and weak basic research of ethnomedicine,and puts forward corresponding prospects.
Ethnopharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Medicine, Traditional

This paper investigates and counts the ethnic medicines of the Ewenki,Daur and Oroqen ethnic groups,which are known as the " Three Minorities" in Inner Mongolia. Through the methods of literature collection,interview investigation,and resource investigation,different ethnic medicines were collected on the main diseases,drug varieties,drug-injection sites,and drug administration methods. Through data statistics and SPSS analysis,the similarities and individual differences between the three ethnic groups were clarified. The results indicated the predicament of the current national medicine,which is helpful for the protection and inheritance of ethnic medicine.
China ; Ethnic Groups ; Ethnopharmacology ; Humans ; Mongolia

Objectives: A recent review on the status of Philippine ethnobotany showed the lack of ethnobotanical studies in the Visayas group of islands. The use of medicinal plants by the Eskaya, an Indigenous ethnic group in the province of Bohol in Visayas, Philippines, has not yet been documented. This study determines the ethnomedicinal knowledge of traditional healers in selected Eskaya communities in Bohol. Methods: Fifteen (15) Eskaya traditional healers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and the valuable medicinal plant species were identified through guided field walks. Informal group discussions with the community were also conducted. Moreover, the fidelity level, informant consensus factor (ICF), and use values (UV) were calculated. Results: Our results showed that the majority of the Eskaya healers belong to an older age group (38 – 71 years old). Eighty-five medicinal plants recorded belong to 44 plant families—with Family Lamiaceae having the highest number of species represented. The leaf is the most common plant part used for healing. Blumea balsamifera was an essential plant with a UV of 0.8. Cardiovascular diseases have the highest ICF values of 0.6, and the most common plants used for these diseases include Cymbopogon citratus, Zingiber officinale, and Luffa cylindrica. Conclusion Our study yielded a record of native and non-native medicinal plants used by the Eskaya healers. This initial listing is also their contribution to promoting medicinal plants that are accessible and abundant in their communities.
ethnobotany ; ethnopharmacology ; herbal medicine ; Philippines ; traditional medicine

Background: Despite the mounting studies on the practical use of species of the pantropical family Melastomataceae, especially their medicinal utility, no attempt at compiling the diverse findings has been made to date. Moreover, most reviews of medicinal flora tend to focus more on the biomedical properties of the plants than their equally meaningful evolutionary and ethnobiological aspects. Objectives: This review aimed to describe and synthesize the current knowledge from and trends in medicinal studies of locally relevant members of the Melastomataceae. Specifically, it sought to gather, select, assess, and analyze digitally available field studies about the anti-infective potential of the genera of the Melastomataceae that occur in the Philippines using a combined evolutionary and ethnobiological lens. Methodology: Web-based search was conducted in EBSCO, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and local databases of medicinal ethnobotany for full and original research papers in Filipino or English. Studies were screened and assessed independently based on taxonomic reliability and ethnobiological methodology. Data were analyzed qualitatively using an integrated evolutionary and ethnobiological framework. Results: Thirty-four ethnobiological studies comprising journal articles and theses that surveyed 41 localities and cultural groups from 12 countries were reviewed. Three Philippine native melastome species are used in treating potentially infectious conditions: Dissochaeta divaricata, Melastoma malabathricum, and M. sanguineum. Other genera native to the Philippines with congeneric species used for anti-infective purposes elsewhere are Medinilla, Memecylon, Osbeckia, and Sonerila. Indications with the most cross-regional consensus include cuts, wounds, and skin infections, diarrhea and dysentery, and buccal, respiratory, and urogenital infections. Conclusion This review revealed that Philippine native melastome genera and species are available for infectious disease mitigation and exhibit high use convergence across geographically and culturally divergent communities but remain untapped. Documenting medicinal flora in an area or community based on their evolutionary relationships and ethnomedicinal usage is significant not only in bioprospecting but more importantly, in preserving indigenous knowledge and natural patrimony, especially amid collapsing socioecological systems and emerging diseases.
Ethnobotany ; Medicine, Traditional ; Ethnopharmacology ; Herbal Medicine ; Medicine, Traditional

OBJECTIVETo study the origin and ethnopharmacological uses of mineral medicine Halitum.

METHODThe historical literature and results of the modern researches were searched and on-the-spot investigation was also carried out.

RESULTThe result showed that characteristics and function and uses of Halitum mentioned in historical literature and results of the modern researches were mostly coincident. However there were also some problems, which needed to explore further.

CONCLUSIONWith the development of mineral materials research and utilization, Halitum sources should be defined more clearly and scientifically.

China ; ethnology ; Drug Therapy ; history ; Ethnic Groups ; Ethnopharmacology ; history ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Minerals ; analysis ; history ; pharmacology

Plants synthesize certain phytoconstituents for their protection, which, because they are not of primary need, are known as secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites of plants, have often been found to have medicinal uses for human beings. One such gymnosperm having secondary metabolites of medicinal potential for humans is Taxus wallichiana (Himalayan yew). Besides being the source of taxol, this plant has been investigated for its essential oil, diterpenoids, lignans, steroids, sterols and biflavonoids. Traditionally, it is used to treat disorders of the digestive, respiratory, nervous and skeletal systems. Although pharmacologically underexplored, it has been used for antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antipyretic, analgesic, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. The present review compiles traditional uses, phytochemical constituents (specifically the secondary metabolites) pharmacological activities and the toxicity of T. wallichiana.
Ethnopharmacology ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Structures ; Plants, Medicinal ; Taxus ; chemistry