Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 2, Issue 1, 2016

Species from the Ficus genera are used in traditional medicine in Malaysia, China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Africa, South America and other countries. The aim of this article is to review the phytochemicals, ethnomedicine uses and pharmacology of the Ficus species. The phytochemicals in these species are flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenoids, coumarins, phenolics, ceramide, cerebroside, stilbenes and alkyl ferulates. The phytochemicals or extracts exhibited various pharmacology effects.

Despite the considerable advancements in Biomedicine, it does not seem to meet all the needs of an individual. Indeed, the heterogeneity of reality must be understood through complex schemes and for this reason we think that utilize inclusive healthcare models could represent the goal of the development of medical knowledge and practice. From our point of view, this leads to the necessity of rethinking a new paradigm that we have identified in an Inclusive Healthcare Focused On The Person.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. As per modern science and ancient literature on medicine, nasal drug delivery systems are the best for the diseases related to brain and head. In older times Rishi Muni, ancient scholars and physicians used to recommend Hawan for mental peace and well being. Mritunjay Mantra also tells that sughandhim (aroma, fragrance) gives rise to good health. Om triambkum yajamahe, sughandhim puushtivardhanam, urvarukmev vandhanaat, mrityu mokshay mamritaat!!!! Hawan is a scientific experiment in which special herbs (Hawan Samagri) are offered in the fire of medicinal woods ignited in a specially designed fire pit called agni-kuñda. Aromatherapy was also employed in ancient times for a number of mental disorders. The hypothesis is based on action of Hawan components on Alzheimer Disease through integration of modern and ancient concepts. Hawan seems to be designed by the ancient scholars to fight with the diseases of the brain. Our review demonstrates that the components of Hawan are having a number of volatile oils that are specifically useful for AD through one or the other mechanism of action. Due to high temperature of fire the vapors of these oils enter into the central nervous system through nasal route. The routine of performing Hawan might keep the threshold value of the therapeutic components in the body and help in preventing AD. In the present manuscript authors have tried to highlight and integrate the modern and ancient concepts for treatment and prevention of AD.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid sickle shape in hypoxic conditions. Recent reports revealed also that SCD patients are sensitive to bacterial infections. Among microbial agents, Staphylococcus aureus is the bacteria most implicated in septicemia and osteomyelitis in SCD patients. The aim of the present study was to extract and evaluate the bioactivity of anthocyanins and organic acids from Gnetum africanum and Grewia coriacea against SCD and associated bacteria. The antisickling bioassay and antibacterial activity were carried out using Emmel and microdilution methods respectively. The results revealed that anthocyanins and organic acids extracts of these plants possess antisickling and antibacterial activities. The calculated values of sickle erythrocytes normalization rates were 78% and 82% respectively for anthocyanins and organic acids extracts of Grewia coriacea, and 88% for organic acids extract of Gnetum africanum. The MIC values of plant extracts against all tested bacteria were < 1000 μg/ml. MRSA ATCC 1625 and MSSA ATCC 5668 were sensitive to organic acids extract of G. coriacea (MIC = 7.813 μg/ml) while Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was sensitive to anthocyanins extract of G. coriacea (MIC = 62.5 μg/ml). On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 strains were sensitive to organic acids extract of G. africanum (MIC = 125 μg/ml). Staphylococcus aureus is the bacteria most implicated in septicemia and osteomyelitis in SCD patients. Medicinal plant extracts displaying at the same time antibacterial (against Staphylococcus aureus) and antisickling effects could be useful in the management of Sickle cell disease. This study provides for the first time a scientific basis for the antibacterial and antisickling activities of anthocyanins and organic acids extracts from Grewia coriacea and organic extracts of Gnetum africanum justifying thus their use in African traditional medicine.

To investigate the hepatoprotective and in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous methanolic extract (AME) of polyherbal formulation of Calotropis procera (C. procera), Gymnema sylvestre (G. sylvestre) and Lawsonia inermis (L. inermis) leaves. The activity of the extracts was assessed on the basis of improvement in the altered level of various biochemical parameters in the liver of the rats. The extracts were also investigated for its antioxidant potential by in vitro DPPH radical scavenging assay. The results of present studies strongly indicate that the hepatoprotective and extracts assessed for DPPH free radical scavenging activity, the maximum activity was shown by polyherbal formulation with IC50 value 62.76 μg/ml. Treatment with polyherbal formulation with decreased SGPT, SGOT, ALP, TB and Cholestrol levels in serum demonstrates the hepatoprotective effect of the formulation. Polyherbal formulation revealed excellent hepatoprotective and antioxidant profile as compared to individual plants due to synergistic effect produced by different phytochemicals present in the formulation.

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (Araliaceae) is widely used for improving cardiovascular disease in traditional medicine. This study aims to investigate phytochemical and antithrombotic effects of saponin fraction of P. notoginseng. The P. notoginseng roots were extracted with ethanol 80%, and the obtained extracts were partitioned using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water, successively. The repeated silica gel and YMC C-18 silica gel column chromatogaraphy for the n-butanol fraction (saponin total fraction) afforded five saponins, ginsenosides Re, Rg1, Rd, Rc and Rb1. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR, MS, IR spectroscopic analyses and compared with the published NMR data. The saponin total fraction was evaluated by the thrombolysis activity using in vitro clot lysis assay method. In addition, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were measured to evaluate the anticoagulation effect of saponin fraction. Our data reveal that thrombolysis activity of saponin fraction is dependent on saponin's concentration and APPT, PT were prolonged significantly by saponin fraction at 10000 μg/ml. Therefore, our data support the use of saponin fraction from Panax notoginseng to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by anti-thrombosis activities.

Rhein is one of the main components of Rheum. It is widely used for the treatment of tumor, virus, diabetic nephropathy, bacterial infection and inflammatory, and it shows excellent clinical application value. Here, recent studies on the pharmacological activity and synthesis of rhein and its derivatives were reviewed and future direction was also briefly discussed, hoping to provide beneficial information for the research of rhein and its derivatives.