Authors:O. J. Sharaibi, O. K. Oluwa, K. T. Omolokun, A. A. Ogbe, A. O. Adebayo Pages: 1 - 6 Abstract: Traditional women in Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria have been using medicinal plants for maternal health care since time immemorial. However, there is no proper documentation of medicinal plants used in maternal health care, as information is passed from generation to generation orally. This study aimed at the identification and documentation of medicinal plants used in Lagos, Nigeria for maternal health care. Ethnobotanical studies were carried out in six local government areas namely, Agege, Alimosho, Badagry, Ejigbo, Mushin and Ojo. A Semi-structured questionnaire was designed to obtain information from 300 respondents, 50 from each local government area. The respondents included herbal merchants, herbal medicine practitioners, midwives, and traditional birth attendants. Information obtained included the names of the plants, plant parts used, mode of preparation and administration and dosage of the medicinal herbs. Forty-five (45) plants belonging to twenty-three (23) families were identified and documented in the study area. Most of the reported plants belong to the Fabaceae (13.52%), Malvaceae (8.41%) and Annonaceae (6.67%) families. Kigelia africana, Caliandra portoricensis, Nauclea latifolia and Securidata longepedunculata had the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL) of 0.96; 100% and 0.82; 100%, 0.92; 100 % and 0.78; 100% respectively. Most of the reported plants (73.47%) were herbs and shrubs and about 62.68% of the surveyed plants were wild. Leaves were the most frequently used (72.74%) plant’s part. Most of the herbs (80.45 %) were prepared as decoctions and preparations were mostly administered orally (88.64%). Strategies suggested to conserve the surveyed plants include the cultivation of medicinal plants to prevent their extinction. PubDate: 2024-02-29 DOI: 10.25081/jmhe.2024.v10.8637
Authors:M. Sai Yaswanthi, P. N. Pallavi, N. Savithramma Pages: 7 - 11 Abstract: Since ancient times, Plant based medicine is a well-known oldest form of healthcare to mankind. Even the commercial medications used for the treatment of various ailments today, contains a large proportion of plant derived chemical compounds. Hence chemical profiling of medicinal plants gained a key role to use them in pharmaceuticals as well as commercial industries. Pamburus missionis is one of the medicinal plants used in the Indian and Srilankan traditional medicine system to reduce kapha dosha. The ayurvedic physicians used its leaves to treat swelling, piles, fractures, fistula, puerperal diseases and as serpent venom. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to reveal the phytocompounds from various parts of this plant. Metabolomics revealed the presence of primary and secondary metabolites like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, steroids etc. From the aqueous extract, Alkaloid content is almost same in leaf, stem and bark extracts with around 1.2 to 1.3 g (w/v%) and completely absent in the fruit. Phenolic content and steroids are notably high in leaf extract with 112.77±0.34 mg/g of extract and 17.91±0.26 mg respectively, where the flavonoid content in fruit extract with 44.69±0.30 mg/g of extract and the tannin content in bark extract with 62.37±1.75 mg/g of extract. PubDate: 2024-05-23 DOI: 10.25081/jmhe.2024.v10.8830
Authors:Wycliffe Wanzala, Sheila I. Minyoso Pages: 12 - 36 Abstract: The ethnomedicine industry inherently developed de novo in the evolutionary history of humanity to provide healthcare services. This industry has existed long before the currently preferred conventional medicine and by then was the only trusted means of healthcare to humanity. Ethnomedicine has evolved and diversified into specializations along ethnic groupings worldwide. Nevertheless, attitude towards ethnomedicine is usually polarized varying from contemptuous dismissal to romantic glorification. Rarely does one come across people with balanced views. The discussion is based on 9 issues: view of ethnoknowledge of health from the early days, discovery and development of ethnomedicines, specializations in ethnomedicines, challenges and limitations, terminologies that shape ethnomedicine industry, merits and demerits of ethnomedicines, existing opportunities and the way forward. The ethnomedicine industry, just like any other field of professionalism, was not without challenges and limitations that affected its realization of full potential. In this discussion, 24 challenges and limitations are outlined but not limited to:- lack of information on standards, safety and efficacy, capacity building of ethnopractitioners, colonialism, climate change, witchcraft, socio-politics, recognition of ethnosystems, research and biased documentation, emerging diseases and pathogens, market value-chain, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, anthropogenic activities, sources of ethnomedicines, legal frameworks, harvesting, preparation, administration and storage methods, gender issues, poor remembrance of ethnomedical knowledge, existence of quackery, sources of ethnomedicines, biopiracy and bioprospecting, lack of mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of ethnomedicines, advancement in human evolution and civilization, biological evolution and invasive alien species, stigmatisation due to poor perceptions and attitudes about ethnomedicines and competitive supremacy amongst ethnopractitioners and conventional practitioners, have all not favoured the industry. However, the use of ethnomedicines has tremendously increased and continues to increase albeit the above challenges and limitations facing the industry. The challenges and limitations are broadly and critically discussed while outlining opportunities and giving away forward. PubDate: 2024-07-16 DOI: 10.25081/jmhe.2024.v10.8832
Authors:C. F. Anyanwu, U. O. Georgewill, G. C. Chioma Pages: 37 - 41 Abstract: Despite the traditional use of Cucurbita pepo seed to enhance milk production during lactation, its effect in non-lactating females remains scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of n-hexane (nHE), Dichloromethane (DCM) and Aqueous ethanol (Aq. Eth) extracts of C. pepo seed on serum prolactin levels of non-lactating female Wistar rats. A total of 44 non pregnant female rats weighing 190 g were randomly grouped into 11 groups of 4 rats, for treatment as follows: A (control): 0.5 mL 5% Tween 80 (vehicle); B (positive control): 10mg/kg Clomiphene Citrate, C, D & E: 142.86, 285.71, and 428.57 mg/kg of nHE; F, G & H: 142.86, 285.71, and 428.57 mg/kg of DCM; and I, J & K: 142.86, 285.71, and 428.57 mg/kg of Aq. Eth extracts of C. pepo seed. Vaginal cytology monitored the estrous cycle daily, and blood samples were obtained for serum prolactin at various oestrus cycle phases. There was no significant (P>0.05) variation in serum prolactin levels in rats treated with 142.86 mg/kg, 285.71 mg/kg, and 428.57 mg/kg of all three extracts of C. pepo during the Proestrus, estrus, and metestrus phases relative to the control. A significant (P<0.05) increase in serum prolactin levels was observed at the diestrus phase in rats treated with 142.86 mg/kg, 285.71 mg/kg, and 428.57 mg/kg of n-HE, 428.57 mg/kg of DCM and 142.86 mg/kg, 285.71 mg/kg of Aq. Eth extracts of C. pepo seed, relative to the positive control group. Rats treated with 142.86 mg/kg of Aq. Eth had a significant increase in serum prolactin in the diestrus phase, relative to the control. The findings of this study show that C. pepo seed extracts may exhibit a phase-specific effect within the estrous cycle of non-lactating female rats and as such may have potential applications in regulating prolactin levels. PubDate: 2024-07-31 DOI: 10.25081/jmhe.2024.v10.8979
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