ABSTRACT
Introduction@#Lichen is a stable symbiotic complex formed by fungi and symbiotic algae. There are many kinds of lichens, which are cold and drought resistant, and have strong adaptability to the environment. Lichens can grow and reproduce in places where other organisms are difficult to survive. Apart from their ecological importance, they have become important natural medicinal resources due to the production of a large number of unique secondary metabolites (depsides, depsidones, dibenzofurans, pulvinic acid derivatives) and pigments (anthraquinones, napthoquinones, and xanthones) which can act as biomarkers as well as bioactive compounds. <i>Usnea longissima Ach</i>. is a hanging hair lichen, that grows circumpolar in high humidity inland areas and coastal forests of Europe, Asia, and North America. This lichen has been used therapeutically for centuries in Mongolian traditional systems of medicine for its analgesic, cardiotonic, stomachic, and wound healing properties. Recently, many scholars have studied the chemical constituents and biological activities of <i>Usnea longissima Ach</i> and its related varieties, and obtained gratifying results. Previous studies on its chemical constituents have resulted in isolation of several bioactive secondary metabolites which include monosubstituted phenyls, depsides, anthraquinones, dibenzofuran derivatives, and terpenoids. In order to understand the clinical application and devote to the deeper scientific research and development, the pharmacological literature of <i>Usnea longissima Ach</i> was sorted out in this study. @*Methods@#Collect and sort out the modern periodical literature and the related pharmacological studies of Usnea longissima Ach in academic websites. @*Result and Conclusion@#The pharmacological studies of Mongolian medicine <i>Usnea longissima Ach</i> were studied in this paper. <i>Usnea longissima Ach</i> has a long history of medicinal use, which is recorded in the traditional medical materials of Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygurs, Tai and other ethnic minorities, as well as traditional Chinese medicine. According to the records, different nationalities in different countries have their own traditional medical theories as the basis for the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. Previous studies on its chemical constituents have resulted in isolation of several bioactive secondary metabolites which include monosubstituted phenyls, depsides, anthraquinones, dibenzofuran derivatives, and terpenoids. The <i>Usnea longissima Ach</i> tastes bitter and it has the function of anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-cancer and detoxification effects. But it requires further study such as extract, isolate, and analyze the more chemical ingredients and its pharmacological activity.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUNDAccording to WHO statistics of 2013, daily 371,124[1] births, annually 135.5 million [1] births occur worldwide which tends to increase in the following years. In Mongolia, studies that evaluaterelationship between fluid intakes of pregnant women and preterm delivery risk have not been conducted so far to our knowledge. Thus, we aimed to determine this relationship by evaluating first and second trimester fluid intakesof pregnant women in Mongolia.METHODS35 and above years old pregnant women of 24-32 gestational weeks have been included in the study where body measurements and fluid intake were collected via questionnaireand examination.RESULTSWhen we studied the relationship between average fluid intake and preterm delivery risk, having inadequate fluid intake in the first trimester increased the risk of preterm delivery by 5.98 (CI95% 0.89-40.08, p<0.01) fold whereas having inadequate fluid intake in the second trimester increased the risk of preterm delivery by 4.03 (CI 95% 1.06-15.21, p<0.01) foldrespectively.CONCLUSIONSOur results show that low fluid intake in first and second gestational trimesters results in increased risk of preterm delivery significantly in Mongolia.