Usos medicinales y alimenticios de flora introducida en el Chaco Seco argentino: contrastes entre el conocimiento local y el científico / Medicinal and nutritional uses of flora introduced in the Argentine Dry Chaco: contrasts between local and scientific knowledge

Introduced species generate worldwide concern due to in many cases manifest their potential as invasive as invasives. However, little is known about its sociocultural importance and biocultural interaction. Through open and semi-structured interviews, guided walks and participant observation, the main uses and cultural valuations of biogeographically introduced plants in localities of the Dry Chaco (Catamarca and Córdoba) were investigated. A total of 53 species were documented, 18 with medicinal use and 40 for food. The most recurrent treatments correspond to digestive disorders and respiratory conditions; in food, those for direct consumption stand out. Most taxa with local therapeutic applications coincide with theoretical studies on active principles and their curative effects. Finally, it is concluded that the biogeographic origin of the species is independent of the cultural valuations as long as they are potentially usable, in addition to recognizing that ethnobotanical knowledge based on experience supports the uses found from the academy.

Las especies introducidas generan preocupación mundial debido a que en muchos casos manifiestan su potencialidad como invasoras. Sin embargo, poco se conoce su importancia sociocultural e interacción biocultural. Por medio de entrevistas abiertas y semiestructuradas, caminatas guiadas y observación participante se indagó sobre los principales usos y las valoraciones culturales de las plantas biogeográficamente introducidas en localidades del Chaco Seco (Catamarca y Córdoba). Se documentaron un total de 53 especies, 18 con uso medicinal y 40 alimenticias. Los tratamientos más recurrentes corresponden a trastornos digestivos y afecciones respiratorias; en las alimenticias se destacan aquellas de consumo directo. La mayoría de taxones con aplicaciones terapéuticas locales, coinciden con estudios teóricos sobre principios activos y sus efectos curativos. Finalmente, se concluye que, el origen biogeográfico de las especies es independiente de las valoraciones culturales mientras sean potencialmente aprovechables, además de reconocer que los conocimientos etnobotánicos basados en la experiencia fundamentan los usos encontrados desde la academia.

Plant-derived secondary metabolites as the main source of efflux pump inhibitors and methods for identification / 药物分析学报

The upsurge of multiple drug resistance (MDR) bacteria substantially diminishes the effectiveness of antibiotic arsenal and therefore intensifies the rate of therapeutic failure. The major factor in MDR is efflux pump-mediated resistance. A unique pump can make bacteria withstand a wide range of struc-turally diverse compounds. Therefore, their inhibition is a promising route to eliminate resistance phenomenon in bacteria. Phytochemicals are excellent alternatives as resistance-modifying agents. They can directly kill bacteria or interact with the crucial events of pathogenicity, thereby decreasing the ability of bacteria to develop resistance. Numerous botanicals display noteworthy efflux pumps inhibi-tory activities. Edible plants are of growing interest. Likewise, some plant families would be excellent sources of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) including Apocynaceae, Berberidaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucur-bitaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Zingiberaceae. Easily applicable methods for screening plant-derived EPIs include checkerboard synergy test, berberine uptake assay and ethidium bromide test. In silico high-throughput virtual detection can be evaluated as a criterion of excluding compounds with efflux substrate-like characteristics, thereby improving the selection process and extending the identification of EPIs. To ascertain the efflux activity inhibition, real-time PCR and quantitative mass spectrometry can be applied. This review emphasizes on efflux pumps and their roles in transmitting bacterial resistance and an update plant-derived EPIs and strategies for identification.

Establishment of health risk assessment model for assessing medicinal and edible plants contaminated by heavy metals--take Astragali Radix,Codonopsis Radix and Laminariae Thallus as examples / 中国中药杂志

With the improvement of living standard,the theory of " medicine and food homology" has developed rapidly in the field of diet,medicine and health preservation. In recent years,many literatures have been reported on the active ingredients and pharmacological effects of medicinal and edible plants,but relatively few reports have been reported on their safety investigation. Therefore,to further evaluate the quality and safety of medicinal and edible plants,Astragali Radix,Codonopsis Radix and Laminariae Thallus were selected as our research objects in this study. Moreover,the pollution level and the potential health risk of heavy metals were deeply assessed in different types of medicinal and edible plants. Especially,the contents of chromium,copper,arsenic,cadmium,mercury and lead in these three herbs were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry( ICP-MS),and their health risk level was evaluated by target hazard coefficient method. The results showed that under the international heavy metal limit standard( ISO 18664-2015,GB 2762-2017),the over-standard rates were 25%,77% and 100% in 16 batches of Astragali Radix,26 batches of Codonopsis Radix and 9 batches of Laminariae Thallus,respectively. Besides,the values of target hazard quotients( THQ) for adults and children are 0. 028 244,0. 063 505 and 0. 014 485,0. 032 568 in Astragalus membranaceus and Codonopsis pilosula,respectively,which were higher than the standard values of 0. 02 and 0. 011 25. While,the total heavy metals THQ values for adults and children are 0. 023 734 and 0. 020 287 in Laminariae Thallus,which were much higher than the standard values of 0. 008 0 and 0. 007 5. However,the CR values of As,Cd and Pb in the three herbs were lower than 1×10~(-6). Above results indicated that those six harmful elements have certain health hazards to the exposed population,but there is no potential carcinogenic effect. It can be seen that,there were still presence of the pollution of harmful elements,and it is necessary to establish the reasonable limit standards and quality control methods of medicinal and edible plants in time.

Comparison of the phenolic contents and epigenetic and genetic variability of wild and cultivated watercress (Rorippa nasturtium var. aquaticum L.)

Background: Epigenetic modifications are key factors modulating the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of phytochemicals. The knowledge of plant epigenetic and genetic variations can contribute to enhance the production of bioactive compounds. These issues have been little explored thus far in Rorippa nasturtium var. aquaticum L. (watercress), an edible and medicinal plant. The aim of the current study was to determine and compare the phenolic composition and epigenetic and genetic variations between wild and cultivated watercress. Results: Significant differences were found in the quantitative phenolic composition between wild and cultivated watercress. The eight primer combinations used in the methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) method revealed different epigenetic status for each watercress type, the cultivated one being the most epigenetically variable. The genetic variability revealed by the EcoRI/MspI amplification profile and also by eight inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers was different between the two types of watercress. The results of the Mantel test showed that the correlation between genetic and epigenetic variations has diminished in the cultivated type. Cluster analyses showed that the epigenetic and genetic characterizations clearly discriminated between wild and cultivated watercress. Conclusions: Relevant chemical, epigenetic, and genetic differences have emerged between wild and cultivated watercress. These differences can contribute to fingerprint and develop quality control tools for the integral and safety use and the commercialization of watercress. The richness of epialleles could support the development of tools to manipulate the watercress epigenome to develop high bioproduct­producing cultivars

Chemical constituents from medical and edible plants of Rosa roxburghii / 中国中药杂志

Rosa roxburghii, a kind of the medical and edible plants belonging to the Rosaceae family, is widely distributed in the southwest districts of China, especially Guizhou province. Now, by reason of the extensive bioactivities, the plant is widely used in the field of food, health product, drug, and so on. In the course of our continuing search for the bioactive constituents, thirteen compounds were isolated from R. roxburghii, and their structures were determined on the basis of physicochemical property, spectroscopic data and comparison with the literatures, as 2-oxo pomolic acid(1), 1β-hydroxyeuscaphic acid(2), euscaphic acid(3), arjunic acid(4), tormentic acid(5), kaiiichigeside F1(6), rosamultin(7), arjunetin(8), 2ɑ, 3ɑ, 19ɑ-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(9), 2α, 3α, 19α, 24-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester(10), pyrogallic acid (11), daucosterol(12), and 1, 2-decanediol(13). Compounds 9 and 10 were firstly obtained from Rosaceae family, and compounds 1,4,5,9-11,13 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Research progress in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect of medicinal and edible plants / 中草药

The medicinal and edible plants (MEP) are edible plants which are characterized with medical care and nutrition value, most of them have the effect of antibacterial and anti-inflammation. The paper reviewed the recently related research, generalized polyphenols, polysaccharides, saponins, and volatile oil from MEP as four main components which are effective in the function. Compared with traditional drugs, MEP are character of safe, non-side effect, low tolerance, and strong specificity, which is worth further research in the application area.

Ethnobotanical studies on the wild edible plants of Irula tribes of Pillur Valley, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India

Objective: To conduct an ethnobotanical studies and collect information about the wild edible plants collected and utilized by the Irula tribes of Pillur valley, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: The study was conducted among the Irula peoples of Pillur valley through survey, interview and field work along with the knowledgeable individuals during January 2009 -September 2010. All the traditional and other knowledge related to the collection and consumption of wild edible plants on which the communities depend was documented. Results: A total of 74 plant species have been recorded as wild edible in the study areas, of which, fruits yielding plants ranked first with 42 species, green leaves, tubers, young shoots and flowers ranked next with 26, 7, 4 and 2 species respectively. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the adivasi community in the Pillur Valley continues to have and use the knowledge about the wild edible plants, including their habitat, collection period, sustainable collection, mode of preparation and consumption. To date, this knowledge appear to be fairly well conserved and used as a result of continued reliance of local community on the wild uncultivated foods.