ABSTRACT
Background: The rapid global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic urged scientists to search for effective and safe anti-coronavirus drugs from natural resources. Through centuries, traditional medicinal plants have been providing cure for diseases and general health care worldwide. Objective(s): The main aim of this review was to explore and summarize the research works on the different plants used traditionally in Sudan to treat signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and respiratory diseases, characterizing their antiviral activities and exploring the different phytochemicals present in these plants. Method(s): The current review was carried out in line with the recommendations of the PRISMA 2020 statement. Information on plants traditionally used in Sudan to treat the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and respiratory diseases was obtained from traditional medicine books and published articles, as well as the daily practice by ordinary people. Result(s): This article illustrated the use of 27 plant species belonging to 15 families in Sudanese traditional medicine to treat signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and respiratory diseases. Legumi-nosae/Fabaceae was found to be the most represented family (7 species), followed by Combretaceae (3 species) and Capparidaceae and Malvaceae (2 species each). From these plants, about 11 plant species were studied for their antiviral activity against at least one virus, and 5 plants, namely Adan-sonia digitata, Boscia senegalensis, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Nigella sativa, and Mangifera indica, were tested for their antiviral activity against influenza viruses. The phytoconstituents of the listed plants were summarized, and the antiviral activity of their isolated bioactive compounds was highlighted. Conclusion(s): The review could provide an in-depth theoretical basis and valuable data for designing future studies.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the interest in self-care strategies, including self-medication. Medical students, as future health practitioners, learn more about medications than other students. This study aimed to describe self-medication practices for preventing COVID-19 among medical students at Universitas Islam Indonesia. This observational study used a cross-sectional design and was undertaken in November- December 2020. The study sample included 336 undergraduate medical students determined using a consecutive sampling technique based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using an online questionnaire about self-medication practices in the preceding 3 months. Among a total of 336 students, 137 (41%) reported using self-medication intending to prevent COVID-19, and 126 (92%) of these 137 took preventive supplements, mainly vitamins C, D, and E, and omega-3. Seven students reported the use of zinc, mainly in combination with other vitamins. Students who practiced self-medication lived closer to people confirmed with COVID-19, washed their hands more often, and desinfected their belongings more frequently than their counterparts (p<0.05). The mean duration for consuming vitamins was 11-16 days. Forty students (29%) used herbal medicine to prevent COVID-19;ginger, turmeric, honey, black seed, cutcherry, and Curcuma were the most often consumed herbal remedies. Fourteen students (10%) reported taking over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms related to COVID-19, including antipyretic, analgesic, antiseptic, antihistamine, decongestant, antitussive, and expectorant medications. Most respondents (82%) purchased their medications at pharmacies, and 11 (9%) obtained them from online shops. These findings show the high rate of self-medication using vitamins and herbal remedies for COVID-19 prevention among university medical students. Further studies are needed to explore students' knowledge about the risks of self-medication including the use of herbal medicines.Copyright © 2022 Marmara University Press.
ABSTRACT
Traditional medicine is a reliable source for treating many diseases in Sudan. It is widely recognized in Sudan, as no Sudanese house is devoid of medicinal herbs. The Sudanese people and their historical stock of knowledge are distinguished by their knowledge and the many applications of herbs in treatment. This reference paper aims to collect all the available information about the use of medicinal plants in Sudan to treat disease or prevent it. Sudanese medicinal plants include a variety of plants and there are many medicinal applications for these plants in the world. According to the information reached by the paper, there are many therapeutic medical applications of these plants in the treatment of various bacterial infections, including digestive diseases, malaria, diabetes, rheumatic pain, respiratory diseases, jaundice, urinary tract infections, wounds, cancer and various microbial infections, according to the information reached by the paper. This reference is for a few groups of Sudanese medicinal plants such as tamarind, hibiscus, Acacia nilotica, Combretum hartmannianum, and Guiera senegalensis, etc. This review article also showed that these plants contain many biologically active substances as active ingredients, including flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, stimulants, terpenes, tannins, fatty acids and essential oils. Even though Sudanese people use herbal medicine to treat a wide range of illnesses, more research is needed to show that these plants are safe and effective for people to use. For example, phytochemical analysis, biochemical activity tests and toxicology studies should be done to show that these plants are safe and effective for people to use. Copyright © 2023 By Author(s). Published by TMR Publishing Group.
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, there is a large demand for nutrient-dense fruits to promote nutritional and metabolic human health. The production of commercial fruit crops is becoming progressively input-dependent to cope with the losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. A wide variety of underutilized crops, which are neither commercially cultivated nor traded on a large scale, are mainly grown, commercialized and consumed locally. These underutilized fruits have many advantages in terms of ease to grow, hardiness and resilience to climate changes compared to the major commercially grown crops. In addition, they are exceptionally rich in important phytochemicals and have medicinal value. Hence, their consumption may help to meet the nutritional needs of rural populations, such as those living in fragile arid and semi-arid regions around the world. In addition, local people are well aware of the nutritional and medicinal properties of these crops. Therefore, emphasis must be given to the rigorous study of the conservation and the nutritional characterization of these crops so that the future food basket may be widened for enhancing its functional and nutritional values. In this review, we described the ethnobotany, medicinal and nutritional values, biodiversity conservation and utilization strategies of 19 climate-resilient important, underutilized fruit crops of arid and semi-arid regions (Indian jujube, Indian gooseberry, lasora, bael, kair, karonda, tamarind, wood apple, custard apple, jamun, jharber, mahua, pilu, khejri, mulberry, chironji, manila tamarind, timroo, khirni).
ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 outbreak had caused serious damages for business and tourism in most regions in Indonesia. To overcome the loss, the government of Indonesia came up with Super Priority Tourism Development Program and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of tourism in Indonesia. The government synergizes with each other to make this program. This program was focused on 2 tourist area;Likupang and Labuan Bajo. The aim of this workshop was to train and prepare young and new entrepreneurs in making Wastra to best support the local tourism. The training utilized tamarind gutta as the main material that acted as cold wax in the making of Batik. Tamarind gutta is made of dried tamarind seeds powder mixed with vegetable fat. It acted as barrier to separate one color to another during the coloring of Batik. It can be used on silk, polyester and cotton. The technique used to apply tamarind gutta is putting it into a piping bag and securing it by tying the bag. Cut the tip of the bag and start placing the tamarind gutta on the cloth. This workshop was expected to expand the production of local crafts. To achieve success in the implementation of this workshop, participants were provided with assistance through the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach which prioritized the utilization of local assets and potentials owned by the local community. There were 30 attendees attending this workshop in total. And through this workshop, attendees had successfully made shawls with their own local motifs such as the sea panorama, palm trees, flowers, etc.
ABSTRACT
A massive transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which happens particularly in developing countries has continuously triggered a COVID-19 tsunami and may genuinely increase the mortality number. The significant mortality rate caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has made it a major world problem. Viral infectivity could arise from the lack of information on the specific antiviral drug. Tamarindus indica has been proven to be a potential antiviral through in vivo research as it decreases viral load in animal viruses. Nevertheless, at the preliminary stage, evidence-based approach like in silico study is necessitated to evaluate its potential as an antiviral in humans. This study screened the content of the active compounds of Tamarindus indica and identified its potential as an antiviral toward SARS-CoV-2 through an entry inhibitor mechanism using bioinformatics tools. Sample retrieval was carried out in the database, then the sample was identified for drug-likeness on the server. Likewise, molecular docking and dynamic simulations were carried out on the identified bioactive compounds. The results showed that all the bioactive compounds possess drug-like molecules and β-sitosterol has the most negative binding affinity. Tamarindus indica is predicted to be an antiviral candidate for SARS-CoV-2 with an entry inhibitor mechanism through a compound, specifically called β-sitosterol.