Evaluation of Toxic Effects of Dictamnus albus L. Extracts on PC-12 and SHSY-5Y Cell Lines and Investigation of Antioxidant Activity

This study investigated the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of the Dictamnus albus L. plant grown in Turkiye. The aerial parts and roots of the plant were evaluated qualitatively in terms of chemical content. Total phenol and flavonoid amounts were calculated by spectrophotometric methods, antioxidant activity was tested with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity assay. In addition, cell viability determination in PC-12 and SHSY-5Y cell lines was evaluated by performing MTT (3-4,5-dimethyl-thiazolyl-2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test. According to the results, both parts of the plant gave negative results in the tannin, cyanogenetic glycoside, anthraquinone, cardiac glycoside, and anthocyanoside identification tests, while they gave positive results in the alkaloid, coumarin, saponin, carbohydrate identification tests. While the total amount of phenol was calculated as 77.13 +/- 5.73 mgGAE gexracts-1 in the extract prepared with methanol from the aerial parts of the plant (D.A Herba), it was calculated as 43.81 +/- 9.49 mgGAE g(exracts)-1 in the extract prepared from the roots (D.A Root). The total flavonoid content could only be calculated in the D.A Herba extract (19.11 +/- 0.16 mgCA gextract-1). Although the DPPH radical scavenging effect of the extracts was higher in D.A Herba extract, the ABTS radical scavenging effects were found similar in both D.A Herba and D.A Root extracts. According to the toxicity test, D.A Root extract reduced the viability below 50% (43.17 +/- 3.44%) at 500 mu g mL(-1), but D.A Herba extract was found to be more toxic at the same concentration with 19.53 +/- 0.183% in the PC-12 cell line. However, D.A. Herba and D.A.Root extract increased cell proliferation in the SHSY-5Y cell line at 3.25 mu g/mL concentrations with 122.87 +/- 6.29 and 112.78 +/- 7.00%, respectively. The results suggest that D. albus may be a promising candidate for the new phytopharmaceuticals due to its neuroprotective effects

Use of medicinal plants by individuals diagnosed with mental illness: A qualitative study

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? Medicinal plants are a part of everyday life. Medicinal plants have many effects on the lives of individuals diagnosed with mental illness. What the paper adds to existing knowledge? Since there is no qualitative study in which individuals diagnosed with mental illness provided a detailed explanation of their views about the use of medicinal plants, this study will fill a gap in the literature and guide mental health nurses. This study provides information for mental health nurses about how individuals diagnosed with mental illness evaluate medicinal plants, what it means to them and the effects of medicinal plants. It provides ideas about the use of medicinal plants as a tool to protect and improve mental health. In addition, since the majority of the studies on mental illnesses and medicinal plants are quantitative studies, it was thought that this study was different from the seminal studies in the literature and could offer new ideas for future studies. What are the implications for practice? The results of this study show mental health nurses that the positive aspects of medicinal plants can be used to maintain and improve the mental health of individuals diagnosed with mental illness. Mental health nurses should evaluate the treatment and maintenance process in detail, considering that medicinal plants may interact with drug treatment or the risks of using medicinal plants in terms of adverse effects. Moreover, mental health nurses should fight against the negative aspects of medicinal plants. Mental health nurses and individuals diagnosed with mental illness should be made aware of the use of medicinal plants. Aim There was no qualitative study found in which individuals diagnosed with mental illness explained their views in detail about the use of medicinal plants. It is therefore thought that this study will fill this gap in the literature and guide mental health nurses in the field. The research was carried out to determine the use of medicinal plants by individuals diagnosed with mental illness. Method This research was a qualitative study conducted using the case study design. Ten individuals diagnosed with mental illness for at least 10 years, determined by the purposeful sampling method were interviewed. The data were collected between March and April 2022 with information form and semi-structured interview form and analysed with the content analysis method. Findings Four of the participants had depression, four had anxiety and two had mood disorders. Themes were determined to be a source of healing (ointment for the soul, body tonic and organic and nature's miracles) and cultural accumulation (faith and inheritance, counselling helpline). Conclusion Participants described medicinal plants as a source of healing, stating that medicinal plants are good for bodily and mental health and provide purification. Individuals stated that the information about medicinal plants represents cultural accumulation as an inheritance, they applied them as a counselling helpline in case of illness. Implications for Practice The positive effects of medicinal plant use can be supported by mental health nurses. Considering that medicinal plants may interact with the drug treatment, the use of medicinal plants should be evaluated in detail by mental health nurses