Informant consensus factor and antimicrobial activity of ethno medicines used by the tribes of wayanad district kerala

The ethno botanical investigation of medicinal plants used by the Kurichia, Kuruma, Kattunaika, Adiya and Paniya tribes of Wayanad district, Kerala were recorded. One thousand(1000)ethno medicines derived from 500 plants used by the tribal medical practitioners weredocumented. Of this, 10 species were frequently used for treating various infectious diseases. An informant consensus factor was calculated for 10 species which are being frequently used. The leaf extracts of these plants were screened for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureusand Aspergillus niger.Among the plants screenedGarcinia gummi gutta(Clusiaceae) was found to possess highly significantantibacterial activity and significant antifungal activity was observed inNothapodytes nimmoniana (Icacinaceae) which possess highest antifungal activity. These two species have shown the highest informant consensus factor values

Visual Ethnography and Urban Practice Investigation: “The Palestinian Urban Practices in Gaza Strip During War 2014“

It is hard to imagine the forms of human behaviors and reactions in dangerous environments where there are conflicts and wars. However, through the conflict and wars, image has become the factual witness and the powerful tool of bringing out facts and details. The visual ethnography is an investigation approach that depends on using photographs and media images as a methodological tool in studying and analyzing the social behavior. The war in Gaza is worth highlighting due to the new cultural and urban realities and reactions that were produced and formed through the act of occupation and Palestinians will to struggle and endure on the land. This research highlights the Palestinian urban behavior towards the violent degradation of built forms in the space of conflict in Gaza during and after the last war in July 2014, depending on analyzing the important or basic meaning of experience that includes both the external appearance and inner consciousness based on memory, image, and meaning. This research will show how visual ethnography has been used to document events and phenomena that related to the urban practices in Gaza during the war. However, the photographs show concrete data and vital details of everyday events, activity and behaviors, especially in such affected environment that’s full of violence, fear and suffering. The findings will show the depth of the relation between photography and architecture, and how can using photography in research gives rich content, and accuracy and logic analysis with evidence for the violations that occur, However, it can be an effective tool to reach the policy makers

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Nummular headache: Clinico-epidemiological features in South Indian population

Context: Nummular headache (NH) is a primary disorder characterized by head pain exclusively felt in a small-rounded area typically 2–6 cm in diameter. Aims: The aim of this review is to study the clinical and epidemiological features of NH in a patient population of South India and to compare this with that of described in the international literature. Settings and Design: A prospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: Patients attending the medicine and neurology outpatient departments of a tertiary referral hospital in South India diagnosed to have NH as per the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 beta (2013) criteria were studied over 30 months. All of the patients had a normal neurological examination. Neuroimaging findings were normal, except in one patient. Results: A total of 19 females and 10 males were studied. The mean age of onset was 47.62 years (range 36–60). The duration of headache varied from a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 5 years, with a mean of 24.17 months. The site of headache was predominantly in the parietal area 15 (51.72%), followed by the occipital area 7 (24.13%). The mean diameter of the affected area was 3.23 cm. The intensity of the headache proved to be mild to moderate with a mean visual analog scale score of 5.03. The quality of pain was mainly felt as burning dysesthesia 12 (41.38%). In the majority of patients, i.e. 21 (72.41%), pain was chronic and continuous. None of the patients had any significant trophic change even though paresthesias, dysesthesias, and allodynia were reported by a significant minority of patients, i.e. 9 (31.03%). Only one (3.45%) patient gave a history of head injury. Ten (34.48%) out of 29 patients had other types of concurrent headaches; the majority of which proved to be migrainous, i.e. 7 (24.14%), 2 patients (6.89%) with tension headache, and 1 patient (3.45%) with trigeminal neuralgia. Conclusion: Our study proves the existence of the newly described primary headache syndrome called NH in South Indian population. In comparing our results with the international literature, the number of similarities is much greater than the differences. The etiology of pain in our series appeared to be primarily peripheral with a role for central pain sensitization in some cases due to a variety of concurrent central causes of head pain

Clinical Features and Psychiatric Comorbidity of Epicrania Fugax

Background: Epicrania fugax (EF) is a rare newly described primary headache characterized by paroxysms of unilateral pain radiating across one hemicranium. Aim: We aimed to describe 10 new cases of EF and assess the psychiatric comorbidity. Materials and Methods: Cases of EF were identified from patients attending the neurology outpatient department of a tertiary level referral and teaching hospital by the first author during a period extending from January 1, 2015 to April 31, 2017. Case ascertainment was done as per ICHD 3 beta criteria from among patients presenting with complaints of headache after detailed history and clinical examination. Clinical and demographic features were noted and patients were subjected to Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview to screen for psychiatric comorbidity followed by Becks Anxiety/Depression Inventory. Results: A total of 10 subjects were obtained during the study period, 4 males, and 6 females. Mean age of subjects was 45.3 years (standard deviation-10). Seventy percent had anteroposterior, and 30% had posteroanterior radiation of pain. The most common character of pain was stabbing (50%) followed by electrical (40%) and pressing (10%). None of the subjects had autonomic symptoms or focal symptoms in the scalp while 30% subjects had hyperesthesia in the affected area of the scalp. Six subjects (60%) patients had episodic course while 40% had chronic course. Sixty percent had comorbid anxiety while one (10%) had comorbid depression. A significant relation was obtained between duration of disease and occurrence of anxiety as well as Becks Anxiety Inventory scores while there was no correlation with attack duration. There was also a nonsignificant correlation between visual analog score and occurrence of anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Our study conclusively proves the existence of EF as a rare, distinct primary headache syndrome in our study population. It has a significant psychiatric comorbidity consisting of 60% of generalized anxiety disorder, 10% of panic attacks, and 10% of depression

Traditional herbal remedies used for management of reproductive disorders in Wayanad district, Kerala

The present study reports the medicinal plants commonly used by different tribal communities located in Wayanad district, Kerala to cure reproductive disorders. The plant parts utilized, methods of preparation of remedies, tribes associated, status, habit and the place where it was practiced are documented. The ethno botanical indigenous tribal knowledge was collected by visiting traditional healers and documenting the medicinal plants used. A total of 35 plant species belonging to 28 families were documented and identified as herbal remedies for reproductive problems. Most species used were from Fabaceae (17.14), followed by Annonaceae and Moraceae (5.71). The majority of herbal preparations for reproductive afflictions were prepared from the roots (20) followed by bark (17.04) while other plant parts are also used in varied percentage. It was observed that fresh plant material was used to prepare remedies and was prepared as mixtures of multiple ingredients from different plants. The information gained on frequently used traditional remedies will give some leads for future targets for further analysis in order to develop new drugs for reproductive disorders in humans

Investigations on anti-diabetic medicinal plants used by tribes of Wayanad district, Kerala

The present study aims to explore the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the plants and their preparations used to cure diabetes by the tribes of Mananthavady, Bathery and Vythiri taluks of Wayanad district, Kerala. Preparation of ethnomedicine using various plant parts and other information related to tribes associated; habitat, habit and status of medicinal plants recorded are highlighted. Documentation of indigenous knowledge related to cure diabetes was made by interaction with traditional healers. A total of 23 species belonging to 17 families possessing antidiabetic property were recorded. The review of literature revealed that 16 species have already been proven to be antidiabetic through scientific analysis. However reports on antidiabetic properties of Andrographis wightiana T. Anderson & Thwaites, Psilotrichum elliotii Baker & Clarke, Solanum violaceum Ortega ssp. multiflorum (Clarke), Justicia trinervia L., Dracaena terniflora Roxb., Elaeagnus conferta Roxb. and Kydia calycina Roxb. are lacking. The present study is successful in identifying seven medicinal plants used by the tribes for possessing antidiabetic activity. Most of the herbal preparations for curing diabetes were prepared from the fruits followed by leaves and bark

Plants used by the tribes for the treatment of digestive system disorders in Wayanad district, Kerala

The tribes of Wayanad depend basically on different plants for their treatment. The field work documented about thirty two plant species used against digestive disorders. The plants used for the treatment with their botanical names, local name, mode of administration, status of plants and the tribes associated are listed in the form of table. Five different tribes, the kurichia, kuruma, kattunaika, paniya and adiya of Wayand district of Kerala state, India were interviewed. The interviewed tribal groups use plant parts either single or in combined form to treat digestive disorders like piles, ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, pinworm, vomiting, acidity, chest burning, jaundice and stomach pain. The tribal groups do not want to share their ancient traditional knowledge with other people. Moreover, the existing knowledge on traditional uses of medicinal plants are declining fast because of the lack of interest of young people to learn the traditional knowledge from the old tribal medical practitioner. So the documentation and conservation of the knowledge is essential