Medicinal use compared with laboratory research : relation of traditional sceince and modern science

Appendix 3a of final reportThis report shows results of scientific testing in support of healers’ requests for scientific validation of their traditional medicine. The study evaluated ethnobotanical selected products for inflammatory conditions, since the Kekchi healers have considerable expertise in this area and it is also considered an appropriate area for self-medication by regulatory authorities. As well, a broad search of other agents including topical anti-infective agents, such as products used for minor fungal or bacterial infections was undertaken. Quantitative ethnobotany was used to select key medicinal plants with the healers for validation of medicinal activity at the University of Ottawa Medicinal Plant laboratory

Itzama project : sustainable indigenous development based on the ethnobotanical garden and traditional medicine concept; final report

Development in indigenous communities needs a culturally appropriate methodology and the full involvement of community elders. At the core of the project is the Belize Indigenous Training Institute (BITI) and Kekchi Healers Association (KHA), the Itzama Ethnobotanical Garden (IEG), Indian Creek, Belize and the Maya Mountains Ethnobotany and Ecology Project (MMEEP). In total, eighty-two species belonging to thirty-seven families were identified during the ethnobotanical interviews (Table 2). The three most important families used as immunomodulatory medicines were the Piperaceae (21 species), the Asteraceae (8 species), and the Rubiaceae (5 species). Inclusion of traditional medicine in modern medical care is now endorsed by WHO

Multiple indole glucosinolates and myrosinases defend Arabidopsis against Tetranychus urticae herbivory

rabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) defenses against herbivores are regulated by the jasmonate (JA) hormonal signaling pathway, which leads to the production of a plethora of defense compounds. Arabidopsis defense compounds include tryptophan-derived metabolites, which limit Arabidopsis infestation by the generalist herbivore two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. However, the phytochemicals responsible for Arabidopsis protection against T. urticae are unknown. Here, we used Arabidopsis mutants disrupted in the synthesis of tryptophan-derived secondary metabolites to identify phytochemicals involved in the defense against T. urticae. We show that of the three tryptophan-dependent pathways found in Arabidopsis, the indole glucosinolate (IG) pathway is necessary and sufficient to assure tryptophan-mediated defense against T. urticae. We demonstrate that all three IGs can limit T. urticae herbivory, but that they must be processed by myrosinases to hinder T. urticae oviposition. Putative IG breakdown products were detected in mite-infested leaves, suggesting in planta processing by myrosinases. Finally, we demonstrate that besides IGs, there are additional JA-regulated defenses that control T. urticae herbivory. Together, our results reveal the complexity of Arabidopsis defenses against T. urticae that rely on multiple IGs, specific myrosinases, and additional JA-dependent defenses

Indigenous ex situ conservation of Q'eqchi' Maya medicinal plant resources at the Itzamma Garden— Indian Creek, Belize, Central America

The Itzamma Garden and Medicinal Plant Project is a collaborative effort focused on identifying traditionally important plants used by the Q'eqchi' Maya of southern Belize. The Garden represents a cornerstone of the project where these plant resources (~130 in total, of which 102 have been identified to the species level) are cultivated ex situ as a means of providing primary healthcare by traditional healers. Here, we present a comprehensive agro-ecological survey of the Garden describing the layout and cultivation scenarios, development challenges encountered, and associated implementation strategies for improving site practices. A general recommendation for the adaptation of this strategy to other localities is the thorough depiction of ecological features based on interactions with local practitioners, for example, leading to the effective cultivation of plants, the enhancement of soil, and the surveillance of crop nutritional status and medicinal potency. We consider that the 'ethnobotanical garden approach' could provide a collaborative 'working model' for rural development, especially indigenous communities interfacing with their local agro-ecosystems

Anxiolytic activity and active principles of Piper amalago (Piperaceae), a medicinal plant used by the Q\u27eqchi\u27 Maya to treat susto, a culture-bound illness

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The medicinal plant, Piper amalago L. (Piperaceae), is used traditionally by Q\u27eqchi\u27 Maya healers for the treatment of susto a culture-bound syndrome. Previous research suggests that susto symptoms may be a manifestation of anxiety. The objectives were to characterize the effect of ethanolic extract of P. amalago in behavioral assays of anxiety at doses representative of traditional use and to isolate active principles. Materials and methods: Rats treated orally with low dose ethanolic extracts of P. amalago leaves (8-75mg/kg) were tested in several behavioral paradigms including the elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction (SI), and conditioned emotional response (CER) tests, and compared to diazepam, a positive control. The active anxiolytic principle was isolated by bioassay guided isolation using an in vitro GABAA competitive binding assay. Results: Extracts had significant anxiolytic activity in all behavioral tests, with the strongest activity in the SI and the CER paradigms. In an in vitro GABAA competitive binding assay, a 66.5µg/mL concentration of P. amalago ethanol extract displaced 50% of the GABAA-BZD receptor ligand [(3)H]-Flunitrazepam. Bioassay-guided fractionation identified a furofuran lignan, a molecule with structural similarity to yangambin, with high affinity for the GABAA-BZD receptor as the principle bioactive. Conclusion: The results suggest that the ethnobotanical use of this plant may have a pharmacological basis in its anxiolytic activity, as demonstrated in animal behaviour tests

A review of Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology of traditional medicines used by Q’eqchi' Maya healers of Xna'ajeb' aj Ralch'o'och', Belize.

This review describes an Indigenous led project by Q’eqchi’ Maya healers of Belize to strengthen and improve traditional botanical healing. Goals of the project were to conserve medicinal plant knowledge, leading to ethnobotanical studies, and to conserve the plants themselves, by creating a community ethnobotanical garden. A total of 169 medicinal species were collected in the ethnobotanical survey, which provided unique knowledge on many rainforest species of the wet lowland forest of Southern Belize, not found in neighbouring Indigenous cultures. Consensus on plant uses by the healers was high indicating a well conserved codified oral history. After horticultural experimentation by the healers, the Indigenous botanical garden provided a habitat for and conservation of 102 medicinal species including many epiphytes that were rescued from forested areas. Ethnopharmacological studies by the university partners showed a pharmacological basis for, and active principles of plants used for epilepsy and anxiety, for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, for dermatological mycoses, and for type 2 diabetes complications. Overall, the project has provided a model for Indigenous empowerment and First Nation’s science, as well as establishing this traditional medicine as an important, unified healing practice, that can safely and effectively provide primary healthcare in its cultural context.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effect of selected extracts on the modulation of insulin and AMPK pathway in H4IIE cells.

<p>The cells were treated for 18h with vehicle control, insulin (100 nM), EE or HWE plants extracts. Metformin (400 μM, 18 hours), AICAR (2 mM, 2 hours) or insulin (100 nM, 18 hours) was used as positive controls for AMPK or insulin pathways, respectively. Phosphorylation of AMPK (4A) and of Akt (4D) was measured by western blot and results (4B, 4E) expressed as means ± SE for 3 separate experiments, normalized to the vehicle-treated condition. # Denotes EE samples significantly different from vehicle control (p < 0.05), one-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's test. $ Denotes HWE samples significantly different from vehicle control (p < 0.05), one-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's test. Correlation results (4C) were analyzed by linear regression and the equation was y = -45.418x + 285.3 (R = 0.48, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p

Effect of selected extracts on expression of GLUT4, Insulin and AMPK pathway in C2C12 cells.

<p>Cells were differentiated and treated for 18 hours with vehicle or with EE and HWE of the 5 selected plants. Metformin (400 μM, 18 hours), AICAR (2 mM, 2 hours) or insulin (100 nM, 30 min) was applied as positive controls for the AMPK or insulin pathways, respectively. GLUT4 (3A), phosphorylation of AMPK (3D), phosphorylation of Akt (3G) were measured by western blot and results (3B, 3E, 3H) were expressed as means ± SE for 3 separate experiments, normalized to the vehicle-treated condition. # Denotes EE samples significantly different from vehicle control (p < 0.05), one-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's test. $ Denotes HWE samples significantly different from vehicle control (<i>p</i> < 0.05), one-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's test. * (<i>p</i> < 0.05), **(<i>p</i> < 0.01) and *** (<i>p</i> < 0.001) denote significant differences between EE and HWE counterpart, two-way ANOVA. Correlation results (3C, 3F) were analyzed by linear regression and the equations were y = 32.06x + 52.95 (R = 0.80, <i>p</i> < 0.05), y = 11.602x + 84.825 (R = 0.46, <i>p</i> < 0.05), respectively.</p

Metabolites analysis of selected hot water extracts based on stimulating glucose uptake activity.

<p>PCA scores (5A), OPLS-DA scores (5B) S-plot (5C) of UPLC-QTOF metabolome of HWE of Cree plants. Those stimulating glucose transport (<i>R</i>. <i>gromenlandicum</i>, <i>R</i>. <i>tomentosum</i>, and <i>S</i>. <i>purpurea</i>) grouped seperately from inactive ones (<i>K</i>. <i>angusfolia</i> was found to be an outlier and was excluded from the process). The 95% confidence interval for each group is given. In the S-plot, the metabolome of the active plants was compared with the inactive plants to identify discriminant biomarkers with <i>K</i>. <i>angustifolia</i> excluded. In Fig 5D, quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (Q3A, 50 μM) stimulated GU in C2C12 cells, 140% compared with vehicle control.</p