Quantitative assessment of air quality in different indoor and outdoor environments in rural Bhutan

The study quantified air quality in different microenvironments in rural Bhutan, for the first time in this mountainous country. The findings clearly demonstrated significant air pollution problems in the microenvironments investigated, originating from diversity of indoor and outdoor sources, and indicating that rural residents in Bhutan are being exposed to high concentrations of multiple pollutants. The outcomes of the study are of significance in informing policy formulation not only in Bhutan, but also in other developing countries, particularly for Himalayan nations given the shared geographical zones and common cultural and social practices

Indigenous Uses, Phytochemical Analysis, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Australian Tropical Medicinal Plants

Australian tropical plants have been a rich source of food (bush food) and medicine to the first Australians (Aboriginal people), who are believed to have lived for more than 50,000 years. Plants such as spreading sneezeweed (Centipeda minima), goat’s foot (Ipomoea pes-caprae), and hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa and D. polyandra) are a few popular Aboriginal medicinal plants. Thus far, more than 900 medicinal plants have been recorded in the tropical region alone, and many of them are associated with diverse ethnomedicinal uses that belong to the traditional owners of Aboriginal people. In our effort to find anti-inflammatory lead compounds in collaboration with Aboriginal communities from their medicinal plants, we reviewed 78 medicinal plants used against various inflammation and inflammatory-related conditions by Aboriginal people. Out of those 78 species, we have included only 45 species whose crude extracts or isolated pure compounds showed anti-inflammatory properties. Upon investigating compounds isolated from 40 species (for five species, only crude extracts were studied), 83 compounds were associated with various anti-inflammatory properties. Alphitolic acid, Betulinic acid, Malabaric acid, and Hispidulin reduced proinflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and 2) with IC50 values ranging from 11.5 to 46.9 uM. Other promising anti-inflammatory compounds are Brevilin A (from Centipeda minima), Eupalestin, and 5′-methoxy nobiletin (from Ageratum conyzoides), Calophyllolide (from Calophyllum inophyllum), and Brusatol (from Brucea javanica). D. polyandra is one example of an Aboriginal medicinal plant from which a novel anti-inflammatory benzoyl ester clerodane diterpenoid compound was obtained (compound name not disclosed), and it is in the development of topical medicines for inflammatory skin diseases. Medicinal plants in the tropics and those associated with indigenous knowledge of Aboriginal people could be a potential alternative source of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics

Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan: A Hot Spot for Wild Felids

The non-uniformity of the distribution of biodiversity makes allocation of the limited resources available for conservation of biodiversity a difficult task. Approaches such as biodiversity hotspot identification, endemic bird areas, crisis ecoregions, global 200 ecoregions, and the Last of the Wild are used by scientists and international conservation agencies to prioritize conservation efforts. As part of the biodiverse Eastern Himalayan region, Bhutan has been identified as a conservation priority area by all these different approaches, yet data validating these assessments are limited. To examine whether Bhutan is a biodiversity hot spot for a key taxonomic group, we conducted camera trapping in the lower foothills of Bhutan, in Royal Manas National Park, from November 2010 to February 2011. We recorded six species of wild felids of which five are listed on the IUCN Red List: tiger Panthera tigris, golden cat Pardofelis temminckii, marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa and common leopard Panthera pardus. Our study area of 74 km(2) has c. 16% of felid species, confirming Bhutan as a biodiversity hot spot for this group

Malaria elimination in Bhutan: asymptomatic malaria cases in the Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers from India

In 2018, Bhutan reported 54 cases of malaria, of which six were indigenous, 14 introduced and 34 imported. Considering the continuous reduction in the number of indigenous cases, Bhutan plans to eliminate malaria by 2025 under the Bhutan Malaria Elimination Strategy. The study was conducted to assess the presence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection in both, Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers to guide the elimination strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2016 in 750 Bhutanese people and 473 migrant workers. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections were investigated by using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection based on PCR was 0.27% (95% CI: 0.05–1.07%) among Bhutanese people with a mean age of 43 years old. The proportions of males and females were 45% and 55%, respectively. Among migrant workers, the prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection was 0.42% (95% CI: 0.07– 1.69%) with a mean age of 30 years old. The majority of migrant workers were from the neighboring Indian State of West Bengal (57.51%), followed by Assam (12.26%). RDT in both study groups did not detect any plasmodial infection. The presence of a low prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection indicates that the current elimination strategies and interventions are effective

Special Sensory Function Deficit among Patients with Post-COVID-19 Visiting a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Several patients who recover from COVID-19 infection continue to have persistent symptoms even after recovery from the disease. The special sensory functions such as taste, smell and hearing are affected by COVID-19 infection even after recovery from the illness. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of special sensory deficits among patients with post-COVID-19 visiting a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients who recovered from COVID-19 visiting a tertiary care centre from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. After obtaining ethical approval from the Research Ethics Board of Health, data on patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 one year ago was obtained from the surveillance register from the Ministry of Health. They were contacted by phone call and invited to the centre to participate in the study. Appropriate clinical examination and tests were carried out to assess the special sensory deficits. A convenience sampling technique was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 271 patients, the prevalence of sensory function deficit was 39 (14.39%) (10.21-18.57, 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The prevalence of special sensory deficits after recovery from COVID-19 infections was found to be similar to the findings of other studies

Inula racemosa Hook. f. Pushkarmool: Its Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemicals, and Pharmacological Activities

Inula racemose Hook.f. is one of the important medicinal plants used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese Traditional Medicine(CTM), Bhutanese Sowa Rigpa Medicine (BSM), and European Homeopathy. The extract of Inula racemose is used against cough, dyspnoea, asthma, tuberculosis, pains, acute enteritis, dysentery, and as an expectorant. It is also prepared with other plant extracts for treating angina, hyperlipidaemia, hepatic ischaemia and ischaemic heart diseases. Since this plant is used in many cultures or traditional medicines for treating various ailments, it bears significant economic, commercial, and conservation values. This chapter discusses the distribution, taxonomy, ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and the trade and industry of Inula racemosa

Phytopharmaceutical properties and quality assessment of two Himalayan medicinal plants, Meconopsis horridula and Meconopsis simplicifolia

Introduction: Bhutanese traditional medicine (BTM) is an integral part of the mainstream health care system in Bhutan. It uses more than 230 species of medicinal plants, including the Meconopsis species. Although traditional BTM methods are used to check the quality of medicinal plants, these methods have limitations in differentiating the closely related species. There is a need for integrating traditional methods with modern analytical techniques to efficiently monitor the quality and safety of medicinal plants. Here, we studied two closely related Meconopsis species using both traditional and modern analytical approaches. Materials and methods: Meconopsis horridula Hook. F & Thompson and Meconopsis simplicifolia (D. Don) Walpers were collected from Lingzhi, Bhutan. The samples were tested and compared for physicochemical properties and extractive values. Their microscopy and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) profiles were also compared. A literature review was performed to document isolated phytochemicals and their biological activities. Results: Two Meconopsis species revealed distinct macro-and microscopic characteristics. The physicochemical analysis and the HPTLC fingerprinting generated adequate data to authenticate these two species while preparing 16 essential traditional medicine drugs (ETMDs) in BTM. A literature review revealed that the two Meconopsis species contain alkaloids and flavonoids, which can be used as biomarker compounds for quality screening. Conclusions: M. horridula and M. simplicifolia could be differentiated based on their taxonomical features, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, HPTLC fingerprint profiles, and physicochemical values. The accomplished pharmacognostic properties of the two species can be used as important parameters in ensuring the quality and safety of BTM

Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.) Major Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits, and Pharmacological Activities

Auricularia auricula-judae is a non-toxic and medicinal fungus that belongs to the heterobasidiae of the basidiomycete family. It grows in various ecological conditions and is geographically diverse in distribution, spreading from North America, Europe, and Asia to other tropical and temperate areas. It has waxy and cartilaginous fruiting bodies. Typically, it is a purplish-brown in color, which turns black when dried. It is recorded as the oldest edible mushroom being cultivated by humans. Due to its high fiber content, essential amino acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, trace elements, flavonoids, sterols, melanin polyphenols with antioxidant and probiotic properties, it has gained popularity in culinary practice and in food production. In many folk medicines, the fungus is used as an astringent for treating sore throats, jaundice, sore eyes, tonsillitis, ophthalmia, laryngocele, diabetes, cancer, cardiac problems, renal failure, constipation, hemorrhoids, hemoptysis, angina, diarrhea, and as a blood tonic. The pharmacological studies of its crude extracts and compounds demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, radio-protective, anticancer, and cytotoxic activities. This chapter discusses the distribution, taxonomy, ethnobotany, pharmacological, and phytochemical profiles of A. auricula-judae

Datura stramonium (Thorn Apple or Devil’s Trumpet)

Datura stramonium L. is a bushy annual herb belonging to the family Solanaceae. It is known by many common names, but the popular ones are thornapple, moonflower, hell’s bells, devil’s trumpet, and evil seeds. The plant is distributed worldwide, and it is found as a weed in garbage dumps, livestock enclosures, and wastelands. It is accredited with both toxic and medicinal properties. All plant parts are toxic if ingested and smoked, often resulting in delirium, hallucination, photophobia, hyperthermia, neurotoxicity, and severe mydriasis. Toxin concentration varies by parts, age, habitat, and local climate. Traditionally, the plant is used for skin disorders, inflammation, toothache, cough, fever, bronchitis, convulsion, asthma, burn, ulcer, wound, rheumatism, sciatica, and gout. The plant contains several phytochemicals, including tropane alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and amino acids. Tropane alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine are attributed to plants’ toxicity. Pharmacologically, the plant exhibits antifungal, antiasthmatic, larvicidal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, anti-rheumatoid, anti-ulcer, and antinociceptive activities. This chapter will describe the traditional global uses of a plant and the current status of its toxicological, pharmacological, and phytochemical profiles