Passiflora foetida L. (Passifloraceae), a widely growing perennial climber, has been used in traditional medicine for treating many ailments. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ethanolic extract of P. foetida (EEPF) whole plant on gastric ulcer. The antiulcer effects of EEPF at 100 and 200 mg/kg doses were evaluated on ethanol and aspirin-induced gastric ulcer models. The antioxidant parameters and histological changes in gastric tissue of ulcer rats were also determined in both the models. P. foetida treatment significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the ulcer index and significantly (P < 0.01) increased the gastric pH of both ethanol and aspirin-induced ulcer rats. P. foetida showed significant (P < 0.01) reduction in lipid peroxidation and increase in reduced glutathione levels. The observations confirm that EEPF whole plant has antiulcer and antioxidant activities.

Background: This study focused on the ethnobotanical study on native plants of Bargarh district of western Odisha, India in relieving urogenital ailments. Methods:The study area was visited regularly and close interaction were made with the senior tribal people involved with herbal medicines. During field work, interviews were conducted with local educated villagers, the herbal healer, old woman and medicinal plant vendors. A total of 42 healers form Binjhal tribes (Dravidian ethnic group) were interviewed from the10 selected blocks.Results: A total of 28 species belong to 27 genera and 17 families were focused to have ethnobotanical significance towards urogenital ailments. Among the 28 plants species, 12 (43%) trees species, eight (29%) shrubs, six (21%) herbs species and two (7) climber species were recorded. Various parts of these species were used by the natives, of these roots of highest number of species (8) were used, followed by leaves (7), barks (4), seeds and fruits of three species each; flowers, gums, corollas, and whole plants of one species each. Conclusions:The present study showing that there was an abundance of huge knowledge within the different ethnic communities that were not explored yet. Due to lack of communication and systematic transmission among the young generation the ethnobotanical knowledge may be declined. Hence it is urgent to document the ethnobotanical knowledge of old age people. Several species such as Achyranthes aspera var. indica, Bauhinia racemosa, Cassia auriculata, Celosia argentea, Gloriosa superba, Terminalia bellirica, etc. can be further studied for their pharmacological activity and active compounds.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract