Ethnopharmaceutical knowledge in Samogitia region of Lithuania: where old traditions overlap with modern medicine

Abstract

BackgroundModern ethnopharmaceutical studies are still quite unusual in Northern Europe. Data regarding the medicinal use of plants, animals, and fungi and also of spiritual rituals of healing is obtained mostly from ethnographic and folkloric sources in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to assess the ethnopharmaceutical knowledge regarding traditional use of natural substances for medicinal purposes in the Samogitia region and compare with prior research conducted 10 years prior in the same region.MethodsThe study was performed during 2016–2017 in the Samogitia region (Lithuania) using the conventional technique of ethnobotanical studies. Twenty-eight respondents aged between 50 and 92 years were selected for the study using snowball techniques. Information was collected using semi-structured and structured interviews. The obtained information was recorded indicating local names of plants, their preparation techniques, parts used, modes of administration, and application for therapeutic purposes.ResultsDuring the research, 125 records of raw materials of herbal origin belonging to 55 families were made. The Asteraceae family had the highest number of references, 147 (16.6%). It was stated that the most commonly used medicinal plants were the raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) (100%), marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) (96.4%), camomile (Matricaria recutita L.) (92.9%), and small linden tree (Tilia cordata Mill.) (92.9%). The most commonly used material of animal origin was the toad (Bufo bufo) (89%). The most commonly used kind of fungi was the common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) (71%), and the material of the mineral origin was sand (50%). Comparative analysis of the two surveys in this region showed similar results and produced a large amount of ethnopharmaceutical information.ConclusionsLithuania belongs to the countries known for urban ethnobotany where old traditions overlap with modern healing methods. Also, because modern medical assistance is quite expensive, self-medication with home-made medicines is still popular in Lithuania. It is important to collect and systematize this information as soon as possible, to save it as a traditional Lithuanian heritage and also use it for scientific investigations.

UHPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS and HPTLC profiling of ash leaf samples from different commercial and natural sources and their in vitro effects on mediators of inflammation

“…In European traditional medicine, common ash leaves ( Fraxinus excelsior L., Oleaceae family), which have been known from the time of Hippocrates, have been used in rheumatism, arthritis, gout, and neuralgia treatments; as a diuretic and anti‐catarrhal agent; and as an external treatment for infected or delayed healing wounds . Ash leaves are also claimed to enhance circulation and to have hypotensive effects .…”

“…In European traditional medicine, common ash leaves (Fraxinus excelsior L., Oleaceae family), which have been known from the time of Hippocrates, have been used in rheumatism, arthritis, gout, and neuralgia treatments; as a diuretic and anti-catarrhal agent; and as an external treatment for infected or delayed healing wounds. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Ash leaves are also claimed to enhance circulation and to have hypotensive effects. 1,10 Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the European Medicines Agency has recommended ash leaves for traditional uses (1) to treat minor articular pain and (2) to increase the amount of urine for flushing minor urinary complaints.…”

Ethnobotanical Study of Cultivated Plants in Kaišiadorys District, Lithuania: Possible Trends for New Herbal Based Medicines

“…During this ethnobotanical research, 30 people were interviewed, 25 of whom agreed to communicate, and 24 of them were females and 1 male. As we have mentioned in another study done in Lithuania, the main reason for higher number of women was the fact that traditional knowledge of herbal medicine in Lithuania was passed down through the female line [17]. The majority of respondents in the study (64%) were of older generation, 24% of whom were aging adults (60-74 years) and 40% were elderly (75-90 years).…”

“…Now it focuses on “unnoticed” Eastern European countries, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Lithuania [14]. Despite the increasing number of ethnopharmaceutical studies in Europe, the number of publications from Lithuania in scientific journals is minimal [15–17]. Several previous studies have shown that it is important to collect and systematize this information as quickly as possible, to preserve it as a part of traditional Lithuanian heritage and to successfully use it in further research.…”

Alantolactone Enhances the Phagocytic Properties of Human Macrophages and Modulates Their Proinflammatory Functions

“…I. helenium extract relieves symptoms of bronchial and throat infection, bronchitis, catarrh and colds ( Ivancheva and Stantcheva, 2000 ; Leporatti and Ivancheva, 2003 ; Jarić et al., 2015 ). It also has an antitussive effect and aids coughing up of mucus ( Seca et al., 2014 ; Shikov et al., 2014 ; Pranskuniene et al., 2018 ).…”