Medicinal Plants of Israel: A Model Approach to Enable an Efficient, Extensive, and Comprehensive Field Survey

Abstract

Background: Israel has a large variety of indigenous plants due to its unique geography, connecting three continents with different climate zones; however, local species have not been systematically screened.Methods: Plant samples were collected during/immediately after the rainy season from eight climate zones. Following collection, extracts were created within 24 hours. Field-deployable bioassays assessing 12 types of antidisease/health protection activity were performed within 48 hours using a rapid, accurate paradigm for bioexploration based on the Screen to Nature (STN) technique developed by the Global Institute of BioExploration (GIBEX). Plant extracts were assessed for medicinal activity on a scale of 0 (no activity) to 3 (most potent).Results: More than 1,100 plant samples derived from 614 plants belonging to 85 families were screened. Approximately 60% belonged to 12 families, notably the Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceaen and Brassicaceae families. About 60% of samples showed at least one high-potency bioactivity (3/3); 20 plants exhibited 3-4 antidisease/health protection activities. Plants growing in areas with more extreme conditions showed more bioactivity compared to those in less harsh climates. Antibacterial and antifungal activity, capacity for glucosidase detection and inhibition, and antioxidant activity were most common; protozoa, roundworm, and fl at worm lethality, activity for planaria regeneration, protease detection and inhibition, and anthocyanin were also seen. There were sixteen plant samples that exhibited activity in a dose response manner using the STN assays as well as in using the Minimum Inhibitory concentration tests. Conclusions:The Screen to Nature (STN) technique enables rapid, accurate fi eld-deployable screening of diverse plant species for multiple anti-infectious/health protection activities. By using this technique at least 16 plant samples were identifi ed as plants with potential to serve as a source of biological material for medicinal purposes. GIBEX is guided by the pioneering "Reversing the Flow" paradigm intended to bring simple, reliable, predictive, and fi eld deployable pharmacological screens (assays) to diff erent regions of the world, using the Screens-to-Nature (STN) technology developed by leading researchers at Rutgers, the University of Illinois, and the University of North Carolina. STN technology has already been successfully transferred to Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and other nations [18,19]. Gili

Comparative Characteristics of Antibacterial Activity of Plants Growing in the Central Part of the Republic of Tajikistan

“…Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of plant extract by Screens-to-Nature Method. We used modified Screens-to-Nature (STN) bioactivity assays developed by Global Institute for BioExploration [11,20,21]. Specifically, antibacterial assays were performed in Multiwell Polystyrene Greiner Bio-One 24-well plates, which were provided from the plant laboratory of Rutgers University, USA, i.e.…”