Poorly Investigated Ecuadorian Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Ecuador has, in proportion of its size, one of the richest floras of Latin America and the world; the country also has an immense cultural heritage due to the presence of different ethnic groups that have implemented the use of many wild and cultivated plants, mainly as medicinal remedies. In a recent publication, we have summarized the results of research activities recently carried out on about 120 plants native to Ecuador, which includes the structures of non-volatile isolated compounds, as well as the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and the in vitro tested biological activity data. For the sake of completeness, we have collected in this paper the main information obtained from recent ethnobotanical investigations on other important Ecuadorian medicinal plants for which phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies are, however, still largely lacking. Thus, one of the objectives of this paper is to preserve the traditional knowledge of Ecuadorian Indigenous communities which, being transmitted orally, is in danger of becoming lost. Moreover, it is our intention to stimulate more extensive studies on the rich medicinal flora of the country, which can provide economic and social benefits, especially to the people who traditionally cultivate or collect the plants.

Exploring Folklore Ecuadorian Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Components Focusing on Antidiabetic Potential: An Overview

“…Its native range extends to tropical & subtropical America, Nigeria, Ethiopia, S. Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Indian Ocean, India, and Sri Lanka. It serves a vital role in the traditional medicine of Ecuador because of its medicinal and environmental benefits [23,51]. The methanol extract from A. poiretii was found to possess antidiabetic properties, revealing moderate inhibition activity against α-glucosidase, an enzyme responsible for reducing post-meal blood sugar spikes, with calculated IC50 values of 46.3 μg/mL.…”

“…This plant grows primarily in the subalpine or subarctic biome. Its root is employed in the traditional medicine of Ecuador and is often consumed in its raw form [23]. The inhibitory effects of N. acuminata on α-glucosidase and α-amylase were analysed in this study.…”

“…During the last few decades, several medicinal plants like Allium sativa L., Trigonella Graecum Foenum, Silybum marianus, Citrullus colocynthis, Zingiber officinale, etc., have been useful in treating diabetes and are used empirically as anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic remedies [18][19][20][21][22]. Ecuadorian herbs like Foeniculum vulgare, Cajanus cajan, Urtica dioica, Verbena litoralis, etc., used in traditional medicine were found to exhibit anti-diabetic and anti-hypoglycemic activities [23][24][25][26][27]. Furthermore, the amalgamation of bioactive components present in the above-mentioned plants is not only responsible for combating diabetes but also for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fungal activities [28,29].…”

“…Several Ecuadorian ethnic groups rely extensively on medicinal plants to safeguard their medical condition [32]. The clinical expertise of traditional healer practitioners has been meticulously maintained over thousands of years [23]. Therefore, herbal drugs have gained legitimacy throughout the years because of the apparent efficacy and safety of plants [33].…”

Cinnamomum sp. and Pelargonium odoratissimum as the Main Contributors to the Antibacterial Activity of the Medicinal Drink Horchata: A Study Based on the Antibacterial and Chemical Analysis of 21 Plants

“…In addition, some of the plants have been used as part of a mixture with other well-known medicinal plants to augment their activity; for instance, Ocimum basilicum , Citrus x aurantium , and Origanum vulgare used in combination with Aaronsohnia factorovskyi , a carminative agent [ 8 ]. However, there is no evidence of antibacterial activity from either the horchata mixture or the contribution of each plant contained in the horchata, despite the antibacterial activity attributed to this medicinal drink, especially from plants collected from the Ecuadorian Andes region [ 17 ]. Moreover, information on the antibacterial activity of horchata plants towards pathogens described as having priority status by the WHO remains scarce [ 18 ].…”