The Ethnobotanical Approach to Drug Discovery

Cox, Paul Alan; Balick, Michael J.

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0694-82

Cited by 352 publications

(211 citation statements)

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“…Resistance to the anti-microbial agents is recognized as a major global public health problem, infectious diseases are for approximately one-half of all cases of death in different beings (Iwu et al, 1999). For these reasons, international organizations including the WHO have encouraged studies pertaining to treatment and prevention of diarrheal diseases using traditional medical practices (Park, 2000), it is possible that antimicrobial compounds from plants may inhibit bacteria by different mechanism than the presently used antibiotics and may have a clinical value in treatment of resistant strains (Cox and Balick, 1994). Plants have long been a very important source of new drugs, many plant species have been screened for substances with therapeutic activity and for those medicinal plants are promising source of antidiarrheal drugs (Maikere-Faniyo et al, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro and in vivo Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves against Escherichia coli in Experimentally Infected Rats

Ibrahim¹

2015

Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci.

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| The present study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of Ocimum basilicum against infectious diarrhea caused by E. coli. Two experiments were performed in this present study; the first one is in vitro antibacterial activity of Ocimum basilicum ethanolic extract. The second experiment included study in vivo antibacterial activity of the extract after inducing diarrhea with oral pathogenic E. coli in five rats groups (eight rats of each). The results of the in vitro antibacterial study showed that E. coli was more sensitive to ethanolic extract of O.B in comparison with Gentamicin and Amikacin and it was resistant to the metronidazole, but E. coli was more sensitive to Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole. Two doses of O.B extract 100, 200 mg/kg. BW were used to treat this infection for fourteen days orally. The results of the in vivo study indicated that doses of 200 mg/kg BW O.B extract and 6.85 mg/kg. BW of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole were succeeded in returning the rectal E. coli count of infected rats to normal values before inducing infection in both kinds of therapy at the first week. Food intake, water intake and body weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased in comparison with others doses or groups. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that ethanolic extract of O.B leaves at dose 200 mg/kg. BW was more effective and safe in comparison with antibacterial agent and other O.B dose, this anti-diarrheal activity of O.B ethanolic extract may be due to its constituents of secondary metabolites that are responsible for the antibacterial activity with different mechanisms of action.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro and in vivo Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves against Escherichia coli in Experimentally Infected Rats

Ibrahim¹

2015

Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci.

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“…Evolution of highly resistant bacterial strains has compromised the use of newer generations of antibiotics (Levy, 2002). Although the active constituents may occur in lower concentrations, plant extracts may be a better source of antimicrobial compounds than synthetic drugs (Cox and Balick, 1994). The phenomenon of additive or synergistic effects is often crucial to bioactivity (Aqil et al, 2006a;Kamatou et al, 2006) in plant extracts and in some cases, the activity is lost in purified fractions (Cos et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only a small percent of plants have been investigated for their bioactivity (Cox and Balick, 1994). Furthermore, most studies on the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts have been restricted to analysis of their bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of extracts from Italian medicinal plants on planktonic growth, biofilm formation and adherence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Quave

Plano

Pantuso

et al. 2008

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

262

176

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One-third of botanical remedies from southern Italy are used to treat skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of SSTI, has generated increasing concern due to drug resistance. Many plants possess antimicrobial agents and provide effective remedies for SSTI. Our aim was to investigate plants from different ethnobotanical usage groups for inhibition of growth and biofilms in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).Three groups were assessed: plant remedies for SSTI, plant remedies not involving the skin, and plants with no ethnomedical application. We screened 168 extracts, representing 104 botanical species, for activity against MRSA (ATCC 33593). We employed broth dilution methods to determine the MIC after 18 hours growth using an optical density (OD 600nm ) reading. Anti-biofilm effects were assessed by growing biofilms for 40 hours, then fixing and staining with crystal violet. After washing, 10% Tween 80 was added and OD 570nm readings were taken.Extracts from 10 plants exhibited an IC 50 ≤32 μg/ml for biofilm inhibition: Lonicera alpigena, Castanea sativa, Juglans regia, Ballota nigra, Rosmarinus officinalis, Leopoldia comosa, Malva sylvestris, Cyclamen hederifolium, Rosa canina, and Rubus ulmifolius. Limited bacteriostatic activity was evident. The anti-biofilm activity of medicinal plants was significantly greater than plants without any ethnomedical applications.

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“…It is for this reason that ethno-directed (i.e. with an ethnobotanical or ethnopharmacological basis) research is very useful in new food resources and in drug discovery and development (Chadwick and Marsh 1994;Cox and Balick 1994;Khafagi and Deward 2000;Heinrich and Gibbons 2001). It is of outmost importance to obtain data about popular uses of wild food plants before this knowledge disappears.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild and semi-domesticated food plant consumption in seven circum-Mediterranean areas

Hadjichambis

Paraskeva-Hadjichambi

Della

et al. 2008

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition

232

162

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This article maybe used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. AbstractThe use of local Mediterranean food plants is at the brink of disappearance. Even though there is relatively abundant information on inventories of wild edible taxa, there is also a crucial need to understand how these plants are consumed and when and how these consumption phenomena change over time and place around the Mediterranean. Additionally, it is important to study such knowledge systems and find innovative ways of infusing them to the future Mediterranean generations. During the years 2003Á2006 a circum-Mediterranean ethnobotanical field survey for wild food plants was conducted in selected study sites in seven Mediterranean areas (European Union-funded RUBIA Project). Structured and semi-structured questionnaires have been administered to indigenous people and 294 wild food plant taxa were documented in the survey. A comparative analysis of the data was undertaken showing that the quantity and quality of traditional knowledge varies among the several study areas and is closely related to the traditions, environment and cultural heritage of each country. More similarities of wild edible popular use were revealed between the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Mediterranean.

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The Ethnobotanical Approach to Drug Discovery

Cited by 352 publications

References 0 publications

In vitro and in vivo Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves against Escherichia coli in Experimentally Infected Rats

In vitro and in vivo Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves against Escherichia coli in Experimentally Infected Rats

Effects of extracts from Italian medicinal plants on planktonic growth, biofilm formation and adherence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Wild and semi-domesticated food plant consumption in seven circum-Mediterranean areas

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