Ecological and medicinal aspects of parasitic plants (original) (raw)

Medicinally important terrestrial parasitic plants

Medico-Biowealth of India, Volume V, 2022, 2022

Parasitic plants are the keystone species in the ecological restorations as they help in coexistence of species. Intense research works in the recent years on parasitic plants have shown affirmative effects on biodiversity. Indigenous parasitic plants have medicinal importance however medicinal values of these parasitic plants is still one of the under studied area. Parasitic plants, contain diverse secondary metabolites which are potent against many vital diseases. In this study, we documented some such medicinally important terrestrial parasitic plants. Ethnobotanical survey was carried out using semi structured questionnaire and Passport Data Form in Odisha state, India. As a result, we found 10 terrestrial parasitic plants having medicinal values and used against various diseases and disorders. Present study further highlights the added value of traditional medicinal parasitic plants for health care.

Phytochemicals, bioactivity, and ethnopharmacological potential of selected indigenous plants

South African Journal of Science

The coastal regions of Africa are endowed with indigenous wild fruit plants rich in nutritional and medicinal phytochemicals and micronutrients. South African wild fruit plants complement the diet and health needs of rural poor households by providing vital dietary nutrients and remedies for various health concerns, and alleviating food insecurity. Milk plum, Natal plum, wild custard apple, and wild medlar medicinal plants are found mainly in the coastal provinces of South Africa. Studies have established that these plants are good sources of vitamins, essential elements, and bioactive phytocompounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, which demonstrate significant antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The plants studied possess anti-epileptic, antiplasmodial, and snake antivenom qualities. Here we highlight the views of different reports on ethnopharmacological relevance, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the selected South African indigenous...

Medicinal Plants: the Medical, Food, and Nutritional Biochemistry and Uses

International Journal of Advanced Academic Research, 2019

This article focuses on the medical, food, and nutritional biochemistry and uses of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are used with the intention of health maintenance, to be administered for specific conditions, or both, whether in modern or in traditional medicines. Many phytochemicals with established or potential biological activity have been identified in plants. The compounds found in plants (phytochemicals) are of several kinds, but most are in four main biochemical classes: terpenes, alkaloids, glycosides, and polyphenols. Medicinal plants are used widely in non-industrialized societies and developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Southern America, mainly because they are thought to be very effective, cheaper than modern medicines, and readily available. Plants, including many currently used as culinary spices and herbs, have been used as medicines, not certainly effectively, from ancient times. Polyphenols of many classes are widely spread in plants. Plants having phytoestrogens, a type of polyphenols, have been administered for decades for gynecological conditions, such as fertility, menopausal, and menstrual problems; among these plants are Pueraria mirifica, anise, kudzu, angelica, and fennel. The astringent rind of the pomegranate, having polyphenols known as punicalagins, is commonly used as a medicine. Angelica, having phytoestrogens, has been used for gynaecological disorders for long. Nicotine, an alkaloid, from tobacco directly binds to Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the body, accounting for its pharmacological effects. Cardiac glycosides are powerful drugs from the medicinal plants including lily of the valley and foxglove; they include digitoxin and digoxin which support heart beating, and work as diuretics. Terpenoids and terpenes of many kinds are contained in many medicinal plants, and also in resinous plants such as conifers; they are strongly aromatic. A number of the terpenoids and terpenes have medicinal uses: for instance, thymol (an antiseptic) was once used as an anti-worm medicine (vermifuge). In most of the developing countries, especially in the rural areas, local traditional medicine, inclusive of herbalism, is the lone source of health care for individuals, while in the developed countries, alternative medicine including dietary supplements is aggressively marketed using claims of traditional medicine.