Ethnobotanical Research of Plants Used in Traditional Medicine for The Treatment of Epilepsy in Southern Mozambique

Background Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease that affects about 50 million people worldwide, mainly in developing countries. It is treated with anticonvulsant drugs, but in some cases, conventional anticonvulsants have not been effective, leading patients to turn to alternative herbal treatments. The study aimed to identify plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy in southern Mozambique, record the parts used, the method of preparation as well as the mode of administration. Methodology: The study was conducted between April to June 2019. 53 Traditional Medicine Practitioners were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed by calculating the Percentage of Citation (%FC) and Informant Factor Consensus (IFC). Results A total of 32 medicinal plants belonging to 18 botanical families were identified for the treatment of epilepsy in the southern part of Mozambique. The species, Hugonia orientalis Engl (22.64%), Maclura africana Bur (16.98%), Strychnos spinosa Lam (13.21%), Terminalia sericea Bruch ex DC (13.21%) and Manilkara mochisia (Bark) Dubard (11.32%) were the most cited. The families Annonaceae and Menispermaceae (4 species) were the most representative in number of species. The root was the most commonly used plant part (54.2%), the frequently used preparation mode was decoction (71%), and administration of the remedies was often by oral route. Conclusion Medicinal plants still play an important role in primary health care in the study area. However there is a need to develop pharmacological studies based on these plants to understand the mechanism of action of the bioactive compounds and for the future development of new and more effective anticonvulsant drugs

Hydrogen Production through Autothermal Reforming of Ethanol: Enhancement of Ni Catalyst Performance via Promotion

Autothermal reforming of bioethanol (ATR of C2H5OH) over promoted Ni/Ce0.8La0.2O1.9 catalysts was studied to develop carbon-neutral technologies for hydrogen production. The regulation of the functional properties of the catalysts was attained by adjusting their nanostructure and reducibility by introducing various types and content of M promoters (M = Pt, Pd, Rh, Re; molar ratio M/Ni = 0.003–0.012). The composition–characteristics–activity correlation was determined using catalyst testing in ATR of C2H5OH, thermal analysis, N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and EDX analysis. It was shown that the type and content of the promoter, as well as the preparation mode (combined or sequential impregnation methods), determine the redox properties of catalysts and influence the textural and structural characteristics of the samples. The reducibility of catalysts improves in the following sequence of promoters: Re < Rh < Pd < Pt, with an increase in their content, and when using the co-impregnation method. It was found that in ATR of C2H5OH over bimetallic Ni-M/Ce0.8La0.2O1.9 catalysts at 600 °C, the hydrogen yield increased in the following row of promoters: Pt < Rh < Pd < Re at 100% conversion of ethanol. The introduction of M leads to the formation of a NiM alloy under reaction conditions and affects the resistance of the catalyst to oxidation, sintering, and coking. It was found that for enhancing Ni catalyst performance in H2 production through ATR of C2H5OH, the most effective promotion is with Re: at 600 °C over the optimum 10Ni-0.4Re/Ce0.8La0.2O1.9 catalyst the highest hydrogen yield 65% was observed.

Overview of sorption analysis capabilities for meso- and microporous zeolites nanomaterials

In this paper we consider the main application features of the thermal desorption method of inert gases, implemented on the Sorbi MS (Meta, Russia) device, for the analysis of meso- and microporous materials. Recommendations on the choice of measurement modes for stable operation of the Sorbi MS device are offered (including recommendations on mass, sample preparation mode). The article presents the results of the micropores analysis by the t-plot and Sing method.

A RESEARCH ON PHARMACUETICAL PREPARATION OF TAMRA GARBHA POTTALI

Ayurveda a science of life bloomed on its own concepts of health maintenance and curative aspects. One of the prenomial off shoot of Ayurveda is Rasashastra, an Indian alchemy. Pottali kalpana is a peculiar pharmaceutical dosage form, is unique in terms of its preparation, mode of administration, quick in action, less dose and easy for transportation. Tamra Garbha pottali (TMGP) is one such herbo-mineral-metallic complex formulation containing Tamra bhasma (T.B), Shodita Swarna, Hingulotta Parada and Shodhit Gandhaka. Among the different pharmaceutical methods, Gandhaka paka method is considered to be the best method to enhance the properties of the drugs and to keep them in a concise form. Pilot study of 6 Pottalis was conducted to standardize the temperature required to do Pottali paka and to assess the Pottali siddi lakshanas like Vyoma varna of Gandhaka paka, hardness of Pottali and changes of silk cloth tied to the Pottali. The main study conducted in 2 batches on the standards made by the pilot study. Observations made on the time duration required for the study, temperature to be given to Paka, changes in the Gandhaka varna till attainment Vyoma varna noted. The Study gave standard pharmaceutical method of Pottali paka w.s.r to Tamra garbha pottali.

Potential of ethnobotanical medicinal plants used by Malayali tribes in Yercaud hills, Eastern ghats of Tamil Nadu, India

Ethnobotanical knowledge plays an important role in therapeutic beneficial by traditional people of the Yercaud hills, Eastern ghats of the State Tamil Nadu. This current study focused on documentation of medicinal plants used to treat several ailments. Enlightenment of medicinal plants data was gathered from the Malayali tribes, using an integrated approach like botanical collections, group discussion and interviews with questionnaires in the year 2018 – 2019. During the survey a total number of 40 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 38 genera and 25 families were documented. Traditional names of the plants by traditional healers and local community members were prepared as a checklist. The checklist of medicinal plants used by Malayali tribes are listed with botanical name, vernacular name, family, parts used, mode of preparation, mode of admiration and medicinal uses. We observed that the documented ethnomedicinal plants were commonly used to treating snakebite, earache, chest pain, body pain, lumbago, eczema, haemorrhoids, jaundice, dog bite, sprain, beetle bite, epididymitis, bone fracture, arthritis and painful menstruation. The results of this study showed that the tribal people still depended on medicinal plants in Yercaud Hills for treating various diseases. This would be a baseline data of medicinal plants for future research and potential development of novel drugs.

The artificial simulation of oilwater emulsions to study emulsion settling process with the use of coalescing element

The article presents the sequence and results of experimental modeling of artificial oil-water emulsions based on anhydrous oil and water with density and mineralization as close as possible to the real field conditions of the researched deposits. The practical importance of simulation of artificial emulsions was due to the need to work with emulsions of different degrees of water cut, which is possible only by laboratory simulation conditions. We prepared artificial oil-water emulsion using a turbine mixer in a thermostated container. Then we set the emulsion preparation mode: number of revolutions (n1, min –1) and mixing time (t, min). We selected the optimal parameters to create stable artificial oil-water emulsions according to different types of oils.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge in Sete Cidades, Azores Archipelago: First Ethnomedicinal Report

Knowledge about folk medicines is limited to elder community members of remote communities, like Sete Cidades in the Azores. The Azores, 1300 km west of Portugal, are nine volcanic islands, totalling 2330 km2 of land dispersed by 173,200 km2 in the North Atlantic Ocean. The present study aims to scientifically document the uses of plant species for medicinal purposes, in the Sete Cidades. Twenty-eight community members from 40 to 84 years of age, of whom half were 55 to 64 years old, were interviewed. Twenty-nine taxa were reported as being used for medicinal purposes, ten of which have not been previously reported for ethnomedicinal use in Portugal, with a first record of the use of Morella faya. Leaves were the most used plant part (55%), and decoction the most common preparation mode. The five reported taxa with both the highest use value (0.71–0.25) and relative frequency of citation (0.14–0.11) were Clinopodium menthifolium subsp. ascendens, Aloysia citriodora, Mentha x piperita, Citrus limon and Rosmarinus officinalis. The traditional uses of some of the reported plants are supported by scientific studies, confirming their ethnomedicinal value and the need to preserve local knowledge of folk medicine practices.

Traditional usage of wild edible plants reflecting the dietary habits and the awareness of health care of LI minority in Baoting and Lingshui, Hainan Island, China: An ethnobotanical approach

Traditional usage of wild edible plants reflect the dietary habits as they have potential medicinal functions and the awareness of health care of Li Minority in Hainan Island. To facilitate the use and development of wild edible plants in Hainan Island, information was collected four times by semi-structured interviews in 17 traditional markets of Baoting and Lingshui. Twenty six species belonging to 24 genera under 16 families of vascular plants were recognized as wild edible plants. 84.62% of the total species were annual and perennial herbs. Above ground parts were the most frequently used parts. The most common preparation mode was plain-frying. Heat-clearing was the most common medicinal function. Weather, the size of population and plant diversity in local areas have close relationship with the species richness of wild edible plants traded in traditional markets. Geographical difference and time are not critical for the fluctuation of price.