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Medicinal plants and foods with metaphorical concepts in Rumi’s “ Masnavi Manavi”: The psychosomatic approach to human health. Avicenna J Phytomed 2023; 13. [PMID: 38106633 DOI: 10.22038/AJP.2023.71710.3309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Objective "Masnavi Manavi" is one of the most valuable texts of Persian literature. In this book, Rumi (Mevlana) with a unique method and in the form of moral stories teaches life lessons, mystical truths and even therapeutic advices to people. The aim of this study is to highlight the medicinal plants and foods that had been applied both in somatic and spiritual concept in "Masnavi Manavi' poems. Materials and Methods For this purpose, a library-based, descriptive and analytical method was used. Results Some medicinal plants and food terms such as rose-water, vinegar, honey, oxymel, common reed, grape, onion, garlic and wheat are mentioned in this study to show Rumi's metaphorical and therapeutic approach as a doctor who treats both soul and body. In fact, Rumi's intention to apply these terms was to express his ideas and views about the inseparability of physical and spiritual aspects in human health and well-being. Conclusion Rumi focus in "Masnavi Manavi" moral stories is the soul health and consider body as carrier of the soul. Therefore, because of this psychosomatic approach to human disease, he selects the most suitable herbs and foods for explaining spiritual and somatic medicine.
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Liao X, Li Y, Long N, Xu Q, Li P, Wang J, Zhou L, Kong W. Multi-mycotoxin detection and human exposure risk assessment in medicinal foods. Food Res Int 2023; 164:112456. [PMID: 36738010 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Mycotoxin contamination in medicinal foods has attracted increasing global attention. In this study, a simple and sensitive ultrasonication assisted one-step extraction based ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous detection of multi-mycotoxins in five kinds of medicinal foods rich in starch. Under optimal conditions, the developed technique displayed excellent analytical performances. Limits of detection and quantitation for the six mycotoxins were 0.04-0.25 ng/mL and 0.10-0.67 ng/mL, respectively. Average recoveries at three fortified levels ranged from 75.33 % to 118.0 %. Real-world application in 103 batches of medicinal foods displayed that 58 samples were positive with one or more mycotoxins at an occurrence rate of 56.31 % (58/103). Coix seed gave the highest positive rate of 96.15 %, followed by Lily (90 %), Chinese yam (50 %), Lotus seed (34.04 %) and Malt (30 %). Zearalenone had the highest positive rate of 28.16 % with contents in 5 Coix seeds exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL), followed by aflatoxin B1 of 27.18 % (28/103) with contents in 7 Coix seed and 10 Lotus seeds over its MRL, and ochratoxin A (OTA) of 11.65 % with contents in 1 Lotus seed and 5 Lily samples greater than its MRL. Exposure risk assessment indicated that Coix seed and Lotus seeds that were susceptible to aflatoxins posed great threats to human health. Long-term consumption of Lily that was easily contaminated with OTA were also harmful. This work provides a robust platform for multi-mycotoxin monitoring in medicinal foods to protect the consumers from potential health risks.
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Younes M, Ammoury C, Haykal T, Nasr L, Sarkis R, Rizk S. The selective anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of A. cherimola on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20:343. [PMID: 33187495 PMCID: PMC7664056 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03120-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Herbal medicines have been a major target for numerous studies through the past years as an alternative treatment for cancer, mainly due to their minimal effects on normal healthy cells. Annona cherimola, popularly known as Cherimoya, is an edible natural fruit rich in phytochemical components and known to possess various biological activities. Previous studies have reported the anti-cancerous effect of A. cherimola ethanolic leaf extract (AELE) on leukemia. This study aims at studying the potential anti-cancer activity of this extract in vitro in two different breast cancer cell lines, namely MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, in addition to investigating its toxicity on normal mesenchymal stem cells. Methods The anti-proliferative effect of AELE was evaluated via cell viability assay. Propidium iodide staining, Cell Death Detection ELISA and flow cytometry analysis of Annexin V binding were used to assess cell cycle progression, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis induction, respectively. Protein expression was determined via Western Blot analysis to decipher the underlying apoptotic molecular mechanism induced upon AELE treatment. Results The anti-proliferative effect of the extract was found to be selective on the triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 390.2 μg/mL at 48 h, with no cytotoxic effects on normal murine mesenchymal stem cells. The pro-apoptotic effect was confirmed by the increase in cellular and DNA fragmentation, flipping of the phosphatidylserine moiety to the outer leaflet, and the increase in Annexin V binding. The underlying molecular mechanism revealed the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway, as shown by alterations in mitochondrial permeability and the upregulation of cytochrome c expression. Conclusion All the data presented in our study suggest that AELE exhibits a selective anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect on the chemo-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, providing evidence for the anti-tumor effects of A. cherimola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Younes
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Carl Ammoury
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Tony Haykal
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Leah Nasr
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Rita Sarkis
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.,Laboratory of Regenerative Hematopoiesis, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) & Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Rizk
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
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Tasdemir D, MacIntosh AJJ, Stergiou P, Kaiser M, Mansour NR, Bickle Q, Huffman MA. Antiprotozoal and antihelminthic properties of plants ingested by wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) in Yakushima Island. J Ethnopharmacol 2020; 247:112270. [PMID: 31589965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Primates forage on a variety of plant parts to balance their dietary intake to meet requirements of energy, nutrition and maintenance, however the reason(s) leading them to ingest some plants which have no nutritional value and/or contain bioactive or even toxic secondary metabolites is recently gaining closer attention. The growing literature suggests that primates consume plants for medicinal purposes (self-medication) as well, particularly when infected with parasites and pathogens (bacteria, viruses, microbes). Interestingly, some of the plants they consume are also used by humans for similar purposes or may have potential uses for humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS As part of a 16-month study of the parasite ecology of a sub-species of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) on the island of Yakushima, we surveyed their feeding habits and collected a subset of plants and plant parts observed being ingested by macaques. The ethnomedicinal value of these plants was surveyed and methanolic extracts of 45 plant parts were tested in vitro against important parasites of humans, including four protozoan parasites Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania donovani, and the trematode flatworm Schistosoma mansoni. Potential toxicity of the extracts was also assessed on mammalian cells. RESULTS A wide range of ethnomedicinal uses in Asia for these plants is noted, with 37% associated with the treatment of parasites, pathogens and related symptoms. Additionally, the 45 extracts tested showed broad and significant activity against our test organisms. All extracts were active against T. b. rhodesiense. The majority (over 80%) inhibited the growth of P. falciparum and L. donovani. Half of the extracts also displayed antiprotozoal potential against T. cruzi while only several extracts were active against both larval and adult stages of S. mansoni. Cytotoxicity was generally low, although several extracts lacked specific toxicity to test parasites. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated a number of plants and their parts to have antiparasitic activity not previously reported in the ethnopharmacological literature. Enhanced understanding of the primate diets, particularly during periods of intensified parasite infection risk may help to further narrow down plants of interest for lead compound development. The study of animal self-medication is a complementary approach, with precedence, to drug discovery of new lead drug compounds against human parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Tasdemir
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK; GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology, Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24106, Kiel, Germany; Kiel University, Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Andrew J J MacIntosh
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, 484-8506, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Polyxeni Stergiou
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4051, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nuha R Mansour
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Quentin Bickle
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A Huffman
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, 484-8506, Inuyama, Japan.
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Esakkimuthu S, Sylvester Darvin S, Mutheeswaran S, Gabriel Paulraj M, Pandikumar P, Ignacimuthu S, Al-Dhabi NA. A study on food-medicine continuum among the non-institutionally trained siddha practitioners of Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2018; 14:45. [PMID: 29954417 PMCID: PMC6025710 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-018-0240-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicinal properties of the food species are one of the poorly documented and important areas of ethnopharmacology. The present survey quantitatively documented the medicinal foods prescribed by the non-institutionally trained siddha practitioners of Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. METHODS Field work was carried out between December 2014 and April 2017 using a questionnaire. The illnesses mentioned by the informants were grouped as illness categories on the basis of emic perceptions. Sufficiency of sampling of this survey was assessed by plotting the cumulative number of UR and Shannon-Wiener's index. The indices such as informant consensus factor (FIC), Index of Agreement on Remedies (IAR), and Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI) were calculated. RESULTS This study documented 165 medicinal foods used by 82 non-institutionally trained siddha practitioners of Tiruvallur district, and 73.93% of these preparations were plant based. Among the animal taxa, 82.05% were represented by fish taxa. The illness category gastrointestinal ailments is the majorly cited illness category treated with plant-based formulations. The illness categories viz., gastrointestinal ailments, hemorrhoids, and neural ailments had high consensus under the group of plant-based medicinal foods. In animal-based medicinal foods, kapha ailments had gained 23.07% of UR. The illness categories such as bone fractures, male reproductive ailments, blood ailments, and anabolic had high FIC values. CONCLUSIONS Deeper studies on different dietary cultures of India may help to derive better interpretations on food-medicine continuum. This study identified some important claims such as the use of citron, pomegranate and Solanum americanum (gastrointestinal ailments), Abutilon indicum, onions and elephant foot yam (hemorrhoids), Boerhavia diffusa (urinary ailments), Moringa oleifera (anemia), Aloe vera (gynecological ailments), Eclipta prostrata (liver ailments), ivy gourd (diabetes), citron (hypertension), Centella asiatica (psychological ailments), spade nose shark (lactogogue), reticulate whipray (wheezing and bronchitis), Katelysia opima (impotence), Indian squid (anemia), and Indian oil sardine (anabolic). More studies on these claims will help identify novel functional foods to add to the field of medical nutrition therapy, with traditional brand identity. Robust studies on the documentation of the traditional knowledge on marine resources will yield a good database for various stakeholders and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Esakkimuthu
- Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034 India
| | - S. Sylvester Darvin
- Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034 India
| | - S. Mutheeswaran
- Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034 India
| | - M. Gabriel Paulraj
- Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034 India
| | - P. Pandikumar
- Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034 India
| | - S. Ignacimuthu
- Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034 India
- International Scientific Partnership Programme, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia
| | - N. A. Al-Dhabi
- Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, 2455, Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia
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Towns AM, van Andel T. Wild plants, pregnancy, and the food-medicine continuum in the southern regions of Ghana and Benin. J Ethnopharmacol 2016; 179:375-82. [PMID: 26773843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In West Africa, women utilize wild plant species to maintain and enhance their health throughout the duration of pregnancy. These plants are a culturally resilient and financially accessible form of nourishment for pregnant women in the region, many of whom are malnourished, yet studies that identify both the nutritional and medicinal properties of these plants are limited. AIM OF THE STUDY The objective of this study was to analyze women's knowledge of plants consumed in pregnancy in the southern regions of Ghana and Benin from a food-medicine continuum perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS We gathered data in two fieldwork periods in West Africa (Ghana 2010 and Benin 2011) through herbal market surveys and 56 questionnaires with women and then conducted a literature review on known properties of the plants. RESULTS Ghanaian women reported consuming wild greens such as iron-rich Nephrolepis biserrata and tree barks such as protein-rich Ricinodendron heudelotii in a soup based on the African oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis), a source of fatty acids. In Benin, participants frequently reported ingesting plants during pregnancy in the form of herbal teas. Commonly cited species included Securidaca longipedunculata, Dichapetalum madagascariense, and Schwenckia americana. Several of the plants demonstrated antioxidant, anti-malarial and anti-inflammatory activity in pharmacological studies, yet the majority has incomplete nutritional and pharmacological profiles. In total, informants cited 105 species that were consumed during pregnancy. Although Ghanaian and Beninese women mentioned different species and different forms of consumption, in both countries women cited "strengthening" as the most common motivation to consume wild plants during pregnancy. Strengthening is a concept that resonates within the food-medicine continuum, bridging the local diet and herbal pharmacopoeia of women's plant use during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Ethnobotanical studies of this nature highlight the multidimensional use of plants and can improve health and nutritional programs in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Towns
- Leiden University, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 4, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tinde van Andel
- Wageningen University, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 4, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
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