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Impact of Sulphur Dioxide Deposition on Medicinal Plants' Growth and Production of Active Constituents
Published in Azamal Husen, Environmental Pollution and Medicinal Plants, 2022
Shakeelur Rahman, Azamal Husen
Common effects of SO2 observed are reduction in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, biomass production, and respiration rate (Padhi et al. 2013). Plants are not competent in assimilating the SO2 at the same rate as it is being absorbed when the exposure to SO2 is at toxic levels (Stratigakos and Ormrod 1985) and this results in acute injury (Thomas 1961). The gaseous form of SO2 received through stomata is metabolized by plants; as a result, the key effect of high SO2exposure is the modification of stomata and damaging of guard cells (Bytnerowicz et al. 2007). A study conducted by Kozioł and Whatley (2016) reported that a high concentration of SO2 aborted the stomata. Once it has gone through the intercellular spaces, SO2 dissolves in water on the cellular layers, resulting in substantial cellular K+ loss. The epicuticular wax layer around the stomata is erased by sulphur ion that results in stomatal injury. SO2 is able to induce apoptosis and reduce the viability of guard cells in Tagetes erecta in a controlled dose (Unsworth and Black 1981).
Exploring the Plant Kingdom for Sources of Skincare Cosmeceuticals
Published in Mahendra Rai, Shandesh Bhattarai, Chistiane M. Feitosa, Wild Plants, 2020
Mayuri Napagoda, Sanjeeva Witharana
The flowers of Tagetes erecta are traditionally used to treat skin diseases, such as sores, burns, wounds, ulcers, eczema, and several other skin ailments. Hyaluronidase, elastase, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) inhibitory activity of this flower extract was investigated to determine its anti-wrinkle potential. The methanol extract showed significant hyaluronidase and elastase inhibition with IC50 of 11.70 g/mL and 4.13 g/mL, respectively, along with a moderate inhibition of MMP-1. Syringic acid and β-amyrin isolated from this extract were also capable of inhibiting the above enzymes, rationalizing the traditional uses of the plant (Maity et al. 2011). Furthermore, procyanidins extracted from Vitis vinifera, curcumin present in Curcuma longa, as well as phenolic compounds, such as epicatechin, resveratrol, galangin, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin had also exhibited potential elastase inhibition (Maffei Facino et al. 1994, Chainani-Wu 2003, Hrenn et al. 2006, Kanashiro et al. 2007). Aloin (Figure 17.4) in Aloe vera plant inhibited Clostridium histolyticum collagenase reversibly and noncompetitively. Aloe gel and aloin were also proved to be effective inhibitors of stimulated granulocyte matrix metalloproteinases (Barrantes and Guinea 2003)
Nanotechnology and Anti-Ageing Skin Care
Published in Dilip Ghosh, Pulok K. Mukherjee, Natural Medicines, 2019
B. Fibrich, I.A. Lambrechts, N. Lall
Tagetes erecta, commonly known as the African marigold (Figure 21.4c), is traditionally used to treat wounds, ulcers and intestinal diseases. It is well known for its antiseptic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The family, Compositae, is known to be rich in flavonoids such as quercetagetin with high antioxidant activity. A nanoemulsion loaded with ethyl acetate marigold flower extract (EANG) was investigated by Leelapornpisid et al. (2014) for its anti-wrinkle and skin moisturising potential. In vivo studies confirmed the moisturising effect of EANG compared to the placebo. The results demonstrated that the skin moisture efficiency was significantly increased after using the EANG for 8 weeks (37.72 ± 2.07–46.42 ± 2.45) compared to the controls. The application of EANG to the lower forearm twice daily for 8 weeks produced significant improvement in the appearance of wrinkles compared to the controls. It was concluded that a nanoemulsion loaded with marigold flower extract was effective in increasing skin moisture and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. The anti-wrinkle and moisturising efficacy was attributed to the high antioxidant capacity of the marigold flower extract. Moreover, the EANG showed better stability, efficiency and wrinkle reduction and moisturising efficacy compared to the extract alone and can be used as a promising anti-ageing and moisturising cosmeceutical product.
Pilot Evaluation of a Residential Drug Addiction Treatment Combining Traditional Amazonian Medicine, Ayahuasca and Psychotherapy on Depression and Anxiety
Published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2020
Cecile Giovannetti, Sara Garcia Arce, Brian Rush, Fernando Mendive
Another traditional Amazonian practice used in Takiwasi is the administration of vomitive plants for physical and psychological “cleansing,” called “purgas,” which is a central element of the treatment during the initial “detoxification” phase lasting at least a month. The plants used for purgas are Yawar Panga (Aristolochia Didyma) claimed to help cleanse the liver through the expulsion of bile, ginger (Zenegiber officinalis), lily (Lilium sp), rosa sisa (Tagetes Erecta), sauco (Sambucus Peruviana), vervena (Verbena spp.), and tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum). Administration of purgative plants in addition to ayahuasca is considered a beneficial way to cleanse the body from the substances that led to addiction, but also from the psychiatric medication some patients were taking prior to treatment, in order to allow the Amazonian plants to have their expected effect on the patients (Politi, Friso, and Mabit 2018). While research is lacking on the therapeutic effects of purga, ethnobotanists have hypothesized that the combination of fasting prior to plant administration with the emetic properties of the plants may lead to a controlled, safe, adaptive stress response. The neuroendocrine activation resulting from this stress could lead to protection from the cytotoxic effects of chronic stress (Sanz-Biset and Cañigueral 2013).