Medicinal plants are vital sources of easily accessible remedy used in the countryside healthcare system. This study aimed to find and make record of plants that are used for medicinal therapy by three communities living in Cherangani Hills. So far no single study has documented medicinal plants as a whole in the area. Ethnobotanical data were obtained through interviewing informants using semi-structured questionnaires and extracting information from journals and books. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied to describe the data. Overall 296 plant species from 80 families and 191 genera were identified. Asteraceae family was the most dominant, representing 10.7% of the total plant species recorded. Roots (35.9%) represented the most commonly used parts of the plant. The commonly used method of preparation was decoction (54.9%). The reported diseases were classified into 14 diverse ailment groups out of the 81 health conditions on their underlying user reports. Rural communities in Cherangani Hills are rich sources of plants with medicinal properties. Therapeutic uses of the compiled plants provide basic information that can aid scientists to conduct additional research dedicated to conservation of species and pharmacological studies of species with the greatest significance.

Background: Polystachya Hook. is a large pantropical orchid genus (c. 240 species) distributed in Africa, southern Asia and the Americas, with the center of diversity in Africa. Previous studies on species of this genus have not obtained the complete chloroplast genomes, structures and variations. Additionally, the phylogenetic position of the genus in the Orchidaceae is still controversial and uncertain. Therefore, in this study, we sequenced the complete plastomes of six Kenya Polystachya species based on genome skimming, subjected them to comparative genomic analysis, and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships with other Orchidaceae species. Results: The results exhibited that the chloroplast genomes had a typical quadripartite structure with conserved genome arrangement and moderate divergence. The plastomes of the six Polystachya species ranged from 145,484 bp to 149,274 bp in length and had an almost similar GC content of 36.9–37.0%. Gene annotation revealed 106–109 single-copy genes. In addition, 19 genes are duplicated in the inverted regions, and 16 genes each possessd one or more introns. Although no large structural variations were observed among the Polystachya plastomes, about 1 kb inversion was found in Polystachya modesta and all 11 ndh genes in the Polystachya plastomes were lost or pseudogenized. Comparative analysis of the overall sequence identity among six complete chloroplast genomes confirmed that for both coding and non-coding regions in Polystachya, SC regions exhibit higher sequence variation than IRs. Furthermore, there were various amplifications in the IR regions among the six Polystachya species. Most of the protein-coding genes of these species had a high degree of codon preference. We screened out SSRs and found seven relatively highly variable loci. Moreover, 13 genes were discovered with significant positive selection. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the six Polystachya species formed a monophyletic clade and were more closely related to the tribe Vandeae. Phylogenetic relationships of the family Orchidaceae inferred from the 85 chloroplast genome sequences were generally consistent with previous studies and robust. Conclusions: Our study is the initial report of the complete chloroplast genomes of the six Polystachya species, elucidates the structural characteristics of the chloroplast genome of Polystachya, and filters out highly variable sequences that can contribute to the development of DNA markers for use in the study of genetic variability and evolutionary studies in Polystachya. In addition, the phylogenetic results strongly support that the genus of Polystachya is a part of the tribe Vandeae.

Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit (R. prinoides) has long been widely consumed as folk medicine in Kenya and other Africa countries. Previous studies indicated that polyphenols were abundant in genus Rhamnus and exhibited outstanding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there are very few studies on such pharmacological activities and the polyphenol profile of this plant up to now. In the present study, the antioxidant activities of the crude R. prinoides extracts (CRE) and the semi-purified R. prinoides extracts (SPRE) of polyphenol enriched fractions were evaluated to show the strong radical scavenging effects against 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl (DPPH) (0.510 ± 0.046 and 0.204 ± 0.005, mg/mL), and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) (0.596 ± 0.005 and 0.096 ± 0.004, mg/mL), respectively. Later, the SPRE with higher contents of polyphenols and flavonoids displayed obvious anti-inflammatory activities through reducing the NO production at the dosage of 11.11 − 100 μg/mL, and the COX-2 inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value at 20.61 ± 0.13 μg/mL. Meanwhile, the HPLC-UV/ESI-MS/MS analysis of polyphenol profile of R. prinoides revealed that flavonoids and their glycosides were the major ingredients, and potentially responsible for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. For the first time, the present study comprehensively demonstrated the chemical profile of R. prinoides, as well as noteworthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which confirmed that R. prinoides is a good natural source of polyphenols and flavonoids, and provided valuable information on this medicinal plant as folk medicine and with good potential for future healthcare practice.

The baobab trees (genus Adansonia) have attracted tremendous attention because of their striking shape and distinctive relationships with fauna¹. These spectacular trees have also influenced human culture, inspiring innumerable arts, folklore and traditions. Here we sequenced genomes of all eight extant baobab species and argue that Madagascar should be considered the centre of origin for the extant lineages, a key issue in their evolutionary history^2,3. Integrated genomic and ecological analyses revealed the reticulate evolution of baobabs, which eventually led to the species diversity seen today. Past population dynamics of Malagasy baobabs may have been influenced by both interspecific competition and the geological history of the island, especially changes in local sea levels. We propose that further attention should be paid to the conservation status of Malagasy baobabs, especially of Adansoniasuarezensis and Adansoniagrandidieri, and that intensive monitoring of populations of Adansoniaza is required, given its propensity for negatively impacting the critically endangered Adansoniaperrieri.

Background: Medicinal plants have been used for centuries and are still relied upon by over 80% of the Ethiopian population. The people of Gamo, southern Ethiopia, have a rich cultural and traditional lifestyle with a long history of using plant resources for various uses including traditional herbal medicine. However, their traditional knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Boreda Abaya District has not been explored Ethnobotanically yet, despite preserving diverse indigenous traditional medicinal plants. Hence, the study aimed to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge and practices used by local people. Materials and methods: Quantitative ethnobotanical data were collected via semi-structured interviews, face-to-face conversations, group discussions, and guided field trips between September 2022 and February 2023. In total, 92 informants participated, of which 25 were key informants. Quantitative data indices (informant consensus factor—ICF—and use report—Ur) were computed by MS Excel spreadsheet software. Scientific names of medicinal plants were checked via World Flora Online. Results: In the present study, we recorded 188 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 163 genera and 73 plant families. Lamiaceae (16 species), Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (11 species), and Euphorbiaceae (8 species) contributed highest number of species and were found to be predominant family in the area. Leaves and seeds were most frequently used plant parts, and pounding (46%) was the main method to prepare remedies. The sudden sickness disease category scored the highest consensus (ICF: 0.35), followed by blood and circulatory-related disease categories (ICF: 0.33). The highest number of plant taxa (61 species) used to treat dermal disease has a 71-use report score, while fewer plant taxa (21 species) were utilized to treat genitourinary system-related disease category, having 25 use reports. Ocimum lamiifolium (Ur:56) and Moringa stenopetala (Ur:51) are widely used species and received highest use report value. Conclusion: Gamo people possess extensive traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine. The region's vegetation hosts diverse medicinal species, but deforestation, agriculture, and droughts threaten them. Local conservation practices require scientific support, prioritizing species having higher use reports (Ur), and in-depth investigations of promising species for drug development are essential.