In spite of the remarkable achievements in the healthcare sector over recent decades, inequities in accessibility and affordability of these facilities coexist throughout Pakistan. Thus, we aimed to explore and document the cultural knowledge of herbal teas used medicinally by the local community members of Manoor Valley, Pakistan. Field investigations were undertaken during the summer season of 2015–2017, and cultural practices of medicinal plant usage for treating various ailments were gathered through interviews of the local inhabitants. Ethnomedicinal insights of the medicinal plants used in herbal teas were gained with different indexes. Our results revealed 27 plant species, comprising of herbs (70%), shrubs (26%), and trees (4%), which were used for treating 21 diseases. Plants belonged to 18 families: Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the leading families used for treating diseases. Diarrhea and gas troubles were the most frequent diseases. Based on indexes values, Cannabissativa was the dominant species used. The results revealed that 57% of medicinal uses are new to literature. This ethnomedicinal study is providing the first insights into the traditional medication system of Lesser Himalaya, Pakistan, through ethnomedicinal teas.
1 January 2020 in Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Camellia sinensis L. has long been used as a therapeutic agent for the Central nervous system (CNS) due to the presence of flavonoids. The present study aimed to evaluate the dose-dependent Neuropharmacological behavioral potential of Camellia sinensis seed and leaf extracts on mice. To evaluate the differential potential of leaf and seed extract various doses were prepared and examined in open field, head dip, rearing, cage cross, swimming and traction tests. One-way ANOVA set at P* < 0.05 followed by POST HOC LSD (P* < 0.01) was applied to evaluate the significant difference among the treatments. Herein both seed and leaf extract showed significant results at high doses. Interestingly leaf extract at high dose showed significant effect on mice CNS in open field and head dip test, while seed at high dose revealed significant stimulus on mice CNS in rearing, cage cross, swimming and traction tests. Overall results showed that seed produced more stimulant effect and less calmness as compared to leaf extract was. Tea leaves had already known as potential CNS stimulant drugs; current investigation suggests that tea seed can be used as an alternative CNS stimulant agent with more effective stimulant action.