BackgroundIn rural communities of Thailand, traditional healers still play an important role in local health care systems even though modern medicine is easily accessible. Meanwhile, natural forests in Thailand which are important sources of materia medica are being greatly destroyed. This has led to an erosion of traditional Thai medicine. Furthermore, the concept of medicinal plant selection as medicine based on their tastes is still an important component of traditional Thai medicine, but no or little publications have been reported. Thus the aim of the present study is to collect ethnomedicinal data, medicinal plant tastes and relevant information from experienced traditional healers before they are lost.MethodsAn ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information from nine experienced traditional healers on the utilization of medicinal plants in Phatthalung Province, Peninsular Thailand. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Plant specimens were also collected and identified according to the plant taxonomic method.ResultsA total of 151 medicinal plants were documented and 98 of these are reported in the study. Local names, medicinal uses, parts used, modes of preparation, and the relationship between ailments and tastes of medicinal plant species are presented.ConclusionsThis research suggests that traditional healers are still considered important for public health among Thai communities and that many people trust the healing properties of medicinal plants. In the future, it is hoped that traditional Thai medicine will be promoted and therefore will help reduce national public health expense.
Objectives: The present study aimed to establish quality specification of Xyris indica L. flowering heads. The pharmacognostic parameters were investigated. Chrysazin contents were analyzed by TLC image analysis using ImageJ software compared to TLC-densitometry. Methods: X. indica flowering heads from 15 different sources in Thailand were collected. Morphological and physicochemical parameters were characterized. Chrysazin was successively extracted and determined by TLC image analysis using ImageJ software and TLC-densitometry. Results: Macroscopic study was illustrated as whole plant drawing. The microscopic study showed fragment of corolla, seeds, pollen grain and staminode. The pharmacognostic parameters revealed that the loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and water content should be not more than 6.90, 2.50, 0.41, and 11.12 of % dry weight respectively while water and ethanol-soluble extractive values should be not less than 6.59 and 4.03 of % dry weight respectively. TLC fingerprint revealed clearly chrysazin yellow fluorescent band at 365 nm. Chrysazin quantitation by TLC image analysis and TLC densitometry were developed and validated. Chrysazin content was 0.022 ± 0.001 % dry weight by both methods. There was no statistically significantly difference between these methods. Conclusion: This study provided pharmacognostic specification and chrysazin content of X. indica flowering heads that can be used for basic quality control and standardization of plant material. TLC image analysis using ImageJ software showed reliable and convenient for analysis of chrysazin content in this crude drug.
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