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Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Austria, like in most Western countries, knowledge about traditional medicinal plants is becoming scarce. Searching the literature concerning Austria's ethnomedicine reveals its scant scientific exploration. Aiming to substantiate the potential of medicinal plants traditionally used in Austria, 63 plant species or genera with claimed anti-inflammatory properties listed in the VOLKSMED database were assessed for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Material and methods: 71 herbal drugs from 63 plant species or genera were extracted using solvents of varying polarities and subsequently depleted from the bulk constituents, chlorophylls and tannins to avoid possible interferences with the assays. The obtained 257 extracts were assessed for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The expression of the inflammatory mediators E-selectin and interleukin-8 (IL-8), induced by the inflammatory stimuli tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and the bacterial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was measured in endothelial cells. The potential of the extracts to activate the nuclear factors PPARα and PPARγ and to inhibit TNF-α-induced activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in HEK293 cells was determined by luciferase reporter gene assays. Results: In total, extracts from 67 of the 71 assessed herbal drugs revealed anti-inflammatory activity in the applied in vitro test systems. Thereby, 30 could downregulate E-selectin or IL-8 gene expression, 28 were strong activators of PPARα or PPARγ (inducing activation of more than 2-fold at a concentration of 10µg/mL) and 21 evoked a strong inhibition of NF-κB (inhibition of more than 80% at 10µg/mL). Conclusion: Our research supports the efficacy of herbal drugs reported in Austrian folk medicine used for ailments associated with inflammatory processes. Hence, an ethnopharmacological screening approach is a useful tool for the discovery of new drug leads. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The term Traditional European Medicine (TEM) was coined analogous to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the German-speaking areas, the so called Hildegard Medicine (HM) is very popular and according to a national survey, about 3% of German residents believe in HM. Their thoughts of unity and holistic care are based on the belief that cure and salvation are only possible in the devotion to God, who is the "great healer". Disease is an imbalance and health a balance of the soul. Her works are written in Latin and a visionary language and are therefore not intended for use by laymen. They are difficult to understand and leave a lot of room for interpretation. The currently popular term "Hildegard Medicine" cannot be found in her original writings. About 30 years ago, the ideas of Hildegard von Bingen have been readdressed by two physicians, Gottfried Hertzka and Wighard Strehlow. They are suggesting the drugs as well as Hildegard's dietary recommendations as an appropriate medical healing system for today. Hertzka and Strehlow follow a highly commercialized attempt while suggesting that the medical recommendations by Hildegard are of divine origin. This, however, cannot be true as the medical texts compiled by Hildegard are not relying on her visionary experiences as do their religious treatises. In conclusion, HM represents a typical example of current complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Thus, one should state that the actual importance of the remarkable person Hildegard must not be seen as a recommendation for today's therapy but in the fact that she compiled medieval medical knowledge. Under the name of HM, poorly defined overpriced preparations are distributed. Treatment following the principles of HM for serious or malignant disorders is strongly discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]