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Background. Ethnobotanical knowledge on four herbaceous species, Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass., Momordica charantia L., Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn., and Scoparia dulcis L., in Benin was investigated. Methods. Herbal medicine traders in six different markets were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The linear regression test was performed to check for the influence of respondent’s age on ethnobotanical uses they hold. Relative frequency citation, fidelity level, use value, and Rahman similarity index were calculated to assess the diversity of medico-magic knowledge. The Informant Consensus Factor is not applicable in this study since we are dealing neither with the diversity of medicinal plants used by a community of people nor with a great number of plant species used for medicinal purposes, nor the diversity of plant species used in the treatment of a specific or group of ailments. Results. The respondent's age did not influence the ethnobotanical uses they hold on the species. All thirty-six informants surveyed traded Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn., Momordica charantia L., and Scoparia dulcis L., and the majority traded Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. The respondent's age does not influence the diversity of ethnobotanical uses they hold on the study species. Purchase in traders’ own markets was the predominant source of Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn., Momordica charantia L., and Scoparia dulcis L. while Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. was mostly purchased in other more distant markets. A noticeable proportion of traders also collect Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. and Momordica charantia L. from wild populations. Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. was the species most demanded by customers followed by Momordica charantia L. Traders confirmed the scarcity of all species in recent years and climate change and destruction of natural habitats for logging were the most cited causes. The entire plant of Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. was used mainly to treat malaria, diabetes, and constipation, and decoction with oral administration was the most frequent preparation for malaria treatment. To treat diabetes, informants mixed Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. with Momordica charantia L. used as a decoction with oral administration. Momordica charantia L. was also used to treat measles and chicken pox. Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. and Scoparia dulcis L. were mostly used for their spiritual use for luck, predominantly by chewing fresh leaves or flowers, and by bathing with the ground plant mixed with soap, respectively. Overall, Momordica charantia L. had the greatest use value followed by Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. The majority of traders do not plant the species. Conclusions. The harvesting and trade of the species threaten their natural populations and urgent tools, including in situ and ex situ conservation, are needed to ensure their long-term sustainable exploitation.

Introduction Candida is a yeast fungus classes most commonly found in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tract and skin, especially the species Candida albicans. Alternative medicines such as herbs are easily available and affordable by the community, such as keghenyat leaves (Acmella uliginosa). Aim of StudyTo determine the activity of Keghenyat leaves fraction (Acmella uliginosa) compared to Nystatin against Candida albicans in vitro. MethodsIn vitro study was held in Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Medical Faculty, Sriwijaya University in December 2015 and January 2016. Research stages: extraction, fractionation, sensitivity test using Nystatin and Candida albicans, fractions antifungal activity test, the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), bioautografi test and determination of compound classes. One final stages of testing the active fraction Keghenyat leaves (Acmella uliginosa) with Nystatin. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Post Hoc Duncan test and linear regression using SPSS 20. ResultsHexane faction of Keghenyat leaves (Acmella uliginosa) is active against the fungus Candida albicans, has a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.625% (6250μl) against the fungus Candida albicans antifungal contain active compounds that terpenoids and flavonoids, amounting to 84.68 mg / ml equivalent to 1 mg / ml Nystatin against the fungus Candida albicans. ConclusionThere is a significance different MIC between hexane fraction of Keghenyat leaves (Acmella uliginosa) and Nystatin, Nystatin have more high activity.

Medicinal plants are rich sources of natural antioxidant which are used in the prevention and treatment of disease like artherosclerosis, heart stroke, diabetes and cancer and to delay the process of aging. Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass is an edible herb traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases. Analysis of volatile components in the flower extract used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed the main components of the essential oil were caryophyllene (21.27%), caryophyllene oxide (15.49%), and 3-carene (10.73%). The main components of the hexane extract were N-isobutyl-2E,6Z,8E-decatrienamide (37.80%), α-pinene (4.98%) and hexadacanoic acid-methyl ester (4.78%). The antioxidant activity of A. uliginosa (Sw.) Cass flower from Indonesia was determined using 1,1, diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The IC50 (defined as the total antioxidant necessary to decrease the initial DPPH radical by 50%) of extracts was calculated. A comparative study determined that A. uliginosa (Sw.) Cass in methanol extract showed higher antioxidant potential (IC50 = 96.83 μg/mL) compared to ethyl acetate extract (IC50 = 123.46 μg/mL) and n-hexane extract (905.92 μg/mL) against DPPH free radicals.

The diversity of natural enemies harboured by flowering forbs on rice field bunds was recorded. Ageratum conozoides with a maximum Shannon diversity index of 1.8 followed by Acmella uliginosa, Eclipta alba and Tridax procumbens are amenable for ecological engineering, providing nectar, pollen and alternate prey to natural enemies.

Leafy vegetables are sources of diet diversification and could contribute to food and nutritional security in African rural areas. However, in some places, little is known about if, how, and why leafy vegetables are consumed. Processing and preservation methods, food forms, and consumption determinants of four leafy vegetables (Sesamum radiatum, Ceratotheca sesamoïdes, Acmella uliginosa and Justicia tenella), known to contribute to the diet of rural populations in the Center and Northern parts of Benin, were investigated. Three hundred randomly selected households were investigated, using rapid appraisal and quantitative survey methods, descriptive statistics and correspondence analysis. Processing methods to prepare sauces varied depending on sociocultural groups. Cooking of fresh leaves predominated, while sun drying was the usual practice of preserving these leafy vegetables. Consumption frequencies were associated with sociocultural groups, food habits, and availability in living areas.

Background: The flower of Acmella uliginosa (AU) (Sw.) Cass., a naturally grown herb in India, is consumed as a natural painkiller for its notable analgesic properties. Objective: The objective of the study was to establish the role of AU flower methanolic extract in antinociception and its neuromodulatory activities to assess any disadvantage of the drug akin to opioids. Materials and Methods: In experimental rats, plant flower extracts were fed at a dose of 100 mg and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 14 days. Analgesic activity was evaluated through formalin-induced paw licking test. T-maze, novel object recognition (NOR), and rotarod tests were done to assess the role of the extract in memory alteration and neuromotor coordination, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity from the brain homogenates were done to assess the induced oxidative stress. Results: The plant proved to be a promising analgesic when fed orally up to 200 mg/kg BW dose. No acute toxicity was seen up to 1000 mg/kg. In the T-maze test, extract-fed animals showed a reduction in food searching time. In NOR test, the discrimination index between new and familiar objects was high in extract-fed animals compared to standard group. In rotarod test, the extract did not alter the neuromotor coordination. AChE, GSH, and SOD activities were normal in extract-treated animals. Conclusion: Memory alteration and oxidative stress are two major drawbacks associated with opioid drugs. Our results indicate that the AU flower methanolic extract qualifies as a potent painkiller and overcomes the disadvantages of opioid analgesics.

Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass is widely used in traditional medicine and used in the treatment of many diseases. Extraction of component in leaves of Acmella uliginosa used methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane solvent. The percentage yield of extract from the leaves in methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane were 6.50, 0.49, and 0.66, respectively. Analysis of component in various extracts of Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass leaves used Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The various classes of phytochemicals were identified from fractions of methanolic leaves extract by GC-MS. Qualitative analysis of phytochemical constituents in methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract were tannins, flavonoids, saponin, alkaloid and steroid. Antioxidant activity of Acmella uliginosa leaves from Indonesia was carried out by using 1,1,diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazine (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The IC50 of three extract was calculated. A comparative study determined that Acmella uliginosa in ethyl acetate extract showed the highest antioxidant potential (IC50 = 28.09 µg/mL) compared to methanol extract (IC50 = 44.31 µg/mL) and n-hexane extract (181.23 µg/mL) against DPPH free radicals.

Background Acmella uliginosa (Asteraceae) is a flowering plant whose leaves are consumed as a vegetable in Benin. They are also traditionally used as an antibiotic in the treatment of infectious diseases. To evaluate the therapeutic potential and toxicity effect of this leafy-vegetable, the antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant activities and, toxicity and phytochemical constituents were investigated. Methods Dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acmella uliginosa were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against six bacterial and six fungi strains. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were investigated by microdilution method and agar diffusion method respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl assay and phytochemical screening was carried out using standard procedures. Finally, oral acute toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg was done according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline n° 423. Results The antibacterial activity was broad spectrum, inhibiting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 0.625 to 5 mg/ml. The antifungal evaluation show that all the extracts inhibited mycelial growth and sporulation of fungi with percentages of inhibition ranging from 9.39 to 75.67 % and 22.04 to 99.77 %, respectively. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, the effect on reducing free radicals increased in a dose dependent manner. The percentage of inhibition of DPPH ranged from 0.94 to 73.07 %. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of coumarin, flavonoid, naphtoquinone, anthracene derivative, saponin, lignan, triterpene and tannin. The dichloromethane and methanol extracts showed the best biological activities; they were also shown as the best extraction solvents of phytochemicals. In the acute toxicity evaluation, all animals were physically active and no deaths of rats were observed during the test. However, the aqueous extract promoted biochemical, hematological and histopathological alterations of treated rats at 2000 mg/kg body weight. Conclusion A. uliginosa extracts contains antimicrobial, antioxidant agents and was not lethal for rats when ingested. However, according to the results obtained for biochemical, hematological, and histopathological analysis, caution is required regarding its consumption.

The brine shrimp (Artemia salina Leach) lethality bioassay offers an advantage in standardization and quality control of botanical products. This test is well correlated with antitumor activity (cytotoxicity) and can be used to monitor the activity of bioactive natural products. This paper reports the bioactivity of ethanol extracts from seven medicinal plants from the Northeast of Brazil (Acmella uliginosa, Ageratum conyzoides, Eugenia uniflora, Plectranthus neochilus, Moringa oleifera, Justicia pectoralis and Equisetum sp.) against Artemia salina. Biological activity was evaluated for extracts at 1, 10, 100, and 1000 µg/mL in triplicate, and the mean lethal concentration values (LC50) were obtained by probit analysis. The species Acmella uliginosa showed the highest bioactivity, and its flower extract was more active than its leaf extract.

Sete espécies da subtribo Ecliptinae encontradas nos estados do Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará e Rondônia, são apresentadas como novos registros para a Amazônia brasileira: Acmella uliginosa, Aspilia camporum, Aspilia ulei, Melanthera latifolia, Melanthera nivea, Spilanthes nervosa e Wedelia calycina. São apresentadas descrições e ilustrações para as espécies, dados sobre a distribuição geográfica, hábitat, época de floração e frutificação. Os novos registros evidenciam a importância de estudos sobre a flora amazônica e demonstram a necessidade de coletas mais intensas na região. The following seven species of the subtribe Ecliptinae found in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia have been recorded at the Brazilian Amazonia, for the first time: Acmella uliginosa, Aspilia camporum, Aspilia ulei, Melanthera latifolia, Melanthera nivea, Spilanthes nervosa and Wedelia calycina. Species descriptions and illustrations are presented, as well as information about geographic distribution, habitats and phenology. These new records highlight the importance of the floristic studies in Amazonia, and the need to carry out intensive fieldwork to improve the sampling in this region.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. is a medicinal herbaceous plant that is commonly used by the Malay community in Malaysia to relieve pain often associated with mouth ulcers, toothache, sore throat, and stomach ache. Aim The study was carried out to investigate the antinociceptive effect of the methanolic extract of A. uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. flowers (MEAU) using murine models of chemicals and thermal nociception. Materials and methods Chemicals (acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and formalin-, capsaicin-, glutamate-induced paw licking test) and thermal models (hot plate test) of nociception in mice were employed to evaluate the MEAU analgesic effect. The extract was given via oral administration at doses of 3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg. Results It was demonstrated that MEAU produced significant antinociceptive response in all the chemical- and thermal-induced nociception models, which indicates the presence of both centrally and peripherally mediated activities. Furthermore, the reversal of antinociception of MEAU by naloxone suggests the involvement of opioid system in its centrally mediated analgesic activity. Moreover, MEAU-treated mice did not show any significant motor performance alterations. No mortality and signs of toxicity were recorded following treatment of the MEAU. Conclusion The results from the present study appear to support the folkloric belief in the medicinal properties of A. uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. which against pain at both central and peripheral levels, in which the central antinociception is probably due to the participation of the opioid receptors.

Acmella uliginosa, Ceratotheca sesamoides, Justicia tenella and Sesamum radiatum are four traditional leafy vegetables which are widely consumed in Benin. In order to document their origin, folk nomenclature, geographical distribution and ecology and to select adequate zones for in situ conservation of their genetic resources, 118 villages were randomly selected and surveyed throughout the country using a participatory research approach. All the species apart from Ceratotheca sesamoides were reported by farmers as introduced in Benin at different periods. The folk nomenclature comprising 93 different names is based on nine key criteria of variable frequencies according to the species. The geographical distribution maps revealed that the species under study are unequally distributed. Indeed, A. uliginosa is found exclusively in the northwest, J. tenella in the northeast and partially in the centre while S. radiatum and Ceratotheca sesamoides were found almost everywhere in Benin. Results from multivariate analysis combined with geographical distribution maps of the species and the soil and climate maps of Benin, leaded to the selection of the Northwest and of the Northeast regions as the appropriate conservation zones for the four species. Molecular analysis was recommended as it can help in describing genetic diversity and consequently in identifying additional sites for the widely spread species Sesamum radiatum and Ceratotheca sesamoides. Keywords: Folk nomenclature, biodiversity, geographical distribution, site selection, in situ conservation, Benin.