Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Medicinal Plants: Ethno-Uses to Biotechnology Era

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biotechnology and Production of Anti-Cancer Compounds

Abstract

To date, medicinal plants form the backbone of primary healthcare for 70–95% of the population of the developing world. Therefore, medicinal plants help in alleviating human suffering and are widely used for traditional remedies, pharmaceutical materials, and trade. Cancer patients numbers are increasing worldwide, ranking this disease as the second disease cause of mortality for both sexes. Traditionally, medicinal plants have been used in the fight against cancer, then it is considered as the basis for medicines discovery, and nowadays more than 70% of anticancer drugs have a natural source. The biotechnological tools are necessary to select, multiply, improve, and analyze medicinal plants. This chapter highlights the history of using the medicinal plants indigenously worldwide, i.e., anticancer reservoirs and also answers to many questions, such as: Why the importance of using medicinal plants is increasing recently? What are the benefits of applying the biotechnology in medicinal plants? It then describes the new biotech technique of the traceability by using PCR-DGGE to determine the geographical origin of medicinal plants (a case study of Physalis fruits from four different countries) by analyzing the DNA fragments of microorganisms (yeasts) on plants. This method is based on the assumption that the microbial communities of environmental samples are unique to a geographic area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abera B (2014) Medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by Oromo people, Ghimbi district, Southwest Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 10:40. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/10/1/40. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Abramov V (1996) Traditional medicine, vol 134. World Health Organization, Geneva, pp 1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Adefa M, Abraha B (2011) Ethnobotanical survey of traditional medicinal plants in Tehuledere district, South Wollo, Ethiopia. J Med Plant Res 5(26):6233–6242

    Google Scholar 

  • AESGP (Association Européenne des Spécialités Pharmaceutiques Grand Public; The Association of the European Self-Medication Industry) (1998) Herbal medicinal products in the European Union. Study carried out on behalf of the European Commission, Brussels. http://pharmacos.eudra.org/F2/pharmacos/docs/doc99/Herbal%20Medecines%20EN.pdf. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Aggarwal BB, Sundaram C, Malani N, Ichikawa H (2007) Curcumin: the Indian solid gold. In: Aggarwal BB, Surh Y-J, Shishodia S (eds) The molecular targets and therapeutic uses of curcumin in health and disease. Springer, New York, NY

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Agoreyo BO, Okoro NC, Choudhary MI (2012) Preliminary phytochemical analysis of two varieties of Adenia lobata (Jacq) and the antioxidant activity of their various solvent fractions. Bayero J Pure Appl Sci 5(1):182–186. doi:10.4314/bajopas.v5i1.32

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed E, Arshad M, Saboor A, Qureshi R, Mustafa G, Sadiq S, Chaudary KS (2013) Ethnobotanical appraisal and medicinal use of plants in Patriata, New Murree, evidence from Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 9:13. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/9/1/13. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • AHPA-ERB (AHPA Foundation for Education & Research on Botanicals) (2008) A field guide to herbal dietary supplements. AHPA-ERB Foundation, Silver Spring, MD. http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/Documents/fieldguide.pdf?ver=2014-05-14-132502-000. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Al-Harbi MM, Qureshi S, Ahmed MM, Raza M, Baig MZA, Shah AH (1996) Effect of camel urine on the cytological and biochemical changes induced by cyclophosphamide in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 52(3):129–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ali NA, Julich WD, Kusnick C, Lindequist U (2001) Screening of Yemeni medicinal plants for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. J Ethnopharmacol 74:173–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ali-Shtayeh MS, Yaniv Z, Mahajna J (2000) Ethnobotanical survey in the Palestinian area: a classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 73:221–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida CFCBR, Amorim ELC, Albuquerque UP, Maia MBS (2006) Medicinal plants popularly used in the Xingó region – a semi-arid location in Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Quraʼn S (2009) Ethnopharmacological survey of wild medicinal plants in Showbak, Jordan. J Ethnopharmacol 123:45–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Sokari SS, El Sheikha AF (2015) In vitro antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of some medicinal plants from Al-Baha region in Saudi Arabia. J Food Nutr Sci 3(1–2):74–78

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Altschul SF, Madden TL, Schäffer AA, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Miller W, Lipman DJ (1997) Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein databases search programs. Nucleic Acids Res 25(17):3389–3402

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Arias TD (1999) Glosario de Medicamentos: desarollo, evaluaciõn y uso. Organizaciõn Panamricana de La Salud. Organizaciõn Mundial de La Salud, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Arsdall AV (2002) Medieval herbal remedies: the old English herbarium and Anglo-Saxon Medicine. Psychology Press, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Azaizeh H, Saad B, Cooper E, Said O (2010) Traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine, a re-emerging health aid. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 7(4):419–424

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baek SH, Bae ON, Park JH (2012) Recent methodology in ginseng analysis. J Ginseng Res 36:119–134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Baydoun S, Lamis C, Helena D, Nelly A (2015) Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by the communities of Mount Hermon, Lebanon. J Ethnopharmacol 173:139–156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bedir E, Khan IA, Walker LA (2002) Biologically active steroidal glycosides from Tribulus terrestris. Pharmazie 57:491–493

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berger E (2001) The Canada Health Monitor surveys of health issues in Canada, Survey 22. Ottawa, ON, Health Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Betancur-Galvis LA, Morales GE, Forero JE, Roldan J (2002) Cytotoxic and antiviral activities of colombian medicinal plant extracts of the Euphorbia genus. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 97:541–546

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Billing J, Sherman PW (1998) Antimicrobial functions of spices: why some like it hot. Q Rev Biol 73(1):3–49

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, Gruenwald J, Hall T, Riggins CW, Rister RS (eds) (1998) The complete German commission E monographs: therapeutic guide to herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council/Integrative Medicine Communications, Austin, TX/Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Bojadzievski P (1992) The health services in Bitola through the centuries. Society of Science and Art, Bitola

    Google Scholar 

  • Boonyaratanakornkit L, Chantaptavan V (1993) Identification and specification of Khao-Yen-Neua and Khao-Yen-Tai. Thai J Pharm Sci 1:79–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Botros L, Sakkas D, Seli E (2008) Metabolomics and its application for non-invasive embryo assessment in IVF. Mol Hum Reprod 14:679–690

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • British Pharmacopoeia Commission (2007) British pharmacopoeia 2007. The Stationery Office, London. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080804194642/mhra.gov.uk/committees/medicinesadvisorybodies/britishpharmacopoeiacommission/index.htm. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Burslem DFRP, Garwood NC, Thomas SC (2001) Tropical forest diversity—the plot thickens. Science 291:606–607

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calapai G (2008) European legislation on herbal medicines: a look into the future. Drug Saf 31(5):428–431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cancer Research UK (2014) A study looking at the use of herbal medicine by people with cancer. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-study-use-herbal-medicines-cancer. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Cancer Research UK (2016) About chemotherapy for lung cancer. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/lung-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/about-chemotherapy-for-lung-cancer. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Castleman M (2001) The new healing herbs: the classic guide to nature’s best medicines featuring the top 100 time-tested herbs. Rodale Inc., New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Cevallos-Cevallos JM, Futch DB, Shilts T, Folimonova SY, Reyes-De-Corcuera JI (2012) GC–MS metabolomic differentiation of selected citrus varieties with different sensitivity to citrus huanglongbing. Plant Physiol Biochem 53:69–76

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhary A, Singh N (2010) Herbo mineral formulations (Rasaoushadhies) of Ayurvedia an amazing inheritance of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. Anc Sci Life 30(1):18–26

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chayamarit K (1995) Thai medicinal plants, 5th edn. Department of Forestry, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Lotufo LV, Khan MH, Ather A, Wilke DV, Jimenez PC, Pessoa C, Moraes ME (2005) Studies of the anticancer potential of plants used in Bangladeshi folk medicine. J Ethnopharmacol 99:21–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Council of Europe, Strasburg. 2008. European pharmacopoeia. 6th edn., www.worldcat.org/title/european-pharmacopoeia/oclc/170932841. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Cox PA (2000) Will tribal knowledge survive the millennium? Science 287:44–45

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cragg GM, Newman DJ (2005) Plants as sources of anti-cancer agents. J Ethnopharmacol 100:72–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunninghum AB (2001) Applied ethnobotany: people, wild plant use and conservation. Earthscan publications Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dafni A, Levy S, Lev E (2005) The ethnobotany of Christʼs Thorne jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) in Israel. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 1:8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dervendzi V (1992) Contemporary treatment with medicinal plants. Tabernakul, Skopje

    Google Scholar 

  • Duke JA, Ayensu ES (1985) Medicinal plants of China. Reference Publications, Inc., Algonac, MI

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn WB, Ellis DI (2005) Metabolomics: current analytical platforms and methodologies. Trac Trends Anal Chem 24:285–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dwivedi G, Dwivedi S (2007) History of medicine: Sushruta – the clinician – teacher par excellence. http://medind.nic.in/iae/t07/i4/iaet07i4p243.pdf. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • El Sheikha AF (2015a) New strategies of traceability for determining the geographical origin of medicinal plants: innovation of biological barcode by PCR-DGGE. ACMAP 5th Annual Conference Program book FARGO-ND. J Med Act Plants 4(2): Supplement. http://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol4/iss2/3. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • El Sheikha AF (2004) Technological, chemical and microbiological studies on some packed foods. Dissertation, Minufiya University

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF (2010a) Determination of the geographical origin of fruits by using 26S rDNA fingerprinting of yeast communities by PCR-DGGE: an application to Shea tree fruits. J Life Sci 4(6):9–15

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF (2010b) Determination of geographical origin of Shea tree and Physalis fruits by using the genetic fingerprints of the microbial community by PCR/DGGE: analysis of biological properties of some fruit extracts. Dissertation, Montpellier University II

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF (2011) Détermination de l’origine géographique des fruits: exemples du karité et du Physalis par l’utilisation d’empreintes génétiques sur la communauté microbienne par PCR/DGGE. In: Leclerc C (ed). Éditions Universitaire Européennes, GmbH & Co. KG, Sarrebruck

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF (2015b) Rumex nervosus: an overview. Int J Innov Hortic 4(2):87–95

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF (2015c) New strategies for tracing foodstuffs: biological barcodes utilizing PCR-DGGE. Adv Food Technol Nutr Sci Open J 1(1):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Al-Sokari SS, Al-Ghamdi AY (2014) Ithrib (Rumex nervosus Vahl) as a famous ethno-medicinal plant of Saudi Arabia. In: 5th Annual Conference of the American Council for Medicinally Active Plants (ACMAP). 15–18 June 2014. Fargo, North Dakota, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Bouvet J-M, Montet D (2011a) Biological bar-code for the determination of geographical origin of fruits by using 28S rDNA fingerprinting of fungal communities by PCR-DGGE: an application to Shea tree fruits. Qual Assur Saf Crops Foods 3(1):40–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Condur A, Métayer I, Le Nguyen DD, Loiseau G, Montet D (2009) Determination of fruit origin by using 26S rDNA fingerprinting of yeast communities by PCR-DGGE: preliminary application to Physalis fruits from Egypt. Yeast 26:567–573

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Durand N, Sarter S, Okullo JBL, Montet D (2012) Study of the microbial discrimination of fruits by PCR-DGGE: application to the determination of the geographical origin of Physalis fruits from Colombia, Egypt, Uganda and Madagascar. Food Control 24(1–2):57–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Métayer I, Montet D (2011b) A Biological bar-code for determining the geographical origin of fruit by using 28S rDNA fingerprinting of fungi communities by PCR-DGGE: an application to Physalis fruits from Egypt. Food Biotechnol 25(2):115–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Montet D (2011) Determination of fruit origin by using 28S rDNA fingerprinting of fungi communities by PCR-DGGE: an application to Physalis fruits from Egypt, Uganda and Colombia. Fruits 66(2):79–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Montet D (2016) How to determine the geographical origin of seafood? Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 56(2):306–317

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Ray R (2014) Is PCR-DGGE innovative molecular tool for detection of microbial plant pathogens? In: Sharma N (ed) Biological controls for preventing food deterioration. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Sainz de Los Terreros A, Nabet C, Montet D, Larroque M, Pelissier Y (2008a). Le Coqueret du Pérou (Physalis peruviana L.). 1st Prize of Ethnopharmacology and Ethnopharama laboratory. 10th International Symposium of Aromatherapy and Medicinal Plants, Grasse, 11–13 April 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Xu J (2017) Traceability as a key of seafood safety: reassessment and possible applications. Rev Fish Sci Aquac 25(2):158–170. doi:10.1080/23308249.2016.1254158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Sheikha AF, Zaki M, Bakr A, El Habashy M, Montet D (2008b) Physico-chemical properties and biochemical composition of Physalis (Physalis pubescens L.) fruits. Global Science Books Ltd., UK. Food 2:124–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Ercolini D (2004) PCR-DGGE fingerprinting: novel strategies for detection of microbes in food. J Microbiol Methods 56:297–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2004) Directive 2004/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 amending, as regards traditional herbal medicinal products, Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use. 30/04/20104. Official Journal of the European Union: L136/85. http://ec.europa.eu/health/files/eudralex/vol-1/dir_2004_24/dir_2004_24_en.pdf. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Falodun A (2010) Herbalmedicine in Africa-distribution, standardization and prospects. Res J Phytochem 4(3):154–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farnsworth NR (1994) Ethnopharmacology and drug development. In: Prance GT (ed) Ethnobotany and the search for new drugs. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Farnsworth NR, Bunyapraphatsara N (1992) Thai medicinal plant: recommended for primary health care system. Prachachon company, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (2015) Botanical drug development guidance for industry. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/drugs/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/guidances/ucm458484.pdf. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Fischer SG, Lerman LS (1983) DNA fragments differing by single base-pair substitutions are separated in denaturing electrophoreseis analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified genes coding for 16S rRNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 80(6):1579–1583

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fouche G, Cragg GM, Pillay P, Kolesnikova N, Maharaj VJ, Senabe J (2008) In vitro anticancer screening of South African plants. J Ethnopharmacol 119:455–461

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gali-Muhtasib H, Diab-Assaf M, Boltze C, Al-Hmaira J, Hartig R, Roessner A, Schneider-Stock R (2004) Thymoquinone extracted from black seed triggers apoptotic cell death in human colorectal cancer cells via a p53-dependent mechanism. Int J Oncol 25:857–866

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GIA (Global Industry Analysts, Inc.) (2016) A worldwide business strategy & market intelligence source. http://www.strategyr.com/. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Gimmel M (2008) Reading medicine in the Codex de la Cruz Badiano. J Hist Ideas 69(2):169–192

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser V (1999) Billion-dollar market blossoms as botanicals take root. Nat Biotechnol 17:17–18

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gonsalves J (2010) Economic botany and ethnobotany. International Scientific Academy, Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurib-Fakim A (2006) Medicinal plants: traditions of yesterday and drugs of tomorrow. Mol Aspects Med 27(1):1–93

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harshaw D, Nahar L, Vadla B, Saif-E-Naser GM, Sarker SD (2010) Bioactivity of Rumex obtusifolius (Polygonaceae). Arch Biol Sci Belgrade 62(2):387–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartwell JL (1982) Plants used against cancer. Quarterman, Lawrence, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudaib M, Mohammad M, Bustanji Y, Tayyeb R, Yousef M, Aburjeie M, Aburjai T (2008) Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Jordan, Mujib Nature Reserve and surrounding area. J Ethnopharmacol 120:63–71

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humber JM (2002) The role of complementary and alternative medicine: accommodating pluralism. JAMA 288(13):1655–1656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (2002) Some traditional herbal medicines, some mycotoxins, naphthalene and styrene. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum 82:1–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Ismail Z, Ismail N, Lassa J (1999) Malaysian herbal monograph, vol 1. Malaysian Monograph Committee, Kuala Lumpur

    Google Scholar 

  • Itharat A, Houghton PJ, Eno-Amooquaye E, Burke PJ, Sampson J, Raman A (2004) In vitro cytotoxic activity of Thai medicinal plants used traditionally to treat cancer. J Ethnopharmacol 90:33–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Itharat A, Singchangchai P, Subchareon P, Supavita T, Ubonkaw P, Ratanasuwan P, Kummee S, Srisuchatum P (2002) Folk wisdom about treatment of traditional doctors in Southern Thailand: focus groups discussion. Prince of Songkla University, Songkla

    Google Scholar 

  • Itharat A, Supavita T, Jusanit P, Singchangchai P, Subchareon P, Deevisad G, Ubonkaw P, Ratanasuwan P, Kajpunyapong V, Muangsrinun R (1999b) Survey of medicinal plants and local folk wisdom in Southern Thailand: case study at Talebun National Parks. Prince of Songkla University, Songkla

    Google Scholar 

  • Itharat A, Supavita T, Singchangchai P, Kajjarun U, Ratanasuwan P, Pongpeerachote S, Chantaptawan V (1999a) Identification and specification of Khao-Yen-Neua and Khao-Yen-Tai from traditional doctors in Thailand. Prince of Songkla University, Songkla

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacquart D (2008) Islamic pharmacology in the middle ages: theories and substances. Eur Rev 16(2):219–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jančić R (2002) Botanika farmaceutika. Public company Sl. List SRJ, Beograd

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson T (2001) News. Chinese medicine now part of primary care scene in BC. Can Med Assoc J 164:1195

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MY, Aliabbas S, Kumar V, Rajkumar S (2009) Recent advances in medicinal plant biotechnology. Indian J Biotechnol 8:9–22

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacevic N (2000) Fundamentals of pharmacognosy. Personal edition, Beograd

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozyrskyj A (1997) Herbal products in Canada. How safe are they? Can. Family Phys Med Famille Can 43:697–702

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krek M (1979) The enigma of the first Arabic book printed from movable type. J Near East Stud 38(3):203–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuga H, Ejima A, Mitui I, Sato K, Ishihara N, Fukuda K, Saito F, Uenakai K (1993) Isolation and characterizacion of cytotoxic compounds from corn. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 57(6):1020–1021. doi:10.1271/bbb.57.1020

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambertini E, Piva R, Khan MTH, Lampronti I, Bianchi N, Borgatti M, Gambari R (2004) Effects of extracts from Bangladeshi medicinal plants on in vitro proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines and expression of estrogen receptor alpha gene. Int J Oncol 24:419–423

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langmead L, Rampton DS (2001) Review article: herbal treatment in gastrointestinal and liver disease-benefits and dangers. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 15:1239–1252

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee CC, Houghton P (2005) Cytotoxicity of plants from Malaysia and Thailand used traditionally to treat cancer. J Ethnopharmacol 100:237–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee D-K, Lim DK, Um JA, Lim CJ, Hong JY, Yoon YA, Ryu Y, Kim HJ, Cho HJ, Park JH, Seo YB, Kim K, Lim J, Kwon SW, Lee J (2014) Evaluation of four different analytical tools to determine the regional origin of Gastrodia elata and Rehmannia glutinosa on the basis of metabolomics study. Molecules 19:6294–6308

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee KH (1999) Antitumor agents 195 Anticancer drug design based on plant derived natural products. J Biomed Sci 6:236–250

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leroi-Gourhan A (1975) The flowers found with Shanidar IV, a Neanderthal burial in Iraq. Science 190(4214):562–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Yang S-C, Guo Q-S, Zheng K-Y, Shi Y-F, Xiao X-F, Long G-Q (2014) Determining the geographical origin of the medicinal plant Marsdenia tenacissima with multi-element analysis and data mining techniques. Chemom Intel Lab Syst 136:115–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X-J, Zhang H-Y (2008) Western-medicine-validated anti-tumor agents and traditional Chinese medicine. Trends Mol Med 14(1):1–2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López-Rituerto E, Savorani F, Avenoza A, Busto JH, Peregrina JM, Engelsen SB (2012) Investigations of La Rioja terroir for wine production using 1H NMR metabolomics. J Agric Food Chem 60:3452–3461

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukic P (1985) Pharmacognosy. SSO Faculty of Pharmacy, Beograd

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo F, Lu R, Zhou H, Hu F, Bao G, Huang B, Li Z (2013) Metabolic effect of an exogenous gene on transgenic Beauveria bassiana using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based metabolomics. J Agric Food Chem 61:7008–7017

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madigan MT, Martinko JM, Dunlap PV, Clark DP (2009) Brock biology of microorganisms, 12th edn. Pearson Education Inc., San Francisco, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamedov N (2012) Medicinal plants studies: history, challenges and prospective. Med Aromat Plants 1(8):e133. doi:10.4172/2167-0412.1000e133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekonnen T, Urga K, Engidawork E (2010) Evaluation of the diuretic and analgesic activities of the rhizomes of Rumex abyssinicus Jacq in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 127:433–439

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moco S, Vervoort J, Bino RJ, de Vos RCH, Bino R (2007) Metabolomics technologies and metabolite identification. Trac Trends Anal Chem 26:855–866

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moghadamtousi SZ, Rouhollahi E, Karimian H, Fadaeinasab M, Mohammad F, Ameen Abdulla M, Abdul Kadir H (2015) The chemopotential effect of Annona muricata leaves against azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats and the apoptotic effect of acetogenin annomuricin E in HT-29 cells: a bioassay-guided approach. PLoS One 10(4):e0122288. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno-Escobar JA, Bazald S, Villarreal ML, Bonilla-Barbosa JR, Mendoza S, Rodríguez-López V (2011) Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of selected Lamiales species from Mexico. Pharm Biol 49(12):1243–1248. doi:10.3109/13880209.2011.589454

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munavu RM, Mudamba LO, Ogur JA (1984) Isolation and characterization of the major anthraquinone pigments from Rumex abysinica. Planta Med 50(1):111. doi:10.1055/s-2007-969640

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munos B (2009) Lessons from 60 years of pharmaceutical innovation. Nat Rev Drug Discov 8:959–968

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muyzer G (1999) DGGE/TGGE a method for identifying genes from natural ecosystems. Curr Opin Microbiol 2(3):317–322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muyzer G, De Waal EC, Uitterlinden AG (1993) Profiling of complex microbial populations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified genes coding for 16S rRNA. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:695–700

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nair M, Nathan G (1998) Medicinal plants: cure for the 21th century; Biodiversity, conservation and utilization of Medicinal plants: Proceedings of the seminar UPM, Serdang, Malaysia

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson D, Cox M (2005) Lehninger principles of biochemistry, 4th edn. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Nganou DN, Durand N, Tatsadjieu NL, Meile JC, El Sheikha AF, Montet D, Mbufung CM (2012) Determination of coffee origin by using 28S rDNA fingerprinting of fungal communities by PCR-DGGE: application to the Cameroonian coffee. Int J Biosci 2:18–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisar MF, Jaleel F, Waseem M, Ismail S, Toor Y, Haider SM, Zhong JL (2014) Ethno-medicinal uses of plants from district Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Curr Res J Biol Sci 6(5):183–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunn JF (1996) Ancient Egyptian medicine. Trans Med Soc Lond 113:57–68

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oakes L, Gahlin L (2003) Ancient Egypt: an illustrated reference to the myths, religions, pyramids and temples of the land of the pharaohs. Barnes & Noble, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Oran SA, Al-Eisawi DM (1998) Check list of medicinal plants in Jordan. Dirasat 25:84–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Padulosi S, Leaman D, Quek P (2002) Challenges and opportunities in enhancing the conservation and use of medicinal and aromatic plants. J Herbs Spices Med Plants 9:243–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan S-Y, Litscher G, Gao S-H, Zhou S-F, Yu Z-L, Chen H-Q, Zhang S-F, Tang M-K, Sun J-N, Ko K-M (2014) Historical perspective of traditional indigenous medical practices: the current renaissance and conservation of herbal resources. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014:525340. doi:10.1155/2014/525340

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pan S-Y, Pan S, Yu Z-L, Ma D-L, Chen S-B, Fong W-F, Han Y-F, Ko K-M (2010) New perspectives on innovative drug discovery: an overview. J Pharm Pharm Sci 13(3):450–471

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrovska BB (2012) Historical review of medicinal plants’ usage. Pharmacogn Rev 6(11):1–5

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Popoca J, Aguilar A, Alonso D, Villarreal ML (1998) Cytotoxic activity of selected plants used as antitumorals in Mexican traditional medicine. J Ethnopharmacol 59:173–177. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(97)00110-4

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rajeshkumar NV, Pillai MR, Kuttan R (2003) Induction of apoptosis in mouse and human carcinoma cell lines by Emblica officinalis polyphenols and its effect on chemical carcinogenesis. J Exp Clin Res 22:201–212

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao SR, Ravishankar GA (2002) Plant cell cultures: chemical factories of secondary metabolites. Biotechnol Adv 20:101–153

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rates SMK (2001) Plants as source of drugs. Toxicon 39:603–613

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rettedal EA, Clay S, Brözel VS (2010) GC-clamp primer batches yield 16S rRNA gene amplicon pools with variable GC clamps, affecting denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles. FEMS Microbiol Lett 312(1):55–62

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ríos MY, González-Morales A, Villarreal ML (2001) Sterols, triterpenes and bioflavonoids of Viburnum jucundum and cytotoxic activity of ursolic acid. Planta Med 67:683–684. doi:10.1055/s-2001-17357

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robson B, Baek OK (2009) The engines of hippocrates: from the dawn of medicine to medical and pharmaceutical informatics. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rojas-Sepúlveda A, Mendieta-Serrano M, Antúnez Mojica M, Salas-Vidal E, Marquina S, Villarreal ML, Puebla AM, Delgado J, Alvarez L (2012) Cytotoxic podophyllotoxin type-lignans from the steam bark of Bursera fagaroides var. fagaroides. Molecules 17:9506–9519. doi:10.3390/molecules17089506

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roy MK, Nakahara K, Na Thalang V, Trakoontivakorn G, Takenaka M, Isobe S, Tsushida T (2007) Baicalein, a flavonoid extracted from a methanolic extract of Oroxylum indicum inhibits proliferation of a cancer cell line in vitro via induction of apoptosis. Pharmazie 62:149–153

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saad B, Azaizeh H, Said O (2005) Tradition and perspectives of Arab herbal medicine: a review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2(4):475–479

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Said O, Fulder S, Khalil K, Eli K, Bashar S (2008) Maintaining a Physiological Blood Glucose Level with ‘Glucolevel’, a combination of four anti-diabetes plants used in the traditional Arab herbal medicine. eCAM 5(4):421–428

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Said O, Khalil K, Fulder S, Azaizeh H (2002) Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Israel, the Golan Heights and the West Bank region. J Ethnopharmacol 83:251–265

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saied AS, Gebauer J, Hammer K, Buerkert A (2008) Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd: a multipurpose fruit tree. Genet Resour Crop Evol 55:929–937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawahel W (1997) Plant genetic transformation technology. Daya Publishing House, Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Seid MA, Aydagnehum SG (2013) Medicinal plants biodiversity and local healthcare management system in Chencha district; Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 2(1):284–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafik A, Elseesy W (2003) Medicine in ancient Egypt. In: Seli H, Shapiro H (eds) Medicine across cultures. Kluwer, Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman PW, Hash GA (2001) Why vegetable recipes are not very spicy. Evol Hum Behav 22(3):147–163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shetty P, Rinaldi A (2015) Traditional medicine for modern times: facts and figures. http://www.scidev.net/global/medicine/feature/traditional-medicine-modern-times-facts-figures.html. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Shi G, MacDougal JM, McLaughlin JL (1997) Bioactive annonaceous acetogenins from Rollinia mucosa. Phytochemistry 45:719–723. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00028-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siahsar B, Rahimi M, Tavassoli A, Raissi A (2011) Application of biotechnology in production of medicinal plants. Am Eur J Agric Environ Sci 11(3):439–444

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sigerist HE (1967) A history of medicine, I. Primitive and archaic medicine. Oxford University Press, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonnedecker G, Kremers E (1986) Kremers and Urdang’s history of pharmacy. American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, Madison, WI

    Google Scholar 

  • Stepp JR (2004) The role of weeds as sources of pharmaceuticals. J Ethnopharmacol 92(2–3):163–166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sumner J (2000) The natural history of medicinal plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun B, Qu W, Bai Z (2003) The inhibitory effect of saponins from Tribulus terrestris on Bcap-37 breast cancer cell line in vitro. Zhong Yao Cai 26:104–106

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Talib WH, Mahasneh AM (2010) Antiproliferative activity of plant extracts used against cancer in traditional medicine. Sci Pharm 78:33–45

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tamokou J d D, Chouna JR, Fischer-Fodor E, Chereches G, Barbos O, Damian G, Benedec D, Duma M, APN E, Wabo HK, Kuiate JR, Mot A, Silaghi-Dumitrescu R (2013) Anticancer and antimicrobial activities of some antioxidant-rich Cameroonian medicinal plants. PLoS One 8(2):e55880. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055880

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tasheva K, Kosturkova G (2013) Role of biotechnology for protection of endangered medicinal plants. In: Petre M (ed) Environmental biotechnology - new approaches and prospective applications. InTech, Rijeka

    Google Scholar 

  • The United States Pharmacopoeial Convention. Washington: 2008. USP 31 the United States Pharmacopoeia. www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/products/usp2008p2supplement3.pdf. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Toplak Galle K (2005) Domestic medicinal plants. Mozaic book, Zagreb

    Google Scholar 

  • Truitt ER (2009) The virtues of balm in late medieval literature. Early Sci Med 14(6):711–736

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tzfira T, Li J, Lacroix B, Citovsky V (2004) Agrobacterium tDNA integration: molecules and models. Trends Genet 20:375–383

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vaz-Moreira I, Egas C, Nunes OC, Manaia CM (2013) Bacterial diversity from the source to the tap: a comparative study based on 16S rRNA gene-DGGE and culture-dependent methods. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 83(2):361–374

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vega-Ávila E, Tapia Aguilar R, Jiménez Estrada M, Villareal Ortega M, Román-Ramos R (2004) Cytotoxic activity of Cuphea aequipetala. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 47:129–133. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.055

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergouw CG, Botros LL, Roos P, Lens JW, Schats R, Hompes PGA, Burns DH, Lambalk CB (2008) Metabolomic profiling by near-infrared spectroscopy as a tool to assess embryo viability: a novel, non-invasive method for embryo selection. Hum Reprod 23:1499–1504

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Von Staden H (1989) Herophilus: the art of medicine in early Alexandria: edition, translation, and essays. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J-B, Zeng L-N, Zang Q-C, Gong Q-F, Li B-C, Zhang X-R, Chu X-H, Zhang P, Zhao Y-L, Xiao X-H (2012) Colorimetric grading scale can promote the standardization of experiential and sensory evaluation in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines. PLoS One 7:e48887. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048887

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2013) WHO traditional medicine strategy: 2014-2023. http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/traditional/trm_strategy14_23/en/. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (1996) Annex II. Guidelines for the assessment of herbal medicines. (WHO Technical Report Series No. 863), Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wieczorek A (2003) Use of biotechnology in agriculture—benefits and risks. Governance for industrial transformation. Proceedings of the 2003 Berlin conference on the human resources. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. http://hdl.handle.net/10125/3349. Accessed 16 July 2016

  • Williamson E, Okpako DT, Evans FJ (1996) Selection, preparation and pharmacological evaluation of plant material. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J-N (2005) An illustrated Chinese materia medica. Oxford University Press, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1

    Aly Farag El Sheikha

  2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Minufiya University, 32511, Shibin El Kom, Minufiya Government, Egypt

    Aly Farag El Sheikha

Authors
  1. Aly Farag El Sheikha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aly Farag El Sheikha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Health Sciences Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhao, Sao Luis, MA, Brazil

    Sonia Malik

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

El Sheikha, A.F. (2017). Medicinal Plants: Ethno-Uses to Biotechnology Era. In: Malik, S. (eds) Biotechnology and Production of Anti-Cancer Compounds . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53880-8_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation