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Prevalence of fragile X syndrome. Am J Med 12. Toledano-Alhadef H, Basel-Vanagaite L, Magal ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL USED BY THE Genet 1996;64:196-7. N, Davidov B, Ehrlich S, Drasinover V, et al. JAH HUT PEOPLES IN MALAYSIA 8. Rousseau F, Rouillard P, Morel ML, Khandjian Fragile-X carrier screening and the prevalence K. W. LIN EW, Morgan K. Prevalence of carriers of of premutation and full-mutation carriers in Israel. premutation-size alleles of the FMRI gene – and Am J Hum Genet 2001;69:351-60. implications for the population genetics of the 13. Hecimovic S, Barisic I, Muller A, Petkovic I, Baric ABSTRACT fragile X syndrome. Am J Hum Genet I, Ligutic I, et al. Expand Long PCR for fragile X 1995;57:1006-18. mutation detection. Clin Genet 1997;52:147-54. CONTEXT: An ethnobotanical study was carried out among the Jah Hut people who 9. Dombrowski C, Levesque S, Morel ML, Rouillard 14. Uyguner ZO, Wollnik B, Kayserili H, Tükel T, live in the central part of peninsular Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The P, Morgan K, Rousseau F. Premutation and Basaran S, Apak MY. Establishment of a information on the medicinal plants was obtained from interview with a traditional intermediate-size FMR1 alleles in 10572 males nonradioactive molecular diagnosis of fragile X medicinal man. The traditional uses and remedies were documented. The literature from the general population: loss of an AGG syndrome. Turk J Med Sci 2000;30:253-60. searches were carried out for the evaluation on the current status of investigations interruption is a late event in the generation of 15. Keser I, Luleci G, Alkan M. The results of on these plants. RESULTS: In this study, we present 16 of plants, which are fragile X syndrome alleles. Hum Mol Genet molecular and cytogenetic analysis in 6 families commonly used among the Jah Hut people to cure some common diseases. 2002;11:371-8. with fragile-X syndrome in Turkey. Marmara Med DISCUSSIONS: This study is important to preserve the knowledge of medicinal plants 10. Allingham-Hawkins DJ, Babul-Hirji R, Chitayat J 2000;13:7-10. used by Jah Hut people. The surveys of phytopharmacological literatures of these plants D, Holden JJ, Yang KT, Lee C, et al. Fragile X 16. Sherman SL. Premature ovarian failure in the have great pharmacological and ethnobotanical significance. premutation is a significant risk factor for fragile X syndrome. Am J Med Genet premature ovarian failure: The International 2000;97:189-94. KEY WORDS: Ethnobotany, herbs, Jah Hut, Malaysia, medicinal plants Collaborative POF in Fragile X study – 17. Tassone F, Hagerman RJ, Taylor AK, Gane LW, preliminary data. Am J Med Genet Godfrey TE, Hagerman PJ. Elevated levels of The area of ethnobotanical study is located in distributed over 11 villages, which extend along 1999;83:322-5. FMR1 mRNA in carrier males: A new mechanism 11. Jacquemont S, Hagerman RJ, Leehey M, of involvement in the fragile-X syndrome. Am J Pahang state, the central part of peninsular the west bank of Pahang River from Jerantut Grigsby J, Zhang L, Brunberg JA, et al. Fragile X Hum Genet 2000;66:6-15. Malaysia. This study was carried out amongst in the north to Termeloh in the south. They premutation tremor/ataxia syndrome: Molecular, 18. Hagerman RJ, Hagerman PJ. The fragile X small ethnic group of ‘Orang Asli’ (aboriginal speak the Jah Hut language, which is affiliated clinical, and neuroimaging correlates. Am J Hum premutation: Into the phenotypic fold. Curr Opin peoples), Jah Hut, who live in Kampung Keboi to the Mon-Khmer branch of Austroasiatic Genet 2003;72:869-78. Genet Dev 2002;12:278-83. (‘Kampung’ means village), within the tropical family. It does assimilate with many Malay forest in Jerantut district. The climate is words. In Jah Hut language, ‘Jah’ means equatorial with an average temperature of 23- ‘people’ and ‘Hut’ means ‘no’, however they 32°C. The annual rainfall is between 1525 and cannot explain the meaning of these combined 3050 mm/year. These climate conditions allow words. Kampung Keboi is one of the smallest the growth of diverse plants with economical Jah Hut settlements and has about 100 value and many of which are therapeutically inhabitants. Jah Hut people live in Malay style important. There are about 1300 medicinal houses, which stand on stilts. Their main products registered by the Ministry of agricultural activities include rubber tapping, Health of Malaysia and are available in growing rice, and rearing domestic fowls, such market.[1] as chicken. The wood carving activities are practiced among the Jah Hut. This is not the There are approximately 4000 Jah Hut peoples only source of income, but also an extension

Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine K. W. Lin, Lviv National Medical University, 69 Pekarska Correspondence: Street, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine. E-mail: [email protected]

Indian J Med Sci Vol. 59 No. 4, April 2005 Indian J Med Sci Vol. 59 No. 4, April 2005 ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 157 158 INDIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES of their traditional ideological framework based mode of uses were recorded. The collected Table 1: Remedies of plant used by Jah Hut peoples on their religious beliefs. Although they live in specimens were identified at the species level Sr. forests, they are not complete isolated, their in the Herbarium of Forest Research Institute No. (family name) names used uses economical dealing with neighboring people Malaysia under supervision of Dr. E. 1. A. angustiloba (L.)Local Ludoh Parts Traditional Leaves PreparationsHeadache Modes of uses Crushed External application exist since a few 100 years ago.[2] Soepadmo. The voucher specimens were Miq. (Apocynaceae) (two to three times daily) dried, labeled and stored. The search of recent 2. Coptosapelta tomentosa (L.) Salah Roots Parasitic worm Decoction Oral (one glass two The traditional herbal knowledge is passed scientific phytopharmacological literatures (Blume) Valeton ex K. Heyne infections to three times daily) () from generation to generation in the verbal were carried out in order to obtain the 3. Eurycoma longifolia (L.) Tongkat Ali Roots Virility Decoction Oral (two form by traditional medicinal man or ‘bomoh’. information on the current status of Jack (Simaroubaceae) teaspoons daily) 4. Hedyotis capitellata (L.) Wall. Bubut Roots Urinary Decoction Oral (two to three In recent years, folk medicine is no more an investigations of these plants. ex G. Don (Rubiaceae) problems times daily) attraction to the younger generation, they are 5. H. populneus (L.) (Geisl.) Remaya Leaves Headache Crushed External application more dependent on western medicine. They RESULTS Pax (Euphorbiaceae) (two to four times daily) are unable to recognize the herbs and possess 6. Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Paku Leaves Vertigo Crushed with External application very little knowledge on traditional herbal In this study, 16 species of plants were Pic. Serm. (Lycopodiaceae) charcoal on face (two to three times daily) remedy. Nowadays many young people migrate documented. The information obtained 7. Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Ribu Leaves Measles Crushed with External application to urban areas for education and job includes the botanical name, local name, parts Sw. (Schizaeaceae) rice (two to four times daily) opportunities. As a consequence, only the of the plant used, traditional uses, preparations 8. Melastoma malabathricum Senuduk Roots Diarrhea Decoction Oral (one glass two elder people possess the knowledge of herbs and modes of uses. The data recorded in Table (L.) (Melastomataceae) to three times daily) and it is estimated only a handful of people are 1 are arranged in alphabetical order according 9. Maranta arundinacea Ketap Roots Burning feeling Decoction Oral (one glass two (L.) (Marantaceae) in stomach to three times daily) able to use the traditional remedy to treat to botanical names. after delivery illness. Thus, the traditional knowledge is 10. Morinda citrifolia (L.) Mengkudu Leaves, Boils on head Decoction External application (Rubiaceae) fruits (leaves, fruits) (two to three times rapidly eroding. In addition, there is a lack of It is worth to note that some of these plants /crushed (fruits) daily) ethnobotanical survey carried out in these have already been studied experimentally, i.e., 11. P. minima (L.) Lepung Leaves, Pain below Decoction Oral (one glass four (Solanaceae) roots naval to five times daily) areas. For these reasons, the documentations Eurycoma longifolia, Hedyotis capitellata, 12. Pseuderanthemum Seemelet Leaves Boil on body Crushed External application of the traditional uses of indigenous plants are Melastoma malabathricum, Morinda citrifolia, crenulatum (L.) (Lindl.) (two to four times important to preserve their knowledge. The Lycopodiella cernua and Vernonia cinerea. The Radlk. (Acanthaceae) daily) 13. P. piloselloides (L.) Titik Leaves Pain on body Crushed/ For crush, external purpose of this study is to investigate the pharmacological activities reported in recent M.G. Price (Polypodiaceae) decoction application/for traditional uses and remedies of various literatures are recorded in Table 2. decoction, oral (one glass two to three indigenous plants, which are commonly used times daily) among the Jah Hut people. DISCUSSIONS 14. Smilax lanceifolia (L.) Dunnon Leaves Pricking pain Crushed External application Roxb. (Smilacaceae) 15. Smilax myosotiflora (L.) Ubi Jaga Bulbs Virility, back Decoction Oral MATERIALS AND METHODS Eurycoma longifolia are extensively studied in (Smilacaceae) pain some institutions in Malaysia and the herbal 16. Vernonia cinerea (L.) Trombe Leaves, Asthma Decoction Oral (one glass two Less. (Compositae) roots to three times daily) All verbal information on the medicinal plants preparations are available in the market.[3-12] It were obtained through an interview with a is a popular herb used by many local races of anti-hyperglycemic, anti-malarial, anti- boils by topical application of leaves or fruits. traditional medicinal man. This was done by Malaysia and mainly used as aphrodisiac, anti- proliferative, anti-schistosomal, anxiolytic and This coincides with pharmacological validation, Rev. Anthony Naden, a priest of a Catholic pyretic and anti-malarial remedy.[39] Not aphrodisiac activities are found in both in vivo since boils (impetigo, folliculitis, furuncles, or Church, who devoted his life in the service of surprisingly, Jah Hut people often use it as an and in vitro studies.[3-17] carbuncles) are often caused by the aboriginal people. The local name, parts of aphrodisiac remedy. This observation agrees Staphylococcus aureus; M. citrifolia possess plants used, ailments treated, preparations and with various pharmacological studies in which Jah Hut people often use M. citrifolia to treat anti-bacterial properties to counter it.[30]

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Table 2: Pharmacological activity of plants reported in literatures male mice. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol antihyperglycaemic activity in several local herbs

Plants Pharmacological activity 2003;14:301-8. of Malaysia. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;95:205-8. 4. Ang HH, Cheang HS. Effects of Eurycoma 15. Kardono LB, Angerhofer CK, Tsauri S, 1. Eurycoma longifolia Anti-hyperglycemic, anti-malarial, anti-proliferative, 3-17 anti-schistosomal, anxiolytic, aphrodisiac longifolia jack on laevator ani muscle in both Padmawinata K, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD. 2. Hedyotis capitellata Anti-bacterial 18 uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated Cytotoxic and antimalarial constituents of the reported in literat 3. Lycopodiella cernua Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal 18, 19 castrated intact male rats. Arch Pharm Res roots of Eurycoma longifolia. J Nat Prod 4. Melastoma malabathricum Anti-bacterial, anti-nociceptive, anti-proliferative, Referencesures anti-viral 18, 20, 21 5. Morinda citrifolia Analgesic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, 22-32 2001;24:437-40. 1991;54:1360-7. anti-helmintic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, 5. Ang HH, Ngai TH. Aphrodisiac evaluation in non- 16. Jiwajinda S, Santisopasri V, Murakami A, anti-proliferative, anti-viral, immune modulation, nitric oxide copulator male rats after chronic administration Sugiyama H, Gasquet M, Riad E, et al. In vitro scavenging activity 6. Vernonia cinerea Analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic 33-38 of Eurycoma longifolia Jack. Fundam Clin anti-tumor promoting and anti-parasitic activities Pharmacol 2001;15:265-8. of the quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia, a 6. Ang HH, Ikeda S, Gan EK. Evaluation of the medicinal plant in Southeast Asia. J Jah Hut people often use V. cinerea to relief pain, it is of practical use to search and extract potency activity of aphrodisiac in Eurycoma Ethnopharmacol 2002;82:55-8. asthma. Asthma is reversible airway the substances with analgesic action and study longifolia Jack. Phytother Res 2001;15:435-6. 17. Ueda JY, Tezuka Y, Banskota AH, Le Tran Q, Tran obstruction associated with mucosal the underlying action by phytochemical, 7. Chan KL, Choo CY, Abdullah NR, Ismail Z. QK, Harimaya Y, et al. Antiproliferative activity of inflammation caused by mast cells and pharmacological and toxicological methods. Antiplasmodial studies of Eurycoma longifolia Vietnamese medicinal plants. Biol Pharm Bull basophilscinerea degranulation resulting in the release Jack using the lactate dehydrogenase assay of 2002;25:753-60. of inflammatory mediator. Recent studies In conclusion, this study is important to Plasmodium falciparum. J Ethnopharmacol 18. Wiart C, Mogana S, Khalifah S, Mahan M, Ismail revealed the anti-inflammatory activities of V. preserve the knowledge of medicinal plants 2004;92:223-7. S, Buckle M, et al. Antimicrobial screening of ,[34,35] therefore it is reasonable to use used by Jah Hut people and also it is of 8. Kuo PC, Damu AG, Lee KH, Wu TS. Cytotoxic plants used for traditional medicine in the state it in relieving asthma. important significance to exploit novel and antimalarial constituents from the roots of of Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. Fitoterapia pharmacological agents in various treatments Eurycoma longifolia. Bioorg Med Chem 2004;75:68-73. Other plants, which were not documented in of diseases. 2004;12:537-44. 19. Zhang Z, ElSohly HN, Jacob MR, Pasco DS, 9. Ang HH, Chan KL, Mak JW. In vitro antimalarial Walker LA, Clark AM. Natural products inhibiting phytopharmacological literatures and of activity of quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia Candida albicans secreted aspartic proteases interest may be exploited so that the underlying ACKNOWLEDGMENTS against Malaysian chloroquine-resistant from Lycopodium cernuum. J Nat Prod mechanisms in different diseases of treatment Plasmodium falciparum isolates. Planta Med 2002;65:979-85. The author thanks Rev. Anthony Naden for his helps by pharmacological methods can be done. This 1995;61:177-8. 20. Sulaiman MR, Somchit MN, Israf DA, Ahmad Z, in obtaining information; Dr. E. Soepadmo for plants approach has great significance in discovery 10. Chan KL, O’Neill MJ, Phillipson JD, Warhurst DC. Moin S. Antinociceptive effect of Melastoma identification; Dr. Stan Moore for his comments on of novel pharmacological preparations. For Plants as sources of antimalarial drugs. Part 3. malabathricum ethanolic extract in mice. this article. example, Alstonia angustiloba and Eurycoma longifolia. Planta Med 1986. p. 105-7. Fitoterapia 2004;75:667-72. Homalanthus populneus are used to relieve 11. Kuo PC, Shi LS, Damu AG, Su CR, Huang CH, 21. Lohezic-Le Devehat F, Bakhtiar A, Bezivin C, headache in Jah Hut herbal remedy. Since REFERENCES Ke CH, et al. Cytotoxic and antimalarial beta- Amoros M, Boustie J. Antiviral and cytotoxic headache can caused by a wide spectrum of carboline alkaloids from the roots of Eurycoma activities of some Indonesian plants. Fitoterapia factors, stress, neurological disturbances, 1. Kulip J. An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal longifolia. J Nat Prod 2003;66:1324-7. 2002;73:400-5. and other useful plants of Muruts in Sabah, infections and so on, it might be interesting to 12. Ang HH, Cheang HS. Studies on the anxiolytic 22. Jagetia GC, Baliga MS. The evaluation of nitric Malaysia. Telopea 2003;10:81-98. activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack roots in mice. oxide scavenging activity of certain Indian study the underlying mechanisms of these 2. Couillard MA. Tradition in tension: carving in a Jpn J Pharmacol 1999;79:497-500. medicinal plants in vitro: A preliminary study. J herbs, or pure substances within it, against Jah Hut community. School of Comparative 13. Adimoelja A. Phytochemicals and the Med Food 2004;7:343-8. headache. It may probably possess anti- Social Sciences, University Sciences of Malaysia breakthrough of traditional herbs in the 23. Kamiya K, Tanaka Y, Endang H, Umar M, Satake depressant or anti-hypertensive activity. The Press; 1980. management of sexual dysfunctions. Int J Androl T. Chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia fruits Physalis minima, Pyrrosia piloselloides and 3. Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M. Eurycoma longifolia 2000;23:82-4. inhibit copper-induced low-density lipoprotein Smilax lanceifolia are often used to relieve Jack enhances sexual motivation in middle-aged 14. Husen R, Pihie AH, Nallappan M. Screening for oxidation. J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:5843-8.

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24. Wong DK. Are immune responses pivotal to used in traditional medicine in Mali and Sao LETTER TO EDITOR cancer patient’s long term survival? Two clinical Tome. Phytother Res 2002;16:646-9. case-study reports on the effects of Morinda 32. Younos C, Rolland A, Fleurentin J, Lanhers MC, citrifolia (Noni). Hawaii Med J 2004;63:182-4. Misslin R, Mortier F. Analgesic and behavioural EOSINOPHILIA AND VALVULAR patients and MR in one patient. The patient 25. Furusawa E, Hirazumi A, Story S, Jensen J. effects of Morinda citrifolia. Planta Med HEART DISEASE with only MR also had a neurological deficit. Antitumour potential of a polysaccharide-rich 1990;56:430-4. The CT Brain revealed a parietal infarct. Hyper substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia 33. Gupta M, Mazumder UK, Manikandan L, Sir, eosinophilia was seen in all patients ranging (Noni) on sarcoma 180 ascites tumour in mice. Bhattacharya S, Haldar PK, Roy S. Evaluation from 2 to 22 x 1010 l-1. Bone marrow revealed Phytother Res 2003;17:1158-64. of antipyretic potential of Vernonia cinerea extract The endocardial disease associated with eosinophilia with normal cytogenetics. 26. Hirazumi A, Furusawa E. An immunomodulatory in rats. Phytother Res 2003;17:804-6. idiopathic eosinophilia was first appreciated by [1] Ultrasound revealed mild splenomegaly in one polysaccharide-rich substance from the fruit juice 34. Iwalewa EO, Iwalewa OJ, Adeboye JO. Loffler in 1936. Since then, numerous reports of Morinda citrifolia (noni) with antitumour activity. Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory effects and small series of patients have firmly patient. All three had elevated IgE levels. Phytother Res 1999;13:380-7. of methanol, chloroform and ether extracts of established the association of these Connective tissue and malignancy workup was 27. Hirazumi A, Furusawa E, Chou SC, Hokama Y. Vernonia cinerea less leaf. J Ethnopharmacol findings.[2,3] Indeed, cardiovascular disease has negative in all three. Two patients responded Anticancer activity of Morinda citrifolia (noni) on 2003;86:229-34. been recognized as the major cause of to steroids whereas the third required intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma 35. Mazumder UK, Gupta M, Manikandan L, morbidity and mortality in patients with hydroxyurea and vincristine to control the in syngeneic mice. Proc West Pharmacol Soc Bhattacharya S, Haldar PK, Roy S. Evaluation idiopathic eosinophilia.[4] Idiopathic eosinophilia. Two patients underwent double 1994;37:145-6. of anti-inflammatory activity of Vernonia cinerea hypereosinophilic syndrome is a rare systemic valve replacement and one had MVR. The 28. Wang MY, Su C. Cancer preventive effect of Less. Extract in rats. Phytomedicine 2003;10:185- disease than can cause multiple organ failure valves used for replacement were Starr- Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Ann NY Acad Sci 8. by eosinophilic infiltration. Cardiac involvement Edwards and St. Jude valves, respectively. 2001;952:161-8. 36. Latha RM, Geetha T, Varalakshmi P. Effect of is characterized by endocardial fibrosis and Surgery was uneventful. The HPE revealed 29. Liu G, Bode A, Ma WY, Sang S, Ho CT, Dong Z. Vernonia cinerea Less flower extract in adjuvant- myxoid changes with focal aggregates of Two novel glycosides from the fruits of Morinda induced arthritis. Gen Pharmacol 1998;31:601- overlying thrombus, leading to restrictive lymphocytes in two patients. One patient who citrifolia (noni) inhibit AP-1 transactivation and 6. cardiomyopathy and valvular dysfunction. had MVR with Starr-Edwards valve was cell transformation in the mouse epidermal JB6 37. Kuo YH, Kuo YJ, Yu AS, Wu MD, Ong CW, Yang Surgical experience of patients with mitral cell line. Cancer Res 2001;61:5749-56. Kuo LM, et al. Two novel sesquiterpene lactones, dysfunction caused by this syndrome is limited, readmitted 8 months later with a left ventricular 30. Wang MY, West BJ, Jensen CJ, Nowicki D, Su C, cytotoxic vernolide-A and -B, from Vernonia and valvular replacement is most often clot with an intact valve. The other two patients Palu AK, Anderson G. Morinda citrifolia (Noni): cinerea. Chem Pharm Bull 2003;51:425-6. performed.[5] are alive and well on follow up. A literature review and recent advances in Noni 38. Gupta M, Mazumder UK, Manikandan L, Haldar research. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2002;23:1127-41. PK, Bhattacharya S, Kandar CC. Antibacterial Rheumatic heart disease is the commonest Harley et al. in an analysis of a large 31. Ancolio C, Azas N, Mahiou V, Ollivier E, Di activity of Vernonia cinerea. Fitoterapia cause for valvular heart disease and hence population of patients with the idiopathic Giorgio C, Keita A, et al. Antimalarial activity of 2003;74:148-50. most patients are empirically labeled with this hypereosinophilic syndrome defines two extracts and alkaloids isolated from six plants 39. Herbal folk wisdom. The sun; 2000. p. 21. diagnosis. However, routine preoperative patterns of clinical illness with respect to the evaluation revealed hyper eosinophilia in three development of heart disease. In one pattern, patients forcing a re-consideration of their heart disease was accompanied by etiology. characteristics of a primary myeloproliferative type disease.[4] In the other pattern, patients Three patients (two males and one female) in remained free of heart disease, the age group (18-35 years) were evaluated for characteristics were more of allergic or exertional dyspnoea. Echocardiography hypersensitivity process. They tended to have revealed MS, MR with AS. The AR in two elevated Ig, especially IgE, and elevated level

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