Revista de farmacognosia y productos naturales

Pharmacognosy as a science of natural medicinal raw materials and drugs of natural origin is a science that protects nature and affects the survival and protection of man. From the earliest times, man was exploring everything that nature provides. With the development of science and technology, research into natural raw materials, as well as those with healing activity, was perfected. The obtained results could reliably be used in official pharmacopoeia, medicine and dentistry. With the development of computer technology, there has been more detailed information on the use of natural medicinal raw materials through Phytotherapy, which is increasingly being applied.

All these studies indicate that pharmacognosic studies with the goal of using natural medicinal substances and medicines of natural origin must not be called alternative medicine, but it is the same as all other medicines that are only adapted to the nature of natural raw materials.

Background: Justicia schimperiana is popularly used as folk medicines in Ethiopia.
Objective: The chemical composition of essential oils from the leaves of Justicia schimperiana was analyzed and its antimicrobial activities were evaluated.
Methods: The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation and its chemical constituents were separated and identified by GC-MS, using normalization method to calculated relative amount. Its antimicrobial activities were evaluated by micro dilution method against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans.
Results: From the essential oil of Justicia schimperiana , 28 compounds were identified; making up 75.18%, the essential oil of Justicia schimperiana has not showed obvious activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans.
Conclusion: This is the first report on the chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of essential oils obtained from Ethiopian Justicia schimperiana.

This is a literature survey of the genus Terminalia, a member of the family Combretaceae with emphasis on Terminalia avicennioides. T. avicennioides is a plant of medicinal importance common in Africa and Asia. The plant has been reported to be used by traditional medical practitioners to treat a variety of conditions including inflammation, oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in both humans and animals.