Pharmacology and Ethnopharmacology

Biography

Biography: Mohammed Hmamouchi

Abstract

African and Arab areas represent a unique hotspot of biological and cultural diversity in the world, which allows for interesting cross-cultural, ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological studies and valorization. The aims of this presentation are threefold: to document the state of traditional knowledge related to local plants uses from different communities in African and Arab areas; to introduce phytochemical and pharmacological studies; to discuss the correlation between chemical compositions and pharmacological activities. Twenty years ago, a comparative ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological study was conducted by our laboratory. The relevance of this presentation is to demonstrate how from using ethnobotanical, phytochemical studies in combination with the pharmacological screening we can develop new products with higher added value. After inventory, the traditional knowledge and examined historical interactions, we present the correlation between chemical compositions and pharmacological activities of many extracts and compounds. Regional information system has also been briefly developed. It that includes: scientific plant name and authority, vernacular names, chemical data, distribution, habitat, description, conservation status, indigenous knowledge including references to literature sources of the potential utilization as medicines, social uses, food, food additives, animal food, bee plants, invertebrate foods, poisons, environmental uses, gene sources, fuels, etc. The research work in progress there concern the study of 136 indigenous plant species, 148 extracts, 96 essential oils and 30 identified products. The plants which have been selected and studied constitute the most obvious choice to develop effective new drugs. This can be illustrated by the results of the study on phytochemical and bioassays investigations (in vitro and in vivo test systems), provide the reader with insight into what is currently possible in the study of bioactive plant materials. These results indicate that a large number of secondary metabolic compounds provide protection against bacterial, veridical, fungicidal, parasitical, insecticidal, mosquito larvae, dermatophyte, for plants diseases and can be used in treatments for cancer. They exhibit a number of protective functions for human. The conclusion can thus be drawn that the new bioactive products found can improve human and animal health in the pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, agricultural and food industries, because the drug plants are readily available, less expensive, safe and effective and rarely have side effects. So, our program is one of the leading multi-disciplinary approaches to bioprospect to find these new bioactive natural products.