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Herbarium: Medicinal Plants as Information Worthy Worts: Comprehensive Comparison of the Histories, Structures, and Therapeutic Uses of Plants in the Scrophulariaceae and Asteraceae Families In order to better understand the “worts'” categorization, an analysis of the plants within the Scrophulariaceae family (Scrophularia californica, Scrophularia scorodonia, and Galvezia juncea) and two plants within the Asteraceae family (Artemisia douglasiana and Artemisia campestris) was conducted. Through research thus far, it was found that these aforementioned plants share structural similarities in terms of aspects that include venation of the leaves. The most prominent common denominator of the wort category is that they all have therapeutic uses. Among the historical therapeutic uses found in the literature are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant uses. These benefits have been utilized from societies ranging from the American Indians to the Europeans. -By Chris Leung, Catly Do, Fady Tawfik, and Sean Jamali. Exploring the Sages: Medicinal Properties and Appearances of Artemisia Californica and Salvia Apiana Both plants Artemisia Californica and Salvia apiana under the category of sages play important roles in maintaining the growth of their local ecosystems with similar habitats, medicinal properties, and flowering appearances during the times of collection. However, they also share important differences in their flowering and growth patterns as well as the active agents used for their medicinal properties. In analyzing the similarities and differences between these two plants regarding appearances, climate, medicinal properties, and growth patterns, the similarities in how they are able to provide and support their local ecosystems is the big picture idea that can be understood. - By Stephanie Bottomley, Rasika Obla, Tony Ong, and Balpreet Sond. Tea Time: Exploring the Medicinal Properties of Bark-Use Plants from a Traditional Ecological Knowledge Context This page discusses three different plants that contain significant medicinal properties in their bark and have been historically used by indigenous communities throughout North America: Populus tremuloides, Frangula californica subsp. californica, and Amelanchier alnifolia. These species will be compared on a global scale by examining the bark-based applications of two related species from Africa and East Asia: Dovyalis caffra and Rhaphiolepis umbellata. Despite their phenotypic differences and the differences in their medicinal properties, all five of these plants have been used to help relieve symptoms of communicable and chronic diseases through the direct digestion of tea like remedies made from the boiled bark of these plants. -By Saja Zidan, Maha Ulhaq, Kate Santoso, Gillian, Miller, Anna Jovin, and Luc Lorain The History, Comparison, and Analysis of Parasitic Plants Our project presents the process of collecting and researching the special characteristics of parasitic plants. We explore each plant's respective medical practices and compare them to epiphytic plants that are similar to our original plants of interest. In each project, we individually explain how the plants were collected, identified, translated, and classified. The contextual reasons behind this process are also presented and connected to the general unique characteristics of parasitic plants. Each page provides a collection of media images that visually represent the main plant of interest, the epiphytic plant, the historical materia medica image, and the individual journal observations that we made of our respective plants. We offer comparative analysis and highlight important parts of each specimen throughout these photos. - By Khang Vo, Jessica McLaughlin, Alastair Sterns, and Dania Alkoraishi Combating Coughs: The Respiratory Remedies across North America Bioprospecting and the application of materia medica have played central roles in the remedy of physical ailments in humans throughout history. From ancient cultures utilizing extracts from leaves and roots to modern medicinal practices extracting medicinal properties from plants to put into pills and other therapies, materia medica has and remains a relevant and growing practice. Here, we examine various plants from North America and their varied characteristics, though they share similar medicinal properties.- By Raymond Ko, Mari Williams, Elizabeth Pham, Julia Tang, Cienna Henry Milton, and Emma Barrall Antiseptics in Nature: An exploratory analysis of Coptis trifolia and Larrea tridentata The following research studies common properties of plants used as potential antiseptic medicinal use. Explained more in depth later on, the first page introduces the plant Coptis trifolia, and its common characteristics with a similar plant, Thalictrum fendleri. The second page studies Larrea Tridentata found at the UCLA Herbarium and its living species at the UCLA Botanical Garden. The pages also examine other species found at the UCLA Botanical Garden, with references of possible characteristics which may allude to the specificity and uniqueness of the plants and objects. These three species studied share a common use as an antiseptic. - By Neha Shetty, Simran Athwal, Mariah Ghodrat, Madeline Huttie, and Liam Kordmahale-Izaddoust Plant Specimen and their Alias : Exploring the Identity of Plants with Animal in the Name Lycium torreyi and Equisetum laevigatum, both plant species with an animal in their name, were explored for their characteristics and relationship to their respective animals. Through extensive research, we deduce several similarities and differences between our plants that led us to an understanding of why each plant earned their colloquial name, or alias. Lycium torreyi and Equisetum laevigatum, alias Wolfberry and Smooth Horsetail, respectively, have several commonalities and differences to their corresponding animal including physical and character traits as well as their medicinal qualities. Images, observations and outside research portray the many queries and answers to their common name. By Frieda Anastopulos, Alexa Hernandez, Denise Llera, Chelsea Okoro, Grace Randall Precious Polygonaceae: Insight into the Historical Collection and Therapeutic Uses of Polygonum, Eriogonum, and Rumex Genera This comparative analysis took to exploring six species under the Polygonaceae plant family, half of which are housed in the UCLA Herbarium and half of which are located in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA. Although they shared a meaningful commonality, these plants fell under a total of three genuses, which seems to explain their differences in morphology - as observed in the physical herbarium specimen sheets and the botanical garden visit - and utility, as unveiled by various Materia Medica entries. However, with an understanding of both historical and modern collection processes, this analysis also postulated that such differences could relate to how these plants were collected and their associated metadata. - By Moryel Yashar, Lexie Baughman, Nicole Cohen, Yair Tabibi, Tabetha Sanchez, and Leah Tabibi Bidens pilosa, Crataegus douglasii, and Urtica dioica effects on Cardiovascular System Bidens pilosa, Crataegus douglasii, and Urtica dioica are medicinal plants that have been found to contain a myriad of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, antioxidants, and polyphenol compounds. These compounds are known to have significant effects on the cardiovascular system by primarily targeting systolic hypertension. Plant extracts and their derivatives ameliorate oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension associated with cardiovascular disease. This association is due to the characteristics of anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxant, and antiviral activity within the specimen. These medicinal outcomes are elicited to prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases risk factors. Overall, Bidens pilosa, Crataegus douglasii, and Urtica dioica play a crucial role in cardioprotective effects and health benefits. - By Salma Fawzi, Anaeli Guzman, Rere Huang, Lilliane Martin, Isabel Nakoud, and Sriha Srinivasan A History and Analysis of Antiviral Medicinal Plants Medicinal plants vary wildly among cultures around the world, and proper identification, collections, and bioprospecting of these plants expand upon modern medicine and provide new possibilities of drugs. Exploration of historical materia medica, preserved herbarium specimens, and observation of plants both in adaptations and chosen environment allow for the discovery of new medical leads. Three plants in particular, Eclipta prostrata, Astragalus nuttallii var. Nuttallii, and Sambucus canadensis, have historically been documented and used in medicine for their antiviral properties. Through the process of observation as well as investigation of historic cultural uses, much can be learned about these medicinal plants that carry these critical properties. - By Allison Wang, Joanne Kwak, Nina Do, Nicolo Villasis, Sabrina Huang, and Hamza Mojadidi

The Narrative of Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum (Colorado Desert Misletoe) and Rhipsalis tetragona (Misletoe Cactus)

Following the UCLA Herbarium, UCLA Botanical garden, and Materia Medica Viscum album, the project aims to present unique characteristics and medical properties of parasitic plants. Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum was collected in the database of UCLA Herbarium; Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) was observed in the botanical garden; and the medical properties of mistletoe was explained in the Materia Medica Viscum album. The project presents the text of the process of collecting and their plants special characteristics such as their usage in medical practices, and the media of sample pictures taken from the observation and database. How the plants were collected, identified, translated, classified, and the contextual reasons behind this process will be also presented to explore the general unique characteristics of parasitic plants. - By Khang Vo and Jessica McLaughlin.

Using the characteristics of Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum collected from UCLA Herbarium, characteristics of Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) observed from Botanical garden, and general medical properties of mistletoe collected from Materia Medica Viscum album, the following sections will present the process of collecting and properties of the observed parasitic plants.

Firstly, Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum in UCLA Herbarium is of the Santalaceae family. The specimen was collected on 5th February 2018 by Rudy Diaz. According to the CCH2 Portal Collections, the location was United States, California, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains and University of California, Los Angeles Campus; Dickinson Court North. One of the recorded characteristics is its habitat is on a cultivated California sycamore. The description of the recorded information shows that Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum is a perennial parasitic shrub.

This is parasitic plant meaning that it robs their hosts of moisture and some minerals. In reference to the medical use, the plant is also known as mistletoe, which is used as a smooth muscle stimulant to increase blood pressure, and to increase muscle contractions in the uterus and intestine. For centuries, mistletoe also served as a folk medicine treatment for cancer , and the plant is currently used in Europe to treat tumors. It is also used to cause abortions. It is also toxic as well according to some medical uses. In parts of South Asia, they are frequently used as an external medicine. Its medicinal active agents are Phoratoxin which has effects include blurred vision, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting (Swan, et al, 2022).

Because there is no historical record of Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum, we are using the materia medica record of the Viscum album, the European variation of the plant. Phoradendron leucarpum is also a mistletoe but is the variation that is found only in the Americas. Although they are found in different regions of the world, there are many similarities particularly in their appearance and medicinal uses. In the historical record of the Viscum album there is a green plant that is primarily made up of long skinny stems that have short and narrow leaves attached at the end of each branch. There are fruits on the end of some branches that are small, circular and appear to be of a darker shade such as blue or green (Forest Pathology, 2022).

Last but not least, observing Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) in the UCLA Botanical Garden gave us another perspective on characteristics of parasitic plants. Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) was located under the warm and dry environment. It was grown on Metrosideros kermadecensis, the supporting tree. There were multiple characteristics that we have observed. The stem of Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) is very thin and straight, has a uniform bright green color, and is very lightweight. This unique branching pattern helps support the Rhipsalis tetragona and may be useful for food storage.

In conclusion, we can see the Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) and Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum share some similarities such as the detail about their leaves since they are both parasitic plants. Generally about parasitic plants, it was shown that it has medical properties on treatments for some common illnesses like increased blood pressure, increased muscle contractions in the uterus and intestine, or even treatment for cancer or being toxic

WORKS CITED

Swain, Liz and Rebecca Frey. 2018. "Mistletoe." Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/mistletoe

“True Mistletoes: Phoradendron and Viscum.” Forest Pathology. https://forestpathology.org/parasitic-plants/true-mistletoes

CCH2 portal detailed collection record information. 2022. https://www.cch2.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=5217089&clid=0

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Our project presents the process of collecting and researching the special characteristics of parasitic plants. We explore each plant's respective medical practices and compare them to epiphytic plants that are similar to our original plants of interest. In each project, we individually explain how the plants were collected, identified, translated, and classified. The contextual reasons behind this process are also presented and connected to the general unique characteristics of parasitic plants. Each page provides a collection of media images that visually represent the main plant of interest, the epiphytic plant, the historical materia medica image, and the individual journal observations that we made of our respective plants. We offer comparative analysis and highlight important parts of each specimen throughout these photos. - By Khang Vo, Jessica McLaughlin, Alastair Sterns, and Dania Alkoraishi
Contents of this path:
1. The Narrative of Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum (Colorado Desert Misletoe) and Rhipsalis tetragona (Misletoe Cactus) Following the UCLA Herbarium, UCLA Botanical garden, and Materia Medica Viscum album, the project aims to present unique characteristics and medical properties of parasitic plants. Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum was collected in the database of UCLA Herbarium; Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte) was observed in the botanical garden; and the medical properties of mistletoe was explained in the Materia Medica Viscum album. The project presents the text of the process of collecting and their plants special characteristics such as their usage in medical practices, and the media of sample pictures taken from the observation and database. How the plants were collected, identified, translated, classified, and the contextual reasons behind this process will be also presented to explore the general unique characteristics of parasitic plants. - By Khang Vo and Jessica McLaughlin.
2. The Narrative of the Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior) and the Platycerium superbum (Staghorn Fern) As a cumulative representation of our experience exploring the UCLA Herbarium, the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, and the Wellcome Collection online database, this project aims to organize and present all the information we have gathered on parasitic plants. The Pedicularis densiflora specimen, more commonly known as the Indian Warrior, came from the UCLA Herbarium. The Platycerium superbum specimen, better known as the staghorn fern, was observed in the UCLA Botanical garden. The Materia Medica Pedicularis plant came from the Wellcome Collection database. In presenting how each of these specimen were collected, identified, translated, classified, as well as the contextual reasons behind this process, we hope to shine a light on the unique characteristics and medicinal properties of parasitic plants. - By Alastair Sterns and Dania Alkoraishi

WORKS CITED

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