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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

Flowers of Coptis Trifolia

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A Comparative Analysis: Three Leaf Goldthread and Meadow Rue The following page discusses the antiseptic medicinal properties of two plants: Coptis trifolia, our historical Materia Medica studied in the UCLA Herbarium, and Thalictrum fendleri, found in the UCLA Botanical Gardens. This page highlights the physical similarities of the two plants such as size and appearance as well as similarities in their medicinal uses. Coptis trifolia has been used previously to eradicate disease-causing microbial organisms. Thalictrum fendleri was used by the Native Americans to treat cold sores, colds, and gonorrhea, among other health diseases. These two plants are explored through multiple lenses and analyzed from various sources in order to note some significant correlations between them. - By Neha Shetty, Simran Athwal, and Mariah Ghodrat
Coptis trifolia, also known as Three-Leaf Goldthread, has unique characteristics which allude to the plants’ environment and medicinal use. For instance, another common name for Coptis trifolia is "canker-root" because of the fact that early settlers and Native Americans had used this plant to treat mouth sores. The roots and rhizome are said to contain antibacterial properties, such as berberine compound which promotes joint and bone health and cardiovascular and respiratory health, and have been used to flavor beer. The hairless cut edged leaves and stems have been used for stomach discomfort. This plant is primarily found in the Northeastern part of the United States and regions of Canada, particularly in swamp habitats and it ranges to around five to six feet in height.

Similarly, the UCLA Botanical Garden plant, Thalictrum fendleri is similar to the Three-Leaf Goldthread in terms of physical appearance and medicinal purposes. Thalictrum fendleri has similar small white and yellow flowers at the top of the plant like Coptis trifolia. The plant is also around six feet in height and both plants are in the Ranunculaceae family. Although Coptis trifolia is found in the Northeastern part of the United States, Thalictrum fendleri is primarily found in California and western states. The plant’s environment and habitat are similarly found around streamsides and moist areas. Thalictrum fendleri is found to share medicinal uses as in treating stomach discomfort, arthritis and injuries to bones, lung cancer, cough, fevers, headaches, and amongst other things in common, microbial infections.

Taking A Closer Look: The Flowers of Coptis trifolia and Thalictrum fendleri:

In our annotations we took note of several important parts of the plant Coptis trifolia. We noted the identifying features of the plant that may distinguish it from other plants such as the details in the structure of the leaves and the frail golden colored roots. Additionally, we noted how the delicacy of the plant and the size of the plant may contribute to its ecological preference for moderate climates. We also made observations about Thalictrum fendleri, a related species to Coptis trifolia that has a similar plant size and leaf structure but other distinguishing features such as its abundance. The Thalictrum fendleri has its own components that differentiate it from the Coptis trifolia, things being the environment and the ground placement. That being said, we also noted annotations for the five collected images from the Botanical Garden. For instance, a leaf from Salix pedicellariae appears to have curved edges and parallel veins running on the top and bottom of the leaf. The curved edges and veins are unique to the specimen. Another thing we noticed was that the leaf appears to be dying and its colors are fading to a very light brown-white color. On the other hand, the dried-out leaf of sage plant seems to be dried out or about to die. We wonder if this is because it has been on the ground for an excessive time and has not been receiving proper treatment, like water and plant food. The leaf itself is medium-sized and narrow. It has many veins, with the main stem pointing upwards and the veins towards the sides.These annotations are a form of a historical method that can be useful in developing more of an understanding for the collection-based research.

WORKS CITED
Health Benefits Times. n.d. “Health benefits of Threeleaf goldthread.” https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/threeleaf-goldthread/
Mayeku, Philip Wafula, Ahmed Hassanali, Bernard Turyagenda Kiremire, Josiah Ochieng Odalo, and Christian Hertweck. 2013. “Anti-Bacterial Activities and Phytochemical Screening of Extracts of Different Parts of Thalictrum Rhynchocarpum.” Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 10(5): 341–344. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3847427/
Natural Medicinal Herbs. n.d. “Meadowrue Thalictrum polycarpum.” http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/t/thalictrum-polycarpum=meadowrue.php
RxList. 2021. “Rue.” RxList Inc. Last modified June 11, 2021. https://www.rxlist.com/rue/supplements.htm
Vadheim, Constance M. 2017. “Plant of the Month (April) : Fendler’s meadow-rue – Thalictrum fendleri.” Last modified April 4, 2017. http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2017/04/plant-of-month-april-fendlers-meadow.html
Watson. n.d. “Thalictrum fendleri.” Plants For A Future. Accessed February 12, 2022. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Thalictrum+fendleri