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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

Galvezia juncea

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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. Worts refer to a broad lineage of plants hailing from the medieval times. The term wort was derived from the English word, “wyrt,” which referred to any plant, root, or herb. Therefore, plants that were labeled with “wort” in the name were believed to have medicinal uses, with “-wort” serving as a suffix after the word for the body part or purpose the plant was expected to be useful for. Some of the most well-known species in the wort family include St. John’s Wort, a leafy herb that has been used to treat internal and external ailments since the Greek Empire, and the common mugwort, a historical staple of East Asian medicine that continues to be used to this day for homeopathic remedies.
        Within the wort family, there are various plant species that significantly differ in structure and prospective use. Our group was interested in investigating two families that fall under the “worts” category: the Scrophulariaceae and Asteraceae families. By examining the physical structures, medicinal functions, and histories of multiple plants within these two families, the aim is to better understand the similarities and differences of worts.
        First off is an analysis of the Scrophulariaceae family through the lens of three different plants: Scrophularia californica, Scrophularia scorodonia, and Galvezia juncea. To start off, Scrophularia californica, also known as “California figwort,” belongs to the broader Scrophulariaceae family of flowering plants commonly known as figworts. The sample of Scrophularia californica from CCH2 analyzed was collected by N.M. Gauss on May 6, 1961 in the Santa Monica Mountains in California along Potrero Road in Long Grade Canyon. Scrophularia californica has a variety of medicinal active agents and medical uses. The primary active agents in the plants are iridoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and phenylpropanoids that provide antioxidant and antibacterial benefits. Similarly to many other species in the figwort family, Scrophularia californica is frequently used topically for inflammation such as stings, bites, rashes, and burns.
        Next is the Scrophularia scorodonia, which is a sister species of Scrophularia californica. The colored engraving that was analyzed was created by James Sowerby in London, England on November 1, 1810. The sketch is highly detailed, with the author including subtle elements such as the small fuzz-like extensions of the main stem and veins on the leaves. The image was created to show the intricacies of the plant and enable others to identify it if they were to encounter it in the wild. As for the uses of the Scrophularia scorodonia plant, researchers have found that chemicals, such as angoroside A/C/D, acteoside, isoacteoside, and scorodioside, all contribute to the plant’s antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties (Pasdaran and Hamedi).
        The last plant within the Scrophulariaceae family analyzed was the live specimen of Galvezia juncea located in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, commonly known as the Cedros Island Snapdragon. The organism was low to the ground, standing at about three feet tall, and originated from Baja California, suggesting that it prefers low-water, sunny, dry climates. The bright red color is easy to notice, which suggests that the plant heavily relies on pollination from animals/insects. The small opening of the flower suggests that the pollination agents have small beaks/small bodies in order to reach the flowers' pollen, which is supported by further research indicating the plant attracts hummingbirds. While there are no explicit medicinal uses for Galvezia juncea, other snapdragon species have been used in countries such as Russia for edible oils extracted from their seeds. Snapdragons also have anti-inflammatory, stimulant compounds present in their leaves and flowers, which are applied as poultices to treat inflammation such as skin tumors and ulcers. The flowers have also been consumed since they are a great source of vitamins and green dye can also be gathered from the leaves and stems.
        Second is an examination of the two plants within the Asteraceae family: Artemisia douglasiana and Artemisia campestris. Artemisia douglasiana represents the plant from the UCLA Herbarium and the Botanical Garden. The plant from the historical Materia Medica is called Artemisia campestris (mugwort) and belongs to the same genus as the UCLA Herbarium and Botanical Garden specimen: Artemisia douglasiana (California mugwort). Artemisia campestris particularly illustrates the flowering stem, leaves, roots and floral segments of the mugwort. The herbarium specimen displays Artemisia douglasiana as a mature plant in full flower while the botanical garden specimen does not display any seedlings or flowers. The botanical garden leaves from Artemisia douglasiana differ in branching from the leaves of Artemisia campestris as they appear to be noticeably thicker. With regards to the UCLA Herbarium, the plant was collected from Santa Ynez Canyon at Sunset Blvd at Santa Monica Mountains on September 16,1967 by T. A. Geissman. The specimen was treated under Lauryl pentachlorophenate, a chemical preservant. The historical plant, on the other hand, is called Artemisia campestris and was engraved by the engraver James Sowerby during the latter half of the 18th century, particularly on August 1, 1796 in London. The significance of this image can be attributed to the artist James Sowerby, who was a naturalist that attempted to be an heir to Carl Linnaeus’s taxonomic throne. The plants’ contextual uses can be further traced back to their medicinal properties. Historically, Artemisia campestris is considered a medicinal halophytic shrub and is commonly spotted in coastal sand dunes, especially throughout the sand dunes of the European Atlantic coast, as well as in the Santa heights area in the Americas. Before settlers arrived in the Americas, Artemisia douglasiana (California mugwort) was used by Native Americans, namely the Chumash and Cahuilla. The majority of the medicinal value of the plant tends to revolve around the leaves of the plant. Nervous and Spasmodic affections, such as rashes caused by poison oak and headaches, were treated through the use of water in which the leaves of Artemisia douglasiana have been simmering. Additionally, this tea was used by Native Americans to provide benefits in the treatment of female period pains, rheumatism and gout. The teas produced with the leaves and or the stems of Artemisia douglasiana and other similar plants have also been known to be used by the Europeans as an anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic (fever reducer).
        Overall, the research reveals multiple similarities across these two families. For example, Scrophularia californica (California figwort) and the Artemisia douglasiana (California mugwort) share similarities relevant to the location because they are both native to the state of California. Furthermore, the term figwort refers to an usage of plants in treating hemorrhoids, while the term mugwort refers to an Eurasian perennial herb with leaves useful in folk medicine. Thus, one can clearly see the relevance of medicinal and therapeutic usage in the origins of naming these plants.

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