This site requires Javascript to be turned on. Please enable Javascript and reload the page.

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

Three Leaf Goldthread

By Neha Shetty, Simran Athwal, and Mariah Ghodrat. Our page discusses antiseptic medicinal properties of the plants found in the UCLA Herbarium, Botanical Garden, and historical Materia Medica. Coptis Trifolia was studied in the UCLA Herbarium and historical Materia Medica. The second plant studied was Thalictrum fendleri, found in the Botanical Garden. These two plants appeared to be similar in shape and appearance. Due to some similarities and characteristics found in both plants, our group had noted possible similarities in medicinal uses. Thalictrum fendleri was used by the Native Americans to treat cold sores, colds, and gonorrhea, for example. Coptis trifolia has been used previously to treat microbial organisms which lead to infections and other diseases. These two plants are explored through multiple lenses which note some significant correlations between them.

Coptis trifolia is an important specimen that has been known for its several medicinal properties. The long yellow stem of the plant that grows underground has been used for its medicinal properties. The Iroquois and Algonquian Native Americans chewed the stem to heal canker sores due to smoking which gives it its colloquial name of “canker root”. It can also be made into tea for use as an eyewash. It was also used to treat thrush in children in England in the 1800s.Noting these medicinal properties, the Coptis trifolia specimen were collected for the UCLA Herbarium and in historical Materia Medica to preserve the knowledge and specimens of the plant especially since it has very useful medicine properties. The historical image was produced in 1819 from nature and illustrated by W.P.C. Barton. In the naming process, the plant was named after its physical features. The genus name, Coptis, is from the Greek word, coptein, meaning “to cut,” alluding to the divided leaves. The species name, trifolia, means “three-leaved or three .”

Coptis trifolia is organized by its protein names, gene names, and length. Although the specimen, Coptis trifolia, is found in different entries, the specific Coptis trifolia specimen is categorized due to the function of the protein name, which the specimen is found in. When researching more on the website, we notice that Coptis trifolia is found in photorespiration and photosynthesis but can play multiple functions and roles given their specific length and gene on the specific protein. For instance, Coptis trifolia is recorded to have a gene called atpB, which is a protein named ATP synthase subunit beta. The function of this particular protein originated from this specimen is to produce ATP from ADP in the presence of a proton gradient across the membrane. Coptis trifolia can also be found in the gene PHYA which codes for the protein named phytochrome A, which correlates to photoreceptor activity and detection of visible light.
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 I 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. I 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.

This page has paths:

Contents of this path:
1. Three Leaf Goldthread By Neha Shetty, Simran Athwal, and Mariah Ghodrat. Our page discusses antiseptic medicinal properties of the plants found in the UCLA Herbarium, Botanical Garden, and historical Materia Medica. Coptis Trifolia was studied in the UCLA Herbarium and historical Materia Medica. The second plant studied was Thalictrum fendleri, found in the Botanical Garden. These two plants appeared to be similar in shape and appearance. Due to some similarities and characteristics found in both plants, our group had noted possible similarities in medicinal uses. Thalictrum fendleri was used by the Native Americans to treat cold sores, colds, and gonorrhea, for example. Coptis trifolia has been used previously to treat microbial organisms which lead to infections and other diseases. These two plants are explored through multiple lenses which note some significant correlations between them.
2. The Smelly, Antiseptic Wonder: A look at the history, form and medicinal properties of Larrea tridentata Larrea tridentata is known for its resilience, holding the unique status of being one of the world’s oldest, longest living organisms. However, beyond this natural history, L. tridentata has a rich history of application in medical practices. The following work is our examination of L. tridentata, describing the plant’s physical attributes and covering the desert bush’s past and potential future medicinal use as an antiseptic. Our study of L. tridentata is based in analysis of an L. tridentata specimen sample from the UCLA Herbarium, research in the Materia Medica, and observation of a closely related living plant, Larrea nitida. This more comprehensive study has enabled us to paint a fuller picture of the plant Larrea tridentata. -By Madeline Huttie and Liam Kordmahale Izaddoust

This page has paths:

This page references: