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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

Eclipta prostrata: The False Daisy

Eclipta prostrata, a medicinal plant mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world including India, China, Southeast Asia, and Brazil, displays properties that help treat liver disorders like jaundice, respiratory illnesses like asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea. Eclipta prostrata is also said to remedy snakebites, promote hair growth, and mitigate balding. Through an analysis of an Eclipta prostrata specimen from the UCLA Herbarium, a live specimen of a sister plant found in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, and various historical materia medica, we will describe the plant’s origins and applications. - By Nicolo Villasis and Nina Do.

Eclipta prostrata is a medicinal plant found in the United States and in tropical and subtropical regions and is said to treat various ailments. Information about the plant can be found in the UCLA Herbarium, a related plant (Bahiopsis lanata) in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, and from historical materia medica.

An Eclipta prostrata specimen was collected between a bike path and railroad tracks in west Los Angeles. It was identified by comparing the characteristics of the collected specimen to various texts and previous research such as field notebooks, the Jepson Manual, and specimens collected at other institutions. Furthermore, it was preserved carefully using the herbarium’s process of preservation that includes carefully and aesthetically placing the sample onto a special type of paper with glue. This is to preserve the specimen for later analysis.

Since Eclipta prostrata is not grown in the botanical garden at UCLA, a live Bahiopsis lanata specimen can offer information about Eclipta prostrata, given that both plants are from the Asteraceae family. Found in the California native plants bed, it grows elevated on a bed of concrete. Bahiopsis lanata natively grows in Baja California, similar to how Eclipta prostrata grows in Los Angeles. In addition to more arid regions, Eclipta prostrata grows in more tropical locales like India, Southeast Asia, China, and Brazil. Eclipta prostrata has also been found near streams across the United States, commonly found as a weed in warm areas. Though both Eclipta prostrata and Bahiopsis lanata grow low to the ground and have yellow flowers, Bahiopsis lanata has a clustered leaf pattern at its base and a tall shoot that ends in its flower. Eclipta prostrata, on the other hand, has leaves along its main stem with smaller branches rather than the shrub-like growth of Bahiopsis lanata.

Eclipta prostrata is said to treat various diseases but the major medicinal uses are for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea and dysentery, respiratory illnesses like asthma, hair loss, fever, skin disorders, wounds, and liver disorders like jaundice. Practitioners in Brazil have used Eclipta prostrata as a remedy for snakebites. Eclipta prostrata has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in the Indian subcontinent, where the plant is commonly called Bhringraj. Chemicals responsible for the plant’s medicinal uses include “coumestan derivatives, steroidal and triterpenoid saponins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and substituted thiophenes” (Timalsina & Devkota). The plant is prepared in several ways, mainly involving a tea, decoction, or extract of the leaves, roots, or the whole plant (Jahan et al.).

WORKS CITED

“CCH2 PortalDetailed Collection Record Information.” n.d. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.cch2.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=5217100&clid=0.

“March 2017 – Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden.” n.d. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.botgard.ucla.edu/march-2017/.

Timalsina, Deepak, and Hari Prasad Devkota. 2021. “Eclipta Prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae): Ethnomedicinal Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Biological Activities.” Biomolecules 11 (11): 1738. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11111738.

“V.3 - An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions : - Biodiversity Heritage Library.” n.d. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/15536#page/476/mode/1up.

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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
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1. Sambucus canadensis - the American Elderberry and its Medicinal Usages Sambucus canadensis, along with other species of elderberry, have long been used for a variety of medicinal purposes throughout history, notably as an antiviral agent. A variety of materia medica helps identify, record, and analyze information about this plant. We have identified specimens in the UCLA Herbarium, Botanical Garden, and historical materia medica in order to better contextualize the defining characteristics of the elderberry genus and its uses. These different forms of record keeping illustrate the methods people have used throughout history to create collections of knowledge and data. - By Allison Wang and Joanne Kwak
2. Eclipta prostrata: The False Daisy Eclipta prostrata, a medicinal plant mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world including India, China, Southeast Asia, and Brazil, displays properties that help treat liver disorders like jaundice, respiratory illnesses like asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea. Eclipta prostrata is also said to remedy snakebites, promote hair growth, and mitigate balding. Through an analysis of an Eclipta prostrata specimen from the UCLA Herbarium, a live specimen of a sister plant found in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, and various historical materia medica, we will describe the plant’s origins and applications. - By Nicolo Villasis and Nina Do.
3. The Hidden Gem of the California Coast: Astragalus nuttallii var. nuttalii Astragalus nuttallii var. nuttallii is a flowering plant that lives on the California coast. Its medicinal properties include treating fainting and weakness. Many of the treatments involving Astragalus nuttallii var. nuttallii have not been assessed by the Food and Drug Administration as they are homeopathic therapies. We compare Astragalus nuttallii var. nuttallii to Hardenbergia violacea, which belongs to the same family as Astragalus nuttallii var. nuttallii. We determine the anatomical structures of Astragalus nuttallii var. nuttallii are adaptations to a moist, sunny, and sometimes windy environment. — By Hamza Yusuf Mojadidi and Sabrina Huang

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