Herbarium: Medicinal Plants as Information Main Menu Introduction Student Projects 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 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 History, Comparison, and Analysis of Parasitic Plants

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Parasitic plants are plants that derive some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant. As a result, parasitic plants have many special characteristics as they are usually observed as growing on the other plants’ body. Parasitic plants also have many chemical properties, including medical properties. Throughout history, parasitic plants have been observed to be used in many purposes of medical treatments. There are also many types of parasitic plants, different from areas or families. In this project, we will introduce some parasitic plants: Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum, Rhipsalis tetragona (epiphyte), Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior) and the Platycerium superbum (Staghorn Fern). Presenting our collecting process and our observations, we will analyze how unique parasitic plants characteristics are and how they contribute to materia medica. 

Over the duration of the quarter, our group has had the opportunity to explore and study multiple specimen of parasitic plants within different UCLA and other non-affiliated collections. The first collection we explored was that of the UCLA Herbarium through an online data base format called CCH2. This data base holds a vast collection of plant specimen from different herbariums across the nation, including our very own UCLA Herbarium. Although learning to navigate the CCH2 database provided us with valuable introduction to metadata and collection, we eventually had the opportunity to view our UCLA Herbarium specimen plants in person. Additionally, our group searched for these plants within the context of the “Materia Medica” using the Wellcome Collection. We were unable to find records related to the original plants, however, we were able to find historical images of parasitic plants that were quite similar. Lastly, our group observed specimen within the collection of plants at the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA. Unfortunately, the gardens featured very few parasitic plants (for obvious reasons), so instead we observed epiphytic plant specimen.

Following the UCLA Herbarium, UCLA Botanical garden, and Materia Medica Viscum album, the first two plants we will introduce are Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum and  (epiphyte). Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum was collected in the database of UCLA Herbarium; was observed in the botanical garden. From the Viscum album, we will present the medical properties of mistletoe, the common names of both two plants. 

Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum was observed from the media from the CCH2 resource of UCLA herbarium. The specimen was collected on 5th February 2018 by Rudy Diaz. Through our observation from the media, some unique characteristics of Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum are the thin stem, smooth dark yellow green leaves, and small buddings. A general medical property is that the plant is toxic to consume by mouth, they resorted to taking extracts from these parts of the plant. 

Rhipsalis tetragone (epiphyte) was observed from UCLA Botanical Garden. We have had the chance to walk into the garden and observe the characteristics and environment of Rhipsalis tetragone (epiphyte). It was located under a warm and dry environment and was grown on Metrosideros kermadecensis, the supporting tree. Some highlight characteristics are the thin, straight, uniform bright green color, lightweight stem of Rhipsalis tetragone (epiphyte). Rhipsalis tetragone (epiphyte) has shown another perspective on parasitic plants. 

The second set of parasitic plants we will analyze include the Pedicularis densiflora, more commonly known as the Indian Warrior, from the UCLA Herbarium, as well as the Platycerium superbum, better known as the staghorn fern, which was observed in the UCLA Botanical Garden. 

Pedicularis densiflora is a parasitic plant sourced from the CCH2 website and was collected by Charles L. Hogue on March 6, 1954. Indian Warrior is a small and short plant reliant on being near the ground to get water and nutrients, spreading wide under the base of other trees and plants. Since it is a parasitic plant, it lives in or on other plants, but in turn, harms the host by decreasing its overall fitness and stealing its essential energy, water, and nutrients. One of the most notable of its medicinal uses is as a sedative to relieve nerve and muscle pain. It is known as being a potent skeletal muscle relaxant that can be used to treat cases of anxiety, tension, and insomnia.

The Platycerium superbum specimen was observed in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens at UCLA on Friday, February 4th, 2022 at about 12:30pm. The weather was sunny with less than 25% cloud coverage and a temperature of about 70℉. Immediately we noticed its striking size and large antler like fronds, from which the plant gets its common name “staghorn.” Similar to parasitic plants, epiphytes like this staghorn fern rely on other plants to grow. However, unlike parasitic plants, they grow on other plants for physical support and greater access to essential resources, such as moisture and sunlight, rather than leaching nutrients from a host. This specimen was observed growing on the trunk of Ficus watkinsiana, better known as the Watkin’s Fig. In terms of its medicinal uses, staghorn species are known to have been used for treating ulcers, irregular menstrual cycles, fever, bile problems, coughs, and hypertension, as well as preventing miscarriages.

Both of the plants that came from the UCLA Herbarium were parasitic plants (Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. Macrophyllum and Pedicularis densiflora), whereas the two plants found in the UCLA Botanical Garden were epiphytes (Rhipsalis tetragona and Platycerium superbum). All four of the plants share the feature of relying on other plants to grow, yet they each have their own unique medicinal properties, ranging from sedative muscle tension relaxation to use during pregnancy. Further research on the medicinal properties of the plants could help advance the field of pharmacology by providing society with natural remedies from plants.

This page has paths:

  1. Student Projects Tabetha Nicole Sanchez

Contents of this path:

  1. The Narrative of Phoradendron leucarpum subsp. macrophyllum (Colorado Desert Misletoe) and Rhipsalis tetragona (Misletoe Cactus)
  2. The Narrative of the Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior) and the Platycerium superbum (Staghorn Fern)

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