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 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

Analysis of Salicaceae Bark Specimens and associated Materia Medica

40021
Our project specimen is identified as the Populus tremuloides from the Salicaceae family. This specimen was collected by Ray C. Friesner on the thirteenth of october in 1934. It was collected in a seeping marsh along Sugar Creek in Montgomery, Indiana which is 1 mile west of Darlington. Its coordinates were identified as 40.104073, -86.786267 and its habitat was identified as a seeping marsh. This specimen was classified with its symbiota ID 5084411, catalog number LA00631195, and its number 8225. The contextual reasons behind this process is to be as specific as possible in both detailing the collection and identifying the specimen so it can be easily located on databases such as CCH2. The specimen was classified and identified based on the characteristic catkins that grew from the twigs. Trembling aspen trees can be about 5 meters long, so Friesner must have reached for branches that were closer to the trunk rather than climbing up the tree for safety reasons and accessibility.

Our Botanical Garden specimen was the Dovyalis caffra. This species was identified with the help of the garden map as well as the gold plate located on the tree which specified the species and its common name, Kei Apple. The specimen was found at the South Corner of the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden (within the subtropical woodlands), near the entrance gate on Hilgard in Los Angeles, County, California, USA. The contextual reason behind the collection process was not to harm the living plant and instead collect from fallen items off the ground at the base of the tree. The specimens we collected ranged from leaf varieties as well as twigs and bark in order to try to create a comprehensive image of the specimen.

The historical Materia Medica analyzed was the Chromolithograph by W. Dickes & co titled, “Four twigs with catkins, all from named types of poplar or aspen (Populus species)” from 1855. The title of this image indicates that there are 4 twigs depicted from different Populus species that all have catkins and can be found across North America or Europe. The four Populus plants selected in the image are the Great White Poplar, Grey Poplar, Trembling Aspen, and Black Poplar. All of these brown twigs are numbered 1 through 4 and have different sizes of catkins attached to them, some being thin and long and others short with a more rounded appearance. Overall, all of the twigs have green round leaves except for the Great White Polar that is depicted with white leaves. William Dickes created this chromolithograph in 1855 in London, England. The catkins depicted in the image range in size and length and have been drawn together to help observers or foragers distinguish the difference between certain Populus species based on the catkins. Furthermore, the White Poplar plant is depicted with white leaves while all of the other twigs have green leaves, providing another characteristic to distinguish between Populus species that can be helpful for researchers or foragers. The numbering of each twig that William Dickes implements in the image aids this distinguishing process as well.
In terms of these plants' claimed medical properties and usage in medical practices, the Populus Tremuloides was used by Native American tribes for anti-inflammatory and antiseptic medicinal properties to mainly treat wounds and respiratory disorders. The medicinal properties come from the bark of the stem which contains salicylates, a property used to derive aspirin. It can also be used to help relieve pain from menstrual cramps or to treat coughs and even arthritis if the inner bark was collected and used internally rather than externally on wounds.
When reviewing materia medica for Populus tremuloides, we stumbled upon a catalog published in 1848 by Charles Lee that contains many plants along with their medicinal properties. In this catalog, Populus tremuloides was explained to be a tonic and astringent that contains salicin, which can be used to help reduce pain for diseases like arthritis. Furthermore, the author explains that Populus tremuloides can be used as an antiperiodic to reduce symptoms like fevers or coughs. These medicinal properties have mainly been used by Native American tribes before colonial arrival.

This page has paths:

  1. Exploring the Medicinal Properties and Significance of Bark Use in an Indigenous North American Context Chien-Ling Liu Zeleny

This page references: