Health & Medical, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – Since time immemorial, indigenous communities have relied on their profound knowledge of the natural world to heal and restore balance to their bodies and spirits. The use of indigenous plants as medicines has been an integral part of their cultural heritage, passed down through generations. These ancient remedies, derived from local flora, possess a treasure trove of medicinal properties that continue to captivate scientists, researchers, and medical practitioners worldwide.
Indigenous plants encompass a vast array of species, each with unique medicinal properties and applications. Many contain compounds that have been proven to possess potent healing properties and have served as the foundation for modern pharmaceutical research and development. For instance, the bark of the Cinchona tree, native to South America, yields quinine, a vital treatment for malaria. Similarly, many indigenous ayurvedic plants have demonstrated numerous benefits in treating inflammatory conditions, heart disease, kidney ailments and many more. The untapped potential of indigenous plants is an area that more researchers across the world are keen to explore, with an increased focus in recent years.
A new study conducted at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) is exploring the medical potential of 2 plants that are indigenous to Northern Australia.
The lead author and CDU Faculty of Science and Technology PhD candidate Elnaz Saki evaluated the possibilities of Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil (CSO) along with Tinospora smilacina leaves water extract (TSWE) as alternative medical application in 2 separate studies.
For the 1st study Dr Saki looked into the wound healing possibilities of CSO following its transformation into a nanoemulsion, a mixture of liquids that has a nano-sized droplet of oil. The 2nd paper evaluated the effects of mixing the TSWE to the CSO nanoemulsion.
Dr Saki indicated that the study has demonstrated that CSO along with TSWE consist of bioactive compounds like flavonoids and fatty acids, that has strong wound healing, antimicrobial, as well as antioxidant effects,”
She further indicated that both nanoemulsions displayed an enhancement or equivalent activity for biomedical applications like wound healing, antimicrobial, as well as antioxidant effects.
The extended focus of Dr. Saki towards the diversity of plant species as well as their unique chemical components inspired her to look into medical biotechnology, nanobiotechnology together with nanomedicine.
She selected to engage with C. inophyllum, also referred to as Alexandrian laurel, and T. smilacina due to the historical use of them in traditional medicine along with bioactive compounds. CSO has been an application for the treatment of skin diseases, wounds and pain while T. smilacina, generally referred to as snake vine, which has long been utilized by Australia’s indigenous community for the treatment of snake bites, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis together with other inflammatory disorders.
Dr Saki also indicated that these plants have a rich source of bioactive compounds that were not completely evaluated regarding their possibile therapeutic applications.
“With the increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions in the pharmaceutical industry, I recognised an opportunity to contribute to this field by investigating the bioactive properties of plant extracts.”
Dr Saki, a recent graduate with a PhD in Nanobiotechnology, hopes to go further with her studies and evaluate the way these bioactive compound’s function both in vitro and in vivo.
“I am also interested in exploring the potential of these compounds to be included in novel therapies for various diseases, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, multidrug-resistant and infectious diseases,” added Dr Saki.
“I am interested in partnerships with pharmaceutical, bioceutical and cosmetic companies interested in developing and synthesising new nanomedicine and therapies.”
The 1st study, ‘Optimisation of Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil nanoemulsion as a potential wound healing agent’ appeared in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.
The 2nd study, ‘Formulation and Biomedical Activity of Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion Combining Tinospora smilacina Water Extract and Calophyllum inophyllum Seeds Oil’ appeared in the journal of Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.
