Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides a description of cognitive impairment in the elderly population through the lens of Thai Traditional Medicine as it is practiced in northern Thailand. It provides an overview of Thai Traditional Medicine and the memory loss presented in elderly dementia. Some medicinal plants used by traditional Thai healers to treat cognitive decline and memory issues in the elderly are reviewed. Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides readers with the detailed description of the in vitro screening of ten plants and those results. The bioactivity of these single plants exemplifies the success of using an ethnobotanical filter to identify plants with cognitive enhancing activity.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Background
Introduction
History of Thai Traditional Medicine
The Record of Medical Ethnobotany in Thailand
Theoretical Context
Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Prevalence and Conventional Treatment of Dementia in Thailand
Natural and Cultural History of the Study Site
Thailand
Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom
Khon Muang
Conclusion
References
Chapter 2 - Fieldwork Methodology
Introduction
Selection of Traditional Folk Healers for Interviews
Types of Healers in Thai Traditional Medicine
Selection of Participating Healers
Description of the Interviewed Traditional Thai Healers
Methods for Data Gathering
Interview Protocol
Interview Questionnaire and Development
Plant Identification and Voucher Collection
Ethics of Ethnobotanical Research
The Protection of Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge
Protection of Biocultural Diversity in Thailand
Dissertation Project Ethics
Challenges of Fieldwork
Data Collection and Analysis
ReReferences
Chapter 3 - Thai Traditional Medicinal Theory and Cognitive Decline
Theory of Thai Traditional Medicine
Spirituality in Thai Traditional Medicine
Plant Use in Thai Traditional Medicine
Groups of plants used in Thai Traditional Medicine
Medicinal Plant Management and Plant Harvesting
Practices
References
Chapter 4 - The Medical Ethnobotany of Treating Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly of Northern Thailand
Introduction
Methodology
Results
Formulas Relating to Longevity or Strength in Old Age
Culturally Specific Diseases
Maha Sannibad
Lom Mar Reng Kroot
Discussion
Plant Frequency in All Formulas
Formula Additions: Honey
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5 - Screening for Plants in Herbal Formulas from Traditional Doctors of Northern Thailand to Treat Cognitive Impairment
Introduction
Interviews with Traditional Doctors
Plant Selection and Materials
Preparation of Extracts
In Vitro Experimental Protocol
DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrozyl) Free-Radical Scavenging Assay
Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)
Total Phenolic Content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu Method
Results
DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrozyl) Free-Radical Scavenging Assay
Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)
Total Phenolic Content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu Method
Discussion and Conclusion
References
Chapter 6 - Validation of Thai Traditional Medical Knowledge by Scientific Investigation
Multi-plant herbal formula testing
DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrozyl) Free-Radical Scavenging Assay
Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)
Total Phenolic Content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu Method
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7 – Conclusion
Introduction
Key Findings
Anthropological
Botanical
Pharmacological
Future Studies
Conclusion
References