Plants and other natural treatments for various ailments will be discussed during the 13th International Congress of the International Society for Enthopharmacology at the University of Graz starting September 2.

Active ingredients from red wine, Amazonian plants, hops, Indian basil and legumes will be the talking points for congress attendees as possible remedies for type two diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and rheumatism.

More than 400 scientists from over 60 countries are expected to attend the conference, in which the use of natural remedies -- both traditional and modern -- over chemical approaches will be central to the discussion, a University of Graz press release stated on Tuesday.

"Traditional knowledge is not only valuable, but also at risk," said Rudolf Bauer, head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Graz and Chairman of the Congress.

"For example, an estrogen-like substance found in hops aids with post-menopausal symptoms. And resveratrol, found in red wine, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects," he added.

Other potential remedies are yet to be fully realized, such as an Amazonian plant from the Plumericin family believed to combat arteriosclerosis and rheumatism.

The Austrian Press Agency reported that industrialized countries in particular have been showing increasing interest in natural remedies.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet