Medicinal plants for digestive disorders: a review of ethnobotanical studies conducted in southern Brazil / Plantas medicinales para los trastornos digestivos: una revisión de estudios etnobotánicos realizados en el sur de Brasil

This review focuses on plant species traditionally used in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná states (southern Brazil) for the relief of digestive disorders. Fifty ethnobotanical studies were compiled, resulting in 384 species mentioned, of which those cited in common to every state were selected. The search retrieved 63 native species used to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders, distributed in 21 botanical fa milies, mainly Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae. The most cited species include Achyrocline satureioides (82%), Eugenia uniflora (70%), Baccharis crispa (46%), Psidium cattleyanum (36%), Solanum paniculatum (36%) and Monteverdia ilicifolia (34%). Scient ific studies have corroborated their popular use for the relief the gastrointestinal disorders, but most of them are preclinical and mainly exploratory. In conclusion, the folk use of medicinal species with therapeutic purposes is widespread in southern Br azil, but further studies are needed to guarantee their efficacy and safety.

Esta revisión presenta especies de plantas utilizadas en Rio Gra nde do Sul, Santa Catarina y Paraná (Sur de Brasil) con enfoque en el alivio de los trastornos digestivos. Se recopilaron 50 estudios etnobotánicos en los que se mencionaron un total de 384 especies, siendo seleccionadas las especies en común a todos los e stados. La búsqueda recuperó 63 especies nativas citadas como utilizadas para aliviar trastornos gastrointestinales, distribuidas en 21 familias botánicas, principalmente Asteraceae, Lamiaceae y Myrtaceae. Las especies con mayor frecuencia de citación fuer on: Achyrocline satureioides (82%), Eugenia uniflora (70%), Baccharis crispa (46%), Psidium cattleyanum (36%), Solanum paniculatum (36%) y Monteverdia ilicifolia (34%). Los estudios científicos han corroborado el uso de especies para el alivio de los trast ornos gastrointestinales, pero la mayoría de ellos son preclínicos y principalmente exploratorios. En conclusión, el uso popular de especies medicinales con fines digestivos está muy extendido en el sur de Brasil, pero aún se necesitan estudios científicos para garantizar la eficacia y seguridad de estas plantas.

Traditional botanical knowledge of artisanal fishers in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study characterized the botanical knowledge of artisanal fishers of the Lami community, Porto Alegre, southern Brazil based on answers to the following question: Is the local botanical knowledge of the artisanal fishers of the rural-urban district of Lami still active, even since the district's insertion into the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre? METHODS: This region, which contains a mosaic of urban and rural areas, hosts the Lami Biological Reserve (LBR) and a community of 13 artisanal fisher families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 fishers, complemented by participatory observation techniques and free-lists; in these interviews, the species of plants used by the community and their indicated uses were identified. RESULTS: A total of 111 species belonging to 50 families were identified. No significant differences between the diversities of native and exotic species were found. Seven use categories were reported: medicinal (49%), human food (23.2%), fishing (12.3%), condiments (8%), firewood (5%), mystical purposes (1.45%), and animal food (0.72%). The medicinal species with the highest level of agreement regarding their main uses (AMUs) were Aloe arborescens Mill., Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Dodonaea viscosa Jacq., Plectranthus ornatus Codd, Eugenia uniflora L., and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. For illness and diseases, most plants were used for problems with the digestive system (20 species), followed by the respiratory system (16 species). This community possesses a wide botanical knowledge, especially of medicinal plants, comparable to observations made in other studies with fishing communities in coastal areas of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnobotanical studies in rural-urban areas contribute to preserving local knowledge and provide information that aids in conserving the remaining ecosystems in the region.

Espécies medicinais comercializadas como "quebra-pedras" em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Medicinal species sold as "quebra-pedras" in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Este trabalho visa identificar as espécies comercializadas como quebra-pedras em Porto Alegre, verificar indícios de toxicidade e estabelecer padrões morfológicos para diferenciação das mesmas. São espécies utilizadas na medicina popular principalmente para afecções nos rins e bexiga bem como diuréticas. As 16 amostras foram adquiridas de 14 comerciantes atuantes em bancas fixas ou em feiras-livres. Realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica para levantamento de dados referentes à utilização de plantas medicinais com o nome de quebra-pedras em diferentes cidades do Rio Grande do Sul. Indícios de toxicidade, dados químicos e biológicos destas plantas foram revisados em diferentes bases de dados e em bibliografia específica. Identificaram-se sete espécies comercializadas como quebra-pedras em Porto Alegre: Euphorbia prostrata e E. serpens (Euphorbiaceae), Phyllanthus niruri e P. tenellus (Phyllanthaceae), Desmodium incanum (Fabaceae), Cunila microcephala (Lamiaceae) e Heimia salicifolia (Lythraceae). Destas, as espécies de Phyllanthus e Euphorbia são as que apresentam maior semelhança morfológica quando comercializadas secas e fragmentadas.

The aims of this work were to identify the species sold as "quebra-pedras" in Porto Alegre, verify signs of toxicity and establish morphological patterns that help to distinguish such species. Those species are believed to be diuretic and are used in popular medicine mainly to treat kidney and bladder affections. The samples (16) were purchased from 14 sellers who work in permanent market stalls or in public marketplaces. A bibliographic revision gathered data on the use of medicinal plants called "quebra-pedras" in several cities of Rio Grande do Sul. Signs of toxicity, chemical and biological data of these plants were reviewed from different databases and specific bibliography. Seven species were identified among those sold as "quebra-pedras" in Porto Alegre: Euphorbia prostrata and E. serpens (Euphorbiaceae), Phyllanthus niruri and P. tenellus (Phyllanthaceae), Desmodium incanum (Fabaceae), Cunila microcephala (Lamiaceae) and Heimia salicifolia (Lythraceae). The greater morphological similarity when dried and fragmented plants are sold together was verified between Phyllanthus and Euphorbia.

Plants popularly used for loosing weight purposes in Porto Alegre, South Brazil.

In this study, 14 herbalists (herb sellers) were interviewed about popular use of plants with weight loss purpose in Porto Alegre, a South Brazil city. For all identified species, scientific data were reviewed aiming to establish a correlation between popular use and biological properties. Seventy-eight samples were reported as having weigh loss properties. These samples come from 23 species and Asteraceae encompasses the greatest number of representatives. The greatest number of herbalist's citations was Baccharis articulata. The majority of plants have traditional use in Brazil but none is explicitly cited for loosing weight purposes. The pharmacological data are mainly from animal and in vitro studies and do not straight related to obesity. Only Ilex paraguariensis presents clinical data of efficacy in the treatment of obesity. Seven species present pre-clinical data that indicate a potential role in the control of certain conditions which are associated with obesity, such as hyperlipidemia (Campomanesia xanthocarpa, Cuphea carthagenensis, Cynara scolymus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Ilex paraguariensis) and high levels of blood glucose (Achyrocline satureioides, Baccharis trimera, Campomanesia xanthocarpa). In conclusion, scientific data found are insufficient to guarantee the efficacy and safety of these plants for treating obesity. However, some of them present activities which could be useful to treat certain obesity comorbidities and deserve further studies.