Traditional medicinal knowledge and practices among the tribal communities of Thakht-e-Sulaiman Hills, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the medical material and practices of tribes in the western border areas of Pakistan. The local population has inhabited this remote and isolated area for centuries, and gained medicinal knowledge with personal experiences and knowledge learned from forefathers. Due to the geographical isolation of the communities in the Sulaiman hills of Pakistan and their unique culture, the area is of importance for exploration and assessment. METHODS: A total of 116 informants were interviewed in five foothill villages and the associated migratory mountain villages during 2010-2012 and 2015. Information was gathered mainly through semi-structured interviews and freelisting. Local diseases were categorized based on symptoms and affected organs. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Depending on the type of illness, typically a pulse diagnoser or a religious specialist is consulted. Medicinal plant knowledge and use is mostly known and advised by elders within the family. A total of 44 plant species from 32 families (588 use reports), 7 animal species and 6 minerals and other sources (384 use reports) were documented as materia medica. Among the plants, the Lamiaceae is the most dominantly used plant family, followed by Pinaceae. The most frequently reported single species was Teucrium stocksianum. The most often mentioned diseases and treatments fall into the categories of gastrointestinal, ritual, and musculoskeletal diseases. The use of goat and sheep skin as medicine was pivotal in the local medicinal system. Remedies from animal parts and other biological and non-biological sources were mainly used for musculoskeletal ailments and ritual treatments. Overall, people rely on both traditional and biomedical medication and treatments and combination of these systems. CONCLUSION: This paper provides insight into the pluralistic medication system of rural communities of northwest Pakistan. It highlights the materia medica most commonly in use. A considerable part of the documented materia medica and local practices is part of an oral tradition and cannot be found in written sources or scientific articles. The gaining of new medicinal knowledge in the area was the good sign of continuation of traditional medicinal practices.

The role of women in Brazilian ethnobiology: challenges and perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The article aims to analyze the representativeness of women in ethnobiological publications within the Brazilian context, as well as to relate the difficulties faced by women in their scientific careers in terms of gender bias. Biases found in publications are relevant themes to different areas of knowledge, considering the historical persistence of male privilege in these activities. We analyzed the role of women in ethnobiological scientific publications and sought to reflect on gender issues in academic practices and fieldwork. METHODS: We conducted a 28-year survey of academic publications in Brazil, through the Scopus and Web of Science databases, in order to infer the female representation in ethnobiological literature. We also sent 77 questionnaires to ethnobiologists associated with the Brazilian society of ethnobiology and ethnoecology or indicted by associates through snowball sampling. RESULTS: We observed that there are more articles where the senior author is male (p < 0.05). However, there are no differences in the number of publications led by men and women (p > 0.05), which shows a positive trend in terms of representation. Within subareas, ethnozoology had more male authors than other subareas of ethnobiology. Articles whose senior authors are men tend to be published in journals with a higher impact (p < 0.05). The interviews with Brazilian ethnobiologists showed that 53.2% of the interviewees reported feeling discriminated against in the academic environment because they were women. Moreover, 61.0% said they had disadvantages in collecting data because they were women. Additionally, most of the researchers reported having witnessed cases of sexism in the studied communities. CONCLUSION: In the current scenarios of female participation, it is possible to reflect and identify advances and challenges associated with gender bias in ethnobiological studies conducted by Brazilian, both in the emic and etic spheres of research and in our scientific practice. As researchers in the area, we deal directly with social problems in the studied communities, such as violence against women, sexism, and prejudice, as well as the many problems faced in the academic universe itself.

Levantamento etnobotânico de plantas medicinais em área de Caatinga na comunidade do Sítio Nazaré, município de Milagres, Ceará, Brasil / Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in the Caatinga area in the community of Sitio Nazaré, Milagres, Ceará, Brazil

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento das plantas medicinais nativas no bioma Caatinga na comunidade do Sítio Nazaré, no município de Milagres, Ceará. Foram utilizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 100 informantes entre 25 a 85 anos registrando informações de 62 espécies medicinais sobre o uso, parte utilizada, indicação terapêutica, e formas de preparo dos remédios caseiros, além de coleta do material botânico e produção de exsicatas. As famílias com maior representatividade na pesquisa foram Fabaceae (16 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (7 spp.), Cucurbitaceae e Malvaceae (3 spp.), e as demais com duas ou uma espécie cada. Nas preparações dos remédios caseiros verificou-se que todas as partes da planta são utilizadas, predominando as raízes (33,77%) e as cascas (29,87%). Observaram-se várias formas de preparo, sendo o chá a mais indicada (49,21%), seguida do lambedor (40,69%). Os dados encontrados revelaram que o conhecimento popular sobre as plantas medicinais é de extrema importância para o controle das afecções e contribui para a realização de estudos etnofarmacológicos.

The present study aimed to survey the native medicinal plants in the biome Caatinga in the community of Sítio Nazaré from Milagres, in Ceará, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews with 100 persons, from 25 to 85 years old, were recorded. Sixty-two species were pointed for medical information on use, used plant part, therapeutic indication and methods of preparation of home remedies. We also prepared the collection of botanical material and production of exsiccates. The most representative families reported in this study were: Fabaceae (15 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (7 spp.), Cucurbitaceae and Malvaceae (3 spp.). On the preparation of remedies, we found that all parts of the plants were used, predominantly the roots (33.77%) and the barks (29.87%). The most common way of preparation observed was tea (49.21%), followed by syrup (40.69%). These collected data revealed that popular knowledge on medicinal Caatinga plants were important for disease control in the local population and it has contributed to other ethnopharmacology studies.

Quantitative methods in ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology: considering the overall flora--hypothesis testing for over- and underused plant families with the Bayesian approach.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: We introduce and explain the advantages of the Bayesian approach and exemplify the method with an analysis of the medicinal flora of Campania, Italy. The Bayesian approach is a new method, which allows to compare medicinal floras with the overall flora of a given area and to investigate over- and underused plant families. In contrast to previously used methods (regression analysis and binomial method) it considers the inherent uncertainty around the analyzed data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medicinal flora with 423 species was compiled based on nine studies on local medicinal plant use in Campania. The total flora comprises 2237 species belonging to 128 families. Statistical analysis was performed with the Bayesian method and the binomial method. An approximated χ(2)-test was used to analyze the relationship between use categories and higher taxonomic groups. RESULTS: Among the larger plant families we find the Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, and Malvaceae, to be overused in the local medicine of Campania and the Orchidaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae to be underused compared to the overall flora. Furthermore, do specific medicinal uses tend to be correlated with taxonomic plant groups. For example, are the Monocots heavily used for urological complaints. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for over- and underused taxonomic groups of a flora with the Bayesian method is easy to adopt and can readily be calculated in excel spreadsheets using the excel function Inverse beta (INV.BETA). In contrast to the binomial method the presented method is also suitable for small datasets. With larger datasets the two methods tend to converge. However, results are generally more conservative with the Bayesian method pointing out fewer families as over- or underused.

Ethnopharmacological survey of Samburu district, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Ethnobotanical pharmacopoeia is confidently used in disease intervention and there is need for documentation and preservation of traditional medical knowledge to bolster the discovery of novel drugs. The objective of the present study was to document the indigenous medicinal plant utilization, management and their extinction threats in Samburu District, Kenya. METHODS: Field research was conducted in six divisions of Samburu District in Kenya. We randomly sampled 100 consented interviewees stratified by age, gender, occupation and level of education. We collected plant use data through semi-structured questionnaires; transect walks, oral interviews and focus groups discussions. Voucher specimens of all cited botanic species were collected and deposited at University of Nairobi's botany herbarium. RESULTS: Data on plant use from the informants yielded 990 citations on 56 medicinal plant species, which are used to treat 54 different animal and human diseases including; malaria, digestive disorders, respiratory syndromes and ectoparasites. CONCLUSION: The ethnomedicinal use of plant species was documented in the study area for treatment of both human and veterinary diseases. The local population has high ethnobotanical knowledge and has adopted sound management conservation practices. The major threatening factors reported were anthropogenic and natural. Ethnomedical documentation and sustainable plant utilization can support drug discovery efforts in developing countries.

Patterns of medicinal plant use: an examination of the Ecuadorian Shuar medicinal flora using contingency table and binomial analyses.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Botanical pharmacopoeias are non-random subsets of floras, with some taxonomic groups over- or under-represented. Moerman [Moerman, D.E., 1979. Symbols and selectivity: a statistical analysis of Native American medical ethnobotany, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1, 111-119] introduced linear regression/residual analysis to examine these patterns. However, regression, the commonly-employed analysis, suffers from several statistical flaws. AIM OF THE STUDY: We use contingency table and binomial analyses to examine patterns of Shuar medicinal plant use (from Amazonian Ecuador). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We first analyzed the Shuar data using Moerman's approach, modified to better meet requirements of linear regression analysis. Second, we assessed the exact randomization contingency table test for goodness of fit. Third, we developed a binomial model to test for non-random selection of plants in individual families. RESULTS: Modified regression models (which accommodated assumptions of linear regression) reduced R(2) to from 0.59 to 0.38, but did not eliminate all problems associated with regression analyses. Contingency table analyses revealed that the entire flora departs from the null model of equal proportions of medicinal plants in all families. In the binomial analysis, only 10 angiosperm families (of 115) differed significantly from the null model. These 10 families are largely responsible for patterns seen at higher taxonomic levels. CONCLUSIONS: Contingency table and binomial analyses offer an easy and statistically valid alternative to the regression approach.

Focusing on the ethnobotanical uses of plants in Mersin and Adana provinces (Turkey).

This paper presents the result of a study on the herbal drugs in the herbal markets in Mersin and Adana. The data were collected through direct interviews with herbalists and customers between 2002-2005 and the popular medicinal plants were investigated. A total of 107 species belonging to 56 families were investigated and the samples were listed with their local and Latin names. The investigation includes cross-checking the disorders and their herbal cures and their recommended use stated by the local herbalists, by the parts used, and by the preparations. The cultivated species and their ethno botanical uses, are documented and extensive inventory is presented. As a result, we observed that these plants are used especially for intestinal digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, (21.68%), respiratory tract system disorders (10.43%), heart-blood circulatory system disorders (8.48%), urinary tract system disorders (7.70%), skin disorders (6.48%) and others.

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiac diseases in the south-east region of Morocco (Tafilalet).

In this study, the medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiac diseases were inventoried based on the ethnopharmacological survey in south-eastern Morocco: Tafilalet region. Seven hundred persons including 320 diabetic patients and 380 patients with hypertension and cardiac disorders and 20 traditional herbal healers were interviewed in different areas of Tafilalet. The results indicated that 80% of patients interviewed used medicinal plants to treat diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases because they state that phytotherapy is cheaper (58%), more efficient (40%) and better (65%) than modern medicine. In this ethnobotanic enquiry, about 92 medicinal plants were cited. A lot of them are cited for the first time in Morocco. Many parameters have been evaluated such as knowledge of the toxic plants, doses, parts used, etc. Also, we have reported that 75% of type 2 diabetic patients used medicinal plants in association with modern drugs, while 10% of type 1 diabetic patients regularly used medicinal plants combined with insulin treatment. Some toxic plants have also been reported. In conclusion Tafilalet region disposes of a large phytotherapy knowledge which must be scientifically investigated especially in treating diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiac diseases.

Ethnopharmacological survey of traditional drugs sold in the Kingdom of Jordan.

The results of a survey of present-day traditional medicinal materials conducted in 1998-1999 in the Kingdom of Jordan are reported. The study covered selected markets of medicinal substances of ethnic communities throughout the kingdom, and also included questioning of the sellers about the healing characteristics of the various materials. The survey yielded information on many and varied medicinal substances, of which 304 are identified according to the following classifications: 236 species of plants (77.6%); 30 species of animals (9.8%); 29 kinds of inorganic substances (9.6%); and 9 materials of other or mixed origin (3%). Analysis of the data showed that some substances were of local origin (41.8%), but the majority of the substances (45.4%) were imported from other countries. 12.8% of the substances were both local and imported. These data demonstrate that there is still a flourishing and well-developed trade in these materials--a trade that is the remnant of a rich and ancient medical culture, which is disappearing from the modern world.

Ethnopharmacology of liakra: traditional weedy vegetables of the Arbëreshë of the Vulture area in southern Italy.

An ethnobiological field study on food plants and medicinal foods traditionally consumed in three Arbëresh (ethnic Albanian) communities in northern Lucania (southern Italy) document approximately 120 botanical taxa used for these purposes. Non-domesticated food vegetables (liakra), mostly gathered during the spring season, play a central role as traditional functional food. Quantitative ethnobotanical, ethnotaxonomical, ethnoecological, ethnogastronomical, and ethnopharmacological aspects related to gathering, processing, cooking and consumption of liakra are discussed. Unusual food species, such as Lycium europeaum, Centaurea calcitrapa, and a few spontaneous weedy Asteraceae and Brassicaceae species are locally used in the kitchen. Most of these are very poorly known phytochemically and phytopharmacologically. Moreover, an analysis of taste perception of the most commonly used botanical foods was conducted in the village of Ginestra. Arbëresh taste classification and indigenous criteria related to the perception of bitter taste in considering non-cultivated plants as food or medicine are discussed as well.