Efecto de extractos orgánicos naturales sobre la micropropagación in vitro de Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews (Orchidaceae) / Effect of natural extracts on the micropropagation of Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews (Orchidaceae)

Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews es una orquídea de gran importancia económica, que presenta problemas de sobreexplotación y amenaza en su hábitat original. Por lo cual, el objetivo de esta investigación fue establecer un protocolo de micropropagación in vitro evaluando el efecto diferentes extractos orgánicos. El cultivo in vitro se inició a través de la germinación de semillas que dieron lugar a la formación de protocormos. Los protocormos se cultivaron en medios MS suplementados con extractos naturales: MPL (plátano), MPI (piña), MCO (agua de coco) y medio control, para promover la morfogénesis. Posteriormente, para inducir la rizogénesis de los brotes y la aclimatación, se utilizaron tratamientos con auxinas (AIA y AIB). Los resultados mostraron que la germinación inició a los 60 días de cultivo in vitro, y que la adición de los extractos orgánicos promovió la diferenciación de los brotes, resultando más eficiente el tratamiento MPI. Además, la adición de 0.5 mg L-1 de AIA promovió el enraizamiento y la pre aclimatación in vitro. Estos resultados sugieren que los extractos orgánicos promueven la morfogénesis de vainilla, sin necesidad de emplear reguladores de crecimiento sintéticos en las primeras etapas de la micropropagación in vitro.

Use of medicinal plants by health professionals in Mexico.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The use of medicinal plants in Mexico has been documented since pre-Hispanic times. Nevertheless, the level of use of medicinal plants by health professionals in Mexico remains to be explored. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the use, acceptance and prescription of medicinal plants by health professionals in 9 of the states of Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Direct and indirect interviews, regarding the use and acceptance of medicinal plants, with health professionals (n=1614), including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and odontologists from nine states in Mexico were performed from January 2015 to July 2016. The interviews were analyzed with the factor the informant consensus (FIC). RESULTS: The information obtained indicated that 46% of those interviewed feel patients should not use medicinal plants as an alternative therapy. Moreover, 54% of health professionals, and 49% of the physicians have used medicinal plants as an alternative therapy for several diseases. Twenty eight percent of health professionals, and 26% of the physicians, have recommended or prescribed medicinal plants to their patients, whereas 73% of health professionals were in agreement with receiving academic information regarding the use and prescription of medicinal plants. A total of 77 plant species used for medicinal purposes, belonging to 40 botanical families were reported by the interviewed. The results of the FIC showed that the categories of diseases of the digestive system (FIC=0.901) and diseases of the respiratory system (FIC=0.898) had the greatest agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that medicinal plants are used for primary health care in Mexico by health professionals.