Diversity and biological activities of medicinal plants of Santiago island (Cabo Verde).

Plants continue to constitute key elements of medical practice in West African countries. The Cabo Verde archipelago hosts a great diversity of medicinal plants and local markets are considered important sites for trading plants harvested by rural communities. This study has two main goals: (i) to assess the medicinal uses of native species in Santiago, the biggest island of the archipelago, and (ii) to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic/antihyperglycemic activities of two native trees (Tamarix senegalensis and Sideroxylon marginatum) used in traditional medicine and traded in local markets. Our results revealed that on Santiago Island, 24 native plants are used in traditional medicine. The main uses of these species (e.g., forage, timber, food and fibres), their medicinal applications, the plant parts used, their mode of administration and conservation status are presented here for the first time. Moreover, the pharmacological characterization of two native tree species revealed that hydroethanolic extracts were richer in phenolic compounds and more active than their aqueous counterparts. All the studied extracts revealed significant antioxidant properties (DPPH and FRAP assays) and were generally moderately active against Gram-positive bacteria. All the extracts inhibited the activities of the carbohydrate digestive enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase in a dose-dependent manner. For α-glucosidase, the detected inhibitory activity (IC50 values from 2.0 ± 0.2 µg/mL to 9.9 ± 1.2 µg/mL) was significantly higher than that of acarbose, suggesting that extracts of both species can delay glucose absorption, thereby assisting in slowing down the progression of diabetes. Our findings highlight the crucial importance that medicinal plants have for the Cabo Verdean population, while also raising awareness on the need for sustainable use and conservation of native flora, and of tree species traded in local markets in particular.

Diversity of Legumes in the Cashew Agroforestry System in East Timor (Southeast Asia).

Cashew is an important export-oriented crop in several tropical countries, often under monocropping systems. Intercropping with legume species is promoted as a sustainable practice, enhancing agricultural productivity and providing nutritional food sources to rural communities. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of Leguminosae (or Fabaceae) in the cashew agroforestry systems of East Timor (Southeast Asia). Fourteen cashew orchards were sampled across the country, and information about leguminous species uses was collected from local populations. About 50 species are commonly part of the country's cashew agroforestry system, many of them simultaneously used as food, fodder, and in traditional medicine. Six bean species-Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth, Phaseolus lunatus L., Phaseolus vulgaris L., Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi and H.Ohashi, Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.-are largely used as food. The mineral contents of these beans revealed relevant differences between species and, in some cases, between types (seed colour) within species. Periods of hunger and low food variety are frequent in East Timor, reflecting a very poor nutritional state of the population. Knowing and using legumes for local nutrition, as well as for healthcare and well-being, adds great value to these species as components of East Timor cashew agroforestry systems.

Medicinal plants used by 'root doctors', local traditional healers in Bié province, Angola.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: This study is one of the first post-civil war efforts to document traditional botanical knowledge in Bié province, central Angola, in a first step to bring more studies on the use of medicinal plant resources in this area so as to bring new insights into Angolan bio-cultural diversity. AIM OF THE STUDY: Examine the variety of plant species used for medical purposes, as well as characterize their social and cultural values. Also, it is aimed to compare their uses in the studied region with those in Sub-Saharan Africa and report new ethnomedicinal uses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We documented traditional medicinal plant knowledge among professional herbalists in two areas in Bié province through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and transect walks. Ethnobotanical information was quantified based on Use Reports to (1) rate traditional knowledge; and (2) determine most useful taxa. RESULTS: In total, 10 traditional healers shared information on their knowledge. A total of 87 plant species distributed among 57 genera and 36 botanical families were documented with Fabaceae being the best-represented family with 18 species, followed by Phyllanthaceae (6), Apocynaceae (5), Asteraceae (5), Rubiaceae (5), Lamiaceae (4), and Ochnaceae (3). Most medicinal plants are usually gathered at a distance from human settlements because of the belief in the higher efficacy of 'wild' plants shared by all herbalists. Roots are the most common plant part used (79%), explaining why the consulted herbalists call themselves 'root doctors'. CONCLUSIONS: The culturally most important medicinal species identified in this study, i.e. Securidaca longepedunculata, Garcinia huillensis, Annona stenophylla, Afzelia quanzensis and Strychnos cocculoides, were previously reported for the same use in neighbouring countries and elsewhere in Africa. Our study also indicates that there are several locally valuable species that have not yet been studied for their medical potential, to name a few: Alvesia rosmarinifolia, Diplorhynchus condylocarpon, Eriosema affine, Paropsia brazzaeana, Rhus squalida, Sclerocroton cornutus or Xylopia tomentosa. Moreover, the ethnomedicinal use of 26 species was reported for the first time to sub-Saharan Africa. CLASSIFICATION: Ethnopharmacological field studies.

Conservation and sustainable use of the medicinal Leguminosae plants from Angola.

Leguminosae is an economically important family that contains a large number of medicinal plants, many of which are widely used in African traditional medicine. Angola holds a great socio-cultural diversity and is one of the richest floristic regions of the world, with over 900 native Leguminosae species. This study is the first to assess the medicinal uses of the legumes in Angola and provides new data to promote the conservation and the sustainable use of these unique resources. We document the ethnobotanical knowledge on Angola by reviewing the most important herbarium collections and literature, complemented by recent field surveys. Our results revealed that 127 native legume species have medicinal uses and 65% of them have other important uses by local populations. The species with most medicinal applications are Erythrina abyssinica, Bauhinia thonningii and Pterocarpus angolensis. The rich flora found in Angola suggests an enormous potential for discovery of new drugs with therapeutic value. However, the overexploitation and the indiscriminate collection of legumes for multiple uses such as forage, food, timber and medical uses, increases the threats upon the native vegetation. Efforts to assess the conservation status of these species are urgently needed, and future actions should promote the sustainable use of medicinal plants in Angola together with the implementation of conservation strategies.

The Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948): contributions to knowledge of the medicinal flora of Mozambique.

This article reviews the historical and scientific findings of the Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948) under the Tropical Botanic Garden of the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, in Lisbon, highlighting the collectors' field notes with the aim of identifying the traditional medicinal uses of Mozambican flora. Having collated information on 71 taxa (70 species and one genus), the medicinal usage of 34 species presumably not yet reported in Mozambique was identified, including five whose therapeutic use still had not yet been described in the African continent. Overall, 58 uses presumably not yet reported in Mozambique were recorded.

A Missão Botânica de Moçambique (1942-1948): contribuições para o conhecimento da flora medicinal de Moçambique / The Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948): contributions to knowledge of the medicinal flora of Mozambique

O artigo revisita o espólio histórico-científico aduzido pela Missão Botânica de Moçambique (1942-1948) à guarda do Jardim Botânico Tropical do Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (Lisboa), destacando os cadernos de campo dos seus coletores, com o objetivo de identificar os usos medicinais tradicionais da flora moçambicana. Tendo-se coligido informação relativa a 71 taxa (setenta espécies e um género), identificou-se a utilização medicinal de 34 espécies presumivelmente ainda não reportada para Moçambique, entre as quais, cinco cujo uso terapêutico ainda não havia sido atribuído ao continente africano. No total registaram-se 58 utilizações presumivelmente ainda não relatadas em Moçambique.

This article reviews the historical and scientific findings of the Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948) under the Tropical Botanic Garden of the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, in Lisbon, highlighting the collectors’ field notes with the aim of identifying the traditional medicinal uses of Mozambican flora. Having collated information on 71 taxa (70 species and one genus), the medicinal usage of 34 species presumably not yet reported in Mozambique was identified, including five whose therapeutic use still had not yet been described in the African continent. Overall, 58 uses presumably not yet reported in Mozambique were recorded.

Hidden diversity in wild Beta taxa from Portugal: insights from genome size and ploidy level estimations using flow cytometry.

Crop wild relatives constitute a broad pool of potentially useful genetic resources for plant breeders. The genus Beta L. (Amaranthaceae) is an important source of crops, primarily for sugar production. Until recently, species within Section Beta were mostly cytogenetically uniform, with diploidy being prevalent. Still, with the discovery of tetraploid individuals of the wild B. macrocarpa in the Canary Islands, a large-scale study was necessary to evaluate the cytogenetic diversity within the wild Beta. For that, genome size and ploidy level of B. vulgaris subsp. maritima and B. macrocarpa from 21 populations across Portugal mainland and islands, including all know populations of the later taxon, were estimated using propidium iodide flow cytometry. This work revealed a cytogenetically diverse scenario. The analyzed populations were mostly diploid, except for one population of B. vulgaris subsp. maritima that presented both diploid and tetraploid individuals, and for two populations of B. macrocarpa where two or three cytotypes (diploids, tetraploids and/or hexaploids) were found. The nuclear DNA content of diploid individuals was estimated as 1.44±0.035 and 1.41±0.027 pg/2C for B. vulgaris subsp. maritima and B. macrocarpa, respectively. Also, leaves of both species presented variable levels of endopolyploidy. The obtained results are discussed within the context of interspecific hybridization and cryptic diversity and constitute significant data for the conservation of these wild Beta crop relatives.

Effect of lecithin and soy oil on the ferment ative performance of Saccharomyces uvarum I Z 1904

A proposta deste trabalho foi estudar os efeitos da lecitina e do óleo de soja sobre o desempenho fermentativo de Sacharomyces uvarum I Z 1904, levedura utilizada para produçäo industrial de etanol. High Test Molasses (HTM) foi escolhido como meio de fermentaçäo por ser um substrato pobre em nutrientes, e permitir distinguir a açäo dos lipídios por análise de superfície de resposta mostrou que os lipídios favoreceram o desempenho da levedura principalmente quando aplicados separadamente. Máximas concentraçöes das duas fontes de lipídios no meio estimularam o brotamento mas näo se constituíram em proteçäo contra a morte celular. Considerando a açäo dos lipídios sobre os parâmetors celulares estudados, a suplementaçäo do meio com 3,0g/l de óleo de soja permitiu obter máximas respostas de viabilidade celular, taxa de brotamento e viabilidade dos brotos após 6 ciclos sucessivos