Advancing ethnobiology for the ecological transition and a more inclusive and just world: a comprehensive framework for the next 20 years.

This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the importance of ethnobiology research in advancing contemporary biology, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and, especially, contributing to the ecological transition and more just and inclusive world. To achieve these goals, it is essential to develop research and collaborate with social groups that live in close relationship with nature in research activities, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), as well as Afro-descendants and other Marginalized, Minority or Minoritized Communities (AMMC). Ethnobiology can identify and provide locally appropriate solutions to local problems, enabling sustainable resource management at the landscape level. The text explores important aspects that need to be considered to guide the future of ethnobiology in the next 20 years, aiming to integrate and amplify previous discussions held in the discipline and identify points that demand ongoing attention. This paper highlights reflections from diverse researchers, emphasizing how ethnobiology can embrace different perspectives and employ rigorous analysis of complex phenomena toward effective policies and practices. This approach holds the potential to address the challenges the planet is currently facing in the coming decades.

Documenting and protecting traditional knowledge in the era of open science: Insights from two Spanish initiatives.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The documentation and protection of traditional knowledge face new challenges in the era of open science. Focusing on medicinal and food uses, we discuss two innovative initiatives in Spain to document, protect and return to the society traditional knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity has compiled and published information on the traditional use and management of flora, fauna, fungi, geodiversity, and ecosystems. CONECT-e (www.conecte.es) is an online platform where citizens can document knowledge and uses of wild and domesticated species. We describe the extent of these initiatives in terms of participation and accomplishment, and discuss their complementarities and challenges. RESULTS: The initiatives described have fostered the establishment of a common standard for organizing traditional knowledge in databases that facilitate knowledge documentation: 131,066 uses and 152,246 local names have been documented so far. Using open data and copyleft licenses, these initiatives also contribute to the maintenance of traditional knowledge in the commons domain, guaranteeing the free exchange and reproduction of knowledge. However, the extensive focus of these initiatives on data sharing does not necessarily guarantee knowledge holders' data sovereignty. CONCLUSION: To protect TEK in a context of open science more efforts should be done to operationalize traditional knowledge holders' rights to data sovereignty.

Taming the pandemic? The importance of homemade plant-based foods and beverages as community responses to COVID-19.

Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent the primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex and confusing time, in which public health services in multiple countries have been completely overwhelmed, and in some cases even collapsed, these first-line household responses have been quintessential for building physical, mental, and social resilience, and for improving individual and community health. This editorial discusses the outcomes of a rapid-response preliminary survey during the first phase of the pandemic among social and community contacts in five metropolises heavily affected by the COVID-19 health crisis (Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, New York, and Rio de Janeiro), and in twelve rural areas or countries initially less affected by the pandemic (Appalachia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Romania, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Pakistan, Cambodia, and South Africa). We summarized our perspectives as 17 case studies, observing that people have relied primarily on teas and spices ("food-medicines") and that there exist clear international plant favorites, popularized by various new media. Urban diasporas and rural households seem to have repurposed homemade plant-based remedies that they use in normal times for treating the flu and other respiratory symptoms or that they simply consider healthy foods. The most remarkable shift in many areas has been the increased consumption of ginger and garlic, followed by onion, turmeric, and lemon. Our preliminary inventory of food medicines serves as a baseline for future systematic ethnobotanical studies and aims to inspire in-depth research on how use patterns of plant-based foods and beverages, both "traditional" and "new", are changing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reflections in this editorial call attention to the importance of ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, and ethnogastronomy research into domestic health care strategies for improving community health.

Trends in wild food plants uses in Gorbeialdea (Basque Country).

Despite wild food plants' potential nutritional and economic value, their knowledge and consumption is quickly decreasing throughout the world. We examine how the consideration that a wild plant use is within the cultural tradition of a given area relates to its consumption by analysing 1) current perception and 2) past and present use of six wild plants' food-uses, of which only three are locally perceived as being part of the local tradition. Research was conducted in Gorbeialdea, an area in the Basque Country with a clearly marked Basque identity opposed to the Spanish identity. Overall, there is a clear decrease in the knowledge and consumption of the selected uses and especially of the three uses acquired from local sources (i.e., the consumption of the raw leaves of Fagus sylvatica and Rumex acetosa and of the fruits of Pyrus cordata). The trend is likely driven by the disappearance of the traditional agrarian lifestyle. Among the uses not acquired from local sources, the use recently adopted from another Basque-speaking area (i.e., macerating the fruits of Prunus spinosa to elaborate a liqueur) is now considered part of the local tradition by young generations, whereas the use acquired from southern Spanish migrants (i.e., using Laurus nobilis leaves as condiments) is not. While lifestyle changes largely explain overall trends in wild edibles consumption, other cultural aspects -in our case study the stigmatization of a given source of information associated to cultural identity- might help shape which new uses of wild plants become embedded in local traditions.

Medicinal plants sold at traditional markets in southern Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: The traditional markets in southern Ecuador and within the Andean region are especially important for plant resource trading among local people, even since before Spanish colonization; therefore, ethnobotanical studies are currently necessary and important. These strategic spaces persist for the traditional medicine cultural value reflected in the higher consumption of medicinal plants, which span all socioeconomic levels of rural and urban people. The purpose of this study includes the following: 1) to create a novel list of medicinal plants sold at 33 traditional markets; 2) to establish medicinal plant use agreement amongst vendors with the Factor of Informant Consensus (FIC); and 3) to determine the most sold medicinal plant species using the Fidelity Level (FL). METHODS: This study focus on traditional markets ethnobotany utilizes the largest sample of medicinal plants market vendors up to date in Ecuador, interviewing them at 33 traditional markets, located within the Loja province. In order to determine the most sold medicinal plants and their ethnobotanical information, structured questionnaires and personal conversations were conducted with 196 medicinal plant vendors, and voucher specimens were created. Agreement among vendors about the therapeutic use of medicinal plants was measured using the FIC, and the most sold medicinal plant species were assessed with the FL. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This research registered 160 medicinal plant species, grouped in 126 genera and 57 families that were sold in 33 traditional markets. The uses of medicinal plants in southern Ecuador are related to a long history of traditional medicine health practices that has persisted until today as well as high plant diversity. The 53 therapeutic uses recorded were grouped into 12 medical categories that were adapted from the World Health Organization. Three medical categories shared the highest value for FIC = 0.92, which showed a high level of agreement of market vendors for 57 medicinal plant species sold to treat ailments related with digestive, dermatological, and sensorial systems. The FL index determined 11 culturally important medicinal plant species based on the reported uses by 40 or more market vendors. Two medicinal plant species had an FL = 100 %, Matricaria recutita and Gaiadendrum punctatum, used to treat digestive and respiratory systems ailments. CONCLUSIONS: In the Loja province, people continue to consume medicinal plant species sold at local markets to treat somatic and/or psychosomatic health ailments because sociocultural customs are strongly expressed in ancestral practices of wellbeing. When the largest values of FL (60.5 %-100 %) and FIC (0.81-0.92) indexes are combined, they demonstrated agreement among 196 market vendors in the use of seven medicinal plant species that were most sold for the 12 medical categories. This study stresses how important public policies are for the trade and quality of medicinal plant resources, particularly for local people practicing auto-medication. Reasons for the maintenance of traditional markets in southern Ecuador include lower cost of medicinal plants, confidence in traditional medicine, and/or sociocultural environment. In Ecuador, the sustainable management of wild medicinal plants diversity, particularly the most sold, is crucial for its conservation in nature.

Medicinal and local food plants in the south of Alava (Basque Country, Spain).

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Medicinal and food plants in the Basque Country are an integral part of a fast changing culture. With a distinct tradition and language, this region of Europe provides an important example demonstrating the changing role of local and traditional knowledge in industrial countries. As other Mediterranean regions it preserves a rich heritage of using plants as medicine and food, offering a unique opportunity for studying the medicine food interface in an ethnopharmacological context. Therefore, the key goal of this study has been to contribute to an understanding of local and traditional plant usage, to evaluate their uses as food and medicine as well as to critically assess the role of these plants in the south of the Basque Country contributing to an understanding of how foods and medicines are used. METHODS: A mixed methods approach, including participant observation; open and semi structured interviews was used. Ethnobotanical field work included 183 people, ages ranged from 24 to 98 years old with a majority being between 70 and 80 years old (mean age 71) from 31 towns of three different regions. The basic interview was a one-to-one meeting, which often included field walking and collection of samples as directed by the informants. 700 voucher specimens (most of them with duplicates) were collected for the data obtained. Using SPSS version 20 the gathered information was processed and the replies of the different informants were subsequently organised in variables like medicine and food plants, part of the plants used, forms of preparations, zones preferred for collecting these plants. The data were analysed based on the frequency of records. This type of approach allows us to understand the way the informant's categorize the species, and how these categories are distributed along the sample. In order to analyse the data three main categories of use were distinguished: Medicine (M), Food (F) and an intermediate Health-Food (H-F). The three categories were divided in 27 subcategories (common uses). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The informants recognise and use a total of 184 species from 49 families. During interviews, 5658 individual use-reports were collected relating to three use-categories - as medicines, food and health-food. The two main groups with almost the same number of species each are health-food (75 species) and (locally gathered) food only (73), with medicinal uses only (36) being the smallest group. This highlights the important overlap between food and medicines. Overall, three core families were identified (based on the number of use reports and in the number of species): Asteraceae (25 species), Lamiaceae and Rosaceae (24 each). The most frequently reported species are Jasonia glutinosa, Chamaemelum nobile, Prunus spinosa and Quercus ilex subsp. ballota. The most important general use-subcategories are as raw vegetables (27.43% of the use-reports and including 81 species), infusions (14.74%/42) and gastrointestinal (12.53%/42). Conceptually foods and medicines are clearly distinguished but the intermediate group of health foods is more ambiguous. CONCLUSION: Food and medicinal uses of plants are culturally closely linked. A wide range of plants are known and many still used. The analysis shows that the Basques use a wide range of species which are typical for Western European cultures. In comparison to other studies in the Mediterranean countries there are many similarities in the uses of different families, species of plants and their use and preparations. Some of these plants are key Mediterranean species, often used for a multitude of uses as food and medicine.

Management of medicinally useful plants by European migrants in South America.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Using the example of Polish migrants living in the subtropics of Argentina, we attempt to expand knowledge about migrant strategies for retaining their agency in medicinal plant procurement. AIM OF THE STUDY: Is to state which environments play a pivotal role as a source of medicinal plants for the study community, and if a gradient of relevance exists in the exploitation of medicinally useful species between the most proximate and the most distant habitats. We particularly aim to answer the following questions: (1) if Polish migrants have changed their patterns of obtaining medicinal plants during the migratory process; and (2) if the choice of strategies for medicinal plants depends on: (a) the degree of floristic and environmental similarity between the home and host country; (b) the perception and usefulness of certain environments as a source of medicinal plants; (c) the degree of contact with the local population in the host country, and/or (d) the degree of contact between migrants and their homeland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis is grounded in data from different types of interviews and a homegarden inventory addressed to 72 study participants. Voucher specimens of species mentioned were gathered and identified. Two indices were used as proxy measures: (1) the number of species obtained from each habitat, and (2) the number of citations for both modes and places of obtaining medicinal plants. RESULTS: Due to different flora found in Argentina, Polish migrants could reconstruct only bits and pieces of their native pharmacopoeia. They could not acquire medicinal plants either from relatives in Poland or via importation. Therefore they had to develop new strategies for securing medicinal resources. During the migratory process, Poles in Misiones changed forms and places of obtaining medicinal plants. Cultivated species from homegardens play the most important role, while in the native country homegarden species were used sparsely. The second most important environment for medicinal plant procurement is the forest, whose exploitation was increased by contact with local mestizos and indigenous groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly shows that traditional knowledge can be adaptive and resilient. New species have been selected and incorporated from mestizos, and indigenous people, and at the same time the use of some legacy plants has been preserved. The importance of home gardens as a venue for medicinal plants is another facet of this adaptive process. Traditional knowledge is resilient too, because despite the many changes that have occurred, Polish people have maintained phytotherapy as their preferred form of treating ailments, and managed to retain certain species brought from Europe as the most relevant.

Conocimiento y uso de plantas medicinales en estudiantes universitarios / Conhecimento e utilização de plantas medici-nais por estudantes universitários / Knowledge and use of medicinal plants by university students

Pese al predominio de la medicina convencional, son numerosas las personas de países industrializados como España, que siguen recurriendo a la medicina tradicional y sobre todo a las plantas medicinales para curar enfermedades menores. Aunque muchos trabajos afirman que el conocimiento sobre este tipo de remedios se ha perdido en las últimas décadas, sabemos poco sobre qué plantas conocen y emplean las personas jóvenes y qué factores influyen en la distribución de estos conocimientos. Por ello se ha realizado un estudio durante el otoño de 2012 basado en 150 encuestas a estudiantes de Biología y Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). El número total de plantas citadas fue de 71 y la media 2,07±2,24 por encuestado. Las más citadas fueron manzanilla ( Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae), arroz (Oryza sativa L., Poaceae), tila (Tilia sp., Tiliaceae), limón (Citrus limon, (L.) Osbeck, Rutaceae), menta poleo (Mentha pulegium L., Lamiaceae), valeriana (Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae), té (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Theaceae) y áloe (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., Liliaceae). Estas plantas se usaron fundamentalmente para tratar patologías del aparato digestivo y sistema respiratorio. Según los entrevistados, el origen de este conocimiento proviene principalmente de las madres. Únicamente se encontraron diferencias significativas en la media de especies empleadas según los estudios cursados, pero no según el sexo, edad u origen de los encuestados y de sus madres y padres. En concreto, los estudiantes de Biología citaron una media de 2,75±2,54 frente a 1,45±1,64 en Medicina. Según este estudio, las plantas medicinales siguen jugando un papel importante entre los estudiantes de la UAM a la hora de afrontar enfermedades menores (AU)

Apesar do domínio da medicina convencional, muitas pes-soas nos países industrializados, como a Espanha, ainda usam a medicina tradicional, sobretudo as plantas medicinais, para tratar doenças menores. Apesar de muitos estudos afirmarem que o conhecimento sobre tais recursos foi perdido nas últimas décadas, pouco se sabe sobre quais as plantas que são conhecidas e utilizadas por pessoas jovens e quais os fatores sócio-culturais que influenciam esse conhecimento. Por isso, durante o Outono de 2012 realizou-se um estudo, com base em 150 questionários efectuados a estudantes de biologia e medicina da Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). O número total de plantas referidas foi de 71, com uma média de 2,07 ± 2,24. As plantas mais citadas foram a camomila (Matricaria re-cutitaL., Asteraceae), arroz (Oryza sativaL., Poaceae), tília (Tilia platyphyllosScop., Tiliaceae), limão (Citrus limon(L.) Osbeck, Rutaceae), poejo (Mentha pulegiumL., Lamia-ceae), valeriana (Valeriana officinalisL., Valerianaceae), chá (Camellia sinensis(L.) Kuntze, Theaceae) e aloé (Aloe vera(L.) Burm. f., Liliaceae ). Estas plantas são utilizadas principalmente para tratar doenças do sistema digestivo e respiratório. Segundo os entrevistados, a origem desse conhecimento vem principalmente das respectivas mães. Só se encontraram diferenças significativas relativamente ao número médio de espécies de plantas utilizadas, de acordo com o curso efectuado, não se tendo encontrado diferenças significativas relativamente ao sexo, idade ou origem dos entrevistados ou dos seus pais. Especificamen-te, os estudantes de Biologia citaram uma média de 2,75 ± 2,54 contra 1,45 ± 1,64 em Medicina. De acordo com este estudo, quando se trata de combater doenças menores, as plantas medicinais ainda desempenham um papel impor-tante entre os estudantes da UAM

Despite the dominance of conventional medicine, many people in industrialized countries such as Spain, still use traditional medicine and especially medicinal plants to treat minor illnesses. Although many studies claim that knowledge about such remedies has been lost in recent decades, little is known about which plants young people use and the socio-cultural factors that influence this knowledge. Therefore a study was conducted during the autumn of 2012 based on 150 questionnaires to Biology and Medicine students of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). The total number of named plants was 71 with an average of 2,07±2,24 per respondent. The most cited were chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae), rice (Oryza sativa L., Poaceae), linden (Tilia sp., Tiliaceae), lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, Rutaceae), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L., amiaceae), valerian (Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae), tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Theaceae) and áloe (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., Liliaceae). These plants are used primarily to treat digestive and respiratory disorders. According to the interviewees, the origin of this knowledge comes mainly from mothers. Significant contrast related to the named species was only found amongst the different studies, but not by sex, age or origin of the respondents and their parents. Specifically, Biology students cited an average of 2.75 ± 2.54 versus 1.45 ± 1.64 in the case of Medicine students. According to this study, medicinal plants still play an important role between UAM students to tackling minor illnesses (AU)

The importance of cultural factors in the distribution of medicinal plant knowledge: a case study in four Basque regions.

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Previous research suggests that the use of medicinal plants by a given group is mainly driven by biological variables such as the chemical composition or the ecological distribution of plants. However, other studies highlight the importance of cultural aspects such as the curative meaning given to a plant, beliefs, religion or the historical context. Such aspects could play an important role in the use, diffusion or even in the effectiveness of a plant remedy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fieldwork consisted of 233 orally consented semi-structured interviews with 178 informants about medicinal uses of plants. Interviews were conducted in four historically and geographycally delimited regions of Alava and Biscay with similar environmental conditions but different sociolinguistic backgrounds: two regions were Basque- and two Spanish-speaking. Data were structured in use-reports. A Between Class Analysis was conducted to assess the intercultural and intracultural variability of medicinal plants knowledge. RESULTS: The results show the existence of four clearly different medicinal ethnofloras. While the four ethnofloras share remedies widely distributed through the territory, each of them also includes remedies that are only shared among closely related communities. The ecological availability and chemical composition of the plants may explain why there are widely used plant remedies. On the contrary, the distribution of the locally shared remedies matches up with the cultural heterogeneity of the territory, so cultural factors, such as, language, social networks or the meaning response of the plants seem to explain the use of many traditional plant remedies. In Addition, we also found that Basque speaking territories show higher knowledge levels than Spanish speaking territories. In this sense, the development and reinforcement of Basque identity by Basque nationalism seems to have contributed to maintain the traditional knowledge in the Basque speaking regions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that pharmacological effectiveness and ecological availability are usually considered as the main variables that shape the traditional use of medicinal plants, our results suggest that cultural factors can be at least as important as ecological and chemical factors. In fact, differences in language, in the cultural meaning of the plants, in the context related to cultural identities, and in social networks seem to play a fundamental role in the use and diffusion and maintenance or erosion of traditional knowledge about medicinal plants in the study area.

Medicinal plants traditionally used in the northwest of the Basque Country (Biscay and Alava), Iberian Peninsula.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Many ethnobotanical studies show that people in industrial countries still rely on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for self-treatment, although the trend might not be as common as some decades ago. Given the social and public health implications of ethnopharmacological practices, this survey aims at recording and analysing the medicinal plants used in the folk medicine of the Northwest of the Basque Country focusing on how medicinal plants knowledge and practices evolve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fieldwork consisted of 265 orally consented semi-structured interviews with 207 informants about medicinal uses of plants. Interviews were conducted between September 2008 and January 2011. Informants were on average 76 years old (minimum 45, maximum 95), being more than half of them (112) men. Data collected were structured in use-reports (UR). Following informants' comments, medicinal use-reports were classified as abandoned-UR, when the informants reported that the use was only practiced in the past, and prevalent-UR, when the informants reported to continue the practice. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 2067 UR for 139 species that belong to 58 botanical families were recorded, being the most important families Asteraceae, Liliaceae sensu latu and Urticaceae. Some of the most important species are commonly used in other European areas (e.g., Chamaemelum nobile, Urtica dioica and Chelidonium majus). However, there are also plants commonly used in the area such as Helleborus viridis or Coronopus didymus, that are scarcely used in other areas, and whose record is an original contribution of the local pharmacopeia. It is also the case of remedies such as the use of Plantago leaves against strains in a local remedy called zantiritu. Overall, and for all variables analysed (total UR, medicinal use-categories, drug preparation and administration), the percentage of UR being currently practiced (prevalence ratio) was very low (near 30%) suggesting a strong decay in the use of traditional medicinal plants. Exceptionally, some species (Chamaemelum nobile, Verbena officinalis or Anagallis arvensis) had a high prevalence ratio, reflecting the fact that this erosion process is not evolving homogeneously. Informants also reported that new species and medicinal plant uses were entering into the local pharmacopeia via non-traditional sources such as books, courses, or the internet. These modern ways are now being used to spread some traditional remedies that in the past were only orally transmitted. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that traditional knowledge is continuously changing, evolving and adapting to the new social and environmental conditions. The image of the local folk medicine as a dying reality doomed to disappear should be reviewed. It also shows the need of a culturally sensitive approach by the official health systems to these practices.

Plants used for making recreational tea in Europe: a review based on specific research sites.

This paper is a review of local plants used in water infusions as aromatic and refreshing hot beverages (recreational tea) consumed in food-related settings in Europe, and not for specific medicinal purposes. The reviewed 29 areas are located across Europe, covering the post-Soviet countries, eastern and Mediterranean Europe. Altogether, 142 taxa belonging to 99 genera and 40 families were reported. The most important families for making herbal tea in all research areas were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae, while Rosaceae was popular only in eastern and central Europe. With regards to botanical genera, the dominant taxa included Mentha, Tilia, Thymus, Origanum, Rubus and Matricaria. The clear favorite was Origanum vulgare L., mentioned in 61% of the regions. Regionally, other important taxa included Rubus idaeus L. in eastern Europe, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. in southern Europe and Rosa canina L. in central Europe. Future research on the pharmacological, nutritional and chemical properties of the plants most frequently used in the tea-making process is essential to ensure their safety and appropriateness for daily consumption. Moreover, regional studies dedicated to the study of local plants used for making recreational tea are important to improve our understanding of their selection criteria, cultural importance and perceived properties in Europe and abroad.

"Tertius gaudens": germplasm exchange networks and agroecological knowledge among home gardeners in the Iberian Peninsula.

BACKGROUND: The idea that knowledge flows through social networks is implicit in research on traditional knowledge, but researchers have paid scant attention to the role of social networks in shaping its distribution. We bridge those two bodies of research and investigate a) the structure of network of exchange of plant propagation material (germplasm) and b) the relation between a person's centrality in such network and his/her agroecological knowledge. METHODS: We study 10 networks of germplasm exchange (n = 363) in mountain regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a survey. RESULTS: The networks display some structural characteristics (i.e., decentralization, presence of external actors) that could enhance the flow of knowledge and germplasm but also some characteristics that do not favor such flow (i.e., low density and fragmentation). We also find that a measure that captures the number of contacts of an individual in the germplasm exchange network is associated with the person's agroecological knowledge. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the importance of social relations in the construction of traditional knowledge.

Medical Ethnobotany in Europe: From Field Ethnography to a More Culturally Sensitive Evidence-Based CAM?

European folk medicine has a long and vibrant history, enriched with the various documented uses of local and imported plants and plant products that are often unique to specific cultures or environments. In this paper, we consider the medicoethnobotanical field studies conducted in Europe over the past two decades. We contend that these studies represent an important foundation for understanding local small-scale uses of CAM natural products and allow us to assess the potential for expansion of these into the global market. Moreover, we discuss how field studies of this nature can provide useful information to the allopathic medical community as they seek to reconcile existing and emerging CAM therapies with conventional biomedicine. This is of great importance not only for phytopharmacovigilance and managing risk of herb-drug interactions in mainstream patients that use CAM, but also for educating the medical community about ethnomedical systems and practices so that they can better serve growing migrant populations. Across Europe, the general status of this traditional medical knowledge is at risk due to acculturation trends and the urgency to document and conserve this knowledge is evident in the majority of the studies reviewed.

Knowledge, use and ecology of golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.) in central Spain.

BACKGROUND: This paper assesses the current ethnobotanical knowledge, use and management of Scolymus hispanicus L. in two localities of Central Spain and the relation with its natural abundance. It also addresses the influence of sociodemographic factors such as age, gender and time living in the village in the variation of knowledge and practice levels. METHODS: During 2007 and 2008, 99 semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire were made to a random stratified sample by sex and age, asking them about their traditional knowledge and practices (use and gathering) of Scolymus hispanicus. A knowledge and practice (KP) index was created based on the answers to the questionnaire. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Scolymus hispanicus is still gathered and consumed by 20% and 35% of the informants, respectively. According to the KP index, the knowledge and practice level is similar in both villages. Age and time living in the village are the factors that better explain the variability in the KP level. People living for more than ten years in the village and those older than 60 years have the highest knowledge level, whereas the younger than 19 the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that the prevalence of ethnobotanical knowledge and uses depends more on the cultural importance of the plant and the transmission of such popular knowledge than on the resource's abundance.

Interactions of Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L. in a patient treated with lorazepam.

There is an increasing interest in the health risks related to the use of herbal remedies. Although most consumers think that phytomedicines are safe and without side effects, interactions between complementary alternative and conventional medicines are being described. The aim of this clinical case report is to highlight the importance of the safe use of herbal remedies by providing a clinical interaction study between pharmaceutical medicines and herbal medicinal products. The case of a patient self-medicated with Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L. while he was on lorazepam treatment is described. Handshaking, dizziness, throbbing and muscular fatigue were reported within the 32 h before clinical diagnosis. The analysis of family medical history ruled out essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, Wilson's disease and other symptom-related pathologies. His medical history revealed a generalized anxiety disorder and medicinal plant consumption but no neurological disorder. Appropriate physical examination was carried out. An additive or synergistic effect is suspected to have produced these symptoms. The active principles of Valerian and passionflower might increase the inhibitory activity of benzodiazepines binding to the GABA receptors, causing severe secondary effects. Due to the increase in herbal product self-medication, the use of herbal remedies should be registered while taking the personal clinical history. Multidisciplinary teams should be created to raise studies on medicinal plants with impact on medical praxis.

Uso medicinal de Atractylis gummifera en Guadiana del Caudillo (Badajoz, España), toxicidad y especies afines / Medicinal use of Atractylis gummifera L. in Guadiana del Caudillo (Badajoz, Spain): toxici- ty and related species

Un estudio etnomédico llevado a cabo en Guadiana del Caudillo, pueblo de colonización de Badajoz, detectó el uso de la planta Atractylis gummifera L. que entre los años 1983 y 1984 provocó graves intoxicaciones en esta provincia. Dicha especie vegetal fue confundida con Centaurea ornata Willd., una planta de morfología similar, carente de toxicidad, de la cual se utiliza popularmente la decocción de la raíz y el rizoma para el tratamiento de afecciones gástricas.En el presente trabajo se analizan las especies que pueden ser confundidas con Atractylis gummiferapor parte de los usuarios de la medicina popular de dicha localidad. Igualmente se realiza una estimación del riesgo de confusión y la consiguiente posibilidad de intoxicaciones, en el área de estudio. Se presentan también las actividades programadas para contribuir a la planificación de la salud pública y a la asistencia médica en la zona (AU)

A study on Ethnomedicine in Guadiana del Caudillo, a colonization village located in the province of Badajoz, Spain, registerered the use of Atractylis gummifera L., which in the years 1983 and 1984 caused serious poisoning in the province. This plant species was confused with Centaurea ornata Willd., a similar non-toxic plant, the root and rhizome of which are used as infusion or decoction as a popular remedy against gastric disorders. In this paper we analyze the species that users of folk medicine in this locality could confuse with the mentioned toxic plant. It also provides an estimate on the potential risk of poisoning in the studied area. Finnally, the paper also aims to contribute to the planning of public health and medical care actions in the area (AU)

Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants used in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal): a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: We compare traditional knowledge and use of wild edible plants in six rural regions of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula as follows: Campoo, Picos de Europa, Piloña, Sanabria and Caurel in Spain and Parque Natural de Montesinho in Portugal. METHODS: Data on the use of 97 species were collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews with local informants. A semi-quantitative approach was used to document the relative importance of each species and to indicate differences in selection criteria for consuming wild food species in the regions studied. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The most significant species include many wild berries and nuts (e.g. Castanea sativa, Rubus ulmifolius, Fragaria vesca) and the most popular species in each food-category (e.g. fruits or herbs used to prepare liqueurs such as Prunus spinosa, vegetables such as Rumex acetosa, condiments such as Origanum vulgare, or plants used to prepare herbal teas such as Chamaemelum nobile). The most important species in the study area as a whole are consumed at five or all six of the survey sites. CONCLUSION: Social, economic and cultural factors, such as poor communications, fads and direct contact with nature in everyday life should be taken into account in determining why some wild foods and traditional vegetables have been consumed, but others not. They may be even more important than biological factors such as richness and abundance of wild edible flora. Although most are no longer consumed, demand is growing for those regarded as local specialties that reflect regional identity.

Manzanillas ibéricas: historia y usos tradicionales / No disponible

Con el término manzanilla se denomina en España a un conjunto de especies, en general de la familia Compuestas, pero sobre todo a Matricaria recutita. Se trata de una de las plantas medicinales más utilizadas en el mundo, no solamente como remedio curativo casero, sino también recomendada en medicina y con amplia utilización en la industria farmacéutica. De ella se conocen innumerables experimentos farmacológicos y estudios clínicos. Por ser tan apreciada, está incluida en la mayoría de las farmacopeas.En España se utilizan popularmente 54 especies diferentes que se denominan manzanillas o con nombres derivados. Las especies más utilizadas son Matricaria recutita, Matricaria aurea, Chamaemelum nobile, Helichrysum stoechas y Santolina chamaecyparissus.Dado el gran interés de las manzanillas, se recoge en este artículo información sobre su historia y usos populares, para un mejor conocimiento de este genérico popular

The Spanish term "manzanilla" (chamomile) is a generic name that has been used to refer to many herbs, but it denotes the so called "true chamomile" (Matricaria recutita). Chamomile is one of the most used medicinal herbs of the world. It is not only highly popular as a home but also recommended in medicine and of great interest for the pharmaceutical industry. It is one of the species of which a higher number of pharmacological, and clinical studies are available. It is al so highly appreciated and therefore also included in many pharmacopoeias. Historically 54 species are known as manzanilla or camomile and derived names in Spain. These species include Matricaria recutita, Matricaria aurea, Chamaemelum nobile, Helichrysum stoechas and Santolina chamaecyparissus. Given the great interest of chamomile and related species, we reviewed the available information of their historical and popular uses and names in Spain in order to the better understand the meaning of these popular generic