ABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding the reasoning behind the choice of medicinal plants is relevant for both pharmacological and ethnobotanical quantitative studies. In this study, we analyze how the traditional medical system influences the choice of medicinal plants in a Mexican indigenous population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study area was San Miguel Tulancingo, Oaxaca, Mexico, and the studied people the Rru ngigua (or Chocholtecs), an Otomangue group with only a few hundred speakers remaining. Through in-depth and repeated interviews of four traditional healers and ethnobotanical collections, we identified, described and classified the medicinal plants, the nosological units, the therapeutic procedures and the reasoning behind medicinal plant and treatment choice. RESULTS: The hot-cold system, which considers illness to be a result of humoral imbalance, strongly influences treatment choice. "Hot" plants are used mainly to treat "cold" diseases, and vice versa. With some variation, plants are selected mainly for this hot-or-cold property, and the specific plant species is often not very relevant. In addition, many plants are associated with specific healing procedures, such as sweat baths. The procedures, in turn, may be used to treat various diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that the relationship between medicinal plants and treated diseases is complex and indirect in most cases. It is strongly influenced by the hot-cold concept and by therapeutic procedures.
Subject(s)
Phytotherapy , Plants, Medicinal , Female , Humans , Male , Medicine, Traditional , Mexico , TemperatureABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The real mechanism for Thevetia peruviana poisoning remains unclear. Cholinergic activity is important for cardiac function regulation, however, the effect of T. peruviana on cholinergic activity is not well-known. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the acute administration of an aqueous extract of the seed kernel of T. peruviana on the acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity in CD1 mice as well its implications in the sub-chronic toxicity of the extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dose of 100 mg/kg of the extract was administered to CD1 mice and after 7 days, serum was obtained for ceruloplasmin (CP) quantitation and liver function tests. Another group of mice received a 50 mg/kg dose of the extract 3 times within 1 h time interval and AChE activity was determined for those animals. Heart tissue histological preparation was obtained from a group of mice that received a daily 50 mg/kg dose of the extract by a 30-days period. RESULTS: CP levels for the treated group were higher than those for the control group (Student's t-test, P ≤ 0.001). AChE activity in the treated group was significantly higher than the control group (Tukey test, control vs. T. peruviana, P ≤ 0.001). Heart tissue histological preparations showed leukocyte infiltrates and necrotic areas, consistent with infarcts. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of AChE and the hearth tissue infiltrative lesions induced by the aqueous seed kernel extract of T. peruviana explains in part the poisoning caused by this plant, which can be related to an inflammatory process.
ABSTRACT
Cuphea aquipetala Cav. (Hierba del cancer) is used in Mexican traditional medicine. In the present work, its most frequent medicinal applications were determined through interviews, revision of herbarium specimens, and bibliography. The quoted applications were: to treat pounds and wounds. For these purposes, the drug (leaf and stem) is prepared and administered as infusion, or as poultice. In order to provide data for inclusion of this species in the Herbal Pharmacopoeia of the United Mexican States (FHEUM) we describe its leaf architecture and diagnostic anatomical characters of drug,. The anatomical study revealed that the three types of trichomes observed can aid to differentiate this species from other Cuphea species. Anatomical variation was observed mainly in the midrib of the leaf. Leaf architecture is first described for this species, and provides the basis for future comparisons. In addition, the acetone-water extract of the aerial parts previously reported as cytotoxic activity against DU-145 (human prostate carcinoma) and HCT-15 (human colon carcinoma), showed the presence of polyphenolic compounds of the type of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, mannitol was isolated and identified.
Cuphea aquipetala Cav., Lythraceae (Hierba del cáncer) es utilizada en la medicina tradicional mexicana. En el presente trabajo se determinó mediante entrevistas, consultas de herbario y revisión bibliográfica sus aplicaciones médicas más frecuentes, a saber: para tratar golpes y heridas, para lo cual la droga (hoja y tallo) es preparada en infusión, o administrada en emplastos. Con la finalidad de aportar datos que ayuden a la inclusión de esta especie en la Farmacopea Herbolaria de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (FHEUM), se describen la arquitectura foliar y los caracteres anatómicos de la droga. El estudio anatómico reveló que los tres tipos de tricomas reconocidos en la especie estudiada apoyan a diferenciarla de otras especies de Cuphea sp. Se observó variación anatómica principalmente en la nervadura central de la hoja. La arquitectura foliar se describe por primera vez para la especie y sienta las bases para futuras comparaciones. Por otra parte, el extracto acetona-agua de las partes aéreas que previamente ha sido reportado con actividad citotóxica contra células DU-145 (carcinoma de próstata humano) y HCT-15 (carcinoma de colon humano) mostró la presencia de compuestos polifenólicos del tipo de los taninos hidrolizables, taninos condensados, y se aisló manitol.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cuphea/chemistry , Cuphea/ultrastructure , Ethnobotany , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/ultrastructure , Interviews as Topic , Medicine, Traditional , Mexico , Quality ControlABSTRACT
AIMS OF STUDY: Despite the ethnopharmacological relevance of Helietta parvifolia A. Gray (Rutaceae) in Mexico, we found no significant pharmacological studies of this plant in the scientific literature. The aim of the present study was to establish the anti-inflammatory effect of an aqueous extract of the stem bark of Helietta parvifolia in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Helietta parvifolia was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in mice, and the cotton pellet granuloma method. RESULTS: An extract dose ranging from 20 to 80 mg/kg p.o. showed a non-significant effect over the initial phase of carrageenan-induced oedema. However, it showed a significant inhibition of oedema after 3h, which can be related to the inhibition of the release of kinin-like substances. An ID(50) value of 47.4 mg/kg was obtained for the plant extract. The extract also suppressed granulomatous tissue formation during chronic inflammation. The inhibitory values were 19.2, and 22.2, corresponding to 40 and 80 mg/kg doses of extract respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous extract showed a statistically significant anti-inflammatory effect in mice during the late phase of acute inflammation and during chronic inflammation. However, the exact mechanism(s) of anti-inflammatory effects of Helietta parvifolia observed in this study remains unclear.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Edema/prevention & control , Granuloma/prevention & control , Rutaceae/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/toxicity , Carrageenan , Cotton Fiber , Edema/chemically induced , Edema/pathology , Foot/pathology , Granuloma/chemically induced , Granuloma/pathology , Male , Mexico , Mice , Plant Bark/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Plant Stems/chemistry , Rutaceae/toxicityABSTRACT
El empacho es una enfermedad popular que se presenta en toda América Latina, desde el sur y suroeste de los Estados Unidos de América del Norte hasta la Patagonia. En México tenemos testimonios de su existencia una vez llegados los europeos. Para este trabajo hemos revisado 17 textos coloniales que documentan los diversos elementos y procedimientos útiles para la curación del empacho, entre ellos destacan las plantas medicinales, tanto de origen europeo como mesoamericano. El doctor Francisco Hernández es quien informa el mayor número de especies vegetales contra el empacho; en tanto que el médico y sacerdote Agustín Farfán es el más importante autor en función de la extensión y prolijidad de los remedios que recomienda
Subject(s)
Plants, Medicinal/therapeutic use , Gastrointestinal Diseases/therapy , Medicine, Traditional/history , Herbal Medicine/history , Flatulence/therapy , History of MedicineABSTRACT
El empacho es una enfermedad popular que se presenta en toda América Latina, desde el sur y suroeste de los Estados Unidos de América del Norte hasta la Patagonia. En México tenemos testimonios de su existencia una vez llegados los europeos. Para este trabajo hemos revisado 17 textos coloniales que documentan los diversos elementos y procedimientos útiles para la curación del empacho, entre ellos destacan las plantas medicinales, tanto de origen europeo como mesoamericano. El doctor Francisco Hernández es quien informa el mayor número de especies vegetales contra el empacho; en tanto que el médico y sacerdote Agustín Farfán es el más importante autor en función de la extensión y prolijidad de los remedios que recomienda(AU)
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Diseases/therapy , Medicine, Traditional/history , Plants, Medicinal/therapeutic use , History of Medicine , Flatulence/therapy , Herbal Medicine/history , Americas , MexicoABSTRACT
La yucuyahui (zoapatle-Montanoa tomentosa) es una planta silvestre con propiedades oxitócicas. Tomaron infusiones de esta planta durante el trabajo de parto ocho embarazadas y sus recién nacidos evolucionaron con signos de depresión cardio-respiratoria que requirió de apoyo vital básico o avanzado para su recuperación. La efectividad de estas maniobras se midió de acuerdo al puntaje de Apgar que promediado para el primer minuto fue de 4.5 y se incrementó a los 10 minutos por efecto de las maniobras citadas, a 7.4 (p< 0.05). El tiempo para la recuperación total de los neonatos fue de 11.9 horas (10 minutos - 36 horas). Se encontró una correlación negativa entre el número de infusiones administradas a las madres y la calificación de Apgar al minuto (r=- 0.65), sugiriendo que a mayor número de infusiones menor puntaje y por tanto mayor depresión. La administración simultánea de bebidas alcohólicas a tres de las embarazadas pareció no influir en la gravedad de la depresión; la recuperación de los neonatos expuestos al etanol fue más rápida que en aquellos no expuestos: 2.4 vs. 9.7 horas, p< 0.05. Se desconoce cuál es el mecanismo íntimo de acción de Montanoa tomentosa, se especula que pudiera ser similar al de otros oxitócicos como la oxitocina y los alcaloides del cornezuelo de centeno, con los que guarda semejanzas en sus efectos uterotónicos y sistémicos
