Lychnophora pinaster in endangered campos rupestres: phenolic compounds and population ecogeography.

Lychnophora pinaster, known as arnica-mineira, is endemic to campos rupestres, at risk of extinction. The present study aimed to characterize the ecogeography and phenolic constituents of 11 L. pinaster populations collected in the mesoregions North, Jequitinhonha, Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte and Campos das Vertentes in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Phenolic constituents were identified and quantified by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry. Lychnophora pinaster occurs in sites at high altitude (700 and 1498 m), annual rainfall of up to 1455 m, soils with low fertility and predominantly loamy texture. Therefore, it can be considered tolerant to acidic soils, with low availability of nutrient. The most abundant substances in all populations were vitexin (18 - 1345 ng/g) and chlorogenic acid (60 - 767 ng/g). The 11 populations formed four groups in relation to the phenolic constituents, with group 1 consisting of the populations of the North Mesoregion (GM, OD) and Jetiquinhonha (DIMa), group 2, the Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte (SRM, NLSC, SM, RPS, CTRA), group 3, the North Mesoregion (ODMa and DI), and group 4, the Campos das Vertentes (CC). Among the populations, only those from the Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte showed correlation of soil properties with phenolic constituents.

Evidence of altitudinal gradient modifying genomic and chemical diversity in populations of Lychnophora pinaster Mart.

Lychnophora pinaster Mart. (Asteraceae) is endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado. It is distributed along the altitudinal gradient of the mountainous ranges of the state of Minas Gerais. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of altitude on the genetic diversity of L. pinaster populations and the effects of altitude and climatic factors on essential oil chemical composition. Essential oils from L. pinaster populations from the north (North 01, North 02, and North 03, 700-859 m) and the Metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte (MhBH 01 and MrBH 02, 1366-1498 m) were analyzed. SNP markers from L. pinaster in these regions and Campos das Vertentes (CV 01, CV 02, and CV 03, 1055-1292 m) were also analyzed. The main compounds in essential oils were 14-hydroxy-α-humulene (North 01 and North 03), cedr-8(15)-en-9-α-ol (North 02), 14-acetoxy-α-humulene (MrBH 01), and 4-oxo-15-nor-eudesman-11-ene (MrBH 02). Hierarchical cluster and heatmap analyses showed that the North and MrBH populations included five different groups, indicating the chemical composition of essential oils is distinct in each population. Furthermore, principal component analysis showed that higher altitudes (1366 m and 1498 m) in the MrBH influence the chemical composition of essential oils, and climatic factors determine the chemical composition in North region. The genetic diversity showed that most alleles are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and imply high genetic variation and genetic polymorphisms between populations. Furthermore, the results of Mantel tests (R = 0.3861517; p = 0.04709529; R = 0.9423121; p = 0.02739726) also showed that higher altitude (>1360 m) shapes the genetic diversity at the MrBH. The genetic structure showed that higher altitudes (>1360 m) contribute to the structure of the MrBH populations, but not to North and CV populations. Therefore, the altitudinal ranges of Minas Gerais mountainous ranges determine the higher genetic and chemical diversity of L. pinaster populations.

Medicinal plants used by "Passo da Ilha" rural community in the city of Pato Branco, southern Brazil

The scope of this work was to rescue and document the traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal plants used by Passo da Ilha rural community, in Pato Branco, Paraná State, Southern Brazil (26° 11' S, 52°36' W and 760 m high). Structured interviews were made in field research with 16 informants who had the traditional knowledge about medicinal plants. The research was carried out from October to December 2000. The plants were collected in the field, identified and their vouchers were housed at the Herbarium "Irina Delanova De Gemtchjnicov" (BOTU) of São Paulo State University, in Botucatu. A total of 47 botanical families and 114 species of medicinal plants were identified. These plants ere suitable for ore than 30 different edicinal uses. The residents are mainly of European descent, which justify the presence of many exotic plants. The knowledge on how to use medicinal plants properly is held mainly by the females, and decreases in the newer generations, denoting "cultural erosion" in progress.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi resgatar e documentar o conhecimento popular referente às plantas medicinais utilizadas na comunidade rural do Passo da Ilha, em Pato Branco-PR (26° 11' S, 52°36' W e 760 m de altitude). Optou-se por utilizar o modelo de entrevista estruturada com 16 informantes, os quais possuíam o conhecimento sobre o uso das plantas medicinais em suas famílias. O período da realização das entrevistas foi de outubro a dezembro de 2000. As plantas foram coletadas no campo, identificadas e "vouchers" foram depositados no Herbário "Irina Delanova De Gemtchjnicov" (BOTU) da Universidade Estadual Paulista, em Botucatu-SP. Foram identificadas 47 famílias botânicas e 114 espécies de plantas medicinais. Estas plantas foram indicadas para mais de 30 usos medicinais diferentes. A comunidade é composta na maioria por descendentes de europeus, justificando a presença de muitas plantas exóticas. O domínio do uso das plantas é feminino, porém o conhecimento é menor nas gerações mais novas, denotando um processo de erosão cultural.

Medicinal plants used by 'Passo da Ilha' rural community in the city of Pato Branco, southern Brazil.

The scope of this work was to rescue and document the traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal plants used by Passo da Ilha rural community, in Pato Branco, Paraná State, Southern Brazil (26 degrees 11' S, 52 degrees 36' W and 760 m high). Structured interviews were made in field research with 16 informants who had the traditional knowledge about medicinal plants. The research was carried out from October to December 2000. The plants were collected in the field, identified and their vouchers were housed at the Herbarium 'Irina Delanova De Gemtchjnicov' (BOTU) of São Paulo State University, in Botucatu. A total of 47 botanical families and 114 species of medicinal plants were identified. These plants ere suitable for ore than 30 different edicinal uses. The residents are mainly of European descent, which justify the presence of many exotic plants. The knowledge on how to use medicinal plants properly is held mainly by the females, and decreases in the newer generations, denoting 'cultural erosion' in progress.