Usos medicinales de los cítricos (Citrus L, Rutaceae) entre los criollos del sur de Misiones (Argentina) / Medicinal uses of citrus (Citrus L., Rutaceae) among the Creoles of southern Misiones (Argentina)

Los cítricos (Citrus L., Rutaceae) son plantas útiles introducidas hacia inicios del siglo XVI en diversos enclaves de América, con variedades cultivadas y espontáneas, especialmente en zonas tropicales y subtropicales. En poblaciones locales son considerados "plantas de la zona" presentando una alta diversidad de usos, entre ellos los medicinales. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir qué etnovariedades de cítricos son empleadas como medicinales por los criollos del sur de Misiones, como también las preparaciones, combinaciones con otras plantas y dolencias tratadas con las mismas. Se empleó la metodología etnobotánica cualitativa consistente en entrevistas semiestructuradas, caminatas con los informantes y observación participante, en 36 unidades domésticas (UD) de dos enclaves rurales del sur de Misiones (Argentina), durante los años 2010 y 2013. Se contó con el consentimiento informado previo de un adulto de cada UD. Se relevaron 7 etnoespecies de cítricos, prefiriéndose aquellas espontáneas, que pueden combinarse con otras plantas locales, para el tratamiento y prevención de 34 dolencias, principalmente relacionadas a estados gripales y febriles, hipertensión arterial, tos, trastornos nerviosos y digestivos. Las partes más empleadas fueron el jugo del endocarpo y las hojas, sin procesamiento y en infusiones y cocimientos. Teniendo en cuenta algunas particularidades, las etnoespecies son similares a las empleadas por comunidades de criollos en el norte de la provincia, representando importantes recursos alimentarios y medicinales.

Citrus (Citrus L., Rutaceae) are useful plants introduced in the early sixteenth century in diverse enclaves of America, both cultivated and spontaneous varieties, especially in tropical and subtropical zones. The local populations consider them as "plants of the area" with high diversity of uses, including the medicinal. The aim of this article is to describe which ethno-varieties of citrus are used as remedy by the native creoles of the southern Misiones, as well as the methods of preparation, combinations with other plants and the diseases treated with them. Between 2010 and 2013, qualitative ethnobotanical methodology was applied in 36 residential units (DU) in two rural settlements of southern Misiones (Argentina), using semi-structured interviews, walks with informants and participant observation. Prior consent was obtained from one adult of each DU. Seven citric ethnospecies were identified, the spontaneous varieties were identified as the preferred ones, which can be combined with other local plants for the treatment and prevention of 34 diseases, mainly those related to influenza and fever, hypertension, cough, nervous and digestive disorders. The most common used parts were endocarp juice and leaves in infusions and baking without processing. The ethnospecies represent important food and medicinal resources and are similar to those used by creole communities in the north of the province, although showing local particularities.

To what extent are medicinal plants shared between country home gardens and urban ones? A case study from Misiones, Argentina.

Context Worldwide ethnobotanical research has shown the importance of home gardens as sources of medicinal plants. These resources are worthy of further study in the Argentinean Atlantic Forest due to the richness of medicinal flora and their importance for local people. Objective We studied richness, composition, cultural importance and medicinal uses of plants in home gardens of rural, semirural and urban areas in the Iguazú Department (Misiones, Argentina). Our hypothesis claims that people living in different environments have a similar array of medicinal plants in their gardens and they use them in a similar way. Materials and methods The analysis was based on 76 interviews and plant inventories of home gardens. During guided walks in gardens, voucher specimens were collected. To analyse composition, Simpson similarity index was applied and a new index was proposed to measure culturally salient species. Results All the environments had similar species composition with species differing in less than 30% of them. The most culturally salient taxa were Mentha spicata L. (Lamiaceae), in rural, Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae), in semirural, and Aloe maculata All. (Xanthorrhoeaceae), in urban areas. The body systems treated with medicinal plants were similar across study sites. Discussion The results suggest a "core repertoire" of medicinal plants and a widespread exchange of plants among local population. The cultural importance index informs us about plant adaptability, based on the efficacy and the versatility of medicinal resources. Conclusion In this changing context where mobility and migrations constitute everyday life, medicinal plants in home gardens are part of local healthcare sovereignty.

Los remedios del monte: vigencia del conocimiento fitoterapéutico local en Los Juríes Santiago del Estero, Argentina / The remedies from the “monte”: currency of local phytotherapeutic knowledge in Los JuríesSantiago del Estero, Argentina

The objective of this work was to analyze the currency of traditional medicine in the rural population of Los Juríes, Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Five field works have been performed to the study area, where ethnobotany walk and semistructured interviews were used for gathering data. Thirty nine plant species mentioned as medicinal have been recorded. Digestive illnesses were the most conspicuous ones, with 27 percent of mentions of use over the total of the named illnesses. An ad hoc designed index has been used to determine the specificity in the use of medicinal plants, which major value was presented by poleo (Lippia turbinata) and chañar (Geoffroea decorticans). The number of recorded plants was minor in comparison with similar works carried out in neighbouring areas, nevertheless the currency of the knowledge and use of phythotherapy was confirmed.

El objetivo de este trabajo consistió́ en analizar la vigencia de la medicina tradicional entre la población rural de Los Juríes, Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Se realizaron 5 viajes de campaña a la zona de estudio, donde fueron utilizadas caminatas etnobotánicas y entrevistas semiestructuradas para la recolección de los datos. Se registraron 39 especies de plantas mencionadas como medicinales. Las afecciones del sistema digestivo fueron las más conspicuas, correspondiéndose con el 27 por ciento de las menciones totales de uso por dolencia nombrada. Se aplicó́ un índice diseñado ad hoc a fin de evaluar la especificidad en el uso medicinal de las plantas, cuyo valor máximo fue alcanzado por el poleo (Lippia turbinata) y el chañar (Geoffroea decorticans). El número de plantas registradas fue menor que los mencionados en trabajos similares en áreas vecinas, sin embargo se confirmó́ la vigencia del conocimiento y uso de la fitoterapéutica.

What the iberian conquest bequeathed to us: the fruit trees introduced in argentine subtropic-their history and importance in present traditional medicine.

This contribution presents information about the history of introduction, establishment, and local appropriation of Eurasian fruit trees-species and varieties of the genera Prunus and Citrus-from 15th century in two rural areas of Northern Argentina. By means of an ethnobotanical and ethnohistorical approach, our study was aimed at analysing how this process influenced local medicine and the design of cultural landscape that they are still part of. As a first step, local diversity, knowledge, and management practices of these fruit tree species were surveyed. In a second moment, medicinal properties attributed to them were documented. A historical literature was consulted referring to different aspects on introduction of peaches and citric species into America and their uses in the past. The appropriation of these fruit-trees gave place to new applications and a particular status for introduced species that are seen as identitary and contribute to the definition of the communities and daily life landscapes. Besides, these plants, introduced in a relatively short period and with written record, allow the researcher to understand and to design landscape domestication, as a multidimensional result of physical, social, and symbolic environment.

Del marco tradicional al escenario urbano: plantas ancestrales devenidas suplementos dietéticos en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina / From traditional frame to urban scenario: Ancient plants became dietary supplementsin conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina

This paper includes partial results of a research in urban Ethnobotany at the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. Five species with medicinal and food traditional uses, which are commercialized as dietary supplements were studied: Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae), Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae), Plukenetia volubilis L. (Euphorbiaceae) y Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Engl.) H.Rob. (Asteraceae). The analysis of the circulation of these products contributes to the understanding of local botanical knowledge, that includes nontraditional components and others linked to the traditions of two immigrant groups: Bolivian and Chinese. The products recently entered the commercial circuit where they are considered as nutraceuticals and adaptogens. Traditional uses of these plants, their properties claimed in pluricultural urban context as well as the scientifically studied ones were compared. Thus, modifications in the original uses as a result of the expansion of the products in the nontraditional commercial context were evaluated.

Este trabajo comprende resultados parciales de una investigación en Etnobotánica urbana en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. Se estudiaron cinco especies con usos medicinales y alimentarios tradicionales, comercializadas como suplementos dietéticos: Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae), Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae), Plukenetia volubilis L. (Euphorbiaceae) y Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Engl.) H.Rob. (Asteraceae). Al analizar la circulación de los productos se aporta a la comprensión del conocimiento botánico local, con sus componentes no tradicionales y ligados a las tradiciones de dos grupos de inmigrantes: bolivianos y chinos. Los productos ingresaron recientemente en el circuito comercial, donde se consideran nutracéuticos y adaptógenos. Se comparan los usos tradicionales de las plantas, las propiedades difundidas en el contexto pluricultural urbano y las científicamente estudiadas. De este modo, se evaluaron las modificaciones de los usos originales, como resultado de la expansión de los productos en el contexto comercial no tradicional.

Functional foods and nutraceuticals in a market of bolivian immigrants in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

This paper presents the results of a research in urban ethnobotany, conducted in a market of Bolivian immigrants in the neighborhood of Liniers, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (Argentina). Functional foods and nutraceuticals belonging to 50 species of 18 families, its products, and uses were recorded. Some products are exclusive from the Bolivian community; others are frequent within the community, but they are also available in the general commercial circuit; they are introduced into it, generally, through shops called dietéticas ("health-food stores"), where products associated with the maintenance of health are sold. On this basis, the traditional and nontraditional components of the urban botanical knowledge were evaluated as well as its dynamics in relation to the diffusion of the products. Both the framework and methodological design are innovative for the studies of the urban botanical knowledge and the traditional markets in metropolitan areas.

Leguminosas medicinales y alimenticias utilizadas en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina / Medicinal and alimentary legumes utilized in the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina

This contribution includes the results of a study within Urban Ethnobotany about those Legumes employed with medicinal and food purposes in the biggest conurbation of Argentina: Greater Buenos Aires-Greater La Plata. Plants, parts of them and derived products were evaluated. Products that circulate in diverse shops of the area correspond to 32 taxa. Those are catalogued as products with generalized diffusion (present in the general commercial circuit), restricted diffusion (restricted to groups of Bolivian and Asians immigrants taken as reference) and expanding diffusion (species which products are passing from restricted to general circuit, from their access in health stores called “dietéticas”). Besides, the paper includes 35 taxa native and adventitious in the area, that have been recorded as food and medicine, and 36 taxa cultivated as ornamental, that are employed in other regions –but not in the study area– with therapeutic and food purposes. These results contribute to the definition of urban botanical knowledge here presented, as a complex corpus that includes traditional and non traditional components. Likewise, they contribute to the study of the dynamics of this knowledge, expressed by those plant products that are in expansion in the commercial circuit.

Este trabajo incluye los resultados de un estudio de Etnobotánica urbana sobre las Leguminosas utilizadas con fines medicinales y alimentarios en la mayor conurbación de la Argentina, que comprende el Gran Buenos Aires y el Gran La Plata. Se evaluaron plantas, partes de las mismas y productos obtenidos a partir de ellas. A 32 taxones corresponden productos que circulan en diversos comercios del área, catalogados como de difusión generalizada (circuito comercial general), restringida (a grupos de inmigrantes bolivianos y asiáticos tomados como referencia) y en expansión (especies cuyos productos pasan del circuito restringido al general, a partir de su ingreso en los comercios llamados “dietéticas”). Además, se incluyen 35 taxones nativos y adventicios del área con registro de usos terapéuticos y alimentarios; y 36 taxones cultivados como ornamentales, empleados en otras regiones para la alimentación y con fines medicinales, pero no utilizados en el área. Estos resultados contribuyen a la definición de conocimiento botánico urbano aquí presentada, en tanto conjunto complejo que incluye componentes tradicionales y no tradicionales; asimismo, aportan al estudio de la dinámica de dicho conocimiento, que se expresa en los productos vegetales que se hallan en expansión dentro el circuito comercial.

Adaptógenos: plantas medicinales tradicionales comercializadas como suplementos dietéticos en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata (Argentina) / Adaptogens: traditional medicinal plants marketed as dietary supplements in the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata (Argentina)

En el presente trabajo se presentan los resultados de un estudio sobre tres especies de las cuales se comercializan productos considerados adaptógenos: Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Brassicaceae), "maca", Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), "noni", y Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae), "pipi". Los datos provienen de estudios en Etnobotánica urbana realizados en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, se presentan los usos tradicionales de las especies, sus vías de ingreso, comercialización y difusión como suplementos dietéticos en el contexto pluricultural urbano, los modos actuales de empleo y los saberes relacionados, que forman parte del conocimiento botánico local. De este modo, se evalúan las modificaciones en los usos originalmente asignados, como consecuencia de la expansión de los productos en el marco de la globalización, y los cambios consecuentes en los patrones tradicionales de saberes, creencias y prácticas referidos a estos recursos vegetales.

Pathways as "signatures in landscape": towards an ethnography of mobility among the Mbya-Guaraní (Northeastern Argentina).

Processes of spatial mobility among the Mbya are of interest in anthropological and ethnobiological studies, as these processes are related to transformations in the landscape and the environment. Despite this, ethnographic literature usually focuses itself on the mobility of Guaraní communities from the perspective of population dynamics on a regional scale. Our research among two Mbya-Guaraní communities in the Argentinean province of Misiones has enabled us to recognize patterns of mobility on a micro-scale. Certainly, the mobility of adult members of these communities as they perform hunting and gathering activities delimit spaces of individual use. We consider the different pathways as "signatures in landscape", resulting from processes of spatial mobility inherent to those activities. Taking into account the gathering and circulation of medicinal plants for treatment of gastrointestinal illnesses, we have been able to identify different pathways inherent in their search, towards the monte or other spaces away from de settlement. The design and construction of the pathways is determined by the specific personal knowledge of individuals who search for these valuable resources. Using both strategies of direct observation--as members of the community manipulate different resources during these search and gathering trips--and interviews, we have been able to gather and interpret significant information on the strategies used by the Mbya to domesticate the monte areas. As a consequence of our approach we suggest that the landscape design resulting from these trips should not be considered a consensual or collective strategy of the whole community; it is rather the result of the daily strategies of individuals, which involves the selection of resources mainly based on each individual's knowledge and interests.

Environment and illness in the Calchaquí Valley (Salta, Argentina): phytotherapy for osteo-articular and cardio-circulatory diseases.

The aim of this work is to analyze and discuss the phytotherapy employed for two kinds of diseases, osteo-articular and cardio-circulatory, among the inhabitants of Molinos (Calchaquí Valley, Salta Province, Northwestern Argentina). These diseases take their origin in certain environmental conditions as well as the rural activities characteristic of the zone. The observations and interviews conducted among "medicos campesinos" (traditional healers) and the general population provided valuable information concerning the relationship between man and his environment, as it relates to health-illness processes. As a result of our research, we present a chart of the 25 recorded diseases and the 42 plant species employed in their therapy, considering the organs used, the ways of preparation and administration, as well as the geographic origin.