Medicinal plant knowledge in Caribbean Basin: a comparative study of Afrocaribbean, Amerindian and Mestizo communities.

BACKGROUND: The Caribbean Basin has complex biogeographical and cultural histories that have shaped its highly diverse botanical and cultural landscapes. As a result, the current ethnic composition of the Basin is a heterogeneous mixture including Amerindian, Afrocaribbean and a wide range of Mestizo populations. A comparison was done of the medicinal plant repertoires used by these groups to identify the proportion of native species they include and any differences between the groups. METHODS: The TRAMIL program has involved application of ethnopharmacological surveys to gather data on the medicinal plants used for primary care in 55 locations the Caribbean Basin. Three Afrocaribbean, three Amerindian and three Mestizo communities were selected taking in account the Ethnic prevalence. Differences in native and exotic plant used by groups and between groups were done using contingency tables. Identification of differences in the numbers of native and exotic plants used within each group was done with a one sample Z -test for proportions. Similarity in medicinal species use was estimated using the Sørensen Similarity Index. Species use value (UV) was estimated and a principal components analysis (PCA) run to determine differences between groups. RESULTS: The 1,753 plant records generated from the surveys of the nine communities included in the analysis covered 389 species from 300 genera and 98 families. The studied groups used different numbers of native and exotic species: Afrocaribbean (99 natives, 49 exotics); Amerindian (201 natives, 46 exotics); and Mestizo (63 natives, 44 exotics). The proportion of natives to exotics was significantly different in between the Afrocaribbean and Amerindian communities, and between the Amerindian and Mestizo communities, but not between the Afrocaribbean and Mestizo communities. In the PCA, the groups were disparate in terms of the use value they assigned to the medicinal species; these were determined according to species with high use value and those used exclusively be a particular group CONCLUSIONS: Although migration, cultural intermixing and a consequent hybridization of medicinal plant knowledge have occurred in the Caribbean Basin, the results highlight differences between the three studied groups in terms of the medicinal plant repertoire they employ for primary health care.

Acromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management: effects of TRAMILs fungicidal plant extracts.

Leaf-cutting ants, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), are considering among the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, the main insecticides used for controlling these ants were synthetic chemicals. Leaf-cutting ants live in obligate symbiosis with abasidiomycete fungus, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (Heim) Moeller. The crucial role of this symbiotic partner in the nest of leaf-cutting ants has prompted us to focus on A. octospinosus management through the use of fungicides in our study. Five parts of plants identified for their antifungal potential through TRAMIL ethnopharmacological surveys were tested: 1) bulbs of Allium cepa L.; 2) seed pods of Allium sativum L.; 3) green fruits of Lycopersicon esculentum L.; 4) leaves of Manihot esculenta Crantz; and 5) leaves of Senna alata (L.) Roxburgh. One plant extract with strong fungicidal activity (S. alata) against L. gongylophorus was found. The other extracts had lesser fungistatic or fungicidal effects depending on the concentrations used. The data presented in this study showed that TRAMILs fungicidal plant extracts have potential to control the symbiotic fungus of leaf cutting ants, in particular a foliage extract of S. alata.

Acromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management. Part 1: Effects of TRAMIL's insecticidal plant extracts.

BACKGROUND: Leaf-cutting ants are considered to be one of the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, control strategies against these leaf-cutting ants have mainly been synthetic chemicals. The aim of the present study was to test the action of several plant extracts quoted as an example by TRAMIL participative surveys for their insecticidal properties on adult major workers of Acromyrmex octospinosus. Three tests were used to that end: contact toxicity, repellent test and ingestion bioassay. Six traditional plant uses recommended by interviewed people in surveys were tested: (1) maceration of Mammea americana fresh crushed seeds; (2) decoction of Nerium oleander fresh leaves; (3) Nerium oleander dried leaf water juice; (4) decoction of Nicotiana tabacum dried leaves; (5) Trichillia pallida dried leaf water juice; (6) decoction of Rollinia mucosa dried seeds. RESULTS: Two plant extracts with contact toxicity (Mammea americana and Nicotiana tabacum), six plant extracts with repellent activity and four plant extracts with ingestion toxicity (Mammea americana, Nicotiana tabacum and both extracts of Nerium oleander) were found. CONCLUSION: The data presented in this study showed that plant extracts cited by TRAMIL ethnopharmacological surveys have the potential to control the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex octospinosus. In particular, the Mammea americana extract, with its natural low repellent effect and its high toxicity by ingestion, and Nerium oleander extracts, with their natural delay action, are possibly the best extracts for the control of these ants.

TRAMIL ethnopharmalogical survey in Les Saintes (Guadeloupe, French West Indies): a comparative study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was a comparison of popular household remedies in primary health care in the communities of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, the inhabited islands of 'Les Saintes' archipelago (Guadeloupe, French West Indies). METHODS: Twelve ailments, with higher prevalence, were chosen in each island and a total of 216 families were interviewed using TRAMIL participative ethnopharmacological interviews. RESULTS: According to TRAMIL methodology (frequency over 20%), twenty-two plants uses were recorded for Terre-de-Haut and eighteen for Terre-de-Bas. The islands share only ten significant plants uses and four of them have notable different frequencies. The informant consensus factor in the use of many specific remedies was fairly high, that gave an additional validity to these popular medicines. CONCLUSION: The data presented in this study show that popular knowledge on medicinal plants uses is still alive in the studied area. The difference between the two nearby islands is very narrow but on the other hand, there exist some differences possibly due to a probable declining of plant resources and a more important flux of migration and its provision of other practices of healthcare in Terre-de-Haut.

TRAMIL ethnopharmacological survey: knowledge distribution of medicinal plant use in the southeast region of Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: TRAMIL network aims to understand, validate and expand health practices based on the use of medicinal plants in the Caribbean, a "biodiversity hotspot" due to high species endemism, intense development pressure and habitat loss. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to document both the medicinal plants that are frequently used to treat health conditions prevalent in the southeastern region of the archipelago of Puerto Rico and the trends in their use among the study population. METHODS: An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in the study region. The results were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 118 medicinal plants were recorded as being used to treat depression, nervousness, chronic sinusitis, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, allergic rhinitis, rhinofaryngitis, asthma, arthritis and migraine. The plant species with significant use were Citrus aurantium L., Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle, Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G. Don in Sweet, and Mentha piperita L. The use of medicinal plants is more frequent among single women with a high educational level, a trend similar to the use of CAM in the US. CONCLUSION: Ethnopharmacological knowledge and the use of medicinal plants is decreasing in the study region due to an increase in the use of conventional medical care and to self-medication with over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. Four botanical species with significant uses that were not previously recorded in the Caribbean Herbal Pharmacopoeia have been identified. This report will be followed by the scientific validation and toxicity studies of these plant species and the TRADIF activities in the study region.

Tamizaje fitoquímico, actividad analgésica y antiinflamatoria de decocción de Costus pictus D Don / Phytochemical screening, analgesic and antiinflammatory properties of Costus pictus D Don decoction

Introducción: Costus pictus D Don (caña mexicana) es una especie cultivada como ornamental y la decocción de hojas y tallos frescos se emplea tradicionalmente para afecciones urinarias, como infecciones, litiasis y cólicos renales en Cuba. Objetivos: identificar los principales grupos de metabolitos secundarios y validar la actividad analgésica y antiinflamatoria de la decocción de hojas y tallos frescos de C. pictus. Métodos: se identificaron los principales grupos de metabolitos secundarios presentes en la decocción mediante un tamizaje fitoquímico. Se evaluó en los modelos farmacológicos de granuloma inducido por algodón en ratas, retorcimientos inducidos por ácido acético 0,75 por ciento (0,1 mL/10 g intraperitoneal) y retirada de la cola inmersa en agua a 55 °C en ratones; las dosis administradas, por vía oral, fueron equivalentes a 0,5; 1 y 5 g de material vegetal fresco/kg de peso corporal. Resultados: la decocción mostró presencia de flavonoides, compuestos fenólicos, compuestos lactónicos y cumarinas, saponinas y azúcares reductores. Inhibió significativamente la respuesta dolorosa en ambos modelos, pero no tuvo efecto antiinflamatorio en el granuloma provocado por algodón. Conclusiones: los resultados contribuyen a validar el uso tradicional de la decocción de hojas y tallos frescos de C. pictus para aliviar el dolor por causa de afecciones renales

Introduction: Costus pictus D Don (Mexican reed) is a species for decorative purposes and the decoction of leaves and fresh stems is traditionally used for urinary disorders like infections, lithiasis and renal colic in Cuba. Objectives: to identify the main groups of secondary metabolites and to validate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of a decoction of fresh leaves and stems from C. pictus. Methods: the main groups of secondary metabolites present in the decoction were identified by a phytochemical screening. The decoction was evaluated in pharmacological models of cotton-induced granulomas in rats; 0,75 por ciento acetic acid-induced cramps (0.1 mL/10 g intraperitoneal) and removal of the tail submerged into water at 55 °C in mice; the orally administered doses were 0.5; 1 and 5 g of fresh vegetable material/kg of body weight. Results: the decoction disclosed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, lactonic compounds and coumarins, saponins, and reducing sugars. It significantly reduced the painful response both models, but there was no antinflammatory effect on cotton-induced granuloma. Conclusions: the results contributed to validate the traditional use of C. pictus fresh leaves and stems in order to relieve the pain caused by renal diseases

Tamizaje fitoquímico, actividad analgésica y antiinflamatoria de decocción de Costus pictus D Don / Phytochemical screening, analgesic and antiinflammatory properties of Costus pictus D Don decoction

Introducción: Costus pictus D Don (caña mexicana) es una especie cultivada como ornamental y la decocción de hojas y tallos frescos se emplea tradicionalmente para afecciones urinarias, como infecciones, litiasis y cólicos renales en Cuba. Objetivos: identificar los principales grupos de metabolitos secundarios y validar la actividad analgésica y antiinflamatoria de la decocción de hojas y tallos frescos de C. pictus. Métodos: se identificaron los principales grupos de metabolitos secundarios presentes en la decocción mediante un tamizaje fitoquímico. Se evaluó en los modelos farmacológicos de granuloma inducido por algodón en ratas, retorcimientos inducidos por ácido acético 0,75 por ciento (0,1 mL/10 g intraperitoneal) y retirada de la cola inmersa en agua a 55 °C en ratones; las dosis administradas, por vía oral, fueron equivalentes a 0,5; 1 y 5 g de material vegetal fresco/kg de peso corporal. Resultados: la decocción mostró presencia de flavonoides, compuestos fenólicos, compuestos lactónicos y cumarinas, saponinas y azúcares reductores. Inhibió significativamente la respuesta dolorosa en ambos modelos, pero no tuvo efecto antiinflamatorio en el granuloma provocado por algodón. Conclusiones: los resultados contribuyen a validar el uso tradicional de la decocción de hojas y tallos frescos de C. pictus para aliviar el dolor por causa de afecciones renales(AU)

Introduction: Costus pictus D Don (Mexican reed) is a species for decorative purposes and the decoction of leaves and fresh stems is traditionally used for urinary disorders like infections, lithiasis and renal colic in Cuba. Objectives: to identify the main groups of secondary metabolites and to validate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of a decoction of fresh leaves and stems from C. pictus. Methods: the main groups of secondary metabolites present in the decoction were identified by a phytochemical screening. The decoction was evaluated in pharmacological models of cotton-induced granulomas in rats; 0,75 por ciento acetic acid-induced cramps (0.1 mL/10 g intraperitoneal) and removal of the tail submerged into water at 55 °C in mice; the orally administered doses were 0.5; 1 and 5 g of fresh vegetable material/kg of body weight. Results: the decoction disclosed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, lactonic compounds and coumarins, saponins, and reducing sugars. It significantly reduced the painful response both models, but there was no antinflammatory effect on cotton-induced granuloma. Conclusions: the results contributed to validate the traditional use of C. pictus fresh leaves and stems in order to relieve the pain caused by renal diseases(AU)

Manual de cultivo y conservación de plantas medicinales. Tomo 3: Árboles dominicanos / Manual of cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants. Take 3: Dominican trees

Este manual de cultivo y conservación de plantas medicinales constituye a sumar esfuerzos que fortalezcan las actividades de manejo y cuidado de las mismas, ya que cuentan con una variabilidad de usos y adaptaciones a diferentes condiciones climáticas.

Manual de cultivo y conservación de plantas medicinales. Tomo 2: Cuba / Manual of cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants. Volume 2: Cuba

El presente Manual está destinado a los productores y constituye una contribución al estudio del cultivo de plantas medicinales que el Ministerio de Salud Pública ha autorizado para que sean empleados en el Sistema Nacional de Salud, tanto en forma directa (medicamento vegetal), como materia prima para la confección de fitofármacos.