Plantas medicinales utilizadas en las comunidades de Itá Azul y San Gervasio (Paraguay) / Plantas medicinais utilizadas nas comunidades de Ita Azul e San Gervasio (Paraguai) / Medicinal plants used in the communities of Ita Azul and San Gervasio (Paraguay)

El presente trabajo se desarrolló dentro del marco del Proyecto: «Conservación, fortalecimiento y uso sostenible de la flora de Itá Azul y San Gervasio, Colonia Independencia, Reserva de Recursos Manejados Yvyturuzú. Paraguay», tuvo por objetivo determinar las plantas medicinales empleadas por las comunidades de Itá Azul y San Gervasio, (Colonia Independencia, Departamento de Guairá), Paraguay. Para ello se realizaron encuestas en las mencionadas comunidades, siendo encuestadas en total 81 personas, quienes reportaron un total de 68 especies de uso medicinal distribuidas en 35 familias, siendo las familias con mayor número de especies las Asteráceas (19%), Rutáceas (9%) y Fabáceas, Lamiáceas y Verbenáceas (6% cada una). El 53 % de las especies reportadas son nativas. Se prefiere el uso de las plantas en estado fresco (36%), siendo la parte de la planta más empleada la hoja (32%) y la forma de uso mayormente mencionada el tereré (infusión de las plantas conjuntamente con hoja de mate, 43%). Las afecciones reportadas se agruparon en 11 categorías, de las cuales los trastornos digestivos seguidos por las afecciones respiratorias fueron las más reportadas en el uso de plantas medicinales. Para 11 especies no se ha reportado el uso. El conocimiento etnofarmacobotánico se transmite oralmente de una generación a otra, principalmente a través de las mujeres. La investigación científica puede contribuir eficazmente a preservar este patrimonio cultural (AU)

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido no âmbito do projeto "Conservación, Fortalecimiento y Uso Sostenible de la flora de Itá Azul y San Gervasio, Colonia Independencia, Reserva de Recursos Manejados Yvyturuzú. Paraguay", com o objetivo de determinar as plantas medicinais utilizadas pelas comunidades de Ita Azul e San Gervasio, Colonia Independencia, Departamento de Guairá, no Paraguai. Para isso foram realizados inquéritos nas comunidades acima mencionadas, tendo sido inquiridas um total de 81 pessoas, que reportaram um total de 68 espécies de uso medicinal, distribuídas em 35 famílias, sendo as famílias com maior número de espécies as Asteraceae (19%), Rutaceae (9 %), seguindo-se Fabaceae, Lamiaceae e Verbenaceae (com 6% cada uma). Cerca de 53% das espécies reportadas são nativas. Utilizamse preferencialmente plantas frescas (36%), sendo a parte da planta mais utilizada a folha (32%) e a forma de uso principalmente mencionada o tereré (43%). As afeções reportadas foram agrupadas em 11 categorias, das quais os distúrbios digestivos foram os mais relatados sobre o uso de plantas medicinais e em segundo lugar as afeções respiratórias. Para 11 espécies não foi reportado o seu uso. O conhecimento etnofarmacobotánico é transmitido oralmente de uma geração para outra, principalmente através das mulheres. A investigação científica pode contribuir de forma eficaz para preservar este património cultural

The present work was developed within the framework of the project «Conservation, strengthening and sustainable use of the flora of Ita Azul and San Gervasio, Colonia In dependencia, Managed Resources Reserve Yvyturuzú. Paraguay», aimed to determine the medicinal plants used by the communities of Ita Azul and San Gervasio, Colonia Independencia, Guairá Department, Paraguay. Surveys were conducted in the aforementioned communities to 81 people, who reported the use of 68 species of medicinal plants belonging to 35 families, mainly to Asteraceae (19%), Rutaceae (9 %), as well as Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae (6% each). 53% of the species reported were native. The use of fresh plants (36%) was preferred, being the leaf the part of the plant most frequently used (32%). The plants were mainly prepared as infusion, mixed with mate leaf, in a preparation which is known as «tereré» (43%). The conditions for which the medicinal plants were used were grouped in 11 categories, being digestive disorders followed by respiratory conditions the most reported. For 11 species, no use was reported. The ethnofarmacological and ethnobotanical knowledge is transmitted orally from one generation to another, mainly by women. Scientific research can contribute efficiently to preserve this cultural heritage (AU)

Modifying anti-inflammatory effect of Diclofenac with Murraya koenigii.

Murraya koenigii (Curry leaves) has been widely used in Asian countries for the treatment of some ailments such as diabetes and hypertension. In the present study, leaves of Murraya koenigii were extracted with ethanol and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in rats using carrageenan induced paw edema method. Ethanolic extract showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity at third hour after carrageenan administration when compared with the standard drug, Diclofenac. The percent inhibition of paw volume was found to be 84.75% for 50 mg/kg of extract whereas it was found to be 80.86% for 50 mg/kg extract in combination with Diclofenac 10 mg/kg. Thus, the present study suggests that the combination therapy potentiates the anti-inflammatory effect of diclofenac and may help in reducing the dose of the synthetic drug. Some relevant patents are also outlined in this article.

Different transcriptional response to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri between kumquat and sweet orange with contrasting canker tolerance.

Citrus canker disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is one of the most devastating biotic stresses affecting the citrus industry. Meiwa kumquat (Fortunella crassifolia) is canker-resistant, while Newhall navel orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) is canker-sensitive. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the differences in responses to Xcc, transcriptomic profiles of these two genotypes following Xcc attack were compared by using the Affymetrix citrus genome GeneChip. A total of 794 and 1324 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified as canker-responsive genes in Meiwa and Newhall, respectively. Of these, 230 genes were expressed in common between both genotypes, while 564 and 1094 genes were only significantly expressed in either Meiwa or Newhall. Gene ontology (GO) annotation and Singular Enrichment Analysis (SEA) of the DEGs showed that genes related to the cell wall and polysaccharide metabolism were induced for basic defense in both Meiwa and Newhall, such as chitinase, glucanase and thaumatin-like protein. Moreover, apart from inducing basic defense, Meiwa showed specially upregulated expression of several genes involved in the response to biotic stimulus, defense response, and cation binding as comparing with Newhall. And in Newhall, abundant photosynthesis-related genes were significantly down-regulated, which may be in order to ensure the basic defense. This study revealed different molecular responses to canker disease in Meiwa and Newhall, affording insight into the response to canker and providing valuable information for the identification of potential genes for engineering canker tolerance in the future.