Caribbean medicinal plant Argemone mexicana L.: Metabolomic analysis and in vitro effect on the vaginal microbiota.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Medicinal plants are frequently used in Caribbean traditional medicine as low-cost, culturally relevant treatments for women's health concerns, such as gynecological infections. These plants are typically applied topically, potentially affecting both pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis) and beneficial vaginal microbes (Lactobacillus spp.). However, few studies have examined the impact of these plants on both beneficial and pathogenic vaginal bacteria. AIM OF THE STUDY: Argemone mexicana, available in New York City and commonly used to treat gynecological infections by immigrants from the Dominican Republic, was investigated for its chemical variation and effects on the vaginal microbiota. We hypothesized that variations in the bioactivity of Argemone mexicana on Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus spp. are due to differences in antimicrobial compounds across different preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Untargeted and targeted metabolomic analysis using UPLC-qToF-MS and UPLC-TQD-MS were conducted on Argemone mexicana samples collected in New York City. Antimicrobial assays were used to assess the effects of Argemone mexicana samples on beneficial and pathogenic vaginal bacteria. ProGenesis QI and EZinfo were used for metabolomic analysis to link bioactivity with chemometric data. RESULTS: UPLC-qToF-MS and statistical analyses showed that chemical variation correlated with plant tissue type and processing (dry or fresh samples). These differences were evident in antimicrobial screenings, where active plant samples were antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria only, with no effect on beneficial Lactobacillus. Known antimicrobial benzoquinone alkaloids, such as berberine, were partly responsible for the observed microbiological activity. Berberine exhibited similar inhibition patterns, reduced biofilm formation, and trended towards higher concentration in active samples. CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of Argemone mexicana, a plant used in Caribbean women's health, did not have an effect on beneficial vaginal microbes, but did inhibit pathogenic Gardnerella vaginalis. This antimicrobial activity correlated with the chemical variation of berberine and other related alkaloids across traditional preparations of Argemone mexicana. These results may be relevant for treating gynecological infections, not only with this plant, but other berberine-containing taxa.

Ethnobotanical knowledge and utilization patterns of Burseraceae resins in Brazil.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Amid all the Brazilian phytodiversity, in all its shades and shapes, black and white amorphous masses glued to the barks of Burseraceae species stand out as some of the nation's most appreciated plant medicinal resources. Burseraceae resins have been used in all macroregions of Brazil, wherever they occur, for a variety of medicinal purposes. However, despite ongoing interest in them, their cultural and health relevance in the country has been underexamined. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aimed to illuminate the therapeutic importance and potential of Brazilian Burseraceae by assembling the ethnomedicinal, chemical, and pharmacological data available on its resins used in Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search for journal articles documenting local ethnomedicinal uses of Burseraceae resins and reporting chemical and pharmacological data associated with their botanical sources was conducted in ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. Books and theses were also appraised for such information. RESULTS: At least 21 Burseraceae taxa, belonging to Protium, Trattinnickia, and Commiphora, are recorded as sources of medicinal resins in Brazil. Protium and Trattinickia yield oleoresins typically rich in mono- and triterpenoids, especially the pentacyclic triterpenoids α- and ß-amyrin. Although Commiphora oleo-gum-resins are expected to differ significantly from Protium and Trattinickia oleoresins by the presence of gum fractions, they often exhibit distinct terpenoid compositional patterns, characterized by a high proportion of sesquiterpenoids and tetracyclic triterpenoids. Burseraceae resins are more frequently cited in the Brazilian ethnomedicinal literature for relieving headaches and healing wounds. Pharmacological evidence corroborates the potential of Burseraceae resins against these and some other conditions and diseases, however, further studies are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety when used topically and through inhalation-the two primary routes of administration explored for them in Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: The present review unearths a consistent, persistent, and cross-cultural pattern of using Burseraceae resins against pain conditions. But to really tap into the Burseraceae's therapeutic potential in Brazil, we first need to address the following gaps: (a) conduct more thorough pharmacological studies, including clinical trials; (b) give more attention to the triterpenoid fraction of Burseraceae oleoresins, not only to essential oils and α- and ß-amyrin; and (c) deepen our understanding of the impact of resin aging on chemical composition.

Riqueza y uso de la flora medicinal de la Región Cajamarca (Norte del Perú): un compendio de 1988 a 2022 / Diversity and use of the medicinal flora of the Cajamarca Region (Northern Peru): a compendium from 1988 to 2022

Information on the richness and use of medicinal plants in the Cajamarca Region (RC), Peru, was compiled and analyzed in 49 studies, carried out from 1988 to 2022. Botanical information, altitudinal distribution, endemisms, conservation categories and applications are presented. in groups of conditions, in traditional medicine. The medicinal flora of the RC includes 1115 species from 141 families, with a predominance of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Solanaceae. The majority are herbaceous, native and wild, less than 20% cultivated and distributed mainly in the mesotropics. Ninety-one medicinal species endemic to Peru and 10 endemics exclusive to the RC were found. 59 species were registered within some category of threat and 18 in critical danger, according to national legislation. They have applications in 21 groups of conditions, with digestive and respiratory predominance. This compendium constitutes the baseline for monitoring medicinal species, in relation to conservation and climate change.

Se compendió y analizó la información sobre la riqueza y uso de las plantas medicinales de la Región Cajamarca (RC), Perú, en 49 estudios, realizados desde 1988 a 2022. Se presenta información botánica, distribución altitudinal, endemismos, categorías de conservación y aplicaciones en grupos de afecciones, en la medicina tradicional. La flora medicinal de la RC comprende 1115 especies de 141 familias, con predominio de Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae y Solanaceae. La mayoría son herbáceas, nativas y silvestres, menos de 20% cultivadas y distribuidas principalmente en el piso mesotropical. Se encontraron 91 especies medicinales endémicas del Perú y 10 endémicas exclusivas de la RC. Se registraron 59 especies dentro de alguna categoría de amenaza y 18 en peligro crítico, según la legislación nacional. Tiene aplicaciones en 21 grupos de afecciones, con primacía de las digestivas y respiratorias. Este compendio constituye la línea de base para el monitoreo de las especies medicinales, en relación a la conservación y al cambio climático.

Traditional knowledge and medicinal use of Chrysobalanus icaco L. in the treatment of diabetes in southeastern Brazil / Conocimiento tradicional y uso medicinal de Chrysobalanus icaco L. en el tratamiento de la diabetes al sureste de Brasil

Chrysobalanus icaco L., "bajiru", occurs in the Brazilian coastal plain. Its fruits and leaves have been consumed by artisanal fishing communities. Therefore, this study aims to: investigate the ethnobotanical knowledge about the bajiru in the restingas, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); compare this knowledge with its potential registered in the literature; and expand the information related to the pharmacological potential for diabetes. The results showed that "bajiru" is still used in local medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Bibliographic studies show its effects on glucose metabolism. However, there is urgent concern about the conservation and maintenance of "bajiru" populations, the conservation plans for this species and the promotion of cultivation. Local experts highlighted their concern about the threat to this resource due to the loss of native vegetation and the predatory extraction of its native populations.

Chrysobalanus icaco L., "bajiru", ocurre en la llanura costera brasileña. Sus frutos y hojas han sido consumidos por comunidades pesqueras artesanales. Por lo tanto, este estudio tiene como objetivos: investigar el conocimiento etnobotánico sobre el bajiru en las restingas, en Río de Janeiro (Brasil); comparar este conocimiento con su potencial registrado en la literatura; y ampliar la información relacionada con el potencial farmacológico para la diabetes. Los resultados mostraron que el "bajiru" sigue siendo usado en la medicina local para el tratamiento de la diabetes. Estudios bibliográficos muestran sus efectos sobre el metabolismo de la glucosa. Sin embargo, existe una preocupación urgente sobre la conservación y mantenimiento de las poblaciones de "bajiru", los planes de conservación de esta especie y el fomento del cultivo. Los expertos locales destacaron su preocupación por la amenaza sobre este recurso por la pérdida de vegetación nativa y la extracción depredadora de sus poblaciones nativas.

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of traditional medicine in individuals with hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycaemia, and arterial hypertension in Ecuador: results from a population-based study in two health districts.

BACKGROUND: While traditional medicine (TM) is employed by a significant portion of the global population for managing health issues, clinical guidelines and state recommendations often overlook this practice. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of use of TM to control 3 metabolic risk factors (MRF): hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycaemia; and the sociodemographic, economic, and clinical characteristics associated with the use of TM. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study that analyses data obtained from a representative population survey in 2 health districts, one urban in the south of Quito and another in a forested rural area with diverse ethnic groups in Esmeraldas, Ecuador. We include 602 individuals with at least one MRF. We calculated the proportion of people reporting the regular use of TM (herbal or traditional remedy) to control their MRF and we assessed potential associations with sociodemographic, economic, and clinical characteristics with a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: In two very different sociocultural contexts in Ecuador we found that use of TM to control MRF was frequent (39.4% in Esmeraldas, 31.1% in Quito), frequently in combination with CM. There is a notable percentage of people, 33.9% in Esmeraldas and 39.0% in Quito, who did not take any treatment for their MRF, and the remainder used CM alone. In both settings, an individual's education lever was significantly associated with TM use. Whereas in Quito individuals with higher education more frequently treated their MRF with TM (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.03-3.90), in the rural, hard-to-reach context of Esmeraldas, it was more frequent among people with no formal schooling (aOR: 3.76; 95%CI 1.59-8.88), as well as those of younger age (aOR by year: 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99) and afro ethnicity (aOR: 2.13; 95%CI 1.02-4.45). CONCLUSION: Traditional medicine is used by a significant proportion of the population in Ecuador, highlighting the need for a more accessible and intercultural healthcare approach. The health system should ensure access to the necessary information and resources for the management of their metabolic risk factors.

Traditional Medicine, Culture, and Psychedelic Science: New Pathways for Recovery From Substance Use Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This article provides an intercultural transdisciplinary perspective on the Indigenous roots of the resurging field of psychedelic science in the management of substance use disorders (SUDs). Ritual uses of entheogens (i.e., psychedelics of natural origin) are elaborate technologies for navigating, containing, and therapeutically directing non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by these compounds. METHOD: A narrative review of the literature on the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, peyote, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, Incilius alvarius-derived 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), and iboga for the treatment of SUDs was conducted. This article also describes the application of some of these entheogens within a pilot intercultural clinical program implemented by the Yaqui tribe in Sonora, Mexico, for the treatment of SUDs and other mental health challenges. RESULTS: Observational research and preliminary clinical studies indicate the therapeutic potential and relative safety of these compounds in appropriate contexts, including the use of careful screening practices and complementary psychotherapeutic interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary research points to the potential therapeutic value of integrating entheogenic plant and fungi medicine with culturally attuned therapeutic strategies. Respectful intercultural dialogue across worldviews and scientific paradigms allows for the further development of new perspectives at the intersection of entheogens, addiction treatment, mental health, and traditional medicine. More interdisciplinary research is necessary in this field.

Articulando conocimientos y prácticas frente al Covid-19: Acciones de enfermeros técnicos indígenas en salud intercultural.

A partir de entrevistas y conversaciones a profundidad con cinco enfermeros técnicos de los pueblos Yine y Shipibo-Konibo que laboran en establecimientos de salud en la Amazonía de Ucayali en Perú, este estudio muestra que las prácticas desplegadas para atender a los enfermos con síntomas de Covid-19 hicieron uso de terapias y nociones biomédicas e indígenas. Dichas prácticas reflejaron su formación en salud intercultural y su capacidad para adecuar las normas establecidas por el Ministerio de Salud. En función de los síntomas observados en los pacientes, los enfermeros indígenas usaron una variedad de prácticas: vaporaciones, masajes, baños, infusiones y remedios. Las nociones de salud y enfermedad que los enfermeros técnicos indígenas comparten con sus pacientes fueron la base para interpretar el Covid-19 y estuvieron presentes en las atenciones brindadas. Esto se nutrió de la existencia de un sistema de cuidado familiar bastante articulado que fue tejiéndose y siendo negociado en función de los síntomas y las terapias aplicadas. Sus prácticas demuestran la creatividad en los pueblos indígenas. En ese sentido, el sector salud necesita repensar su mirada sobre la medicina indígena, a la que denomina "tradicional" y nos muestra la necesidad de repensar las ideas sobre adecuación de los servicios para la población indígena para colocar en el centro del debate el significado de interculturalidad en salud desde la perspectiva indígena.

The dawn of ethnomicrobiology: an interdisciplinary research field on interactions between humans and microorganisms.

BACKGROUND: Ethnobiologists commonly analyze local knowledge systems related to plants, animals, fungi, and ecosystems. However, microbes (bacteria, yeasts, molds, viruses, and other organisms), often considered invisible in their interactions with humans, are often neglected. Microorganisms were the earliest life forms on Earth, and humans have interacted with them throughout history. Over time, humans have accumulated ecological knowledge about microbes through attributes such as smell, taste, and texture that guide the management of contexts in which microorganisms evolve. These human-microbe interactions are, in fact, expressions of biocultural diversity. Thus, we propose that ethnomicrobiology is a distinct interdisciplinary field within ethnobiology that examines the management practices and knowledge surrounding human-microbe interactions, along with the theoretical contributions that such an approach can offer. METHODS: We reviewed scientific journals, books, and chapters exploring human-microbe relationships. Our search included databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and specific journal websites, using keywords related to ethnomicrobiology and ethnozymology. To categorize activities involving deliberate human-microbial interactions, we examined topics such as fermentation, pickling, food preservation, silaging, tanning, drying, salting, smoking, traditional medicine, folk medicine, agricultural practices, composting, and other related practices. RESULTS: Our research identified important precedents for ethnomicrobiology through practical and theoretical insights into human-microbe interactions, particularly in their impact on health, soil, and food systems. We also found that these interactions contribute to biodiversity conservation and co-evolutionary processes. This emerging interdisciplinary field has implications for food ecology, public health, and the biocultural conservation of hidden microbial landscapes and communities. It is essential to explore the socioecological implications of the interwoven relationships between microbial communities and humans. Equally important is the promotion of the conservation and recovery of this vast biocultural diversity, along with sustainable management practices informed by local ecological knowledge. CONCLUSION: Recognizing the dawn of ethnomicrobiology is essential as the field evolves from a descriptive to a more theoretical and integrative biological approach. We emphasize the critical role that traditional communities have played in conserving food, agriculture, and health systems. This emerging field highlights that the future of ethnobiological sciences will focus not on individual organisms or cultures, but on the symbiosis between microorganisms and humans that has shaped invisible but often complex biocultural landscapes.

Interprofessional education in traditional and complementary medicine: a scoping review.

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a teaching method that improves collaboration and communication across health professions. There are consistent reports of poor interprofessional collaboration and communication between conventional health professionals and traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) professions. The application of IPE within courses that provide training in TCM requires close examination. This research aimed to identify the state of the art in IPE in TCM teaching. A scoping review was conducted. Thirteen databases were searched to identify citations up to March 2021. Thirty articles were selected after filtering for relevance against the inclusion criteria. The included articles were categorized into four a priori categories: Knowledge and Attitudes of students and professionals about TCM and IPE; Competencies of IPE in TCM; Teaching about TCM using IPE and Challenges and Opportunities for IPE in TCM. Nineteen of the included articles reported empirical research and primarily presented the evaluation of IPE activities within TCM courses or workshops; six studies consisted of texts with propositions and theoretical analyses; and five were case/experiential reports of IPE and TCM interventions, with or without evaluation of results. The studies report all health science students (undergraduate and graduate) exposed to IPE demonstrate a decrease in prejudice and an increase in knowledge about TCM. A sense of partnership developed through the collaborative competencies common to IPE and TCM and integrated care of patients. IPE in the context of TCM has been used for fostering integrative health care through the collaborative work of professional teams. Implementing IPE in TCM teaching requires inclusion in the curriculum, primarily undergraduate and research training.

Giving a voice to "the silent killer": a knowledge, attitude and practice study of diabetes among French Guiana's Parikweneh people.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the French overseas department of French Guiana, South America, nearly doubles that in its European counterpart, Metropolitan France. This region is demographically diverse and includes several populations of Indigenous Peoples. Although such populations are at particular risk of developing T2D across the Americas, very little is known about their health status in French Guiana, and accurate numbers of diabetic patients do not exist. METHODS: In light of a potential public health crisis, an ethnomedicinal study of diabetes experienced by Indigenous Parikweneh was conducted to provide better insight into the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to this quickly emerging disease in French Guiana. Altogether, 75 interviews were conducted with community members and Elders, as well as healthcare professionals and administrators providing services to the Parikweneh population of Macouria and Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock. RESULTS: Interviews suggest a high incidence of T2D in this population, with cases that have risen quickly since the mid-twentieth century. Parikweneh participants linked the development of the illness to dietary changes, notably through the introduction of new and sweet foods. Recognizing the complexity of diabetes and its symptoms, diabetic patients highlighted the importance of biomedical treatments and follow-ups, though they frequently alternated or used them concomitantly with Parikweneh medicines. With the help of biomedical tools (i.e. glucometer), local medicinal practices mirrored biomedical approaches through dietary adaptation and the use of medicinal animals and plants for glycaemic control and the treatment of complications from the disease. CONCLUSION: Parikweneh are appropriating T2D into their knowledge system and adapting their health system in response to this relatively new health concern. A greater understanding of local practices and perceptions relating to T2D among medical staff may therefore be beneficial for meeting patients' needs, providing greater autonomy in their health path, and improving treatment outcomes.

Plants of the USA: recordings on native North American useful species by Alexander von Humboldt.

BACKGROUND: The German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt conducted an expedition through the American continent, alongside Aimé Bonpland, from 1799 to 1804. Before finally returning to Europe, they decided to take a side trip to the USA between May 20 and July 7, 1804. Humboldt's most detailed account of his time in the USA consists of a manuscript entitled "Plantae des États-Unis" (1804), containing information on useful plants and timber of the country. The aim of this paper is to retrieve, for the first time, ethnobotanical information regarding North American plants and their uses inside this Humboldt's manuscript as well as to highlight the erasure and invisibilization of North American Indigenous knowledge within historical documents and bibliography, mainly during the nineteenth century. METHODS: "Plantae des États-Unis" (digitized version and its transcription) was carefully analyzed, and information on plant species mentioned in the manuscript (including botanical and vernacular names, traditional uses, and general observations) was retrieved. Traditional uses were correlated with ethnobotanical data from the Native American Ethnobotany Database and encyclopedic literature on North American plants from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as recent pharmacological studies searched in scientific papers. RESULTS: In the manuscript are mentioned 28 species distributed in 15 botanical families, with Fagaceae (9 Quercus species) being the most representative. All species are USA natives, except for one undetermined species (only the genus was mentioned, Corylus). Four species were directly mentioned as medicinal (Toxicodendron radicans, Liriodendron tulipifera, Actaea racemosa, and Gillenia stipulata), while other four were described as tanning agents (astringent) (Cornus florida, Diospyros virginiana, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina). Two species were described as bitter (Xanthorhiza simplicissima and A. racemosa). Nine Quercus species were described, but five were reported as the most useful oaks for cultivation in Europe (Quercus bicolor, Quercus castanea, Quercus virginiana, Quercus michauxii, and Quercus alba); three of them were used for ship construction (Q. virginiana, Q. michauxii, and Q. alba), two as astringent (Q. rubra and Q. stellata), and one had wood of poor quality (Quercus phellos). One species was described as a yellow dye (Hydrastis canadensis), and the other was mentioned as toxic (Aesculus pavia). Ten species did not have any useful applications listed. CONCLUSIONS: Although "Plantae des États-Unis" is a brief collection of annotations, these data reveal a historical scenario of outstanding plants with social and economic interest in the USA at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The data highlight a clear process of suppression of the traditional knowledge of Native North American Indigenous peoples in past historical records and literature, due to the lack of acknowledgment by white European settlers and American-born explorers. This ethnobotanical inventory may help us understand the relationship between plants and Native North American Indigenous peoples, as well as European naturalists and settlers, and USA-born people in the past, and reflect on the importance of Indigenous traditional knowledge, bioeconomy, sustainable management, and conservation of biodiversity in the present and future.

Genipa americana L.: A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities.

Genipa americana L. (Rubiaceae), genip tree, has therapeutic and nutritional potential. This revision aimed to gather information on botanical characteristics, popular uses, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of the tree. The methodology adopted integrated literature published between 2000 and 2024, as well as consultations with the World International Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); resulting in 39 articles and 11 patents to promote this research. The species, which is native and not endemic to Brazil, is most prevalent in the Amazon biome as it is suitable for reconstructing degraded areas, as well as having various traditional applications. Iridoids are the main secondary metabolites present in the species, especially ginipin, geniposide acid, and geniposide, which are the most prevalent in the fruit. The patents registered with the WIPO indicate its use as a colorant, insecticide, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential, in evidence of its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Further studies are needed on the mechanisms of the chemical components' action and on ethnopharmacology.

Do socioeconomic factors and local human preference determine the hybridization of knowledge in local medical systems?

BACKGROUND: Hybridization between the local medical systems (LMSs) and biomedicine has been the focus of different studies in ethnobiology, primarily due to the increasing access to biomedicine by indigenous peoples and local communities. Studies on hybridization allow for an understanding of the process of developing and evolving local knowledge systems. In this study, we propose a hybridization score to determine how individuals' socioeconomic characteristics and preference between LMS and biomedicine determine the complementarity of therapeutic options. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews and applied free listing technique in a rural community in Northeast Brazil to assess the treatments the local population sought and which were preferred. RESULTS: Our analyses showed that the level of schooling was the socioeconomic factor that negatively affected the hybridization process. Individuals with higher levels of schooling tended to prefer LMS strategies less and, consequently, showed a lower probability of hybridizing the two systems. Additionally, older people who preferred LMS strategies showed a greater tendency to adopt hybridization in human health-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide further evidence of the complementarity between different medical systems and demonstrate that socioeconomic factors can affect local knowledge and are responsible for differences in individual propensity to hybridize distinct medical systems.

[Hegemonies, subalternities, and possible counter-hegemonies: The case of traditional medicine of Indigenous peoples in Mexico]. / De hegemonías, subalternidades y posibles contrahegemonías: El caso de la medicina tradicional de los pueblos indígenas de México.

A whole series of processes lead to the decrease in the use of traditional medicine by the indigenous peoples of Mexico, including the reduction in the number of traditional healers and the direct and indirect expansion of biomedicine. This essay addresses the central role these processes play in the relations of hegemony/subalternity that occur in different fields of reality, and especially in the health-illness-care-prevention processes, given that counter-hegemonic processes are not generated, or those that do arise have been ineffective in confronting social hegemony in general and biomedical hegemony in particular.

Toda una serie de procesos conducen a la disminución del uso de la medicina tradicional por los pueblos indígenas de México, incluyendo la reducción del número de curadores tradicionales y la expansión directa e indirecta de la biomedicina. En este ensayo se aborda el papel nuclear que tienen estos procesos en las relaciones de hegemonía/subaltenidad que se dan en los diferentes campos de la realidad y, especialmente, en los procesos de salud-enfermedad-atención-prevención, dado que no se generan procesos contrahegemónicos o, los que surgen, han sido ineficaces para enfrentar la hegemonía social en general y biomédica en particular.

Tagetes erecta L.: A traditional medicine effective in inflammatory process treatment.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tagetes erecta L. (Asteraceae), popularly known as Aztec Marigold, is used in folk medicine to treat several ailments including inflammatory processes. Despite its historical use, the specific mechanisms through which it may modulate inflammation, particularly its effects on neutrophils and macrophages activation, have not yet been completely investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from T. erecta flowers, focusing on its role in the regulation of neutrophil and macrophage functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The production of TNF, IL-6, CXCL-1, IL-1ß, IL-10 (ELISA) and NO (Griess reaction), adhesion molecule expression (CD62L, CD49d and CD18, flow cytometry), and chemotaxis were analyzed in vitro using oyster glycogen-recruited peritoneal neutrophils or macrophages (RAW 264.7) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated with the extract (1, 10 or 100 µg/mL). The resolution of inflammation was accessed by efferocytosis assay. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using carrageenan-induced inflammation in the subcutaneous tissue of male Swiss mice orally treated with the T. erecta extract (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg). The leukocyte influx (optical microscopy), secretion of chemical mediators (TNF, IL-6 and IL-1ß, ELISA) and protein exudation (Bradford reaction) were quantified in the inflamed exudate. RESULTS: In vitro studies demonstrated that the extract inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis and reduced the production and/or release of cytokines (TNF, IL-1ß, CXCL1, and IL-6) as well as nitric oxide (NO) by neutrophils and macrophages when stimulated with LPS. Neutrophils treated with LPS and incubated with the extract showed an increase in CD62L expression, which leads to the impairment of neutrophil adhesion. The extract also enhanced efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages, which was accompanied by increased IL-10 secretion and decreased TNF levels. In vivo studies yielded similar results, showing reduction in neutrophil migration, protein exudation, and cytokine release (TNF, IL-6, and IL-1ß). CONCLUSIONS: Together, the data herein obtained shows that T. erecta flower extract has anti-inflammatory effects by regulating inflammatory mediators, limiting neutrophil migration, and promoting efferocytosis. The in vivo results suggest that an herbal medicine made with T. erecta could represent an interesting pharmacological tool for the treatment of acute inflammatory condition.

Medicinal plants and their importance for the conservation of biocultural knowledge in primary school students of the Paniquita Indigenous Community (Rivera, Huila, Colombia) / Plantas medicinales y su importancia para la conservación del conocimiento biocultural en estudiantes de primaria de la Comunidad Indígena Paniquita (Rivera, Huila, Colombia)

Ethnobotany approached through ethnoeducation allows for the preservation of the cultural heritage of indigenous communities. In this way, the ethnobotanical knowledge of primary school students from the Paniquita Indigenous Community was recognized, regarding the cultural knowledge of medicinal plants and their significance in the conservation of the biocultural heritage. This research had a qualitative, ethnographic approach. The sample consisted of ten students who were part of a focus group, ethnobotanical walks, and participatory workshops with drawings since they stimulate students' creative and dynamic thinking and strengthen interculturality. Twenty-one plants were reported, which are used to relieve sore throats, headaches, and stomach aches, as well as to treat diarrhea and fever, to prevent flu, and as a purgative. All the medicinal plants mentioned grow in the community and are either cultivated or wild, which also shows the students' knowledge of the ir territory. These findings reflect the importance of ethno-education and ethnobotany at school and how historical reconstruction processes are generated from these settings, where indigenous ancestral knowledge is made visible.

La etnobotánica abordada desde la etnoeducación permite mantener el legado cultural de los pueblos originarios. De esta manera, se reconoció el conocimiento etnobotáni co de los estudiantes de primaria de la Comunidad Indígena Paniquita, sobre el conocimiento cultural de las plantas medicinales y su importancia para la conservación del patrimonio biocultural. La investigación tuvo un enfoque cualitativo y etnográfico. La muestra estuvo conformada por diez estudiantes que formaron parte de un grupo focal, caminatas etnobotánicas y talleres participativos con dibujos, ya que estimulan el pensamiento creativo y dinámico de los estudiantes y fortalecen la interculturalidad. Se reportaron 21 plantas que se utilizan para aliviar dolores de garganta, cabeza y estómago, así como para tratar la diarrea y la fiebre, para prevenir la gripe y como purgante. Todas las plantas medicinales mencionadas crecen en la comunidad y son cultivadas o silvestres, lo que también demuestra el conocimiento que los estudiantes tienen de su territorio. Estos hallazgos reflejan la importancia de la etnoeducación y la etnobotánica en la escuela y cómo se generan procesos de reconstrucción histórica desde estos escenarios, donde se visibiliza el conocimiento ancestral indígena.

Importancia cultural de la flora empleada por la comunidad nativa Asheninka Sheremashe, Ucayali, Perú / Cultural importance of the flora used by the Asheninka Sheremashe native community, Ucayali, Peru

The cultural significance of the flora used by the native Asheninka Sheremashe community in Ucayali, Peru was determined. To do this, a fieldwork of over 4 months was conducted, involving semi-structured interviews with 106 residents through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The community utilizes 139 plant species in their daily lives, belonging to 120 genera and 52 families, with the most abundant being Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae, and Rutaceae. Furthermore, 25.9% of the species are of significant importance to theinhabitants according to the Cultural Index (CI), such as Manihot esculenta, Theobroma cacao, Bixa orellana, Musa paradisiaca, Ficus insipida, among others. It can be concluded that the flora plays a prominent role in the life of the community, with the categories reporting the highest number of species being: food (29.35%), medicine (28.36%), culture (9.95%), construction (9.45%), lumber (6.97%), commerce (3.48%), craftsmanship (2.49%), toxic (2.49%), and other uses (7.46%)

Se determinó la importancia cultural de la flora empleada por la comunidad nativa Asheninka Sheremashe, en Ucayali, Perú. Para ello, se realizó un trabajo de campo de más de 4 meses, donde se aplicaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a 106 habitantes mediante un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. La comunidad emplea 139 especies vegetales en su día a día, pertenecientes a 120 géneros y 52 familias; siendo las más abundantes las Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae y Rutaceae. Además, el 25.9% de las especies tiene gran importancia para los pobladores según el Índice Cultural (IC): Manihot esculenta, Theobroma cacao, Bixa orellana, Musa paradisiaca, Ficus insipida, entre otras. Se concluye que la flora tiene un rol preponderante en la vida de la comunidad, siendo las categorías que presentaron mayor reporte de especies: alimentación (29.35%), medicina (28.36%), cultura (9.95%), construcción (9.45%), aserrío (6.97%), comercio (3.48%), artesanía (2.49%), tóxico (2.49%) y otros usos (7.46%)

Exploring the potential of omics technologies in medicinal plant research: a review in Colombia / Explorando el potencial de las tecnologías ómicas en la investigación de plantas medicinales: una revisión en Colombia

This review presents advances in the implementation of high - throughput se quencing and its application to the knowledge of medicinal plants. We conducted a bibliographic search of papers published in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and analyzed the obtained data using VOSviewer (versi on 1.6.19). Given that medicinal plants are a source of specialized metabolites with immense therapeutic values and important pharmacological properties, plant researchers around the world have turned their attention toward them and have begun to examine t hem widely. Recent advances in sequencing technologies have reduced cost and time demands and accelerated medicinal plant research. Such research leverages full genome sequencing, as well as RNA (ribonucleic acid) sequencing and the analysis of the transcr iptome, to identify molecular markers of species and functional genes that control key biological traits, as well as to understand the biosynthetic pathways of bioactive metabolites and regulatory mechanisms of environmental responses. As such, the omics ( e.g., transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and genomics, among others) have been widely applied within the study of medicinal plants, although their usage in Colombia is still few and, in some areas, scarce. (185)

El extracto de cloroformo (CE) y las fracciones obtenidas de las raíces de Aldama arenaria se evaluaron para determinar su actividad antiproliferativa in vitro contra 10 líneas ce lulares tumorales humanas [leucemia (K - 562), mama (MCF - 7), ovario que expresa un fenotipo resistente a múltiples fármacos (NCI/ADR - RES), melanoma (UACC - 62), pulmón (NCI - H460), próstata (PC - 3), colon (HT29), ovario (OVCAR - 3), glioma (U251) y riñón (786 - 0)]. CE presentó actividad antiproliferativa débil a moderada (log GI 50 medio 1.07), mientras que las fracciones 3 y 4, enriquecidas con diterpenos de tipo pimarane [ent - pimara - 8 (14), ácido 15 - dien - 19 - oico y ent - 8(14),15 - pimaradien - 3 ß - ol], presentaron activid ad moderada a potente para la mayoría de las líneas celulares, con un log GI 50 medio de 0.62 y 0.59, respectivamente. Los resultados mostraron una acción antiproliferativa in vitro prometedora de las muestras obtenidas de A. arenaria , con los mejores resul tados para NCI/ADR - RES, HT29 y OVCAR - 3, y valores de TGI que van desde 5.95 a 28.71 µg.mL - 1, demostrando que los compuestos de esta clase pueden ser prototipos potenciales para el descubrimiento de nuevos agentes terapéuticos

H. pectinata (L.) Poit - Traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological-pharmacological activities in preclinical studies: A systematic review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: H. pectinata (L.) Poit, popularly known as "sambacaitá" or "canudinho", is a plant endemic to north-eastern Brazil. Its aerial parts, leaves and flowers have traditionally been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, rhinopharyngitis, nasal congestion, bacterial and fungal infections, fever, colic, inflammation, and pain. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this review was to provide information on the botanical characteristics, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and biological-pharmacological activities of H. pectinata. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review followed the Cochrane Handbook Collaboration and the PRISMA guidelines. The review question was what are the biological-pharmacological activities of H. pectinata presented in non-clinical studies. The search for articles was conducted in the Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, SciELO, Google Scholar and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations databases. Two reviewers independently selected the studies that met the inclusion criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. RESULTS: 39 articles were included in this review, of which 19 reported in vitro experiments, 16 in vivo studies and 4 in vivo and in vitro experiments. H. pectinata is a plant widely used in folk medicine in north-eastern Brazil for the treatment of various ailments, such as respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, bacterial and fungal infections, and general inflammation. Supporting its popular use, several in vitro and in vivo pharmacological investigations of the essential oil and extract of H. pectinata have demonstrated their anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antidepressant, anticancer, hepatoregenerative, healing, and antimicrobial activities. H. pectinata has been reported to contain 75 bioactive constituents, comprising 9 flavonoids, 54 terpenes, and 12 other compounds. CONCLUSION: H. pectinata is a plant commonly used in traditional medicine. Phytochemically, it contains several bioactive constituents, including terpenes and flavonoids, and has been shown to have antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antitumour activity, as well as hepatorregenerative and healing effects, and low toxicity.