Ethnobotany Research and Applications

Ethnobotany of Northern Africa and Levante - Book Review

2025-03-18T13:38:43+00:00

Ethnobotany of Northern Africa and Levant, edited by Rainer W. Bussmann, Mostafa Elachouri, and Zaal Kikvidze. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2024, pp 2.157, €379.99 (Hardcover), €406.59 (eBook), ISBN 9783031397943 (Hardcover), ISBN 9783031431050 (eBook)

The book Ethnobotany of Northern Africa and Levante, edited by Rainer W. Bussmann, Mostafa Elachouri, and Zaal Kikvidze, provides a comprehensive analysis of ethnobotanical knowledge across North Africa and the Levant. This scholarly work, part of the Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions series, explores the intricate relationships between communities and their botanical environments within culturally and ecologically diverse landscapes. It offers significant insights into traditional ethnobotanical practices, medicinal plants, and contemporary issues of conservation and sustainable development.

Exploring Traditional Wild Edible Plants – book review

2025-04-29T09:41:53+00:00

A review of Exploring Traditional Wild Edible Plants. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Pp 357. £160.00 (eBook), ISBN 978-1-003-39593-5 (eBook).

The book Exploring Traditional Wild Edible Plants explains the diverse roles wild edible plants (WEPS) play in nutrition, traditional medicine, and sustainable healthcare. It is divided into 14 interconnected chapters that present a comprehensive perspective, linking ethnobotanical origins with pharmacological benefits. This common theme helps people understand the essential nature of WEPs and prompts discussions about their benefits for nutrition, medicine, and the environment in various contexts.

Medicinal Plants - Use in Prevention and Treatment of Diseases - book review

2025-04-23T16:04:03+00:00

A review of Hassan, B. (Ed.). (2020). Medicinal Plants - Use in Prevention and Treatment of Diseases. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.83104.

A comprehensive exploration of medicinal plants and herbal medicines is the main topic in Medicinal Plants - Use in Prevention and Treatment of Diseases edited by Bassam Hassan (2020). This book aims to highlight the pharmacological properties, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of various plant-based compounds across a wide range of health conditions.

Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds - book review

2025-04-03T15:05:10+00:00

A review of Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds (1st ed.). José L. Martinez, Alfred Maroyi, and Marcelo L. Wagner (Eds). CRC Press, 2023, 246 pp., £42.39 (eBook), ISBN 9781003323969.

Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds, published by CRC Press, discusses ethnopharmacological approaches in phytochemical research to discover bioactive compounds with potential as pharmaceutical drugs. The medicinal plants discussed have complex biological effects, such as additive, antagonistic, and synergistic interactions, making them essential in multidisciplinary research. The bioactive compounds in these plants contribute to various therapeutic effects, making them potential drug development sources. Several sections in this book discuss nutritional aspects, mechanisms of action, and clinical trials of medicinal plants, including resveratrol, coffee, and antidiabetic plants. It reviews the molecular basis of flavonoids as bioactive compounds from the perspective of modern phytochemistry. This book's integration of biological and social science aspects highlights the relationship between humans and plants in ethnobotany. This approach emphasizes the practical application of ethnopharmacology in developing plant-based therapies.

Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Brazil - Book Review

2025-03-21T06:02:24+00:00

Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Brazil, edited by Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena and Denise Dias da Cruz. 2023. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2023, pp 796, €2799.99 (Hardcover), €299.59 (eBook), ISBN 9783030872502 (Hardcover), 9783030872519 (eBook).

As highlighted in Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Brazil, edited by Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena and Denise Dias da Cruz, which is part of the Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions series published by Springer, this book presents an in-depth study of ethnobotany in Brazil's semi-arid regions, particularly within the Caatinga ecosystem. With 105 plant species covered, this book explores the close relationship between traditional communities and local biodiversity. It primarily focuses on the utilization of plants for various purposes, such as medicine, food, and construction, while also highlighting the role of traditional knowledge in conservation and sustainable development. Although the Caatinga is not a typical mountain region, the book explores formations such as the região serrana (500–1000+ m) unique ecosystems like brejos de altitude integrate species from both the Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest.

Exploring Traditional Wild Edible Plants - book review

2025-04-29T19:21:24+00:00

A review of Vibhor Agarwal, Sachidanand Singh, and Rahul Datta. 2025. Exploring Traditional Wild Edible Plants. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Raton, Florida, USA; and Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK. pp. 357. GBP £160.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-032-49886-7 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-032-49889-8 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-003-39593-5 (ebook).

The book Exploring Traditional Wild Edible Plants can serve as a comprehensive guide that explores the diversity and potential of wild plants in the contexts of food, ethnomedicine and pharmacology. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, it presents an in-depth discussion of ethnobotanical studies, phytochemicals, therapeutic benefits, nutritional value and toxicity aspects of wild edible plants. In addition, the book examines the sustainable utilization of wild edible plants and addresses key conservation challenges, such as overexploitation and habitat destruction.

Plant derived bioactive compounds in human health and disease - book review

2025-04-28T02:47:32+00:00

A review of Pathak S, Banerjee A. 2025. Plant derived bioactive compounds in human health and disease. CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003486237. eBook ISBN9781003486237

“Plant Derived Bioactive Compound in Human Health and Disease,” edited by Surajit Pathak and Antara Banerjee, is a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted roles of phytochemicals in promoting human health and combating diseases. Published in 2025 by CRC Press, this book serves as a vital resource for researchers, healthcare, professionals, and students interested in therapeutic potential of plant-derived compounds. The editors have curated a collection of chapters that delve into various aspects of phytochemicals, from their nutritional significance to their role in modern medicine.

Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds - Book Review

2025-04-22T05:03:33+00:00

Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds, edited by José L. Martinez, Alfred Maroyi and Marcelo L. Wagner. Routlege. London, UK, 2023, pp 246, GBP £124.00 (Hardback), GBP £42.39 (paperback), GBP £42.39 (eBook), ISBN 9781032348148 (hardback), ISBN 9781032348155 (paperback), ISBN 9781003323969 (eBook).

As highlighted in Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds, edited by José L. Martinez, Alfred Maroyi, and Marcelo L. Wagner (2023), this book the examines the use of plants in traditional medicine, with an emphasis on the bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants. This study explored the potential of medicinal plants as sources of bioactive compounds for drug development. Several chapters have focused on the use of traditional plants that demonstrate biological activities related to the treatment of various diseases in humans and animals. This book serves as a significant reference in the fields of ethnobotany and pharmacology, offering insights into how traditional knowledge can support the development of new pharmaceuticals through ethnobotanical and pharmacological research.

The Prehispanic Ethnobotany of Paquimé and its neighbors - book review

2025-04-03T15:00:16+00:00

The Prehispanic Ethnobotany of Paquimé and Its Neighbors, authored by Paul E. Minnis and Michael E. Whalen. The University of Arizona Press, 2020, pp 177, $67.00 (Hardcover), $63.65 (eBook), ISBN 9780816540792 (Hardcover), ISBN 0816540799 (eBook).

The Prehispanic Ethnobotany of Paquimé and Its Neighbors, authored by Paul E. Minnis and Michael E. Whalen, offers a comprehensive exploration of the relationships between ancient human communities and their botanical environments in northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico. Covering the period approximately AD 1200 - 1450, known as the Medio period, this book emphasizes economic, ecological, and cultural dimensions of plant use by prehistoric societies in the region. In revisiting the findings of the Joint Casas Grandes Expedition (JCGE), the authors critique the prevailing narrative that positions Paquimé primarily as a cultural conduit between Mesoamerica and the U.S. Southwest. Instead, they propose a more localized and ecological perspective, arguing that the exceptional agricultural productivity of the Río Casas Grandes valley enabled the development of food surpluses, which in turn supported complex sociopolitical structures such as communal feasting. Structured across five chapters, the authors begin by placing Paquimé within a broader environmental and archaeological framework, clearly detailing the area's diverse ecosystems - from mountain forests to arid desert grasslands - and climatic variability.

Ethnobotany of priority food and medicinal plant species of the Anacardiaceae family in the subequatorial area of Benin

2025-04-12T11:23:23+00:00

Background: This study was conducted to assess the use value of priority food and medicinal plant species of the Anacardiaceae family in the sub-equatorial area of Benin.

Methods: Data were collected through a literature review and an ethnobotanical survey. Eight criteria and four prioritization methods were used. The ethnobotanical study was based on questionnaires administered to 194 respondents. Citation frequencies, Use diversity value (UDs), Use equitability value (UEs), Ethnobotanical Use Value (UV) were calculated.

Results: 14 species were identified. Among them, Lannea nigritana (Scott-Elliot) Keay, Sorindeia grandifolia Engl. and Spondias mombin L. were priority food and medicinal species for conservation in the area. The predominant forms of use were wood energy and fodder for L. nigritana, chewing stick for S. grandifolia, the direct consumption of fruit and fodder for S. mombin. The Use Diversity (UDs) and Use Equitability (UEs) values of plant species revealed that men and women share similar knowledge levels, younger individuals possess less understanding, and traditional practitioners demonstrate advanced knowledge of S. mombin and its uses. S. mombin had the highest ethnobotanical use value (UV = 5,33). Gender (L. nigritana (p ˂ 0.000); S. mombin (p = 0.0009)) and the profession (L. nigritana (p ˂ 0.000); S. mombin (p = 0.002)) had a significant effect on the ethnobotanical use value of L. nigritana and S. mombin .

Conclusions: For the conservation of these species, raising public awareness should be used to encourage sustainability practices.

Keywords: Anacardiaceae, species prioritization, food and medicinal species, conservation

Results of the introduction of the promising ethnomedicinal plant Ferula tadshikorum in the Tashkent Botanical Garden and technology of resin production under different conditions

2025-05-09T06:35:46+00:00

Background: The article presents the results of F. tadshikorum Pimenov introduction in Tashkent Botanical Garden and the technology of obtaining gum resin of roots from different growing conditions.

Methods: To study ontogenesis and to distinguish age states of F. tadshikorum, generally accepted methods were used. Field studies in natural conditions were carried out by route methods based on observation. The timing of resin collection, technical methods of root pruning and the weight of gum resin obtained from one plant were studied.

Results: According to the results of introduction in the Tashkent Botanical Garden the introduction evaluation of F. tadshikorum was carried out. Comparative data of conducted measures, time, technology of collection of gum resin from roots of F. tadshikorum were given. Climatic factors in natural populations and conditions of introduction were considered, the age of plants, time of collection, methods of root cutting were determined. The possibility of obtaining gum resin from virginile age specimens grown in the conditions of the Tashkent Botanical Garden in the sixth year of vegetation was established. In the conditions of Arnasay district of Jizzak region in the 10th year of vegetation, and in natural conditions plants of 12-16 years of life are mainly used. The yield of gum resin obtained from one plant was determined for plants from different locations, which makes it possible to calculate the economic efficiency of the plantations.

Conclusions: The results of 6-year work on introduction of F. tadshikorum in conditions of Tashkent botanical garden are summarized and introduction evaluation is given. On the plantations created in Tashkent region, it is recommended to collect gum resin from virginile plants on the sixth vegetation season.

Keywords: Afghan knife, Ferula tadshikorum, gum resin, introduction assessment, plantations, root.

Quantitative study of the indian ethnobotanical medicinal plant resources in the remote Zanskar Valley of Ladakh

2025-05-23T08:12:00+00:00

Background: The urgent need for ethnobotanical studies arises from the critical role they play in preserving indigenous knowledge and native biodiversity, which are crucial for sustainable development and the conservation of medicinal plants in a rapidly changing environment. This study explores the ethnomedicinal knowledge of indigenous communities in the remote Zanskar Valley of Ladakh (India), specifically examining the medicinal plant species used in their traditional healing practices.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews, informal discussions and snowball sampling were performed to identify individuals with notably greater expertise regarding the uses of resources. The significance level among different parameters was obtained by performing two-tailed independent sample t-test. The ethnobotany R package, used within the R programme, was applied for creating the chord diagrams.

Results: In total, 203 informants took part in the study representing a range of age groups and different educational background. The research identifies 55 medicinal plant species, belonging to 50 genera and 28 families, with herbs (78.18%) being the most common growth form. Leaves (43.64%) formed the most commonly utilized plant part, followed by entire plants (36.36%) and roots (18.18%). The use value (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), and relative importance index (RI) reveals that Corydalis govaniana and Carum carvi are the most valued species. Informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL) indices highlighted the popularity of Podophyllum hexandrum for menstrual irregularity and Cicer microphyllum for skin disorders.

Conclusions: The present study conducted in Zanskar valley shows that, regardless of education levels, both young and old generations possess a strong knowledge of medicinal plants, with a clear preference for traditional healing practices over modern medicine.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Ethnomedicinal knowledge, Key informants, Medicinal plants, Traditional healing, Zanskar, Ladakh

Ethnobotanical study of plants with anti-tuberculosis properties from the traditional pharmacopoeia of Zuénoula, Central-Western Côte d’Ivoire

2025-04-09T16:05:37+00:00

Background: In Zuénoula, a town located to West-Central of Côte d'Ivoire, traditional medicine is often used to treat tuberculosis. However, the recipes proposed by the traditional practitioners against the disease remain a secret to the scientific community. This study exposes indigenous knowledge from traditional practitioners of Zuénoula to contribute in the search for new anti-tuberculosis recipes based on traditional medicine.

Methods: A total of 87 indigenous traditional practitioners in Zuénoula were interviewed using questionnaires on plants used to combat tuberculosis. This study was carried out from August 5 to December 31, 2024. The frequency of citation of species (FCe) and Therapeutic use value (VUT) were calculated to assess the interviewees' responses. The results were analyzed using SPSS 20 software.

Results: A total of 28 plant species were indicated by the respondents as plants with anti-tuberculosis properties. The analysis of indices evaluated, showed six plants well cited and regularly exploited by the traditional practitioners of Zuénoula in the fight against tuberculosis. These are: Kleinhovia hospita (FCe = 0.09 ; VUT= 3.88), Irvingia gabonensis (FCe = 0.09 ; VUT= 3.02), Tristemma coronatum (FCe = 0.07 ; VUT= 2.95), Allium cepa (FCe = 0.06 ; VUT= 2.67), Sterculia setigera (FCe = 0.06 ; VUT= 2.04) and Persea americana (FCe = 0.06 ; VUT= 1.45).

Conclusions: This study is a contribution in the search for new solutions against tuberculosis in Côte d'Ivoire and particularly in Zuénoula, a city of the country strongly affected by the disease.

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, Tuberculosis, Zuénoula, Côte d'Ivoire

Ethnobotany of Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. in two ecoregions of Colombia

2025-04-27T08:24:23+00:00

Background: Acrocomia aculeata is a multipurpose neotropical palm, widely distributed in Colombia with a large potential in the oil and food sector. However, its management and uses in the country are largely unknown. Therefore, the current study involves an ethnobotanical study on the use, management, and commercialization of Acrocomia aculeata in two regions of Colombia, where wild populations are found.

Materials and Methods: Participant and non-participant observation sessions were conducted, along with semi-structured interviews with traders, processors, and consumers of palm, in 10 municipalities of Santander and Casanare, exploring harvesting methods, market characteristics, and uses of the palm.

Results: In Casanare, nine categories were identified, while seven were noted in Santander, with human and animal food being the most prominent in both regions. In Casanare, buds and fruits are harvested, whereas in Santander, only the fruits are collected. Processing is done using traditional artisanal methods, and the market is incipient and seasonal across the two regions. In Casanare, the market is characterized by the offer of handicrafts and utilitarian objects (rings, fans, brooms, and hats), while in Santander, comprises food products derived from the fruit (fruits, chicha, and ice cream). However, a decline in usage was attributed to the depletion of the resource.

Conclusions: The study outlines the use and commercialization of Acrocomia aculeata in Casanare and Santander, highlighting its cultural, social, and economic significance. Despite its considerable commercial potential, it is crucial to address the challenges related to use decline and resource depletion.

Keywords: Corozo, commerce, management, traditional uses, local knowledge