Ethnobotany Research and Applications

A botanical perspective on the Portuguese crown jewels – the golden fleece insignia

Luis Carvalho, Margarida Barros, Mariana Fernandes, Francisca Maria Fernandes — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Royal Treasury Museum (Lisbon) houses one of the richest collections of jewels in Europe and its collection of circa one thousand pieces, includes many that depict stylized plants. Studying them provides us with an insight into the symbolic use of plants in the societies that created them and reveals their links with the classical symbolic codes. A very precious jewel in the collection is the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece, made in the early years of the 19th century, with 1,741 diamonds (more than 300 carats), 190 rubies and one sapphire, arranged in the shape of palm leaves, laurel branches and oak fruits, whose symbolism alludes, not only the Portuguese Royalty, but to the Greco-Roman civilization and to the Christian doctrine.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge, Chemistry, and Pharmacology of the Asteraceae Family in Iran: A Review

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The Asteraceae family is one of the largest families of flowering plants, known for its diverse chemical compounds with significant biological activities. The majority of Asteraceae family members have therapeutic applications and have a long history in traditional medicine. The purpose of this study is to introduce the key medicinal species of this family and their chemical compounds that are used in traditional Iranian medicine.

Methods: Here, we reviewed scientific published studies in major scientific databases on the medicinal and chemical properties of Asteraceae family, emphasizing the ethnobotanical uses in Iran.

Results: This review selected 137 key Asteraceae family plants for their medicinal uses and chemical properties. The most frequently used parts were flower (26%) and leaves (21%). The most important preparations were decoction (44%) and infusion (33%). The genus Artemisia participates with the highest number of species (10 species) followed by Centurea (9 species). The most frequently cited medicinal species were used for digestive system treatment (18%) followed by the respiratory system (10%). Among the active substances that determine the biological activity of the plant material phenolic acid derivatives, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones and other terpenoids, and polyacetylenes are some of the most commonly reported compounds from Asteraceae family plants.

Conclusions: In this research, ethnobotany knowledge about the uses of Asteraceae family plants has been collected so that it will be available to the next generations. Local people are using the plants for various purposes i.e. digestive system treatment, respiratory system, and nervous system. The precious ethnobotanical knowledge about these plants must be transferred to the younger generations. The data may be valuable in the future for pharmacological studies.

Keywords: Ethnobotany; Medicinal plants, Asteraceae, Phytochemistry, Plant Ecology.

Ethnomedicinal plants used for gastro-intestinal disorders (GIDs) by the tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh (Eastern Himalayas), India: A comprehensive review

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Medicinal plants used for treating Gastro-intestinal disorders (GIDs) by tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh have a long history. This study aimed to compile the ethnomedicinal plants for GIDs with special reference to pharmacological activities and preclinical test of plants with high use value. This review provides baseline data for analysis of phytochemicals, bioactive compounds, and further research in the field of herbal drug discoveries.

Methods: For collection of data, specific keywords such as “Arunachal Pradesh”, “ethnomedicine”, “ethnobotany”, “Eastern Himalayas” etc. were searched as single-word or in different combination in online databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, iMedPub, Google Scholar, Scopus, etc.).

Results: 256 plant species of 83 families were reported for GIDs. Dominant habit was herb (41%), Trees (27%), Shrubs (17%), Climbers and Undershrubs (7% each). Among the 256 species, plants with high use reports (UR) in treatment of various GIDs are Paederia foetida (20), Centella asiatica (15), Houttuynia cordata (14), Psidium guajava (10), Begonia roxburghii (8), Coptis teeta (8), Dillenia indica (7), Litsea cubeba (6), Solanum nigrum (6) and Allium hookeri (5). The highest value of Informant consensus factor was reported for Stomach Inflammation/Gasatritis (0.24) while least for stomach ulcer/peptic ulcer. Leaves (27.49%) are the common plant part under use followed by fruit 19.64 %, root 9.67%, shoot 7.85% stem bark 6.65%, rhizome 6.34%, whole plant 6.04%, stem 4.83%, seed 3.63%, and other parts.

Conclusions: The overall review study suggests tribes of this region are using diverse medicinal plants/parts as herbal medicine for different GIDs.

Key words: Ethnobotany; Tribal community; Gastrointestinal; Eastern Himalayas; Use value

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants traditionally used by the inhabitants of Lalku Valley, District Swat, Pakistan

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The non-cultivated edible plants are collected by local people from the surrounding environment and used in various food recipes. The relationship of human communities with such plants has been considered an ecological balance system since ancient times. Much ethnobotanical research has proven the importance of wild edible plants for the local communities, especially in emergency like war, famine, and drought.

Methods: An ethnobotanical study was conducted in 26 villages/ settlements of Lalku Valley, district Swat to document the wild edible plants used as food by local inhabitants. The data was collected using group discussions and oral face-to-face interviews through semi-structured questionnaires. The related information was collected from 222 local informants (179 males and 43 females). Informants were told about the study's aims and Prior Informed Consent was obtained. The acquired data was analyzed through various statistical indices like Use Reports (UR), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC).

Results: A total of 60 plant species belonging to 31 families and 46 genera were reported as wild edible plants (WEPs) traditionally used in the study area. Rosaceae was reported as the dominant plant family with 10 species followed by Lamiaceae 5 while Amaranthaceae and Moraceae with 3 species each. Herbs were reported as the most widely used form with 29 species (48.33%), followed by shrubs with 14 species (23.33%), trees with 12 species (20.00%), and climbers with 2 species (3.33%). Fruits were the most widely used part with 24 species (40.00%), Young shoot with 23 species (39.65%), Leaf with 16 species (26.66%), Seeds and whole plant used with 4 species (6.66%) each, flower with 2 species (3.33%) while bulb and corm with 1 species each (1.66%). Among them, 34 species (56.66%) were consumed uncooked, and 26 species (43.3%) were cooked before consumption. Based on the availability of plants, 26 wild edible plant species are available and collected in the summer season (May-August), 21 species in the spring- early summer season (April- May), and 12 species in the autumn season (September-November).

Conclusions: The local people have rich knowledge related to wild edible plants (WEPs).The results show a strong relationship between the local communities with wild edible plants (WEPs) species which is a potential source to ensure food security. Further studies are required to document and preserve such traditional knowledge.

Keywords: Wild edible plant, Ethnobotany, Traditional knowledge, Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC)

Local knowledge about plants used in a high conservation value area of the Southern Yungas, Argentina

Marina Eva Acosta, Natalia Politi, Luis Osvaldo Rivera — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: A study was conducted in the locality of El Fuerte (Santa Bárbara Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina). The objectives of this work were to (1) document the ethnospecies of plants used by local people, (2) understand their consensus for use and utilitarian versatility, (3) determine harvesting sites, and (4) assess the availability of plants used based on local perceptions.

Methods: Open and semi-structured interviews were conducted to 11 collaborators, along with free listing, participant observation and species identification in the field.

Results: A total of 124 ethnospecies were identified, of which 59% are native species, used for medicinal purposes (36%) and as food (33%). The most frequently mentioned botanical families across all species were Lamiaceae (19%), Rosaceae (16%), Fabaceae (14%), Asteraceae (12%), and Myrtaceae (9%). The species with the highest consensus for use were piquillín (Condalia cf. buxifolia) and mato (Myrcianthes pungens) and the most versatile of use were piquillín and molle (Schinus sp.). The plants were obtained from environments with both high (town) and low (forest) human intervention. Local people's perceptions of the availability of some plants indicate a decrease in terms of quantity.

Conclusions: This is a first approach to study local ecological knowledge in the region, providing a general overview of the useful plants employed by its inhabitants. These findings aim to strengthen biocultural conservation of forests, promote sustainable resource management and offer economic alternatives for local people.

Keywords: useful plants, ethnoconservation, native forest, Northwestern Argentina.

Cross culture comparison in ethno-pharmacological uses of plants between two geographical regions of Northwest Pakistan

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Medicinal plants and plant-based medicines are extensively used in the healthcare system in developing countries. Present research work was carried out to record and report the ethno-pharmacological comparison of medicinal plant uses of two culturally different geographical regions (Kohat and Parachinar) located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Methodology: The ethno-pharmacological survey was conducted through a semi-structured questionnaire comprised of demographic information and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of the localities. The survey was based on traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge of local plants. Relative frequency of citation (RFC), informant consensus factor (ICF), and frequency of citation (FC) were among the quantitative tools used to assess the information that was collected.

Results: A total of 103 medicinal plants were reported in two geographical regions, Kohat and Parachinar. Out of these, 62 medicinal plants were reported from District Kurram Parachinar and 41 from District Kohat. In total, 14 medicinal plant species were common based on reported names and traditional knowledge between the two regions. Based on their local names, therapeutic applications, dosage, treatment, and preparation methods, eighty-nine (89) species were determined to be unusual. Among all reported species highest RFC value was reported for Withania coagulans. In the case of ICF gastrointestinal diseases marked maximum value 730 use report. Leafs reported that most plant parts were utilized during the survey.

Conclusion: In terms of the components of medicinal plants employed, their local names, and their traditional uses, there was a notable 91.67% difference between the two localities. This suggests that the ethnobotanical knowledge of the two locations differs, reflecting differences in environmental effects and cultural behaviors. These variations show how diverse traditional medicine is in each place and emphasize how crucial it is to record and preserve this distinctive legacy.

Keywords: Ethno-pharmacological uses, medicinal plants, cross-culture, Kohat, Parachinar.

Diversity of plants used in traditional veterinary medicine in Central-Eastern Burkina Faso

Issouf Zerbo, Larba Hubert Balima, Charles Lamoussa Sanou, Adjima Thiombiano — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: In the West African Sahel, ethnoveterinary medicine is widely practiced by livestock farmers but remains poorly documented. This study aims to describe the medicinal plants and traditional recipes used for treating major animal diseases in Burkina Faso, specifically in the Centre-Eastern region.

Methods: Semi-structured surveys were conducted from August to October 2024 with 120 livestock farmers randomly selected from five communes in the Centre-Eastern region of Burkina Faso. Data were analyzed using relative frequency of citations and Sankey diagrams.

Results: A total of 38 animal diseases were reported, with diarrhea (11%), trypanosomiasis (10%) and retained placenta (9%) being the most frequently cited. The primary causes of animal diseases were nutritional (28.72%), parasitic (26.28%) and environmental (16.26%). Livestock farmers used 88 plant species from 73 genera and 34 families to treat these diseases. The most represented families were Fabaceae (21.59%), Malvaceae (9.08%) and Poaceae (6.82%). The most frequently used species were Khaya senegalensis (34.02%), Parkia biglobosa (18.40%), Terminalia leiocarpa (10.00%), Vachellia nilotica (9.03%) and Vitellaria paradoxa (8.00%). All plant parts were used in the disease treatment, with bark (35.56%), leaves (21.08%) and fruits (11.88%) being the most frequently used. Six preparation methods were identified in the formulation of ethnoveterinary remedies, with maceration (38.82%) and decoction (34.04%) being the most common. Approximately 86.45% of the recipes were plant-based, while 13.55% included mineral products. Eight administration routes were reported with oral (46.15%), anal (17.31%) and topical (17.31%) applications being the most frequent.

Conclusions: This study documents the use of plants in traditional veterinary medicine practiced by livestock farmers and provides important information to complement modern veterinary medicine in addressing livestock health issues.

Keywords: Ethnoveterinary medicine, Animal diseases, Medicinal plants, Sahel.

Plant bioresource dependency and climate perspectives in tropical forests of the Eastern Himalaya

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The Indian Himalayan Region harbours significant plant bioresources that are essential for species’ survival. These plants provide food, medicine, and economic support while preserving cultural heritage and ecological sustainability. The present study investigates the dependency of local communities on forest plant bioresources, the transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge, and the impacts of climate change on resource availability.

Methods: A comprehensive structured questionnaire survey was carried out in 86 households in the Soraipung range using a stratified random sampling method. Data relating to ethnobotanical plants and their socio-economic characteristics were collected over 12 months from September 2021 to August 2022. The informant consensus factor (F_ic) was calculated to assess the uniformity of ethnomedicinal plant use across ailment categories. The plant species were identified using relevant literature, the necessary data were collected.

Results: It was found that the local people used a total of 80 plants of ethnobotanical importance available in the forest. Among these, 65 species were identified as edible and economically valuable plants, and 44 species have medicinal values. Notably, 25 plants were classified as having edible, economical and medicinal properties. These plants were found to be utilized either for their own consumption and/or commercial purposes.

Conclusions: This study has highlighted the significance of preserving ethnobotanical knowledge of available plant bioresources. It also emphasizes the need for further research to provide insights into traditional knowledge to support livelihoods and resilience in the face of climate change.

Keywords: Bioresources, Climate change, Ethnobotanical, Forests, Livelihood, Traditional Knowledge.

Médecine et magie dans le Sud-Est de Madagascar - a book review

Rainer W Bussmann — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Médecine et magie dans le Sud-Est de Madagascar - Les devins-guérisseurs et lúsage des plantes. Philippe Beaujard. Ediciones SÉPIA, Paris2024. 648 pp. Price: € 40.-, ISBN 979-10-334-0605-1, French.