Use Value Index Research Articles

Introduction of Medicinal Plants in The South of Lorestan Province

Background and aims: The present study identified the medicinal species of southern Lorestan province and explored their traditional uses and potential applications in modern medicine. Methods: The study involved face-to-face interviews and personal observations to gather information on local names and traditional medicinal uses of plants. Use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (ICF) were used to analyze the data obtained from the interviews. The UV index was calculated to determine the relative importance of medicinal species native to the region. Results: The plant species were identified using standard herbarium methods. A total of 106 medicinal species from 95 genera and 40 plant families were identified, which are utilized by locals for various medicinal purposes in southern Lorestan province. According to the findings, leaves (22.3%), seeds (19%), and fruits (14.5 %) were the most commonly used parts of medicinal species. Edible and infusion were identified as the primary treatment methods in traditional medicine in southern Lorestan province. Conclusion: The predominant therapeutic uses of medicinal species in traditional medicine in the area focused on treating digestive disorders.

Floristics and indigenous knowledge of agro-climatically diverse Sacred groves of central Kerala

The study aimed to identify and document indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants in the selected sacred groves of central Kerala using the typical ethnobotanical approach and record the information. A pre-structured questionnaire survey and quantitative analysis were carried out to record the medicinal plants and to determine the ailments categories. In this study, 141 species belonging to 129 genera and 63 families were recorded from the highland sacred grove Amaran Kavu, and 198 species belonging to 176 genera and 75 families were recorded from the lowland grove Nagampoozhimana Kavu. Habit-wise analysis of the flora showed that trees are the dominant forms (37.58%) in the highland hilly grove, while herbs dominate (36.86%) in the coastal grove. The ethno-floristic survey revealed a total of 102 species of medicinal plants belonging to 90 genera and 50 families. The significance of the plant species was quantified by using family use value, use value index, and informant consensus factor. The highest family use value index (FUV) was reported in the families Piperaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Combretaceae, etc. and the maximum Use Value (1) was reported in Curcuma longa L. and Ocimum basilicum L., which are the high use valued species among the community and Use Value Index (UVI) ranges from 0.05-1. The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) value ranged from 0.93 to 0 and the greatest value (0.93) was obtained for postnatal care, earache (0.92), migraine, and headache (0.9). The present study reveals that the indigenous people living around the sacred groves depend on the plant species for their health care. However, proper management is required for the conservation of sacred groves through sustainable utilization of medicinal plants occurring in the groves.

Ethnobotany of the Useful Native Species in Linares, Nuevo León, México

In Linares, Nuevo León, Mexico, there is no record of the total number of species or the uses that people make of native plants. The purpose of this study was to know the species and their uses in the municipality of Linares, Nuevo León, Mexico. Based on 180 semi-structured interviews, collection, identification, and storage of botanical specimens, the regional ethnobotanical knowledge was assessed. The ethnobotanical information and significant use of plants in Linares was studied. To identify the cultural importance of the ethnobotanical uses of the plants, three indices were calculated: the Use Value Index (UVI), the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and the Fidelity Level (FL). We recorded 59 plant families, 151 genera, and 152 species. The families with the largest number of genera and species with uses registered are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Cactaceae, Araceae, and Euphorbiaceae. The most common uses recorded are ornamental, medicinal, food, and forage. The highest values for ICF were for the circulatory, endocrine, and digestive systems. At least 20 species had 100% FL index values. The species with the highest UVI values were Equisetum laevigatum, Persea ameriana, Amaranthus palmeri, Lophophora williamsii, and Artemisia ludoviciana. A wide use of native flora is recognized in Linares, Nuevo León, which directly influences the livelihood of people in the area.

Use of medicinal plants according to the ancestral knowledge of the indigenous peoples of the Yacuambi Canton, Zamora Chinchipe-Ecuador

Ancestral knowledge about medicinal plants plays a fundamental role in health. Despite this, this knowledge has received little attention, linked to the loss of cultural identity. Under this context, the present research is developed, whose objective is to document the use of medicinal plants, preparation technique, route of administration and the diseases treated, based on the ancestral knowledge of the indigenous peoples of the Yacuambi canton. Regarding the methodology used: semi-structured interviews were applied to 53 people over 40 years of age, from eight rural communities belonging to three parishes of the canton, which allowed gathering information on the species of plants used, their vegetative parts, preparation techniques and route of administration. Among the results, 103 species of medicinal plants distributed in 47 families were recorded, being Lamiaceae the most representative with 12 species, followed by Asteraceae with 11 species; women use more plants than men, whose age varies mainly between 40 - 45 years; most use the leaves and the most common technique of preparation was the infusion, to treat different diseases, by oral administration. Among the most used species are Clinopodium brownei (Sw.) Kuntze (1) and Solanum americanum Mill. (0.92), which represents the highest knowledge richness index and the highest use-value index. These species are of great importance because they may have the greatest potential for future use as a resource for the pharmaceutical industry

Medicinal Plants Diversity Used by Balinese in Buleleng Regency, Bali

The Lontar Usada Bali is a collection of the science of traditional medicine recorded in the lontar leaves. It contains information about the diversity of medicinal plants and treatment procedures used by Balinese for generations. However, most of the information stored in the lontars is only known by the Balians (Traditional Healers). The aim of the study was to investigate and document the diversity of medicinal plants known by Balians in Buleleng Regency, Bali Province, Indonesia. Direct interview with Balians, combined with purposive sampling (for the usada plants), was used in this study and conducted in August-September 2022. The data obtained comprised plant species, habitat, habitus, local names, plant parts used, and how they were used. The data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using diagrams, graphs, and tables and measured by the use-value index. Sixty-five species and 37 families of plants were recorded as a medicinal plant. The most widely used plant families by Balians were Zingiberaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, and Malvaceae. In most cases, leaves were used, followed by tubers, fruits, and other parts. Maceration and powder or mushy were the primary modes of making herbal medicine, and external application was the most common method of drug administration. Most medicinal plants were obtained from the home garden, taken from nature, or bought in the market. Several diseases often treated by Balians were convulsions, itching, cramps, headache, black magic, stroke, herpes and tumor/cancer. This research is important to complete the ethnobotanical data on the diversity of medicinal plants in Bali. This data is important information for the development of new drugs and must be maintained for sustainability.

Ethnobotanical inventory and medicinal perspectives of herbal flora of Shiwalik mountainous range of District Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

The present study was carried out to document traditional ethnobotanical knowledge (TEK) of herbal flora of District Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan to explore medicinal potential of wild indigenous plants (WIPs) for drug discovery. The research data was conducted during years 2015–2017 using questionnaire proforma employing structured and semi-structured interview models. The informants belonged from indigenous communities comprising of both genders with age ranging from 35–105 years. The interviews were conducted using local translator or guide who knew the dialects of all local languages. The study produced ethnobotanical inventory of 173 herbal species belonging to 45 families and out of these Poaceae was dominant family with 27 species. It was explored that maximum herbal species depicted multi-usage especially food, fodder and fuel. Among 173 herbal plant species, 69% species were used as fodder, 72% species as fuel source, 9.8% as ethnoveterinary medicines, 16% for home construction, 12% for cosmetics, 5.2% as honeybee plants and 2.7% were used as fiber source by the local people. Many local plants have been in promulgation for cure of different diseases in traditional cultures such as for cure of stomach problems, cough, cancer, jaundice, kidney diseases, diabetes, snake biting and tooth problems. Different parts of plants such as leaf, root, stem bark, flower, seed and gums are used for the treatment of different diseases by the local people. The major aliments being cured are classified into 12 disease categories by using informant consensus factor (ICF) protocol. According to ICF, the highest numbers of plant species were used against wound healing, snake bite, skin diseases, eye diseases and asthma. Fidelity level (FL) was assessed to check the reliability and use consistency of herbal drugs by the indigenous communities of the study area. The use value index (UVI) of different herb species ranged from 0.29 to 0.57 while the highest value was calculated for Alternanthera pungens L. (UVI: 0.57). Relative frequency of citation (RFC) value was calculated on the bases of the response of the interviewees recorded during survey in correlation with authenticating of traditional data. The RFC values represented the relative popularity of individual species in study area according to their use values. The highest value was calculated for Alternanthera pungens L. (0.90) and followed by Achyranthes aspera L. (0.80. The study reveals that many species are known for commonly used in traditional ethnomedicines (TEMs). Due to different biotic and abiotic factors in conjunction with climatic changes many herbal flora of Shiwalik mountain range (SMR) of District Bhimber of AJK is under threat. The factors like habitat loss, overgrazing, construction of communication infrastructure, silviculture practices, shelter construction (houses) and other more domestic use of wild land by clearing wild lands are boosting towards plant biodiversity loss. There is dare need to work on comprehensive exploration of TEMs to discover neo drugs from wild indigenous plants and do work for conservation of wild flora of the area for future generations.

Diversity, Abundance, and Traditional Uses of Asteraceae Species in Mount Bisma, Dieng Plateau, Kejajar, Wonosobo, Central Java

Asteraceae is the largest and most diverse family of flowering plants which contains more than 20,000 species distributed in nearly all types of habitats all over the world. In mountainous regions such as Mount Bisma, it is estimated to have plenty and diverse member of the Asteraceae family, and used in the local community for various uses. This research aimed to understand the diversity, abundance, and uses of Asteraceae members that are found wild in Mount Bisma. Taxonomy and ecological data were gathered using an exploration method and purposive sampling method, from the point, a plot measured 3x3 m2 was created to estimate the vegetation parameters in the mountain top and mountain valley area. Ethnobotanical data were gathered in Sikunang Village, a nearby village of Mount Bisma using a semi-structured interview and open-ended questions. Data were analysed descriptively and quantitatively using several indices such as Importance Value Index (IVI), Index of Cultural Significance (ICS), and index of Use Value (UV). The result showed that there were 18 species from two subfamilies that grew wild in both mountain top and valley of Mount Bisma. The highest importance value belonged to Ageratina riparia, which was scored in the mountain top and valley 71.00 and 91.53, respectively. Uses of Asteraceae in Sikunang were varies, ranging from being a side dish, medicine, firewood, souvenir, and other uses. Galinsoga parviflora and Galinsoga quadriradiata showed the highest ICS value of 41, whereas Austroeupatorium inulifolium scored the highest in UV of 1.8. The study presented high number of Asteraceae diversity and use. Thus, implies that Mount Bisma has vast unexplored biodiversity and locals around Mount Bisma have rich traditional knowledge.

Ethnopharmacological Studies of Medicinal plants Used by Ethnic Groups in Bardsir Region, Kerman Province

Ethnobotanical studies try to gather indigenous cultures plant knowledge from different regions and tribes all over the world. This study aimed at obtaining, documenting and analyzing medicinal plants used by some ethnic groups in Bardsir region, Kerman province, Iran. Data collection was done through face-to-face interviews, and finally, 120 questionnaires were filled out. Based on the local knowledge, the data collection was analyzed using quantitative values including family importance value (FIV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), use-value index (UV), and factor of informant consensus (FIC). In this study, 47 medicinal plants were recorded belonging to 22 families. The results expressed the highest FIV belonged to Lamiaceae (57%) family. The hemicryptophytes (49%) were also regarded as the most common life forms of the used species. In the current study, the highest RFCs and UV indices belonged to Urtica urens L. 0.21, and 0.39, respectively. Achillea santolinoides subsp. wilhelmsii (K.Koch) Greuter, and Teucrium polium L. had the maximum percentage of FL for treating digestive system disorders. In the present study, the highest indices belonged to U. urens, A. santolinoides subsp. wilhelmsii and T. polium; thus, it is recommended conducting further in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on the mentioned species.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local communities in Sekerak Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia

Abstract. Navia ZI, Suwardi AB, Baihaqi. 2021. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local communities in Sekerak Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 4273-4281. Local communities in Aceh Tamiang have gained a wealth of medicinal knowledge through practice and experience in their long-term battles with the disease. However, because of a lack of written records and rapid economic development, their traditional medicinal knowledge is under threat. This study investigated medicinal plants and related traditional knowledge of local communities in the Sekerak subdistrict, Aceh Taming, Indonesia. Field surveys, plant collections, and interviews with communities were used in this study. The Snowball Sampling technique was used to select 60 informants for the interviews. A total of 46 medicinal plant species belonging to 40 genera and 26 families were used for medicinal purposes by local communities to treat 28 different diseases. The itch, swelling, cough, and nosebleed were the most commonly treated. With a use-value index of 0.98, Tagetes erecta was the most commonly used medicinal plant by local communities. In addition, local communities identified the leaf (50%) as the most widely used plant part and oral administration (65%) as the most common method of administering traditional medicine. Elders have more knowledge of medicinal plants than younger generations, indicating that traditional knowledge is eroding across generations. However, initiatives to promote and conserve medicinal plants must be improved, particularly among the younger generation. This is required to ensure the availability of medicinal plants and the preservation of traditional knowledge in the future.

Ethnomedicine Study of Tengger People of Ngadas Village in Malang, East Java, Indonesia: In Search of Antimicrobial Plants

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> New antimicrobial substances are increasingly needed to face issues of antibacterial resistance, and plants are one of the potential sources of these substances. The Tengger people of East Java, Indonesia empirically possess the knowledge of medicinal plants that need to be documented and assessed further for their potencies. <strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to find plants with the potency of antimicrobial activity, by quantifying ethnomedicinal data from The Tengger people.<strong> Materials and Methods:</strong> In this study, snowball sampling was chosen as the sampling method. Information about medicinal plants was obtained by interview with a semi-structured questionnaire, and four indices namely: ethnobotanical richness, use-value index, fidelity level, and knowledge value index were used for quantifying the information gathered from the respondents. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed that four plants had prominent values of indices, which were adas (<em>Foeniculum vulgare</em> Mill.), jambu wer (<em>Prunus persica</em> (L.) Batsch), sempretan (<em>Eupatorium </em>sp.), and <em>kayu ampet </em>(<em>Astronia macrophylla</em> L.). Those four plants were recognized by The Tengger people for their medicinal properties, which were anti-diarrhea (jambu wer and<em> sempretan</em>), cough reliever (adas), and wound remedies (<em>sempretan</em>). <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The plants had the potency to be explored further for their antimicrobial activity. Further exploration is needed to find new active compounds responsible for antimicrobial activity. <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key words:</strong> Antimicrobial Plants, Ethnomedicine, Ethnopharmacy, Tengger, Indigenous, Indonesia.

Ethnomedicinal and folklore inventory of wild plants used by rural communities of valley Samahni, District Bhimber Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

The current study describes ethnobotanical (EB) and traditional ethnomedicinal (TEMs) uses of medicinal plants (MPs) of Tehsil Samahni area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Indigenous inhabitants of the area mostly reside in remote mountainous areas and depend on wild plants for life necessities and treatment of different diseases. This paper presents first quantitative ethnobotanical study describing the popularity level of MPs in indigenous communities by using relative popularity level (RPL) and rank order of priority (ROP) indices. The data of TEMs and EB uses were collected from 200 interviewees consisting of traditional herbal practioners (110) and farmers (90) from study area using structured and semi-structured interview methodology during year 2019. It was found that illiterate peasants have more knowledge and practice of TEMs than other people. A total of 150 plant species belonging to 58 families with botanical and local names, parts used, mode of recipes preparation, administration mechanism and TEMs uses were documented in systematic manner. It was explored that highest number (7.69%) of plants of Moraceae were used in TEMs and followed by species of Asteraceae (6.29%). The ethnobotanical data was analyzed by using quantitative ethnobotanical tools viz: informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value index (UVI), relative importance of plants (RIP), relative populatiry level (RPL) and rank order of popularity (ROP). The leaf ranked first (36.49%) and fruit 2nd (12.07%) being used in TEMs while prevalent use-form was decoction (29.28%), followed by tea (23.05%) and preferably taken as oral (46.66%). ICF analysis proved that diabetes, hypertension, rabies, snake sting and joint pains were the most prevalent occurring infirmities. The highest RFC (0.95) was found for Acacia modesta, followed by Boerhavia procumbens (RFC:0.87) and Berberis lycium (RFC:0.85). The relative importance of MPs was calculated by using UVI and Moringa oleifera showed highest (1.38), followed by Zanthoxylum armatum (1.25) and Withania somnifera (1.24) use-values. High UVI of plants depicts that these species are predominantly used in local health care system. The plants Phyllanthus emblica, Morus macruora, Justicia adhatoda and Melia azedarach depicted high values (1.00) of FL and RPL proving that these taxa are commonly used in indigenous medicines by local inhabitants and have better potential for drug discovery by ethnopharmacological analysis. Out of total, 26 species had more than 50% ROP index and Phyllanthus emblica and Flacourtia indica (ROP = 100) followed by Morus macruora (ROP: 97) were used to cure ‘hypertension and hyperlipidemia’ and ‘cough, chest infection’, respectively. It was found that 30% of total species were previously reported as medicinal while 70% plants were first time reported to be used in TEMs and authenticated by using of quantitative ethnobotanical tools. Ethnopharmacological potential of indigenous plants was confirmed by RIP and RPL indices which had been used to cure one or more body systems and were promulgated in the local herbal medicine system. The research provides clues to screen these plant species by using latest phytochemical and pharmacological analysis for novel drug discovery. This study will also be useful for conservation of bioculture traditional knowledge of indigenous communities and the most important is to conserve medicinal plants of the study area for future generations.

Factors influencing use of multipurpose trees and shrubs in arid and semiarid lands of Kenya

Multipurpose trees and shrubs are vital components of arid and semiarid ecosystems. They offer both regulatory and production services, yet there is inadequate information on their actual use and factors affecting utilization of these plant resources. A study was carried out in three agroecological zones (counties) of southeastern Kenya: Machakos (subhumid zone), Kajiado (semiarid zone), and Kitui (arid zone). The research objective was to assess the local uses of multipurpose trees and shrubs and determine how socioeconomic factors (gender, type of occupation, and education level) influenced their use. A field survey was conducted along a 324-km transect across the three agroecological zones. Data were collected from 196 respondents using focus group discussions, key informants, and individual household questionnaires. A total of 86 plant species belonging to 47 plant families were recorded. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed that women significantly used a higher number of different plant species than men (P < 0.05). The level of education and type of occupation also significantly affected plant use (P < 0.05), with subsistence farmers having primary or no formal education, reporting the highest number of species. Fifteen plant-use categories comprising production and service provision were identified. Plant species use-value index (UVI) revealed 10 indigenous and wild woody species of high value in the study area. Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne had the highest UVI of 0.33, followed by Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. (0.17), Terminalia brownii Fres. (0.13), and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. (0.12). There was a significant positive correlation between the reporting frequency for woody species and the overall UVI (P < 0.05). Economic development, climate change, and land use changes jeopardize distribution, utilization, and knowledge preservation of multipurpose woody species. There is a need for monitoring and adoption of gender-sensitive strategies for their sustainable utilization in order to safeguard these unique plant resources from degradation and overexploitation.

Ethnomedicinal knowledge of a marginal hill community of Central Himalaya: diversity, usage pattern, and conservation concerns

BackgroundIndigenous communities use wild plants to cure human ailments since ancient times; such knowledge has significant potential for formulating new drugs and administering future health care. Considering this, the present study was undertaken to assess use value, diversity, and conservation concerns of medicinal plants used in traditional herbal care system of a marginal hill community in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand in the Central Himalayan region of India.MethodologyExtensive surveys were made in 73 villages to gather information on the ethnomedicinal use of plant species used in the traditional herbal healing system. A total of 100 respondents were identified (30 herbal healers called Vaidyas and 70 non-healers/natives) and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires, target interviews, and group discussion. Some important indices such as the use-value index (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), cultural importance index (CI), and informant consensus factor (Fic) were calculated for the medicinal plants included in the present study.ResultIt was recorded that the community uses a total of 70 species with 64 genera and 35 families for curing various ailments. Family Lamiaceae recorded the maximum number of medicinal plants. Twenty-one species used most extensively in the traditional health care system. The major parts of the identified plants used for the treatment of various ailments were root/rhizome and leaf. The most common methods used for the preparation of these plants were decoction and infusion. Ocimum basilicum L., Cannabis sativa L., Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Sw., Curcuma longa L., and Setaria italica L. had the highest rate of use report. RFC value ranged between 0.03 and 0.91 with highest values for Setaria italica, Zingiber officinale, Ocimum basilicum, and Raphanus sativus. The traditional knowledge is passed verbally to generations and needs to be preserved for the future bio-prospecting of plants that could be a potential cure to any future disease.ConclusionIn recent years, the community has access to modern hospitals and medicinal facilities, although a considerable number still prefer medicinal plants for curing select ailments. It is suggested that these ethnomedicinal species need to be screened and evaluated further for their effectiveness for pharmacological activity. Also, significant efforts are required to conserve traditional knowledge and natural habitats of wild medicinal plants.

Ethnobotanical research in Cava de\u2019 Tirreni area, Southern Italy

BackgroundTo best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative ethnobotanical study with the aim of documenting the local knowledge and practices of using plants for curing diseases in the Cava de’ Tirreni area, Salerno Province, Campania Region, Italy. The present ethnobotanical field study, carried out during 2016–2017, documents the local uses of 119 plant species for medicinal, food and domestic purposes.MethodsEthnobotanical data were documented from 70 informants: field data were collected and information on the uses of plants was gathered through semi-structured and structured interviews with persons who still retain traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. Documented data were evaluated using the quantitative ethnobotanical index of use value (UV).ResultsOverall, the informants native of the area were interviewed and 277 use-reports have been recorded. The scientific names, local names, plant part used, preparation and administration processes are reported and compared with practices in other Southern Italian regions. In total, 101 species are documented as medicinal, 36 as food or food aromatizer, 29 for domestic and handicraft uses, 10 in veterinary medicine. More or less 64% of all species have more uses and over half of the food plants (23 species) are also used for medicinal purposes.ConclusionsThe comparison of the documented species and their uses with ethnobotanical literature of other Italian regions reveals that the traditional plant knowledge in this area shows strong similarities with adjacent Southern Italian areas. Some of the recorded species and administration processes however seem to be unique for the zone.

Estudio etnobotánico y comercialización de plantas medicinales del bosque protector Murocomba y su área de influencia del cantón Valencia, Ecuador

En el presente artículo se determinó el uso etnobotánico de las plantas medicinales en el bosque protector Murocomba y su área de influencia, para lo cual se aplicaron 56 encuestas de tipo analítica en cinco localidades. Con el fin de obtener información sobre la propa-gación de plantas, se realizaron 20 encuestas en las localidades del bosque y, para la identificación de los procesos de comercialización, 40 encuestas a herbolarios en los cantones aledaños. Se registraron 51 especies, 44 géneros y 26 familias de plantas medicinales. Cymbopogon citratus presentó mayor frecuencia absoluta. La localidad con mayor número de especies e individuos fue Isla de la Libertad, así como con mayor diversidad con 3,42, según el índice de Shannon, y 0,9569, según el de Simpson. El índice de Jaccard presentó mayor interacción entre El Dorado e Isla de la Libertad. El Anova mostró diferencias significativas en frecuencia de especies entre las localidades. C. citratus y Ocimum americanum obtuvieron mayor Índice de Valor de Uso (IVU), Conocimiento Relativo de las Especies (RVU) y Uso Significativo Trámil (UST). La propagación de ocho especies con mayores UST se realiza mediante semilla, esquejes o división de planta. Las plantas medicinales en herbolarios con mayor demanda fueron Ruta graveolens, Matricaria chamomilla y Peumus boldus. Finalmente, en plantas medicinales con mayor UST se identificaron tres tipos de valor agregado: maceta, aceites esenciales yplantas deshidratadas, con costos de comercialización que oscilan entre $1,00 a $10,00 dólares.

Uso tradicional de la fitodiversidad de los bosques de &lt;i&gt;Pinus hartwegii&lt;/i&gt; en dos comunidades mexicanas de alta montaña

Se registra el conocimiento tradicional de las plantas útiles en los bosques de Pinus hartwegii, un ecosistema importante que marca el límite altitudinal de la vegetación arbórea en México y que brinda importantes servicios ambientales por ser cabecera de cuencas hidrológicas. El estudio se realizó en dos comunidades rurales de alta montaña en el centro de México: Ranchería Las Palomas (RLP) en el Estado de México y San José Pilancón (SJP) en el estado de Veracruz. Se usó el método de consenso de informantes y se hicieron entrevistas semiestructuradas al 10 % de la población, recorridos botánicos, análisis de datos del Índice de Valor de Uso (IVU) y riqueza de plantas. Se encontraron 51 especies útiles en RLP y 46 especies en SJP, así como nueve categorías de uso en RLP y once en SJP. El IVU coincidió en las dos comunidades, donde el pino-ocote (P. hartwegii) fue la especie más importante (1,9 RLP y 1,2 SJP). Se encontraron 24 especies en común, 16 coinciden con los nombres comunes y usos, pero ocho especies tuvieron nombres y usos diferentes. De manera general, para las localidades estudiadas, se pudo reconocer que el conocimiento tradicional sobre las plantas útiles se resguarda en la población adulta y del sexo femenino. Se espera que este estudio sea una base para la valoración y conservación del conocimiento tradicional y la fitodiversidad de este tipo de bosques, tanto por las comunidades locales, así como por autoridades en temas ambientales.

Productos forestales no maderables: uso y conocimiento de frutas silvestres comestibles el Chocó, Colombia

Introducción: los productos forestales no maderables proporcionan seguridad alimentaria en contextos rurales. Objetivo: ampliar la lista de plantas silvestres prometedoras en Chocó, Colombia. Métodos: entrevistamos a 150 adultos (10% de la población) con fórmulas etnobotánicas publicadas. Resultados: registramos 21 especies (13 familias botánicas, numéricamente dominadas por Arecaceae con seis). La comunidad calificó dos especies más alto en el Índice de valor de uso: Oenocarpus bataua (26%) y Attalea allenii (12%). Las mujeres tuvieron mayor participación y aportaron la mayor parte de la información. Conclusión: los resultados descritos en esta investigación, sirven de base para la construcción de políticas públicas que encierren estrategias propias de los contextos rurales de la región, las cuales impulsen el desarrollo económico sostenible a diferentes escalas a partir del aprovechamiento responsable de los recursos naturales.

Medico-Religious Plants Employed in Mauritius: A Survey Among Hindu Priests.

Mauritius is renowned for its rich floral and cultural diversity. The aim of this study was to identify and document medicinal plants exclusively employed in rituals and to promote wellness among the Hindu community. In addition, it also highlights poorly documented plants with respect to their safety, efficacy, and herb-drug interaction inducing potential. The informant group included Hindu priests (n = 14) solely, while the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and use value (UV) were utilised to analyse the data. A total of 33 plants were reported in this survey. Sixteen plants were reported by informants to have both medicinal and religious values, while the highest RFC and UV index was obtained by Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (RFC = 0.79; UV = 0.71). Nonetheless, despite known and utilised commonly for years by humanity, various plant species mentioned in this study have been poorly evaluated in randomised clinical trials and for any risks of herb-drug interactions. Hence, there are concerns surrounding the safe use of these plant species particularly among patients suffering from chronic diseases.

Etnomedicina en Los Altos de Chiapas, México

The objective of the this research was to register the current popular therapeutic use of medicinal plants in the Tzotzil indigenous population, in The Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The data were collected from 59 informants (39% men, 61% women) between 20 and 86 years old, through a semi-structured questionnaire in the Tzotzil language. From the information collected, a total of 59 species of medicinal plants were registered, belonging to 55 genera and 37 botanical families. The families Asteraceae (with 6 species and UR=51), Lamiaceae (4, UR=37) and Lauraceae (4, UR=21), are were the most representative in the study area. The highest use value index (UVI) was reported for Matricaria chamomilla (UVI=0.42), Mentha sativa (UVI=0.36) and Ruta graveolens (UVI=0.31). According to the informant consensus factor (ICF), the main pathological categories treated are were of the reproductive system (ICF=0.80), respiratory infections (ICF=0.75) and diseases of the digestive system (ICF=0.70). The species reported and their diversity of uses satisfy the needs of families with socioeconomic deficiencies.

Study of the Mandrillus sphinx (Cercopithecoidea) diet behaviour from the Lekedi Park (South-East, Gabon) as a valuable approach for drugs discovery

The last decades, various research approaches have been undertaken worldwide for drug discoveries. Our study aimed to investigate medicinal plants of the Lékédi Park through a zoopharmacological and ethnopharmacological surveys on mandrills and on human population respectively from the Department of Lékoko.Data on feeding behaviour were collected on 57 mandrills, from Lékédi Park, using a 5-min focal sampling method for 17 months. The ethnopharmacological uses were carried out on the human population using semi-structured questionnaires and scientific databases. Data were evaluated statistically by using the index of Use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (Fic).The results showed that studied mandrills used about 147 plant species belonging to 48 botanical families. The Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae families were the most representative in the mandrill diet. Among plant organs eaten, some organs of plants such as bark or roots rich in non-nutritional compounds were occasionally used by mandrills, suggesting the involvement of a self-medication behavior in mandrill. Also, it appears that the plant selection would be mainly due to the availability, protein and sugar contents. Ethnopharmacological surveys show that among the 147 consumed by mandrills, 33% were used for medicinal purposes only, 41% as food and 11% were used as food and as medicine. The informant consensus factor values indicate that the medicinal plants are effective in treating certain diseases.Thus, the study of mandrill diets behaviour would be a potential approach for the drugs discovery against bacterial and parasitic affections.