Frutas frescas y productos derivados comercializados en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Fresh fruits and derived products commercialized in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This contribution includes the registration of 70 fresh fruit species and their derivative products marketed in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Data on fruits and derived products were obtained from ethnobotanical fieldwork, where usual qualitative ethnobotanical methodologies were used: participant observation, free listings, open and semi-structured interviews. A bibliographic review was made on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate their correspondence with the assigned local uses. The situation of invisibility/visibility of the treated species was analyzed, according to their circulation in the restricted commercial circuits (Chinese and Bolivian immigrants) and the general commercial circuit. Of the total of 70 recorded species, 62 are visible (89%) and 8 invisible (11%). These last, only found in the Barrio Chino. The registration of marketed fruits, together with their associated knowledge, represents a contribution to the study of local biocultural diversity.

Esta contribución incluye el registro de 70 especies de frutas frescas y sus productos derivados comercializadasen el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Los datos sobre las frutas y productos derivados se obtuvieron del trabajo de campo etnobotánico, en donde se emplearon metodologías etnobotánicas cualitativas habituales: observación participante, listados libres, entrevistas abiertas y semiestructuradas. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre la actividad biológica y efectos estudiados a fin de evaluar su correspondencia con los usos locales asignados. Se analizó la situación de invisibilidad/visibilidad de las especies tratadas, según su circulación en los circuitos comerciales restringidos (inmigrantes chinos y bolivianos) y el circuito comercial general. Del total de 70 especies registradas, 62 son visibles (89%) y 8 invisibles (11%). Estas últimas se encuentran solamente en el Barrio Chino. El registro de las frutas comercializadas, junto a sus saberes asociados representa un aporte al estudio de la diversidad biocultural local.

Plantas utilizadas en la medicina tradicional de comunidades campesinas e indígenas de la Selva Zoque, Chiapas, México / Useful plants in traditional medicine of peasant and indigenous communities of Selva Zoque, Chiapas, Mexico

El objetivo fue conocer las plantas utilizadas en la medicina tradicional de cuatro comunidades de la Selva Zoque, Chiapas, México. En cada comunidad, se aplicaron 30 entrevistas semiestructuras. El listado florístico medicinal estuvo conformado por 113 especies, 96 géneros y 50 familias. Asteraceae, Fabaceae y Lamiaceae fueron las más representativas. Se obtuvieron 84 indicaciones de uso medicinal, clasificadas en 13 enfermedades, gastrointestinales, dermatológicas y respiratorias, fueron las más frecuentes. La hoja es la estructura de la planta más empleada (72%). El cocimiento es la manera más común de preparar a las plantas, y la vía oral es la forma más frecuente de administrar la medicina. El uso de plantas medicinales es resultado de la experiencia e íntimo contacto con la naturaleza que la sociedad ha acumulado por generaciones. Este saber ha permitido que sobrevivan comunidades que habitan en lugares apartados, donde hay carencias de servicios médicos.

The objective was to know the useful plants in the traditional medicine of four communities of Selva Zoque, Chiapas. In each community, 30 semi-structured interviews were applied. The medicinal floristic listing consisted of 114 species, 97 genera and 50 families. Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae were the most representative. There were 84 indications for medicinal use, classified in 13 diseases, gastrointestinal, dermatological and respiratory, were the most frequent. The leaf is the structure of the most used plant (72%). Cooking is the most common way to prepare plants, and the oral route is the most frequent way to administer medicine. The use of medicinal plants is the result of experience and intimate contact with nature that society has accumulated for generations. This knowledge has allowed communities that live in remote places to survive, where there are shortages of medical services.

Medicinal plants in the family farms of rural areas in southern Brazil: ecological and ethnobotanical aspects / Plantas medicinales en las fincas familiares del área rural en el sur de Brasil: aspectos ecológicos y etnobotánicos

The objective of this study was to find which medicinal plants were used by family farmers from rural areas located in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and to characterize the habitat where they are cultivated. This research was conducted in 2011/2012, it included 43 farmers aged from 38 to 92 years of age, and it was grounded on the snowball method. A total of128 species belonging to 60 botanical families were found. Three cultivation areas are discussed, namely, backyard, grass field, and "capão", a small forest fragment. Herbaceous and shrubby species were most commonly found in the backyard and grass field areas, while tree species were found in the "capão". Medicinal plants were mostly located in areas that had been modified by farmers.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las plantas medicinales utilizadas por los agricultores familiares del área rural de Santa Catarina, sur de Brasil, y caracterizar el hábitat donde se cultivan. La evaluación se realizó en 2011/2012 con 43 agricultores de 38 a 92 años siguiendo la metodología de la bola de nieve. Se pudo identificar 128 especies pertenecientes a 60 familias botánicas. Tres ambientes para el cultivo: quintas, pastizales y fragmentos forestales. En las quintas y pastizales predominan las especies herbáceas y arbustivas, mientras que las especies arbóreas se localizaron en los fragmentos del bosque. Las plantas medicinales se encontraban principalmente en hábitats modificados por los agricultores.

The use of different indicators for interpreting the local knowledge loss on medical plants

ABSTRACT The increasing loss of local ecological knowledge may have negative impacts on the resilience of socio-ecological systems and may also negatively impact bioprospecting efforts, since local ecological knowledge is an important source of information for searching new drugs. Recent studies try to evaluate whether communities are experiencing loss of local ecological knowledge. However, some of them make conclusions which are erroneously based on specific analyses of a single indicator. We propose an integrative analysis of three indicators, namely: number of plants cited by young people and elders, therapeutic choices and people's connectance in terms of medicinal plant learning. The study was carried out in the community of Sucruiuzinho (Bahia, Brazil). We conducted semistructured interviews and a therapeutic recall with 24 local dwellers. We did not find evidence of local ecological knowledge loss in the studied community. Although younger people know fewer plants, they are well connected in terms of knowledge transmission. Moreover, in illness events, young people and adults have similar proportions of choice for plants when compared to allopathy. Concomitant use of the three indicators leads to a more realistic scenario of local ecological knowledge loss than the use of only one of them.

Las personas y las plantas medicinales en el noroeste de Córdoba, Argentina: reconocimiento y valoración de los recursos naturales locales / People and medicinal plants in Northwest Córdoba, Argentina: recognizing and valuing local natural resources

This paper is the result of an experience of applied research that seeks to revalue local knowledge of management medicinal species in San Pedro Norte, Northwest Córdoba. It was proposed to rescue local knowledge about management and reproduction of the species; to reproduce the species with the educational community of Instituto Provincial de Educación Media 369 Anexo San Pedro Norte and workshops with the residents of San Pedro Norte. In addition 30 semi-structured interviews were made and 68 species were determined. Workshops and interviews enabled increase knowledge of the species, their uses and forms of cultivation and facilitated the exchange of knowledge among local people.

El presente trabajo es el resultado de una experiencia de investigación aplicada que busca revalorizar los conocimientos locales sobre el manejo de las especies medicinales en San Pedro Norte, Noroeste de Córdoba. Se propuso rescatar los saberes locales sobre el manejo y reproducción de las especies; reproducirlas con la comunidad educativa del Instituto Provincial de Educación Media 369, Anexo San Pedro Norte, y realizar talleres con los pobladores de la localidad. Se realizaron también 30 entrevistas semiestructuradas y se identificaron 68 especies botánicas. Los talleres y las entrevistas posibilitaron ampliar el conocimiento sobre las especies, sus usos y formas de cultivo, y facilitaron el intercambio de saberes entre los pobladores locales.

Plantas medicinales y productos derivados comercializados como antidiabéticos en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina / Medicinal plants and derived producs commercialized as antidiabetics in Buenos Aires-La Plata conurbation, Argentina

Esta contribución incluye el registro de 115 especies de plantas vasculares medicinales comercializadas como antidiabéticos en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. La información sobre el uso local asignado como antidiabético se obtuvo de las entrevistas realizadas, datos de etiquetas, prospectos y catálogos impresos y electrónicos de los productos, y datos divulgados por los medios de comunicación, en especial Internet. Se realizó una revisión bibliografía sobre la actividad biológica y el efecto antidiabético estudiado para cada especie. Se analizó la situación de invisibidad/visibilidad de las especies tratadas, según su circulación en los circuitos comerciales restringidos (inmigrantes chinos y bolivianos) y el circuito comercial general. Del total de 115 especies antidiabéticas registradas, 90 son visibles (78,26 por ciento) y 25 invisibles (21,73 por ciento). El gran número de plantas antidiabéticas comercializadas aumenta las posibilidades de elección de la población para combatir una de las dolencias característica de la vida en las extensas áreas metropolitanas.

This contribution includes 115 medicinal vascular plants species marketed as antidiabetics in the Buenos Aires-La Plata conurbation, Argentina. Information on assigned local uses as antidiabetic was obtained from interviews, data labels, brochures and print and electronic catalogs,also, data reported by the media, especially the Internet. A literature review on biological activity and antidiabetic effect studied for each species was conducted. The invisibility/visibility situation of the treated species was analyzed according to their circulation in the restricted commercial circuit (Chinese and Bolivian immigrants) and the general commercial circuit. Of the total of 115 recorded antidiabetic species, 90 are visible (78.26 percent) and 25 invisible (21.73 percent). The large number of the marketed antidiabetic plants increases the choice of the population to combat one of the ailments characteristic of life in large metropolitan areas.

Del marco tradicional al escenario urbano: plantas ancestrales devenidas suplementos dietéticos en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina / From traditional frame to urban scenario: Ancient plants became dietary supplementsin conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina

This paper includes partial results of a research in urban Ethnobotany at the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. Five species with medicinal and food traditional uses, which are commercialized as dietary supplements were studied: Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae), Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae), Plukenetia volubilis L. (Euphorbiaceae) y Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Engl.) H.Rob. (Asteraceae). The analysis of the circulation of these products contributes to the understanding of local botanical knowledge, that includes nontraditional components and others linked to the traditions of two immigrant groups: Bolivian and Chinese. The products recently entered the commercial circuit where they are considered as nutraceuticals and adaptogens. Traditional uses of these plants, their properties claimed in pluricultural urban context as well as the scientifically studied ones were compared. Thus, modifications in the original uses as a result of the expansion of the products in the nontraditional commercial context were evaluated.

Este trabajo comprende resultados parciales de una investigación en Etnobotánica urbana en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina. Se estudiaron cinco especies con usos medicinales y alimentarios tradicionales, comercializadas como suplementos dietéticos: Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae), Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae), Plukenetia volubilis L. (Euphorbiaceae) y Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Engl.) H.Rob. (Asteraceae). Al analizar la circulación de los productos se aporta a la comprensión del conocimiento botánico local, con sus componentes no tradicionales y ligados a las tradiciones de dos grupos de inmigrantes: bolivianos y chinos. Los productos ingresaron recientemente en el circuito comercial, donde se consideran nutracéuticos y adaptógenos. Se comparan los usos tradicionales de las plantas, las propiedades difundidas en el contexto pluricultural urbano y las científicamente estudiadas. De este modo, se evaluaron las modificaciones de los usos originales, como resultado de la expansión de los productos en el contexto comercial no tradicional.

Leguminosas medicinales y alimenticias utilizadas en la conurbación Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina / Medicinal and alimentary legumes utilized in the conurbation Buenos Aires-La Plata, Argentina

This contribution includes the results of a study within Urban Ethnobotany about those Legumes employed with medicinal and food purposes in the biggest conurbation of Argentina: Greater Buenos Aires-Greater La Plata. Plants, parts of them and derived products were evaluated. Products that circulate in diverse shops of the area correspond to 32 taxa. Those are catalogued as products with generalized diffusion (present in the general commercial circuit), restricted diffusion (restricted to groups of Bolivian and Asians immigrants taken as reference) and expanding diffusion (species which products are passing from restricted to general circuit, from their access in health stores called “dietéticas”). Besides, the paper includes 35 taxa native and adventitious in the area, that have been recorded as food and medicine, and 36 taxa cultivated as ornamental, that are employed in other regions –but not in the study area– with therapeutic and food purposes. These results contribute to the definition of urban botanical knowledge here presented, as a complex corpus that includes traditional and non traditional components. Likewise, they contribute to the study of the dynamics of this knowledge, expressed by those plant products that are in expansion in the commercial circuit.

Este trabajo incluye los resultados de un estudio de Etnobotánica urbana sobre las Leguminosas utilizadas con fines medicinales y alimentarios en la mayor conurbación de la Argentina, que comprende el Gran Buenos Aires y el Gran La Plata. Se evaluaron plantas, partes de las mismas y productos obtenidos a partir de ellas. A 32 taxones corresponden productos que circulan en diversos comercios del área, catalogados como de difusión generalizada (circuito comercial general), restringida (a grupos de inmigrantes bolivianos y asiáticos tomados como referencia) y en expansión (especies cuyos productos pasan del circuito restringido al general, a partir de su ingreso en los comercios llamados “dietéticas”). Además, se incluyen 35 taxones nativos y adventicios del área con registro de usos terapéuticos y alimentarios; y 36 taxones cultivados como ornamentales, empleados en otras regiones para la alimentación y con fines medicinales, pero no utilizados en el área. Estos resultados contribuyen a la definición de conocimiento botánico urbano aquí presentada, en tanto conjunto complejo que incluye componentes tradicionales y no tradicionales; asimismo, aportan al estudio de la dinámica de dicho conocimiento, que se expresa en los productos vegetales que se hallan en expansión dentro el circuito comercial.

Dynamics of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in a rural community in the Brazilian semi-arid region

Human beings have accumulated rich experience with natural resources over time, but such knowledge can be strongly influenced by several factors, such as age, sex and occupation. This study focuses on the influence of these factors on knowledge of medicinal plants in a rural community in northeastern Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 102 people, with the number of plants and uses cited studied for quantitative analysis. Through this research, it was possible to show that the social variables studied (age, sex and informants occupation) have contributed to the formation of different patterns of knowledge regarding medicinal resources. The results indicate that awareness of this dynamic is necessary for the proper implementation of projects where the goal is the sustainable use of natural resources (because it indicates the different levels of knowledge within a community), for studies intended to discover new drugs (because it indicates the peculiarities of certain groups), and for biodiversity conservation strategies.