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%)

Estudio etnobotánico de la flora medicinal de la provincia de Trujillo, Perú / Ethnobotanical study of the medicinal flora of the province of Trujillo, Peru

Trujillo, one of the main provinces of Peru, is home to a multicultural population, coming from the Coast, Sierra and Selva; of different ideologies, cultures, and ancestral knowledge about the correct use of medicinal flora. In this sense and in an effort to rescue this ancestral knowledge, the ethnobotanical study of the medicinal flora of the province of Trujillo was carried out. For which 96 semi - structured interviews were applied, using the "snowball" technique; followed by the collection, taxonomic determination and calculation of ethnobotanical indices: Use Value Index (IVU) and Informant Consensus Factor Index (FCI). It is concluded that the inhabitants of Trujillo make use of 102 species of medicinal flora, distributed in 95 genera and 46 families for the treatment and/or cure of 62 diseases. Of the total species, 24 turned out to be the most important (according to their IVU) for the cure of diseases of the Trujillo po pulation.

Trujillo, una de las principales provincias de Perú, alberga una población pluricultural, procedente de la Costa, Sierra y Selv a; de distintas ideologías, culturas, y saberes ancestrales sobre el correcto uso de la flora medicinal. En tal sentido y en el afán de rescatar ese conocimiento ancestral, se realizó el estudio etnobotánico de la flora medicinal de la provincia de Trujill o. Para lo cual se aplicaron 96 entrevistas semiestructuradas, empleando la técnica "bola de nieve"; seguido de la colecta, determinación taxonómica y cálculo de Índices etnobotánicos: Índice de valor de Uso (IVU) e Índice de Factor de Consenso del Informa nte (FCI). Se concluye que los pobladores trujillanos hacen uso de 102 especies de flora medicinal, distribuidas en 95 géneros y 46 familias para el tratamiento y/o cura de 62 enfermedades. Del total de especies, 24 resultaron ser las más importantes (segú n su IVU) para la cura de enfermedades del poblador Trujillano.

Nematophagous Fungi: A Review of Their Phosphorus Solubilization Potential.

Nematophagous fungi (NF) are a group of diverse fungal genera that benefit plants. The aim of this review is to increase comprehension about the importance of nematophagous fungi and their role in phosphorus solubilization to favor its uptake in agricultural ecosystems. They use different mechanisms, such as acidification in the medium, organic acids production, and the secretion of enzymes and metabolites that promote the bioavailability of phosphorus for plants. This study summarizes the processes of solubilization, in addition to the mechanisms of action and use of NF on crops, evidencing the need to include innovative alternatives for the implementation of microbial resources in management plans. In addition, it provides information to help understand the effect of NF to make phosphorus available for plants, showing how these biological means promote phosphorus uptake, thus improving productivity and yield.

Valor de uso medicinal de la flora empleada por la Comunidad Andina de Jesús, Cajamarca, Perú / Medicinal use value of the flora used by the Andean Community of Jesús, Cajamarca, Peru

The medicinal flora plays a valuable role in improvingthe quality of life; ancestral knowledge that constitutes a legacy inherited by the Andean-Amazonian communities. The research was focused on determining the medicinal use value of the flora used by the Andean Community of Jesús. 96 semi-structured interviews were applied, using the "snowball" technique. The population of the Andean Community employs 84 species of flora, distributed in 80 genera and 45 families; where the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae and Fabaceae were the most representative. Likewise, they suffer from 56 diseases, grouped into 11 categories, being the diseases of the Systems: respiratory (FCI=0.68), digestive and gastrointestinal (FCI=0.57), urinary (FCI=0.57), cardiovascular (FCI=0.56), reproductive (FCI=0.54) and Nervous (FCI=0.53), the most treated. Finally, the Andean Community attributes great importance to 54 species of medicinal flora; Therefore, it is urgent to implement projects and research that promote their sustainability.

La flora medicinal juega un valioso rol en la mejora de la calidad de vida; saber ancestral que se constituye en un legado heredado por las comunidades Andino-amazónicas. La investigación se abocó a determinar el valor de uso medicinal de la flora empleada por la Comunidad Andina de Jesús. Se aplicaron 96 entrevistas semiestructuradas, empleando la técnica "bola de nieve". El poblador de la Comunidad Andina emplea 84 especies de flora, distribuidas en 80 géneros y 45 familias; donde las Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae y Fabaceae, fueron las más representativas. Asimismo, padecen 56 enfermedades, agrupadas en 11 categorías, siendo las enfermedades de los Sistemas: respiratorio (FCI=0,68), digestivo y gastrointestinal (FCI=0,57), urinario (FCI=0,57), cardiovascular (FCI= 0,56), reproductivo (FCI=0,54) y Nervioso (FCI=0,53), las mayormente tratadas. Finalmente, la Comunidad Andina atribuye gran importancia a 54 especies de flora medicinal; por lo que urge implementar proyectos e investigaciones que fomenten la sustentabilidad de las mismas.

Preserving Traditional Botanical Knowledge: The Importance of Phytogeographic and Ethnobotanical Inventory of Peruvian Dye Plants.

Abstract: Peru is a megadiverse country with native species of all kinds, including dye plants, which have been used for hundreds of years by the local population. Despite the fact that many of these natural dyes are of a superior quality compared to synthetic ones and do not have the harmful effects that the latter may cause to human health, due to the lack of documentation and dissemination, ethnobotanical knowledge is unfortunately being lost with the passing of generations. In order to preserve and spread such valuable knowledge, this study conducted a comprehensive taxonomic, phytogeographic, and ethnobotanical inventory of dye plants based on periodical botanical explorations in selected locations of Northern Peru during the span of two decades. A critical review of the specialized bibliography was then carried out and the findings were verified with the personal knowledge and experience of both the researchers and the local and regional people. The results of the inventory record 32 species of dye plants from Northern Peru distributed in 22 families, of which the following stand out due to the number of species: Fabaceae (5), Anacardiaceae (2), Annonaceae (2), Asteraceae (2), Berberidaceae (2), Rosaceae (2), and Solanaceae (2). Of the 32 dye species identified, four are considered endemic from Peru: Berberisbuceronis J.F. Macbr., Caesalpiniapaipai Ruiz & Pav., Coreopsissenaria S.F. Blake & Sherf., and Lomatiahirsuta (Lam.) Diels. The study also found that species such as Bixaorellana L., Indigoferasuffruticosa Mill., Sambucusperuviana, and the lichen Usneabaileyi (Stirton) Zahlbr have not been commercially exploited in Peru despite the fact that they already constitute a great economic source for several countries.

The tape-stripping technique as a method for drug quantification in skin.

Quantification of drugs within the skin is essential for topical and transdermal delivery research. Over the last two decades, horizontal sectioning, consisting of tape stripping throughout the stratum corneum, has become one of the traditional investigative techniques. Tape stripping of human stratum corneum is widely used as a method for studying the kinetics and penetration depth of drugs. This paper shows the applications of the tape stripping technique to quantify drug penetration through the skin, underlining its versatile application in the area of topical and transdermal drugs.

Determination of poloxamer 188 and poloxamer 407 using high-performance thin-layer chromatography in pharmaceutical formulations.

Poloxamers (PXMs) are amphiphilic non-ionic block polymers commonly used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In spite of the wide use of PXMs, few studies have dealt with the analysis of these polymers in pharmaceutical preparations. In this work, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) has been used to quantify both PXM-188 and PXM-407 in pharmaceutical preparations. The separation of these compounds was carried out using reverse phase HPTLC plates with a chloroform-methanol mixture as the mobile phase. Detection was performed densitometrically using the Dragendorff's reagent for the visualization of PXMs. Quality parameters were established, and the detection limits ranged from 24 to 47ng/spot. A good precision (day to day and run to run), with relative standard deviations <11.18%, was obtained. The proposed method was satisfactorily applied to the analysis of laboratory-made and commercial pharmaceutical products.

Preparation and characterization of triclosan nanoparticles for periodontal treatment.

The aim of this work was to produce and characterize triclosan-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) by the emulsification-diffusion process, in an attempt to obtain a novel delivery system adequate for the treatment of periodontal disease. The NPs were prepared using poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) and cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP). Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) was used as stabilizer. Batches were prepared with different amounts of triclosan (TCS) in order to evaluate the influence of drug on NP properties. Solid NPs of less than 500 nm in diameter were obtained. Entrapment efficiencies were higher than 63.8%. The characterization by scanning electron microscopy and light scattering indicated that high concentrations of TCS seemingly caused the increase of NP mean size. A decrease in the PLGA glass transition temperature was observed by differential scanning calorimetry. This could indicate that TCS in PLGA-NPs behaves as a non-conventional plasticizer. Subsequently, in vitro release studies were carried out under sink conditions using a device designed in our laboratory to allow a direct contact between the particles and the dissolution medium. A fast release of TCS from NPs was detected. A preliminary in vivo study in dogs with induced periodontal defects suggested that TCS-loaded NPs penetrate through the junctional epithelium.

Absence of a coding region for the helper component-proteinase in the genome of cucumber vein yellowing virus, a whitefly-transmitted member of the Potyviridae.

The complete nucleotide sequence of isolates of Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) has been determined. The viral genome comprises 9734 nucleotides, excluding a 3'-terminal poly(A) sequence. The genome of CVYV has a 5'-non coding and a 3' non coding region of respectively 67 and 240 nucleotides. The RNA of CVYV encodes a single polyprotein of 3148 amino acid residues and has a deduced genome organization and motifs typical for a member of the family Potyviridae. However, CVYV is atypical because it lacks a coding sequence region for the putative helper-component as well as conserved helper-component-proteinase motifs which may account for its vector relations. All the present coding regions were compared to those from several members of the Potyviridae family. CVYV is most closely related to Sweetpotato mild mottle virus confirming its assignation to the genus Ipomovirus, despite similarities with tritimoviruses.

First Report of Southern bean mosaic virus Infecting French Bean in Morocco.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is grown on approximately 1,500 ha in commercial greenhouses and is of major economic importance in the Souss-Massa Region, Agadir, Morocco. Since October 2003, symptoms resembling a viral disease, consisting of pod mosaic and distortion and mild to severe mosaic in leaves, have been observed on bean plants in several greenhouses. Mechanical inoculation with symptomatic leaf extracts produced necrotic local lesions on P. vulgaris 'Pinto' and systemic symptoms similar to those observed in the naturally infected bean plants P. vulgaris 'Donna' (five plants per cultivar). Inoculated and naturally infected samples reacted positively using a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) to Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany), a member of the Sobemovirus genus that is transmitted by contact, soil, beetles, and seeds (1). Virions purified from a naturally infected 'Donna' plant contained a 30-kDa polypeptide that reacted positively using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis with SBMV antiserum (DSMZ). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification with SMBV primers as described by Verhoeven et al. (2) produced an expected 870-bp band. The amplicon was cloned, sequenced (GenBank Accession No. AJ748276), and compared to those isolates available in GenBank and had a nucleotide sequence identity of 87% and a derived amino acid sequence identity of 95% with an SBMV isolate from Spain (2). During a survey in different areas of the Souss-Massa Region, 20 symptomatic leaf and pod samples were randomly collected from 12 greenhouses (50 ha) where significant commercial losses were suffered because of this virus disease, and all samples were positive using DAS-ELISA for SBMV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SBMV in Morocco. References: (1) J. H. Tremaine and R. I. Hamilton. Southern bean mosaic virus. No. 274 in: Descriptions of Plant Viruses. CMI/AAB, Kew, Surrey, England, 1983. (2) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 109:935, 2003.

First Report of Turnip mosaic virus in Pisum sativum in Spain.

During 2001 and 2002, Pisum sativum var. vulgare plants grown as commercial crops in Almeria (southeast Spain) showed vein clearing and chlorotic mottle of leaves, leaf deformation, flower abortion, necrotic mottle and deformation of pods, and stunted plant growth. Crude sap of collected plants was mechanically inoculated on healthy pea plants which reproduced symptoms observed in the field; local necrotic lesions were produced on mechanically infected Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, and Gomphrena globosa, systemic mosaic symptoms on Brassica napus and Nicotiana benthamiana, and local lesions plus systemic mosaic symptoms on N. clevelandii, which are all characteristic of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) (1). A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay using general primers for the extreme 3' end of the potyvirus genome amplified products of 750 and 1,700 bp in nucleic acid extracts from naturally infected pea plants as well as from the mechanically infected test plants. The overlapping nucleotide sequences of the products (GenBank Accession No. AJ489259) had a nucleotide sequence identity of 86.5% and a derived amino acid identity of 95.0% with several published sequences of TuMV (1). This report cites the first partial nucleotide sequence of TuMV infecting pea crops, and although natural infections of this virus in pea have been reported in Morocco (1976) and in the United States (2), to our knowledge, this is the first report of TuMV in Spain. References: (1) P. Lehmann et al. Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 51:195, 1997. (2) R. Provvidenti. Plant Dis. Rep. 62:482, 1978.

First Report of Cucumber vein yellowing virus in Spain.

In the autumn of 2000, an outbreak of a disease caused considerable losses in greenhouse cucumber crops in Almeria (Spain). Infected plants showed vein clearing followed by chlorosis in leaves and yellow/green chlorotic spots on fruits. These symptoms as well as the presence of Bemisia tabaci in the crops suggested the possible involvement of Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV), a proposed member of the Potiviridae family, which was first described in 1960 in Cucumis spp. from Israel (1). B. tabaci populations and leaves from cucumber plants were collected from the greenhouses and analyzed by RT-PCR using specific primers (CV(+): 5'-AGCTAGCGCGTATGGGGTGAC-3'; CV(-): 5'-GCGCCGCAAGTGCAA-ATAAAT-3') that we designed based on the partial sequence published for CVYV (2). Total nucleic acid extracts from both B. tabaci individuals and the collected plants yielded amplification products of the expected size (449 bp), which were cloned and sequenced (Genebank accession number AJ301640). The sequence was 95.6% identical to that previously reported for CVYV. Nonviruliferous B. tabaci whiteflies were given a 24-h acquisition period on symptomatic leaves and then placed in groups of 15 insects on each of 10 healthy cucumber plants at the 4 leaf-stage for a 24-h inoculation period. Inoculated and control plants were analyzed 1 week later and the infection with CVYV was confirmed (10/10) by RT-PCR. Doublestranded RNA extractions from field-collected samples and from plants inoculated under controlled conditions suggested that no dsRNA formation was associated with the infection. This is the first report of CVYV in Spain. References: (1) S. Cohen and F. E. Nitzany. Phytopathol. Medit. 1:44, 1960. (2) H. Lecoq et al. J. Gen. Virol. 81:2289, 2000.

First Report of Cucumber leaf spot virus in Spain.

Cucumber leaf spot virus (CLSV), reclassified as a species in the new genus Aureusvirus (family Tombusviridae) (1), has ≈30-nm isometric particles with a ≈4.4-kb positive-sense, single-stranded RNA. CLSV is transmitted by the chytrid fungus Olpidium bornovanus. The virus has been reported in Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. During the fall of 2000, abundant chlorotic spots with necrotic centers were observed on the leaves of cucumber plants grown in a commercial greenhouse in Granada (southeastern Spain). When sap from collected leaves was used to mechanically inoculate cucumber, symptoms were reproduced and were suggestive of CLSV. Based on the nucleic acid sequence of CSLV (2), the following specific primers were designed: CLSVU1440 (5'-AAGGTAGGGGAGATCTTG-3') and CLSVA2160 (5'-GCTTCGGCTGATTCTGA-3'). When used in reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), leaves expressing symptoms yielded amplification products of the expected size (720 bp). These products were cloned into a pGEM-T vector and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. AY038365). The similarity of the nucleic acid and derived amino acid sequences with the one published for CLSV (2) was 94.5 and 99.1%, respectively. The amino acid sequence was 86% identical to that of Pothos latent virus (GenBank Accession No. AJ243370). Ten cucumber plants grown in vermiculite supplemented with rhizosphere soil (1/30, vol/wt) from infected plants developed symptoms on leaves after 1 month and were positive for CLSV when leaf and root tissues were analyzed by RT-PCR and Southern blot hybridization. Plants grown in vermiculite alone did not become infected with CLSV. Microscopic examination of root tissue revealed O. bornovanus only in infected plants. To our knowledge, this is the first record of CSLV in Spain. References: (1) G. P. Martelli et al. Arch. Virol. 143:1847, 1998. (2) J. S. Miller et al. Virus Res. 52:51, 1997.

Isolation and characterization of alfalfa-nodulating rhizobia present in acidic soils of central argentina and uruguay

We describe the isolation and characterization of alfalfa-nodulating rhizobia from acid soils of different locations in Central Argentina and Uruguay. A collection of 465 isolates was assembled, and the rhizobia were characterized for acid tolerance. Growth tests revealed the existence of 15 acid-tolerant (AT) isolates which were able to grow at pH 5.0 and formed nodules in alfalfa with a low rate of nitrogen fixation. Analysis of those isolates, including partial sequencing of the genes encoding 16S rRNA and genomic PCR-fingerprinting with MBOREP1 and BOXC1 primers, demonstrated that the new isolates share a genetic background closely related to that of the previously reported Rhizobium sp. Or191 recovered from an acid soil in Oregon (B. D. Eardly, J. P. Young, and R. K. Selander, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:1809-1815, 1992). Growth curves, melanin production, temperature tolerance, and megaplasmid profiles of the AT isolates were all coincident with these characteristics in strain Or191. In addition to the ability of all of these strains to nodulate alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inefficiently, the AT isolates also nodulated the common bean and Leucaena leucocephala, showing an extended host range for nodulation of legumes. In alfalfa, the time course of nodule formation by the AT isolate LPU 83 showed a continued nodulation restricted to the emerging secondary roots, which was probably related to the low rate of nitrogen fixation by the largely ineffective nodules. Results demonstrate the complexity of the rhizobial populations present in the acidic soils represented by a main group of N2-fixing rhizobia and a second group of ineffective and less-predominant isolates related to the AT strain Or191.