Haitian women in New York City use global food plants for women's health.

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), community-based ethnomedicine practices remain a low-cost, culturally relevant treatment for many immigrants. Previous urban ethnobotany research in NYC has established that several Caribbean communities continue using medicinal plants for women's health after immigration. This study sought to address to what extent: (1) NYC Haitian women continue using medicinal plants for women's health after migration; (2) their plants and the conditions treated were similar to those identified in an earlier survey with NYC immigrants from the Dominican Republic. METHODS: Through an ethnobotanical survey, 100 Haitian women living in NYC and born in Haiti were interviewed about their knowledge of medicinal plants for women's health conditions. Reported species were purchased based on local names in NYC Haitian stores and markets, vouchered, and identified. RESULTS: Nearly all Haitian women (97%) reported using medicinal plants while living in Haiti. Most Haitian women continued using medicinal plants after coming to the USA (83%). The 14% decrease, although significant (z = 3.3; p = 0.001), was mainly due to logistical difficulties with sourcing plants after recent immigration. Popular medicinal plant species reported were primarily global food plants, re-emphasizing the intertwined food-medicine relationship in Caribbean diasporas. Comparison with data from NYC Dominicans identified childbirth and puerperium, gynecological infections, and vaginal cleansing as priority Haitian women's health concerns treated with plants. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the global nature of Caribbean migrant plant pharmacopeia, predominantly centered around food plants and adapted to transnational urban settings. They underscore cultural diversity, dispelling the notion of one uniform traditional knowledge system labeled "Caribbean." The importance of preventative medicine for women's health, particularly the regular consumption of "healthy" foods or teas highlights the role food plants play in maintaining health without seeking treatment for a particular condition. Cross-cultural comparisons with other NYC Caribbean immigrants emphasize the importance of conducting ethnobotanical surveys to ground-truth plant use in the community. Such surveys can also identify culture-specific health priorities treated with these plants. Healthcare providers can leverage these insights to formulate culturally relevant and community-tailored healthcare strategies aligned with Haitian women's health beliefs and needs.

East meets west: using ethnobotany in ethnic urban markets of Barcelona metropolitan area (Catalonia) as a tool for biocultural exchange.

BACKGROUND: Ethnobotanical studies in metropolitan areas and urban ethnic markets have grown considerably in recent years as large cities have demonstrated to be significantly rich in biocultural diversity and in driving its evolution, as human populations migrate from one region to another. Urban spaces also represent important places of rich multicultural and multilingual interaction and exchange, where ethnobotany can act as a bridge between research and action. The purpose of this study is to present a case study on how to use ethnobotany in multicultural urban settings by studying people-plant interactions and the larger implications and applications to promote biocultural learning in these areas. METHODS: We inventoried the botanical composition of fresh and dry products sold in most food stores owned by Chinese immigrants in Fondo, a neighbourhood of Barcelona's metropolitan area, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet municipality (Barcelonès county, Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula), pharmacologically validating the obtained list with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. We also participated in multiple dissemination activities and materials (non-academic and academic), along with exchanges with the broader community in relation to this research. RESULTS: In total, 103 plants were identified at the species level, pertaining to 88 genera and 46 botanical families. Including the infraspecific level, a total of 113 plant taxa were inventoried. One algal and six fungal species were also recorded, but not included in the analyses. Brassicaceae (12.4%) and Fabaceae (10.6%) were the most predominant families inventoried, followed by Cucurbitaceae (7.1%) and Poaceae (7.1%). Over three-quarters of all the taxa have an Asian origin (76.11%), indicating a high conservation of the use of Asian taxa. Over one-third (36.89%) of the plant parts pertain to species contained in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, showing the relevance of medicinal plants in local stores and the preponderance of Eastern Asian food-medicine continuums. To promote ethnobotanical education programmes, over 50 dissemination activities and educational materials were produced from this study and shared with the local urban community in different fora. CONCLUSIONS: Further research in these and similar settings can provide significant ethnographic information to better understand anthropological processes and phenomena underlying migration and transculturation that can be used in an umbrella of applications, from adequate nomenclature and labelling of foreign products in local languages to multicultural integration and social cohesion programmes along with educational activities on biocultural topics.

Plantas empleadas para tratar afecciones respiratorias introducidas por inmigrantes bolivianos y chinos en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Plants used to treat respiratory diseases introduced by Bolivian and Chinese immigrants in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This contribution includes the registry of 28 species of medicinal plants and their derived products used to treat respiratory diseases in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina, introduced by Bolivian and Chinese immigrants. Information on these species (their assigned local uses) was obtained from interviews with local informants and from other sources, such as labels, brochures and catalogs, print and electronic. A bibliographic review was carried out on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate its correspondence with the assigned local uses. The degree of 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, 17 species belong to the segment of Chinese immigrants, and the remaining 11 to the Bolivian segment. The most frequently reported respiratory conditions are: "asthma", "cough", "bronchitis", "respiratory tract infections", "lung ailments". The immigrant segments play a fundamental role in the conservation of biocultural diversity in the study area.

Esta contribución incluye el registro de 28 especies de plantas medicinales y sus productos derivados empleados para tratar afecciones respiratorias en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina, introducidas por inmigrantes bolivianos y chinos. La información sobre esas especies (sus usos locales asignados) se obtuvo de entrevistas realizadas a informantes locales y de otras fuentes, como la de etiquetas, prospectos y catálogos, impresos y electrónicos. 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 el grado de visibilidad de las especies tratadas, según su circulación en los circuitos comerciales restringidos (inmigrantes chinos y bolivianos) y el circuito comercial general. Del total, 17 especies pertenecen al segmento de inmigrantes chinos, y los 11 restantes al segmento boliviano. Las afecciones respiratorias más frecuentemente relevadas son: "asma", "tos", "bronquitis", "infecciones en las vías respiratorias", "dolencias pulmonares". Los segmentos de inmigrantes poseen un rol fundamental en la conservación de la diversidad biocultural en el área de estudio.

'A disease like any other' traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use and perspectives in the context of COVID-19 among the Congolese community in Belgium.

BACKGROUND: As a hard-hit area during the COVID-19 pandemic, Belgium knew the highest mortality among people from sub-Saharan African descent, compared to any other group living in the country. After migration, people often maintain traditional perceptions and habits regarding health and healthcare, resulting in a high prevalence of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use among different migrant communities in northern urban settings. Despite being the largest community of sub-Saharan African descent in Belgium, little is known on ethnobotanical practices of the Belgian Congolese community. We therefore conducted an exploratory study on the use of medicinal plants in the context of COVID-19 and perceptions on this new disease among members of the Congolese community in Belgium. METHODS: We conducted 16 in-depth semi-structured interviews with people of Congolese descent currently living in Belgium. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Medicinal plant use in the context of COVID-19 was recorded through free-listing. Data on narratives, ideas and perceptions on the origin, cause/aetiology and overall measures against COVID-19 (including vaccination) were collected. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four overarching themes emerged from our data. Firstly, participants perceived the representation of the severity of COVID-19 by the Belgian media and government-and by extend by all governmental agencies in the global north-as exaggerated. As a result, traditional and complementary treatments were seen as feasible options to treat symptoms of the disease. Fifteen forms of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine were documented, of which thirteen were plants. Participants seem to fold back on their Congolese identity and traditional knowledge in seeking coping strategies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, institutional postcolonial distrust did not only seem to lead to distrust in official messages on the COVID-19 pandemic but also to feelings of vaccination hesitancy. CONCLUSION: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants in our study retreated to, reshaped and adapted traditional and culture-bound knowledge. This study suggests that the fragile and sensitive relationship between sub-Saharan African migrant groups and other social/ethnic groups in Belgium might play a role in their sensitivity to health-threatening situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medicinal plants cultivated in urban home gardens in Heredia, Costa Rica.

BACKGROUND: Urban ethnobotanical research in Costa Rica is rather rare and home gardens are poorly studied so far. Investigating their biodiversity is crucial in gathering knowledge on the uses of this particular flora, especially related to the owners' health. This study therefore explores the diversity and knowledge of medicinal plants of private garden owners from three different urban neighborhoods in Heredia, Costa Rica, an thus far understudied area. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews (n = 61) were conducted with garden owners in three socioeconomically different urban neighborhoods (Central Heredia, Maria Auxiliadora and Bernardo Benavides). Information was collected about medicinal plants cultivated in the garden, treatments, plant part used and mode of administration. All species were identified and their geographical origin was determined. This information was then compared with the available regional and local (ethno)pharmacopoeias to detect possible newly documented uses. RESULTS: The majority or 90% of garden owners who also held knowledge on medicinal plants species were women (n = 30) of all ages (between 26 and 85 years old). A list of 27 species of medicinal plants was obtained from the participants of three urban neighborhoods. In Central Heredia, 74% (n = 20) of the total species were present, in Maria Auxiliadora 33% (n = 9) and in Bernardo Benavides 56% (n = 15). Most plant species were used by the participants to treat respiratory problems (11 spp.), hair and skin problems (9 spp.) and digestive disorders (8 spp.). Some plants were used to treat multiple ailments (10 spp.). About a third of all species (n = 8) were used by the participants to treat disorders that were not indicated in the regional and local pharmacopoeias. More specifically, Aloe saponaria, Blechum pyramidatum, Costus scaber, Impatiens walleriana, Lippia alba, Tradescantia zebrina, Psidium friedrichsthalianum and Solenostemon scutellarioides used for medicinal purposes by the participants were not found in the above-mentioned resources. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides new information about the use of medicinal plants in a thus far understudied urban area in Costa Rica. We documented new medicinal uses for several plants listed in the regional and local pharmacopoeias as well as for plants not previously reported in an urban environment. In general, there is little information about the types of plants used for medicinal purposes in urban ecosystems in Costa Rica. Although the country has a high endemic diversity of plants, many exotic medicinal plant species were introduced by the Spaniards during the colonization and by Afro-Costa Rican descendants. The present results thus show how the diversity of the medicinal plants used by these garden owners' confirms a socioeconomic gradient and reflects both Costa Rica's colonial history as well as the current epidemiological profile of the country. These findings underline the need for more ethnobotanical research in urban areas in Costa Rica.

Caribbean Women's Health and Transnational Ethnobotany.

Caribbean Women's Health and Transnational Ethnobotany. Immigrants from the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti are among the top foreign-born communities in New York City (NYC). As people migrate to new countries, they bring their ethnomedical beliefs and practices, and adapt their plant pharmacopoeias. Haiti and the DR share a flora on the island of Hispaniola. In NYC, the flora is limited to what is available in the city. We selected plants for future laboratory research based on ethnobotanical data from two surveys among Dominicans in the DR and NYC, and a Haitian literature review. In both Dominican datasets, gynecological infections were the top women's health condition treated with plants. We identified 10 species for this purpose reported by Dominicans that are also known medicines in Haitian culture, although not yet documented for women's health. Plants for gynecological infections potentially cause dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, and may increase rather than prevent disease. There is a public health need to assess traditional medicines for their ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, while causing minimal disruption to the vaginal flora. Several species are known antibacterials, but remain to be tested for their efficacy. These results also provide a foundation for a planned ethnobotanical survey among NYC Haitian women. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12231-021-09526-3.

Temporal assessment of the medicinal plants trade in public markets of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Open and public markets are the main providers of medicinal plants in urban environments. The present study evaluated the medicinal plants sold in public markets in different municipalities in the mesoregions of the state of Paraíba, northeast of Brazil, and the possible variations in the supply of these plants in the markets over the course of a year. METHODS: Interviews with medicinal plant traders were conducted in four mesoregions of different climatic and phytophysiognomic characteristics (ranging from Caatinga to Atlantic Forest). The versatility of the species sold was elucidated using the relative importance (RI) index, and the set of species sold by each informant in each mesoregion was compared with each other by one-way Anosim  and by the analysis of main coordinates. RESULTS: Thirty-five plant traders identified 163 medicinal plant species (151 genders and 76 families) and more 17 non identified species. The most frequent families were Fabaceae (19 species), Asteraceae (12), Lamiaceae (11), and Myrtaceae (6). Punica granatum, Zingiber officinale, and Myracrodruon urundeuva were the species with the highest RI. The analysis of similarity showed distinct differences between the Sertão and all other mesoregions. The Agreste, an ecotone area, was also the area where more species of other regions was found. The absence of 88 species in at least one of the trading locations at some stage of the fieldwork was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The presence and absence of the commercialized species do not seem to be related to the period of the year or the mesoregion. There were differences in the inventory of plants commercialized in markets in recent years. We identified an intermediate zone of knowledge and use of species commercialized between the studied localities.

Urban medicinal plant use: Do migrant and non-migrant populations have similar hybridisation processes?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Urban migrant herbal medicine is an important topic on a global scale. Through bibliographical analysis of published studies we can get an overview of the different hybridisation processes at work in cities around the world, the main medicinal plants used and the principal ailments treated. We analysed the differential characteristics of urban ethnobotanical studies involving transnational migrant and non-migrant populations, in order to contribute useful information for the design of public health policies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic and integrative revision was conducted, leading to a final selection of 66 primary sources, including studies with and without immigrants. In both cases, richness (S), considered as the sum of all species cited in the work, botanical families and reported ailments were recorded. Based on the work of Ladio and Albuquerque (2014) the main hybridisation processes identifiable in the literature were assessed. These were: fusion, relocation, re-combination of different species, their restructuring as medicinal targets, spatial segregation in usage, innovations found in the circulation and consumption of the plants, and the presence of simultaneous coexistence of different symbolic universes in plant medical practices. DATA ANALYSIS: This was qualitative and quantitative, including both in-depth interpretative content analysis of the studies and frequency analysis of numerical data, such as species richness, botanical families, ailments and the hybridisation processes detected. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyse whether the probability of medicinal plant hybridisation processes occurring was the same in literature with and without migrants. RESULTS: A total of 522 medicinal species formed part of the main urban ethnobotany worldwide; the majority were cosmopolitan in distribution and belonged to the Asteriaceae and Lamiaceae families. Only 21% of these species appeared in both migrant and non-migrant studies. Most were used for gastrointestinal and hepatic ailments. Surprisingly, culture-related illnesses were not frequently mentioned, probably due to lack of recognition and re-interpretation by authors. Logistic analysis showed that in the studies with migrants, relocation and restructuring of plant use were the most frequently identified processes, while in the studies involving only non-migrants fusion was 4 times more likely to be found than in studies with migrants. CONCLUSIONS: Our research on hybridisation processes shows that cities constitute an environment that fosters a rapid exchange of practices and knowledge about the available species. Studies with migrants have shown that they reproduce traditional models in their use of plants, and so relocation and restructuring of their herbal medicine are the principal processes. Health risks in this case are related to the difficulties faced by these groups in obtaining their plants and reproducing their practices. In the case of fusion processes observed in non-migrants, who do not normally have a long history or much experience of plant use, errors or poisoning may result from misuse. This information highlights the importance of considering these processes in health policies, particularly when there are no significant quality controls of these resources.

Ethnopharmaceutical knowledge in Samogitia region of Lithuania: where old traditions overlap with modern medicine.

BACKGROUND: Modern ethnopharmaceutical studies are still quite unusual in Northern Europe. Data regarding the medicinal use of plants, animals, and fungi and also of spiritual rituals of healing is obtained mostly from ethnographic and folkloric sources in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to assess the ethnopharmaceutical knowledge regarding traditional use of natural substances for medicinal purposes in the Samogitia region and compare with prior research conducted 10 years prior in the same region. METHODS: The study was performed during 2016-2017 in the Samogitia region (Lithuania) using the conventional technique of ethnobotanical studies. Twenty-eight respondents aged between 50 and 92 years were selected for the study using snowball techniques. Information was collected using semi-structured and structured interviews. The obtained information was recorded indicating local names of plants, their preparation techniques, parts used, modes of administration, and application for therapeutic purposes. RESULTS: During the research, 125 records of raw materials of herbal origin belonging to 55 families were made. The Asteraceae family had the highest number of references, 147 (16.6%). It was stated that the most commonly used medicinal plants were the raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) (100%), marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) (96.4%), camomile (Matricaria recutita L.) (92.9%), and small linden tree (Tilia cordata Mill.) (92.9%). The most commonly used material of animal origin was the toad (Bufo bufo) (89%). The most commonly used kind of fungi was the common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) (71%), and the material of the mineral origin was sand (50%). Comparative analysis of the two surveys in this region showed similar results and produced a large amount of ethnopharmaceutical information. CONCLUSIONS: Lithuania belongs to the countries known for urban ethnobotany where old traditions overlap with modern healing methods. Also, because modern medical assistance is quite expensive, self-medication with home-made medicines is still popular in Lithuania. It is important to collect and systematize this information as soon as possible, to save it as a traditional Lithuanian heritage and also use it for scientific investigations.

Herbolaria migrante boliviana en un contexto periurbano del Noroeste Argentino / Herbal medicine used by Bolivian migrants in a peri-urban context in Northwest Argentina

Se estudió la herbolaria de una población migrante boliviana de un barrio de la ciudad de San Salvador de Jujuy (Jujuy, Argentina) que sufre notorias condiciones de vulnerabilidad social y sanitaria, así como fuertes procesos de estigmatización. Desde una aproximación etnobotánica, se realizaron entrevistas abiertas y semiestructuradas a personas adultas. Se relevaron 89 especies medicinales empleadas para el tratamiento de 43 dolencias. Las más consensuadas fueron Matricaria chamomilla, "manzanilla" (62%) y Ruta chalepensis, "ruda" (50%). Se distinguieron cinco ambientes de recolección de plantas siendo el más importante "casa y alrededores" (46%). Gran parte de las especies seleccionadas son adaptógenas (plantas generadoras de bienestar, empleadas para el stress). La herbolaria casera parece ser una alternativa terapéutica clave de los bolivianos en Jujuy permitiéndoles a las familias sobrellevar situaciones difíciles de stress, desarraigo y discriminación. Esta información puede ser útil para las instituciones de salud con el fin de mejorar la atención y el diagnóstico en situaciones de incertidumbre.

A study was undertaken of the herbolarium of a migrant Bolivian population living in San Salvador de Jujuy (Jujuy, Argentina) in conditions of marked social and health vulnerability; they also suffer strong stigmatization processes. Using an ethnobotanical approach, open and semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults. A total of 89 medicinal species were recorded, which were used to treat 43 ailments. The plants with the highest consensus were Matricaria chamomilla, "manzanilla" (chamomile) (62%) and Ruta chalepensis, "ruda" (50%). Five plant resource gathering environments were identified, the most important being "dwelling and surroundings" (46%). A large proportion of the plant species selected are adaptogens (plants that generate wellbeing, used to deal with stress). Home prepared herbal medicine appears to be a key therapeutic option for Bolivians in Jujuy, enabling families to endure difficult situations associated with stress, separation from family roots, and discrimination. This information can be of use to health institutions, with the aim of improving care and diagnosis in situations of uncertainty.

The Use of Traditional Herbal Medicines Amongst South Asian Diasporic Communities in the UK.

Migrant South Asian communities in the UK have brought with them their own traditional forms of medicine, yet little is known about their current use of herbal medicines (HMs) in the UK. The aim of the study was to explore the origins, use and transmission of knowledge of traditional HMs used by diasporic South Asian communities in the UK. A researcher-administered questionnaire was used for data collection (n = 192). An opportunity sampling technique was used to recruit participants across several locations in Birmingham and Leicester. Two thirds of participants (n = 126) stated they used HMs to maintain their health and to treat various health conditions such as digestive problems, skin conditions and diabetes. Almost 2000 actively used HMs were documented including 123 plant species that were identified. Participants imported HMs from abroad as well as sourcing them locally and even growing some of their own plants. Up to 82% (n = 87) of participants who took prescription medicines did not tell their healthcare professionals about any HMs they consumed; this raises concerns about people's knowledge of herb-drug interactions, compliance and effect on prescribed medicine regimens. Similar studies to explore the use of HMs by other ethnic groups are imperative to help optimise pharmaceutical care of patients. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

As vivid as a weed Medicinal and cosmetic plant uses amongst the urban youth in French Guiana.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: French Guiana is a French overseas territory with a rich history of migration that has led to a highly intercultural society. Today, its population is one of the youngest in the French territory and is rapidly increasing. Despite a context of cultural revival seeking "tradition", a distanced baseline of local practices is still lacking. This work addresses some aspects of the cultural hybridizations in progress in urban areas. METHODS: Semi directed interviews were conducted with willing participants aged between 18 and 40. Interviews took place in French Guiana's two main urban centres: Cayenne and Saint Laurent du Maroni. People were interviewed about the last medicinal plant they used in the preceding year. Due to the high use of plant baths in French Guiana, a focus was made on baths. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Eighty-three people answered: 43 women and 40 men (mean age of 28.7 years old). In total, 226 remedies were counted in our study, 155 single plant remedies and 71 compound remedies leading to 316 use reports of plants from 16 cultural groups. A surprising number of 108 botanical species were recorded. Eighty-one recipes for baths were also collected. Despite this high citation rate, a rather low proportion of people declare a systematic and regular recourse upon local pharmacopoeia (46%; 38/83). Although many interviewees used plants, far from the majority used them on a regular basis. In practice, 50% of the species (54/108 spp.; 99/316 URs) are non-native but domesticated exotic species, imported from Asia, Europe, Africa or remote parts of America, either during colonization, the slave trade era, or more recently with the latest migrations. CONCLUSION: Although phytotherapy use is often thought to be related to countryside dwellers and older people, medicinal plants seem to play an important role in the lives of urban French Guianese youth. Research shows a large diversity of medicinal species used linked with the great cultural diversity of the Guianese cities. One characteristic of this population is the hybridization process leading to a perpetual renewal of practices, both in terms of species and practice.

Plantas medicinales comercializadas en la ciudad de San Salvador de Jujuy (Argentina) y su calidad botánica / Medicinal plants traded in San Salvador de Jujuy city (Argentina) and its botanical quality

Doce especies medicinales (Matricaria chamomilla, Senna alexandrina, Equisetum giganteum, Tilia cordata, Valeriana officinalis, Malva sylvestris, Illicium verum, Peumus boldus, Picrasma excelsa, Borago officinalis, Passiflora caerulea y Baccharis articulata), las más comercializadas en la ciudad de San Salvador de Jujuy, fueron evaluadas según sus modos de comercialización, su calidad botánica, sus usos y rol en la medicina urbana. Se relevaron 31 sitios de expendio para la obtención de muestras representativas, posteriormente se realizó un análisis macroscópico, y en complementación, una indagación bibliográfica. Los resultados indicaron que estas especies son comercializadas incumpliendo normativas vigentes de presentación y rótulo. La mitad de las muestras evidencian signos de adulteración. Si bien estas especies son de amplia difusión y consumo, en pocas sus usos han sido validados por la literatura etnofarmacológica. Se concluye que esto podría generar un descreimiento en la fitoterapia.

Twelve medicinal species (Matricaria chamomilla, Senna alexandrina, Equisetum giganteum, Tilia cordata, Valeriana officinalis, Malva sylvestris, Illicium verum, Peumus boldus, Picrasma excelsa, Borago officinalis, Passiflora caerulea and Baccharis articulata), the most sold in the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, were evaluated according to general aspects of marketing, its botanical quality, its uses and role in urban medicine. . We have performed an urban inquiry in 31 sites of commercialization to obtain representative samples, then plants were analyzed by morphological and micrographic methods, and bibliographical research. The results have indicated that the presentation and labels of plants packages are marketed in inappropriate way in relation to national regulations. Half of the samples show signs of adulteration. Although these species are highly consumed by the people, few have been validated by ethno-pharmacological literature. We conclude that this situation could lead to discredit to phytoterapy.

The Trade in African Medicinal Plants in Matonge-Ixelles, Brussels (Belgium).

Maintaining cultural identity and preference to treat cultural bound ailments with herbal medicine are motivations for migrants to continue using medicinal plants from their home country after moving to Europe and the USA. As it is generally easier to import exotic food than herbal medicine, migrants often shift to using species that double as food and medicine. This paper focuses on the trade in African medicinal plants in a Congolese neighborhood in Brussels (Belgium). What African medicinal plants are sold in Matonge, where do they come from, and to which extent are they food medicines? Does vendor ethnicity influence the diversity of the herbal medicine sold? We hypothesized that most medicinal plants, traders, and clients in Matonge were of Congolese origin, most plants used medicinally were mainly food crops and that culture-bound illnesses played a prominent role in medicinal plant use. We carried out a market survey in 2014 that involved an inventory of medicinal plants in 19 shops and interviews with 10 clients of African descent, voucher collection and data gathering on vernacular names and uses. We encountered 83 medicinal plant species, of which 71% was primarily used for food. The shredded leaves of Gnetum africanum Welw., Manihot esculenta Crantz, and Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam were among the most frequently sold vegetables with medicinal uses. Cola nuts, shea butter, Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., and Mondia whitei (Hook.f.). Skeels were the main non-food medicines sold. Women's health, aphrodisiacs, and rituals were the most important medicinal applications, but culture-bound ailments did not entirely dominate the plant uses. While most clients in Matonge were Congolese, most vendors and plant species were not. The Pakistanis dominated the food trade, and typical Congolese plants were sometimes replaced by West African species, creating confusion in vernacular names. African-managed shops had significantly more species of medicinal plants in stock than shops managed by Pakistanis. Almost all non-food herbal medicine was sold by Africans. Apart from informal shops, non-food herbal medicine was also sold from private homes and by ambulant vendors, probably to reduce costs and escape taxes and control by the authorities. We expect that in the future, increasing rent, strict regulations, and decreasing investments by the Congolese community will force the medicinal plant trade in Matonge to go even more underground.

Le commerce des plantes médicinales africaines à Matonge-Ixelles, Bruxelles (Belgique). L'Ethnobotanique urbaine, en particulier l'étude des usages des plantes par les migrants en Europe et aux Etats Unis, est une science qui de développe très rapidement. Le souci de maintenir leur identité culturelle et la préférence de traiter des maladies dites de culture par les plantes médicinales, constituent les raisons qui motivent les migrants à continuer à recourir à la pharmacopée traditionnelles de leurs pays d'origine. Comme il est plus facile d'importer les aliments exotiques que les plantes médicinales, les migrants glissent souvent vers les espèces à double usage, à la fois alimentaire et médicinal. Le présent travail se concentre sur le commerce des plantes médicinales Africaines à Matonge-Ixelles, connu comme un quartier populaire Congolais à Bruxelles (Belgique). Quelles plantes médicinales Africaines sont vendues à Matonge, de quelle origine proviennent-elles? Dans quelle mesure ces plantes sont-elles à la fois alimentaires et médicinales? L'ethnicité des vendeurs influence-t-elle la diversité des herbes médicinales vendues? Notre hypothèse était que la plupart des plantes médicinales vendues, les vendeurs et les acheteurs à Matonge étaient d'origine Congolaise, et que les maladies dites de culture joueraient un rôle prépondérant dans l'usage des plantes médicinales vendues. Nous avons conduit des enquêtes sur le marché en 2014 comprenant l'inventaire des plantes médicinales dans 19 points de vente, des entretiens avec 10 clients d'origine Africaine, la collection des specimens, et des données sur les noms vernaculaires des plantes et leurs usages. Nos enquêtes du marché et les entretiens ont permis d'inventorier un total de 83 espèces de plantes médicinales, dont 71% étaient principalement utilisées comme aliments. Les feuilles râpées de Gnetum africanum Welw., Manihot esculenta Crantz et Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam étaient les légumes les plus vendues comme médicament. Alors que les noix de cola, le beurre de karité, Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. et Mondia whitei (Hook.f.) Skeels étaient les principales plantes médicinales non comestibles vendues. La santé des femmes, les aphrodisiaques et les plantes rituelles étaient les plantes médicinales les plus dominantes, alors que les affections dites de culture étaient faiblement représentées dans les usages des plantes. Malgré que la majorité des clients à Matonge soient d'origine Congolaise, la plupart des vendeurs des plantes venaient d'ailleurs. Les Pakistanais dominaient le commerce des aliments et les plantes typiquement Congolaises étaient des fois remplacées par des espèces Ouest Africaines, créant ainsi une confusion des noms vernaculaires. Les magasins gérés par les Africains représentaient plus de plantes médicinales en stock comparativement à ceux gérés par les Pakistanais, et presque toutes les plantes médicinale non comestibles étaient vendues par les Africains. L'inspection des points formels de vente n'a pas couvert l'entièreté de la diversité floristique à Matonge: les plantes médicinales non-comestibles étaient aussi vendues depuis des adresses privées, et par des vendeurs ambulants, probablement pour réduire les couts, les taxes exorbitantes, et le contrôle par les autorités. Nous espérons qu'à l'avenir, l'augmentation du loyer, une réglementation stricte et la diminution des investissements par la communauté Congolaise obligera le commerce des plantes médicinales à Matonge de disparaitre dans l'informel.

Le commerce des plantes médicinales africaines à Matonge-Ixelles, Bruxelles (Belgique). L'Ethnobotanique urbaine, en particulier l'étude des usages des plantes par les migrants en Europe et aux Etats Unis, est une science qui de développe très rapidement. Le souci de maintenir leur identité culturelle et la préférence de traiter des maladies dites de culture par les plantes médicinales, constituent les raisons qui motivent les migrants à continuer à recourir à la pharmacopée traditionnelles de leurs pays d'origine. Comme il est plus facile d'importer les aliments exotiques que les plantes médicinales, les migrants glissent souvent vers les espèces à double usage, à la fois alimentaire et médicinal. Le présent travail se concentre sur le commerce des plantes médicinales Africaines à Matonge-Ixelles, connu comme un quartier populaire Congolais à Bruxelles (Belgique). Quelles plantes médicinales Africaines sont vendues à Matonge, de quelle origine proviennent-elles? Dans quelle mesure ces plantes sont-elles à la fois alimentaires et médicinales? L'ethnicité des vendeurs influence-t-elle la diversité des herbes médicinales vendues? Notre hypothèse était que la plupart des plantes médicinales vendues, les vendeurs et les acheteurs à Matonge étaient d'origine Congolaise, et que les maladies dites de culture joueraient un rôle prépondérant dans l'usage des plantes médicinales vendues. Nous avons conduit des enquêtes sur le marché en 2014 comprenant l'inventaire des plantes médicinales dans 19 points de vente, des entretiens avec 10 clients d'origine Africaine, la collection des specimens, et des données sur les noms vernaculaires des plantes et leurs usages. Nos enquêtes du marché et les entretiens ont permis d'inventorier un total de 83 espèces de plantes médicinales, dont 71% étaient principalement utilisées comme aliments. Les feuilles râpées de Gnetum africanum Welw., Manihot esculenta Crantz et Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam étaient les légumes les plus vendues comme médicament. Alors que les noix de cola, le beurre de karité, Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. et Mondia whitei (Hook.f.) Skeels étaient les principales plantes médicinales non comestibles vendues. La santé des femmes, les aphrodisiaques et les plantes rituelles étaient les plantes médicinales les plus dominantes, alors que les affections dites de culture étaient faiblement représentées dans les usages des plantes. Malgré que la majorité des clients à Matonge soient d'origine Congolaise, la plupart des vendeurs des plantes venaient d'ailleurs. Les Pakistanais dominaient le commerce des aliments et les plantes typiquement Congolaises étaient des fois remplacées par des espèces Ouest Africaines, créant ainsi une confusion des noms vernaculaires. Les magasins gérés par les Africains représentaient plus de plantes médicinales en stock comparativement à ceux gérés par les Pakistanais, et presque toutes les plantes médicinale non comestibles étaient vendues par les Africains. L'inspection des points formels de vente n'a pas couvert l'entièreté de la diversité floristique à Matonge: les plantes médicinales non-comestibles étaient aussi vendues depuis des adresses privées, et par des vendeurs ambulants, probablement pour réduire les couts, les taxes exorbitantes, et le contrôle par les autorités. Nous espérons qu'à l'avenir, l'augmentation du loyer, une réglementation stricte et la diminution des investissements par la communauté Congolaise obligera le commerce des plantes médicinales à Matonge de disparaitre dans l'informel.

Sale of medicinal herbs in pharmacies and herbal stores in Hurlingham district, Buenos Aires, Argentina

In this paper, the sale of medicinal plants was described in the urban city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists and herb store owners about different characteristics of retail. Likewise, different types of retailers were compared, and the phytomedicine degree of acceptance was consulted. The percentage of customers who buy medicinal plants in herb stores is higher than in pharmacies. The five most demanded species were: "malva" (Malva sp.), 18%; "manzanilla" (Matricaria recutita), 13%; "tilo" (Tilia sp.), 12%; "cuasia" (Picrasma crenata), 8%; and "boldo" (Peumus boldus), 7%. In like manner, the most demanded mixes of species were those that had slimming properties, 21%; digestive, 17%; sedative and diuretic, 13%. Of the 32 most frequently requested species, only 13 are native. Phytomedicines were widely accepted in the different kinds of retail stores. It was also emphasized that, contrary to the usual assumption, the choice to consume plants is cultural rather than economic. Due to the acceptance observed in the use of phytomedicines, it must be emphasized the potential that Argentina possesses for the development of this industry.

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.