RESUMO
ABSTRACT Digestive herbal teas in the form of monoherbal infusions or in mixtures are the most commonly used form of phytotherapy in Bahía Blanca (Argentina). This practice is based on family tradition reinforced by current trends reverting to the ingestion of natural products. The objective of this work was to analyze the botanical quality of the digestive mixtures sold in Bahía Blanca as fine cut mixtures (in tea bags) and thick cut mixtures (fragmented herbs). Samples of seven mixtures sold in the form of tea bags and four as bags of fragmented herbs were studied under stereoscopic and optical microscopes and micrographic studies were carried out following conventional protocols. Observed characteristics were compared with those in the reference bibliography for verified genuine monoherbs. In the studied products a total of 21 different species were found. There was total concordance between the species declared on the label and those identified in the samples in six of the mixtures in the form of tea bags and in only one of the bags of fragmented herbs. Adulterations were found in four of the samples analyzed (one in a tea bag and three in the fragmented mixtures). The labels on only two of the tea bag samples presented complete and correct information; in the remaining samples irregularities were found related to: the taxonomic identification of the species, the absence of a lot number, date of expiry, the plant parts used and proportions of the herbs etc. The findings underline the great importance of quality controls as a tool to protect the rights of phytotherapy consumers.
RESUMO
Las plantas han sido y son utilizadas como alimentos o medicina, además forman parte de la base de la economía de muchos países, esto hace que la concepción de las mismas como «peligrosas¼ sea poco común. Las especies alimenticias, medicinales y alucinógenas utilizadas inadecuadamente y/o el contacto e ingestión accidental de especies ornamentales, pueden producir diferente tipo de lesiones. Las lesiones se generan por contacto (fitodermatitis) o por ingestión, siendo las primeras más leves y menos consultadas con los médicos. La ocurrencia de las intoxicaciones no suele ser elevada, aunque muchas veces se subestima su incidencia debido a que no siempre generan cuadros fáciles de diagnosticar. Investigadores de diferentes países realzan la importancia de la educación a fin de prevenir intoxicaciones de este tipo y remarcan que solo a través de un trabajo interdisciplinario se puede llegar a una resolución favorable de los cuadros clínicos.
The plants have been and are used as food or medicine, in addition they are part of the base of the economy of many countries, so that the conception of the vegetables as «dangerous¼ isn´t common. The inadequate use of food, medicinal and hallucinogenal species and/or the accidental contact or ingestion of ornamental ones, can produce different type of injuries. The injuries are generated by contact (phytodermatitis) or by ingestion, being the first slightest and less consulted with the doctors. The occurrence of poisonings aren´t frequent, because of this their incidence is underestimated due to the fact that not always they generate symptoms easy to diagnose. Researchers of different countries heighten the importance of the education in order to anticipate poisonings of this type and notice that only across an interdisciplinary work it is possible a favorable resolution of the clinical case.