Brazilian plants with possible action on the Central Nervous System: a study of historical sources from the 16th to 19th century

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological research when grounded on historic literature has for its objective retrieving traditional knowledge compiled throughout history by early cultures. The current study has used literature from the 16 th to the 19 th centuries to assess reports that include accounts of Brazil's native plants, with possible reports of disorders of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Visits were paid to 27 institutions located in four Brazilian states. This resulted in raising 529 publications, out of which 65 were read, revealing that 33 of them contained reports of plants exerting effects on CNS ailments. These plants' scientific names underwent an updating process. The updating process resulted in 788 species names (129 correct scientific names and their 659 synonyms) out of which 66 hold current ethnopharmacology, pharmacology studies and/or patent application. Coincidences among past and present data have been observed in 46 cases. Only three of them carried applications for patents all of which coincided with past uses. There have hardly been any studies whatsoever throughout the centuries for many of the species currently being studied. Although of very seldom use, research in ethnopharmacology and historic literature can be promising tools for the selecting of new pharmaco products, further to contributing with retrieving traditional knowledge.

Reports of the use of Urticaceae collected in Brazil and deposited in the herbaria of Kew (K), New York (NY) and Paris (P)

“…Peckolt and Peckolt (1888), and Le Cointe (1945) related the medicinal use of the most species studied here, with the exception of Cecropia obtusa, and Laportea aestuans Giorgetti (2011) remarked about the pontential medicinal of Cecropia peltata L. Moreover, the author cited the lack pharmacology studies for this species.…”

The Influence of Displacement by Human Groups Among Regions in the Medicinal Use of Natural Resource: A Case Study in Diadema, São Paulo - Brazil

“…Is inhabited by diverse ethnic groups, including: Indigenous Ethnic Groups, Quilombo communities, Mestizos, Caiçaras, Fishermen, Rafters, Rubber Tappers, Raizeiros, among other, and the mostly the result of interbreeding between native Indians, Europeans and African elements (Giorgetti et al, 2007).…”

“…Little was known about Brazil at the time of the discoveries. The first Jesuits, explorers, scientists, and settlers who arrived in Brazil, reported a lot of characteristics observed on the new environment (Kury, 2001 as cited in Giorgetti et al, 2007).…”

“…Given the enormous biological diversity and biochemistry in the several biomes around the world and also in Brazil, it is very difficult to find randomly a molecule on which it is possible to develop a competitive drug, acting on a mechanism known and has significant pharmacological properties (FAPESP, 2011). Therefore, the ethnobotany/ethnopharmacology are among the main strategies used for selecting plants to be investigated in laboratorial studies, those with great chances of success (Spjut & Perdue, 1976;Balick, 1990 as cited in Rodrigues, 2005), and is one of the fastest ways to obtain a safe product and pharmacologically active (Giorgetti et al, 2007).…”

Identificação de termos oitocentistas relacionados às plantas medicinais usadas no Mosteiro de São Bento do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…Valendose de textos históricos deixados por cronistas, literatos, médicos, naturalistas, etc., a Etnobotânica histórica, a partir da análise minuciosa destas fontes primárias, reúne informações sobre a inter-relação estabelecida entre o homem de diferentes culturas e as plantas (Cotton 1996;Medeiros 2007). Alguns autores têm trabalhado sob este prisma, contribuindo para o resgate de informações e para uma interpretação do que hoje é vivenciado no âmbito da utilização de recursos vegetais como, por exemplo, Pardo-de-Santayana (2006), Giorgetti et al (2007), Almeida et al (2008), Brandão et al (2008), Pollio (2008) e Luczaj (2008).…”