Geopolitics of bitterness: Deciphering the history and cultural biogeography of Quassia amara L

Odonne, Guillaume; Tareau, Marc-Alexandre; Andel, Tinde van

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113546

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…In this context, historical ethnobotany emerges as a prominent science, which deals with the study of human-plant relationships in the past, primarily using the analysis of written historical documents such as publications, manuscripts, official records, and prescriptions, as well as iconographic sources and voucher specimens in herbaria [ 165 – 167 ]. Traditional knowledge about plant use and effectiveness contributes, for example, to the dissemination of therapeutic benefits, validating the information accumulated over centuries [ 168 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amazonian useful plants described in the book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885) of the Brazilian propagandist Baron de Santa-Anna Nery: a historical and ethnobotanical perspective

Silva,

Oliveira,

Baratto

2024

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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Background Frederico José de Santa-Anna Nery (1848–1901) was a Brazilian Baron who referred to himself as a "volunteer propagandist" for Brazil in Europe, serving as an immigration agent to publicize the living conditions in the Amazon region, advocating for its development and modernization at the end of the nineteenth century. Santa-Anna Nery’s most famous book is "Le Pays des Amazones" (The Lands of the Amazons), first published in 1885, which the author dedicated a chapter to introduce and report on the Amazonian useful plant species and its relationship with humans. The aim of this work is to understand the historical context and ethnobotanical value of the plant species in the Brazilian Amazon at the end of the nineteenth century through an analysis of the book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885) by Baron de Santa-Anna Nery, as well as to bring to light the historical importance of this very influential propagandist, who has been forgotten nowadays. Methods The original book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885), as well as the original 3rd edition and its translated version into Portuguese, was carefully analyzed and all information about plants was systematized, with botanical names being updated. Finally, using the scientific name of medicinal plants alone or in combination with their traditional use, a search was carried out in databases in order to indicate current pharmacological studies that provide evidence about the described traditional uses. Results A total of 156 plant species were identified in the book, although 132 species had their scientific names updated. These species belong to 45 different families, with Fabaceae and Arecaceae the most represented, and 109 plants are Brazilian native. Considering only the 36 medicinal plants, the main medicinal indications reported were astringent, purgative/laxative, stimulant and tonic, vermifuge, febrifuge, sudorific, emetic, diuretic and antidysenteric. Regarding other useful plants (non-medicinal), 97 species were cited for food, constructions and buildings, spices and condiments, ornaments and objects, carpentry, textile fibers, gums, oils, balms and essences, pigments and tanning, hunting and fishing. Conclusions When the book “Le Pays des Amazones” is analyzed from a timeless perspective, with a particular focus on historical ethnobotany, it is possible to observe the economic, social, and political importance of many useful plants for the Amazon at the end of the nineteenth century and how the relationship between local people, indigenous communities, and immigrants was established with plant biodiversity.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amazonian useful plants described in the book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885) of the Brazilian propagandist Baron de Santa-Anna Nery: a historical and ethnobotanical perspective

Silva,

Oliveira,

Baratto

2024

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…The prominent use of Q amara is noteworthy. This species, originally from Central America and naturalised in French Guiana in the 18th century, is traditionally employed by local populations for its antimalarial properties (Houël, 2011;Odonne et al, 2021b). The partial symptomatic analogy between malaria and COVID-19 likely explains the choice of this species for prevention and treatment of the latter disease.…”

Section: Botanical Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…surrounding this molecule. There is indeed a double confusion within the population, first between Q amara and quinine (Odonne et al, 2021b), and according to the field surveys conducted, between quinine and hydroxychloroquine, which was claimed to be effective against COVID-19 and highly publicised among a portion of the population. Q amara actually contains quassinoids (unrelated to quinoline alkaloids) that confer antimalarial activity in preclinical studies (Cachet et al, 2009;Houël et al, 2009).…”

Section: Botanical Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Herbal Medicine in French Guiana: Influences and Challenges for Prevention Strategies in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2022

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“…Ethnobiologists can play an active role in advocating for repatriation/rematriation, as many ethnobiologists are housed at institutions with biocultural collections. In some contexts, this heritage is often overlooked, as in the case of herbaria hosting biocultural heritage in the form of ethnobiological information and voucher specimens (Odonne et al 2020). To prevent future dispossession of biocultural heritage and erasure of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities from meta-data, ethnobiologists can also advocate for changes to the ways their institutions acquire new information and physical heritage in the first place.…”

Section: Decolonizing Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobiology Phase VI: Decolonizing Institutions, Projects, and Scholarship

McAlvay

Armstrong

Baker

et al. 2021

Journal of Ethnobiology

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Geopolitics of bitterness: Deciphering the history and cultural biogeography of Quassia amara L

Cited by 14 publications

References 70 publications

Amazonian useful plants described in the book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885) of the Brazilian propagandist Baron de Santa-Anna Nery: a historical and ethnobotanical perspective

Amazonian useful plants described in the book “Le Pays des Amazones” (1885) of the Brazilian propagandist Baron de Santa-Anna Nery: a historical and ethnobotanical perspective

Use of Herbal Medicine in French Guiana: Influences and Challenges for Prevention Strategies in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ethnobiology Phase VI: Decolonizing Institutions, Projects, and Scholarship

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