Mapping ethnobotanical aspects of the iconic Mandacaru cactus, Cereus jamacaru DC. in Brazil: a scientometric review

Abstract

Cereus jamacaru DC. occurs in the central-eastern region of Brazil and is among the best-known cacti in the country. Its phytochemical properties and fruits hold great significance to the local communities. We examined published ethnobotanical studies regarding C. jamacaru (mandacaru) undertaken between 2000 to 2024, to better understand its traditional uses and relationships with human communities in Brazil. The literature review was carried out by consulting the databases Google Scholar (166 articles), Scopus (1 article) and Web of Science (2 articles), and followed the PRISMA 2020 protocol. A total of 169 articles were identified, of which 45 were deemed relevant. The most frequent uses of C. jamacaru include medicinal (cited in 32 articles), human consumption as a non-conventional food (22), and forage (18). C. jamacaru is often cited to treat health conditions such as kidney problems, flu and inflammations, but it’s also used for construction and crafts. Our results highlight the diverse and vital uses of C. jamacaru for human communities. Furthermore, we demonstrate the pattern of knowledge production regarding the ethnobotany of this species and the challenges for its conservation and the preservation of associated traditional knowledge.