Risk of genetic vulnerability and aspects of the reproductive biology of Psychotria ipecacuanha (Rubiaceae), a threatened medicinal plant species of Brazilian forests

Abstract

Psychotria ipecacuanha, commonly known as Ipeca, is a medicinal plant of pharmacological and economic value. The species is distylous; it has populations with two floral morphs, one with long and one with short styles. Apart from the presence of two floral morphs in a balanced ratio (1:1), reciprocal herkogamy of the reproductive organs between alternative morphs is desirable to maintain cross-pollination. The risk factors for genetic erosion and conditions for sexual reproduction in natural populations of P. ipecacuanha were investigated. The main risks for genetic erosion in four populations studied were: habitat change in the forest fragment where they occurred and in the surrounding area over the last 20 years; proximity to agricultural areas; frequency of drought affecting the forest fragment; and the area occupied by the species within the forest fragment. All evaluated populations were isoplethic with the reciprocity of reproductive organs varying across populations. Anthropogenic factors, associated with morphological and reproductive characteristics (e.g., low reciprocity between anther and stigma and low pollen production), indicate risks for the maintenance and reproduction of Ipeca in the population of the municipality of Denise. Habitat loss, small clusters, and the low number of reproductive plants jeopardize the survival of the studied populations.

Chemical characterization of an Ipecac active germplasm bank – a Brazilian endangered medicinal species

“…It is a distylous subshrub occurring exclusively in the understory of dense forests in countries of South America such as Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador, spreading into Central America until Nicaragua. In Brazil, it is found mainly in the states of Rondônia, Bahia, Pernambuco, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo (Silva, et al, 2019;Bruniera, 2020).…”

“…The concentration of those active principles in Brazilian ipecac has made the country one of the major exporters of the product worldwide. However, although the commercial exploration of the species began as early as the 18 th century, little has been done in terms of its cultivation in the country (Silva, et al, 2019;Silva, et al, 2020).…”

“…According to Silva et al (2019), C. ipecacuanha is a species vulnerable to extinction due to the effects of predatory exploitation, allied with fragmentation and deforestation of its natural habitat, as well as its required cross-pollination, which makes subpopulations rarer.…”

A trajetória da ipecacuanha na Europa: os usos de uma raiz colonial contra a disenteria na época Moderna.

“…A trajetória da ipecacuanha na Europa: os usos de uma raiz colonial contra a disenteria na época Moderna. Dossiê refletiu negativamente na perpetuação da espécie, estando ela atualmente ameaçada de extinção (SILVA et al, 2019).…”

“…Suas raízes e rizomas possuem alcaloides isoquinoleicos, celefina, psicotrina, metilpsicotrina e, principalmente, emetina na proporção que pode chegar de 60% a 75% dos elementos químicos ativos (CUNHA; ROQUE;SILVA, 2012, p. 406-407). Devido a sua emetina, o consumo provoca um forte reflexo de vômito, podendo também, em pequenas quantidades, ter efeito expectorante, mucolítico e obstipante(SILVA et al, 2019).Seu uso terapêutico era altamente disseminado entre os povos originais do território brasileiros durante o período pré-colombiano. Era usada principalmente como purgante e antidoto geral contra envenenamentos.…”