Traditional ecological knowledge and medicinal plant diversity in Ecuadorian Amazon home gardens

Caballero-Serrano, Verónica; McLaren, Brian; Carrasco, Juan Carlos; Alday, Josu G.; Fiallos, Luis; Vázquez, Javier Amigó; Onaindia, Miren

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00524

Cited by 77 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The relationship between tropical biodiversity, conservation, and human health is complex and should not be oversimplified. The most effective way in which health and conservation can be combined to serve the needs of local and international communities is by incorporating this complexity into a package of complementary activities including the development of natural products [ 8 , 9 ]. Within this context, the cooperation among University of Ferrara (Italy), Amazonian State University (Ecuador), and other Ecuadorian Universities was born to perform, over the years from 1996 to now, various research activities on endemic species of the Amazon region, studying in particular essential oils of well-known genera of traditional medicine, such as Piper , Ocotea , Citrus , and Croton , and almost unexplored ones such as Hedyosmum and Myrcia [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], promoting the training of local researchers in Italy, through a PhD program, collaborating in the development of sustainable Ecuadorian supply chains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocimum campechianum Mill. from Amazonian Ecuador: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Extracts and Their Main Constituents (Eugenol and Rosmarinic Acid)

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The essential oil (EO), the methanolic (MeOH), and the 70% ethanolic (70% EtOH) extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Ocimum campechianum Mill. (Ecuador) were chemically characterized through gas-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array-mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS) and studied for their in vitro biological activity. The radical scavenger activity, performed by spectrophotometric 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, highlighted significant IC50 values for the EO, extracts and their main constituents (eugenol and rosmarinic acid). EO (and eugenol) showed noteworthy activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and a moderate effect against clinical Candida strains, with possible synergism in association to fluconazole against the latter microorganisms. The extracts and pure molecules exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against the HaCat cell line and no mutagenicity against Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains, giving indication of safety. Instead, EO showed a weak activity against adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). The above-mentioned evidence leads us to suggest a potential use of the crude drug, extracts, and EO in cosmetic formulation and food supplements as antioxidant agents. In addition, EO may also have a possible application in plant protection and anti-Candida formulations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocimum campechianum Mill. from Amazonian Ecuador: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Extracts and Their Main Constituents (Eugenol and Rosmarinic Acid)

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“…Moreover, the ethnobotanical knowledge can offer information for the optimization of biotechnological processes as it can indicate the optimal harvesting conditions and the richest plant parts ( De La Parra and Quave, 2017 ). Ethnobotanical studies often sadly denounce, however, a loss of traditional use on plants, also due to loss of habitat due to climate change ( Caballero-Serrano et al., 2019 ; Paniagua Zambrana et al., 2017 ).…”

Section: Discovery Of Plants For Cosmetics: Between Tradition and Scimentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Complexity and Cosmetic Innovation

Faccio

2020

iScience

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Plants have been used in cosmetic products since ancient times and are the subject of scientific investigation even nowadays. During the years, a deeper understanding of both the behavior of skin and of plants have become available drawing increasingly complex pictures. Plants are complex organisms that produce different metabolites responding to the environment they live in. Applied to the skin, phytomolecules interact with skin cells and affect the skin well-being and appearance. Ethnobotanical studies on the one hand and physico-chemical analyses on the other have pictured a rich inventory of plants with potential to enrich modern cosmetic products.

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“…They often resort to home garden plants, where a diversity of domesticated species is notably present (e.g., Cyperus spp., Justicia spp., Zingiber spp.) (Bennett, 1992;Caballero-Serrano et al 2019;Díaz-Reviriego et al 2016;Shepard 1998;Valadeau et al 2010;Wezel and Ohl 2005). The agency of these plants from the perspective of local cosmologies still poses a challenge for anthropology and ethnobotany.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sedges are one of the most widely used and yet least studied elements of the Amazonian pharmacopeia. The relationship between several western Amazonian societies and domesticated sedges (Cyperaceae) has long intrigued travelers, missionaries, anthropologists, and ethnobotanists (Bennett 1992;Caballero-Serrano et al 2019;Ferrero 1966;Giovannini 2015;Lewis et al 1987;Luziatelli et al 2010;Milliken et al 1999;Shepard 1998;Tessmann 1930;Valadeau et al 2010;Vickers 1976;Weiss 1969). Called piri-piri in local Amazonian Spanish and priprioca in local Amazonian Portuguese (Almeida 2010), sedges have been domesticated by native groups in Western Amazonia for non-dietary reasons (Lewis et al 1987;Milliken et al 1999;Plowman et al 1990;Tournon et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Relationship between a Western Amazonian Society and Domesticated Sedges (Cyperus spp.)

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The article discusses the relationships between the Ashaninka people from Peruvian Amazonia and the domesticated sedges (Cyperus spp.) cultivated in almost every Ashaninka home garden, and mostly exchanged within family circles. An over-differentiation phenomenon is observed, in which four species of Cyperus correspond to 86 folk species. The names of folk species are formed by secondary lexemes, composed of a semantically active constituent and a generic suffix (i)benki. The names contain mnemonic cues to differentiate otherwise morphologically similar plants, and their meanings correspond to Ashaninka ontological categories, thus revealing many levels of connectivity between them and non-humans. The wide scope of specific uses (approx. 60 registered) assigned to Cyperus spp. is only partly supported by phytochemicals and ergot alkaloids in the fungus-infested sedges. The key to understanding the ibenki’s (Cyperus) agency lies in local cosmologies, in which domesticated sedges are viewed as plant-persons and kin. The Ashaninka are engaged in producing the bodies of their kin, the ibenki. Simultaneously, ibenki are powerful allies in restoring harmonious social relations and protecting people against the intentional actions of other humans and non-humans.

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Traditional ecological knowledge and medicinal plant diversity in Ecuadorian Amazon home gardens

Cited by 77 publications

References 40 publications

Ocimum campechianum Mill. from Amazonian Ecuador: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Extracts and Their Main Constituents (Eugenol and Rosmarinic Acid)

Ocimum campechianum Mill. from Amazonian Ecuador: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Extracts and Their Main Constituents (Eugenol and Rosmarinic Acid)

Plant Complexity and Cosmetic Innovation

The Relationship between a Western Amazonian Society and Domesticated Sedges (Cyperus spp.)

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