Mapa bioclimático -2ª aproximación-, mapa ombrotípico -1ª aproximación-, y diversidad bioclimática de Navarra.

Con los datos de 123 estaciones termopluviométricas de Navarra y territorios limítrofes, se ha redibujado el Mapa bioclimático de Navarra, teniendo en cuenta el nuevo umbral de Io<2,8 para la variante submediterránea. Con los mismos datos se ha realizado una nueva aproximación al mapa de distribución de los cinco ombrotipos con representación en Navarra. La diversidad bioclimática de Navarra, expresada a nivel de ombrotipos, es de 8 isobioclimas -Templado oceánico hiperhúmedo; Templado oceánico húmedo; Templado oceánico var. submediterránea hiperhúmedo, Templado oceánico var. submediterránea húmedo; Templado oceánico var. submediterránea subhúmedo; Mediterráneo pluviestacional oceánico subhúmedo; Mediterráneo pluviestacional oceánico seco y Mediterráneo xérico oceánico semiárido-, pero expresada a nivel de piso bioclimático -termo- y ombrotipo- es de 14 isobioclimas

Mapa bioclimático de Navarra

Por primera vez se han estudiado los Bioclimas de Navarra, basados en los datos de 121 estaciones metereológicas. Se han reconocido en nuestro territorio dos Macrobioclimas, tres Bioclimas y una variante bioclimática, cuya distribución se recoge en un mapa

Valorizing the 'Irulas' traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in the Kodiakkarai Reserve Forest, India

A mounting body of critical research is raising the credibility of Traditional Knowledge (TK) in scientific studies. These studies have gained credibility because their claims are supported by methods that are repeatable and provide data for quantitative analyses that can be used to assess confidence in the results. The theoretical importance of our study is to test consensus (reliability/replicable) of TK within one ancient culture; the Irulas of the Kodiakkarai Reserve Forest (KRF), India. We calculated relative frequency (RF) and consensus factor (Fic) of TK from 120 Irulas informants knowledgeable of medicinal plants. Our research indicates a high consensus of the Irulas TK concerning medicinal plants. The Irulas revealed a diversity of plants that have medicinal and nutritional utility in their culture and specific ethnotaxa used to treat a variety of illnesses and promote general good health in their communities. Throughout history aboriginal people have been the custodians of bio-diversity and have sustained healthy life-styles in an environmentally sustainable manner. However this knowledge has not been transferred to modern society. We suggest this may be due to the asymmetry between scientific and TK, which demands a new approach that considers the assemblage of TK and scientific knowledge. A greater understanding of TK is beginning to emerge based on our research with both the Irulas and Malasars; they believe that a healthy lifestyle is founded on a healthy environment. These aboriginal groups chose to share this knowledge with society-at-large in order to promote a global lifestyle of health and environmental sustainability

Analyzing factors that influence the folk use and phytonomy of 18 medicinal plants in Navarra

BACKGROUND: This article analyzes whether the distribution or area of use of 18 medicinal plants is influenced by ecological and cultural factors which might account for their traditional use and/or phytonymy in Navarra. This discussion may be helpful for comparative studies, touching as it does on other ethnopharmacological issues: a) which cultural and ecological factors affect the selection of medicinal plants; b) substitutions of medicinal plants in popular medicine; c) the relation between local nomenclature and uses. To analyze these questions, this paper presents an example of a species used for digestive disorders (tea and camomile: Jasonia glutinosa, J. tuberosa, Sideritis hyssopifolia, Bidens aurea, Chamaemelum nobile, Santolina chamaecyparissus...), high blood pressure (Rhamnus alaternus, Olea europaea...) or skin diseases (Hylotelephium maximum, H. telephium, Anagallis arvensis, A. foemina). METHODS: Fieldwork began on January 2004 and continued until December 2006. During that time we interviewed 505 informants in 218 locations in Navarra. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews, and we subsequently made maps using Arc-View 8.0 program to determine the area of use of each taxon. Each map was then compared with the bioclimatic and linguistic map of Navarra, using the soil and ethnographic data for the region, and with other ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies carried out in Europe. RESULTS: The results clearly show that ecological and cultural factors influence the selection of medicinal plants in this region. Climate and substrate are the most important ecological factors that influence the distribution and abundance of plants, which are the biological factors that affect medicinal plant selection. CONCLUSION: The study of edaphological and climatological factors, on the one hand, and culture, on the other, can help us to understand why a plant is replaced by another one for the same purposes, either in the same or in a different area. In many cases, the cultural factor means that the use of a species is more widespread than its ecological distribution. This may also explain the presence of synonyms and polysemies which are useful for discussing ethnopharmacological data

First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ethnobotanical and medical study was carried out in the Navarre Pyrenees, an area known both for its high biological diversity and its cultural significance.</p> <p>As well as the compilation of an ethnopharmacological catalogue, a quantitative ethnobotanical comparison has been carried out in relation to the outcomes from other studies about the Pyrenees. A review of all drugs used in the area has also been carried out, through a study of the monographs published by the institutions and organizations responsible for the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants (WHO, ESCOP, and the E Commission of the German Department of Health) in order to ascertain the extent to which the Navarre Pyrenees ethnopharmacology has been officially evaluated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fieldwork was carried out over two years, from November 2004 to December 2006. During that time we interviewed 88 local people in 40 villages. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews and the data was analyzed using quantitave indexes: Ethnobotonicity Index, Shannon-Wiener's Diversity, Equitability and The Informant Consensus Factor. The official review has been performed using the official monographs published by the WHO, ESCOP and the E Commission of the German Department of Health.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ethnobotanical and medical catalogue of the Navarre Pyrenees Area comprises 92 species, of which 39 have been mentioned by at least three interviewees. The quantitative ethnobotany results show lower values than those found in other studies about the Pyrenees; and 57.6% of the Pyrenees medical ethnobotany described does not figure in documents published by the above mentioned institutions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show a reduction in the ethnobotanical and medical knowledge in the area of study, when compared to other studies carried out in the Pyrenees. Nevertheless, the use of several species that may be regarded as possible sources for pharmacological studies is reported here such as the bark of <it>Sambucus nigra</it>, the roots of <it>Fragaria vesca</it>, or the leaves of <it>Scrophularia nodosa</it>. These species are not currently approved by the WHO, ESCOP and the E Commission of the German Department of Health, institutions that, apart from encouraging the greater use of plants for medicinal purposes, may help in the design of development plans for these rural areas by validating their traditional medicine.</p

Actividad antioxidante de plantas empleadas en la medicina tradicional Navarra

Numerosos estudios han puesto de manifiesto últimamente la relación existente entre el estrés oxidativo, el envejecimiento celular y algunas enfermedades. El estilo de vida actual está favoreciendo la acumulación de radicales libres y especies reactivas del oxígeno en nuestro organismo y como consecuencia de ello un aumento del estrés oxidativo a nivel fisiológico. Por esto es recomendable el aporte de antioxidantes de carácter exógeno. Debido al interés que están adquiriendo este grupo de compuestos, en este artículo se presenta un trabajo de investigación que tiene por objeto la búsqueda de plantas medicinales con actividad antioxidante a partir de especies vegetales empleadas en la medicina tradicional en Navarra

Plantas medicinales en la medicina tradicional de Navarra: primera aproximación

La etnobotánica además de ser una fuente para la búsqueda de nuevos fármacos, es un inventario del saber ancestral que en la actualidad se está perdiendo u olvidando debido a diferentes causas, tales como el éxodo rural, la industrialización o los nuevos hábitos de vida. El presente artículo recoge la primera aproximación del estudio etnobotánico de las plantas medicinales empleadas tradicionalmente en Navarra. Tras un exhaustivo trabajo de campo que consiste en entrevistas personales y en la posterior recolección del material vegetal con los informantes, esta información se ha revisado y discutido con las monografías publicadas por instituciones internacionales como la OMS, ESCOP y Comisión E del Ministerio de Sanidad Alemán. Hasta el momento se han realizado entrevistas a 152 personas procedentes de 82 localidades y se han recopilado un total de 1.008 recetas de plantas medicinales correspondientes a 178 taxones y 60 familias botánicas