MÉTODOS QUANTITATIVOS NÃO SÃO A SALVAÇÃO DE TODA LAVOURA ETNOBOTÂNICA: O QUE DIZ JAVIER CABALLERO

Este trabalho refere-se à entrevista feita pelos autores com o Professor Javier Caballero Nieto, da Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), sobre assuntos relacionados a métodos quantitativos em Etnobotânica, algumas de suas principais características, e sua complementariedade com enfoques qualitativos de pesquisa, tema que tem sido objeto de aprofundamentos nos últimos anos no Brasil (e no mundo). Javier Caballero é biólogo formado pela própria UNAM, em 1974, e fez mestrado na mesma universidade (1980) e também na Universidade da Califórnia, Berkeley (1988), onde também terminou o doutorado em 1994. Tem demonstrado interesse em Etnobotânica desde o tempo de graduação e depois se concentrou em temas mais ligados aos métodos quantitativos na área, mas sempre envolvendo uma relação sólida com aspectos ecológicos e de domesticação das plantas e as comunidades tradicionais. Suas opiniões ajudam a esclarecer vários aspectos sobre o assunto e também a aprofundar e estimular o debate entre os interessados na área

Plants of the Araceae for malaria and related diseases:a review

We survey species of the Araceae family traditionally used for malaria and its symptoms. The aim is to reveal the large number of antimalarial Araceae species in use worldwide and their largely unexplored potential as sources of antimalarial natural products. The SciFinder Scholar, Scielo, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google books search engines were consulted. Forty-three records were found of 36 species and 23 genera of Araceae used for malaria and symptoms. The neotropical genera Philodendron Schott and Anthurium Schott were the best represented for use in the treatment of malaria, fevers, liver problems and headaches. Leaves and tubers were the parts most used and decoction was the most common preparation method. Extracts of Araceae species inhibit the in vitro growth of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum Welch and significant median inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for extracts of guaimbê-sulcado (Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Schott), aninga (Montrichardia linifera (Arruda) Schott), Culcasia lancifolia N.E. Br. and forest anchomanes (Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl.) have been reported demonstrating the antimalarial potential and cytotoxicity of extracts and sub-fractions. In the only report on the antimalarial components of this family, the neolignan polysyphorin and the benzoperoxide rhaphidecurperoxin exhibited strong in vitro inhibition of the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 = 368-540 ng/mL). No study on the in vivo antimalarial activity in animal models has been conducted on a species of Araceae. More bioguided chemical composition studies on the in vitro and also in vivo antimalarial activity of the Araceae are needed to further the knowledge of the antimalarial potential of this family

Plants of the Araceae for malaria and related diseases:a review

We survey species of the Araceae family traditionally used for malaria and its symptoms. The aim is to reveal the large number of antimalarial Araceae species in use worldwide and their largely unexplored potential as sources of antimalarial natural products. The SciFinder Scholar, Scielo, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google books search engines were consulted. Forty-three records were found of 36 species and 23 genera of Araceae used for malaria and symptoms. The neotropical genera Philodendron Schott and Anthurium Schott were the best represented for use in the treatment of malaria, fevers, liver problems and headaches. Leaves and tubers were the parts most used and decoction was the most common preparation method. Extracts of Araceae species inhibit the in vitro growth of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum Welch and significant median inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for extracts of guaimbê-sulcado (Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Schott), aninga (Montrichardia linifera (Arruda) Schott), Culcasia lancifolia N.E. Br. and forest anchomanes (Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl.) have been reported demonstrating the antimalarial potential and cytotoxicity of extracts and sub-fractions. In the only report on the antimalarial components of this family, the neolignan polysyphorin and the benzoperoxide rhaphidecurperoxin exhibited strong in vitro inhibition of the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 = 368-540 ng/mL). No study on the in vivo antimalarial activity in animal models has been conducted on a species of Araceae. More bioguided chemical composition studies on the in vitro and also in vivo antimalarial activity of the Araceae are needed to further the knowledge of the antimalarial potential of this family

In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum Welch field isolates to infusions prepared from Artemisia annua L. cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon

Artemisinin is the active antimalarial compound obtained from the leaves of Artemisia annua L. Artemisinin, and its semi-synthetic derivatives, are the main drugs used to treat multi-drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (one of the human malaria parasite species). The in vitro susceptibility of P. falciparum K1 and 3d7 strains and field isolates from the state of Amazonas, Brazil, to A. annua infusions (5 g dry leaves in 1 L of boiling water) and the drug standards chloroquine, quinine and artemisinin were evaluated. The A. annua used was cultivated in three Amazon ecosystems (várzea, terra preta de índio and terra firme) and in the city of Paulínia, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Artemisinin levels in the A. annua leaves used were 0.90-1.13% (m/m). The concentration of artemisinin in the infusions was 40-46 mg/L. Field P. falciparum isolates were resistant to chloroquine and sensitive to quinine and artemisinin. The average 50% inhibition concentration values for A. annua infusions against field isolates were 0.11-0.14 μL/mL (these infusions exhibited artemisinin concentrations of 4.7-5.6 ng/mL) and were active in vitro against P. falciparum due to their artemisinin concentration. No synergistic effect was observed for artemisinin in the infusions

In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum Welch field isolates to infusions prepared from Artemisia annua L. cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon

Artemisinin is the active antimalarial compound obtained from the leaves of Artemisia annua L. Artemisinin, and its semi-synthetic derivatives, are the main drugs used to treat multi-drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (one of the human malaria parasite species). The in vitro susceptibility of P. falciparum K1 and 3d7 strains and field isolates from the state of Amazonas, Brazil, to A. annua infusions (5 g dry leaves in 1 L of boiling water) and the drug standards chloroquine, quinine and artemisinin were evaluated. The A. annua used was cultivated in three Amazon ecosystems (várzea, terra preta de índio and terra firme) and in the city of Paulínia, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Artemisinin levels in the A. annua leaves used were 0.90-1.13% (m/m). The concentration of artemisinin in the infusions was 40-46 mg/L. Field P. falciparum isolates were resistant to chloroquine and sensitive to quinine and artemisinin. The average 50% inhibition concentration values for A. annua infusions against field isolates were 0.11-0.14 μL/mL (these infusions exhibited artemisinin concentrations of 4.7-5.6 ng/mL) and were active in vitro against P. falciparum due to their artemisinin concentration. No synergistic effect was observed for artemisinin in the infusions

Impactos da legislação na pesquisa etnobotânica no Brasil, com ênfase na região amazônica

The Amazon region has a large sociobiodiversity, where lives people with traditional knowledge about the uses of its natural resources. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992 recognized the autonomy of each nation over its genetic resources and the rights of traditional populations about the knowledge of the use of these natural resources. In 2001 it was published the law M.P. 2.186-16/2001 which created the Conselho Nacional de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético (CGEN) and the first rules about access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in Brazil. Since his creation, the actions of CGEN have received criticism from various sectors, both private and public, and, unlike its initial proposal, has become one of the main obstacles of ethnobotanical studies, the bureaucracy, the long process analysis and communication difficulties with this organ.La región amazónica tiene una gran sociobiodiversidad, donde habitan personas con los titulares de conocimientos tradicionales sobre el uso de sus recursos naturales. Con el Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica (CDB) en 1992, reconoció la autonomía de cada país sobre sus recursos genéticos y los derechos de las poblaciones y el conocimiento sobre el uso de estos recursos naturales tradicionales. Se promulgó la Medida Provisional 2.186-16/2001 que creó el Consejo Nacional de Gestión del Patrimonio Genético (CGEN) y las primeras normas sobre el acceso a los recursos genéticos y conocimientos tradicionales asociados en Brasil en 2001. Desde su creación, las acciones de CGEN han recibido críticas por parte de diversos sectores, tanto privados como públicos, y, a diferencia de su propuesta inicial, se ha convertido en una de las principales barreras de estudios etnobotánicos, la burocracia, el análisis de procesos de largo y las dificultades de comunicación con este órganoA região amazônica possui uma grande sociobiodiversidade, com povos detentores de conhecimentos tradicionais sobre os usos de seus recursos naturais. Com a Convenção sobre a Diversidade Biológica (CDB) em 1992, foi reconhecida a autonomia de cada nação sobre seu patrimônio genético e o direito das populações tradicionais sobre o uso e conhecimento destes recursos naturais. Em 2001 foi editada a Medida Provisória 2.186-16/2001 que criou o Conselho Nacional de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético (CGEN) e as primeiras regras sobre o acesso ao patrimônio genético e ao conhecimento tradicional associado no Brasil. Desde sua criação, as ações do CGEN têm recebido críticas de vários setores, tanto privados quanto públicos e, ao contrário de sua proposta inicial, tem se constituído em um dos principais entraves das pesquisas etnobotânicas, pela burocracia, pelo longo período de análise dos processos, e pela dificuldade de comunicação com este órgão. Palavras-chave: legislação, biodiversidade, acesso ao patrimônio genético, conhecimento tradicional associado, etnobotânica, Amazônia