Medicinal Plants Used as Antitumor Agents in Brazil: An Ethnobotanical Approach

We describe the medicinal plants that have been reported to be antitumor agents and that have been used in ethnobotanic research in Brazil to answer the following questions: what is the abundance of plants reported to be antitumor in Brazil? Have the plant species used for tumor treatment in traditional Brazilian medicine been sufficiently examined scientifically? Our analysis included papers published between 1980 and 2008. A total of 84 medicinal plant species were reported to be used for cancer and tumor prevention or treatment; 69.05% of these were cited as being used for the treatment of tumors and cancer in general and 30.95% for specific tumors or cancers. The plants that were cited at a higher frequency were Aloe vera, Euphorbia tirucalli, and Tabebuia impetiginosa. At least, one pharmacological study was found for 35.71% of the species. Majority of the studies selected were conducted in rural communities and urban areas and in areas with traditional healers in Brazil. We found the following molecules to be the most studied in vitro and in vivo: silibinin, β-lapachone, plumbagin and capsaicin. The species addressed here constitute interesting objects for future studies to various professionals in the field of natural products

Intracultural Variation in the Knowledge of Medicinal Plants in an Urban-Rural Community in the Atlantic Forest from Northeastern Brazil

This study assessed the intracultural knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in an urban-rural community in an Atlantic forest fragment in northeastern Brazil. We examined the importance of native and exotic species and the effects of gender and age on that knowledge. We also compared data obtained from different groups of informants (local experts and general community). We conducted 194 interviews between June 2007 and January 2008, using the freelist technique and semistructured forms to collect ethnobotanical data. Information obtained from the community was compared with that from six local experts who participated in a survey in 2003. From a total of 209 ethnospecies, exotic and herbaceous plants presented higher richness. With respect to the number of citations, women and older informants were shown to know a higher number of medicinal plants. Comparing knowledge of local experts with that of the general community, we noted that experts know a similar wealth of plant families and therapeutic indications, but the community knows a greater species richness. These results indicate that local experts may provide useful information for studies that search for a quick diagnosis of the knowledge of a given community

Natural Products from Ethnodirected Studies: Revisiting the Ethnobiology of the Zombie Poison

Wade Davis's study of Haitian “zombification” in the 1980s was a landmark in ethnobiological research. His research was an attempt to trace the origins of reports of “undead” Haitians, focusing on the preparation of the zombification poison. Starting with this influential ethnopharmacological research, this study examines advances in the pharmacology of natural products, focusing especially on those of animal-derived products. Ethnopharmacological, pharmacological, and chemical aspects are considered. We also update information on the animal species that reportedly constitute the zombie poison. Several components of the zombie powder are not unique to Haiti and are used as remedies in traditional medicine worldwide. This paper emphasizes the medicinal potential of products from zootherapy. These biological products are promising sources for the development of new drugs

Controle de qualidade e prioridades de conservação de plantas medicinais comercializadas no Brasi

Praticamente todos os povos do mundo fazem uso de plantas medicinais, ou seus derivados, para o tratamento de doenças. No Brasil, essas plantas têm sido componentes de produtos industrializados que são comercializados em farmácias,casas de produtos naturais e supermercados, sob a designação de fitoterápico ou droga vegetal. Tendo em vista que a boa qualidade é um requisito para assegurar a eficácia e a segurança dos produtos, e que a maioria das plantas medicinais nativas comercializadas no Brasil são obtida de populações silvestres, o presente trabalho teve por finalidade avaliar a qualidade de produtos a base de espécies vegetais medicinais e estabelecer prioridades de conservação para as plantas medicinais nativas de valor comercial. Realizou-se um levantamento dos produtos à base de plantas medicinais, provenientes de indústrias de várias partes do país, comercializados em 54 estabelecimentos comerciais da cidade do Recife-PE. Em cada estabelecimento foi aplicada uma ficha padronizada com informações sobre o nome comercial do produto, a composição vegetal, a forma farmacêutica, as indicações terapêuticas e o laboratório. A avaliação de 10 amostras de castanha-daíndia, 11 de capim-santo e seis de centela foi realizada com base nos critérios estabelecidos pela Farmacopéia Brasileira e legislação específica; a prioridade para a conservação das plantas medicinais nativas foi dada de acordo com o Índice de Valor de Importância (IVI), que é baseado na Importância Relativa (IR) e no Índice de Sensibilidade (IS). No primeiro trabalho constatou-se a ausência das informações obrigatórias em 92,59% das amostras e um elevado teor de impurezas, em 59,26% dos produtos analisados. Apesar disso, todas as amostras foram consideradas autênticas com base nos testes fitoquímicos e farmacobotânicos. Constata-se que, além dos produtos comercializados carecerem de informações e qualidade adequadas, há necessidade urgente de uma fiscalização efetiva por parte dos órgãos competentes. No segundo trabalho, foi registrado um total de 74 espécies nativas usadas em mais de 300 tipos de produtos. Doze espécies apresentaram grande versatilidade, das quais 58,33% foram árvores. Há o predomínio da coleta destrutiva (58,11%) e de táxons coletados exclusivamente da natureza (86,49%). O uso intensivo de espécies unicamente silvestres e a coleta de forma destrutiva são problemas sérios que ameaçam e comprometem a disponibilidade desses recursos.Almost all the world’s populations use medicinal plants, or their derivates, for the treatment of illnesses. In Brazil, these plants have been compounds of industrialized products that are commercialized in drugstores, natural product stores and supermarkets, under the designation of phytotherapic or vegetal drug. Considering that good quality is a requirement to ensure product’s efficacy and security, and that most of native medicinal plants commercialized in Brazil are acquired from wild populations, the present study aimed, in the first article, to evaluate the quality of medicinal plant-based products, and in the second article, to settle priorities for conservation to native medicinal plants with commercial value. It was made a survey of the medicinal plant-based products, coming from industries all over the country, commercialized in 54 commercial establishments from Recife-PE. In each establishment it was applied a standardized sheet with information about the product’s commercial name, plant composition, pharmaceutical form, therapeutic indications and the laboratory. The evaluation of 10 samples of horsechestnut, 11 of lemongrass and six of gotu kola was preceded based on the criteria established by Farmacopéia Brasileira and specific legislation; the priority for conservation, of the native medicinal plants, was given according to Importance Value Index (IVI), which is based on the Relative Importance (RI) and on the Sensitivity Index (SI). In the first work it was verified the absence of obligatory data in 92.59% of the samples, and a high impurity content in 59.26% of the analyzed products. In spite of this, all samples were considered authentic based on phytochemical and pharmacobotanical tests. It was verified that, besides the commercialized products lack adequate data andquality, there’s an urgent need of an effective supervision from the component organs. In the second work, it was registered 74 native species that are used in more than 300 types of products. Twelve species presented high versatility, of which 58.33% were trees. There is predominance of destructive collection (58.11%) and of taxa collected only from nature (86.49%). Intensive use of uniquely wild species and the destructive form collection are serious problems that threat and compromise this resource’s availability.Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNP