An ethnopharmacological and historical analysis of “Dictamnus”, a European traditional herbal medicine

Ethnopharmacological relevance and background: “Dictamnus” was a popular name for a group of medicinal herbaceous plant species of the Rutaceae and Lamiaceae, which since the 4th century have been used for gynaecological problems and other illnesses BCE and still appear in numerous ethnobotanical records. Aims: This research has as four overarching aims: Determining the historical evolution of medical preparations labelled “Dictamnus” and the different factors affecting this long-standing herbal tradition. Deciphering and differentiating those medicinal uses of “Dictamnus” which strictly correspond to Dictamnus (Rutaceae), from those of Origanum dictamnus and other Lamiaceae species. Quantitatively assessing the dependence from herbal books, and pharmaceutical tradition, of modern Dictamnus ethnobotanical records. Determining whether differences between Western and Eastern Europe exist with regards to the Dictamnus albus uses in ethnopharmacology and ethnomedicine. Methods: An exhaustive review of herbals, classical pharmacopoeias, ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological literature was conducted. Systematic analysis of uses reported which were standardized according to International Classification of Diseases – 10 and multivariate analysis using factorial, hierarchical and neighbour joining methods was undertaken. Results and discussion: The popular concept “Dictamnus” includes Origanum dictamnus L., Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. and B. acetabulosa (L.) Benth. (Lamiaceae), as well as Dictamnus albus L. and D. hispanicus Webb ex Willk. (Rutaceae), with 86 different types of uses. Between 1000 and 1700 CE numerous complex preparations with “Dictamnus” were used in the treatment of 35 different pathologies. On biogeographical grounds the widespread D. albus is a far more likely prototypical “Dictamnus” than the Cretan endemic Origanum dictamnus. However both form integral parts of the “Dictamnus” complex. Evidence exists for a sufficiently long and coherent tradition for D. albus and D. hispanicus, use to treat 47 different categories of diseases. Conclusions: This approach is a model for understanding the cultural history of plants and their role as resources for health care. “Dictamnus” shows how transmission of traditional knowledge about materia medica, over 26 centuries, represents remarkable levels of development and innovation. All this lead us to call attention to D. albus and D. hispanicus which are highly promising as potential herbal drug leads. The next steps of research should be to systematically analyse phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical evidence and to develop safety, pharmacology and toxicology profiles of the traditional preparations

Medicinal Plants in Traditional Herbal Wines and Liquors in the East of Spain and the Balearic Islands

Homemade herbal preparations from the East of Spain are the witness of traditional medicine inherited from the ancient complex formulas of herbal teas and medicinal wines. In this study, we document the use of traditional alcoholic beverages, identify their ingredients, almost exclusively botanical, record the local medicinal uses of these mixtures, and discuss patterns of distribution of this knowledge in regions of eastern Spain, the Balearic Islands and Andorra. We determine marker species and relevant patterns of herbal formulas in the different regions of the territory. Homemade liquors and liqueurs are consumed for their digestive and tonic-restorative properties but they also play in some cases an important social role. The elderly remember other medicinal uses such as aperitif, emmenagogue, or antidiarrheal, for some of the most popular preparations. The herbal liqueur formulas include predominantly Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, and Apiaceae species. Herbs (58%), fruits (28%), and mixtures of both (12%) are ingredients of liquors and wines, being the aerial parts the most frequent in terms of species (30%) and records (49%). Dictamnus hispanicus, Santolina villosa, Salvia blancoana subsp. mariolensis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, and Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. fruticosum are the species most frequently used. Others species used to a lesser extent as Polygonatum odoratum, Thymus moroderi, and Saxifraga longifolia are restricted to locally homemade preparations because their collection and uses require special knowledge of the rare or endemic flora. Sustainability of these practices is strongly limited by the overall loss of local traditional knowledge and by the limited availability of most of the wild species; some of them are endangered or threatened mainly by the loss of their natural habitats. Cultivation and domestication are a promising alternative to collecting from wild populations. The cultivation of Thymus moroderi in the province of Alicante and Polygonatum odoratum in the province of Teruel are good examples. There is a notable decrease in the complexity of the formulas registered throughout the nearly 15 years of the study. This is interpreted as a consequence of a loss of knowledge, less accessibility to wild resources, and changes in traditions and preferences

Uso de plantas comestibles silvestres como ingredientes funcionales en la dieta moderna

Se han evaluado trece especies de plantas silvestres comestibles pertenecientes a once familias botánicas consumidas en la dieta mediterránea tradicional. Sanguisorba minor, Quercus ballota y Sedum sediforme mostraron la mayor actividad antioxidante total hidrofílica (H‐AAT), así como el mayor contenido en fenoles totales. El análisis sensorial indicó que los frutos de Q. ballota podrían considerarse muy dulces y que las plantas de Crithmum maritimum y Oxalis pes‐caprae son muy ácidas. Además, los catadores destacaron el sabor salado de C. maritimum, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum y Mesembryanthemum cristalinum, el sabor picante de A. ampeloprasum, y el aroma de F. vulgare. Nuestros resultados indican que debido a sus propiedades funcionales y sensoriales, podrían utilizarse como nuevos ingredientes para aumentar la variedad en la dieta moderna y en la alta cocina creativa

La cestería como servicio ecosistémico de los humedales: artesanía tradicional en España central

Ecosystem services from wetlands include products such as food, water, fibers, timber, medicinal plants, and genetic resources for agriculture. One of the most abundant supplies is the raw material for basketry. In this study we aim to document the role of wetland plants as resources for basketry and broom-making in the Guadiana river basin and to analyze the local traditional knowledge of the species used in the area. We describe different types of baskets and other artifacts, and document basketry techniques. We found 30 species belonging to 12 families, 18 of them occurring in wetlands, four in irrigated fields, and seven in the adjacent dry territories. Twenty species are used in the manufacture of brooms. Twenty two types of basketry artifacts are described with their uses. The area shows a relevant cultural heritage, not merely as it was in the past, but also adapted to the new cultural and social contexts. The degradation and loss of wetlands in central Spain threatens these ecosystems and their associated cultural heritage. We suggest the declaration of this intangible human heritage as the “Culture of the Mediterranean Wetlands” before it disappears.Los servicios ecosistémicos de los humedales incluyen alimentos, agua, fibras, madera, plantas medicinales y recursos genéticos para la agricultura. Uno de los insumos más abundantes es la materia prima para la cestería. Documentamos el papel de las plantas de humedales como recurso para la cestería y la fabricación de escobas en la cuenca del río Guadiana y analizamos el conocimiento tradicional local de las diferentes especies. Describimos diferentes tipos de cestas y otros artefactos y documentamos técnicas de cestería. Encontramos 30 especies pertenecientes a 12 familias, 18 de ellas creciendo en humedales, 4 de campos de regadío y 7 de las áreas secas adyacentes. Para la fabricación de escobas se utilizan 20 especies. Se describen 22 tipos de artefactos de cestería con sus usos. El área muestra un patrimonio cultural relevante, no solo en el pasado, sino también adaptado a los nuevos contextos culturales y sociales. La degradación y pérdida de humedales en España central amenaza estos ecosistemas y su patrimonio cultural asociado. Sugerimos la declaración de este patrimonio humano intangible como “Cultura de los Humedales del Mediterráneo” antes de que desaparezca.This research received financial support from the research project SPIP2015-01659 ‘Etnobiologia de los humedales en los parques nacionales de Tablas de Daimiel y Cabañeros’ of the Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales

La especie Phoenix excelsior de Cavanilles y la diversidad del complejo Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae): tipificación de Phoenix excelsior Cav.

Se analiza y discute la diversidad y nomenclatura dentro del complejo de Phoenix dactylifera valorando la importancia de Phoenix excelsior Cav. para la caracterización del grupo occidental de palmeras datileras cuyo núcleo más definido lo constituye la palmera datilera española. Ante la ausencia de holotipo y de material original de Ph. excelsior se designa un neótipo

Al-Bustān. Las fincas aristocráticas y la construcción de los paisajes periurbanos de al-Ándalus y Sicilia

Navarro Palazón, Julio, editorLa presente publicación se enmarca en el Proyecto I+D+i «Almunias medievales en el Mediterráneo: Historia y conservación de los paisajes culturales periurbanos» (PID2019-111508GB-I00, dirigido por Julio Navarro Palazón), del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Agencia Estatal de Investigación. Proyectos de I+D+i, de los Programas Estatales de Generación de Conocimiento y fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema de I+D+i y de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020. Esta obra es también un fruto destacado del trabajo realizado en el marco de la Unidad Asociada de I+D+i Patrimonio Cultural Árabe e Islámico, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Granada, a través de la Escuela de Estudios Árabes de Granad

La dieta cereal prehistórica y su supervivencia en el área mediterránea

Traditional Mediterranean recipes for cooking and consuming cereal grains are examined with a view to developing models for better interpreting the vegetal remains from archaeological sites so as to reconstruct ancient diets.<br><br>Se estudian diversas formas de preparar tradicionalmente los granos de cereales en la Cuenca Mediterránea, que pueden servir como modelos etnográficos para interpretar algunos restos arqueológicos

Estudio taxonómico, nomenclatural y corológico de la sección sideritis (Genero Sideritis)(Labiatae) / Concepción Obón de Castro ; director Diego Rivera Núñez.

Tesis-Universidad de Murcia.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. ARCHIVO UNIVERSITARIO. D 341.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. ARCHIVO UNIVERSITARIO. T.M.-790