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González JA, Vallejo JR. Relics and Historical Uses of Human Zootherapeutic Products in Contemporary Spanish Ethnoveterinary Medicine. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8120323. [PMID: 34941850 PMCID: PMC8707080 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8120323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: this review documents the wide repertoire of practices and remedies based on the use of human-derived products in Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) from the early 20th century to the present. These practices are compared with historical data and those of other countries; (2) Methods: a search using advanced functions in the most important databases in the fields of ethnobiology, EVM, folklore, and ethnography was performed. Information was obtained from 29 documentary sources; (3) Results: from the search of the literature, 46 use-reports related to the veterinary use of human urine, menstrual fluid, saliva, breast milk, and faeces were recorded. These zootherapeutic resources are/were used to treat 20 animal diseases, in particular dermatological ailments. In addition, many practices of the magical-religious type are documented; (4) Conclusions: the veterinary uses described and analysed here are fundamental to the development of therapeutic tools and creating teaching and learning processes in new popular veterinary practices adapted to the users and those who demand them. The information collected could form a scientific foundation for future inventories of local veterinary knowledge (LVK) and research addressing the discovery of new drugs for livestock. This work contributes to the inventory of some uses, traditional practices, and rituals seriously threatened by the progressive loss of LVK in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37071 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Biología Celular, Histología, Historia de la Ciencia, Medicina Legal y Forense y Toxicología, Área de Historia de la Ciencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, E-11003 Cádiz, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Zucoloto RB, Bomfim GC, de Campos Fernandes FM, Schnadelbach AS, Piña CI, Verdade LM. Effective population size of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) in Brazil: A historical and spatial perspective. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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González JA, Vallejo JR. The use of domestic animals and their derivative products in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 271:113900. [PMID: 33549762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This review documents the wide and varied repertoire of traditional practices and remedies based on the use of domestic animals in Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) from the early 20th century to the present. Empirical practices, both ritual and magical, are recorded, and these EVM data are compared with those of other countries in the Mediterranean region and Latin America. The data collected here could form a scientific foundation for future inventories of local veterinary knowledge (LVK) and research addressing the discovery of new drugs for livestock and the validation of the effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS A qualitative systematic review of the most important databases in the fields of ethnobiology, ethnoveterinary medicine, folklore and ethnography was performed. Information and use-reports were obtained from more than 60 documentary sources. RESULTS We recorded the use of nine domestic animal species and one hybrid (the mule) and a total of 171 empirical remedies based on the use of a single species. A wide diversity of body parts or derivative products were/are used. Fat was/is the most commonly used product, being used in 71 remedies (42%). These zootherapeutic resources were/are used to treat or prevent a total of 69 animal diseases or medical conditions, in particular dermatological, reproductive and digestive ailments, together with some infectious diseases. Sheep, cattle, goats and equines form the group of domestic animals in which the greatest number of useful species is employed. In addition, many remedies and practices of the magical-religious type are documented. In comparison with other culturally related areas, there is a greater parallelism in the animals and body parts and derivative products used, and the ailments treated. CONCLUSIONS Contemporary Spanish EVM practices amass a great richness of domestic animal-based remedies. A diversity of body parts or derivative products has been used, offering a cultural heritage that could be a fundamental step in the discovery of new and low-cost drugs for treating livestock and alternative materials for pharmaceutical purposes, and it can contribute to the creation of new strategies for the conservation of natural resources and management of endangered species. The usage of zootherapeutic products derived from wild animals can be replaced by the use of products isolated from domestic animals. Finally, this overview contributes to the inventory of some uses, traditional practices and rituals seriously threatened by the progressive loss of LVK.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos Del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, E-37071, Spain.
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento Anatomía Patológica, Biología Celular, Histología, Historia de La Ciencia, Medicina Legal y Forense y Toxicología, Área de Historia de La Ciencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, E-11003, Spain.
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Principle of Hot and Cold and Its Clinical Application in Latin American and Caribbean Medicines. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1343:57-83. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-80983-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Majeed M, Bhatti KH, Amjad MS, Abbasi AM, Bussmann RW, Nawaz F, Rashid A, Mehmood A, Mahmood M, Khan WM, Ahmad KS. Ethno-veterinary uses of Poaceae in Punjab, Pakistan. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241705. [PMID: 33142315 PMCID: PMC7608896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant species of the Poaceae family are not only used as fodder and forage but also contribute substantially to the treatment of various health disorders, particularly in livestock. Consequently, the present study was aimed to document the therapeutic uses of Poaceae practiced by the inhabitants of the Punjab Province for the treatment of various veterinary health disorders. Semi structured interviews, group discussion and field walks were conducted to collect the data. Quantitative indices including cultural significance index (CSI), relative frequency of citations (RFC), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), and Jaccard Index (JI) were used for the data analysis. Traditional uses of 149 species belonging to 60 genera and 16 tribes of 5 sub families of Poaceae were recorded. Whole plants and leaves were the most consistently used parts with 40.94 and 29.53%. The plants were mainly given orally as fodder (59 reports) without processing followed by decoction (35 reports). Most of the species were employed to treat infectious diseases (25.93%), and digestive disorders (14.10%). Triticum aestivum had the highest CSI, RFC and RPL levels at 8.00, 0.96, 1.00, respectively, followed by Oryza sativa and Poa annua. Likewise, T. aestivum and Saccharum spontaneum had 100% FL and ROP. Jaccard index ranged from 12.25 to 0.37. Twelve plant species namely Chrysopogon zizanioides (anti-inflammatory), Pennisetum lanatum (improve bull fertility), Cymbopogon citratus (glandular secretion), Sorghum saccharatum and Themeda triandra (malaria), Aristida funiculate (anticancer), Koeleria argentia (skin allergies), Tetrapogon villosus (antibacterial), Cynodon radiatus (eyes infection), Sporobolus nervosa (Jaundice), Enneapogon persicus (antifungal), and Panicum repens (dysfunctional cattle organs) were reported for the first time, with novel ethnoveterinary uses. The inhabitants of the study area had a strong association with their surrounding plant diversity and possessed significant knowledge on therapeutic uses of Poaceae to treat various health disorders in animals. Plant species with maximum cultural and medicinal values could be a potential source of novel drugs to cure health disorders in animals and human as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Majeed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Khizar Hayat Bhatti
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
- Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh, AJK, Pakistan
| | - Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Pakistan
| | - Rainer W. Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Fahim Nawaz
- Department of Agronomy, MNS, University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Audil Rashid
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Ansar Mehmood
- Department of Botany, University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - Majid Mahmood
- Department of Zoology, University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
| | | | - Khawaja Shafique Ahmad
- Department of Botany, University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
- * E-mail: ,
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Adhikari JN, Bhattarai BP, Rokaya MB, Thapa TB. Ethno-medicinal uses of vertebrates in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, central Nepal. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240555. [PMID: 33125389 PMCID: PMC7598503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional knowledge on the use of animal products to maintain human health is important since time immemorial. Although a few studies reported food and medicinal values of different animals, a comprehensive ethno-medicinal study of vertebrates in Nepal is still lacking. Thus, present study is aimed at documenting the ethno-medicinal knowledge related to vertebrate fauna among different ethnic communities in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, central Nepal. Data was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed by using Use Value (UV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL). Results showed a total of 58 (53 wild and 5 domestic) species of vertebrate animals. They were used to treat 62 types human ailments. Four animals were also used for veterinary diseases and agriculture benefits. The most widely used species was Felis chaus (UV = 0.25) with 3 use-reports by 10 informants. Cardiovascular and dental problems had the highest ICF value (0.974) with cardiovascular problems having 351 use-reports for 10 animal species and dental problems having 77 use-reports for 3 animal species. The least ICF was found in ophthalmological problems (ICF = 0.833, use reports = 7 for 2 species). We concluded that the different animals were an important part of traditional medicine for the local people living in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape. However, the majority of animals and most likely to be threatened due to their uses. The present documented ethnozoological knowledge can be used in conservation and management of vertebrates so that they could be protected for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagan Nath Adhikari
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Zoology, Birendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Maan Bahadur Rokaya
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tej Bahadur Thapa
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
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da Silva Santos S, de Lucena RFP, de Lucena Soares HK, dos Santos Soares VM, Sales NS, Mendonça LET. Use of mammals in a semi-arid region of Brazil: an approach to the use value and data analysis for conservation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2019; 15:33. [PMID: 31288847 PMCID: PMC6617831 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-019-0313-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to survey the knowledge and use of mammals by the residents of the rural community of Capivara in the municipality of Solânea (Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil) and to propose a new method of using the use value as a tool for data analysis in ethnozoological surveys. METHODS The uses attributed to mammals were recorded through semi-structured interviews conducted with the breadwinners (men and women) living in the community. The species were identified through guided tours, by descriptions made by the interviewees, and using specimens donated by them, as well as by comparison with the pertinent scientific literature (morphological and ecological). Through the use value differentiated analysis, it was possible to distinguish the current use value of the species (effective use) from their potential use value (knowledge, but no effective use) to determine their real importance related to the uses cited by the studied group. RESULTS Nineteen species were cited; however, only 17 of them were identified and then distributed in 13 families. The other species were identified at the genus level Leopardus sp. and order Rodentia. The species were classified into 6 categories of use: food, captive breeding, zootherapeutic, artisanal, magic/religious, and veterinary purposes. CONCLUSIONS This article discusses possible conservation solutions, given the irregular exploitation of some species, warning about the biodiversity, and traditional knowledge conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen da Silva Santos
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
- UEPB, Campina Grande, Brazil
- PRODEMA, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena
- Campus I, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Department of Systematics and Ecology, Laboratory of Ethnobiology and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Lívia Emanuelle Tavares Mendonça
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
- UEPB, Campina Grande, Brazil
- Biology Department, State University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
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Souto WMS, Barboza RRD, Fernandes-Ferreira H, Júnior AJCM, Monteiro JM, Abi-chacra ÉDA, Alves RRN. Zootherapeutic uses of wildmeat and associated products in the semiarid region of Brazil: general aspects and challenges for conservation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2018; 14:60. [PMID: 30223856 PMCID: PMC6142313 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-018-0259-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hunting wildlife for medicinal purposes is a widespread practice throughout Brazil; however, studies about the animals used for zootherapeutic practices have been performed almost exclusively with traders (herbalists) and end consumers, and not hunters. This makes it difficult to completely understand the market chain, trade strategies, and drivers of this practice. The present study investigated the species hunted or trapped for traditional medicinal uses by collecting data about the use and trade of the zootheurapeutic species. METHODS We collected data through semi-structured questionnaires complemented by free interviews and informal conversations with hunters in five municipalities of semiarid region of the NE Brazil. We calculated the Use-Value (UV) index to determine the relative importance of each species reported by interviewees. The Multiple Linear Regression model was used to assess the influence of socioeconomic factors (age, schooling, residence zone, trade of zootherapeutic species) on species richness exploited by hunters. RESULTS Hunters reported a significant richness of species (n = 39) intentionally or opportunistically captured for use as remedies for treatment of 92 diseases or conditions in humans or livestock. Respondents also reported trade strategies that were well-organized and quickly directed the selling of wild animals or byproducts via modern technology. We found a weak positive relationship only between species richness and hunters' age via MLR model. CONCLUSIONS The hunting and use of wild species for medicinal purposes are culturally disseminated activities among hunters. Our results demonstrate the importance of studying hunters in order to understanding the dynamics of bushmeat exploitation and to develop more efficient strategies for wildlife use and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Zoology, Wildlife Use and Conservation (ZUCON), Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella, Teresina, Piaui Zip code/CEP 64049-550 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
| | - Raynner Rilke Duarte Barboza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
- Department of Biology, State University of Paraiba (UEPB), Av. Baraúnas n. 351, Campina Grande, Paraiba CEP 58109-753 Brazil
| | - Hugo Fernandes-Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
- State University of Ceara (UECE), Faculdade de Educação, Ciências e Letras do Sertão Central, Quixadá, Ceará CEP 63900-000 Brazil
| | | | - Julio Marcelino Monteiro
- Biological Sciences Course, UFPI, Campus Amílcar Ferreira Sobral (CAFS), Floriano, Piaui CEP 64800-000 Brazil
| | - Érika de Araújo Abi-chacra
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology (DPM), Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella, Teresina, Piaui Zip code/CEP 64049-550 Brazil
| | - Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Department of Biology, State University of Paraiba (UEPB), Av. Baraúnas n. 351, Campina Grande, Paraiba CEP 58109-753 Brazil
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Rodríguez C, Rollins-Smith L, Ibáñez R, Durant-Archibold AA, Gutiérrez M. Toxins and pharmacologically active compounds from species of the family Bufonidae (Amphibia, Anura). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2017; 198:235-254. [PMID: 28034659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Among amphibians, 15 of the 47 species reported to be used in traditional medicines belong to the family Bufonidae, which demonstrates their potential in pharmacological and natural products research. For example, Asian and American tribes use the skin and the parotoid gland secretions of some common toads in the treatment of hemorrhages, bites and stings from venomous animals, skin and stomach disorders, as well as several types of cancers. OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE In addition to reviewing the occurrence of chemical constituents present in the family Bufonidae, the cytotoxic and biomedical potential of the active compounds produced by different taxa are presented. METHODOLOGY Available information on bioactive compounds isolated from species of the family Bufonidae was obtained from ACS Publications, Google, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Sciendirect and Springer. Papers written in Chinese, English, German and Spanish were considered. RESULTS Recent reports show more than 30% of amphibians are in decline and some of bufonid species are considered to be extinct. For centuries, bufonids have been used as traditional folk remedies to treat allergies, inflammation, cancer, infections and other ailments, highlighting their importance as a prolific source for novel drugs and therapies. Toxins and bioactive chemical constituents from skin and parotid gland secretions of bufonid species can be grouped in five families, the guanidine alkaloids isolated and characterized from Atelopus, the lipophilic alkaloids isolated from Melanophryniscus, the indole alkaloids and bufadienolides known to be synthesized by species of bufonids, and peptides and proteins isolated from the skin and gastrointestinal extracts of some common toads. Overall, the bioactive secretions of this family of anurans may have antimicrobial, protease inhibitor and anticancer properties, as well as being active at the neuromuscular level. CONCLUSION In this article, the traditional uses, toxicity and pharmacological potential of chemical compounds from bufonids have been summarized. In spite of being reported to be used to treat several diseases, neither extracts nor metabolites from bufonids have been tested in such illness like acne, osteoporosis, arthritis and other illnesses. However, the cytotoxicity of these metabolites needs to be evaluated on adequate animal models due to the limited conditions of in vitro assays. Novel qualitative and quantitative tools based on MS spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy is now available to study the complex secretions of bufonids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candelario Rodríguez
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones, Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama 0843-01103, Republic of Panama; Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur 522510, India
| | - Louise Rollins-Smith
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, and Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Roberto Ibáñez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama; Department of Zoology, College of Natural, Exact Sciences and Technology, University of Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Armando A Durant-Archibold
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones, Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama 0843-01103, Republic of Panama; Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural, Exact Sciences and Technology, University of Panama, Republic of Panama.
| | - Marcelino Gutiérrez
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones, Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama 0843-01103, Republic of Panama.
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García-López R, Villegas A, Pacheco-Coronel N, Gómez-Álvarez G. Traditional use and perception of snakes by the Nahuas from Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla, Mexico. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2017; 13:6. [PMID: 28109304 PMCID: PMC5251290 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-016-0134-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indigenous cultures are the result of their adaptation to the natural surroundings, in such a way that, amongst their main features is a set of knowledge, technologies and strategies for the appropriation of nature. In Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla, Mexico snakes represent 71.1% of the total local herpetofauna; and in addition to this, different groups of Nahuas have shown to have information of their use of various snake species in many ways. This study was conducted to investigate the traditional uses of snakes in this cultural group. METHODS Formal and informal interviews were conducted with the inhabitants of the communities. During these interviews, 30 images of the different species of snakes present in the area were presented to the subjects, so that they would recognize them and reveal information about the knowledge they possess on them. A usage analysis was applied to each species considering the following categories: food purposes, medicinal, artisanal and magical-religious. Likewise, the frequency, the diversity and the value of use was estimated for these snakes. RESULTS A total of 51 interviews were carried out. The individuals recognized 18 out of 30 images of snakes that were presented. The total of usage categories was five; we found that the magic-religious use was the most mentioned by 32 personas. Boa imperator and Antropoides nummifer were the species with the highest value of use. More than half of the interviewees mentioned killing snakes because they're poisonous and aggressive. In the magic-religious aspect the "Danza de los Negritos" is highlighted; this is a local festival, brought by Africans, and alludes to snakes. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that snakes are still very important for the culture in Cuetzalan del Progreso, finding that the magical-religious and the medicinal use stand out. On the other hand, the fear and misperception on the toxicity of snakes might represent a potential threat for their conservation. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a long-term monitoring of the ethno-zoological activities, and develop a sustainable management plan compatible with the cultural characteristics of the natives of the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina García-López
- Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Villegas
- Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Noé Pacheco-Coronel
- Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Graciela Gómez-Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Bonifácio KM, Schiavetti A, Freire EMX. Fauna used by rural communities surrounding the protected area of Chapada do Araripe, Brazil. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2016; 12:41. [PMID: 27642747 PMCID: PMC5029039 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-016-0115-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the inter-relations between people and animals have been considered essential to better understand the dynamics of socio-ecological systems. This study aimed to register the animal species known by the communities adjacent to National Forest of Araripe, their uses and if the close relationship affects the knowledge of useful species. METHODS Data collection was conducted through a semi-structured inquiry form, free listings and guided tour. The study included 246 people from two community groups: group 1 (n = 113; <2 km from FLONA) and group 2 (n = 133; ≥ 2 km). RESULTS According to the free listing, group 1 communities know more animal species (11.50 ± 5.81) than group 2 (9.41 ± 3.70), with a significant difference in knowledge between the groups. Men and women showed no significant difference in knowledge about animal species. The men from group 1 know, significantly, more species than men from group 2; but this difference was not observed in women from both groups. In the analysis of the Use Value (UV), Mazama gouazoubira showed a higher UV, both in group 1 (1.15) and group 2 (1.49). The guided tour identified the presence of 11 species, common in the vegetation of Forested Savannah (Cerradão) and in the transition Rainforest/Savannah (Cerrado). CONCLUSION The results indicate M. gouazoubira as the most known and used species in this Protected Area, showing that species of interest to the local communities are worthy of conservation attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kallyne Machado Bonifácio
- Centro de Biociências, Curso de Doutorado em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte/UFRN, Natal, RN CEP59078-900 Brasil
| | - Alexandre Schiavetti
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz/UESC, Km 16 Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, BA CEP45662-000 Brasil
| | - Eliza Maria Xavier Freire
- Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte/UFRN, Natal, RN CEP59078-900 Brasil
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González JA, Amich F, Postigo-Mota S, Vallejo JR. The use of wild vertebrates in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 191:135-151. [PMID: 27288756 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This review documents the wide and varied repertoire of traditional practices based on the use of wild vertebrates in Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) from the early 20th century to the present. Empirical practices, both ritual and magical, are recorded, and these EVM data are compared with those of other countries in the Mediterranean Region and Latin America. The data collected here could form a scientific foundation for future inventories of traditional knowledge and help in the discovery of new drugs for livestock. MATERIALS AND METHODS A qualitative systematic review of international and national databases in the fields of ethnobiology, ethnoveterinary medicine, folklore and ethnography was made. Information was obtained from more than 60 documentary sources. RESULTS We recorded the use of 30 wild vertebrates and a total of 84 empirical remedies based on the use of a single species. The two most relevant zoological groups are reptiles and mammals. A wide diversity of body parts or products have been and are used. The meat and skin of snakes are the animal products most commonly used. These zootherapeutic resources have been and are used to treat or prevent ca. 50 animal diseases or conditions, in particular digestive and reproductive ailments, together with some infectious diseases. Sheep, cattle and equines form the group of domestic animals in which the greatest number of useful species are employed. In addition, many remedies and practices of the magical type are documented. In comparison with other culturally related areas, this is a rich heritage. CONCLUSIONS Contemporary Spanish EVM practices amass a great richness of wild animal-based remedies. A diversity of animal parts or products have been used, offering a cultural heritage that could be a fundamental step in the discovery of new and low-cost drugs for treating livestock and alternative materials for pharmaceutical purposes. This overview contributes to the inventory of some uses and rituals seriously threatened by the progressive loss of local veterinary knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca E-37071, Spain.
| | - Francisco Amich
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca E-37071, Spain.
| | - Salvador Postigo-Mota
- Equipo de Antropología Social y Cultural, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz E-06006, Spain.
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento de Terapéutica Médico-Quirúrgica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz E-06006, Spain.
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González JA, Amich F, Postigo-Mota S, Vallejo JR. Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of invertebrates in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2016; 12:36. [PMID: 27595672 PMCID: PMC5011348 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-016-0111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Zootherapeutic practices in ethnoveterinary medicine are important in many socio-cultural environments around the world, particularly in developing countries, and they have recently started to be inventoried and studied in Europe. In light of this, the purpose of this review is to describe the local knowledge and folk remedies based on the use of invertebrates and their derivative products in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. An overview in the fields of ethnozoology, ethnoveterinary medicine and folklore was made. Automated searches in the most important databases were performed. All related works were examined thoroughly and use-reports were obtained from 53 documentary sources. The traditional use of 18 invertebrate species and five ethnotaxa and a total of 86 empirical remedies based on the use of a single species was recorded. The two most relevant zoological groups were found to be insects and molluscs. A broad diversity of body parts or derivative products have been and are used to treat or prevent ca. 50 animal diseases or conditions, in particular diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, different infectious livestock diseases, and disorders of the eye and adnexa. Cattle, sheep and equines form the group of domestic animals in which the greatest number of remedies are mentioned. In addition, seven magical remedies and practices are documented. In comparison with other culturally related areas, this is a rich heritage. The use-reports included here will help in the search for new and low-cost drugs for treating livestock and alternative materials for pharmaceutical purposes, future research addressing the validation of the effects and the development of organic farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Antonio González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francisco Amich
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Salvador Postigo-Mota
- Equipo de Antropología Social y Cultural, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento de Terapéutica Médico-Quirúrgica (Facultad de Medicina) – Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y de las Matemáticas (Facultad de Educación), Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
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Nouri F, Nourollahi-Fard SR, Foroodi HR, Sharifi H. In vitro anthelmintic effect of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) extract on parasitic nematode, Marshallagia marshalli. J Parasit Dis 2016; 40:643-7. [PMID: 27605759 PMCID: PMC4996163 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-014-0550-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of developing resistance to the existing anthelmintic drugs, there is a need for new anthelmintic agents. Tobacco plant has alkaloid materials that have antiparasitic effect. We investigated the in vitro anthelminthic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extract of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) against M. marshalli. For investigating this effect, we prepared three dilutions of aqueous and alcoholic extract of Tobacco (25, 50 and 75 mg/ml). The worms exposed to extracts for 10 h at 25-30 °C. The buffer PBS used as negative control and 50 mg/ml dilution of Levamisole used as standard reference. In each group, 50 worms were examined. We used an inhibition mobility test for our study. Survival analysis with Cox proportional hazard model was used for data analysis. The result showed that compared with Levamisole 50 mg/ml, dilution of 25 and 50 mg/ml of the aqueous extract had the same anthelminthic effects (P > 0.05), but 75 mg/ml dilution of the aqueous extract and dilution of 25, 50 and 75 mg/ml of alcoholic extract had more anthelminthic effect (P < 0.05). Overall, extracts of Tobacco possess considerable anthelminthic activity and more potent effects were observed with the highest concentrations. Therefore, the in vivo study on Tobocco in animal models is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Nouri
- Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid R. Nourollahi-Fard
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Sharifi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
- Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Ahmad K, Ahmad M, Weckerle C. Ethnoveterinary medicinal plant knowledge and practice among the tribal communities of Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills, west Pakistan. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2015; 170:275-83. [PMID: 26002769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Pastoralist tribal communities inhabit Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills since centuries. In this remote and geographically isolated area, local people mainly rely on their natural environment for ethnoveterinary care. The area is therefore of special interest for the documentation and analysis of ethnoveterinary plant use and efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field work was conducted from 2010-2012 and 86 informants were interviewed. First, detailed unstructured interviews and group discussions were done with key informants, and second, successive oral freelisting and semi-structured interviews were performed. The veterinary diseases as described by the informants were categorized according to the symptoms they cause and the organs they affect. Information on the cited plants, informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL) were calculated based on use reports. RESULTS A total of 22 ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species, belonging to 21 genera and 20 families with 559 use reports were recorded from two different ecological zones. More species were documented from the foothills but total use reports were higher for mountain species. Mainly leaves are used to prepare decoctions which are administered orally. Most use reports concerned skeleto-muscular problems followed by gastrointestinal ailments, but ritual uses and dermatological illnesses got highest ICF. Most often cited species were Pinus gerardina, P. wallichiana and Daphne papyracea while highest FL was obtained for Salix tetrasperma, Berberis calliobotrys and Litsea monopetala. Interestingly, 50% of the species have the same or similar use for humans. CONCLUSION According to the local people, the most often mentioned species have high medicinal potential. They show a wide acceptance, broad application, multiple ways of preparation and administration. There is a need to conserve the knowledge of medicinal plant use in the Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills for future generations and to incorporate it into existing livestock health care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Ahmad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
| | - Mushtaq Ahmad
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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de Figueirêdo RECR, Vasconcellos A, Policarpo IS, Alves RRN. Edible and medicinal termites: a global overview. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2015; 11:29. [PMID: 25925503 PMCID: PMC4427943 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-015-0016-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Termites are mainly known for damage caused to human beings, both in urban and rural areas. However, these insects play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter in tropical regions and are important natural resources, which are widely used in traditional medicine and are also consumed by human populations in several parts of the world. This study aimed to catalogue termite species used worldwide through a literature review, characterizing them by its human populations' use. The results showed that at least 45 species of termites, belonging to four families, are used in the world, with 43 species used in human diet and/or in livestock feeding. Nine termite species are used as a therapeutic resource. There is an overlapping use of seven species. The use of termites was registered in 29 countries over three continents. Africa is the continent with the highest number of records, followed by America and Asia. The results suggest that, in addition to their ecological importance, termites are a source of medicinal and food resources to various human populations in various locations of the world, showing their potential for being used as an alternative protein source in human or livestock diets, as well as a source for new medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandre Vasconcellos
- Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Termitologia, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
| | - Iamara Silva Policarpo
- Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Termitologia, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
| | - Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Termitologia, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Laboratório de Termitologia, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
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Alves RRN, Silva VN, Trovão DMBM, Oliveira JV, Mourão JS, Dias TLP, Alves ÂGC, Lucena RFP, Barboza RRD, Montenegro PFGP, Vieira WLS, Souto WMS. Students' attitudes toward and knowledge about snakes in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2014; 10:30. [PMID: 24673877 PMCID: PMC3986856 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-10-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans in various cultures have feared snakes, provoking an aversion and persecution that hinders conservation efforts for these reptiles. Such fact suggests that conservation strategies for snakes should consider the interactions and perceptions of the local population towards these animals. The aim of this study was to investigate students' perception of snakes and if attitudes and knowledge may differ according to gender and local residence (urban or rural). METHODS Data was collected in the second half of 2012 and consisted of questionnaires applied to 108 students in the Basic Education School in the municipality of Sumé, located in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. RESULTS The male respondents recognized more species than female did. Part of the students affirmed to have a fear of snakes, especially women. Nearly half of respondents (49%) showed negative behaviour towards these animals, reflecting the influence of potential risk and myths associated with snakes, and supported by a limited knowledge about these animals and their ecological and utilitarian role. We find that the rural students recognized significantly more species than the urban students. CONCLUSIONS Our results point to the need for educational interventions in order to increase knowledge about the positive aspects associated with snakes, seeking to minimize the influence of myths and beliefs that contribute to a strong aversion to snakes by the locals. Conservation strategies should therefore engage students but also teachers, who are key individuals in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo RN Alves
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil
| | - Vanessa N Silva
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil
| | - Dilma MBM Trovão
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil
| | - José V Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil
| | - José S Mourão
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil
| | - Thelma LP Dias
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil
| | - Ângelo GC Alves
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Rua Manoel de Medeiros, S/N, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900 Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil
| | - Reinaldo FP Lucena
- Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais. Setor de Ecologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Centro de Ciências Agrárias. Laboratório de Etnoecologia, Areia, Paraíba 58.397-000, Brasil
| | - Raynner RD Barboza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Paulo FGP Montenegro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Washington LS Vieira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Wedson MS Souto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
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de Carvalho RMA, Martins CF, Mourão JDS. Meliponiculture in Quilombola communities of Ipiranga and Gurugi, Paraíba state, Brazil: an ethnoecological approach. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2014; 10:3. [PMID: 24410767 PMCID: PMC4120937 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-10-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Quilombola communities of Ipiranga and Gurugi, located in Atlantic Rainforest in Southern of Paraíba state, have stories that are interwoven throughout time. The practice of meliponicultura has been carried out for generations in these social groups and provides an elaborate ecological knowledge based on native stingless bees, the melliferous flora and the management techniques used. The traditional knowledge that Quilombola have of stingless bees is of utmost importance for the establishment of conservation strategies for many species. METHODS To deepen study concerning the ecological knowledge of the beekeepers, the method of participant observation together with structured and semi-structured interviews was used, as well as the collection of entomological and botanical categories of bees and plants mentioned. With the aim of recording the knowledge related to meliponiculture previously exercised by the residents, the method of the oral story was employed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results show that the informants sampled possess knowledge of twelve categories of stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini), classified according to morphological, behavioral and ecological characteristics. Their management techniques are represented by the making of traditional cortiço and the melliferous flora is composed of many species predominant in the Atlantic Rainforest. From recording the memories and recollections of the individuals, it was observed that an intricate system of beliefs has permeated the keeping of uruçu bees (Melipona scutellaris) for generations. CONCLUSION According to management techniques used by beekeepers, the keeping of stingless bees in the communities is considered a traditional activity that is embedded within a network of ecological knowledge and beliefs accumulated by generations over time, and is undergoing a process of transformation that provides new meanings to such knowledge, as can be observed in the practices of young people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Celso Feitosa Martins
- Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba,
João Pessoa, PB 58051-900, Brasil
| | - José da Silva Mourão
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das
Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, Campina Grande, PB
58109-753, Brasil
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Cheikhyoussef A, Embashu W. Ethnobotanical knowledge on indigenous fruits in Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions in Northern Namibia. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2013; 9:34. [PMID: 23697554 PMCID: PMC3682899 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-9-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indigenous communities in Namibia possess a rich indigenous knowledge expressed within many practices of these communities. Indigenous wild edible fruits are available along the Namibian 13 regions of which it forms a rich source of vitamins, fibres, minerals and a heterogeneous collection of bioactive compounds referred to as phytochemicals for indigenous people's diet. The aim of this study was to record the different IKS practices on the indigenous fruit trees in Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions of Namibia. METHODS An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to collect information from local communities from 23-29 October 2011. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires and personal interviews during field trips in the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions. A total of 65 respondents were interviewed; 54%; women, 38%; men and 8%; both in group interviews. RESULTS The majority of the people interviewed were in their thirty's, with the youngest being 18 years old and the oldest being 98 years old. Forty three plant specimens were collected from the two regions; these specimens belong to 20 genera and 25 species. Regarding to the indigenous knowledge; 87%; of the respondents indicated that their knowledge on indigenous fruits was learnt mainly through their parent. Indigenous people's perception on declining indigenous fruits revealed that 56.3%; of the respondents reported that indigenous fruits were declining. Only a 42.2%; indicated that the indigenous fruits populations are increasing. Regarding to the management practices to improve the production of these indigenous fruit trees; 38.6%; reported that there are some efforts on management practices; on the other hand 61.4%; reported there are no management practices on the indigenous fruit trees in their areas. Four species were found to be the most frequently used and mentioned fruits which need to be given high preference in terms of conservation are: Berchemia discolor, Hyphaene petersiana, Sclerocarya birrea and Diospyros mespiliformis. The following diseases and ailments have been reported to be treated by the indigenous fruit trees which include: toothache, diarrhoea, cough, tonsillitis, burns, skin allergy, stomach ache, snake bit, constipation, etc. 28%; of the respondents mentioned an ethno-veterinary use(s) of these fruits, e.g. the use of the Ziziphus mucronata roots to treat diarrhoea in cattle, the bark of eembe (Berchemia discolor) to treat calf weakness. CONCLUSIONS The local communities in Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions have relatively good knowledge and practices regarding the indigenous fruit. This study enhances our understanding on the indigenous fruit in Namibia and their uses by local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Cheikhyoussef
- Indigenous Knowledge System Technology (IKST) Food & Beverage Program, Science, Technology and Innovation Division, Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC), University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Werner Embashu
- Indigenous Knowledge System Technology (IKST) Food & Beverage Program, Science, Technology and Innovation Division, Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC), University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia
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Alves RRN, Leite RCL, Souto WMS, Bezerra DMM, Loures-Ribeiro A. Ethno-ornithology and conservation of wild birds in the semi-arid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2013; 9:14. [PMID: 23445769 PMCID: PMC3599943 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-9-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2013] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The utilization of birds as pets has been recognized as one of the principal threats to global avifauna. Most of the information about the use and sale of birds as pets has been limited to areas of high biodiversity and whose impacts of anthropic actions have been widely broadcast internationally, for example for the Amazon Forest and forest remnants of Southeast Asia. The Caatinga predominates in the semi-arid region of Brazil, and is one of the semi-arid biomes with the greatest biological diversity in the world, where 511 species of birds exist. Many of these birds are used as pets, a common practice in the region, which has important conservationist implications but has been little studied. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to detail aspects of the use of birds as pets in a locality in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil. Information on the use of avifauna was obtained through interviews and visits to the homes of 78 wild bird keepers. A total of 41 species of birds were recorded, mostly of the families Emberizidae (n = 9 species), Columbidae (n = 7 species), Icteridae (n = 6 species) and Psittacidae (n = 3 species). The birds that were most often recorded were Paroaria dominicana (n = 79 especimens), Sporophila albogularis (n = 67), Aratinga cactorum (n = 49), Sporophila lineola (n = 36), Sicalis flaveola (n = 29) and Sporophila nigricollis (n = 27). The use of wild birds in the area studied, as an example of what occurs in other places in the semi-arid Northeast, demonstrates that such activities persist in the region, in spite of being illegal, and have been happening in clandestine or semi-clandestine manner. No statistically significant correlation were found between socioeconomic factors and keeping birds as pets reflects the cultural importance of this practice of rearing wild birds for pets in the region, which is widespread among the local population, independent of socioeconomic factors. Obviously, human pressure on the avifauna exploited has ecological implications and makes it clear that conservationist measures should consider the cultural, economic and social aspects of these practices. These measures should be carried out by both directly combating the illegal traffic of animals and promoting educational campaigns aimed at all the players involved, from the collectors up to the consumer and wild bird keepers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande-PB, Brazil
| | - Railson Cidennys Lourenço Leite
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande-PB, Brazil
| | - Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Dandara M M Bezerra
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Alan Loures-Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
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Alves RRN, Neta RODS, Trovão DMDBM, Barbosa JEDL, Barros AT, Dias TLP. Traditional uses of medicinal animals in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2012; 8:41. [PMID: 23050756 PMCID: PMC3547754 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-8-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The present work presents an inventory of the traditional medicinal uses of animals in the municipality of Bom Sucesso in Paraíba State (PB) in the semiarid northeastern region of Brazil. Information was obtained through the use of semi-structured interviews with 50 people who use zootherapeutic products. A total of 25 animal species used for medicinal purposes were identified (18 vertebrates and seven invertebrates) distributed among five taxonomic categories; the groups with the largest numbers of citations were: mammals (8 citations), insects (7), and reptiles (5). The most cited animal species were: Tubinambis merianae "teju" lizards (44 citations); Apis mellifera Italian honeybees (318 citations); Gallus gallus chickens (31 citations); Ovis aries sheep (31 citations); Crotalus durissus rattlesnakes (14 citations); Boa constrictor (12 citations); and Bos taurus cattle (12 citations). A significant number of illnesses and conditions treated with animal-based medicines were cited, and the category with the greatest number of citations was "problems affecting the respiratory system". Our results suggest that the use of zootherapeutics in the region is persistent, and that knowledge about these curative practices is an integral part of the regional culture. As such, studies concerning the uses of zootherapeutics are important windows to understanding human/environmental/cultural interactions and a pathway to conciliating regional cultures with efforts to conserve the native fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Rita Oliveira de Sousa Neta
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Dilma Maria de Brito Melo Trovão
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Jose Etham de Lucena Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Adrianne Teixeira Barros
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Thelma Lucia Pereira Dias
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
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Nóbrega Alves RR, Pereira Filho GA, Silva Vieira K, Silva Souto WM, Mendonça LET, Montenegro P, Almeida WDO, Silva Vieira WL. A zoological catalogue of hunted reptiles in the semiarid region of Brazil. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2012; 8:27. [PMID: 22846258 PMCID: PMC3480920 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-8-27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The variety of interactions between human cultures and herpetofauna is the subject matter of Ethnoherpetology, a subdivision of Ethnozoology. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, many reptiles interact with human communities because of their utility or because of the risks they represent. These interactions have obvious implications for the conservation of reptiles from this region. In this context, ethnoherpetology studies are crucial because they serve as subsidies for guiding strategies for the handling and conservation of reptiles. This paper presents ethnozoological and taxonomic informations of hunted reptiles in the semiarid region of Brazil and analyse the implications on conservation that are related to the interactions between people and reptiles in this region. Taxonomic keys to identifying recorded reptiles are provided. Records of humans interacting with 38 reptile species that belong to 31 genuses and 16 families have been found. The groups with the largest numbers of recorded species were snakes (18 species), and this group was followed in number by lizards (13), chelonians (4), and crocodilians (3). The reptiles that were recorded may be used for the following purposes: medicinal purposes (24 species), food (13 species), ornamental or decorative purposes (11 species), in magical/religious practices (10 species), and as pets (10 species). Some species (n = 16) may have multiple uses. Furthermore, more than half of the species (n = 19) are commonly killed because they are considered potentially dangerous. Strategies for conserving the reptiles of the Brazilian semi-arid region must reconcile and integrate human and conservation needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753, Campina Grande-PB, Brazil
| | - Gentil Alves Pereira Filho
- Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Animal, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Kleber Silva Vieira
- Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Animal, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Animal, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Lívia Emanuelle Tavares Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Animal, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | | | - Waltécio de Oliveira Almeida
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Bolsista Produtividade da Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico — FUNCAP, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Rua Cel. Antônio Luiz 1161, CEP, 63100-000, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - Washington Luiz Silva Vieira
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Bolsista Produtividade da Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico — FUNCAP, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Rua Cel. Antônio Luiz 1161, CEP, 63100-000, Crato, CE, Brazil
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