1
|
Pérez-López AV, Lim SD, Cushman JC. Tissue succulence in plants: Carrying water for climate change. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 289:154081. [PMID: 37703768 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.154081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Tissue succulence in plants involves the storage of water in one or more organs or tissues to assist in maintaining water potentials on daily or seasonal time scales. This drought-avoidance or drought-resistance strategy allows plants to occupy diverse environments including arid regions, regions with rocky soils, epiphytic habitats, and saline soils. Climate-resilient strategies are of increasing interest in the context of the global climate crisis, which is leading to hotter and drier conditions in many regions throughout the globe. Here, we describe a short history of succulent plants, the basic concepts of tissue succulence, the anatomical diversity of succulent morphologies and associated adaptive traits, the evolutionary, phylogenetic, and biogeographical diversity of succulent plants, extinction risks to succulents due to poaching from their natural environments, and the myriad uses and applications of economically important succulent species and the products derived from them. Lastly, we discuss current prospects for engineering tissue succulence to improve salinity and drought tolerance in crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arely V Pérez-López
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0330, USA.
| | - Sung Don Lim
- Department of Plant Life and Resource Science, Sangji University, Gangwon-do, 26339, South Korea.
| | - John C Cushman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0330, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Macharia JM, Ngure V, Emődy B, Király B, Káposztás Z, Rozmann N, Erdélyi A, Raposa B. Pharmacotherapeutic Potential of Aloe secundiflora against Colorectal Cancer Growth and Proliferation. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051558. [PMID: 37242800 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Aloe species are widespread and diverse in African ecosystems, and this commonly correlates to their habitual use as reservoirs of herbal medicine. The side effects associated with chemotherapy and the development of antimicrobial resistance to empirically used antimicrobial drugs are substantial, paving the way for novel phytotherapeutic approaches. This comprehensive study aimed to evaluate and present Aloe secundiflora (A. secundiflora) as a compelling alternative with potential benefits in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Important databases were systematically searched for relevant literature, and out of a large collection of 6421 titles and abstracts, only 68 full-text articles met the inclusion criteria. A. secundiflora possesses an abundant presence of bioactive phytoconstituents in the leaves and roots, including anthraquinones, naphthoquinones, phenols, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, among others. These metabolites have proven diverse efficacy in inhibiting cancer growth. The presence of innumerable biomolecules in A. secundiflora signifies the beneficial effects of incorporating the plant as a potential anti-CRC agent. Nonetheless, we recommend further research to determine the optimal concentrations necessary to elicit beneficial effects in the management of CRC. Furthermore, they should be investigated as potential raw ingredients for making conventional medications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John M Macharia
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Veronica Ngure
- School of Science and Applied Technology, Laikipia University, Nyahururu P.O. Box 1100-20300, Kenya
| | - Barnabás Emődy
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Bence Király
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Káposztás
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Rozmann
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Attila Erdélyi
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| | - Bence Raposa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pẻcs, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Odongo EA, Mutai PC, Amugune BK, Mungai NN, Akinyi MO, Kimondo J. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of selected Kenyan medicinal plant extract combinations against clinically important bacteria. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:100. [PMID: 37013533 PMCID: PMC10069043 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03939-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases are a major global public health concern as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) currently accounts for more than 700,000 deaths per year worldwide. The emergence and spread of resistant bacterial pathogens remain a key challenge in antibacterial chemotherapy. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial activity of combined extracts of various Kenyan medicinal plants against selected microorganisms of medical significance. METHODS The antibacterial activity of various extract combinations of Aloe secundiflora, Toddalia asiatica, Senna didymobotrya and Camelia sinensis against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus was assessed using the agar well diffusion and the minimum inhibitory concentration in-vitro assays. The checkerboard method was used to evaluate the interactions between the various extract combinations. ANOVA test followed by Tukey's post hoc multiple comparison test was used to determine statistically significant differences in activity (P < 0.05). RESULTS At concentrations of 100 mg/ml (10,000 µg/well), the different combinations of the aqueous, methanol, dichloromethane and petroleum ether extracts of the selected Kenyan medicinal plants revealed diverse activity against all the test bacteria. The combination of methanolic C. sinensis and A. secundiflora was the most active against E. coli (14.17 ± 0.22 mm, diameter of zones of inhibition (DZI); MIC 2500 µg/well). The combination of methanolic C. sinensis and S. didymobotrya was the most active against S. aureus (16.43 ± 0.10 mm; MIC 1250 µg/well), K. pneumonia (14.93 ± 0.35 mm, DZI; MIC 1250 µg/well), P. aeruginosa (17.22 ± 0.41 mm, DZI; MIC 156.25 µg/well) and MRSA (19.91 ± 0.31 mm, DZI; MIC 1250 µg/well). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the different plant extract combinations ranged from 10,000 µg/ well to 156.25 µg/well. The ANOVA test indicated statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between single extracts and their combinations. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICI) showed that the interactions were either synergistic (10.5%), additive (31.6%), indifferent (52.6%), or antagonistic (5.3%) for the selected combinations. CONCLUSION This study findings validate the ethnopractice of selectively combining medicinal plants in the management of some bacterial infections in traditional medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Odongo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Department of Pharmacy, Kenya Methodist University, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Meru, Kenya.
| | - Peggoty C Mutai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Beatrice K Amugune
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nelly N Mungai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mary O Akinyi
- Department of Pharmacy, Kenya Methodist University, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Meru, Kenya
| | - Julia Kimondo
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology, P.O. Box 62000- 00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mkala EM, Mutinda ES, Wanga VO, Oulo MA, Oluoch WA, nzei J, Waswa EN, Odago W, Nanjala C, Mwachala G, Hu GW, Wang QF. Modeling impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of three endemic Aloe species critically endangered in East Africa. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
5
|
Mkala EM, Mutinda ES, Wanga VO, Oulo MA, Oluoch WA, nzei J, Waswa EN, Odago W, Nanjala C, Mwachala G, Hu GW, Wang QF. Modeling impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of three endemic Aloe species critically endangered in East Africa. ECOL INFORM 2022; 71:101765. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
|
6
|
Acute oral toxicity test from leaf exudates of 17 Aloe species from East and South of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia. ADVANCES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13596-020-00497-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
7
|
Bamigboye SO. Evaluating threats and conservation status of South African Aloe. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2020. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.5728.12.11.16614-16619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
South Africa is one of the biodiversity hotspots for Aloe in Africa. This makes it important to evaluate the conservation status and threats to this genus. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Red List was employed to evaluate these two factors. Results revealed that 44% of all species in this genus are of conservation concern with the majority of them facing threats. This study recommends that more attention such as strengthening the protection of these species and controlling the threats identified in this study should be given to species in this genus in terms of conservation management to reduce their risk of extinction.
Collapse
|
8
|
Belayneh A, Demissew S, Bussa NF, Bisrat D. Ethno-medicinal and bio-cultural importance of aloes from south and east of the Great Rift Valley floristic regions of Ethiopia. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04344. [PMID: 32637713 PMCID: PMC7330614 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There are 46 Aloe species identified from Ethiopia out of which 67.3% are endemics but comprehensive data on their ethno-medicinal and bio-cultural values are lacking. Interview, focus group discussion (FGD), and guided field walks were conducted with 210 respondents (152 men and 58 women). Relative frequency of citation (RFCs), informants' consensus factor (Fic), use value (UVs), relative importance index (RIs), and cultural value index (CV) were analyzed. Non-parametric Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were performed using R software. Twenty-three Aloe species were recorded in the study areas with 196 use-reports and 2158 citations, grouped into six major use categories (NUC = 6). Medicinal use categories accounted for 149 use-reports (76%) with 1607 citations. The species with the highest numbers of use-reports were Aloe megalacantha subsp. alticola, A. trichosantha subsp. longiflora and A. calidophila of which 87, 75 and 61.1% respectively were medicinal uses. Aloe calidophila has highest values in all indices UV (11.72), RFC (0.68), RI (0.89), and CV (6.2). Among Aloe parts, leaf exudate accounted for 111 use-reports (49.1%) of which 92.9% were used for medicinal purposes. Aloe retrospiciens and A. ruspoliana were reported poisonous to carnivores. Fic values of the six major use categories ranged from 0.86 to 0.22. Elderly people (>60) had more knowledge than 25–40 and 41–60 age groups (Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared = 12.17, df = 3, p = 0.006), which is significant difference in depth of ethno-medicinal knowledge. Men had more knowledge of medicinal uses than women (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.002) significantly different, while women were knowledgeable than men for cultural uses like, cosmetic (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.06), not significantly different. The ways in which aloes are used and valued have implications for their future medicinal utility, which instigate detailed phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anteneh Belayneh
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
| | - Sebsebe Demissew
- The National Herbarium, Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
| | - Negussie F Bussa
- Institute of Technology, Department of Food Science and Post-harvest Technology, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
| | - Daniel Bisrat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Evaluation of Antimalarial Activity of the Leaf Latex and TLC Isolates from Aloe megalacantha Baker in Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:6459498. [PMID: 31110551 PMCID: PMC6487133 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6459498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease which caused around 216 million cases and 445,000 deaths worldwide in 2016. This might be attributed to a wide spread of drug resistant parasites. The plant Aloe megalacantha is indigenous to Ethiopia where the sap of the leaves is traditionally used for the treatment of malaria. This study was aimed at evaluating the antimalarial effect of leaf latex and isolates obtained from Aloe megalacantha against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain in Swiss albino mice. Peters' 4-day suppressive test method was used to test the antimalarial activity of both leaves latex and isolates. Three isolates were obtained using thin layer chromatography and were coded as AM1, AM2, and AM3 in ascending order of their retention factor. After treatment of Plasmodium berghei infected mice with leaf latex of Aloe megalacantha for four days at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, it shows 30.3%, 43.4%, and 56.4% suppression of the parasite growth, respectively. 32.3%, 51.3%, and 67.4% chemosuppression after treatment with AM1, 39.8%, 50.6%, and 64.2% chemosuppression after treatment with AM2, and 52.6%, 69.4%, and 79.6% chemosuppression after treatment with AM3 were observed at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day, respectively. The observed parasite suppression of leaves latex and isolates was statistically significant (P<0.05) as compared to negative control. Moreover, both the leaves latex and isolates were also observed to prevent Plasmodium berghei induced body weight loss and hypothermia and increased the survival time of Plasmodium berghei infected mice as compared to the negative control. Hence, the present study supports the traditional claim of the plant for the treatment of malaria.
Collapse
|
10
|
Clinical Effects and Safety of Tongxieyaofang on Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trails. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:4893876. [PMID: 30723513 PMCID: PMC6339716 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4893876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Background. Tongxieyaofang (TXYF), a prescription originated from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been widely used on treating Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether TXYF was effective and safe for IBS-D. Methods. We searched seven electronic databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, PubMed, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang Data up to 26 July 2017. Randomized controlled trails (RCTs) were eligible, regardless of blinding. Risk of bias of included trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook. Results. The total number of participants analyzed in the meta-analysis was 3062, of which 1556 received TXYF, while 1506 received ordinary treatment. The primary outcome was clinical effective rate. Compared with conventional medication which included probiotics, pinaverium bromide, trimebutine, and Oryzanol, TXYF significantly improved the clinical effective rate (n=37, OR: 4.61; 95% CI: 3.67–5.78; P < 0.00001) and decreased the adverse events (n=10, OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08–0.86; P = 0.03). There was not significant association with the score of abdominal pain, defecating frequency, fecal property, and total symptom. Conclusions. We suggested a moderate recommendation for TXYF on IBS-D, due to the fact that the risk of bias of the finally included trails was not high. Considering that all identified studies were not of high qualities and large samples, further rigorously designed and large scale RCTs were necessary to improve the applicability of our study results.
Collapse
|
11
|
Seethapathy GS, Ravikumar K, Paulsen BS, de Boer HJ, Wangensteen H. Ethnobotany of dioecious species: Traditional knowledge on dioecious plants in India. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 221:56-64. [PMID: 29635015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE More than 15,000 angiosperm species are dioecious, i.e., having distinct male and female individual plants. The allocation of resources between male and female plants is different, and also variation in secondary metabolites and sex-biased herbivory is reported among dioecious plants. However, little is known about the ethnobotany of dioecious species and whether preferences exist for a specific gender, e.g., in food, medicine or timber. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was: 1) to study whether Indian folk healers have preference for plant genders, and to document their knowledge and use of dioecious species; 2) to understand the concept of plant gender in Indian systems of medicine and folk medicine, and whether Ayurvedic literature includes any references to gender preference. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lists of dioecious plants used in Indian systems of medicine and folk medicine were compiled. Ethnobotanical data was collected on perceptions and awareness of dioecious plants, and preferences of use for specific genders of dioecious species using semi-structured interviews with folk healers in Tamil Nadu, India. In addition, twenty Ayurvedic doctors were interviewed to gain insight into the concept of plant gender in Ayurveda. RESULTS Indian systems of medicine contain 5-7% dioecious species, and this estimate is congruent with the number of dioecious species in flowering plants in general. Informants recognized the phenomenon of dioecy in 31 out of 40 species, and reported gender preferences for 13 species with respect to uses as timber, food and medicine. Among informants different plant traits such as plant size, fruit size, and visibility of fruits determines the perception of a plant being a male or female. Ayurvedic classical literature provides no straightforward evidence on gender preferences in preparation of medicines or treatment of illness, however it contains details about reproductive morphology and sexual differentiation of plants. CONCLUSIONS A knowledge gap exists in ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological literature on traditional knowledge of dioecious plants. From this explorative study it is evident that people have traditional knowledge on plant gender and preferential usages towards one gender. Based on this, we propose that researchers conducting ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies should consider documenting traditional knowledge on sexual systems of plants, and test the existence of gender specific usages in their conceptual framework and hypothesis testing. Incorporating such concepts could provide new dimensions of scientific knowledge with potential implications to conservation biology, chemical ecology, ethnoecology and drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gopalakrishnan Saroja Seethapathy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, 0316 Oslo, Norway; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, 0318 Oslo, Norway; The Institute of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), 74/2 Jarakabande Kaval, Post Attur via Yelahanka, Bangalore 560064, India.
| | - Kaliamoorthy Ravikumar
- The Institute of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), 74/2 Jarakabande Kaval, Post Attur via Yelahanka, Bangalore 560064, India
| | - Berit Smestad Paulsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hugo J de Boer
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Helle Wangensteen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hart G, Gaoue OG, de la Torre L, Navarrete H, Muriel P, Macía MJ, Balslev H, León-Yánez S, Jørgensen P, Duffy DC. Availability, diversification and versatility explain human selection of introduced plants in Ecuadorian traditional medicine. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184369. [PMID: 28886104 PMCID: PMC5590918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, a majority of people use plants as a primary source of healthcare and introduced plants are increasingly discussed as medicine. Protecting this resource for human health depends upon understanding which plants are used and how use patterns will change over time. The increasing use of introduced plants in local pharmacopoeia has been explained by their greater abundance or accessibility (availability hypothesis), their ability to cure medical conditions that are not treated by native plants (diversification hypothesis), or as a result of the introduced plants’ having many different simultaneous roles (versatility hypothesis). In order to describe the role of introduced plants in Ecuador, and to test these three hypotheses, we asked if introduced plants are over-represented in the Ecuadorian pharmacopoeia, and if their use as medicine is best explained by the introduced plants’ greater availability, different therapeutic applications, or greater number of use categories. Drawing on 44,585 plant-use entries, and the checklist of >17,000 species found in Ecuador, we used multi-model inference to test if more introduced plants are used as medicines in Ecuador than expected by chance, and examine the support for each of the three hypotheses above. We find nuanced support for all hypotheses. More introduced plants are utilized than would be expected by chance, which can be explained by geographic distribution, their strong association with cultivation, diversification (except with regard to introduced diseases), and therapeutic versatility, but not versatility of use categories. Introduced plants make a disproportionately high contribution to plant medicine in Ecuador. The strong association of cultivation with introduced medicinal plant use highlights the importance of the maintenance of human-mediated environments such as homegardens and agroforests for the provisioning of healthcare services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G. Hart
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Orou G. Gaoue
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, APK Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lucía de la Torre
- Herbario QCA, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Hugo Navarrete
- Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Priscilla Muriel
- Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Manuel J. Macía
- Departamento de Biología, Área de Bótanica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Henrik Balslev
- Institut for Bioscience, Aarhus Universitet, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Susana León-Yánez
- Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Peter Jørgensen
- Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Cameron Duffy
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
- Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|