Linking Past and Present: A preliminary paleoethnobotanical study of Maya nutritional and medicinal plant use and sustainable cultivation in the Southern Maya Mountains, Belize

Abstract Background Philippines is renowned as one of the species-rich countries and culturally megadiverse in ethnicity worldwide. Ethnomedicinal knowledge of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) is vital for biodiversity conservation and healthcare improvement. This study aims to document the traditional practices, medicinal plant use, and knowledge; to determine the relative importance, consensus, and the extent of all medicinal plants used; and to integrate molecular confirmation to some medicinal plants used by the Agusan Manobo. Methods Quantitative ethnopharmacological data were obtained using semi-structured interviews, group discussions, field observations, and guided field walks with a total of 335 key informants comprising of tribal chieftains, traditional healers, community elders and residents of the community with their traditional medical knowledge. The use categories (UC), use report (UR), fidelity level (FL), and informant consensus factors (ICF) were quantified. The informants' medicinal plant use knowledge and practices were statistically analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results A total of 122 medicinal plant species belonging to 108 genera and 51 families, used in 16 use categories, were collected and identified. Integrative molecular approach confirmed 24 species with uncertain identity using multiple universal markers. The highest ICF (0.96) was cited for the category of abnormal signs and symptoms (ASS). The maximum FL values of 100% were found for Carica papaya L., Premna odorata Blanco, Cinnamomum mercadoi S.Vidal, Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook.f. & Thomson, and Ficus concinna (Miq.) Miq. used for the treatment of dengue fever, cough with phlegm, stomach trouble, joint pain, and fracture and dislocation, respectively. The highest UR (1134) and UC (12) was reported for Anodendron borneense (King & Gamble) D.J.Middleton. Statistically, the medicinal plant knowledge among respondents was significantly different ( p <0.001) when grouped according to education, gender, position, occupation, civil status, and age but not significantly different ( p =0.379) when grouped according to location. Conclusion Documenting such traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and practices is highly important for future management and conservation strategies of these plant genetic resources. This quantitative ethnopharmacological study will serve as a future reference not only for more ethnopharmacological documentation but also for further pharmacological studies and public healthcare improvement.

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The evolution of traditional knowledge: environment shapes medicinal plant use in Nepal

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2013.2768 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 281 (1780) ◽

pp. 20132768 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

C. Haris Saslis-Lagoudakis ◽

Julie A. Hawkins ◽

Simon J. Greenhill ◽

Colin A. Pendry ◽

Mark F. Watson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plant ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Geographical Proximity ◽

Medicinal Uses ◽

Plant Use ◽

Local Environments ◽

Evolutionary Relatedness ◽

Shared Ancestry ◽

Medicinal Flora

Traditional knowledge is influenced by ancestry, inter-cultural diffusion and interaction with the natural environment. It is problematic to assess the contributions of these influences independently because closely related ethnic groups may also be geographically close, exposed to similar environments and able to exchange knowledge readily. Medicinal plant use is one of the most important components of traditional knowledge, since plants provide healthcare for up to 80% of the world's population. Here, we assess the significance of ancestry, geographical proximity of cultures and the environment in determining medicinal plant use for 12 ethnic groups in Nepal. Incorporating phylogenetic information to account for plant evolutionary relatedness, we calculate pairwise distances that describe differences in the ethnic groups' medicinal floras and floristic environments. We also determine linguistic relatedness and geographical separation for all pairs of ethnic groups. We show that medicinal uses are most similar when cultures are found in similar floristic environments. The correlation between medicinal flora and floristic environment was positive and strongly significant, in contrast to the effects of shared ancestry and geographical proximity. These findings demonstrate the importance of adaptation to local environments, even at small spatial scale, in shaping traditional knowledge during human cultural evolution.

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Basotho Medicinal Plants Second Edition - Meriana ya dimela tsa Basotho Kgatiso ya Bobedi

10.18820/9781928424611 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rodney Moffett

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Medicinal Plant ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Comprehensive List ◽

Vernacular Names ◽

Plant Use ◽

Vice Chancellor ◽

University Of Technology ◽

Cape Peninsula ◽

Plant Uses

As a Mosotho I believe this publication assists in documenting the deep indigenous knowledge of our forefathers and helps preserve the proud tradition of the Basotho Nation. Dr Chris Nhlapo Vice-Chancellor, Cape Peninsula University of Technology This publication is an important contribution to the documentation of medicinal plant use by the Basotho. It contains a comprehensive list of known medicinal plants, their up-to-date scientific names, their vernacular names, as well as their uses. This book will appeal to experts, as well as to readers who are unfamiliar with traditional medicinal plant uses. Professor Ntsamaeeng Moteetee Department of Botany and Plant Technology, University of Johannesburg

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