In Silico Research of New Therapeutics Rotenoids Derivatives against Leishmania amazonensis Infection

Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance in its therapy, we present an interdisciplinary protocol that unifies ethnobotanical knowledge of natural compounds and the latest bioinformatics advances to respond to an orphan disease such as leishmaniasis and specifically the one caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The use of ethnobotanical information serves as a basis for the development of new drugs, a field in which computer-aided drug design (CADD) has been a revolution. Taking this information from Amazonian communities, located in the area with a high prevalence of this disease, a protocol has been designed to verify new leads. Moreover, a method has been developed that allows the evaluation of lead molecules, and the improvement of their affinity and specificity against therapeutic targets. Through this approach, deguelin has been identified as a good lead to treat the infection due to its potential as an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, a key enzyme in Leishmania development. Using an in silico-generated combinatorial library followed by docking approaches, we have found deguelin derivatives with better affinity and specificity against ODC than the original compound, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for developing new drugs against leishmaniasis.

Nefrotoxicidade e Neurotoxicidade Associadas ao Consumo da Averrhoa bilimbi e Averrhoa carambola: Uma Revisão Integrativa / Nephrotoxicity and Neurotoxicity associated with the Consumption of Averrhoa bilimbi and Averrhoa carambola: An Integrative Review

Resumo: As espécies Averrhoa bilimbi (birí-birí) e Averrhoa carambola (carambola) pertencem à família das Oxalidaceae, o fruto que é cultivado em vários países da América do Sul. Estas frutas são habitualmente consumidas pela população, seja na forma de sucos, geléias, doces e conservas. O grande problema é que seus consumos exagerados podem causar efeitos tóxicos que são desconhecidos pela população em geral, necessitando assim de maiores conhecimentos sobre a toxicidade destas plantas. Assim a presente pesquisa trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura onde; após analisar os descritores em sites de busca na internet e aplicar os critérios de inclusão e exclusão pré-estabelecidos, foram selecionados um total de 14 artigos. Todos os artigos selecionados contemplavam de informações sobre a nefrotoxicidade dos frutos desencadeadas pela presença de sais de oxalato; bem como descreveram a neurotoxicidade na carambola desencadeada pela presença da caramboxina. Assim, observa-se a necessidade do conhecimento sobre os respectivos efeitos tóxicos dessas frutas e do conhecimento etnobotânico atribuído ao profissional farmacêutico que propaga informações sobre o uso racional da fitoterapia.Palavras-chave: Averrhoa bilimbi. Averrhoa carambola. Nefrotoxicidade. Neurotoxicidade. Abstract: The species Averrhoa bilimbi (biri biri) and Averrhoa carambola (star fruit) belong to the Oxalidaceae Family, the fruit is cultivated in several South American countries. These fruits are usually consumed by the population, whether in the form of juices, jellies, candy or preserve. The big problem is that the excessive consumption can cause toxic effects that are unknown by the general population, being necessary better knowledge about the toxicity of these plants. Thus, this research is about the integrative literature revision where; after analyzing the descriptors on websites and apply the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 14 articles were selected. All selected articles contemplated the information about the nephrotoxicity of the fruits trigged by the presence of oxalate salt; as well as described the neurotoxicity of the star fruit trigged by the presence of caramboxin. In that way, there is a need for knowledge about these respective toxic effects of these fruits and for ethnobotanical knowledge assigned to the pharmacist that spreads information about the rational use of herbal medicine. Keywords: Averrhoa bilimbi. Averrhoa carambola. Nephrotoxicity. Neurotoxicity.

In Silico Research of New Therapeutics Rotenoids Derivatives Against Leishmania Amazonensis Infection

Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance in its therapy, we present an interdisciplinary protocol that unifies ethnobotanical knowledge of natural compounds and the latest bioinformatics advances to respond to an orphan disease such as leishmaniasis and specifically the one caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The use of ethnobotanical information serves as a basis for the development of new drugs, a field in which computer-aided drug design (CADD) has been a revolution. Taking this information from Amazonian communities, located in the area with the highest prevalence of this disease, a protocol has been designed to verify new leads. Moreover, a method has been developed that allows the evaluation of lead molecules, and the improvement of their affinity and specificity against therapeutic targets. Through this approach, deguelin has been identified as a good lead to treat the infection due to its potential as an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, a key enzyme in Leishmania development. Using an in silico-generated combinatorial library followed by docking approaches, we have found deguelin derivatives with better affinity and specificity against ODC than the original compound, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for developing new drugs against leishmaniasis.

Northwest Native Plants: A Digital Space for Paleoethnobotanical Knowledges and Biocultural Heritage

Biocultural heritage preservation relies on ethnobotanical knowledge and the paleoethnobotanical data used in (re)constructing histories of human-biota interactions. Biocultural heritage, defined as the knowledge and practices of Indigenous and Local peoples and their biological relatives, is often guarded information, meant for specific audiences and withheld from other social circles. As such, these forms of heritage and knowledge must also be included in the ongoing data sovereignty discussions and movement. In this paper we share the process and design decisions behind creating an online database for ethnobotanical knowledge and associated paleoethnobotanical data, using a content management system designed to foreground Indigenous and local perspectives. Our main purpose is to suggest the Mukurtu content management system, originally designed for physical items of cultural importance, be considered as a potential tool for digitizing and ethically circulating biocultural heritage, including paleoethnobotanical resources. With this database, we aim to create access to biocultural heritage and paleoethnobotanical considerations for a variety of audiences while also respecting the protected and sensitive natures of Indigenous and local knowledges.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge of an Eskimo Family: Naukan Yupiks [Etnobotanicheskoe znanie odnoi eskimosskoi sem’i: naukanskie yupiki]

This article analyzes the Naukan Yupiks ethnobotanical knowledge, i.e. the use of plants as food, medicine, household or ritual objects, on the example of one family. The resettlement from Cape Dezhnev to other settlements led to significant changes in their culture and language proficiency. Fieldwork was carried out in summer 2014 in the village of Uelen, Chukotka, using the methods of structured interviews and participant observation. Informants named 26 species belonging to 18 families; these species gave a total of 170 plant uses. Within one family, there is a sharp decline in the knowledge of the Naukan phytonyms, as well as the repertoire of plants used from older generations to younger ones. The disappearing knowledge includes the collection of plant roots harvested by tundra voles. However, aerial parts of plants, berries, and algae remain popular. The variety of methods for preparing plants is increasing, including due to contact with the Russian-speaking population and access to new technologies.

Medicines in the Kitchen: Gender Roles Shape Ethnobotanical Knowledge in Marrakshi Households

Differences in gendered knowledge about plants are contingent on specific cultural domains. Yet the boundaries between these domains, for example food and medicine, are sometimes blurred, and it is unclear if and how gender plays a role in creating a continuum between them. Here, we present an in-depth evaluation of the links between gender, medicinal plant knowledge, and culinary culture in Marrakech, Morocco. We interviewed 30 women and 27 men with different socio-demographic characteristics and evaluated how gender and cooking frequency shape their food and medicinal plant knowledge. We documented 171 ethno-taxa used in Marrakshi households as food, medicine, or both, corresponding to 148 botanical taxa and three mixtures. While no clear differences appear in food plant knowledge by gender, women have a three-fold greater knowledge of medicinal plants, as well as plants with both uses as food and medicine. Women’s medicinal and food plant knowledge increases with their reported frequency of cooking, whereas the opposite trend is observed among men. Men who cook more are often single, have university-level degrees, and may be isolated from the channels of knowledge transmission. This demonstrates that the profound relations between the culinary and health domains are mediated through gender.