Dissecting the illegal pangolin trade in China: An insight from seizures data reports

Wildlife trafficking poses a major threat to global biodiversity. Species such as pangolins are particularly vulnerable and trade continues almost unabated despite numerous interventions aimed at eradicating illegal wildlife trade. Despite restrictions on the pangolin trade, thousands of pangolins continue to be intercepted annually. We focused on China because of the recent delisting of pangolins from the Chinese pharmacopeia, and their removal from healthcare insurance, despite deeply ingrained traditions of having pangolins for ethno-medicinal use. We collated pangolin interception data from public online media seizure reports to characterize the pangolin trade within China, and found that a total of 326 independent seizures equivalent to 143,130 pangolins (31,676 individuals and 222,908 kg of scale) were reported in 26 provinces. Pangolin domestic seizures are greatest in the southern cities of Dehong, Fangchenggang, and Guangzhou. Also, we found 17 countries within the global pangolins range which were the major source of the pangolin shipments to China. The number of arrests and convictions was much lower than the number of pangolin incidents reported. Our results show a significant increase in the volume of scales and number of live pangolin seizures after amended endangered species law came into effect in 2018, and recorded the highest number of individual pangolin interceptions. China has shown increasing wildlife seizures over time, owing partly to emergent trends in the international wildlife trade as well as increasing global demand for ethnomedicine. The future eradication of illegal wildlife trade in China is dependent not only on stringent border control and offender prosecution but also the; removal of other threatened species from the pharmacopeia and healthcare insurance which includes wildlife derivatives. Furthermore, our work highlights importance of current policy intervention to combat the pangolin trade within China, and the need for further interventions both within China and in export countries.

Scientometric analysis of scientific production on the genus Campomanesia Ruiz & Pav. (Myrtaceae) and most studied species - research trends involving native Brazilian plants

Brazil has rich biodiversity, harboring native plants with potential for medicinal use, including species of the Campomanesia genus. Although public policies to encourage phytotherapy advocate the best use of plant biodiversity, most species listed in official forms and monographs are exotic species. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify research trends involving the Campomanesia and main species, using scientometric tools, so that, by viewing and knowing the scientific production on the genus and species of pharmacological interest, possibilities for research with native species so that they can be integrated into Brazilian’s unified health system (SUS). The research resulted in 302 publications up to September 2021. Bibliometric analyzes on genus were then carried out with data from the WoS platform and social network analysis through of scientometric mapping, using the Vosviewer (VOS) application. Species of the genus with more than 10 publications indexed in WoS were also analyzed. Brazil leads research on the genus and C. xanthocarpa (120/302); C. adamantium (70/302); C. pubescens (33/120); C.phaea (25/302); C. lineatifolia (21/302) and C. guazumifolia (10/302) were the species with the highest publication volume. It is the first work that analyzes the scientific production on these genus of Myrtaceae family and the aforementioned species, which revealed itself a promising field of research, yet little explored, which might encourage new studies aimed at better use of Brazilian biodiversity and the safe and effective use of native plants that may bring benefits to people's health and well-being.

Review on Capsicum frutescens, A Tribal herbal food used as Medicine

Nature always stands as a golden mark to exemplify the outstanding phenomena of symbiosis. Natural products from plant, animal and minerals have been the basis of the treatment of human disease. About 500 plants with medicinal use are mentioned in ancient literature and around 800 plants have been used in indigenous systems of medicine. India is a vast repository of medicinal plants that are used in traditional medical treatments. Capsicum frutescens. belonging to the family of Solanaceae is an extremely valuable medicinal herb, distributed throughout India. in traditional medicine, due to presence of phytochemicals it has been used for the treatment of cough, toothache, sore throat, parasitic infections, rheumatism, wound healing etc. Other effects such as antibacterial and anticancer are also their properties. In this article, its phytochemical screening, pharmacognostic studies, pharmacological activity screening will be reviewed out.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Cannabis-induced Toxicoses in Pets: Results from a Survey of Veterinarians in North America

Cannabis legalization in North America has coincided with an increase in reports of cannabis-induced toxicosis in pets, but the magnitude of this problem, as well as outcomes of these incidents remain unknown. Therefore, we examined the frequency, diagnostic criteria, clinical signs, and prognoses of cannabis toxicoses in pets in North America. We conducted an online survey between January, 2021 and April, 2021 targeting veterinarians practicing in Canada and the United States (US). Out of the 251 study participants, 191 practiced in Canada. Cannabis toxicosis was most commonly reported in dogs (n=226 veterinarians), and the number of toxicosis cases increased significantly in Canada (p<0.0001) and the US (p=0.002) after October, 2018. Frequently reported clinical signs of cannabis toxicosis included: urinary incontinence (n=195), disorientation (n=182), ataxia (n=178), lethargy (n=150), hyperesthesia (n=134), and bradycardia (n=112). Edibles were most commonly suspected to be the cause of toxicosis (n=116). The most common route of exposure was ingestion (n=135), while the most cited reason was ingestion while unattended (n=135). Cannabis toxicosis was mostly diagnosed using supportive clinical signs (n=229), the most common treatment was outpatient monitoring (n=182), and pets were most often treated as out-patients (n=103). The legalization of cannabis use in Canada and the US is likely an important factor associated with the increased cannabis toxicosis cases in pets; however, the legal status may also increase reporting. The medicinal use of cannabis by pet-owners for pets may also contribute to a portion of the reported toxicoses. Most pets that experienced cannabis toxicosis recovered completely, suggesting that most cannabis toxicoses do not result in long-term ill effects. Even though some deaths (n=16) were reported in association with cannabis toxicosis, the presence of confounders such as toxins, and underlying conditions cannot be ruled out, emphasizing the need for rigorous controlled laboratory studies to investigate this important issue.

A Review on Eucalyptus Globulus – An Authentic Herb

In the ancient time Eucalyptus globulus used for the various purpose. It is a tall and an evergreen tree that can grow up to the height of 70m and its diameter is about 4 to7ft. which was first found on the island of Tasmania in 1792 which associate to the Myrtaceae family which is commonly called as Tasmanian Blue Gum, southern blue gum or blue gum are the different names of eucalyptus globulus grow in the various parts of India. The particular species of Eucalyptus globulus have been used for various purposes. It had been found that eucalyptus is a rich source of phytochemical constituent and also possesses medicinal use. The different part of the eucalyptus is very nutritionally and highly valuable therapeutically property because of the presence of some specific chemical composition as its essential oil contain esters, carboxylic acids, aldehyde etc. phytochemical analysis of this tree has revealed that their leaf oil contain 1.8 cineole, cryptophone etc., essential oil had been extracted from its buds. The aim of this review paper is compiling all the information about eucalyptus such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-nociceptive antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-oxidant agent of the nature.

Self-medication with cannabidiol (CBD) and associated treatments in the self-care of anxiety in women from Mexico City: A qualitative study

Introduction. The popular use of marijuana and its components (THC and CBD) for medicinal purposes is often regarded as irresponsible and ignorant. However, in this paper, it is conceptualized and studied as medical knowledge of self-care, in which it is linked to different therapeutic knowledge from conventional and alternative medicine to treat anxiety. Objective. This article reports on a qualitative research project designed to analyze the practices and risks of self-medication with CBD, and its links with medical treatments and self-care measures for dealing with anxiety in adult women in Mexico City. Method. Eleven adult women, mostly professionals, diagnosed with anxiety, participated in the study. In-depth interviews were conducted to learn how women use therapeutic resources to cope with anxiety in their everyday lives. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using ATLAS ti 7 software. Results. Self-medication is part of a self-care process with several facets: the experience of symptoms, self-diagnosis, the use of various remedies (dosage and administration), and their evaluation. During this process, women use a range of medication, psychological therapies, herbalism, acupuncture, yoga, and sleep hygiene measures, including CBD, either as an alternative or an adjunct to biomedical pharmacology, with or without medical supervision. Certain risks were identified, such as the use of CBD that may be incorrectly labeled or interact dangerously with other self-prescribed substances. Discussion and conclusion. These results coincide with those of various authors who equate self-care with a first level of care, which has risks that could be reduced by controlling misleading marketing and developing professional medical services, which are trained and accessible to users, who could inform them about the medicinal use, scope and risks of CBD or THC for health.

In search of traces of the mandrake myth: the historical, and ethnobotanical roots of its vernacular names

Background Mandrake (Mandragora spp.) is one of the most famous medicinal plant in western cultures since Biblical times and throughout written history. In many cultures, mandrake is related to magic and witchcraft, which is said to have a psychosomatic effect (especially when mandrake contains narcotic compounds) in addition to the pharmacological influence, as occurs with other narcotic magical plants. Due to its unique properties and related myths, it is not surprising that this plant has many names in many languages. Methods This paper presents an attempt to reconstruct the historical, ethnobotanical, and folkloristic roots of 292 vernacular names of Mandragora spp. in forty-one languages. We used the plant’s morphological data, philology, myths and legends, medicinal properties and uses, as well as historical evidence and folkloric data, to explain meaning, origin, migration, and history of the plant’s names. Results The names were classified into the following main categories: Derivatives of mandragora (19 languages), alraun (7) and of yabroukh (5). The salient groups of the plant’s vernacular names are related to: Anthropomorphism (33 names in 13 languages); Similarity to other plants (28/9); Supernatural agents (28/9); Narcotic effects (21/8); Leaves, fruits, and seeds (21/8); Aphrodisiac properties (17/10); Use of a dog (15/9); Gallows (14/5); Black magic, sorcery, witchcraft (13/8), and Medicinal use (11/7). Conclusions This frequency distribution of the mandrake’s vernacular names reflects its widespread reputation as related to the doctrine of signatures, beliefs in its supernatural, natural, and mythic powers, and to a lesser extent, its uses in magic and medicine. A spatiotemporal analysis of the mandrake’s names supports the old idea that the pulling ceremonies for this plant originated in the Near East and that various other myths related to this plant may have originated in different places and periods.

Native palms as an economically important non-timber forest product among rural communities in the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico

Objective. To analyze the valuation, use, and preservation of native palms as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) of high economic importance for rural communities in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The available literature on palms and their use in the Yucatán Peninsula (YP) was examined using the snowball method. Subsequently, different online flora databases were consulted in order to examine the taxonomic identities of palm species present in the YP. The reported uses were classified. Results: The YP has 20 native species that belong to 13 genera and three subfamilies. All of them are economically exploited as NTFPs, especially in construction (85%) and honey production (70%), followed by food and medicinal use (35% each), craftwork (30%), ornamental use (25%), and fodder (10%). These data confirm that native palms are an important livelihood means for the inhabitants of Mayan communities in the region. Study limitations/implications: The research faced a limited database of encyclopedias, anthologies, directories, books, or articles that interpret works or research about this topic. Findings/Conclusions: The local and regional use of palms represents an additional income for the people who use this natural resource on different productive scales, both in rural communities and city centers. An alternative to ensure the sustainability of palms would be to establish governmental programs for their reproduction

Usages de poudres à base de rhizomes de Cochlospermum tinctorium Perrier ex A.Rich au Bénin : fréquence, formes et indications

Cochlospermum tinctorium est une plante médicinale utilisée dans plusieurs pays pour le traitement de l’hépatite. Au Bénin, différentes poudres à base de ses rhizomes sont vendues dans les marchés et utilisées par les tradithérapeutes pour plusieurs usages. L’objectif de cette étude était de répertorier les différentes formes et les divers usages des recettes à base de Cochlospermum tinctorium utilisées au Bénin. Dans ce sens, une enquête ethnomédicinale a été menée auprès de 434 usagers des marchés et 40 tradithérapeutes du Sud et du Nord Bénin suivant la méthode par interview semi-structurée. Les données obtenues ont montré que les recettes à base de C. tinctorium sont plus connues et utilisées au Nord-Bénin. Ces recettes se présentent sous trois formes (A, B et C). Leurs usages sont alimentaires (41%) et médicinales (59%). La forme A est très utilisée (93,91%) par la population enquêtée pour les besoins nutritionnels et thérapeutiques alors que les formes B et C ont, essentiellement, un usage médicinal. Cette étude a permis de comprendre la diversité de recettes associées au terme "poudre jaune" au Bénin. Il est dès lors nécessaire d’évaluer la toxicité et l’efficacité de ces différentes formes d’usage de la poudre de rhizome de C. tinctorium. English title: Uses of rhizome-based powder of Cochlospermum tinctorium Perrier ex A.Rich in Benin: frequency, forms and indications Cochlospermum tinctorium Perrier is a medicinal plant used in several countries for the treatment of hepatitis. In Benin, different powders made from its rhizomes are sold in markets and used by traditional healers for several purposes. The objective of this study was to list the different forms and uses of Cochlospermum tinctorium-based recipes used in Benin. An ethnomedicinal survey was conducted among 434 market users and 40 traditional healers from Southern and Northern Benin using the semi-structured interview method. The data obtained showed that the recipes based on C. tinctorium are more known and used in North Benin. These recipes come in three forms (A, B and C). Their uses are food (41%) and medicinal (59%). Form A is widely used (93.91%) by the population surveyed for nutritional and therapeutic needs while forms B and C have, essentially, a medicinal use. This study has allowed us to understand the diversity of recipes associated with the term "yellow powder" in Benin. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the toxicity and effectiveness of these different forms of use of C. tinctorium rhizome powder.