Ethnomedical research and review of Q'eqchi Maya women's reproductive health in the Lake Izabal region of Guatemala: Past, present and future prospects

Involvement of a neutrophil-mast cell axis in the effects of Piper malacophyllum (C. PESL) C. DC extract and its isolated compounds in a mouse model of dysmenorrhoea

The effects of Piper malacophyllum (C. Pesl) C. DC extracts and its isolated compounds were analysed in a mouse model of primary dysmenorrhoea (PD). Female Swiss mice (6-8 weeks old) on proestrus were intraperitoneally treated with estradiol benzoate for 3 days, to induce PD. Twenty-four hours later, animals were treated 24 h later with vehicle, plant extract, gibbilimbol B, 4,6-dimethoxy-5-E-phenylbutenolide, mixture of 4,6-dimethoxy-5-E-phenylbutenolide and 4,6-dimethoxy-5-Z-phenylbutenolide, or ibuprofen. One hour later, oxytocin was injected and the numbers of abdominal writhing were counted. Then, mice were euthanized and uteri were collected for morphometrical and histological analyses. The effects of P. malacophyllum in inflammation were investigated in mouse peritoneal neutrophils culture stimulated with LPS or fMLP (chemotaxis and mediator release). Finally, uterus contractile and relaxing responses were assessed. Similar to ibuprofen, P. malacophyllum extract and isolated compounds reduced abdominal writhing in mice with PD. Histology indicated a marked neutrophil and mast cell infiltrate in the uterus of PD animals which was attenuated by the extract. The compounds and the extract reduced neutrophil chemotaxis and inflammatory mediator release by these cells. Reduced TNF levels were also observed in uteri of PD mice treated with P. malacophyllum. The extract did not affect spontaneous uterine contractions nor those induced by carbachol or KCl. However, it caused relaxation of oxytocin-induced uterine contraction, an effect blunted by H1 receptor antagonist. Overall the results indicate that P. malacophyllum may represent interesting natural tools for reliving PD symptoms, reducing the triad of pain, inflammation and spasmodic uterus behaviour.

Synthesis of 5-(1-Alkoxyalkylidene)tetronates by Direct Condensation Reactions of Tetronates with Thionolactones and Thionoesters

We report a two-step approach to bicyclic and monocyclic 5-(1-alkoxyalkylidene)tetronates starting from lactones/esters. The method features the use of thionolactones and thionoesters as activated forms of lactones/esters that allows the direct condensation with tetronates via one-pot enolate formation, nucleophilic addition, S-methylation, and DBU-promoted elimination. The value of the method was demonstrated by the stereoselective syntheses of two natural products: 5,6-Z-fadyenolide (Z/E ratio = 6:1) and 9,10-methylenedioxy-5,6-Z-fadyenolide (Z/E ratio = 9:1).

Traditional Herbal Medicine in Mesoamerica: Toward Its Evidence Base for Improving Universal Health Coverage

The quality of health care in Mesoamerica is influenced by its rich cultural diversity and characterized by social inequalities. Especially indigenous and rural communities confront diverse barriers to accessing formal health services, leading to often conflicting plurimedical systems. Fostering integrative medicine is a fundamental pillar for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for marginalized populations. Recent developments toward health sovereignty in the region are concerned with assessing the role of traditional medicines, and particularly herbal medicines, to foster accessible and culturally pertinent healthcare provision models. In Mesoamerica, as in most regions of the world, a wealth of information on traditional and complementary medicine has been recorded. Yet these data are often scattered, making it difficult for policy makers to regulate and integrate traditionally used botanical products into primary health care. This critical review is based on a quantitative analysis of 28 survey papers focusing on the traditional use of botanical drugs in Mesoamerica used for the compilation of the "Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database" (MAMPDB), which includes a total of 12,537 use-records for 2188 plant taxa. Our approach presents a fundamental step toward UHC by presenting a pharmacological and toxicological review of the cross-culturally salient plant taxa and associated botanical drugs used in traditional medicine in Mesoamerica. Especially for native herbal drugs, data about safety and effectiveness are limited. Commonly used cross-culturally salient botanical drugs, which are considered safe but for which data on effectiveness is lacking constitute ideal candidates for treatment outcome studies.

Ethnopharmacological Field Study of Three Q'eqchi Communities in Guatemala

Mesoamerica is well known for the Mayan civilization, which flourished in this region during pre-Columbian times and made use of plant diversity for medicinal purposes. Currently, there are 21 Mayan ethnic groups in Guatemala, including the Q'eqchi'. The use of medicinal plants is still prevalent among them, they have been an important medicinal source for the population. The present study aims to compile traditional knowledge of the use of medicinal plants from three Q'eqchi' communities in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala and identify the important medicinal plants that are currently being used to treat relevant diseases. The study also aims to determine the relative importance of the identified species to propose new species for further pharmacological studies. Based on the cultural richness and the low level of perturbation of the vegetation, we selected the Q'eqchi' communities of Sanimtaqá, Santo Domingo de las Cuevas, and Chirrepec in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. There, semi-structured interviews were conducted between June 2013 and December 2014 with common people. Plant-related questions and certain sociocultural contexts of the informants were included. Herbarium specimens for identification were collected with the help of the informants in their gardens with people from each community. The data were analyzed in two forms, the first non-quantitative based on the interpretation of the interviews (emic concepts of diseases) the second by following quantitative methods: informant consensus factor (Fic), Friedman's fidelity index (Fl), and use-reports (Ur). A total of 169 interviews were conducted. One hundred thirty-seven species of plants with medicinal uses were identified, which were described 2,055 times. These species belong to 59 families and 117 genera. Gastrointestinal conditions and pain/fever had the highest number of plant species uses for treatment. The main gastrointestinal conditions included diarrhea (Nume'sa'), stomach pain and worms (Luqum), while the pain/fever classification included headaches (rail jolom), and fevers (Tiq'). The most important cultural condition is called Chaquiq'yaj, the symptoms of the disease; diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lack of appetite, and thirst could be associated with a gastrointestinal. Conclusions: After analyzing the data, we can conclude that; Ageratina ligustrina, Catopheria chiapensis, Baccharis inamoena, Peperomia maculosa, Baccharis salicina, Clinopodium brownei, Calea integrifolia, and Smallanthus maculatus var. maculatus are the most culturally relevant species.

In Sickness and Health: Views on Child Health From a Mayan Village

INTRODUCTION

Guatemala is the only country in Central America with a majority indigenous population. Most indigenous Mayans prefer to seek health advice from family members. It is important to understand the beliefs of Mayan caregivers. The purpose of this study was to examine indigenous ways of explaining health and illness in the context of one Mayan village.

METHOD

We applied a qualitative descriptive design in summer 2017. Interviews were conducted in Spanish with 10 Mayan caregivers, who were primarily female, between ages 19 and 50 years, in Guatemala. The sample was drawn from families who received a water filter the previous year.

RESULTS

Health was explained by access to food, including local herbs, and clean water. Illness was explained by bodily symptoms and behavioral changes.

DISCUSSION

Findings align with several United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and suggest a need to strategize with global partners.