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Histological Study of Glandular Variability in the Skin of the Natterjack Toad—Epidalea calamita (Laurenti, 1768)—Used in Spanish Historical Ethnoveterinary Medicine and Ethnomedicine. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9080423. [PMID: 36006338 PMCID: PMC9414601 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Common toads, including the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita), have been used since ancient times for remedies, and thus constitute excellent biological material for pharmacological and natural product research. After a previous analysis of the historical-folk therapeutic use of amphibians in Spain, a histological study was carried out to provide a complementary ethnopharmacological view through the analysis of the integumentary heterogeneity of the serous (venom) and mucous glands from two adult specimens. Plastic-embedded semi-thin sections showed that serous/venom glands are cytologically homogeneous in spite of their genetic and biochemical complexity, leading to a cocktail that remains stored until extrusion. On the contrary, mucous glands, working continuously, show a more complex cytological variation and regional heterogeneity, which suggests an adaptive variability, leading to an invisible topographic map of skin toxicity. Natterjack toad-based folk remedies are usually extracted from the whole animal as a therapeutic unit in ethnoveterinary practice. However, a new ethnopharmacological vision could emerge from the study of tegumentary regional variation. Abstract Common toads have been used since ancient times for remedies and thus constitute excellent biological material for pharmacological and natural product research. According to the results of a previous analysis of the therapeutic use of amphibians in Spain, we decided to carry out a histological study that provides a complementary view of their ethnopharmacology, through the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita). This species possesses a characteristic integument, where the parotoid glands stand out, and it has been used in different ethnoveterinary and ethnomedical practices. This histological study of their glandular variability allow us to understand the stages through which the animal synthesises and stores a heterogeneous glandular content according to the areas of the body and the functional moment of the glands. To study tegumentary cytology, a high-resolution, plastic embedding, semi-thin (1 micron) section method was applied. Up to 20 skin patches sampled from the dorsal and ventral sides were processed from the two adult specimens collected, which were roadkill. Serous/venom glands display a genetic and biochemical complexity, leading to a cocktail that remains stored (and perhaps changes over time) until extrusion, but mucous glands, working continuously to produce a surface protection layer, also produce a set of active protein (and other) substances that dissolve into mucous material, making a biologically active covering. This study provides a better understanding of the use of traditional remedies in ethnoveterinary medicine.
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Rivera D, Verde A, Fajardo Rodríguez J, Ríos S, Alcaraz F, Cárceles C, Ortíz J, Valdés A, Ruíz-Gallardo JR, García-Flores A, Palazón JA, Obón C. Ethnoveterinary Medicine and Ethnopharmacology in the Main Transhumance Areas of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:866132. [PMID: 35591874 PMCID: PMC9113055 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.866132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we document the practices of ethnoveterinary medicine and ethnopharmacology in the context of traditional transhumance routes that cross Castilla La Mancha from north to south. Transhumance is a type of grazing system that allows advantage to be taken of winter pastures (wintering places) and summer pastures by seasonal movement, twice a year, of cattle and their shepherds. Our study is based on over 200 interviews (from 1994 to 2021) conducted in 86 localities along eight major transhumance routes “cañadas reales” and 25 other minor transhumance routes, and involved 210 informants, 89 single and 121 groups, and 562 individuals, of which the majority were men. Sixty-three recorded pathologies and their treatments are discussed. Two hundred and two species and substances, belonging to 92 different families, have been recorded from the interviews, of which most are plants. Amid the toxic plant species, the most cited in the interviews are Erophaca baetica (L.) Boiss., Lupinus angustifolius L., and Oenanthe crocata L. Some of the species reported as toxic were reservoirs of pathogens or markers for dangerous areas. One of the fields most widely covered in our study is that of prevention, protection, and control of endo- and ectoparasites. This control is carried out mainly by means of aromatic plants. As a polyvalent species, Daphne gnidium L. is outstanding, and it contributes one-tenth of the records of our study. Among the species of fundamentally therapeutic use, Cistus ladanifer L. stands out by far. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) based on the repertories of ingredients, separates the routes whose most important sections run through siliceous terrain with its characteristic flora, especially in the provinces of Ciudad Real and Toledo, from the routes that run through the limestone terrain of Albacete and Cuenca, and link the Eastern Mancha and the “Serranía de Cuenca” with Andalusia and the Spanish Levant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rivera
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Diego Rivera
| | - Alonso Verde
- Grupo de Investigación en Botánica, Etnobiología y Educación, Laboratorio de Sistemática y Etnobotánica, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Jardín Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - José Fajardo Rodríguez
- Grupo de Investigación en Botánica, Etnobiología y Educación, Laboratorio de Sistemática y Etnobotánica, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Jardín Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Segundo Ríos
- Biological Research Station-Botanical Garden of Torretes, Institute of Biodiversity CIBIO, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Francisco Alcaraz
- Grupo de Investigación en Botánica, Etnobiología y Educación, Laboratorio de Sistemática y Etnobotánica, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Jardín Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Carlos Cárceles
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juana Ortíz
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Arturo Valdés
- Grupo de Investigación en Botánica, Etnobiología y Educación, Laboratorio de Sistemática y Etnobotánica, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Jardín Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Jose Reyes Ruíz-Gallardo
- Grupo de Investigación en Botánica, Etnobiología y Educación, Laboratorio de Sistemática y Etnobotánica, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Jardín Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Aida García-Flores
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - José Antonio Palazón
- Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Concepción Obón
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO), Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Orihuela, Spain
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González JA, Vallejo JR. Relics and Historical Uses of Human Zootherapeutic Products in Contemporary Spanish Ethnoveterinary Medicine. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8120323. [PMID: 34941850 PMCID: PMC8707080 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8120323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: this review documents the wide repertoire of practices and remedies based on the use of human-derived products in Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) from the early 20th century to the present. These practices are compared with historical data and those of other countries; (2) Methods: a search using advanced functions in the most important databases in the fields of ethnobiology, EVM, folklore, and ethnography was performed. Information was obtained from 29 documentary sources; (3) Results: from the search of the literature, 46 use-reports related to the veterinary use of human urine, menstrual fluid, saliva, breast milk, and faeces were recorded. These zootherapeutic resources are/were used to treat 20 animal diseases, in particular dermatological ailments. In addition, many practices of the magical-religious type are documented; (4) Conclusions: the veterinary uses described and analysed here are fundamental to the development of therapeutic tools and creating teaching and learning processes in new popular veterinary practices adapted to the users and those who demand them. The information collected could form a scientific foundation for future inventories of local veterinary knowledge (LVK) and research addressing the discovery of new drugs for livestock. This work contributes to the inventory of some uses, traditional practices, and rituals seriously threatened by the progressive loss of LVK in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37071 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Biología Celular, Histología, Historia de la Ciencia, Medicina Legal y Forense y Toxicología, Área de Historia de la Ciencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, E-11003 Cádiz, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Documentation of Commonly Used Ethnoveterinary Medicines from Wild Plants of the High Mountains in Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India. HORTICULTURAE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae7100351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The aim of current study is to provide a significant traditional knowledge on wild medicines used for ethnoveterinary purposes in the rural area of Maraog region in district Shimla. The medicinal plants have played a significant role in the treatment of human as well as animal’s diseases. The rural people of the Maraog region were interviewed through a questionnaire and extensive field surveys were conducted from June 2020 to July 2021. The discussion, observations and interviews were conducted in study site and included 96 informants. The information gathered from the residents is presented in a table format and includes scientific and local names, different parts used, diseases treated and mode administration. The most commonly used taxa are calculated with used value. The study revealed 100 plants in which trees (7), shrubs (26), herbs (56), ferns (5), grasses (3) and climbers (3) were identified. The most commonly documented livestock diseases were found to be hoof infections, eyes infections, poisoning and skin infections. In the current study, the Rosaceae family was reported as being the highest number (11), followed by Asteraceae (10) and then Lamiaceae (6). It was found that leaves, roots, flowers and fruits are the commonly used parts for ethnoveterinary medications. The phytochemicals present in the plant, such as alkaloids, sterols, glycosides, flavonoids, lignin, coumarins and terpenoids, etc., may be responsible for their medicinal properties. In this documentation, it was observed that the younger generation does not have good knowledge of medicinal plants as compared to the older ones. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the traditional knowledge of these medicinal plants before their permanent loss. The documentation and conservation of medicinal plants can be a good start for novel phytopharmacological research in the veterinary field.
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González JA, Vallejo JR. The use of domestic animals and their derivative products in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 271:113900. [PMID: 33549762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This review documents the wide and varied repertoire of traditional practices and remedies based on the use of domestic animals in Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) from the early 20th century to the present. Empirical practices, both ritual and magical, are recorded, and these EVM data are compared with those of other countries in the Mediterranean region and Latin America. The data collected here could form a scientific foundation for future inventories of local veterinary knowledge (LVK) and research addressing the discovery of new drugs for livestock and the validation of the effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS A qualitative systematic review of the most important databases in the fields of ethnobiology, ethnoveterinary medicine, folklore and ethnography was performed. Information and use-reports were obtained from more than 60 documentary sources. RESULTS We recorded the use of nine domestic animal species and one hybrid (the mule) and a total of 171 empirical remedies based on the use of a single species. A wide diversity of body parts or derivative products were/are used. Fat was/is the most commonly used product, being used in 71 remedies (42%). These zootherapeutic resources were/are used to treat or prevent a total of 69 animal diseases or medical conditions, in particular dermatological, reproductive and digestive ailments, together with some infectious diseases. Sheep, cattle, goats and equines form the group of domestic animals in which the greatest number of useful species is employed. In addition, many remedies and practices of the magical-religious type are documented. In comparison with other culturally related areas, there is a greater parallelism in the animals and body parts and derivative products used, and the ailments treated. CONCLUSIONS Contemporary Spanish EVM practices amass a great richness of domestic animal-based remedies. A diversity of body parts or derivative products has been used, offering a cultural heritage that could be a fundamental step in the discovery of new and low-cost drugs for treating livestock and alternative materials for pharmaceutical purposes, and it can contribute to the creation of new strategies for the conservation of natural resources and management of endangered species. The usage of zootherapeutic products derived from wild animals can be replaced by the use of products isolated from domestic animals. Finally, this overview contributes to the inventory of some uses, traditional practices and rituals seriously threatened by the progressive loss of LVK.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos Del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, E-37071, Spain.
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento Anatomía Patológica, Biología Celular, Histología, Historia de La Ciencia, Medicina Legal y Forense y Toxicología, Área de Historia de La Ciencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, E-11003, Spain.
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Okoh GR, Horwood PF, Whitmore D, Ariel E. Herpesviruses in Reptiles. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:642894. [PMID: 34026888 PMCID: PMC8131531 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.642894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 1970s, several species of herpesviruses have been identified and associated with significant diseases in reptiles. Earlier discoveries placed these viruses into different taxonomic groups on the basis of morphological and biological characteristics, while advancements in molecular methods have led to more recent descriptions of novel reptilian herpesviruses, as well as providing insight into the phylogenetic relationship of these viruses. Herpesvirus infections in reptiles are often characterised by non-pathognomonic signs including stomatitis, encephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and proliferative lesions. With the exception of fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles, the absence of specific clinical signs has fostered misdiagnosis and underreporting of the actual disease burden in reptilian populations and hampered potential investigations that could lead to the effective control of these diseases. In addition, complex life histories, sampling bias and poor monitoring systems have limited the assessment of the impact of herpesvirus infections in wild populations and captive collections. Here we review the current published knowledge of the taxonomy, pathogenesis, pathology and epidemiology of reptilian herpesviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- God'spower Richard Okoh
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul F Horwood
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David Whitmore
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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Adhikari JN, Bhattarai BP, Rokaya MB, Thapa TB. Ethno-medicinal uses of vertebrates in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, central Nepal. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240555. [PMID: 33125389 PMCID: PMC7598503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional knowledge on the use of animal products to maintain human health is important since time immemorial. Although a few studies reported food and medicinal values of different animals, a comprehensive ethno-medicinal study of vertebrates in Nepal is still lacking. Thus, present study is aimed at documenting the ethno-medicinal knowledge related to vertebrate fauna among different ethnic communities in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, central Nepal. Data was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed by using Use Value (UV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL). Results showed a total of 58 (53 wild and 5 domestic) species of vertebrate animals. They were used to treat 62 types human ailments. Four animals were also used for veterinary diseases and agriculture benefits. The most widely used species was Felis chaus (UV = 0.25) with 3 use-reports by 10 informants. Cardiovascular and dental problems had the highest ICF value (0.974) with cardiovascular problems having 351 use-reports for 10 animal species and dental problems having 77 use-reports for 3 animal species. The least ICF was found in ophthalmological problems (ICF = 0.833, use reports = 7 for 2 species). We concluded that the different animals were an important part of traditional medicine for the local people living in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape. However, the majority of animals and most likely to be threatened due to their uses. The present documented ethnozoological knowledge can be used in conservation and management of vertebrates so that they could be protected for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagan Nath Adhikari
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Zoology, Birendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Maan Bahadur Rokaya
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tej Bahadur Thapa
- Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Assessment of Clayey Peloid Formulations Prior to Clinical Use in Equine Rehabilitation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17103365. [PMID: 32408650 PMCID: PMC7277428 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Clays are natural ingredients used to prepare therapeutic cataplasms suitable for topical application. The knowledge about these formulations and their preparations to be applied on humans and animals has been orally transmitted since ancient times. Several empirical methods using clays have demonstrated fast and effective results in the reduction of the inflammatory response and the formation of edemas in horse limbs. The use of traditional and alternative medicine, such as pelotherapy, is now becoming more popular in veterinarian medical practice, alone or combined with other therapies in horse muscle and tendon rehabilitation. This study characterizes the use of commercial equine clays and an old therapeutic clay cataplasm formulation, using acetic acid, to treat tendon injuries in horses. This work might contribute to a major database characterization of clays used empirically on equine health, the potential of dermal absorption, the risks of exposure to some toxic elements, and safety assessment for these formulations. The present study was carried out to characterize the suitability of four commercial equine clays (Group II) and a protocoled healing mixture: “clay acetic acid cataplasm”, (Group III), to treat tendon injuries in horses. In this mixture, three conventional “green” clays (Group I) without any mineralogical specificity were used and blended with acetic acid. The mineralogical composition was determined through X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray fluorescence data. To determine the performance of the samples, cooling kinetics, oil absorption, expandability, and specific surface area were measured. According to the mineralogical composition, Group I was mainly composed of carbonates and silicates, while Group II was much richer in silicates with the main clay minerals kaolinite and illite. Group II exhibited the highest values for As, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn, considered potentially toxic. Both groups showed low cation exchange capacities and exchanged mainly Ca2+, with the exception of VET.1 and VET.7, which also highlight Na+, and VET.5 and VET.6, which have K+ as an exchangeable main cation. The addition of acetic acid (Group III) does not reveal any significant chemical changes. The results confirm that both clay groups are adequate for the therapeutic propose. They have good plastic properties (skin adherence), good oil absorptive capabilities (cleaning), and exchange an essential physiological element, calcium. Group II has prior industrial preparation, which is probably why it showed better results. Group I presented lower heat retention capacity and higher abrasiveness, which could be improved using cosmetic additives. The clinical benefit of the “clay acetic acid cataplasm” (Group III) could be the systemic anti-inflammatory effect established by the acetic acid.
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Fischer ML, Palodeto MFT, Santos ECD. [The use of animal-assisted therapy: a bioethical question]. HISTORIA, CIENCIAS, SAUDE--MANGUINHOS 2018; 25:217-243. [PMID: 29694525 DOI: 10.1590/s0104-59702018000100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper addresses ethical questions concerning animal-assisted therapy (zootherapy). While it has been documented for centuries in several cultures and is resistant to urban and technological developments, it combines multiple moral and vulnerable agents, constituting a dilemma whose fair and consensual solution calls for new perspectives, like environmental bioethics. Through analyses of scientific texts, the arguments and values intrinsic to decisions about how and when to use animals as medical resources are systematized. Using bioethics as a method, reflections are offered about the potential solutions dependent on the multidimensional communication between the players from the three pillars of sustainability - environment, society, and economy - involved in this global ethical question, focusing on conservation and sustainable production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Luciane Fischer
- Escola de Ciências da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil,
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González JA, Vallejo JR. Reptiles in the history of Spanish ophthalmology: Ocellated lizard excrements and corneal leucoma. ARCHIVOS DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPANOLA DE OFTALMOLOGIA 2017; 92:e56-e57. [PMID: 28215762 DOI: 10.1016/j.oftal.2016.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J A González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
| | - J R Vallejo
- Área de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales, Equipo de Antropología de la Salud, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, España
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Vallejo JR, Santos-Fita D, González JA. The therapeutic use of the dog in Spain: a review from a historical and cross-cultural perspective of a change in the human-dog relationship. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2017; 13:47. [PMID: 28835259 PMCID: PMC5569528 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-017-0175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In Spain, studies about traditional knowledge related to biodiversity have focused on vascular plants. For this reason, our review concentrates on the identification and inventory of zootherapeutic resources, particularly those involving the dog (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus, 1758) throughout the twentieth century to the present. A qualitative systematic review in the fields of ethnomedicine, ethnozoology and folklore was made. Automated searches in the most important databases and digital libraries were performed. All related works were examined thoroughly and information was obtained from 55 documentary sources. We have listed a total of 63 remedies to treat and/or prevent 49 human illnesses and conditions. In 20 of the documented reports the whole animal was used and the use of pups was recommended in 12 cases. Saliva was the healing element in 10 remedies, and faeces were the therapeutic basis for nine, while bitch's milk was for seven of them. Skin, fur and meat were next in significance. Currently, healing remedies based on the use of the dog are not part of Spanish ethnomedicine and considering them so would be ahistorical. Indeed, the custom of allowing a dog to lick one's wounds to assist in their healing and cicatrisation has survived in only a few groups of people. However, we can state that the ethnomedical use of the dog exists and has been transferred to "animal-assisted therapy".
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ramón Vallejo
- Área de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales, Equipo de Historia de la Ciencia y Antropología de la Salud, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Extremadura, E-06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Dídac Santos-Fita
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Avda. Instituto Literario 100, Colonia Centro, CP 50000 Toluca, Estado de México Mexico
| | - José Antonio González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37071 Salamanca, Spain
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Animals living in polluted environments are a potential source of anti-tumor molecule(s). Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2017; 80:919-924. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-017-3410-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Rodríguez C, Rollins-Smith L, Ibáñez R, Durant-Archibold AA, Gutiérrez M. Toxins and pharmacologically active compounds from species of the family Bufonidae (Amphibia, Anura). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2017; 198:235-254. [PMID: 28034659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Among amphibians, 15 of the 47 species reported to be used in traditional medicines belong to the family Bufonidae, which demonstrates their potential in pharmacological and natural products research. For example, Asian and American tribes use the skin and the parotoid gland secretions of some common toads in the treatment of hemorrhages, bites and stings from venomous animals, skin and stomach disorders, as well as several types of cancers. OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE In addition to reviewing the occurrence of chemical constituents present in the family Bufonidae, the cytotoxic and biomedical potential of the active compounds produced by different taxa are presented. METHODOLOGY Available information on bioactive compounds isolated from species of the family Bufonidae was obtained from ACS Publications, Google, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Sciendirect and Springer. Papers written in Chinese, English, German and Spanish were considered. RESULTS Recent reports show more than 30% of amphibians are in decline and some of bufonid species are considered to be extinct. For centuries, bufonids have been used as traditional folk remedies to treat allergies, inflammation, cancer, infections and other ailments, highlighting their importance as a prolific source for novel drugs and therapies. Toxins and bioactive chemical constituents from skin and parotid gland secretions of bufonid species can be grouped in five families, the guanidine alkaloids isolated and characterized from Atelopus, the lipophilic alkaloids isolated from Melanophryniscus, the indole alkaloids and bufadienolides known to be synthesized by species of bufonids, and peptides and proteins isolated from the skin and gastrointestinal extracts of some common toads. Overall, the bioactive secretions of this family of anurans may have antimicrobial, protease inhibitor and anticancer properties, as well as being active at the neuromuscular level. CONCLUSION In this article, the traditional uses, toxicity and pharmacological potential of chemical compounds from bufonids have been summarized. In spite of being reported to be used to treat several diseases, neither extracts nor metabolites from bufonids have been tested in such illness like acne, osteoporosis, arthritis and other illnesses. However, the cytotoxicity of these metabolites needs to be evaluated on adequate animal models due to the limited conditions of in vitro assays. Novel qualitative and quantitative tools based on MS spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy is now available to study the complex secretions of bufonids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candelario Rodríguez
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones, Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama 0843-01103, Republic of Panama; Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur 522510, India
| | - Louise Rollins-Smith
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, and Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Roberto Ibáñez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama; Department of Zoology, College of Natural, Exact Sciences and Technology, University of Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Armando A Durant-Archibold
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones, Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama 0843-01103, Republic of Panama; Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural, Exact Sciences and Technology, University of Panama, Republic of Panama.
| | - Marcelino Gutiérrez
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones, Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama 0843-01103, Republic of Panama.
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Nijman V, Nekaris KAI. Provide context when reporting on the use of protected and endangered wildlife in ethnopharmacological surveys. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 194:577-579. [PMID: 27793782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The value of reports on the use of wildlife in ethnopharmacological surveys increases when context is provided on the legality of its use and on the species' conservation status. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate if context is provided when protected and threatened animals are reported as being used in traditional medicine, and to provide recommendations for future reporting. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of recent papers in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. RESULTS Rarely is information provided on (1) the conservation status of the animals that are used in traditional medicine, (2) whether the parts can be obtained non-invasively or if the animals have to be killed, or (3) whether or not it is legal to use the animals, their parts or derivatives according to national law. CONCLUSION When presenting the results of ethnopharmalogical surveys include (1) the conservation status of the species affected, (2) whether or not parts could be harvested non-invasively and (3) the legality of harvesting and / or trading these animals, their parts or their derivatives. Our focus here is on animals, given that more so than in plants or fungi, many of their parts used in natural medicine cannot be obtained non-invasively, but a similar set of guidelines could be developed for other taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford, UK.
| | - K A I Nekaris
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford, UK
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15
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González JA, Amich F, Postigo-Mota S, Vallejo JR. Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of invertebrates in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2016; 12:36. [PMID: 27595672 PMCID: PMC5011348 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-016-0111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Zootherapeutic practices in ethnoveterinary medicine are important in many socio-cultural environments around the world, particularly in developing countries, and they have recently started to be inventoried and studied in Europe. In light of this, the purpose of this review is to describe the local knowledge and folk remedies based on the use of invertebrates and their derivative products in contemporary Spanish ethnoveterinary medicine. An overview in the fields of ethnozoology, ethnoveterinary medicine and folklore was made. Automated searches in the most important databases were performed. All related works were examined thoroughly and use-reports were obtained from 53 documentary sources. The traditional use of 18 invertebrate species and five ethnotaxa and a total of 86 empirical remedies based on the use of a single species was recorded. The two most relevant zoological groups were found to be insects and molluscs. A broad diversity of body parts or derivative products have been and are used to treat or prevent ca. 50 animal diseases or conditions, in particular diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, different infectious livestock diseases, and disorders of the eye and adnexa. Cattle, sheep and equines form the group of domestic animals in which the greatest number of remedies are mentioned. In addition, seven magical remedies and practices are documented. In comparison with other culturally related areas, this is a rich heritage. The use-reports included here will help in the search for new and low-cost drugs for treating livestock and alternative materials for pharmaceutical purposes, future research addressing the validation of the effects and the development of organic farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Antonio González
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francisco Amich
- Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Salvador Postigo-Mota
- Equipo de Antropología Social y Cultural, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José Ramón Vallejo
- Departamento de Terapéutica Médico-Quirúrgica (Facultad de Medicina) – Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y de las Matemáticas (Facultad de Educación), Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
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