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Cheng Z, Lin S, Wu Z, Lin C, Zhang Q, Xu C, Li J, Long C. Study on medicinal food plants in the Gaoligongshan Biosphere Reserve, the richest biocultural diversity center in China. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:10. [PMID: 38225656 PMCID: PMC10790445 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-023-00638-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional knowledge associated with medicinal food plants (MFPs) plays a vital role in fighting hidden hunger and safeguarding the health of local people. MFPs resources are abundant in the Gaoligongshan area, a biosphere reserve with the richest biocultural diversity in China. Local people of different linguistic groups also have rich traditional botanical knowledge. However, there are still few comprehensive and systematic studies on MFPs there. METHODS Ethnobotanical investigation including market survey, semi-structured interviews, free listing and key informant interviews was conducted in the Gaoligongshan area, Western Yunnan, Southwest China. A total of 13 local farmers' markets were selected and information about medicinal food plants, including food categories, medicinal and edible parts, modes of consumption, medicinal effects, and distribution were collected. The relative occurrence frequency (RFO) and cultural food significance index (CFSI) were calculated to identify the culturally significant MFPs. RESULTS A total of 184 species of MFPs, belonging to 83 families, were collected in the Gaoligongshan area, including vegetables (77), medicinal diets (26), fruits (25), spices (18), herbal tea (13), tea substitutes (11), substitutes for staple food (8), nuts (5), oils and fats (4), and dye material (1). The most frequently used families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae, with 11, 10, and 9 species, respectively. The most frequently used plant parts were the stems, followed by fruits and leaves. Based on the evaluation results of the CFSI and RFO indices, 18 species of MFPs with magnificent local cultural importance have been screened out, such as Houttuynia cordata, Eryngium foetidum, Sechium edule, Centella asiatica and Pseudocydonia sinensis. CONCLUSION These findings have guiding significance for conservation of traditional knowledge associated with MFPs and facilitation of scientific utilization of MFPs to meet local people's needs for a healthy life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Shuyan Lin
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Ziyi Wu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Chen Lin
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Congli Xu
- Yunnan Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve (Baoshan Bureau), Yunnan, 678000, China
| | - Jiahua Li
- Yunnan Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve (Longyang Branch of Baoshan Bureau), Yunnan, 678000, China
| | - Chunlin Long
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Institute of National Security Studies, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Flantua SGA, Hooghiemstra H. Anthropogenic pollen indicators: Global food plants and Latin American human indicators in the pollen record. Sci Data 2023; 10:721. [PMID: 37857627 PMCID: PMC10587149 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02613-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollen-based evidence of human presence is crucial for reconstructing human history. However, information on the morphology of pollen grains of global food plants and regional pollen-based human indicators is scattered in the literature, leading to the risk of overlooking important evidence of human presence. To address this issue, we first compiled a comprehensive overview of 354 major food plants worldwide, creating a paleoecology-friendly format that includes their family, vernacular name, earliest known use, environmental preference, and geographical region. Moreover, we identified the sources of illustrations of their pollen grains for 209 out of 273 different genera of globally relevant food plants in 10 selected pollen atlases. Secondly, we compiled all human indicators from pollen-based paleoecological literature in Latin America (based on 750 references), providing an overview of 212 single-pollen type indicators and identified 95 crucial combinations of pollen types as "human indices", and their corresponding references. Our review datasets aids in distilling human evidence from numerous fossil pollen records worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzette G A Flantua
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Henry Hooghiemstra
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Zhang Q, Cheng Z, Fan Y, Zhang D, Wang M, Zhang J, Sommano S, Wu X, Long C. Ethnobotanical study on edible flowers in Xishuangbanna, China. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2023; 19:43. [PMID: 37777741 PMCID: PMC10542681 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-023-00608-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Edible flowers (EFs) represent valuable sources of both food and medicinal resources, holding the promise to enhance human well-being. Unfortunately, their significance is often overlooked. Ethnobotanical studies on the EFs are lacking in comparison with their botanical and phytochemical research. The practice of consuming flowers as food has a rich culture and long history in China, especially among different linguistic groups in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. However, economic activities have led to a decline of this tradition. Consequently, preserving the traditional knowledge and culture tied to the EFs in Xishuangbanna becomes both essential and pressing. METHODS The field ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Xishuangbanna during five visits in April 2021 and May 2023, covering 48 villages and 19 local markets of all three county-level areas and 9 different linguistic groups. By conducting a comprehensive literature review and on-site field surveys, relevant information regarding the EFs of Xishuangbanna was systematically collected and documented. Additionally, the relative frequency of citation (RFC) values were calculated from the survey data. RESULTS A total of 212 taxa (including species and varieties) of EFs from 58 families and 141 genera were documented in the study area. The edible parts of flowers were classified into 13 categories including peduncle, petal, flower buds, inflorescence as a whole, and etc. They were consumed in 21 ways and as 8 types of food. The inflorescence was the most commonly consumed category, accounting for 85 species (40.1%) of the total categories. They always eat flowers as vegetables (184 species, 86.8%). The preparing form of stir-frying was the preferred food preparation method (138, 65.1%). The Xishuangbanna locals had profound knowledge of which EFs required specific processing to remove their toxicity or bitterness. The dishes can be made from either exclusively from the flowers themselves or by incorporating them alongside other plant parts like stems and leaves. Some EFs with high RFC value, such as Musa acuminata and Bauhinia variegata var. candida, showed significant cultural meanings. These edible flowers occupy specific positions in local traditional culture. CONCLUSION Traditional knowledge regarding edible flowers holds substantial significance and serves as a representative element of the flower-eating culture in Xishuangbanna. Nevertheless, this knowledge and cultural practice are currently decreasing. Serving as a bridge between tradition and modernity, the flower-eating culture, which derives from local people's practical experience, shows the potential of EFs and can be applied to the conservation of biocultural diversity, healthy food systems, and sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhuo Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yanxiao Fan
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Dezheng Zhang
- School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jihai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Sarana Sommano
- Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Xianjin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Research and Utilization of Ethnomedicinal Plant Resources of Hunan Province, College of Biological and Food Engineering, Huaihua University, Huaihua, 418000, China.
| | - Chunlin Long
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China.
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Institute of National Security Studies, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Pardo-Rodriguez D, Lasso P, Santamaría-Torres M, Cala MP, Puerta CJ, Méndez Arteaga JJ, Robles J, Cuervo C. Clethra fimbriata hexanic extract triggers alteration in the energy metabolism in epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1206074. [PMID: 37818099 PMCID: PMC10561390 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1206074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in American countries and an estimated 8 million people worldwide are chronically infected. Currently, only two drugs are available for therapeutic use against T. cruzi and their use is controversial due to several disadvantages associated with side effects and low compliance with treatment. Therefore, there is a need to search for new tripanocidal agents. Natural products have been considered a potential innovative source of effective and selective agents for drug development to treat T. cruzi infection. Recently, our research group showed that hexanic extract from Clethra fimbriata (CFHEX) exhibits anti-parasitic activity against all stages of T. cruzi parasite, being apoptosis the main cell death mechanism in both epimastigotes and trypomastigotes stages. With the aim of deepening the understanding of the mechanisms of death induced by CFHEX, the metabolic alterations elicited after treatment using a multiplatform metabolomics analysis (RP/HILIC-LC-QTOF-MS and GC-QTOF-MS) were performed. A total of 154 altered compounds were found significant in the treated parasites corresponding to amino acids (Arginine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, glycine, valine, proline, isoleucine, alanine, leucine, glutamic acid, and serine), fatty acids (stearic acid), glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine), sulfur compounds (trypanothione) and carboxylic acids (pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate). The most affected metabolic pathways were mainly related to energy metabolism, which was found to be decrease during the evaluated treatment time. Further, exogenous compounds of the triterpene type (betulinic, ursolic and pomolic acid) previously described in C. fimbriata were found inside the treated parasites. Our findings suggest that triterpene-type compounds may contribute to the activity of CFHEX by altering essential processes in the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pardo-Rodriguez
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo de Fitoquímica, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo de Productos Naturales, Universidad del Tolima, Tolima, Colombia
- Metabolomics Core Facility—MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paola Lasso
- Grupo de Inmunobiología y Biología Celular, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mary Santamaría-Torres
- Metabolomics Core Facility—MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mónica P. Cala
- Metabolomics Core Facility—MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Concepción J. Puerta
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Jorge Robles
- Grupo de Fitoquímica, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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Irwin A. Expeditions in post-war Colombia have found hundreds of new species. But rich ecosystems are now under threat. Nature 2023; 619:450-453. [PMID: 37468590 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02300-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
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Cerón-Souza I, Delgadillo-Duran D, Polo-Murcia SM, Sarmiento-Naizaque ZX, Reyes-Herrera PH. Prioritizing Colombian plant genetic resources for investment in research using indicators about the geographic origin, vulnerability status, economic benefits, and food security importance. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2023; 32:2221-2261. [PMID: 37255861 PMCID: PMC10195663 DOI: 10.1007/s10531-023-02599-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Germplasm banks are the most significant repository for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) worldwide. Despite their strategic importance, national germplasm banks of tropical megadiverse developing countries such as Colombia have extremely limited funds. Therefore, making strategic decisions about research investment is essential. Here, we designed a data-driven approach to build an index that sorts Colombian PGRFA into three groups: high, medium, or low priority, based on four pillars of information from open-access databases and aligned with the sustainable goals of no poverty and zero hunger: Geographic origin, vulnerability status, economic benefits, and food security importance. We analyzed 345 PGRFA using the index, separating them into two groups, 275 already conserved in the Colombian germplasm bank (BGVCOL group) and 70 not currently conserved in the BGVCOL (NCB group). We used fuzzy logic to classify each PGRFA by each pillar and integrate it to obtain a priority index. Missing data for native crops were frequent in the BGVCOL group. Therefore we adopted an imputation strategy to fill the gaps and calculated the uncertainty. After applying the index, PGRFA with higher priority were 24 (8.72%) from the BGVCOL (i.e., 15 potatoes, three tomatoes, two tree tomatoes, pineapple, cocoa, papaya, and yacon) and one from NCB (i.e., coffee). We concluded that this methodology successfully prioritized PGRFA in Colombia and shows the big holes of knowledge for future research and alternatives to improve this index. The versatility of this methodology could be helpful in other genebanks with budget limitations for research investment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10531-023-02599-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- I. Cerón-Souza
- CI Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, Km 14 via Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - D. Delgadillo-Duran
- CI Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, Km 14 via Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - S. M. Polo-Murcia
- CI Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, Km 14 via Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Z. X. Sarmiento-Naizaque
- CI Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, Km 14 via Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - P. H. Reyes-Herrera
- CI Tibaitatá, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, Km 14 via Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia
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