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Knowledge linked to the traditions of different groups of immigrants in the large cities is a central issue for Urban Ethnobotany, and they constitute a starting point for the discipline approach. This article contributes to the study about local botanical knowledge within the pluricultural context of Buenos Aires-La Plata Metropolitan Area, in particular, the botanical knowledge about plants and its products introduced by Chinese immigrants in the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. The registered functional food and nutraceutical plants products marketed by these immigrants (that belong to the Traditional Chinese Phytotherapy) are locally employed for the treatment of some ailments usually linked to the urban lifestyle, such as hypercholesterolemia, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, among others. In this sense, the work contributes to the understanding of the local biocultural diversity (both plants and its associated knowledge). The research followed usual qualitative ethnobotanical methods and techniques, especially semi-structured and free interviews to 250 qualified informants, prior informed consent. In addition, a bibliographic review about species biological activity and studied effects were realized, in order to compare it with the locally assigned uses. An inventory of plant products of 52 vascular plants (vegetables, legumes, fruits, condiments) locally recognized as functional foods was obtained. Plants products belonging to 30 of the 52 treated taxa are commercialized only within the restricted commercial circuit of the Chinese immigrants. Therefore, these taxa are considered "invisible" for the majority of local inhabitants. Plants products of the 22 remaining taxa are marketed in both the restricted Chinese circuit and the general commercial one. Then, these taxa are "visible" for all residents. Local botanical knowledge is evaluated from the circulation of plant products in local trade circuits. "Invisible" taxa may become "visible" when entering the general commercial circuit. This "visualization process" of plants products and its associated knowledge express the local botanical knowledge dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Thistles" constitute a group of prickly herbaceous plants included in tribe Cardueae (Asteraceae), but in the popular sense that concept is frequently applied to other species of the same family, as well as to some Dipsacaceae, Bromeliaceae, Apiaceae or Cactaceae. Since antiquity, the cultivation and use of thistles for food and medicinal purposes have been well known in the Mediterranean cultures. The different popular knowledge could allow us to refer to a "thistle culture". During the exploration of America, many of those species and their associated knowledge were transferred from the Old to the New World. In Argentina, several species of thistles, especially Cynara cardunculus, spread extensively throughout the pampas. From early times, they constituted a source of food and lowquality fuel, and in several cases, they were also employed in popular medicine, with diverse uses, some of which are still in practice. The local importance of some species is mentioned in literature, arts, and gastronomy. In the 20th century, a large production of artichokes from introduced crops that increased local agrodiversity was recorded in Argentina. This contribution summarizes some aspects of the transfer and resignification of the thistle from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused in medicinal plant species belonging to the Traditional Chinese Phytotherapy whose products are commercialized in the pluricultural context of the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Chinese immigrants segment, like other recent immigrants groups in the study area, introduce their own plant products into the local urban scenario. In this framework, not only enter the new products but also their knowledge and beliefs associated, that become part of the mosaic of the knowledge in the local pluricultural system. Thus, the urban botanical knowledge constitutes a complex that includes the knowledge linked to the origin traditions of the immigrants segments, and the nontraditional one: the knowledge taught and learned, and the transmitted by the media, including scientific knowledge. The plant products incorporated by Chinese immigrants to their own restricted commercial circuit (linked to their traditions) are invisible for the majority of the local inhabitants. However, some of these products enter the general commercial circuit (nontraditional) and become visible for all local population. This visualization of the plant products implies the transmission of its associated knowledge, a process enhanced by the mass media, mainly the Internet. The results are interpreted within this theoretical framework. Also, the main features of the Traditional Chinese Phytotherapy are summarized, due to its differences with our Western medicine. For the species considered the scientific names, botanical families, distribution, Chinese name and Latin denomination of the plant products, and the reference samples are indicated. For each species are included a list of its uses linked to traditions, and a revision work of the biological activity and effects evaluated (the validation context in terms of Western science). In the context of Urban Ethnobotany, the presence alone of invisible species is a significant issue because increases the local biocultural diversity (of useful plants, products, and its associated knowledge). Likewise, the species that become visible make evident the dynamics of changes in their visualization process, an adaptive phenomenon that allow the understanding of the local biocultural system complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution presents 82 species of medicinal plants whose products are sold and consumed as cholesterol lowering in the Buenos Aires-La Plata conurbation, Argentina. The hypocholesterolemic effect is relevant because the high level of blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, leading causes of death and disability almost worldwide. The species were selected from their locally assigned use, obtained from interviews with informants, data labels, prospectus and leaflets of products, and information diffused in the media, specially the Internet. Furthermore, a bibliographic review on scientific studies that validate the biological activity and effects of each species was accomplished. The theoretical framework of this research argues that urban botanical knowledge comprising some knowledge linked to traditions of various immigrants segments (invisible to most of the local population), and other non-traditional knowledge (visible). The assessment of these kinds of knowledge is approached from the plant products circulation in the restricted circuits of immigrants (Bolivian and Chinese for this contribution) and the general commercial circuit, so that products that pass from the first circuit to the second gain visibility. The circulation of plant products that acquire visibility also expressed the botanical knowledge transmission from one context to another, a transmission enhanced and accelerated by the media. In this framework, the visibility levels of plant products considered hypocholesterolemic in the study area are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]