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While interest in early modern herbaria has so far mainly concentrated on the dried plants stored in them, this paper addresses another of their qualities – their role as manuscripts. In the 1670s, the German botanist Paul Hermann (1646–95) spent several years in Ceylon (today Sri Lanka) as a medical officer in the service of the Dutch East India Company. During his stay he put together four herbaria, two of which contain a wealth of handwritten notes by himself and several later owners. First, it will be shown that these notes provide information on the linguistic skills and interests of those who collected plants in an overseas trading settlement. Hermann's botanical practice demanded and, at the same time, generated knowledge of Sinhalese (an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by the largest ethnic group on the island) and its script. In his herbarium, observations on the semantics, morphology, and pronunciation of Sinhalese are inextricably intertwined with those of botanical nature. Second, on the basis of these voluminous notes, the character of early modern herbaria as manuscripts will be highlighted. And third, Hermann's herbaria will be integrated into an investigation of scribal practices and publication strategies of eighteenth-century botany. Along with field notes, letters, manuscripts, illustrations, and printed books, herbaria were knots in the textual–visual mesh of early modern botany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cachrys L. genus belongs to the Apiaceae family and it is widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin, with plant species being endemic to southern Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Different studies, focused on the phytochemical composition of Cachrys spp. and the biological properties of their phytocomplexes, have been reported. These works mostly focused on the essential oils obtained from these plants, and pointed out that Cachrys species are a rich source of coumarins, mainly furanocoumarins. Other phytochemicals, such as terpenes, fatty acids, phytosterols, and flavonoids have been also identified. Moreover, a number of biological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and photocytotoxic effects have been assessed. Nevertheless, a review of the chemical and pharmacological properties of this genus is not available in the literature. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the reports concerning the identified phytochemicals and the biological effects reported for Cachrys spp., and to offer a comprehensive understanding of the potential of this genus as a source of bioactive compounds. The current taxonomy, the traditional uses, and the toxicological aspects of plants belonging to this genus are also reported, and the future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the La Plata Basin, indigenous populations used canoes for colonizing islands, moving people, fishing, transporting loads, and warfare. According to sixteenth century chronicles, dugout canoes were large, up to 24 m in length, and had a capacity for 40 people. In this paper, four dugout canoes recovered in La Plata River, and in the Paraná Delta, are studied. Their context of discovery, dimensions, radiocarbon dating, and the wood taxonomic identification are presented. Canoes were vital for the riverine populations that inhabited the study area since at least two thousand years ago but constitute a rare record given the low likelihood of preservation. The studied canoes measure between 10–8 m in length and 0.9–0.7 m beam. Two of the canoes were dated between 1509–1647 and 1414–1465 cal AD, 1σ. The diagnostic characters identified in the wood link all the samples to Enterolobium contortisiliquum. The use for centuries of the same species in different areas shows the importance of the type of raw material selected and reflects a shared knowledge of the properties of the dry wood: light and porous that contributes to buoyancy, easy to work, and with mechanical resistance. This, in addition to the size of the tree, up to 30 m high and 2.5 m in diameter, has favored its preference for the manufacture of hulls. These watercrafts constitute a unique cultural heritage on the pre-Hispanic naval engineering of the skilled navigators of the La Plata Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Onosma belongs to the Boraginaceae family and contains over 230 species. The present review sheds light on the ethnopharmacology, phytoconstituents, bioactivity, and toxicology of the Onosma species from previous investigations. Furthermore, the paper also highlights the unresolved issues for the future investigations. The review included previous studies of the genus Onosma available from Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar, Science Direct, SciFinder, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science. Until now, more than 200 chemical compounds have been detected from the genus Onosma, including naphthoquinone (33), flavonoids (30), hydrocarbon (23), phenolic (22), ester (17), alkaloids (20), aromatics (12), carboxylic acid (11), fatty acids (9), terpenoids (10), while the most important ones are rosmarinic, ferulic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric acids, and apigenin. The Onosma species are reported as traditional medicine for wound healing, heart disease, and kidney disorders, while the pharmacological investigations revealed that the extracts and the phytochemicals of Onosma species have different therapeutic properties including antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial actions. The summarized knowledge in this review provides valuable ideas for the current and future drug discovery and a motivation for further investigation on the genus Onosma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dispersal of Bananas (Musaspp.) to the Americas in the Sixteenth Century. So far, studies on the spread of banana cultivation in the Americas during the first century of American colonization have given rise to several hypotheses that are not very well supported. In this paper we use different methodologies—ethnobotany, history, and linguistics—to explain how this process occurred and to resolve the doubts that have arisen about the presence of bananas in the Americas before the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese. To do so, we used philological databases comprising 7,850 documents, produced between 1492 and 1600. This work shows how the speed of the spread of banana cultivation and the presence of foreign varieties in the Americas can be perfectly explained in the light of the historical and ethnobotanical analysis of the accounts written by the inhabitants of the continents in the 16th century. Expansión del plátano (Musa spp.) en América durante el siglo XVI. Hasta el momento, los estudios realizados sobre la dispersión del cultivo del plátano en las Américas durante el primer siglo de colonización americana han dado lugar a varias hipótesis poco contrastadas. En el presente trabajo utilizamos diferentes metodologías, etnobotánica, histórica y lingüística, para explicar cómo sucedió este proceso y resolver las dudas aparecidas sobre la presencia de plátanos en las Américas antes de la llegada de españoles y portugueses. Para ello empleamos bases de datos filológicas integradas por 7.850 documentos, realizados entre 1492 y 1600. Este trabajo muestra cómo la velocidad de propagación del cultivo del plátano y la presencia de variedades extrañas en el ámbito americano pueden explicarse perfectamente a la luz del análisis histórico y etnobotánico de los relatos escritos por los habitantes del continente en el siglo XVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the growth in overall publication output in ethnobotany as well as provide a systematic examination of the history of ethnobotanical publications using reference publication year spectroscopy (RPYS). The study is based on 5201 papers published between 1974 and 2019 covering 290 006 non‐distinct cited references (CRs), indexed in science citation index‐expanded (SCI‐Expanded) of web of science (WoS). The regression analysis indicated a compound annual growth rate of approximately 11% globally in ethnobotanical publications and the volume of publications doubles every approximately six years. The reference publication period was divided into four sub‐periods in which a total of 31 peaks are clearly identifiable, including five peaks from the first period (earliest to 1800), ten from the second (1801–1900), nine from the third (1901–1950) and seven from the last period (1951–2000). A total 44 publications were found to have been especially influential and landmark. Out of them, 31 (70%) were books and 11 (25%) were articles. Out of the 11 articles, 5 (45%) were published in the same journal (Economic Botany). The first period had the lowest number of publications (5), including classic books like the Spanish translation of Dioscorides' Materia Medica and Carolus Linnaeus' Systema naturæ. Interestingly, about 30% of the studies that laid the foundation of ethnobotany and are discussed in this paper come from South Africa, pointing to the contribution of the African Continent to the foundation of the field of ethnobotany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are in a time of Indigenous cultural-political resurgence in Canada (Coulthard, 2014; Manuel, 2017; Simpson, 2017; Talaga, 2018). Increasingly, Indigenous Peoples are finding renewed strength, pride, and grounding through cultural practice and the reestablishment of connection to the land. Included in this resurgence are the relationships between people and plants. When we practise our ancestral relationships with our plant relatives, we heal and strengthen ourselves. The depth of connection to place, to ancestors, and to our own mindful presence is amplified when we partake in millennia-old practices of plant cultivation, stewardship, and the integration of plant foods and medicines into our bodies. This time of resurgence emerges from generations of Indigenous Peoples suffering devastating violence, losses, and trauma as a result of colonization. In this paper I address the role that rebuilding Indigenous plant relationships plays in addressing colonial impacts on Indigenous health and in supporting Indigenous cultural and political resurgence. I also put forth Indigenized models for understanding colonial impacts on health and discuss culturally rooted conceptualizations of health that address these impacts from an Indigenous point of view. Finally, I propose a set of guidelines to consider for conducting respectful ethnobotanical research within Indigenous communities. This paper is borne out of a desire for deeper critical engagement with the intersections between colonial history, intergenerational trauma, and Indigenous plant knowledge. Furthermore, this paper acknowledges the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples in the face of historical injustice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an historical review of ethnobotanical notes about wild and cultivated edible plants collected through texts from the end of the 18th century (1796) to the first decades of the 20th century (1930) in the area of Albania under European Turkey, which included parts of today North Macedonia and Kosovo. Albania is an Eastern European country, which has been little studied from historical ethnobotany point of view. For this reason, this paper is focused on foreign authors' works containing data on the use of plants for economic, medicinal, food purposes, and discussing mythological, religious and magical explanations for them. The study is not intended to be an exhaustive review of all materials on this subject, but includes the texts known to us that contain ethnobotanical knowledge. Further scientific research can be carried out in other studies on historical ethnobotany not only by foreign authors but also by Albanians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local and indigenous knowledge is being transformed globally, particularly being eroded when pertaining to ecology. In many parts of the world, rural and indigenous communities are facing tremendous cultural, economic and environmental changes, which contribute to weaken their local knowledge base. In the face of profound and ongoing environmental changes, both cultural and biological diversity are likely to be severely impacted as well as local resilience capacities from this loss. In this global literature review, we analyse the drivers of various types of local and indigenous ecological knowledge transformation and assess the directionality of the reported change. Results of this analysis show a global impoverishment of local and indigenous knowledge with 77% of papers reporting the loss of knowledge driven by globalization, modernization, and market integration. The recording of this loss, however, is not symmetrical, with losses being recorded more strongly in medicinal and ethnobotanical knowledge. Persistence of knowledge (15% of the studies) occurred in studies where traditional practices were being maintained consiously and where hybrid knowledge was being produced as a resut of certain types of incentives created by economic development. This review provides some insights into local and indigenous ecological knowledge change, its causes and implications, and recommends venues for the development of replicable and comparative research. The larger implication of these results is that because of the interconnection between cultural and biological diversity, the loss of local and indigenous knowledge is likely to critically threaten effective conservation of biodiversity, particularly in community-based conservation local efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnobotany was worked to incorporate plant concentrates as well as investigations of green growth, lichens, and parasites. It is firmly connected with the science of scientific classification, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, environment, and preservation. So as to feature the therapeutic utilization of plants and there pharmacological angles, this article audits various ethnobotany messages and papers, and furthermore clarifies the extent of ethnobotany. It incorporates a concise survey of ethnobotany in India, onpast, present and future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides significant ethnobotanical informations about medicinal plants which frequently used in the prefecture of Ben M'hidi, El-Tarf (Algeria). They were obtained by using a questionnaire, the series of ethnobotanical surveys carried out in the region. This ethnobotanical study was conducted from January to March 2022. The ethnobotanical surveys carried out in the field allowed 200 people to be interviewed. Using a questionnaire, the series of ethnobotanical surveys carried out in the region, enabled us to make an inventory of 23 species belonging to 17 different floristic families. The surveys carried out made it possible to make an inventory of the medicinal species and to collect a maximum of information concerning the traditional local therapeutic uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tagua (Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce) is a dioecious palm endemic to the forests and pastures of western Ecuador. Ethnobotanical studies from the early 20th century have described the market–based ecosystem services derived from its seed, known as vegetable ivory, but little is known about its non–market ecosystem services. In this paper, we investigate the local knowledge associated with all ecosystem services provided by the palm through focus group discussions within three communities in the Manabí Province of western Ecuador. We used a computer–assisted qualitative analysis to transcribe, analyze, and classify the transcripts using reports of use types. Participants identified a total of 28 ecosystem services: 13 provisioning, 7 regulating, 6 cultural, and 2 supporting services. The use type with the most frequent reports by respondents were plant–animal interactions (36), thatch roofs (19), and cultural identity (17). Generally, the results reveal that local people value tagua for its role as a key species supporting local fauna, the uses of their leaves in the traditional architecture, and as a natural resource that allows them to identify with their traditions. We discuss concerns reported by participants regarding the tagua trade, harvest hazards, and the loss of traditions associated with tagua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices in northern Sudan have been changing rapidly but remain little documented. In this paper we aim to investigate changes to crops grown in living memory and their uses through interviews with Nubian farmers on the island of Ernetta. By exploring cultivation and crop processing practices, together with associated material culture and foodstuffs, we also seek to explore how agricultural and food heritage are connected, and to better understand reasons for crop changes. Several cereals and pulses that were previously important subsistence crops are now grown as comparatively minor crops. The replacement of the sagia (waterwheel) by diesel pump irrigation, the introduction of commercial crops, and the reduction of the annual flood have led to fundamentally new cropping patterns within household farms. At the same time, each species has its own narrative and timing of change. Shifts in crops grown are paralleled by transitions in foodways, associated material culture, and land use. The project is timely, as much of the information about past crop uses resides in the memories of elderly farmers. The findings highlight the broader global need to document endangered memories of cropping patterns, traditional ecological and food knowledge, including local terms for foods and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Andrographis paniculata, commonly known as "Kalmegh", is an annual herbaceous plant from the family Acanthaceae. The whole plant of A. paniculata has been explored for multiple pharmacological activities and is scientifically recognized by in-vivo and in-vitro studies. Various biotechnologically engineered techniques have been explored to enhance the bioavailability of this plant., Objective: In this review, we aim to present comprehensive recent advances in ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, specific pharmacology, safety and toxicology, and bioavailability of A. paniculata and its pure compounds. Possible directions for future research are also outlined in brief, which will encourage advance investigations on this plant., Methods: Information on the recent updates of the present review is collected from different electronic scientific databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. All the composed information is classified into different sections according to the objective of the paper., Results: More than a hundred research and review papers have been studied and incorporated in the present manuscript. After a vast literature search on A. paniculata, we present a noteworthy report of various phytoconstituents present in the plant, which are accountable for the potential therapeutic properties of the plant. Forty-five of the studied articles gave general information about the introduction, ethnobotany, and traditional uses of the plant. Twenty-two papers enclosed information about the phytoconstituents present in different parts of A. paniculata and seventy-two papers briefly outlined the pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anti-dengue, anti-ulcerogenic, antifungal, some miscellaneous activities like activity against SARS-CoV-2, antidiarrhoeal. Nineteen studies highlighted the research work conducted by various researchers to increased the bioavailability of A. Paniculata and two studies reported the safety and toxicology of the plant., Conclusion: This review incorporated the scientifically validated research work encompassing the ethnobotanical description of the subjected plant, phytochemical profile, various pharmacological activities, and recent approaches to enhance the bioavailability of active metabolites., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: The Republic of Georgia is part of the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot, and human agricultural plant use dates back at least 6000 years. Over the last years, lots of ethnobotanical research on the area has been published. In this paper, we analyze the use of food plants in the 80% of Georgia not occupied by Russian forces. We hypothesized that (1) given the long tradition of plant use, and the isolation under Soviet rule, plant use both based on home gardens and wild harvesting would be more pronounced in Georgia than in the wider region, (2) food plant use knowledge would be widely and equally spread in most of Georgia, (3) there would still be incidence of knowledge loss despite wide plant use, especially in climatically favored agricultural regions in Western and Eastern Georgia., Methods: From 2013 to 2019, we interviewed over 380 participants in all regions of Georgia not occupied by Russian forces and recorded over 19,800 mentions of food plants. All interviews were carried out in the participants' homes and gardens by native speakers of Georgian and its dialects (Imeretian, Rachian, Lechkhumian, Tush, Khevsurian, Psavian, Kakhetian), other Kartvelian languages (Megrelian, Svan) and minority languages (Ossetian, Ude, Azeri, Armenian, Greek)., Results: The regional division was based primarily on historic provinces of Georgia, which often coincides with the current administrative borders. The total number of taxa, mostly identified to species, including their varieties, was 527. Taxonomically, the difference between two food plant groups-garden versus wild-was strongly pronounced even at family level. The richness of plant families was 65 versus 97 families in garden versus wild plants, respectively, and the difference was highly significant. Other diversity indices also unequivocally pointed to considerably more diverse family composition of wild collected versus garden plants as the differences between all the tested diversity indices appeared to be highly significant. The wide use of leaves for herb pies and lactofermented is of particular interest. Some of the ingredients are toxic in larger quantities, and the participants pointed out that careful preparation was needed. The authors explicitly decided to not give any recipes, given that many of the species are widespread, and compound composition-and with it possible toxic effects-might vary across the distribution range, so that a preparation method that sufficiently reduces toxicity in the Caucasus might not necessary be applicable in other areas., Conclusions: Relationships among the regions in the case of wild food plants show a different and clearer pattern. Adjacent regions cluster together (Kvemo Zemo Racha, and Zemo Imereti; Samegrelo, Guria, Adjara, Lechkhumi and Kvemo and Zemo Svaneti; Meskheti, Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli; Mtianeti, Kakheti, Khevsureti, Tusheti. Like in the case of the garden food plants, species diversity of wild food plants mentioned varied strongly. Climate severity and traditions of the use of wild food plants might play role in this variation. Overall food plant knowledge is widely spread all-across Georgia, and broadly maintained., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Objective: The skin acts as a barrier between the human body and the external environment, protecting the body from chemical and physical factors. Despite significant advances in wound treatment, wound healing remains a major challenge. This study reviews medicinal plants documented in ethnobotanical knowledge from western Iran that are used for skin wound healing. Methods: The review study employed keywords related to medicinal plants, wound healing, skin wounds, and the regions of Western Azerbaijan, Eastern Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, Khuzestan, and ethnobotany to search for relevant articles. Databases reviewed included Google Scholar, SID, Magalran, PubMed, and Scopus. Ethnobotanical articles pertinent to the review were utilized. Results: The findings indicate that medicinal plants such as Sisymbrium sophia L., Fumaria officinalis L., Plantago major L., Alcea sp., Urtica sp., Astragalus gossypinus Fischer., Mperata cylindrica (L.), Polygonum aviculare L., Sanguisorba minor Scop., Alcea angulata, Aristolochia olivieri, Calendula persica, Citrullus colocynthis, Fumaria parviflora, Nerium oleander, Scrophularia striata, Allium schoenoprasum, Ixiolirion tataricum, Thymus kotchyanous, Adonis aestivalis, Cardaria draba, Althaea officinalis, Beta vulgaris, Carthamus tinctorius E., Chrysanthemum coronarium, Helianthus annuus L., Matricaria recutita L., and Vicia sativa are among the medicinal plants effective in wound healing in these regions. Conclusion: Medicinal plants, rich in antioxidant compounds and secondary metabolites like tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids, offer a promising and often benign alternative to synthetic drugs for wound management. Given their historical use in wound healing, these botanicals warrant further investigation to elucidate their underlying mechanisms of action and to develop novel therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation identified 120 species distributed in 54 families. 70 plants of ethnomedicinal importance were identified, which have not yet been reported so far from the Kanyakumari wildlife forest of Southern-Western Ghats. 52 participants were approached three times to verify the information provided by twenty informants. This approach was undertaken to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data collected. The data quality was ensured by selecting well-trained 20 practitioners for pointing out missing information if any and the data is carefully analyzed. In total, 120 Medicinal plant species of which Dicot plants constitute 116 species (96.7%) and monocot plant constitutes 4 species (3.3%). Fabaceae with 12 (10.00%) was the most commonly reported family of medicinal plant species. The habit-wise study revealed that 40 species (33.33%) were trees, followed by the most widely used life types herb (36 species) (30%). The most popular preparation method for treating the ailment was paste (40 preparations) for internal consumption as well as external application. The documents valuable therapeutic knowledge, which opens up possibilities for future exploration in plantbased compounds and pharmaceutical inquiry. These investigations have the potential to contribute to the development of plant-based nanomedicine, drug discovery, and production. Finally, the paper deals with the combination of socio-economic and legal facets of the interaction between tribals and forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern Italy is an area particularly suitable for the cultivation of different crops. It used to be characterized by a high agrobiodiversity. However, it is estimated that over the last decades, this area experienced a genetic erosion of more than 90%, resulting in the loss of many traditional plant genetic resources (PGR). Nevertheless, recent surveys found an unexpectedly high agrobiodiversity which remains. The presented study aims to provide a complete overview of plant agrobiodiversity (in terms of crop landraces, old cultivars and neglected crops) in northern Italy using a mixed approach of literature research and ethnobotanical field surveys. In addition, this paper aims to investigate on farm and ex situ conservation activities performed in the study area. 810 entities were found, of which 26 were identified as neglected crops, 377 as landraces (plus 124 doubtful landraces) and 99 as old cultivars (plus 184 doubtful old cultivars). 248 entities were here recorded for the first time through field surveys. It clearly emerges that by using an ethnobotanical approach, several PGR can still be found in the study area especially in small farms and home gardens. We describe hotspots of crop diversity and areas in which there is still a lack of knowledge of local agrobiodiversity. Only 43% of the PGR recorded are conserved long-term in seed banks, underlying the fact that great efforts are needed to ensure the ex situ conservation of PGR in northern Italy. Careful interventions are needed to enhance the on-farm conservation status of the crop diversity reported here by enhancing its demand and its accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer treatment is a major global health challenge in both developed and underdeveloped countries. Hence, finding natural anticancer agents with minimal side effects has become of high priority concern. In response, several plants as a safe therapeutic modality have been used a thousand years ago and remained becoming increasingly popular. This paper aims to provide ethnobotanical surveys of the plants reported anticancer activity used by the local people in M'sila's (Northeast of Algeria- North Africa). The databases revealed that among the 40 plant species reported to be used in the management of cancer 08 of them were the most frequently encountered species, namely Ephedra alata subsp. alenda., Annona muricata L., Berberis vulgaris L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso., Nigella sativa L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Ziziphus lotus, Peganum harmala L. The leaves are the most used parts (45.5 %), by infusion or as powder respectively with 43.3 % and 37.5 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The benefits of traditional medicine have long been recognized by the World Health Organization. However, as formal education, urbanization, and deforestation increases; the use of traditional medicine has decreased. Within this phenomenon, this paper discusses the continued importance of preventive health practices among the Purko Maasai. Using nurturing as an explanatory framework, qualitative data is analyzed to understand the cultural importance of specific traditional medicine with the goal of building the body with 'engolon' (strength). Results address the importance of nurturing children by administering traditional medicine in order to build the body's immune system. Our data show an interesting gender divide in which both genders play a critical nurturing role, however at different timeframes in the child's life. Findings demonstrate concern with changing frequency of herbal medicine given to children, however there is resiliency within some nurturing components of using preventative traditional medicine to build up children's immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the medical material and practices of tribes in the western border areas of Pakistan. The local population has inhabited this remote and isolated area for centuries, and gained medicinal knowledge with personal experiences and knowledge learned from forefathers. Due to the geographical isolation of the communities in the Sulaiman hills of Pakistan and their unique culture, the area is of importance for exploration and assessment., Methods: A total of 116 informants were interviewed in five foothill villages and the associated migratory mountain villages during 2010-2012 and 2015. Information was gathered mainly through semi-structured interviews and freelisting. Local diseases were categorized based on symptoms and affected organs. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis., Results: Depending on the type of illness, typically a pulse diagnoser or a religious specialist is consulted. Medicinal plant knowledge and use is mostly known and advised by elders within the family. A total of 44 plant species from 32 families (588 use reports), 7 animal species and 6 minerals and other sources (384 use reports) were documented as materia medica. Among the plants, the Lamiaceae is the most dominantly used plant family, followed by Pinaceae. The most frequently reported single species was Teucrium stocksianum. The most often mentioned diseases and treatments fall into the categories of gastrointestinal, ritual, and musculoskeletal diseases. The use of goat and sheep skin as medicine was pivotal in the local medicinal system. Remedies from animal parts and other biological and non-biological sources were mainly used for musculoskeletal ailments and ritual treatments. Overall, people rely on both traditional and biomedical medication and treatments and combination of these systems., Conclusion: This paper provides insight into the pluralistic medication system of rural communities of northwest Pakistan. It highlights the materia medica most commonly in use. A considerable part of the documented materia medica and local practices is part of an oral tradition and cannot be found in written sources or scientific articles. The gaining of new medicinal knowledge in the area was the good sign of continuation of traditional medicinal practices., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Revitalization of local health traditions (RLHT) has become an inevitable aspect of human wellbeing in the post COVID era. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information on local health traditions and cultural reflections associate with the age old use of wild edible fruits (WEFs) from common plants in Melur Region of Madurai district, TamilNadu, India as the habit of consuming WEFs is quite common among people in this region and has not been completely abandoned in particular among the age old people. Information presented in this paper has been gathered from local people using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and interviews with questionnaires during the period from Apr 2021 to Mar 2022. As much as 29 informants were interviewed, among the informants 6 were local health-care practitioners (Vidiyars). Studies on the use of WEFs from common plants in Melur resulted in collection and documentation of information on a total of 34 ethnomedicinal plant species distributed across 20 families. Medicinal plants used by local people are listed with scientific name, family, local name, plant part(s) used, mode of consumption and preparation and medicinal uses. Data collected during the study clearly indicates that fresh parts of the plant (Fruit (Ripe/ Unripe)) were more preferred in general for the preparation of medicinal formulations by the local health practitioners. Documented ethnomedicinal plants were mostly used to cure long term complications associated with diabetics, gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, poison bites and nervous disorders. Howsoever, results of this study is clear record to the claim that the local people still depend on medicinal plants to overcome situations like COVID pandemic as fruits from most of the plants documented serve as natural source of immune boosters. Further, in-depth studies (both In-silico and Pre Clinical trials) are expected to bring to limelight the hidden quantum of bioactive compounds in the fruits these medicinal plants and their therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the new interdisciplinary research done on Leonhard Rauwolf's herbarium with plants from the Middle East, which was later owned by Emperor Rudolf II. Using various sources, it examines how the herbarium came into the imperial collections, Early Modern methods of botanical research as described by Rauwolf in his printed travelogue, and how the illustrations for the printed book were produced from the specimens in the herbarium. The appendix (available in the online version) presents the new corrected botanical identification of the c. 200 plants in the fourth volume of Rauwolf's herbarium, and a correct transcription of the Early Modern Latin and vernacular names Rauwolf collected for these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocultural heritage preservation relies on ethnobotanical knowledge and the paleoethnobotanical data used in (re)constructing histories of human–biota interactions. Biocultural heritage, defined as the knowledge and practices of Indigenous and local peoples and their biological relatives, is often guarded information, meant for specific audiences and withheld from other social circles. As such, these forms of heritage and knowledge must also be included in the ongoing data sovereignty discussions and movement. In this paper we share the process and design decisions behind creating an online database for ethnobotanical knowledge and associated paleoethnobotanical data, using a content management system designed to foreground Indigenous and local perspectives. Our main purpose is to suggest that the Mukurtu content management system, originally designed for physical items of cultural importance, be considered as a potential tool for digitizing and ethically circulating biocultural heritage, including paleoethnobotanical resources. With this database, we aim to create access to biocultural heritage and paleoethnobotanical considerations for a variety of audiences while also respecting the protected and sensitive natures of Indigenous and local knowledges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the uses of forest plant species is important for the conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystem provisioning services. Based on an extensive literature survey, this paper reviews the uses of 540 rainforest species from the Pastaza region (Ecuador) and builds further the existing knowledge by field research that identified 39 new uses of local rainforest plants. Following a systematic categorization of the known and newly identified uses, it was found that the local plants are predominantly used as materials, medicines and foods (>80% of the sample), while the tree species dominate in various categories of local uses. The information given in this paper may help in building a local strategy for the sustainable use of plants and the conservation of endangered species, as well as in valuing the forest ecosystem provisioning services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harmful outcomes of nicotine self administration have been the focus of sustained global health education campaigns that have targeted tobacco smoking and to a lesser extent, smokeless tobacco use. 'Smokeless tobacco' infers that the nicotine is not burnt, and administration can be through a range of methods including chewing. The chewing of wild tobacco plants (Nicotiana spp.) is practiced across a broad inland area of Central Australia by traditional Aboriginal groups. Collectively these plants are known by a variety of names - one common name being 'pituri'. This is the first paper to examine the historical literature and consider the linkage between pituri use and health outcomes. Using a narrative approach, this paper reviews the literature generated since 1770 surrounding the term pituri and the behaviours associated with its use. The review examines the scientific literature, as well as the diaries and journals of nineteenth century explorers, expedition notes, and early Australian novels to expound the scientific evidence and broaden the sense of understanding related to pituri, particularly the behavioural elements. The evaluation considers the complexities of ethnobotany pertaining to language and distance and the ethnopharmacology of indigenous plant usage. The review compares the use of burnt and smokeless tobacco to pituri and establishes the foundation for research into the clinical significance and health outcomes of pituri use. Additionally, this review provides contemporary information for clinicians providing care for patients who chew pituri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chagra is the agroforestry system adapted to the characteristics of the Amazon region. Recently, there has been a reported loss of biodiversity and traditional knowledge associated with the chagras. This paper characterizes the cultivators, exploring knowledge and expressed value perception in the context of the Amazonian chagra of an indigenous community; also, this prioritizes species, under the optics of commercial opportunity., Methods: A semi-structured instrument was applied to 14 volunteers, asking about marketing preferences and use values of the species; later, a floristic inventory and prioritization workshop was developed., Results: Sixty-two percent of the participants were 50 years or older at the time of the interview. Open conversations showed that traditional knowledge is a matter of practice; and is maintained mainly by the older "grandfathers". Thirty-eight species, belonging to 28 different families, were reported, showing considerable diversity. Seventy-nine percent of the participants consider the Leticia market and sales to tourists as the main marketing scenarios., Conclusions: The Ziora-Amena community centralizes the handling of chagras in the community's older adults, who transmit their traditional knowledge to new generations through oral tradition. Indicators of preference, use, and abundance highlight the food species. The perception of the trade stakeholder encourages research and development of endemic species, with health properties or ingredients for industry, which represent an opportunity of high added value for the region.

Background: Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China living mainly in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County (Xunhua or Xunhua County), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people are skilled in horticulture and their homegarden (HG) management. They are regarded as the first people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, traditional farming systems, and supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their HGs always contributes significantly to the local livelihood, food security, ornamental value, and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China's rural areas, especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar HGs mostly based on agrobiodiversity and its ecosystem services., Methods: The methods used in this work included semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. A total of 60 households in three townships, 9 villages were surveyed. There are 4-12 family members in each household, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m 2 . Plant species cultivated in Salar HGs were identified according to Flora of China. Based on a comprehensive survey of Salar HGs and related to background data, we identified and characterized the most important services and functions provided by Salar HGs., Results: According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of Salar HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total, 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were recorded in Salar HGs, within 43 plant families. The most important and frequently used plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgar, Prunus salicina, and Ziziphus jujuba. About 4 to 32 plant species were recorded in each homegarden. We found that the Salar HGs, as a typical agroecosyste, prossess multiple servcices and functions that directly benefit households according to the field investigation., Conclusion: This paper reveals the floristic diversity of Salar HGs. It presents useful information in the homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people, such as HG types and species diversity in Salar HGs. Ecosystem functions and services research suggested that the Salar HG agroecosystem provides agroecosystem services mainly related to supply and culture services. Salar HGs are important as food supplement resources, aesthetics symbol, and cultural spaces.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The full bibliometric records of data retrieved from ethnobotanical field studies carried out in Morocco (1991-2015) was quali-quantitatively analysed. Despite the importance of traditional medicinal uses in Morocco, any comments about the methodologies and approaches adopted by reviewed studies have been undertaken. Include more data about the importance of traditional medicinal uses in Morocco., Aim of the Study: Three key points were targeted in this review: (i) to contribute to original compilation of medicinal plants traditionally used by people at whole Morocco, by gathering and documenting the current status of these ancestral medical practices, (ii) to provide a novel insight into the relationship between local and biomedical disease concepts in Moroccan society, taking into account health-related beliefs, and their influences on medicinal plant uses, (iii) to figurout the weaknesses and the strengths of the conceptual approches and methods adopted by researchers in ethnobotanical field works., Materials and Methods: With the help of a computerized database querying, we conducted an extensive literature search respecting our integration criteria. We performed this bibliographic research by using the following search engines available over the Web: Google Scholar, PUBMED, Sciencedirect, Current Content Connect, SCOPUS, SPRINGER LINK, GLOBAL PLANTS, Cochrane Library and SCIRUS. The scientific names listed in the present paper have been validated according to the "The Plant List" and the African Plants Database in order to standardize ethnobotanical data on an international level. For the analysis of data gathered, quali-quantitative analyses have been performed., Results: A total of 905 medicinal plant species belonging to 116 families and 726 genera have been selected from 63 published articles. The dominant families were ASTERACEAE (111 species) followed by the FABACEAE (77 species), LAMIACEAE (75 species) and APIACEAE (46 species). The plant species listed are used to cure several public ailments. The digestive ailments represented the most important category (494 species) followed by dermatological diseases (407 species), diabetes (315 species) and urinary diseases (277 species). We assigned the importance of the plant species by several measures (including Frequency Cited (FC), Number of Uses (NU), Number of Respondents (NR) and Index of Performance (IP). The ICF (Informant Consensus Factor) calculated was important in all categories of diseases averaging 47%., Conclusion: The results obtained, which cover the whole country, delineate the profile of rich wealth of indigenous knowledge on traditional uses of medicinal plants heald by Moroccan society. The total number of 905 plant species listed in this paper, are currently being utilized as medicines and the number is expected to grow as infrastructure allows greater access to unexplored parts of the country. Furthermore, the know how, regarding the plants used, is consistent because the ICF has recorded important values for most diseases treated. Furthermore, in the present paper, we suggested, for authors, some useful recommendations for ethnobotanical field works such as the respect of ethnobotanical standards including checklist of plants with international data base, the deposited voucher specimens, sampling and collection methods., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Religious ceremonies and practices have long influenced human perceptions and uses of nature. Plants in particular play a prominent role in rituals and socio-religious practices and provide the cultural and historical depth of these relationships. Understanding human-floral relations is often fundamental to the cause of meaningful wildlife conservation. This research aims to investigate the cultivated and wild plant species used for rituals and religious purposes among the Moroccans, and to further understand the symbolism of these rituals. Intensive fieldwork was carried out between January 2016 and January 2020 in different parts of Morocco by an investigation approach, applying different tools such as semi-structured interviews, individual interviews, field observations, participation in the ritual activities, and published papers. The scientific name of plant species was identified using standard and relevant literature. The results revealed the Moroccan people possessed a sound knowledge of the ritual plants and the great diversity of plants used in many Morocco rituals and religious ceremonies. From the results, we identified a total of 112 plant species used for rituals and socio-religious ceremonies. These rituals and religious purposes plant species were classified into 21 categories. The most frequently mentioned families were Apiaceae (10 species), followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae. This study demonstrates that many plant species play an important role in rituals and socio-religious ceremonies in Morocco. However, further research is recommended for an in-depth understanding of the role of the links between traditional uses of plant resources and the conservation of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]