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International audience; Ethnopharmacological relevance: In French Guiana, traditional phytotherapies are an important part of self-healthcare, however, a precise understanding of the interactions between local phytotherapies and biomedicine is lacking. Malaria is still endemic in the transition area between French Guiana and Brazil, and practices of self-treatment, although difficult to detect, have possible consequences on the outcome of public health policies.Aim of the study: The objectives of this research were 1) to document occurences of co-medication (interactions between biomedicine and local phytotherapies) against malaria around Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock (SGO), 2) to quantify and to qualify plant uses against malaria, 3) and to discuss potential effects of such co-medications, in order to improve synergy between community efforts and public health programs in SGO particularly, and in Amazonia more broadly.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 in SGO. Inhabitants of any age and nationality were interviewed using a questionnaire (122 questions) about their knowledge and habits regarding malaria, and their use of plants to prevent and treat it. They were invited to show their potential responses on a poster illustrating the most common antimalarial plants used in the area. In order to correlate plant uses and malaria epidemiology, all participants subsequently received a medical examination, and malaria detection was performed by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).Results: A total of 1566 inhabitants were included in the study. Forty-six percent of them declared that they had been infected by malaria at least once, and this rate increased with age. Every person who reported that they had had malaria also indicated that they had taken antimalarial drugs (at least for the last episode), and self-medication against malaria with pharmaceuticals was reported in 142 cases. A total of 550 plant users was recorded (35.1% of the interviewed population). Among them 95.5% associated pharmaceuticals to plants. All plants reported to treat malaria were shared by every cultural group around SGO, but three plants were primarily used by the Palikur: Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus aurantifolia and Siparuna guianensis. Two plants stand out among those used by Creoles: Eryngium foetidum and Quassia amara, although the latter is used by all groups and is by far the most cited plant by every cultural group. Cultivated species accounts for 91.3% of the use reports, while wild taxa account for only 18.4%.Conclusions: This study showed that residents of SGO in French Guiana are relying on both traditional phytotherapies and pharmaceutical drugs to treat malaria. This medical pluralism is to be understood as a form of pragmatism: people are collecting or cultivating plants for medicinal purposes, which is probably more congruent with their respective cultures and highlights the wish for a certain independence of the care process. A better consideration of these practices is thus necessary to improve public health response to malaria.

As farmacopeias são, como toda produção cultural, objetos eminentemente vivos e dinâmicos que se transformam e se reinventam constantemente, ao longo dos contatos e intercâmbios incessantes que acontecem entre os diferentes grupos humanos. As plantas medicinais também são “objetos bioculturais” (Pordié, 2002) pela riqueza e complexidade das relações que as sociedades mantêm entre si, que estão igualmente sempre em evolução. Na Guiana Francesa e, especialmente, nos espaços transfonteiriços, as interações culturais são constantes. As plantas e seus usos circulam entre as comunidades, participando assim da renovação e hibridação contínuas das fitoterapias. Esses fluxos materiais e imateriais compõem a realidade cultural dos espaços transfronteiriços do Planalto das Guianas. O presente artigo foca a fronteira franco-brasileira, materializada pelo Rio Oiapoque. Baseados em entrevistas feitas na cidade de Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock, propomos uma descrição exploratória dos fluxos etnobotânicos em contexto transfronteiriço, interessando-nos pelas plantas medicinais intercambiadas, pela difusão dos saberes a elas associados e, logo, pelos modos de circulação das plantas e conhecimentos. Este estudo integra uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre as circulações bioculturais na região da Guiana Francesa e seus vizinhos. Les pharmacopées sont, à l’image de toute production culturelle, des objets éminemment vivants et dynamiques qui se transforment et se réinventent constamment, au fil des contacts et échanges incessants qui se jouent entre les différents groupes humains. Les plantes médicinales sont, elles aussi, des « objets bioculturels » (Pordié, 2002) par la richesse et la complexité des relations que les sociétés entretiennent avec elles, elles aussi toujours en évolution. En Guyane, et en particulier sur les espaces transfrontaliers, les interactions culturelles sont constantes. Les plantes et leurs usages circulent entre les communautés, participant au renouvellement et à l’hybridation continuelle des phytothérapies. Ces flux matériels et immatériels composent la réalité culturelle des espaces transfrontaliers du plateau des Guyanes. Cet article se focalise sur la frontière franco-brésilienne matérialisée par le fleuve Oyapock. À la lumière d’entretiens menés dans la ville de Saint-Georges-de-l’Oyapock, nous proposons une description exploratoire des flux ethnobotaniques en contexte transfrontalier, en nous intéressant aux plantes médicinales échangées, à la diffusion des savoirs associés et donc aux modes de circulation des plantes et des connaissances. Cette étude compose une partie d’une recherche plus large sur les circulations bioculturelles à l’échelle de la Guyane et de ses voisins. Pharmacopoeias are, like any kind of cultural production, living and dynamic objects that constantly change and reinvent themselves, throughout continuous contacts and exchanges between different social groups. Medicinal plants are “biocultural objects” (Pordié, 2002) as well, because of the richness and the complexity of relationships that societies develop with them. In French Guiana, especially in its cross-border areas, cultural interactions are usual. Plants and knowledge about their uses circulate among communities, contributing to a permanent renewal and a continuous hybridation of herbal medicines. These material and immaterial flows form the cultural reality of cross-border areas on the Guiana Shield. This paper focuses on the border between French Guiana and Brazil, which was made tangible by the Oyapock River. Based on interviews conducted in the French border town of Saint-Georges-de-l’Oyapock, it proposes an exploratory description of ethnobotanical flows in this cross-border context. It lists the medicinal plants used in Saint-Georges, analyses the diffusion of associated knowledge between the different communities and highlights the circulations of plants and of related medicinal knowledge in this transfrontier area. This research is one part of a larger study on biocultural circulations at the scale of French Guiana and its neighbours.

Pharmacopoeias are, like any kind of cultural production, living and dynamic objects that constantly change and reinvent themselves, throughout continuous contacts and exchanges between different social groups. Medicinal plants are "biocultural objects" (Pordie, 2002) as well, because of the richness and the complexity of relationships that societies develop with them. In French Guiana, especially in its cross-border areas, cultural interactions are usual. Plants and knowledge about their uses circulate among communities, contributing to a permanent renewal and a continuous hybridation of herbal medicines. These material and immaterial flows form the cultural reality of cross-border areas on the Guiana Shield. This paper focuses on the border between French Guiana and Brazil, which was made tangible by the Oyapock River. Based on interviews conducted in the French border town of Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock, it proposes an exploratory description of ethnobotanical flows in this cross-border context. It lists the medicinal plants used in Saint-Georges, analyses the diffusion of associated knowledge between the different communities and highlights the circulations of plants and of related medicinal knowledge in this transfrontier area. This research is one part of a larger study on biocultural circulations at the scale of French Guiana and its neighbours., Les pharmacopées sont, à l’image de toute production culturelle, des objets éminemment vivants et dynamiques qui se transforment et se réinventent constamment, au fil des contacts et échanges incessants qui se jouent entre les différents groupes humains. Les plantes médicinales sont, elles aussi, des « objets bioculturels » (Pordié, 2002) par la richesse et la complexité des relations que les sociétés entretiennent avec elles, elles aussi toujours en évolution. En Guyane, et en particulier sur les espaces transfrontaliers, les interactions culturelles sont constantes. Les plantes et leurs usages circulent entre les communautés, participant au renouvellement et à l’hybridation continuelle des phytothérapies. Ces flux matériels et immatériels composent la réalité culturelle des espaces transfrontaliers du plateau des Guyanes. Cet article se focalise sur la frontière franco-brésilienne matérialisée par le fleuve Oyapock. À la lumière d’entretiens menés dans la ville de Saint-Georges-de-l’Oyapock, nous proposons une description exploratoire des flux ethnobotaniques en contexte transfrontalier, en nous intéressant aux plantes médicinales échangées, à la diffusion des savoirs associés et donc aux modes de circulation des plantes et des connaissances. Cette étude compose une partie d’une recherche plus large sur les circulations bioculturelles à l’échelle de la Guyane et de ses voisins., As farmacopeias são, como toda produção cultural, objetos eminentemente vivos e dinâmicos que se transformam e se reinventam constantemente, ao longo dos contatos e intercâmbios incessantes que acontecem entre os diferentes grupos humanos. As plantas medicinais também são “objetos bioculturais” (Pordié, 2002) pela riqueza e complexidade das relações que as sociedades mantêm entre si, que estão igualmente sempre em evolução. Na Guiana Francesa e, especialmente, nos espaços transfonteiriços, as interações culturais são constantes. As plantas e seus usos circulam entre as comunidades, participando assim da renovação e hibridação contínuas das fitoterapias. Esses fluxos materiais e imateriais compõem a realidade cultural dos espaços transfronteiriços do Planalto das Guianas. O presente artigo foca a fronteira francobrasileira, materializada pelo Rio Oiapoque. Baseados em entrevistas feitas na cidade de Saint- Georges de l’Oyapock, propomos uma descrição exploratória dos fluxos etnobotânicos em contexto transfronteiriço, interessando-nos pelas plantas medicinais intercambiadas, pela difusão dos saberes a elas associados e, logo, pelos modos de circulação das plantas e conhecimentos. Este estudo integra uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre as circulações bioculturais na região da Guiana Francesa e seus vizinhos.