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ABSTRACTSome ichthyotoxic plants are study object aiming to discover promising substances in the field of Biotechnology, in search of plant extracts which can be used or even transformed into natural insecticides. This paper presents a bibliographical survey in order to check the traditional use of ichthyotoxic plants as bioinsecticide. Among the plants identified as ichthyotoxic, the most cited in traditional use are those from the genera Derris, Serjania, Lonchocarpus, Magonia, and Tephrosia. The survey suggests that ichthyotoxic plant extracts can contain classes of chemical compounds such as isoflavonoids and tannins with a bioinsecticidal effect and, thus, they can be used in Biotechnology, contributing to reduce the use of synthetic insecticides that present a high toxicity level.

Abstract Cereus jamacaru DC. occurs in the central-eastern region of Brazil and is among the best-known cacti in the country. Its phytochemical properties and fruits hold great significance to the local communities. We examined published ethnobotanical studies regarding C. jamacaru (mandacaru) undertaken between 2000 to 2024, to better understand its traditional uses and relationships with human communities in Brazil. The literature review was carried out by consulting the databases Google Scholar (166 articles), Scopus (1 article) and Web of Science (2 articles), and followed the PRISMA 2020 protocol. A total of 169 articles were identified, of which 45 were deemed relevant. The most frequent uses of C. jamacaru include medicinal (cited in 32 articles), human consumption as a non-conventional food (22), and forage (18). C. jamacaru is often cited to treat health conditions such as kidney problems, flu and inflammations, but it’s also used for construction and crafts. Our results highlight the diverse and vital uses of C. jamacaru for human communities. Furthermore, we demonstrate the pattern of knowledge production regarding the ethnobotany of this species and the challenges for its conservation and the preservation of associated traditional knowledge.

The Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome, stands as a reservoir of remarkable biodiversity. Its significance transcends ecological dimensions, given the direct reliance of the local population on its resources for sustenance and healthcare. While Myrtaceae, a pivotal botanical family within the Brazilian flora, has been extensively explored for its medicinal and nutritional attributes, scant attention has been directed towards its contextual relevance within the Caatinga's local communities. Consequently, this inaugural systematic review addresses the ethnobotanical roles of Myrtaceae within the Caatinga, meticulously anchored in the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched Scopus, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scielo, and LILIACS. No date‐range filter was applied. An initial pool of 203 articles was carefully scrutinized, ultimately yielding 31 pertinent ethnobotanical studies elucidating the utility of Myrtaceae amongst the Caatinga's indigenous populations. Collectively, they revealed seven distinct utilization categories spanning ~54 species and 11 genera. Psidium and Eugenia were the genera with the most applications. The most cited categories of use were food (27 species) and medicinal (22 species). The importance of accurate species identification was highlighted, as many studies did not provide enough information for reliable identification. Additionally, the potential contribution of Myrtaceae fruits to food security and human health was explored. The diversity of uses demonstrates how this family is a valuable resource for local communities, providing sources of food, medicine, energy, and construction materials. This systematic review also highlights the need for more ethnobotanical studies to understand fully the relevance of Myrtaceae species in the Caatinga, promoting biodiversity conservation, as well as support for local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]