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The Marcgraviaceae is a neotropical plant family of lianas and shrubs distributed throughout Central and South America, mainly in evergreen and semi-evergreen tropical forests. In this study, extracts of 12 Marcgraviaceae species were assessed for inhibition of bacterial quorum sensing (QS) in Chromobacterium violaceum, bacterial biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, and fungal growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Six species showed promising inhibitory activities in at least one of the three bioassays ( Marcgravia nervosa Triana & Planch. , Marcgravia polyantha Delp. , Marcgravia schippii Standl. , Marcgraviastrum subsessile (Benth.) Bedell , Schwartzia brasiliensis (Choisy) Bedell ex Gir-Cañas , and Schwartzia costaricensis (Gilg.) Bedell). Analyses of the crude extract of the leaves of Marcgravia nervosa using HPLC-APCI-MS showed the presence of five pentacyclic triterpenes: ursolic acid ( 2), betulinic acid ( 3), α-amyrin ( 4), β-amyrin ( 5), lupeol ( 6). Bioassay-guided fractionation of this plant resulted in the isolation and identification of 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone ( 1) as the active principle with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 85-100 μmol·L−1 against Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 (haploid) and BY4743 (diploid). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review describes an Indigenous-led project run by Q'eqchi' Maya Healers of Belize meant to strengthen and improve traditional botanical healing. The goals of this project were to conserve medicinal plant knowledge by way of ethnobotanical studies, and to conserve the plants themselves by creating a community ethnobotanical garden. A total of 169 medicinal species were collected in the ethnobotanical survey, which provided unique knowledge on many rainforest species of the wet lowland forest of southern Belize, not found in neighbouring Indigenous cultures. Consensus on plant uses by the Healers was high, indicating a well-conserved, codified oral history. After horticultural experimentation by the Healers, the Indigenous botanical garden provided a habitat for and conservation of 102 medicinal species including many epiphytes that were rescued from forested areas. Ethnopharmacological studies by the university partners showed a pharmacological basis for, and active principles of, plants used for epilepsy and anxiety, for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, for dermatological mycoses, and for type 2 diabetes complications. Overall, the project has provided a model for Indigenous empowerment and First Nation's science, as well as establishing traditional medicine as an important, unified healing practice that can safely and effectively provide primary health care in its cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: The Q’eqchi’ Maya possess a large selection of plants to treat neurological disorders, including epilepsy and susto (fright), a culture-bound illness related to anxiety disorders. Aim of the study: To investigate the activity of antiepileptic and anxiolytic plants in the GABAergic system, and determine if there is a pharmacological basis for plant selection. Materials and methods: Ethanol extracts of 34 plants were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) or bind to the GABAA-benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor, two principal drug targets in epilepsy and anxiety. Pharmacological activity was correlated with relative frequency of use, based on informant consensus. Results: Ten plants showed greater than 50% GABA-T inhibition at 1mg/ml, while 23 showed greater than 50% binding to the GABAA-BZD receptor at 250μg/ml. Piperaceae, Adiantaceae and Acanthaceae families were highly represented and active in both assays. There was a significant positive correlation between GABA-T inhibition and relative frequency of use for epilepsy, and an even stronger correlation between GABAA binding and relative frequency of use for susto (fright). Conclusions: Clearly, Q’eqchi’ traditional knowledge of antiepileptic and anxiolytic plants is associated with the use of pharmacologically active plants. Based on the evidence, it is suggested that the mechanism of action for some traditionally used plants may be mediated through the GABAergic system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]