Verbascum species (common mullein) have been widely used in Spanish folk medicine to treat pathol... more Verbascum species (common mullein) have been widely used in Spanish folk medicine to treat pathologies related to the musculature, skeleton, and circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems, as well as to treat infectious diseases and organ-sense illnesses. These applications support the potential anti-inflammatory action of Verbascum phytochemicals. Based on the aforementioned facts, and following a deep bibliographic review of the chemical composition of the 10 species of Verbascum catalogued by the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity, we look for scientific evidences to correlate the traditional medical uses with the chemical components of these plants. To support these findings, in silico simulations were performed to investigate molecular interactions between Verbascum phytochemicals and cellular components. Most of common mullein traditional uses could rely on the anti-inflammatory action of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, and it could expl...
Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance i... more Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance in its therapy, we present an interdisciplinary protocol that unifies ethnobotanical knowledge of natural compounds and the latest bioinformatics advances to respond to an orphan disease such as leishmaniasis and specifically the one caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The use of ethnobotanical information serves as a basis for the development of new drugs, a field in which computer-aided drug design (CADD) has been a revolution. Taking this information from Amazonian communities, located in the area with the highest prevalence of this disease, a protocol has been designed to verify new leads. Moreover, a method has been developed that allows the evaluation of lead molecules, and the improvement of their affinity and specificity against therapeutic targets. Through this approach, deguelin has been identified as a good lead to treat the infection due to its potential as an ornithine decarbox...
Frente a la desaparicion acelerada de los conocimientos tradicionales en la sociedad actual, nace... more Frente a la desaparicion acelerada de los conocimientos tradicionales en la sociedad actual, nace la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias que permitan su conservacion. Una herramienta eficaz es la Etnobiologia, encargada del estudio de las relaciones entre el medio natural y el ser humano. Esta disciplina suele hacer uso de metodologias que implican investigaciones muy dilatadas en el tiempo. En este trabajo se describe un nuevo metodo cuantitativo mas rapido y eficiente, basado en la recopilacion de informacion mediante talleres y el calculo del Indice de Significacion Cultural (CSI). La eficiencia de dicho metodo ha sido probada en dos estudios distintos, demostrandose su utilidad para la obtencion de informacion relevante sobre los conocimientos bioculturales desde una perspectiva de genero.
In Amazonian Ecuador, land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes i... more In Amazonian Ecuador, land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes is leading to irreversible situations from an environmental perspective. The objective of this paper was to highlight the significance of the biological components in the soils in Amazonian Ecuador, and the importance of considering biological soil quality indexes when assessing environmental impacts in the soils of tropical Pan-Amazonian areas. Since the literature on the subject is dispersed and inaccessible, a bibliographic review was conducted, with the aim of compiling protocols and proposals for practical utilization. We compiled tables, including specific indicators from the biological point of view. We present the available methods for assessing the sustainability of Amazonian territories through the analysis of soil quality. Our contribution facilitates an edaphic perspective to be taken into account in decision-making processes for sustainable territorial development.
Several studies have assessed the potential of essential oils as substitutes for synthetic pestic... more Several studies have assessed the potential of essential oils as substitutes for synthetic pesticides, in order to counter insect resistance to commercial pesticides. Piper aduncum L. is a very common shrub in the Amazon Rainforest and in other subtropical areas. The objective of this review was to analyse the existing information on P. aduncum essential oil as a raw material for new bioproducts for sustainable pest disease management. With this review, we collected and critically analysed 59 papers, representing all the studies that aimed to evaluate the essential oil properties of this species as an insecticide, acaricide and antiparasitic. The chemical composition differs depending on the origin, although phenylpropanoid dillapiole is the most cited component, followed by myristicin, 1,8-cineole and β-ocimene. Between the acaricidal, antiparasitic and synergistic activities, the insecticidal effects are highly promising, with optimal results against the malaria vector Aedes aegyp...
Se efectúa una revisión bibliográfica de los trabajos botánicos realizados en la Región de E... more Se efectúa una revisión bibliográfica de los trabajos botánicos realizados en la Región de Extremadura (España) indicándose, además, los taconeo descritos en ellos así como las nuevas combinaciones efectuadas.
This paper is focused on demonstrating with a real case that Ethnobotany added to Bioinformatics ... more This paper is focused on demonstrating with a real case that Ethnobotany added to Bioinformatics is a promising tool for new drugs search. It encourages the in silico investigation of “challua kaspi”, a medicinal kichwa Amazonian plant (Aspidosperma spruceanum) against a Neglected Tropical Disease, leishmaniasis. The illness affects over 150 million people especially in subtropical regions, there is no vaccination and conventional treatments are unsatisfactory. In attempts to find potent and safe inhibitors of its etiological agent, Leishmania, we recovered the published traditional knowledge on kichwa antimalarials and selected three A. spruceanum alkaloids, (aspidoalbine, aspidocarpine and tubotaiwine), to evaluate by molecular docking their activity upon five Leishmania targets: DHFR-TS, PTR1, PK, HGPRT and SQS enzymes. Our simulation results suggest that aspidoalbine interacts competitively with the five targets, with a greater affinity for the active site of PTR1 than some phys...
In the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education plays a fundamental rol... more In the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education plays a fundamental role. However, traditional methodologies do not favor the enrichment and personal development essential to promote global awareness. The use of active methodologies based on experiences improve the quality of learning. This work describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of the acquired knowledge of a didactic proposal for non-formal education as a support for regulated education based on botany content. Firstly, a workshop was held, where young people participated directly in developing field work with a real scientific methodology. Subsequently, a group of students was chosen to be interviewed to obtain a global vision of the learning they obtained. The motivation of the students was quite positive, which allowed us to obtain voluntary participation in the field work and gave the students a participative attitude throughout the development of the workshops. Four months later, th...
Se han estudiado algunos aspectos relacionados con los factores que afectan la germinación en cin... more Se han estudiado algunos aspectos relacionados con los factores que afectan la germinación en cinco endemismos ibéricos: Armeria linkiana Nieto Feliner, Digitalis mariana subsp. heywoodii P. & M.Silva, Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri (Rozeira) Rozeira, Lavandula stoechas subsp. sampaiana Rozeira y Sanguisorba hybrida (L.) Nordborg. Se ha analizado el efecto del peróxido de hidrógeno, la acetona y el ácido sulfúrico como escarificantes químicos, así como la influencia de la luz en la germinación.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
A food tradition not only corresponds to the vital need to be nourished every day, but is part of... more A food tradition not only corresponds to the vital need to be nourished every day, but is part of the particularity of a territory as a consequence of its history, traditions, natural heritage, and capacity for ecological and social resilience. In the search for culinary identity, a valorization of a rural territory of high identity potential is carried out, such as in the environmental protection area “Sierra Grande de Hornachos” (Extremadura, Spain), and specifically the town of Hornachos. For this purpose, a series of workshops and interviews were held for men and women who had lived most of their lives in Hornachos and who were older than 70. Information on the food uses of wild and cultivated plants, as determined by the Cultural Significance Index (CSI) for 79 species, was extracted from the interpretation of the data collected. In addition, new uses were collected in Extremadura for 16 plants and in Spain for 3, with some of these data being of particular significance in the ...
We carried out surveys on the use of Cordia nodosa Lam. in the jungles of Bobonaza (Ecuador). We ... more We carried out surveys on the use of Cordia nodosa Lam. in the jungles of Bobonaza (Ecuador). We documented this knowledge to prevent its loss under the Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol. We conducted bibliographic research and identified quercetrin as a significant bioactive molecule. We studied its in silico biological activity. The selected methodology was virtual docking experiments with the proteins responsible for the venomous action of snakes. The molecular structures of quercetrin and 21 selected toxins underwent corresponding tests with SwissDock and Chimera software. The results point to support its antiophidic use. They show reasonable geometries and a binding free energy of −7 to −10.03 kcal/mol. The most favorable values were obtained for the venom of the Asian snake Naja atra (5Z2G, −10.03 kcal/mol). Good results were also obtained from the venom of the Latin American Bothrops pirajai (3CYL, –9.71 kcal/mol) and that of Ecuadori...
ABSTRACT. A contribution to ex-situ conservation of Mediterranean thymes: Germination trials. The... more ABSTRACT. A contribution to ex-situ conservation of Mediterranean thymes: Germination trials. The germination process was studied of the seeds of seven endemic or threatened Mediterranean thymes collected from natural populations of the SW Iberian Peninsula. Four replicates of 50 seeds of each population were induced to germinate by alternating temperatures (6 hours at 20°C, 18 hours at 30°C; 40-60% humidity). The accumulated percentage germination curves, the germinability (percentages), and the germination rate (in terms of the vigour index, Iv) were determined. The results were as follows: Thymus caespititius, germinabilities null or low and germination rates slow (0%-11%; Iv = 0-1.26); Thymus mastichina, germinabilities moderate or high and germination rates fast or very fast (59%-92%; Iv = 12.84-35.67); Thymus praecox subsp. penyalarensis, germinabilities high and germination rates fast (79%; Iv = 19.53); Th. pulegioides, germinabilities low or moderate and germination rates sl...
This study’s objective was to evaluate the rescued traditional knowledge about the chiricaspi (Br... more This study’s objective was to evaluate the rescued traditional knowledge about the chiricaspi (Brunfelsia grandiflora s.l.), obtained in an isolated Canelo-Kichwa Amazonian community in the Pastaza province (Ecuador). This approach demonstrates well the value of biodiversity conservation in an endangered ecoregion. The authors describe the ancestral practices that remain in force today. They validated them through bibliographic revisions in data megabases, which presented activity and chemical components. The authors also propose possible routes for the development of new bioproducts based on the plant. In silico research about new drug design based on traditional knowledge about this species can produce significant progress in specific areas of childbirth, anesthesiology, and neurology.
Chamaemelum fuscatum (Brot.) Vasc. is a south west Iberian chamomile that has been traditionally ... more Chamaemelum fuscatum (Brot.) Vasc. is a south west Iberian chamomile that has been traditionally used as folk medicine in its natural distribution area but currently it is underestimated regarding its biological activities. For this reason, it is proposed in this paper to get insight into the scientific validation of the traditional knowledge of this plant with the aim of taking advantage of its anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and antinociceptive activities, among others. To this aim, the chemical composition of the essential oil from the whole plant, the flowers and the green parts of this plant has been evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Plant materials were collected in Badajoz (Spain). A total of 61 components including monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and aliphatic esters were identified. (E)-2-Methyl-2-butenyl methacrylate (27.57%–18.53%) and 2-methylallyl isobutyrate (9.79%–7.51%) were the most abundant compounds in the essential oils of flowers an...
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a dangerous and invasive aquatic species, of which globa... more Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a dangerous and invasive aquatic species, of which global concern has sharply risen due to its rapid growth. Despite ample research on its possible applications in the construction field, there are no clear references on the optimal use of the plant in finding the most efficient-use building material. In this paper, a microstructural and chemical characterization of the Water Hyacinth petiole was performed, in order to find the most efficient use as a construction material. Subsequently, two types of binder-less insulation panels were developed, with two types of particle size (pulp and staple). A physical, mechanical, and thermal characterization of the boards was performed. These results demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture self-supporting Water Hyacinth petiole panels without an artificial polymer matrix for thermal insulation. The boards showed good thermal conductivity values, ranging from 0.047–0.065 W/mK. In addition, clear ...
Natura 2000 is a network of protected spaces where the use of natural resources is regulated thro... more Natura 2000 is a network of protected spaces where the use of natural resources is regulated through the Habitat Directive of the European Union. It is essential for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe, but its social perception must be improved. We present this work as a demonstration case of the potentialities of one of these protected areas in the southwest (SW) Iberian Peninsula. We show an overview of the catalog of native wild plants of the place, which have nutritional and edible properties, having been used in human food by the peasant local population over the last century, and whose consumption trend is being implemented in Europe mainly through the haute cuisine and ecotourism sectors. What is offered here is a study of the case of what kind of positive contribution systematized botanical or ethnobotanical scientific knowledge can make toward encouraging innovative and sustainable rural development initiatives. A total of 145 wild plants that are potentially useful...
Tabernaemontana sananho is a tree member of the Apocynaceae family referred to as sikta in Kichwa... more Tabernaemontana sananho is a tree member of the Apocynaceae family referred to as sikta in Kichwa language. It is widely used in northern South America as painkiller, stimulant, antiseptic and is also highly valued as a sacred plant. In this work, we report the traditional knowledge and uses of sikta by the scarcely contacted Kichwa community of Pakayaku (Pastaza province, Ecuador) and further provide a scientific framework for its scientific validation. A review of the available literature revealed the presence of a wealth of biologically active indole alkaloids that potentially account for the great number of medicinal uses of sikta. This case study is illustrative of the importance of scientific validation of traditional knowledge (i) for indigenous communities —as empowering tool—, (ii) for the sake of scientific knowledge and (iii) for plant conservation.
Verbascum species (common mullein) have been widely used in Spanish folk medicine to treat pathol... more Verbascum species (common mullein) have been widely used in Spanish folk medicine to treat pathologies related to the musculature, skeleton, and circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems, as well as to treat infectious diseases and organ-sense illnesses. These applications support the potential anti-inflammatory action of Verbascum phytochemicals. Based on the aforementioned facts, and following a deep bibliographic review of the chemical composition of the 10 species of Verbascum catalogued by the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity, we look for scientific evidences to correlate the traditional medical uses with the chemical components of these plants. To support these findings, in silico simulations were performed to investigate molecular interactions between Verbascum phytochemicals and cellular components. Most of common mullein traditional uses could rely on the anti-inflammatory action of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, and it could expl...
Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance i... more Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance in its therapy, we present an interdisciplinary protocol that unifies ethnobotanical knowledge of natural compounds and the latest bioinformatics advances to respond to an orphan disease such as leishmaniasis and specifically the one caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The use of ethnobotanical information serves as a basis for the development of new drugs, a field in which computer-aided drug design (CADD) has been a revolution. Taking this information from Amazonian communities, located in the area with the highest prevalence of this disease, a protocol has been designed to verify new leads. Moreover, a method has been developed that allows the evaluation of lead molecules, and the improvement of their affinity and specificity against therapeutic targets. Through this approach, deguelin has been identified as a good lead to treat the infection due to its potential as an ornithine decarbox...
Frente a la desaparicion acelerada de los conocimientos tradicionales en la sociedad actual, nace... more Frente a la desaparicion acelerada de los conocimientos tradicionales en la sociedad actual, nace la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias que permitan su conservacion. Una herramienta eficaz es la Etnobiologia, encargada del estudio de las relaciones entre el medio natural y el ser humano. Esta disciplina suele hacer uso de metodologias que implican investigaciones muy dilatadas en el tiempo. En este trabajo se describe un nuevo metodo cuantitativo mas rapido y eficiente, basado en la recopilacion de informacion mediante talleres y el calculo del Indice de Significacion Cultural (CSI). La eficiencia de dicho metodo ha sido probada en dos estudios distintos, demostrandose su utilidad para la obtencion de informacion relevante sobre los conocimientos bioculturales desde una perspectiva de genero.
In Amazonian Ecuador, land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes i... more In Amazonian Ecuador, land-use change from tropical rainforest to different productive purposes is leading to irreversible situations from an environmental perspective. The objective of this paper was to highlight the significance of the biological components in the soils in Amazonian Ecuador, and the importance of considering biological soil quality indexes when assessing environmental impacts in the soils of tropical Pan-Amazonian areas. Since the literature on the subject is dispersed and inaccessible, a bibliographic review was conducted, with the aim of compiling protocols and proposals for practical utilization. We compiled tables, including specific indicators from the biological point of view. We present the available methods for assessing the sustainability of Amazonian territories through the analysis of soil quality. Our contribution facilitates an edaphic perspective to be taken into account in decision-making processes for sustainable territorial development.
Several studies have assessed the potential of essential oils as substitutes for synthetic pestic... more Several studies have assessed the potential of essential oils as substitutes for synthetic pesticides, in order to counter insect resistance to commercial pesticides. Piper aduncum L. is a very common shrub in the Amazon Rainforest and in other subtropical areas. The objective of this review was to analyse the existing information on P. aduncum essential oil as a raw material for new bioproducts for sustainable pest disease management. With this review, we collected and critically analysed 59 papers, representing all the studies that aimed to evaluate the essential oil properties of this species as an insecticide, acaricide and antiparasitic. The chemical composition differs depending on the origin, although phenylpropanoid dillapiole is the most cited component, followed by myristicin, 1,8-cineole and β-ocimene. Between the acaricidal, antiparasitic and synergistic activities, the insecticidal effects are highly promising, with optimal results against the malaria vector Aedes aegyp...
Se efectúa una revisión bibliográfica de los trabajos botánicos realizados en la Región de E... more Se efectúa una revisión bibliográfica de los trabajos botánicos realizados en la Región de Extremadura (España) indicándose, además, los taconeo descritos en ellos así como las nuevas combinaciones efectuadas.
This paper is focused on demonstrating with a real case that Ethnobotany added to Bioinformatics ... more This paper is focused on demonstrating with a real case that Ethnobotany added to Bioinformatics is a promising tool for new drugs search. It encourages the in silico investigation of “challua kaspi”, a medicinal kichwa Amazonian plant (Aspidosperma spruceanum) against a Neglected Tropical Disease, leishmaniasis. The illness affects over 150 million people especially in subtropical regions, there is no vaccination and conventional treatments are unsatisfactory. In attempts to find potent and safe inhibitors of its etiological agent, Leishmania, we recovered the published traditional knowledge on kichwa antimalarials and selected three A. spruceanum alkaloids, (aspidoalbine, aspidocarpine and tubotaiwine), to evaluate by molecular docking their activity upon five Leishmania targets: DHFR-TS, PTR1, PK, HGPRT and SQS enzymes. Our simulation results suggest that aspidoalbine interacts competitively with the five targets, with a greater affinity for the active site of PTR1 than some phys...
In the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education plays a fundamental rol... more In the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education plays a fundamental role. However, traditional methodologies do not favor the enrichment and personal development essential to promote global awareness. The use of active methodologies based on experiences improve the quality of learning. This work describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of the acquired knowledge of a didactic proposal for non-formal education as a support for regulated education based on botany content. Firstly, a workshop was held, where young people participated directly in developing field work with a real scientific methodology. Subsequently, a group of students was chosen to be interviewed to obtain a global vision of the learning they obtained. The motivation of the students was quite positive, which allowed us to obtain voluntary participation in the field work and gave the students a participative attitude throughout the development of the workshops. Four months later, th...
Se han estudiado algunos aspectos relacionados con los factores que afectan la germinación en cin... more Se han estudiado algunos aspectos relacionados con los factores que afectan la germinación en cinco endemismos ibéricos: Armeria linkiana Nieto Feliner, Digitalis mariana subsp. heywoodii P. & M.Silva, Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri (Rozeira) Rozeira, Lavandula stoechas subsp. sampaiana Rozeira y Sanguisorba hybrida (L.) Nordborg. Se ha analizado el efecto del peróxido de hidrógeno, la acetona y el ácido sulfúrico como escarificantes químicos, así como la influencia de la luz en la germinación.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
A food tradition not only corresponds to the vital need to be nourished every day, but is part of... more A food tradition not only corresponds to the vital need to be nourished every day, but is part of the particularity of a territory as a consequence of its history, traditions, natural heritage, and capacity for ecological and social resilience. In the search for culinary identity, a valorization of a rural territory of high identity potential is carried out, such as in the environmental protection area “Sierra Grande de Hornachos” (Extremadura, Spain), and specifically the town of Hornachos. For this purpose, a series of workshops and interviews were held for men and women who had lived most of their lives in Hornachos and who were older than 70. Information on the food uses of wild and cultivated plants, as determined by the Cultural Significance Index (CSI) for 79 species, was extracted from the interpretation of the data collected. In addition, new uses were collected in Extremadura for 16 plants and in Spain for 3, with some of these data being of particular significance in the ...
We carried out surveys on the use of Cordia nodosa Lam. in the jungles of Bobonaza (Ecuador). We ... more We carried out surveys on the use of Cordia nodosa Lam. in the jungles of Bobonaza (Ecuador). We documented this knowledge to prevent its loss under the Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol. We conducted bibliographic research and identified quercetrin as a significant bioactive molecule. We studied its in silico biological activity. The selected methodology was virtual docking experiments with the proteins responsible for the venomous action of snakes. The molecular structures of quercetrin and 21 selected toxins underwent corresponding tests with SwissDock and Chimera software. The results point to support its antiophidic use. They show reasonable geometries and a binding free energy of −7 to −10.03 kcal/mol. The most favorable values were obtained for the venom of the Asian snake Naja atra (5Z2G, −10.03 kcal/mol). Good results were also obtained from the venom of the Latin American Bothrops pirajai (3CYL, –9.71 kcal/mol) and that of Ecuadori...
ABSTRACT. A contribution to ex-situ conservation of Mediterranean thymes: Germination trials. The... more ABSTRACT. A contribution to ex-situ conservation of Mediterranean thymes: Germination trials. The germination process was studied of the seeds of seven endemic or threatened Mediterranean thymes collected from natural populations of the SW Iberian Peninsula. Four replicates of 50 seeds of each population were induced to germinate by alternating temperatures (6 hours at 20°C, 18 hours at 30°C; 40-60% humidity). The accumulated percentage germination curves, the germinability (percentages), and the germination rate (in terms of the vigour index, Iv) were determined. The results were as follows: Thymus caespititius, germinabilities null or low and germination rates slow (0%-11%; Iv = 0-1.26); Thymus mastichina, germinabilities moderate or high and germination rates fast or very fast (59%-92%; Iv = 12.84-35.67); Thymus praecox subsp. penyalarensis, germinabilities high and germination rates fast (79%; Iv = 19.53); Th. pulegioides, germinabilities low or moderate and germination rates sl...
This study’s objective was to evaluate the rescued traditional knowledge about the chiricaspi (Br... more This study’s objective was to evaluate the rescued traditional knowledge about the chiricaspi (Brunfelsia grandiflora s.l.), obtained in an isolated Canelo-Kichwa Amazonian community in the Pastaza province (Ecuador). This approach demonstrates well the value of biodiversity conservation in an endangered ecoregion. The authors describe the ancestral practices that remain in force today. They validated them through bibliographic revisions in data megabases, which presented activity and chemical components. The authors also propose possible routes for the development of new bioproducts based on the plant. In silico research about new drug design based on traditional knowledge about this species can produce significant progress in specific areas of childbirth, anesthesiology, and neurology.
Chamaemelum fuscatum (Brot.) Vasc. is a south west Iberian chamomile that has been traditionally ... more Chamaemelum fuscatum (Brot.) Vasc. is a south west Iberian chamomile that has been traditionally used as folk medicine in its natural distribution area but currently it is underestimated regarding its biological activities. For this reason, it is proposed in this paper to get insight into the scientific validation of the traditional knowledge of this plant with the aim of taking advantage of its anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and antinociceptive activities, among others. To this aim, the chemical composition of the essential oil from the whole plant, the flowers and the green parts of this plant has been evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Plant materials were collected in Badajoz (Spain). A total of 61 components including monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and aliphatic esters were identified. (E)-2-Methyl-2-butenyl methacrylate (27.57%–18.53%) and 2-methylallyl isobutyrate (9.79%–7.51%) were the most abundant compounds in the essential oils of flowers an...
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a dangerous and invasive aquatic species, of which globa... more Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a dangerous and invasive aquatic species, of which global concern has sharply risen due to its rapid growth. Despite ample research on its possible applications in the construction field, there are no clear references on the optimal use of the plant in finding the most efficient-use building material. In this paper, a microstructural and chemical characterization of the Water Hyacinth petiole was performed, in order to find the most efficient use as a construction material. Subsequently, two types of binder-less insulation panels were developed, with two types of particle size (pulp and staple). A physical, mechanical, and thermal characterization of the boards was performed. These results demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture self-supporting Water Hyacinth petiole panels without an artificial polymer matrix for thermal insulation. The boards showed good thermal conductivity values, ranging from 0.047–0.065 W/mK. In addition, clear ...
Natura 2000 is a network of protected spaces where the use of natural resources is regulated thro... more Natura 2000 is a network of protected spaces where the use of natural resources is regulated through the Habitat Directive of the European Union. It is essential for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe, but its social perception must be improved. We present this work as a demonstration case of the potentialities of one of these protected areas in the southwest (SW) Iberian Peninsula. We show an overview of the catalog of native wild plants of the place, which have nutritional and edible properties, having been used in human food by the peasant local population over the last century, and whose consumption trend is being implemented in Europe mainly through the haute cuisine and ecotourism sectors. What is offered here is a study of the case of what kind of positive contribution systematized botanical or ethnobotanical scientific knowledge can make toward encouraging innovative and sustainable rural development initiatives. A total of 145 wild plants that are potentially useful...
Tabernaemontana sananho is a tree member of the Apocynaceae family referred to as sikta in Kichwa... more Tabernaemontana sananho is a tree member of the Apocynaceae family referred to as sikta in Kichwa language. It is widely used in northern South America as painkiller, stimulant, antiseptic and is also highly valued as a sacred plant. In this work, we report the traditional knowledge and uses of sikta by the scarcely contacted Kichwa community of Pakayaku (Pastaza province, Ecuador) and further provide a scientific framework for its scientific validation. A review of the available literature revealed the presence of a wealth of biologically active indole alkaloids that potentially account for the great number of medicinal uses of sikta. This case study is illustrative of the importance of scientific validation of traditional knowledge (i) for indigenous communities —as empowering tool—, (ii) for the sake of scientific knowledge and (iii) for plant conservation.
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