Available online 7 February 2015
Plants with topical uses in the Ripollès district (Pyrenees, Catalonia, Iberian peninsula): Ethnobotanical survey and pharmacological validation in the literature
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
The
skin is the main structure that protects the human body from
environmental factors and has, in addition, a relevant relationship to
people's appearance and beauty. Official medicine and cosmetics have
shown interest on elaborating products to protect the dermal system, yet
the role of folk medicine is highly unknown in this field.
Aims of the study
Taking
this into account, we performed an ethnobotanical study in a Catalan
district of the eastern Pyrenees (northeast Iberian Peninsula), with the
purpose of assessing popular plant knowledge and use. In this paper, we
present exclusively the results on topically-used plants. Additionally,
we have performed a thorough literature search in order to validate the
uses of plants recorded in well-established pharmacological works.
Methodology
A
number of 163 informants (57.7% women and 42.3% men, born between 1915
and 1988, with an average age of 71.6 years) were interviewed by means
of 104 semi-structured interviews. Voucher specimens were collected,
prepared and deposited in the BCN herbarium.
Results
We
collected information on the popular uses implying topical application
of 115 plant taxa (three determined at generic level and 112 at specific
level), belonging to 92 genera and 51 families. Taxa with use reports
higher than 5% included: Arnica montana subsp. montana, Hypericum perforatum, Thymus vulgaris, Lilium candidum and Tussilago farfara.
The degree of reliability of the results is very high, as indicated by a
big number of report uses (1676) and a very high informant consensus
factor (0.93 of a maximum of 1). Topical uses of 21 plant taxa with more
than 1% of use reports, have been validated consulting pharmacological
literature.
Conclusions
Data
indicate a high degree of plant knowledge in the studied region
regarding dermal conditions, cosmetics and additional affections (such
as snake bite). The present study constitutes a good basis for further
phytochemical and pharmacological research, which could be of interest
in the design of new drugs. Furthermore, the evidence of these folk uses
could be the key information in simplified procedures established by
the European Union for the registration of herbal medicinal products
based on traditionally used plants, reinforcing the already recognised
role of ethnobotany in the mentioned applied research and development
field.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Cosmetics;
- Dermatological disorders;
- Ethnobotany;
- Ethnopharmacology;
- PYRENEES;
- Topical use
- Corresponding author.
