Introduced plants in the indigenous pharmacopoeia of northern South America

• Published in: Economic botany 2000, Vol.54 (1), p.90-102
• Main Authors: Bennett, B.C, Prance, G.T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Citrus aurantium; Cymbopogon citratus; Economic botany; Ethnobotany; foods; Germplasm; Ginger; indigenous knowledge; Indigenous plants; Intellectual property; Intellectual property law; Introduced plants; Introduced species; Medical treatment; Medicinal plants; Nonnative species; ornamental plants; Pharmacology; plant genetic resources; Plant growth; Plants; Property rights; Saccharum officinarum; traditional medicine; Tropical regions; Zingiber officinale
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02866603

The intellectual property rights debate focuses on the flow of germplasm from developing tropical countries to developed temperate nations. Few investigators have addressed the converse. We discuss the abundance and importance of introduced plants in pharmacopoeias of northern South America. Introduced species commonly are employed as medicines throughout the region and include at least 216 Eurasian, North American, African, and Pacific species. Among the Shuar of lowland Ecuador, four introduced plants (Citrus aurantium, Cymbopogon citratus, Saccharum officinarum, and Zingiber officinale) are included in their most commonly prescribed remedies. The widespread use of introduced plants is due, in part, to the medicinal value of plants whose primary use is for food (e.g., Musa × paradisiaca). Similarly, many introduced ornamentals also have therapeutic value (e.g., Hedychium coronarium). Other species have been introduced specifically as medicines (e.g., Aloe vera). Restrictions on the flow of germplasm and plant knowledge may protect the economic interests of governments and national industry. If applied bilaterally, however, constraints on the movement of plants will limit the continued evolution of traditional medicinal systems in areas where they are most needed. / El debate sobre los derechos de propiedad intelectual se enfoca principalmente en el movimiento de germoplasma desde los paises en vias de desarrollado de las regíones tropicales hacia los paises desarrollados de la zona templada. Pocos investigadores han examinado lo contrario. Discutimos la abundancia y la importancia de plantas introducidas en las farmacopeas del norte de América del Sur. El uso medicinal de plantas introducidas es mu común y incluye por lo menos 216 especies de Europa, Asia, América del Norte, Africa, y la región Pacífica. Entre las Shuaras de las tierras bajas de Ecuador, cuatro plantas introducidas (Citrus aurantium, Cymbopogon citratus, Saccharum officinarum, and Zingiber officinale) estan incluidas en sus remedios más comunes. El extenso uso de plantas introducidas, es en gran parte, debido al valor medicinal de plantas que tienen su uso primario como alimento (e.g., Musa × paradisiaca). Muchas plantas ornamentales también tienen valor terapéutico (e.g., Hedychium coronarium). Otras especies han sido introducidas específicamente como medicinas (por ejemplo, Aloe vera). Restricciones en el movimiento de germoplasma y conocimiento respecto a plantas quizás protejan el in