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- Title
Introduced plants in the indigenous pharmacopoeia of northern South America
- Authors
Bennett, Bradley C.; Prance, Ghillean T.
- Abstract
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 citrates, 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 x paradisiacal). 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 medicinalsystems in areas where they are most needed.
- Subjects
BOTANY; PLANT introduction
- Publication
Economic Botany, 2000, Vol 54, Issue 1, p90
- ISSN
0013-0001
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/BF02866603