Essential oils found in the smoke of ¨Tira-Capeta” (Removing the Devil), a cigarette used by some Quilombolas living in Pantanal Wetlands of Brazil. (original) (raw)
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Revista Brasileira De Farmacognosia-Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, 2010
RESUMO: "Óleos essenciais encontrados na fumaça do ¨tira-capeta¨, um cigarro utilizado pelos quilombolas que vivem no pantanal do Brasil". Pesquisa etnofarmacológica realizada entre os quilombolas que vivem na Sesmaria Mata-Cavalos, no Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil, um cigarro conhecido como ¨tira-capeta¨, foi citado por melhorar a memória e cognição, além de possuir outras indicações terapêuticas, tais como, "contra a sinusite", "para evitar resfriado", e "para aliviar problemas de insônia". No presente estudo, foi feita a caracterização dos óleos essenciais liberados durante o aquecimento das plantas utilizadas na confecção do cigarro, usando um método simples, rápido e livre de solvente baseado em cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas usando "headspace" e microextração em fase sólida. Os principais constituintes encontrados foram 1,8-cineol, cânfora e α-pineno. Na tentativa de correlacionar a atividade biológica desses constituintes com as indicações terapêuticas relatadas pelos quilombolas, encontramos vários trabalhos realizados por diversos autores que mostraram que estes óleos possuem atividades similares às indicações terapêuticas relatadas pelos quilombolas.
Abstract During an ethnopharmacological survey carried out among some Quilombolas living in Brazil, 48 plants with possible Central Nervous System (CNS) action were cited. A mixture of nine plants, known as “Tira-Capeta” (Removing the Devil) cigarette, has been utilized for years as tonic for the brain. The effects observed after consuming this cigarette are: dizziness, lightness sensation, humor changes, yawns, heavy eyes, hungry, sleep and relaxation. This study aimed to verify the effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of “Tira-Capeta” cigarette (ETC), as well as evaluate their phytochemical profile. The phytochemical screening carried out through characterization reactions, thin layer chromatography and high efficiency liquid chromatography indicated the presence of tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids; tannins and phenolic acids being the principal constituents. The pharmacological tests showed that ETC induced a biphasic effect, with intense initial stimulation of CNS, followed by a general depressor state; decreased the latency for sleeping and increased the total sleeping time (50, 100 and 500 mg/kg), without causing prejudice in motor coordination (doses up to 200 mg/kg); induced catalepsy in mice, verified 10 and 50 minutes after drug administration (500 mg/kg). Also, no anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects were verified in rats submitted to the elevated plus-maze. Key words: ethnopharmacology, Quilombolas, neuroleptic, smoke, central nervous system, medicinal plants.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003
This paper reports an ethnobotanical study conducted in the year 2000 in the Natural Park of "Serra de São Mamede" (Portugal). Informal interviews involving 45 informants provided data about 165 useful plants, 150 of which had medicinal and/or aromatic use. Two hundred and twenty-four popular names were noted, 98 of which had not been documented before. The most relevant plants are mentioned in this paper, along with their local names, the parts of them used, popular uses (or troubles treated), preparation and administration processes, and citation frequency. This is the first study of medicinal and aromatic plants in Portugal to use ethnobotanical methodology.
Plants smoked by prehispanic populations of central Chile: Chemical and pharmacological aspect
Several plant species are known to have been used in smoking practices by prehispanic inhabitants of central Chile. Archaeobotanical studies have shown the presence of seeds and plant microremains attributed to Datura sp. and Nicotiana sp., and chemical studies the presence of nicotine, both in residues of smoking pipes from various archaeological sites [1]. Besides the use of these psychoactive alkaloid-containing plant species, ethnohistorical and ethnographical studies have reported the use of species that act as adjuvants in the smoking practices [2 -3]. The purpose of these elements is unclear; they have been interpreted as conferring softening and flavouring characteristics, or otherwise enhancing the effect of alkaloidal and/or non-alkaloidal active compounds. The aims of this work were: i) to assess the aromatic nature of the species reported as adjuvants by obtaining and analyzing their essential oils; ii) to identify the components of the smok e generated by the combustion...
Antibiotics
Essential oils (EOs) and their vapour phase of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae), Cymbopogon citratus (Poaceae), Ocimum campechianum (Lamiaceae), and Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) of cultivated plants grown in an Amazonian Ecuador area were chemically characterised by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID), Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Head Space–Gas Chromatograph-Flame Ionization Detector–Mass Spectrometry (HS-GC-FID-MS).figure The EOs analyses led to the identification of 25 compounds for C. longa (99.46% of the total; ar-turmerone: 23.35%), 18 compounds for C. citratus (99.59% of the total; geraniol: 39.43%), 19 compounds for O. campechianum (96.24% of the total; eugenol: 50.97%), and 28 for Z. officinale (98.04% of the total; α-Zingiberene: 15.45%). The Head Space fractions (HS) revealed C. longa mainly characterised by limonene and 1,8-cineole (37.35%) and α-phellandrene (32.33%); Z. officinale and C. citratus showed camphene (50.39%) and c...
Plants used by a Quilombola group in Brazil with potential central nervous system effects
Phytotherapy Research, 2004
This study focused on an ethnopharmacological survey among a group of Brazilian Quilombolas (descended from runaway slaves living in hideouts up-country) whose therapeutic practices involve a combination of healing ceremonies and prescription of medicinal plants consisting of the use of, at least, 48 plants with possible effect on the central nervous system (CNS), cited in 53 formulas prescribed for 17 therapeutic indications, the main ones being: to fortify the brain, for insomnia, as a sedative, for insanity, weight loss, and rejuvenation. The formulas consist of one to ten plants, and each plant may be recommended for up to seven different therapeutic indications, with evidence of non-specificity in the use of plants in this culture. Of these 48 plants, only 31 could be identified to the species level as belonging to 20 taxonomic families, with the Asteraceae, Malpighiaceae, Cyperaceae, and Myrtaceae as the most important families. Only eleven of these species have been previously studied and appear in scientific literature. Some of these plants are at present under study in the
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Atlantic Forest is a biome in dangerous situation and it lacks wider information on species with medicinal purposes used by people in this area. In this study an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Apiúna district, Brazil with the goal of assessing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by rural communities in a region covered by Atlantic Forest. Materials and methods: The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a free list of plants used for medicinal purposes. The respondents were selected by snow ball method. Therefore, the therapeutic use of plants was investigated and the species cited was collected and identified. Local plant uses were evaluated using ethnobotanical indices of diversity and equitability, and then compared with those obtained in other regions of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Besides, the informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated. Results: A total of 162 species belonging to 61 families were recorded, mainly Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. Furthermore, the species cited, 45.06% were native and 54.94% were considered exotic. The most frequently reported medicinal uses were the symptoms and signs (17.42%), digestive system (15.33%) and, infectious and parasitic diseases (12.73%). Although, the ICF calculation showed that mental and behavioral (0.85), respiratory system (0.79) and, digestive and genitourinary system diseases (0.78 for both) were the categories with higher values reached. Usually, the administration is oral from leaves preparations. Conclusions: Folk medicine in rural communities in this region of Atlantic Forest is an important source of primary health care. The results indicate an available knowledge of medicinal plants uses in this area, when compared to other regions previously studied. The fact that this research was conducted next to a conservation area makes it possible to dispose the knowledge organized here into a tool for environmental education as well as preservation. Moreover, the pharmacological information will further contribute for the validation and the use of these species in Brazilian health programs benefiting the population.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF AMAZONIAN ESSENTIAL OILS OF AN ECUADORIAN SHUAR COMMUNITY
This research was carried out with the aim of determining the chemical composition of the essential oils of four Amazonian species from the Antuash community, Morona canton, province of Morona Santiago. These species belong to the main aromatic families of Ecuador. The essential oils (EO) of Critoniopsis pycnantha (Benth.) H. Rob., Myrcia aliena McVaugh, Piper macrotrichum C. DC. and Siparuna schimpffii Diels were obtained from the dry leaves by analytical steam distillation; a percentage yield of 0.24 %, 0.80 %, 0.44 %, and 0.32 % was achieved respectively. EO were qualitatively analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector (GC-FID) with a DB-5ms apolar column. The compounds were identified based on mass spectra and the Van Den Dool and Kratz retention indices. They were quantified by calculating the relative response factors based on the combustion enthalpies. M. aliena and P. macrotrichum resulted rich in monoterpenes, and C. pycnantha and S. schimpffii in sesquiterpenes. The major compounds for the essential oils of C. pycnantha were γ-muurolene, bicyclogermacrene, (E)-caryophyllene α-ylangene and α-humulene; M. aliena: α-pinene and β-pinene; P. macrotrichum δ-3-carene, eugenol and chavibetol acetate; and S. schimpffii: spathulenol, 2-undecanone, bicyclogermacrene and (E)-Isocroweacin.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK), 2021
The aim of this study was to investigate the use of medicinal plants by healers in Juazeiro do Norte, Northeast Brazil, as well as to understand their role in prayer/healing practices. 30 residents from 20 neighborhoods, 18 urban neighborhoods and 2 randomly selected rural locations, were interviewed using a sample method known as "snowball", with two pilot interviews being initially conducted, where for greater method reliability and for the analysis of the importance attributed to the plants by the respondents, a calculation to determine their Relative Importance (RI) index was used. The results indicate the use of 60 species distributed across 34 families. The most representative families were: Fabaceae (7), Lamiaceae (6) and Asteraceae (5), where 10 species (eight exotic and two native) obtained a Relative Importance (RI>1):
Ethnobotany of Medical Plants: Diversity and use in Brazilian Quilombol Communities
Ethnobotany has been an excellent research tool in understanding the various ways that relate physics, culture and spirituality to plants in traditional quilombol communities. Studies on medicinal plants, which demonstrate their diversity and use by quilombola communities, demonstrate their relevance, given factors such as cultural influence, ancient knowledge passed on to each generation bringing them to scientific knowledge. In this context, the present study aimed to conduct a survey on the diversity and use of medicinal plants by quilombola communities, through the review of articles from 2014 to 2019 obtained by the SciELO platform, LILACS and CAPES Magazine Portal. With the study, it is clear what is the importance or fundamental knowledge about the diversity and use of these medicinal plants, and the lack of knowledge of an important risk factor for poisoning for the residents of these communities, thus alerting the need for education and preventive activities, as well as the publication and dissemination of research with similar objectives, are those that best use above as their basic and nutritional needs.