The apparency hypothesis applied to a local pharmacopoeia in the Brazilian northeast

Abstract

BackgroundData from an ethnobotanical study were analyzed to see if they were in agreement with the biochemical basis of the apparency hypothesis based on an analysis of a pharmacopeia in a rural community adjacent to the Araripe National Forest (Floresta Nacional do Araripe - FLONA) in northeastern Brazil. The apparency hypothesis considers two groups of plants, apparent and non-apparent, that are characterized by conspicuity for herbivores (humans) and their chemical defenses.MethodsThis study involved 153 interviewees and used semi-structured interviews. The plants were grouped by habit and lignification to evaluate the behavior of these categories in terms of ethnospecies richness, use value and practical and commercial importance. Information about sites for collecting medicinal plants was also obtained. The salience of the ethnospecies was calculated. G-tests were used to test for differences in ethnospecies richness among collection sites and the Kruskal-Wallis test to identify differences in the use values of plants depending on habit and lignifications (e.g. plants were classes as woody or non-woody, the first group comprising trees, shrubs, and lignified climbers (vines) and the latter group comprising herbs and non-lignified climbers). Spearman’s correlation test was performed to relate salience to use value and these two factors with the commercial value of the plants.ResultsA total of 222 medicinal plants were cited. Herbaceous and woody plants exhibited the highest ethnospecies richness, the non-woody and herbaceous plants had the most practical value (current use), and anthropogenic areas were the main sources of woody and non-woody medicinal plants; herbs and trees were equally versatile in treating diseases and did not differ with regard to use value. Trees were highlighted as the most commercially important growth habit.ConclusionsFrom the perspective of its biochemical fundamentals, the apparency hypothesis does not have predictive potential to explain the use value and commercial value of medicinal plants. In other hand, the herbaceous habit showed the highest ethnospecies richness in the community pharmacopeia, which is an expected prediction, corroborating the apparency hypothesis.

Ecological Apparency Hypothesis and Availability of Useful Plants: Testing different seu values

“…Other studies carried out in dry forests have not shown positive correlations for the medical category (Albuquerque et al 2005, Ferraz et al 2006, Lozano et al 2014, Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2012b. Even in the study in Chapada do Araripe by Lozano et al (2014), which tested apparency exclusively in medicinal species, no positive results were obtained for apparency. In the humid forest, Lawrence et al (2005) also found correlations for this category.…”

“…The ecological apparency hypothesis has been tested in several regions of tropical forests, emphasizing rainforests ( Lawrence et al 2005, Mutchnick & McCarth 1997, Phillips & Gentry 1993a, 1993b, Thomas et al 2009) over dry forests (Albuquerque et al 2005, Ferraz et al 2006, Lozano et al 2014, Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2012b). The results presented in studies in humid forests indicate that people of these regions preferentially use plant resources that are more available.…”

“…Ecological apparency has been tested in dry forests; in Brazil, it has been tested in Caatinga and Cerrado and has shown different results for the use and local availability of plant resources (Albuquerque et al 2005, Ferraz et al 2006, Lozano et al 2014, Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2012b, Tunholi et al 2013.…”

Influencia de microhábitats en el desempeño de especies herbáceas en áreas de bosque maduro y secundario en la región semiárida de Brasil

“…In general, herbaceous component performs an important role in the maintenance and restoring the biodiversity, by interfering with the recruitment of seedlings, being an additional source of food for fauna (providing pollen, nectar and resin), and assist in the retention of seeds in the topsoil through intertwining their roots (Araújo, & Ferraz, 2003;Lorenzon, Matrangolo, & Schoereder, 2003;Araújo, & Ferraz, 2003;Santos et al, 2013). Additionally, recent research has indicated the high importance of herbaceous species in the cure and treatment of diseases Lozano, Araújo, Medeiros, & Albuquerque, 2014).…”

The Use of Herbal Medicine in a Rural Community in Vitória Da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil: An Indication for Pharmacological Studies

“…Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by indigenous populations of rural areas of Bahia has not received enough attention so far, although in northeastern Brazil there are ethnobotanical studies recently published [4][5][6][7][8]. Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia was formerly (18 th Century) inhabited by the Indian tribes Mongoiós (subgroup Camacãs), Ymborés (or Aimorés) and to a lesser extent by the Pataxós.…”