In the present study, we determined the chemical composition of Clinopodium macrostemum essential oil obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and its effect on the growth and development of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae.... more
In the present study, we determined the chemical composition of Clinopodium macrostemum essential oil obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and its effect on the growth and development of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae. The essential oil compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and bioassays were conducted to evaluate the influence on the developmental stages of early second instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus until the emergence of adults, using essential oil concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800mg/L. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the leaf essential oil of C. macrostemum contained 32 compounds and the major chemical compounds identified were linalool (55.4%), nerol (6.4%), caryophyllene (6.25%), menthone (5.8%), geraniol acetate (4.1%), terpineol (3.7%), and pulegone (2.8%). The essential oil yield obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation was 0.8% at 20 min. The treatments showe...
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The Wild Orchid Trade in a Mexican Local Market: Diversity and EconomicsIn developing countries, the sustainable management of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is promoted as a means to generate benefits in indigenous communities,... more
The Wild Orchid Trade in a Mexican Local Market: Diversity and EconomicsIn developing countries, the sustainable management of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is promoted as a means to generate benefits in indigenous communities, alleviate poverty, and guarantee forest conservation. However, it is largely unknown whether this practice meets local economic needs. In Mexico, orchids are one of the most widely traded NTFP in local markets, but studies generally only provide lists of the species for sale. We obtained data for orchid richness and abundance from 56 sellers in a Mexican local market over one year. We related sellers’ economic status to certain socioeconomic variables and determined possible relationships between orchid prices and abundance. Thirty-seven orchid species were recorded; an estimated 18,740 units were offered for sale, most of them harvested in surrounding forests. The greatest abundance of orchids for sale was recorded in October–December, whereas the greatest richness was found in March–April. The ages of the sellers ranged from 14–70 years, 78.5% were women, 50% had either no formal schooling or did not finish elementary school, and 54% spoke an indigenous language. The orchid trade was not the sellers’ main economic activity: to supplement their incomes they traded either agricultural products or other NTFP. Age and speaking an indigenous language were correlated positively with seller poverty and negatively with income obtained in a single sale day. Orchid price had a low, negative relationship with abundance in the market. Mexican law punishes the illegal wildlife trade, but this practice is allowed (at least) at the local level because orchid extraction and trade is a traditional use and custom in the local indigenous community.El comercio de orquídeas silvestres en un mercado local Mexicano: Diversidad y economíaEn países en desarrollo el manejo sustentable de productos forestales no maderables (PFNM) es promovido como medio para generar beneficios en comunidades indígenas, aliviar la pobreza y garantizar la conservación de los bosques. Sin embargo, se desconoce si esta práctica cumple con las necesidades económicas locales. En México, las orquídeas son uno de los PFNM más comercializados en mercados locales, pero los estudios al respecto generalmente se enfocan en la listas de especies en venta. Durante un año en un mercado local mexicano se obtuvo información de riqueza y abundancia de orquídeas a partir de 56 vendedores. Se relacionó el estatus económico de los vendedores con algunas variables socioeconómicas y se determinó una posible relación entre precio y abundancia de las orquídeas. Treinta y siete orquídeas fueron registradas a partir de 18,740 unidades ofrecidas en venta, la mayoría cosechadas en bosques circundantes. La mayor abundancia de orquídeas fue registrada en octubre-diciembre, mientras que la mayor riqueza se encontró en marzo-abril. La edad de los vendedores fue de 14 a 70 años, 78.5% fueron mujeres, 50% no tuvieron educación formal o no terminaron la educación elemental y 54% hablan una lengua indígena. El comercio de orquídeas no es la principal actividad económica de los vendedores: para suplementar sus ingresos venden otros productos agrícolas o PFNM. La edad y hablar una lengua indígena se correlacionaron positivamente con la pobreza del vendedor y negativamente con los ingresos obtenidos en un día de venta. El precio de una orquídea tuvo una relación baja y negativa con la abundancia en el mercado. Las leyes mexicanas sancionan el comercio ilícito de vida silvestre, pero esta práctica es permitida (al menos) a nivel local debido a que la extracción y venta de orquídeas es parte de los usos y costumbres tradicionales en la comunidad indígena.
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Three new species in the genus Stelis (Orchidaceae) are here described and illustrated for the first time: two have been previously mentioned and are published formally here. For each taxon, information is provided about its distribution,... more
Three new species in the genus Stelis (Orchidaceae) are here described and illustrated for the first time: two have been previously mentioned and are published formally here. For each taxon, information is provided about its distribution, habitat, phenology, traits that distinguish it from similar species, and conservation status. A line drawing, photo, and map for the known localities of the three species are provided.
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Biology and Orchidaceae
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In developing countries, the sustainable management of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is promoted as a means to generate benefits in indigenous communities, alleviate poverty, and guarantee forest conservation. However, it is largely... more
In developing countries, the sustainable management of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is
promoted as a means to generate benefits in indigenous communities, alleviate poverty, and
guarantee forest conservation. However, it is largely unknown whether this practice meets local
economic needs. InMexico, orchids are one of the most widely traded NTFP in localmarkets, but
studies generally only provide lists of the species for sale. We obtained data for orchid richness
and abundance from 56 sellers in a Mexican local market over one year. We related sellers’
economic status to certain socioeconomic variables and determined possible relationships between
orchid prices and abundance. Thirty-seven orchid species were recorded; an estimated
18,740 units were offered for sale, most of them harvested in surrounding forests. The greatest
abundance of orchids for sale was recorded in October–December, whereas the greatest richness
was found inMarch–April. The ages of the sellers ranged from 14–70 years, 78.5%werewomen,
50% had either no formal schooling or did not finish elementary school, and 54% spoke an
indigenous language. The orchid tradewas not the sellers’main economic activity: to supplement
their incomes they traded either agricultural products or other NTFP. Age and speaking an
indigenous language were correlated positively with seller poverty and negatively with income
obtained in a single sale day. Orchid price had a low, negative relationship with abundance in the
market.Mexican law punishes the illegal wildlife trade, but this practice is allowed (at least) at the
local level because orchid extraction and trade is a traditional use and custom in the local
indigenous community.
promoted as a means to generate benefits in indigenous communities, alleviate poverty, and
guarantee forest conservation. However, it is largely unknown whether this practice meets local
economic needs. InMexico, orchids are one of the most widely traded NTFP in localmarkets, but
studies generally only provide lists of the species for sale. We obtained data for orchid richness
and abundance from 56 sellers in a Mexican local market over one year. We related sellers’
economic status to certain socioeconomic variables and determined possible relationships between
orchid prices and abundance. Thirty-seven orchid species were recorded; an estimated
18,740 units were offered for sale, most of them harvested in surrounding forests. The greatest
abundance of orchids for sale was recorded in October–December, whereas the greatest richness
was found inMarch–April. The ages of the sellers ranged from 14–70 years, 78.5%werewomen,
50% had either no formal schooling or did not finish elementary school, and 54% spoke an
indigenous language. The orchid tradewas not the sellers’main economic activity: to supplement
their incomes they traded either agricultural products or other NTFP. Age and speaking an
indigenous language were correlated positively with seller poverty and negatively with income
obtained in a single sale day. Orchid price had a low, negative relationship with abundance in the
market.Mexican law punishes the illegal wildlife trade, but this practice is allowed (at least) at the
local level because orchid extraction and trade is a traditional use and custom in the local
indigenous community.
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The Tacaná-Boquerón region (TBR) in Chiapas is considered an area of high biodiversity in Mexico, with a rich but poorly studied orchid flora, which is an important component of the vegetation and threatened by an accelerated rate of... more
The Tacaná-Boquerón region (TBR) in Chiapas is considered an area of high biodiversity in Mexico, with a rich but poorly studied orchid flora, which is an important component of the vegetation and threatened by an accelerated rate of deforestation. By means of fieldwork, and the revision of scientific collections and literature, an orchid checklist for the TBR and adjacent areas was made; using geographic information systems the distribution of this orchid flora was analyzed in the study area. From 1,235 records we report 105 genera and 325 species, two of them determined to infraspecific level and two are natural hybrids; nine species were additions to the Mexican flora; 39 species are considered at risk in Mexico; the national distribution of a further 20 species are restricted to the TBR. This orchid flora represents 24 % and 44 % of the national and state orchid species richness, respectively, is the second richest in Mexico, and only surpassed by the region El Momón-Las Margaritas-Montebello (Chiapas). The greatest orchid richness is concentrated between elevations of 500 to 2,499 m, in areas now given over to permanent agriculture (including coffee and cocoa plantations); in primary forest the richness is lower. The Tacaná Volcano Bio-sphere Reserve is the only protected area in the TBR and the proposal to extend it to the Boquerón peak would promote the protection of the orchid flora growing above 1,000 m in the region. Traditional coffee plantations could be alternative to conserve orchids that grow below 1,600 m.
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Background: Prosthechea karwinskii is an endemic Mexican orchid, it's currently used as decorative element and in the traditional medicine to treat diabetes and some problems related to inflammatory processes. Aim: To determine... more
Background: Prosthechea karwinskii is an endemic Mexican orchid, it's currently used as decorative element and in the traditional medicine to treat diabetes and some problems related to inflammatory processes. Aim: To determine antioxidant activity index (AAI) and to validate by the first time and through an rat model the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from Prosthechea karwinskii, a plant used in traditional medicine for treat conditions relate to the metabolic syndrome. Methods: For in vivo assays 25 weaned male Wistar rats were divided into a control group (CG; n = 5) and a Metabolic Syndrome group (MS; n = 20). The rats of the latter were induced to MS with 40% sucrose in the drink water during 13 weeks. After MS induction this group was subdivided into 4 groups: MS group (n = 5) received sucrose, and three groups receiving 200 mg/kg of body weight of each extract pseudobulb (P, n = 5), leaf (L, n = 5), and flower (F, n = 5). All treatments were followed for 13 days. Blood was collected at the end of the study to measure glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. AAI were measured in the extracts by the method of DPPH. The results were analyzed using MINITAB 16.1.0, and the statistical significance was determined by ANOVA and a Tukey's test (P < 0.05). Results: Leaves (L) extract had highest values in AAI, followed by flowers (F) and pseudobulb (P) extracts. Leaves extract had highest reducing effect on glucose level, while flower extract had highest reducing effect on the cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Conclusions: The P. karwinskii extracts evaluated here reduces the glycemic and lipidemic parameters in Wistar rats with MS induced. These effects may be attributed to the high antioxidant capacity of the extracts.
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In Mexico, native orchids are appreciated for their ornamental value and traditional uses and in many indigenous communities they comprise part of a biocultural heritage. The orchid Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H. Shaw, Orchidaceae,... more
In Mexico, native orchids are appreciated for their ornamental value and traditional uses and in many indigenous communities they comprise part of a biocultural heritage. The orchid Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H. Shaw, Orchidaceae, is particularly relevant in this context, although some of its traditional uses have been attributed to a very similar species, P. citrina. A recent study of P. karwinskii reported unknown medicinal and other traditional uses by the Mixtec community in Mexico. Unfortunately, increasing acculturation of indigenous communities has resulted in a loss of the community’s traditional knowledge, thus, we herein documented the worldview and practices associated with the medicinal use of P. karwinskii as well as the socioeconomic aspects that characterize the holders of this knowledge. People with this knowledge are mainly indigenous women with little or no schooling, who learned the medicinal practices from family tradition. They use pseudobulbs, leaves, or flowers of the plant to treat coughs (infusions), wounds and burns (poultices), diabetes (tea or chewed), to prevent miscarriages and to assist in childbirth (infusions). These results show a promising future for ethnopharmacological research on P. karwinskii.