Medicinal plant knowledge in Caribbean Basin: a comparative study of Afrocaribbean, Amerindian and Mestizo communities.

Background: The Caribbean Basin has complex biogeographical and cultural histories that have shaped its highly diverse botanical and cultural landscapes. As a result, the current ethnic composition of the Basin is a heterogeneous mixture including Amerindian, Afrocaribbean and a wide range of Mestizo populations. A comparison was done of the medicinal plant repertoires used by these groups to identify the proportion of native species they include and any differences between the groups.

Acromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management: effects of TRAMILs fungicidal plant extracts.

Leaf-cutting ants, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), are considering among the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, the main insecticides used for controlling these ants were synthetic chemicals. Leaf-cutting ants live in obligate symbiosis with abasidiomycete fungus, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (Heim) Moeller.

Acromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management. Part 1: Effects of TRAMIL's insecticidal plant extracts.

Background: Leaf-cutting ants are considered to be one of the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, control strategies against these leaf-cutting ants have mainly been synthetic chemicals. The aim of the present study was to test the action of several plant extracts quoted as an example by TRAMIL participative surveys for their insecticidal properties on adult major workers of Acromyrmex octospinosus.

TRAMIL ethnopharmalogical survey in Les Saintes (Guadeloupe, French West Indies): a comparative study.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was a comparison of popular household remedies in primary health care in the communities of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, the inhabited islands of 'Les Saintes' archipelago (Guadeloupe, French West Indies).

Methods: Twelve ailments, with higher prevalence, were chosen in each island and a total of 216 families were interviewed using TRAMIL participative ethnopharmacological interviews.

Results: According to TRAMIL methodology (frequency over 20%), twenty-two plants uses were recorded for Terre-de-Haut and eighteen for Terre-de-Bas.

TRAMIL ethnopharmacological survey: knowledge distribution of medicinal plant use in the southeast region of Puerto Rico.

Background: TRAMIL network aims to understand, validate and expand health practices based on the use of medicinal plants in the Caribbean, a "biodiversity hotspot" due to high species endemism, intense development pressure and habitat loss.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to document both the medicinal plants that are frequently used to treat health conditions prevalent in the southeastern region of the archipelago of Puerto Rico and the trends in their use among the study population.

Methods: An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in the study region.