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Para caracterizar el comercio de plantas medicinales en Caracas, Venezuela, se visitaron cinco mercados populares y 10 herbolarios, entrevistando los vendedores para determinar las especies comercializadas, usos tradicionales, su versatilidad e importancia relativa. Se registraron 198 especímenes, identificándose 164 especies, de 72 familias. La mayoría son cultivadas, pero también se comercializan especies silvestres provenientes de los Andes y Guayana. Se registraron 120 usos, distribuidos en 18 categorías de enfermedades, principalmente del sistema digestivo, infecciosas y parasitarias, piel y tejido subcutáneo. Predominaron las especies multipropósito (164, IVF > 0,5), mientras que 125 presentaron uso significativo (NUS > 20%). El análisis de agrupamiento evidenció la existencia de dos grupos de herbolarios. Se recomienda complementar este estudio con evaluaciones farmacológicas y ecológicas. To characterize the commercial trade of medicinal plants in Caracas, Venezuela, five popular markets and 10 herb stalls were visited. Stall keepers were interviewed to determine which species were being sold and which were their traditional uses. One hundred ninety eight samples were recorded and 164 species from 72 families were identified. Most of these species are cultivated although wild species from theAndes and Guayana have also been commercialized. One hundred twenty different uses of these plants were recorded and categorized according to 18 disease types, especially those associated with digestive system, infectious and parasitic diseases, as well as those related to skin and subcutaneous tissue. Multi-purpose species were dominant (164, IVF > 0,5), while 125 species show significant use (NUS > 20%). The cluster analysis evidences two groups of stalls. A complementary study considering pharmacological and ecological assessments is recommended.

Según estimaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, más del 80% de la población mundial, especialmente en los países en desarrollo, utiliza tratamientos tradicionales a base de plantas para sus necesidades de atención primaria de salud. No obstante, en esos países ha ocurrido una pérdida importante del conocimiento tradicional sobre el uso de plantas medicinales y además, su disponibilidad se ha visto reducida por la degradación de los ambientes naturales, sobre todo en la región tropical. En este contexto, la investigación etnobotánica puede ayudar a evitar la pérdida de dicho conocimiento y proteger, simultáneamente, la biodiversidad. La naturaleza interdisciplinaria de la etnobotánica permite una amplia variedad de enfoques y aplicaciones. Sin embargo, hasta el presente ha existido poco intercambio de teorías y métodos entre disciplinas relacionadas, lo que ha favorecido el predominio de trabajos descriptivos, que se limitan a compilar listas de plantas útiles. Por otra parte, en pocos casos son reconocidos los derechos de propiedad intelectual que tienen las comunidades locales sobre el conocimiento tradicional. Para superar esta situación, los enfoques actuales de la etnobotánica enfatizan el desarrollo de proyectos interdisciplinarios de gran alcance, que comiencen con la documentación del conocimiento tradicional, reconozcan los derechos de propiedad intelectual y culminen con estrategias para retribuir a las comunidades por los beneficios obtenidos en la investigación. En el presente trabajo, se analizan los objetivos y enfoques actuales de la etnobotánica, así como las fases que debería cumplir cualquier proyecto interdisciplinario de investigación sobre plantas medicinales. According to estimates of the World Health Organization more than 80 per cent of the world population uses traditional medicinal plants to provide primary health care, particularly in developing countries. However, in such countries traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants has been significantly lost. Moreover, the availability of these plants has been dramatically reduced as a result of habitat degradation, especially in tropical forests. Ethnobotanical research could contribute to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge as well as to protect biodiversity. The interdisciplinary nature of ethnobotany allows for a wide range of approaches and applications. Nevertheless, little interchange of theories and methods among related disciplines has taken place to date, resulting in the predominance of descriptive works, which are primarily limited to compilations of useful plants. In addition, very rarely the intellectual property rights of local communities are recognized. In order to overcome this situation, the current approaches of the ethnobotanical research emphasize the development of wide-scoped interdisciplinary projects, which begin by recording traditional knowledge, recognize intellectual property rights and culminate in establishing strategies designed to reward the communities for the benefits obtained during the investigation. In the present paper, we analyze the goals and current approaches applied on ethnobotanical research, as well as the different stages that interdisciplinary research projects regarding medicinal plants should cover. Segundo estimações da Organização Mundial da Saúde, mais de 80% da população mundial, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento, utiliza tratamentos tradicionais à base de plantas para suas necessidades de atenção primaria de saúde. No entanto, nesses países tem ocorrido uma perda importante do conhecimento tradicional sobre o uso de plantas medicinais e além disso, sua disponibilidade tem se reduzido pela degradação dos ambientes naturais, sobretudo na região tropical. Neste contexto, a investigação etnobotánica pode ajudar a evitar a perda de dito conhecimento e proteger, simultaneamente, a biodiversidade. A natureza interdisciplinaria da etnobotánica permite uma ampla variedade de enfoques e aplicações. No entanto, até hoje tem existido pouco intercâmbio de teorias e métodos entre disciplinas relacionadas, o que tem favorecido o predomínio de trabalhos descritivos, que se limitam a compilar listas de plantas úteis. Por outra parte, em poucos casos são reconhecidos os direitos de propriedade intelectual que tem as comunidades locais sobre o conhecimento tradicional. Para superar esta situação, os enfoques atuais da etnobotánica enfatizam o desenvolvimento de projetos interdisciplinares de grande alcance, que comecem com a documentação do conhecimento tradicional, reconheçam os direitos de propriedade intelectual e culminem com estratégias para retribuir às comunidades pelos benefícios obtidos na investigação. No presente trabalho, se analisam os objetivos e enfoques atuais da etnobotánica, assim como as fases que deveria cumprir qualquer projeto interdisciplinar de investigação sobre plantas medicinais.

25 páginas, 8 figuras, 6 tablas., [EN] An understanding of risks to biodiversity is needed for planning action to slow current rates of decline and secure ecosystem services for future human use. Although the IUCN Red List criteria provide an effective assessment protocol for species, a standard global assessment of risks to higher levels of biodiversity is currently limited. In 2008, IUCN initiated development of risk assessment criteria to support a global Red List of ecosystems. We present a new conceptual model for ecosystem risk assessment founded on a synthesis of relevant ecological theories. To support the model, we review key elements of ecosystem definition and introduce the concept of ecosystem collapse, an analogue of species extinction. The model identifies four distributional and functional symptoms of ecosystem risk as a basis for assessment criteria: A) rates of decline in ecosystem distribution; B) restricted distributions with continuing declines or threats; C) rates of environmental (abiotic) degradation; and D) rates of disruption to biotic processes. A fifth criterion, E) quantitative estimates of the risk of ecosystem collapse, enables integrated assessment of multiple processes and provides a conceptual anchor for the other criteria. We present the theoretical rationale for the construction and interpretation of each criterion. The assessment protocol and threat categories mirror those of the IUCN Red List of species. A trial of the protocol on terrestrial, subterranean, freshwater and marine ecosystems from around the world shows that its concepts are workable and its outcomes are robust, that required data are available, and that results are consistent with assessments carried out by local experts and authorities. The new protocol provides a consistent, practical and theoretically grounded framework for establishing a systematic Red List of the world’s ecosystems. This will complement the Red List of species and strengthen global capacity to report on and monitor the status of biodiversity