Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: The study of traditional remedies used by the Chayahuita, an ethnic group from the Peruvian Amazonia, has prompted us to investigate in detail the ethanolic extract of Pseudelephantopus spicatus (Juss. ex Aubl.) C.F. Baker, which has demonstrated strong biological activity towards Leishmania amazonensis. Our goal was to discover the active compound of this plant-based remedy. Materials and methods: A bioguided fractionation of the crude extract was undertaken based on the biological activity recorded against Leishmania amazonensis axenic amastigotes in in vitro bioassays. Results: Three strongly to moderately active compounds were isolated: two hirsutinolides (the 8,13-diacetyl-piptocarphol and the 8-acetyl-13-O-ethyl-piptocarphol) and ursolic acid. IC50 against Leishmania amazonensis axenic amastigotes are respectively 0.2, 0.37 and 0.99 μM (while IC50 of amphotericin B is 0.41 μM). These compounds have never been isolated from this plant species, and germacranolides have never been identified as potential antileishmanial agents. Conclusions: The compounds isolated from Pseudelephantopus spicatus account for the antileishmanial activity of the plant, thus giving support to its use by the Chayahuita in Peru. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved.

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance:
Field investigations highlighted the use of Psidium acutangulum Mart. ex DC (syn. P. persoonii McVaugh), a small tree used by the Wayana Amerindians in Twenke–Taluhwen and Antecume–Pata, French Guiana, for the treatment of malaria, and administered either orally in the form of a decoction or applied externally over the whole body. This use appears limited to the Wayana cultural group in French Guiana and has never been reported anywhere else. Our goal was to evaluate the antimalarial and anti-inflammatory activities of a P. acutangulum decoction to explain the good reputation of this remedy.
Materials and methods:
Interviews with the Wayana inhabitants of Twenke–Taluhwen and Antecume–Pata were conducted within the TRAMAZ project according to the TRAMIL methodology, which is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of medicinal plant uses. A decoction of dried aerial parts of P. acutangulum was prepared in consistency with the Wayana recipe. In vitro antiplasmodial assays were performed on chloroquine-resistant FcB1 ([3H]-hypoxanthine bioassay) and 7G8 (pLDH bioassay) P. falciparum strains and on chloroquine sensitive NF54 ([3H]-hypoxanthine bioassay) P. falciparum strain. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα) was evaluated on LPS-stimulated human PBMC and NO secretion inhibition was measured on LPS stimulated RAW murine macrophages. Cytotoxicity of the decoction was measured on L6 mammalian cells, PBMCs, and RAW cells. A preliminary evaluation of the in vivo antimalarial activity of the decoction, administered orally twice daily, was assessed by the classical four-day suppressive test against P. berghei NK65 in mice.
Results:
The decoction displayed a good antiplasmodial activity in vitro against the three tested strains, regardless to the bioassay used, with IC50 values of 3.3 µg/mL and 10.3 µg/mL against P. falciparum FcB1 and NF54, respectively and 19.0 µg/mL against P. falciparum 7G8. It also exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in vitro in a dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 50 µg/mL, the decoction inhibited the secretion of the following pro-inflammatory cytokines: TNFα (−18%), IL-1β (−58%), IL-6 (−32%), IL-8 (−21%). It also exhibited a mild NO secretion inhibition (−13%) at the same concentration. The decoction was non-cytotoxic against L6 cells (IC50>100 µg/mL), RAW cells and PBMC. In vivo, 150 µL of the decoction given orally twice a day (equivalent to 350 mg/kg/day of dried extract) inhibited 39.7% average parasite growth, with more than 50% of inhibition in three mice over five. The absence of response for the two remaining mice, however, induced a strong standard deviation.
Conclusions:
This study highlighted the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the decoction of P. acutangulum aerial parts, used by Wayana Amerindians from the Upper-Maroni in French Guiana in case of malaria. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, which may help to explain its use against this disease, was demonstrated using models of artificially stimulated cells.

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance Cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases that occur in all intertropical regions of the world. Amazonian populations have developed an abundant knowledge of the disease and its remedies. Therefore, we undertook to review traditional antileishmanial plants in Amazonia and have developed new tools to analyze this somewhat dispersed information. Material and methods A literature review of traditional remedies for cutaneous/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in the Amazon was conducted and the data obtained was used to calculate distribution indexes designed to highlight the most relevant uses in Amazonia. The cultural distribution index represents the distribution rate of a given taxon among different cultural groups and was calculated as the ratio of the number of groups using the taxon to the total number of groups cited. The geographical distribution index allowed us to quantify spatial distribution of a taxon's uses in Amazonia and was calculated geometrically by measuring the average distance between the points where uses have been reported and the barycenter of those points. The general distribution index was defined as an arithmetic combination of the previous two and provides information on both cultural and spatial criteria. Results 475 use reports, concerning 291 botanical species belonging to 83 families have been gathered depicted from 29 sources. Uses concern 34 cultural groups. While the use of some taxa appears to be Pan-Amazonian, some others are clearly restricted to small geographical regions. Particular attention has been paid to the recipes and beliefs surrounding treatments. Topical application of the remedies dominated the other means of administration and this deserves particular attention as the main treatments against Neotropical leishmaniasis are painful systemic injections. The data set was analyzed using the previously defined distribution indexes and the most relevant taxa were further discussed from a phytochemical and pharmacological point of view. Conclusions The Amazonian biodiversity and cultural heritage host a fantastic amount of data whose systematic investigation should allow a better large-scale understanding of the dynamics of traditional therapies and the consequent discovery of therapeutic solutions for neglected diseases. Distribution indices are indeed powerful tools for emphasizing the most relevant treatments against a given disease and should be very useful in the meta-analysis of other regional pharmacopeia. This focus on renowned remedies that have not yet benefitted from extended laboratory studies, could stimulate future research on new treatments of natural origin for leishmaniasis. © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Abstract: Fish smoking with local wood species is a traditional practice in French Guiana. We evaluated the carcinogenic risk and the smoky taste in acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa) smoked by a small Guianese company specializing in fish smoking using local wood species. The goal of this study is to promote regional economic development by encouraging the establishment of small companies offering fish smoked with local wood species in agreement with the European health norms in terms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content in smoked fish. The fish smoked with three species of wood traditionally used in French Guiana, Parinari campestris, Caesaria grandiflora, and Laetia procera, conformed to European standards for PAH content. Their phenol contents (correlated with the smoky taste) were close to smoked salmon, the reference in Europe. Given the low rate of extractable compounds in these woods, other flavors had little chance of predominating on the smoky taste. These three tropical wood species might be used for the production of cold smoked fish in compliance with European standards for PAH residues. The flavor and consumer's acceptance of the smoked fish should now be investigated to characterize the added typicity of local woods in comparison to the commonly used European woods. © 2016 Society of Ethnobiology.

Abstract: We discuss a property of distance-based measures that has not been addressed with regard to evaluating the geographic concentration of economic activities. The article focuses on the choice between a probability density function of point-pair distances or a cumulative function. We begin by introducing a new cumulative function, M, for evaluating the relative geographic concentration and the co-location of industries in a non-homogeneous spatial framework. Secondly, some rigorous comparisons are made with the leading probability density function of Duranton and Overman (2005), Kd. The merits of the simultaneous use of Kd and M is proved, underlining the complementary nature of the results they provide.