Toxic plants from the perspective of a "Quilombola" community in the Cerrado region of Brazil

Authors: PAIM, RICARDO - Federal University Of Goias; DE PAULA, LUIZA G. F. - Federal University Of Goias; SOARES, DEBORA M. - Federal University Of Goias; ROCHA, TARIK F. - Federal University Of Goias; RIBEIRO, AMANDA - Federal University Of Goias; BARROS, NATALIA - Federal University Of Goias; DOS SANTOS, FABRICIO - Instituto Federal Goiano; FERREIRA, HELENO - Federal University Of Goias; GOMES-KLEIN, V - Federal University Of Goias; SOTO-BLANCO, BENITO - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; DE OLIVEIRA-FILHO, J - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); DA CUNHA, PAULO H. J. - Federal University Of Goias; RIET-CORREA, FRANKLIN - Federal University Of Bahia (UFBA); PFISTER, JAMES - Former ARS Employee; Cook, Daniel; FIORAVANTI, MARIA C. S. - Federal University Of Goias; BOTELHO, ANA F. M. - Federal University Of Goias

Submitted to: Toxicon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2023
Publication Date: 1/18/2023
Citation: Paim, R.C., de Paula, L., Soares, D.S., Rocha, T.G., Ribeiro, A.L., Barros, N., dos Santos, F.C., Ferreira, H.D., Gomes-Klein, V.L., Soto-Blanco, B., de Oliveira-Filho, J.P., da Cunha, P., Riet-Correa, F., Pfister, J., Cook, D., Fioravanti, M., Botelho, A. 2023. Toxic plants from the perspective of a "Quilombola" community in the Cerrado region of Brazil. Toxicon. 224. Article 107028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107028.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107028

Interpretive Summary: A multi-disciplinary team surveyed Kalunga ranchers in the Cerrado region of west central Brazil to determine impacts from toxic plants. The expedition to the Kalunga region was carried out by Brazilian and American researchers including veterinarians, agronomists, botanists and local guides. Previously selected cattle ranch properties from the regions of “Vão das Almas”, “Engenho II” and “Vão do Moleque” were visited. Twenty-four interviews were carried out with cattle ranchers, which were recorded, and a semi-structured questionnaire was applied in order to obtain information about possible outbreaks of native plant poisoning in the Cerrado, and their harmful effects on livestock. Information was also obtained regarding the use of plants native to the regions, in human and veterinary phytotherapy. Data analysis was conducted through quantitative and qualitative assessments, based on a classic content analysis model. The data analysis classified problematic plants in the region into three distinct categories. First, the toxic plants most cited by residents causing cattle losses were the flowers of “pequi” (Caryocar brasiliense Cambess), the fruits of “mirindiba” or “pau-pilão” (Buchenavia tomentosa), “cagaita” (Eugenia dysenterica), and “erva-café” or “cafezinho” (coffee herb - Palicourea marcgravii). Secondly, other plants considered toxic, but causing less severe losses were “casco d'anta” (Emmotum nitens (Benth.) Miers), “timbozinho” (Indigofera lespedezioides), “mamona” (castor bean - Ricinus communis), “samambaia” (bracken fern - Pteridium aquilinum), “barbatimão” (Stryphnodendron adstringens) and “cambaúba” (Actinocladum verticillatum). The most important finding was the identification of the C. brasiliense flower as potentially toxic to cattle, which provides new avenues for future research. Further this survey confirmed the toxicity and importance of P. marcgravii, E. dysenterica and T. corrugata. Finally, the survey highlighted phytotherapy plants used by the community, and greatly increased awareness by local livestock producers of various poisonous plants for management purposes. We conclude that ethnobotanical knowledge, especially from the traditional Kalunga community, is essential to understand livestock losses to toxic plants, and should be valued not only for reducing livestock losses, but also for cultural importance to the Kalunga communities in the Cerrado.

Technical Abstract: A multi-disciplinary team surveyed Kalunga ranchers in the Cerrado region of west central Brazil to determine impacts from toxic plants. The expedition to the Kalunga region was carried out by Brazilian and American researchers including veterinarians, agronomists, botanists and local guides. Previously selected cattle ranch properties from the regions of “Vão das Almas”, “Engenho II” and “Vão do Moleque” were visited. Twenty-four interviews were carried out with cattle ranchers, which were recorded, and a semi-structured questionnaire was applied in order to obtain information about possible outbreaks of native plant poisoning in the Cerrado, and their harmful effects on livestock. Information was also obtained regarding the use of plants native to the regions, in human and veterinary phytotherapy. Data analysis was conducted through quantitative and qualitative assessments, based on a classic content analysis model. The data analysis classified problematic plants in the region into three distinct categories. First, the toxic plants most cited by residents causing cattle losses were the flowers of “pequi” (Caryocar brasiliense Cambess), the fruits of “mirindiba” or “pau-pilão” (Buchenavia tomentosa), “cagaita” (Eugenia dysenterica), and “erva-café” or “cafezinho” (coffee herb - Palicourea marcgravii). Secondly, other plants considered toxic, but causing less severe losses were “casco d'anta” (Emmotum nitens (Benth.) Miers), “timbozinho” (Indigofera lespedezioides), “mamona” (castor bean - Ricinus communis), “samambaia” (bracken fern - Pteridium aquilinum), “barbatimão” (Stryphnodendron adstringens) and “cambaúba” (Actinocladum verticillatum). The most important finding was the identification of the C. brasiliense flower as potentially toxic to cattle, which provides new avenues for future research. Further this survey confirmed the toxicity and importance of P. marcgravii, E. dysenterica and T. corrugata. Finally, the survey highlighted phytotherapy plants used by the community, and greatly increased awareness by local livestock producers of various poisonous plants for management purposes. We conclude that ethnobotanical knowledge, especially from the traditional Kalunga community, is essential to understand livestock losses to toxic plants, and should be valued not only for reducing livestock losses, but also for cultural importance to the Kalunga communities in the Cerrado.