RT journal article
T1 Atractylis gummifera and Centaurea ornata in the Province of Badajoz (Extremadura, Spain)—Ethnopharmacological importance and toxicological risk
T2 Atractylis gummifera y Centaurea ornata en la provincia de Badajoz (Extremadura, España): importancia etnofarmacológica y riesgo toxicológico
A1 Vallejo Villalobos, José Ramón
A1 Peral Pacheco, Diego
A1 Gemio Zumalave, Pedro Rafael
A1 Carrasco Ramos, María Consuelo
A1 Heinrich, Michael
A1 Pardo-de-Santayana, Manuel
A2 Anatomía PatológicaBiología Celular, Histología, Historia de la Ciencia, Medicina Legal y Forense y Toxicología
K1 Medicinal plants
K1 Toxic plants
K1 Toxicology
K1 Ethnopharmacology
K1 Ethnobotany
K1 Folkmedicine
K1 Public health
AB Ethnopharmacological relevance:Atractylis gummifera L. and Centaurea ornata Willd. are locally marketed herbal remedies, even though in Spain it is forbidden to sell toxic plants like Atractylis gummifera. Intoxications in Spain are mainly due to accidental substitution of Centaurea ornata with Atractylis gummifera which may be fatal.Aim of study:The aim of this article is to analyse the current use and marketing of Atractylis gummifera and Centaurea ornata in Badajoz and analyse the ethnopharmacological relevance of two recent cases of Atractylis gummifera poisoning.Background and methods:An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in the area where one of the poisoned patients lives and in Guadiana del Caudillo. The use, knowledge and naming of the species involved in the poisoning was assessed. This information was complemented with an exhaustive search in Spanish ethnobotanical works on the ethnopharmacological uses of both species.Results:Intoxications are due to species’ substitutions. The two species are similar in name and use in the area, and both are locally marketed. AG is mainly used to heal wounds and calcaneal spurs, and CO to treat gastric ulcers and wounds.Conclusions:New intoxications are likely since consumers often have limited knowledge of the plants they consume. Also, it is common to think that all medicinal plants are harmless. As the use of Atractylis gummifera seems to increase in the area, preventive measures need to be taken.
PB Elsevier
SN 1872-7573
YR 2009
FD 2009-11-12
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/36439
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/36439
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 08-nov-2026