Mutation of Cultural Information on the Use of Plant Complexes in Local Medical Systems
Joint Authors
Dantas, Janilo I. M.
Nascimento, André L. B.
Silva, Taline C.
Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino de
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2020, Issue 2020 (31 Dec. 2020), pp.1-11, 11 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2020-06-24
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
11
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Despite being an affable strategy of adaptive expectation, the transmission of cultural information can result in unintended changes in the information.
This is known as “mutation” in the theory of cultural evolution.
The occurrence of information mutations in local medical systems may be greater in some situations.
For example, “vegetable complexes” can be used as good study models to show a greater accumulation of mutations due to the variation in the mixtures and combinations of information.
Here, we tested the following hypotheses: (H1) medicinal plants in plant complexes generate a greater accumulation of mutations than isolated plants in local medical systems; (H2) information on the medicinal function of the plant species generates a greater proportion of mutations than information on the parts of plants used medicinally; (H3) plants in plant complexes perceived as less efficient undergo more information mutational events; and (H4) changes in information on plant complexes are more random (mutation) than intentional (guided variation).
We conducted the study in the Lagoa do Junco community, state of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil.
For data collection, we used semistructured interviews to address the use of isolated medicinal plants and plant complexes.
Additionally, we assessed the informants’ perceptions about the effectiveness of the plants used in these preparations.
We found that the mutation rate was higher when isolated plants were used than when plant complexes were used (p=0.02), and it was also higher for function than for parts of the medicinal plants (p<0.001).
No relationship between the mutations and perceived efficiency of the plants (p=0.19) was observed, and changes in information were more random (mutation) than intentional (guided variation) (p<0.001).
From an evolutionary perspective, greatly varying information, such as that on plant complexes, did not explain a greater accumulation of mutations.
Thus, we suggested that further studies that include other evolutionary parameters that may cause the accumulation of information mutations must be conducted.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Dantas, Janilo I. M.& Nascimento, André L. B.& Silva, Taline C.& Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino de. 2020. Mutation of Cultural Information on the Use of Plant Complexes in Local Medical Systems. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1157314
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Dantas, Janilo I. M.…[et al.]. Mutation of Cultural Information on the Use of Plant Complexes in Local Medical Systems. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2020 (2020), pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1157314
American Medical Association (AMA)
Dantas, Janilo I. M.& Nascimento, André L. B.& Silva, Taline C.& Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino de. Mutation of Cultural Information on the Use of Plant Complexes in Local Medical Systems. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020. Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1157314
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1157314