The human genome encodes a gene for an enzymatically active chitinase (CHIT1) located in a single copy on Chromosome 1, which is highly expressed by activated macrophages and in other cells of the innate immune response. Several dysfunctional mutations are known in CHIT1, including a 24-bp duplication in Exon 10 causing catalytic deficiency. This duplication is a common variant conserved in many human populations, except in West and South Africans. Thus it has been proposed that human migration out of Africa and the consequent reduction of exposure to chitin from environmental factors may have enabled the conservation of dysfunctional mutations in human chitinases. Our data obtained from 85 indigenous Amerindians from Peru, representative of populations characterized by high prevalence of chitin-bearing enteroparasites and intense entomophagy, reveal a very high frequency of the 24-bp duplication (47.06%), and of other single nucleotide polymorphisms which are known to partially affect enzymatic activity (G102S: 42.7% and A442G/V: 25.5%). Our finding is in line with a founder effect, but appears to confute our previous hypothesis of a protective role against parasite infection and sustains the discussion on the redundancy of chitinolytic function.

Peru is a megadiverse country with native species of all kinds, including dye plants, which have been used for hundreds of years by the local population. Despite the fact that many of these natural dyes are of a superior quality compared to synthetic ones and do not have the harmful effects that the latter may cause to human health, due to the lack of documentation and dissemination, ethnobotanical knowledge is unfortunately being lost with the passing of generations. In order to preserve and spread such valuable knowledge, this study conducted a comprehensive taxonomic, phytogeographic, and ethnobotanical inventory of dye plants based on periodical botanical explorations in selected locations of Northern Peru during the span of two decades. A critical review of the specialized bibliography was then carried out and the findings were verified with the personal knowledge and experience of both the researchers and the local and regional people. The results of the inventory record 32 species of dye plants from Northern Peru distributed in 22 families, of which the following stand out due to the number of species: Fabaceae (5), Anacardiaceae (2), Annonaceae (2), Asteraceae (2), Berberidaceae (2), Rosaceae (2), and Solanaceae (2). Of the 32 dye species identified, four are considered endemic from Peru: Berberis buceronis J.F. Macbr., Caesalpinia paipai Ruiz & Pav., Coreopsis senaria S.F. Blake & Sherf., and Lomatia hirsuta (Lam.) Diels. The study also found that species such as Bixa orellana L., Indigofera suffruticosa Mill., Sambucus peruviana, and the lichen Usnea baileyi (Stirton) Zahlbr have not been commercially exploited in Peru despite the fact that they already constitute a great economic source for several countries.

Aspectos etnobotánicos de Cuspón, Perú: Una comunidad campesina que utiliza 57 especies de plantas en sus diversas necesidades

“Plantas frías” y “Plantas calientes” recursos potenciales en la prevención y/o tratamiento del COVID- 19

En el Perú hay dos especies endémicas de algodón, G. barbadense L. y G. raimondii Ulbrich, que han sido utilizadas desde las culturas preincas. Actualmente, en el Perú se busca reevaluarlas y rescatarlas en vista de una mayor demanda del mercado, que busca evitar el uso de colorantes artificiales. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo con el propósito de contribuir al conocimiento de la caracterización del fruto, semilla y fibra de un ecotipo de G. raimondii, conocido como “algodón silvestre”. Se utilizó material vegetal del Distrito de San Benito, Provincia de Contumazá, Departamento de Cajamarca. La fase experimental se llevó a cabo en el Laboratorio de Genética y Biología Molecular de la Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, que consistió en las mediciones de la longitud y del ancho de frutos, semillas y fibras, así como el número de lóculos y semillas. Se consideró un análisis estadístico del tipo descriptivo con 60 repeticiones por cada componente. El fruto tuvo una longitud promedio de 2,14 cm y 1,46 cm de ancho, con cuatro lóculos. Las semillas tuvieron una longitud promedio de 5,74 mm y un ancho de 3,25 mm, con un promedio de 23,6 semillas por fruto. En promedio, la fibra tuvo 11,95 mm de largo y 7,34 um de ancho. La caracterización del fruto, semilla y fibra del “algodón silvestre” G. raimondii permite diferenciarlo del “algodón pardo” (G. barbadense) y del ecotipo “algodón verde” (G. raimondii). Se recomienda continuar con estudios moleculares que permitan dilucidar el grado de emparentamiento de estas especies y ecotipos.