南米中央アンデスを中心にした地域の有用植物の科学 VIII―ハーブについて

抄録

The Central Andes area in South America, especially Peru, is a treasury of herbs, with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 varieties. The Inca civilization did not have a written language, and the knowledge of herbs in the Andes is still taught by word of mouth, with no written records. Therefore, most information about local herbs is known only by indigenous Peruvians. In the late 17th century, Spanish Bishop Baltasar Jaime reported about some Peruvian herbs. The herbal surveys were continued by other researchers, but were limited to areas of the coastal plains and one part of the Amazon. In the 20th century, herbal research has mainly proceeded in the areas where many indigenous people live, such as Northern and Southern Peru and Lake Titicaca. At present, Peruvian herbs are used not only domestically but also overseas, but there are many challenges regarding the varieties and uses of the herbs. One of the problems is that it is hard to choose the most suitable herb for a specific use because there is only traditional, widely varying knowledge about potential uses. Further, it is important to know that a given herb has no side effects and is highly safe in a long-term chronic dosing regimen. Therefore, scientific verification is needed by bioassays, etc. As another problem, the most serious threat to this millennia-old tradition is habitat destruction. Urban sprawl has already greatly altered the coastal plains. Climate change is also threatening the mountain forest systems that are the source of many herbs. Most importantly, the Central Andean ecosystems, where many herb species are found, are in danger of being destroyed by large-scale industrial developments.