anthro exam

enthnobotany

bridges anthropology and botany, studies how humans use and interact with plants

photosynthesis

CO2 + H2O + sun —> Glucose + O2

things made of glucose

cellulose, starch, sucrose

secondary metabolites / secondary compounds

things plants can live without but still produce anyway
often toxic, irritants, or interfere with nutrition

ex: paper mulberry

tree, provides bark cloth, strong/flexible/easily decorated. inner bark removed from branches, then pounded, spread out, and flattened.

ex: sugar cane + name other sugar sources

sucrose stored in stem

sugar beets, maple sap, fruits, corn, bees

ex: spanish cider

tree, neotropicals, termite and rot resistant. often used in Amazonian canoes.

cut log into hollowed-out bowl shape, burn inside to soften material

ex: arrowroot

used for many purposes by Baka: hang these big leaves on sticks to make walls. cut and peel the leaves back to make hooks.

ways for plant to defend

physical, temporal, and chemical

mechanical (physical) defenses

spines, thorns, hairs, seed coats/shells, tissue toughness

tissue toughness + human solution

made of cellulose, which humans can’t eat. we use cattle, who have tough teeth and specialized guts with bacteria that break down cellulose. then we eat the cattle!

what are other solutions to plant physical defenses

some animals have tough bite strength. monkeys and humans use tools to break open hard shells.

2 examples of chemical defense plants?

Oleander (toxic) and Rosary Pea (toxic seeds)

3 ways humans avoid PSC (plant secondary compounds aka chemicals) toxicity

metabolic systems, sensory systems, behavior

name a metabolic system

we have P450 enzymes that are in our liver

what does P450 do

breaks down chemical compounds that come from things like caffeine and chocolate

how many P450s do humans and dogs have

humans have 57. dogs have 15, which is why they’re more susceptible to caffeine and chocolate

name 2 more metabolic systems

alcohol dehydrogenase: breaks down alcohols

xylitol dehydrogenase: breaks down xylitol, which tastes sweet and is very toxic to dogs

name a sensory system

bitter taste perception. our bitter taste receptors are TAS2R proteins

TAS2R38

responds to ITCs, which are toxic to our thyroid and causes brain damage in children

TAS2R16

responds to Amygdalin, which releases Cyanide

TAS2R14

responds to Colchicine, which disrupts cell division

name how behavior helps us

we learn from observing effects/other info, then modifying our behavior

enthopharmacology

the medicinal use of PSCs (plant chemicals)

how do ppl use PSCs?

large amounts are often toxic and misused. small amounts can be medicinal

ex: salicin

small amnts: pain-killer, anti-fever. large amnts: intestine irritation. modern day: aspirin!

comes from willows in northern temperate zones, found in the bark and converted to salicylic acid by body

ex: curare

used for hunting, added to tips of darts and arrows, and surgery for anesthesia. presents muscle contraction

comes from vine in tropical forests of central and south america

ex: tajem

used for hunting in blow pipes by Penan. makes heart beat harder and slower, which can cause a heart attack OR help with heart failure, which causes rapid and weak heartbeat

found in bark of tree in tropical africa, asia, oceania

ex: cocaine

traditional uses: wound treatment, energy boost

modern uses: wound treatment, large scale extraction and abuse

found in bush leaves

what r hallucinogens

PSCs with brain effects that shape perception

example of hallucinogen?

peyote cactus:
mesoamerica and US southwest

used for wounds and snakebites (used by Shultes), visions were thought to be contacts w supernatural

use brought conflict w catholic church

Yanomamo people

Amazonian-Northern Brazil, Southern Venezuela

studied by anthropologist Napolean Chagon

Ebene- key hallucinogen