An Ethnobiological Investigation of Q'eqchi' Maya and Cree of Eeyou Istchee Immunomodulatory Therapies

This thesis investigated the phytochemistry and pharmacology of immunomodulatory medicinal plant species used traditionally by the Q'eqchi' Maya Healers Association (QMHA) of Belize, and the Cree of Eeyou Istchee (CEI) of northern Quebec.;Fifty-two Belizean species were evaluated for their TNF-alpha inhibitory activity in an LPS-stimulated THP-1 monocyte model. Twenty-one species (40%) demonstrated significant TNF-alpha inhibition when assayed at 100 microg/mL, 8 of which had greater than 50% of the activity of the parthenolide positive control (10 microg/mL). Significant regressions were found between the anti-inflammatory activity and total healer frequency of use (Fuse) and the use reports for 3 usage categories, which indicated that ethnobotanical parameters can in part predict the activity of traditionally used species.;Five sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the leaves of Neurolaena lobata, one of the most active species tested, all of which demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity greater than that of parthenolide (IC50 = 4.79 microM), with IC50s ranging from 0.17--2.32 microM. Lobatin B was the most active isolate tested.;Ethanolic and water extracts of 17 species used by Cree healers were evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity. In general, the average anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extracts was 1.8 times greater than that of water extracts, and the pro-inflammatory activity of water extracts was 3.7 times greater than ethanolic extracts. Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana were the most anti-inflammatory ethanolic and water extracts, while the water extract of Sarracenia purpurea was the most pro-inflammatory.;Using quantitative ethnobotanical methodology, we identified 107 plant species belonging to 49 families used by Q'eqchi' healers in the treatment of symptoms from 14 usage categories related to inflammation. Regression analysis revealed that the Piperaceae, Araceae, and Begoniaceae are preferentially selected by the Maya. Healer consensus for plant species was high, with 56 species (52%) being used by all the healers, and consensus for usage categories was also high, as informant consensus factor (FIC) values for each category were greater than 0.4.;Picea marina cones, the most anti-inflammatory Cree medicine, were subjected to bioassay guided isolation. This led to the isolation of the anti-inflammatory lignan (+)-lariciresinol-9'-p-coumarate, which had an IC50 of 28.4 microM.;Together, these results validate the traditional knowledge shared by our Q'eqchi' and Cree collaborators, and draw attention to the therapeutic potential of subtropical and boreal plants as culturally appropriate complements to modern medicine.