No

Using ethnobotanical, anthropological and social science theory and methods this work illustrates significance of studying traditional foods and their medicinal qualities for maintaining health. Set in the background of the communities¿ practises and rituals specific plant-based items, used by Sikh and Ukrainian migrant communities, are a central focus to understanding the significance of practises and related knowledge for maintaining health and the broader concept of ¿well-being¿. Literature review, participant observation and in-depth interviewing techniques were used to identify 126 species of plants mentioned. These illustrate what was a primarily female domain of knowledge now becoming superficial and spread over domains of both men and women. This study notes convenience in terms of time and transport, changes in markets in the UK, importation of goods and the use of machinery and techniques such as freezing, and intervention by healthcare professionals have all affected the way traditional foods and remedies are perceived and practised. There are key foods which will remain important for generations to come whilst the domains are changing. Specific community structures support maintenance of food practises, including langar within the Sikh community and the regular OAP Ukrainian lunchtime club and numerous food events where foods with particular religious and cultural significance are made by at least two generations. These events involve transmission of knowledge related to foods and their health qualities, including images of strength as a ¿people¿. By questioning the significance of emic perspectives healthcare professionals and policymakers could learn much from practises developed over centuries or millennia.

L’objectif du travail effectué était la recherche de nouvelles substances actives d’origine végétale, présentant soit une activité antiplasmodiale soit une activité antifongique. Cette étude a été menée suivant deux stratégies différentes: l’étude de remèdes traditionnels antipaludiques identifiés suite à des enquêtes ethnopharmacologiques, et la mise en évidence des propriétés antifongiques d’huiles essentielles grâce à une stratégie bioinspirée. La première partie du travail a permis de mettre en évidence le rôle d’un quassinoïde connu, la simalikalactone D, dans l’activité antipaludique d’une tisane de jeunes feuilles fraîches de Quassia amara L. (Simaroubaceae). Dans le cas de la décoction de rameaux de Psidium acutangulum DC. (Myrtaceae), c’est cette fois un mélange de flavonoïdes glycosylés qui est responsable de l’activité du remède. Dans le cadre de la recherche de nouvelles substances antifongiques, le criblage effectué a permis d’identifier de nombreuses huiles essentielles présentant des activités intéressantes, validant ainsi la démarche bioinspirée retenue dans ce cas. L’huile essentielle d’Otacanthus azureus (Linden) Ronse a en particulier démontré une activité remarquable, à la fois seule et en combinaison avec des antifongiques azolés. Enfin, l’étude métabolomique de la composition des huiles essentielles a permis de mettre au point un outil pouvant orienter la sélection des huiles en fonction des données obtenues en GC/MS dans l’optique de la recherche de nouvelles substances antifongiques. Ce travail démontre donc la validité des stratégies retenues – ethnopharmacologie et bioinspiration – dans la recherche de nouvelles substances bioactives. / The aim of this work was to search for new bioactive compounds, displaying either antiplasmodial or antifungal activity. Two strategies were developed here: the evaluation of traditional remedies identified as antimalarial through ethnopharmacological studies, and the search for antifungal essential oils, the criterium being here a bioinspired approach. Our work led to the discovery that the antimalarial activity of Quassia amara L. (Simaroubaceae) fresh young leaves was due to the presence of a known quassinoid, simalikalactone D. In the case of Psidium acutangulum DC. (Myrtaceae), a flavonol glycosides mixture explained the activity observed for the decoction. The search for antifungal essential oils from the Amazonian flora led to the identification of several interesting species, thus validating our bioinspired strategy. The essential oil of Otacanthus azureus (Linden) Ronse was among the most active ones, either alone or in combination with azole drugs. Eventually, a metabolomic study of the GC/MS composition of these oils allowed us to develop a statistical tool which could help to select interesting antifungal products. This work thus demonstrates the major interest of the two strategies – ethnopharmacology and bioinspiration – for the search of new bioactive compounds.