A Review of Coralilla (Antigonon leptopus): An Invasive and Popular Urban Bush Medicine in Jamaica

Antigonon leptopus is a smothering, habitat-transforming vine with showy pink flowers. Originating in Mexico, it is now widespread or invasive on tropical islands around the world, including the West Indies, as a consequence of active human dispersal and disturbance. Using mixed methods research, we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economic botany 2018-06, Vol.72 (2), p.229-245
Main Authors: Vandebroek, Ina, Picking, David, Aiken, Stacey, Lewis, Patrick Albert, Oberli, Andreas, Mitchell, Sylvia, Boom, Brian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigonon leptopus
Biocompatibility
Biological activity
Biological effects
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Blanketing
Dispersal
Dispersion
Ethnobotany
Flowers
Herbal medicine
Introduced species
Invasive species
Life Sciences
Literature reviews
Medicinal plants
Medicine
Mixed methods research
Plant Anatomy/Development
Plant Ecology
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Reviews
Toxicity
Traditional medicine
Urban areas
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Summary:Antigonon leptopus is a smothering, habitat-transforming vine with showy pink flowers. Originating in Mexico, it is now widespread or invasive on tropical islands around the world, including the West Indies, as a consequence of active human dispersal and disturbance. Using mixed methods research, we assessed the species' (1) historical geographic spread throughout the Americas, (2) local ethnobotanical importance in Jamaica, and (3) biomedical potential as an herbal medicine. Methods included georeferencing of timestamped herbarium collections from pre- 1900 to 2016, literature review, and ethnobotanical research in rural and urban Jamaica (n = 58 participants). Results demonstrated that A. leptopus has spread aggressively in the West Indies since the 1950s. It has become a problematic invasive species in urban Jamaica, which has likely facilitated its local popularity as an herbal medicine. In urban Jamaica, ethnobotanical interviews ranked the species as the fourth most frequendy reported medicinal plant. In contrast, A leptopus was present but did not dominate the vegetation in rural Jamaica, and was never mentioned during interviews. The biomedical literature offers limited support for its biological activity, while showing no acute toxic effects. The ethnobotany of A. leptopus showcases the dynamic interplay between people, plants, and the environment. Antigonon leptopus es una enredadera sofocante con vistosas flores rosadas que transforma habitats. Originaria de Mexico, ahora está diseminada o invasora en las islas tropicales del mundo, induso en las Indias Occidentales, como consecuencia de la perturbacion humana y su dispersión activa. Utilizando metodos mixtos, evaluamos de la especie su: (1) distribución geográfica en las Américas a través del tiempo; (2) importancia etnobotánica local en Jamaica; y (3) potencial biomédico como remedio natural. Los métodos incluyeron la georeferenciación de las colecciones de herbario desde antes de 1900 hasta 2016, la revisión de la literatura, y la investigación etnobotánica en una comunidad rural y urbana en Jamaica (n = 58 participantes). Los resultados demostraron que A. leptopus se ha extendido agresivamente en las Indias Occidentales desde la década de los 1950s, y se ha convertido en una especie invasora problemática en el ámbito urbano de Jamaica, lo que probablemente ha facilitado su popularidad local como planta medicinal. Entrevistas etnobotánicas en la comunidad urbana en Jamaica clasificaron a la e
ISSN:0013-0001
1874-9364
DOI:10.1007/s12231-018-9415-5