JABORANDI (PILOCARPUS SP, RUTACEAE) - A WILD-SPECIES AND ITS RAPID TRANSFORMATION INTO A CROP

Jaborandi (Pilocarpus sp.;) is a shrub or small tree 3-7.5 m tall that can be found in native stands or as isolated individuals throughout B razil. The leaves of jaborandi contain the alkaloid pilocarpine, winer y used in ophthalmology for treatment of certain types of glaucoma and more recently for xerostomia. This paper discusses the current system s of production of jaborandi leaves in Maranhao, Northeastern Brazil. On one side, the extractivism practiced by indigenous people and peasa nts; on the other, the plantation recently established as the result o f henry investment by a pharmaceutical company. In the extractive syst em, the non-sustainable exploitation of the drug-rich leaves of this p lant species may have produced considerable damage To the native popul ations over time, reducing the size of the populations, and impoverish ing their gene pools. The following potential effects of the plantatio n are discussed; contribute to diminishing the pressure on wild popula tions; impact on the local people currently involved in the extractivi sm; and its impacts on the local economies.