Introduced plants in the indigenous pharmacopoeia of northern South America

The intellectual property rights debate focuses on the flow of germplasm fr om developing tropical countries to developed temperature nations. Few inve stigators have addressed the converse. We discuss the abundance and importa nce of introduced plants in pharmacopoeias of northern South America. Intro duced species commonly are employed as medicines throughout the region and include at least 216 Eurasian, North American, African, and Pacific species . Among the Shuar of lowland Ecuadar, four introduced plants (Citrus aurant ium, Cymbopogon citratus, Saccharum officinarum, and Zingiber officinale) a re included in their most commonly prescribed remedies. The widespread use of introduced plants is due, in part, to the medicinal value of plants whos e primary use is for food (e.g., Musa x paradisiaca). Similarly, marry intr oduced ornamentals also have therapeutic value (e.g., Hedychium coronarium) . Other species have been introduced specifically as medicines (e.g., Aloe vera). Restrictions on the flow of germplasm and plant knowledge may protec t the economic interests of governments and national industry. If applied b ilaterally, however, constraints on the movement of plants will limit the c ontinued evolution of traditional medicinal systems in areas where they are most needed.