Phytochemistry and ethnobotanical discovery of endemic American medicinal plants

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Our research program seeks to find useful but poorly studied plants from the Americas and examine them to learn more about their biologically activity,  substances and potential applications. Plants of special significance from diverse but highly threatened tropical forests have been selected by collaborating botanists in Costa Rica and Maya traditional healers in Belize. In work going back 15 -20 years we have already identified together plant biochemicals, known as "phytochemicals" which are insecticides, antimalarials, antimicrobials, antiiflammatories and antioxidants, anxiolytics, antiepilpetics. We have developed commercially, one anxiety and stress reducing plant product for the companion animal market, with a Canadian company which has also benefited campesino farmers in Central America. In the current research we are identifying substances in antimicrobial plants with potential to inhibit difficult to deal with bacterial slime (biofilms) and plants that the Maya have identified as highly effective in early stages of confusion and memory loss of aging. In addition we will fully study the diversity of substances in these plants for the first time using an emerging technology call "metabolomics". Substances in close plant relatives will be studied to ensure that botanical confusion does not occur and to assist future scientists working with these. As there is a distinct dry season in these forests that greatly influences these active compounds, we will study seasonal change in a local garden maintained by the healers. Our program is fundamental science designed to appreciate and understand tropical forest phytochemistry and the ancient traditional knowledge of Maya healers. As application, new products can be brought forward through our established collaborations with pesticide and animal health companies in Canada or eventually be used by other scientists.