Historical evidence for a pre-Columbian presence of Datura in the Old World and implications for a first millennium transfer from the New World.

Journal of Biosciences
R Geeta, Waleed Gharaibeh

Abstract

Datura (Solanaceae)is a small genus of plants that,for long, was thought to occur naturally in both the New and Old Worlds. However, recent studies indicate that all species in the genus originated in the Americas. This finding has prompted the conclusion that no species of Datura could have been present in the Old World prior to its introduction there by Europeans in the early 16th century CE. Further, the textual evidence traditionally cited in support of a pre-Columbian Old World presence of Datura species is suggested to be due to the misreading of classical Greek and Arabic sources. As a result, botanists generally accept the opinion that Datura species were transferred into the Old World in the post-Columbian period. While the taxonomic and geographic evidence for a New World origin for all the Datura species appears to be well supported, the assertion that Datura species were not known in the Old World prior to the 16th century is based on a limited examination of the pre-Columbian non-Anglo sources. We draw on old Arabic and Indic texts and southern Indian iconographic representations to show that there is conclusive evidence for the pre-Columbian presence of at least one species of Datura in the Old World. Given the sy...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1975·Journal of the Neurological Sciences·A StaalH F Busch
Jan 17, 1969·Science·R E Schultes
Jul 1, 1981·Journal of Ethnopharmacology·W J Litzinger
Oct 8, 1982·Science·R D Lele
Oct 1, 1996·Cardiovascular Surgery : Official Journal of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery·P V SharmaZ E Nassoura
May 1, 1996·Genetica·R P Sharma, T Mohapatra
Sep 1, 1996·Indian Journal of Pediatrics·R GuptaP Gupta
Jul 4, 2003·Nature·Peter D Moore
Oct 12, 2004·British Dental Journal·T Anderson
Mar 29, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Michael L MolineuxRay W Turner
Nov 23, 2006·Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association·F WotherspoonM H Cummings
Feb 17, 2007·Science·Sandra Knapp
Aug 1, 1999·TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·E S MaceR N Lester

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 6, 2015·The New Phytologist·Eunice Kariñho-BetancourtJuan Núñez-Farfán
May 20, 2015·Journal of Biological Research·Ioannis T TsialtasIlias G Eleftherohorinos
Jul 25, 2009·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Bruce BudowleRanajit Chakraborty
May 6, 2021·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Maris A Cinelli, A Daniel Jones

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.