WbCfI.PW -- I L -. .0 — -
Torn Prescott 10/2 Argyle Place Edinburgh EH9 IJL Te 662-9207
1998 field work in Papua New Guinea
A REPORT FOR THE DAVIS EXPEDITION FUND
Euphorbiaceae
Meliaceae The
Dilleniaceae called
Family kindly days people
of
Anacardiaceae Results determinations missionary known
area Wau
was altitudes.
Talasea wheel into revealed areas As
Collection
went Introduction
started
(central
different
Report
I
looking
a
area
about
proposed
walk
area
on
and
cone-i
Umbi
drive
carried
as
in
for
mountains
district,
to
villages
was
The
July/August
“the
gives
along
A:
their
30
was
look
influences.
drugs
vehicle
ike
for;
that
for
accessed
Poisons
kms
area
out
cone-heads”.
in
are available
access
shape
tradition
for
bush
these
WNB.
my
was
at
so
by
the
south
of
shown
of
new
higher
up
Aglaia
Macaranga
Dillenia
sorting), brachystachys
Sernecarpus
making
application
the
the
set
West
tracks.
and
and
on
villages
to
The
by
newly
Davis
of
Papua
for
in of
Whiteman
the
the
light
below.
they
medicins
altitude
sp. New
the
lower
New
binding
use
it
sp.
widest
Guides
Williamez
Papua
created
hard
(Still
were
originally with
aircraft
are
New
sp.
or
Expedition
at
to
Tribes
Britain).
montain
the
which
therefore
the
to
their
possible
bio-active
of
range
part
Guinea and
logging
see
invitation
fund
the
to
New
mission
Peninsula
of
local
children’s
proposed
New
fitted
This
plants
proposed
Bulu,
monsoon
Ngori-ngori
Wurairai
Local
Kairongo
the
I
known
Forest
range
spent
tracks
knowledge
Guinea
properties
Britains
enables
Kaulong/Asengseng
more
operates
collected
of
being
Fund:
Name
of
of
Lame
two
villagers;
Research
heads
by
in
into
forest
with
West
new
my
used
the
a
south
months
the
comparison
in
in
area.
at
were
at
the
plants
1998
application
more
and
New
the
the
first
mountains,
Buludava birth
Institute,
however
coast,
lower
The
relatively
area
used
Whiteman
completing
Britain,
round
hand.
due
shoots
Reduces
used
Also Homicidal
Most Use
remove
of
field
so
Asengseng
and
and
and
montain
all.
to
that
between
to
(Lame
detailed
the
for
village,
Taxonomy
headed
used
select
toxic
the
Tradittionally then
followed
sells
Mu
eaten.
and
free
work
they
tattoos.
homicide.
range
swelling:
field
range
to
speaking
poison.
then
four-
habitat
poison
village,
a
from
a
grow
the
coastal
are
variety
maps
village
work
in
by of
to
was
I a
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Moraceae
Euphorbiaceae
Urticaceae Urticaceae
Araceae Sapindaceae Urticaceae
Araceae or
Poaceae Moraceae
Barringtoniaceae
Macaranga
Macaranga
Macaranga
sorting) Rhaphidophora Pometia
aleuritoides Parartocarpus
Phylanthus
or novoguineensis Eleocosyke (Still Dendrocnide
ciccoides Ion Pipturus
Imperata Ficus
venenosa (Still
Colocasia involucrata
Barringtonia
asiatica
gifolia
sorting).
sorting)
adenosperma
pinata
argenteus
cylindrica
(Still
esculenta
sp.
or
sitnilis
I
Talinga
davu Deepo
Galekakanganaka- Deko
gue Kavalay Loobo
Koumookoumoota-
Ririly
Kunai Gagaro
Putu
bakokowa
Leaves
dysentery.
measles. ailments. Bark Unripe
treatment for edable. Poison.
applied Leaves New poison, (antidote).
illness, Ion one the cancer”.
see antidote source). fire
applied Irritant, Irritant Roots
species a deep
dysentery. triterpenoid Derris
taken Contains poison,
(witchdoctor Sap as
barrigenol.
Sap
run
Malibou.
gifolia
spleen-related
Dendrocnide triterpenoid
coral
of
do of
from
leaves
used
water
for
mixed
in
the
seeds
alata
boiled heated
(malaria)?
to below.
to
ripe
mixed
no
to
Contains
the
severe
to
of leaves
skin
skin
for
two
uses
sting
fish
eaten
“induce
fruit
Al
is
to
but
used
with
blood
and
and
with
for
kill
such
but
of
as a
Moraceae
Marattiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Urticaceae Fabaceae
Vitaceae or Meliaceae
Verbenaceae Moraceae Diileniaceae Family
Convolvulaceae at
Nyctaginaceae
Chrysobalanaceae
Urticaceae Collection
Umbi
village,
B:
Medicins
Kandrian
Aglaia
Jpommoea Angiopteris
Pisonia
sp.
unidentified acuminata Ficus Ficus
Species Erythrina
Pipturus sorting). Dendrocnicte
buchanii erecra Species
(Still Dillenia
Tetrastigma
Clerodendron
Cyclandrophora longfolia
and
district,
sorting),
poisons
botryocarpa adenospenna
sp.
sp.
sp.
argenteus
variegata
(Still
or
cf
sp,
WNB.
of
the
Kaulong
Elumus
Edit
Sanamih. Ekam Ekah
Epan
Kek
Kokoyat Kalol
Elalgin Local
Kayinda
Ehwuyik
name
of
the
Whitemun
Leaves
Poison.
steroids Leaves
fruit species tropical round Sap Sap
Pulp thrown Stem tropical tropical Sap Leaves
infection topical
treat ulcur. mixed miced alkaloid coughs. Juice
kill Contains taken Juice
imbricata. and and Sap drunk
alkaloid. applied and topical
fire Use
Range,
fish.
and
applied applied six
from from from
from
and
tropical
made
with
from
drank
for
tropical
for
with
with
analgaesic.
analgesic.
used
used
into heated
contain
isoflavones.
to
Stems
ulcers
ulcers. ulcers.
used
and
erythratine
used
of
the
dysentery.
stem seeds
seeds
bark
coughs.
collected
sores.
CaO
Related
from
stem
CaO
CaO
for
river
Tinea to to
an
to
as
ulcers
as
to
and
on
treat
tied
a
to 3 Euphorbiaceae Macaranga sirnilis Nalang Bark used to treat or tropical ulcers. Phylanthus ciccoides (Still sorting) Vitaceae Cayratia cf Mohiup Sap from leaves japonica boiled to form a paste which is applied to nearly healed tropical ulcers. Urticaceae Laportea Eninyung Leaves are irritant, decumana are used to sting body to treat non descript- illness, arthritis?. Fabaceae Pterocarpus flcu Bark is chewed and indicus applied to tropical ulcers. Contains the benzofuran pterofuran. Urticaceae Pipturus argenteus Wel Tree is felled and sap collected in a leaf and taken for headaches. Costaceae Tapeinochilos Singi Scrapings from dahlii bulbous section of stem close to roots are applied to tropical ulcers. Thelypteridaceae Sphaerostephanos Kimimaht Sap from upper unitus leaves applied to new cuts. Zingiberaceae alpinia Kikhati Bulb chewed and applied to tropical ulcers. Contains 15,16-bisnor-8(17),
I_I-labdien- 13-one. Euphorbiaceae Crown Marakeh Sap used to treat tropical ulcers. Related species contain diterpenoids and an alkaloid. Clusiaceae Garcinia dulcis Kap Bark applied to tropical ulcers. Euphorbiaceae Omalanthus Mikyu Leaves used to treat pupulneus tropical ulcers.
4 Fabaceae Ormocarpum Kayaya Bark heated on fire orientale and vapour acts on infected eyes. Asteraceae Vermonia sp. Ehyu Leaves applied to skin infected with Tinnea imbricata. Poaceae Bambusa sp. Enemet Sap used like eye drops for infected eyes. Verbenaceae Gmelina sp. Ahevol Sap from bark taken for dysentery or applied to tropical ulcers. Contains lignans. Apocynaceae Cerbera manghas Tutuhut Sap used to treat tropical ulcers. Contains cerberic acid, cerberinic acid and the morioterpenoid cerbinal. Verbenaceae Faradaya Elikanowak Stem heated on splandida fire, then sap blown through stem onto warts. Contains the triterpenoid farodoic acid. Fabaceae Inocarpusfagifer Kimip Sap from bark taken for dysentery. Unidentified Lalama Applied to tropical bioluminescent ulcers. mushroom. Moraceae Paratocarpus Ekah Sap from bark venenosa appled taken for dysentery. Ebenaceae Dyospyros Palasoup Upper leaves chewed and applied to tropical ulcers. Related species contains numerous quinone type compounds. Flacortiaceae Pan giuin edule Khali Poison. Bark thrown into river to kill fish. Contains the carbonitrile gynocardin and hydrocyanic acid.
5 Acanthaceae Gendaraussa Aviyai Bark applied to tropical ulcers. Zingiberaceae Zingiber officinale Amom All non-descript illnesses. Contains sesquiterpines A and B-zingiberine. Myrtaceae Syzygium Yahup Taken for inalaccense dysentery. Essential oils present. Myrtaceae Psidium guajava No local name Leaves taken for dysentery, applied to skin for infections of S. scab ies
Leguminosae Cassia alata I No local name For treatment of Tinea imbricata. Contains 1,6,8- trihydroxy-3- methylanthraquino ne Poaceae Paspalum Epilil Sap used for conjugatum treatment of tropical ulcers. The methyl ether of lupeol is present. Flagellariaceae Flagellaria indica Emin Treatment of toothache. Contains flavanoids. Convolvulaceae Ipornoea pelata Enovio Sap used to treat tropical ulcers. Mixed with CaO to make yellow face paint. Anacardiaceae Mangèra minor Ayun Leaves used to treat non-descript illness,_malaria? Palmae Areca catechu Kahmah Apart from use as narcotic, juice from heated bark used to treat “sore eyes”. Contains nine different alkaloids. Compositae Wedelia bijiora Epong Sap from leaves used to treat coughs. Piperaceae Piper betle Eman Pulped leaves applied to “swollen limbs”
6 Evaluation and Conclusion
The aims of this expedition were as follows:
I. To complete the survey of the group studied in July/August 1997 thereby achieving a full inventory of their medical ethnobotany. (Successfully completed)
2. To provide an inventory of plants employed by inhabitants of mountain forest in West New Britain for medicine and poison (hunting, fishing etc.). (Successfully completed)
3. Whilst forming this inventory to focus on and investigate instances where two or more plants are used together to potentiate their overall effect (synergism). (examples found)
4. To investigate if possible the use of poisonous animal material in combination with plants and record any information on arrow poisons. (No information found)
Taxonomy was carried out by the PNG forest research institute, in a few instances they have mixed plants from the two separate collections so it is not possible to link the species to its observed use until the actual samples arrive by sea-mail. The remaining bioactive plants of the Williamez peninsula were collected and identified. Most were poisons which were used by previous generations of witch doctors to assassinate victims, often for economic gain. Of particular interest is the plant named Kairongo which is either Dillenia or Aglaia sp. It is recognised by the Bulu as their most toxic plant; micro-litre quantities placed on skin induce an immune response
which lasts for 2-3 weeks. Semecarpus brachystachys , another poison, is used to remove facial tattoos which are made by smearing soot into cuts. Two once monthly applications of the sap are said to remove the tattoos, presumably because the active constituents illicit an immune response, possibly with white blood cells engulfing soot particles. Certain anti-tumour drugs have been made using highly toxic plant extracts such as these tagged to antibodies specific for cancer cells.
The plants collected from the Whiteman range showed a bias towards treatment of tropical ulcers; as there is currently a need for new antibiotics they could prove useful in providing lead compounds. To test some of these plants in situ. I built an assay using a bioluminescent microorganism found growing on wet forest litter and looked for zones of clearance. Shade dried bulk samples of Tapeinochilos dahli, Cayratia cf japonica and Gendaraussa cf. were collected for laboratory analysis. NMR spectroscopy will identify the active principles whose effect on bacterial and human cells shall be studied. Disappointingly the Kaulong do not use atTowpoisons with their blowpipes, the arrows are of sufficient weight to kill flying fox and cuscus without poison. Furthermore, no animal parts are used apart from ants’ nests which
7
Dendrocnide
[Iviacaranga
skin
leaves
+
from the
potential antibiotic antidote
therapeutic NB. A •
plants to
are
A
•
Piper
and
final
few
treat
concoction contains
placed
(unidentified) would Sap
engine
One be into
Sap sap
antidote
burnt
irratant
It
used
laboratories
are betel,
—
examples
of
would
from
of
of
the
interesting
Tinea
witch
for
bacteria,
to
show
highly
Derris
for
in
Crinum
Dillenia/Aglia
fuel
activity
to
sea
involucrata,
the
another repel
to
food
mild
compounds
longifolia,
those
roperties.
kill
drug
doctor
inthricata
be
made
which
a
outside
well-known
if
third
irratant.
Antidote
were
alata
was
interesting
Antidote
fish
Derris
mosquitoes
of
irratant
asiatica
find
viruses
listed
in
around
discovery
plant
from
victim
stated
may
placed
plant
the
inside
found
the
may
was
has
skin
alata
sp.
above.
if
field, with
the
to
act
reef
to
and
(Asian
that
which
by
the
used
be
made.
respiratory
the
Macaranga (Kairongo)
of
in
infections.
Dendrocnide
to
roots
to and
is
a
contains
mixed
more
to
protozoa
plants
their
world
“cancer”
and
develop
reef
witchdoctor.
soluablise
high.
in
kill
Systematic
an
poison
was
One
of
a
to food.
painful
is
unidentifiable
larger
with
tropical
Imperata
used
for
Cassia
the
used
plant
use
rotenone
poison
to
an
could
involucrata
bulb)
could
its
greatest
sap
longifrilia
active
form
in
it
fish
assay
alone.
irritant
with
anti-fungal
to
A
use
combination
alata
of
rain
be
rotenone, is
cylindrica
modem
prove
select
such
a
too.
Barringtonia
compounds
added
of
skin
induced
synergistic
suitable
The
irritant.
species
is properties
forest
assays
as
already
the
effective
irritant
related
Malibu.
in
improvement
a
activity.
setting mixed
most
in
equal
with
comparison
of
for
for
the
mixture,
or
eel
properties
which
receiving species
asiatica
screening
inhibition
each
in
potent
aid
Derris
proportions
desired
with
whose
where
obtaining
adsorption.
intern
other:
is
a
Derris
traditionally
of
and
antibiotic
alata
fire
to
fat
victim
acted
attention
the
plants
JR-spectra
of
add
acted
poured
was
coral,
with
gramm
can
new
eliptica
as
boat-
if
used
for
the
as
only
a
the 8
Top Bottom Top
the
Bottom Page Bottom Page
the Bottom
logging gatherings, Bottom Page Bottom
Kaulong the of is
group. were oxide. Bottom Top Picture
linked Bottom Page
Top
Reaching
behind.
safe.
a
only
area
last
pig.
right
right
left
right
used
2
3
4
1
to
The
top top
Top
top
few
and
was
left
left
Left
right
right right
left
right
group
Despite
Derris
language
the
the
into
Umbi
Umbi
Buludava
Umbi
the
left left
left
years
missionaries
right
At
made
outside
A
A
Dinner:
lop
guide
Placing
Yellow
A
Umbi
to
the
Kaulong
Megachiropteran
pig
Umbi
Author
the
Outrigger
alata
turtle
women children
the
breaks
use
elders
as
Pulping
to
in
1970’s.
at
summit
logging women
strong
world.
children
Pidgin
the
blowpipes
(Ving-ung-u)
1959
the
women
face
Vingugu
for
with
do
still
the
tucks
toxin
move “sing-sing”.
collect
canoe
a
the
by paint
not
of
influences
The
bride-price
for
myth
shield
wearing
tracks
operate
dance
with
a
mount
roots
into
is
speak
east
underneath
plantation
me
Karaday
in
on
made
either
Tapeinochilos
shot
that
and
melenesia
pig.
the
have
pulp
by
the
across
of
at
mostly
a
Wangore
Pidgin
of
with
a
younger
by
Derris
my
grass
giant
spear
unstable
Buludava
feast.
snake—god
ready
come
the
who
mixing
manager
going
the
blowpipe
a
as
tree
so skirt.
New
at
brain
but
alata
live
Whiteman
to
for
they
after
villagers
plant
a
dahlii
or
home
insect
midnight
within
they
Bnovio
reef
Tribes
use
Modem
east
coral
bound
resides
did
who
completing
information
and
with
on
(Singi)
do
party,
of
Erycantha
in
a
was
in
for
Mission
(Jpomoea
an
not
range
eaten
the
tightly
days
pre-contact
cloths
“sing-sing”
Mount
at
the
me.
outrigger
subsequently
use
(August
the
Asengseng
for
Buludava
walk
for
new
its
to
top
a
bulk
have
was
who
horrida
Wangore
poison.
first
dinner.
pelata)
receptor
groups
of
of
times.
translated
canoe,
1997).
analysis.
work
been
to
Umbi
ascent
the
region
reef.
celebrate
The
killed.
with
volcano.
are
worn
(Lob
to
so
First
(Buludava).
village.
(August
prevent
Kaulong eating
educated
are
calcium
from
Stone contact
only
corro)
the
one
As
the
the
killing
sine
such
1997).
such
axes
are
and
in fish ______4*L?&i
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