Abstract Valeriana rigida Ruiz & Pav. (Caprifoliaceae) is an American species, used in traditional medicine as a sedative or sleeping pill. The medicinal use of the resource has led to indiscriminate and unsustainable depredation, mainly due to anthropogenic action. In the high Andean zones of northern Peru (2500-4500 m.a.s.l.), extraction from its natural habitat is neither controlled nor regulated, as evidenced by its depleted populations whose individuals are slow growing; in addition to other risk factors such as the expansion of the agricultural frontier, the burning of vegetation, overgrazing and mining in general. The conservation of the species has never been considered in the plans. Consequently, it is considered that the conservation of the resource must be integral and involve different levels of decision making, from the local population, academia to the highest authorities of local and regional governments, as well as state and private conservation organisations. In the present study aspects of its taxonomy, herbarium exsiccata, ethnobotany and ethnomedicinal information, phenology, distribution, and ecology are disseminated; at the same time analysing the current state of conservation and proposing guidelines and strategies for its conservation in the northern Peruvian context with emphasis on the jalca and its surroundings.

Resumen Valeriana rigida Ruiz & Pav. (Caprifoliaceae) es una especie americana, utilizada en medicina tradicional como un sedativo o somnífero. La utilización medicinal del recurso ha conllevado a la depredación indiscriminada y no sostenible, reflejada por la acción antrópica principalmente. En las zonas altoandinas del norte de Perú (2500-4500 m.s.n.m.), la extracción de su hábitat natural no es controlada ni regulada, evidenciada en sus poblaciones mermadas cuyos individuos son de crecimiento lento; además, de otros factores de riesgo como la ampliación de la frontera agrícola, la quema de la vegetación, al sobrepastoreo y a la minería en general. La conservación de la especie nunca ha sido considerada en los planes. Consecuentemente, se considera que la conservación del recurso debe ser integral e involucrar diferentes niveles de decisión, desde el poblador local, la academia hasta las altas autoridades de gobiernos locales y regionales, además de organismos de conservación estatal o privada. En el presente estudio, se difunden aspectos de su taxonomía, exsiccata de herbario, etnobotánica e información etnomedicinal, fenología, distribución y ecología; al mismo tiempo, analizando el estado actual de conservación y proponiendo pautas y estrategias para su conservación en el contexto norperuano con énfasis en la jalca y sus alrededores.

Our understanding of dental plaque biofilm has evolved since the nonspecific plaque hypothesis that considered plaque as a nonspecific mass of native microorganisms that, because of lack of oral hygiene, builds up in proportions great enough to overcome the host resistance threshold and affect the tooth structure and tooth supporting tissues. A great diversity of microorganisms-over 700 species-was detected in the oral cavity, and evidence shows that the investigation of specific microorganisms or associations of microorganisms as etiological agents for periodontal diseases and caries is not a simplistic approach. Although clinical evidence shows that oral mechanical hygiene is fundamental to prevent and control caries and periodontal disease, it is important to highlight that optimal control is not achieved by most individuals. Thus the complementary use of chemotherapeutic agents has been investigated as a way to overcome the deficiencies of mechanical oral hygiene habits, insofar as they reduce both plaque formation and gingival inflammation, and represent a valid strategy to change the biofilm and maintain dental and periodontal health. The role of the dental professional is to monitor patients and offer them the best recommendations to preserve oral health throughout their life. With this in mind, chemical control should be indicated as part of daily oral hygiene, together with mechanical procedures, for all individuals who present supragingival and/or subgingival biofilm, taking into account age, physical and/or psychological limitations, allergies, and other factors.