Dataset Information

Traditional medicinal plant use in Loja province, Southern Ecuador.

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the traditional use of medicinal plants in Loja province, Southern Ecuador.Two hundred fifteen plant species were collected, identified and their vernacular names and traditional uses recorded. This number of species indicates that the healers, market vendors and members of the public interviewed still have a very high knowledge of plants in their surroundings, which can be seen as a reflection of the knowledge of the population in general. However, the area represents only an outlier of the larger Northern Peruvian cultural area, where more than 500 species of plants are used medicinally, indicating that in Ecuador much of the original plant knowledge has already been lost.Most plant species registered are only used medicinally, and only a few species have any other use (construction, fodder, food). The highest number of species is used for the treatment of "magical" (psychosomatic) ailments (39 species), followed by respiratory disorders (34), problems of the urinary tract (28), Fever/Malaria (25), Rheumatism (23) and nervous system problems (20).

SUBMITTER: Bussmann RW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1615866 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Traditional medicinal plant use in Loja province, Southern Ecuador.

Bussmann Rainer W RW Sharon Douglas D

Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine 20061010

This paper examines the traditional use of medicinal plants in Loja province, Southern Ecuador.Two hundred fifteen plant species were collected, identified and their vernacular names and traditional uses recorded. This number of species indicates that the healers, market vendors and members of the public interviewed still have a very high knowledge of plants in their surroundings, which can be seen as a reflection of the knowledge of the population in general. However, the area represents only a ...[more]

PMID: 17032450

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Project description:The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selective and community-wide house insecticide spraying in controlling triatomines in the subtropical areas of Loja Province, Ecuador. We designed a quasi-experimental pre-post-test without a control group to compare entomological levels before and after spraying. The baseline study was conducted in 2008. Second, third, and fourth visits were conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012 in three rural communities. Out of the 130 domestic units (DU) visited, 41 domestic units were examined in each of the four visits. Selective and community-wide insecticide interventions included spraying with 5% deltamethrin at 25 mg/m2 active ingredient. At each visit, a questionnaire was administered to identify the characteristics of households, and DUs were searched for triatomine bugs. In addition, parasitological analysis was carried out in life triatomines. One and two rounds of selective insecticide spraying decreased the probability of infestation by 62% (pairwise odds ratios [POR] 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.89, p = 0.024) and 51% (POR 0.49, 95% CI 0.23-1.01, p = 0.054), respectively. A similar effect was observed after one round of community-wide insecticide application in Chaquizhca and Guara (POR 0.55, CI 0.24-1.25, p = 0.155) and Bellamaria (POR 0.62, CI 0.22-1.79, p = 0.379); however, it was not statistically significant. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in triatomines (n = 483) increased overtime, from 2008 (42.9% and 8.5% for Rhodnius ecuadoriensis and Panstrongylus chinai, respectively) to 2012 (79.5% and 100%). Neither of the two spraying methodologies was effective for triatomine control in this area and our results point to a high likelihood of reinfestation after insecticide application. This underscores the importance of the implementation of physical barriers that prevent invasion and colonization of triatomines in households, such as home improvement initiatives, accompanied by a concerted effort to address the underlying socioeconomic issues that keep this population at risk of developing Chagas disease.

Project description:BackgroundWorldwide mountain regions are recognized as hotspots of ethnopharmacologically relevant species diversity. In South Tyrol (Southern Alps, Italy), and due to the region's high plant diversity and isolated population, a unique traditional botanical knowledge of medicinal plants has flourished, which traces its history back to prehistoric times. However, changes in rural life and culture may threaten this unique biodiversity and cultural heritage. Our study aims to collect and analyze information on native plants used in traditional folk medicine, focusing on the preservation of botanical and cultural diversity.MethodsData were collected through a review of published material that documents traditionally used medicinal plants of South Tyrol in order to capture the total diversity of plants and their usage. We evaluated different parameters, comprising the ethnobotanicity index (EI), ethnophytonomic index (EPI), relative frequency of citation (RFC), red list status, and regional legislation with regard to the plant species.ResultsA total of 276 species, including 3 mushrooms and 3 lichens, were identified. These belonged to 72 families, most frequently to the Asteraceae, Rosaceae, and Lamiaceae. The most frequently cited species were Hypericum perforatum L., Urtica dioica L., and Plantago lanceolata L. According to 12 ICPC-2 disease categories, the most frequently treated human health symptoms were from the digestive and respiratory systems as well as the skin. A total of 27 species were listed as endangered, of which 16 are not protected and two are now already extinct. Among the 59 predominantly alpine species, 11 species are restricted to the high altitudes of the Alps and may be threatened by global warming.ConclusionsOur research revealed that the ethnobotanical richness of South Tyrol is among the highest in Italy and throughout the Alps. Nevertheless, it is evident that biodiversity and traditional knowledge have been heavily eroded. Furthermore, we point out particularly sensitive species that should be reconsidered for stronger protections in legal regulations.

Project description:BackgroundThe global consumption of herbal medicine is increasing steadily, posing an extinction risk to medicinal plants. Uganda is among the top ten countries with a high threat of herbal medicine extinction, and Traditional Medicinal Knowledge (TMK) erosion. This might be attributed to the inadequate documentation, plus many more unclear hindrances. In this study, plant species used to treat human diseases in Butaleja district in Eastern Uganda and their associated TMK were documented. The conservation methods for medicinal plants were also evaluated. The rationale was to support the preservation of ethnopharmacological knowledge.MethodsData were collected from 80 herbalists using semi-structured questionnaires, from July 2020 to March 2021. Additionally, guided field walks and observations were conducted. Quantitative indices such as, use categories and informant consensus factor (ICF) were evaluated to elucidate the importance of the medicinal plants. Data were analyzed using STATA version-15.0 software.ResultsIn total, 133 species, belonging to 34 families and 125 genera were identified. Fabaceae (65%), and Solanaceae (29%) were the dominant families. Leaves (80%), and roots (15%), were the commonest parts used in medicinal preparations; mostly administered orally as decoctions (34.6%) and infusions (16%). The commonest illnesses treated were cough (7.74%), gastric ulcers (7.42%), and malaria (4.52%). The informant consensus factor was high for all disease categories (≥ 0.8), indicating homogeneity of knowledge about remedies used. Only 73% of the respondents made efforts to conserve medicinal plants. The commonest conservation strategy was preservation of forests with spiritually valued species (100%), while compliance with government regulations was the rarest (4.5%). Overall, efforts to stop the extinction of medicinal plants and TMK were inadequate.Conclusion and recommendationsThere was enormous dependency on a rich diversity of medicinal plant species and TMK for healthcare and income generation. The potential for medicinal plant biodiversity loss was evident due to habitat destruction. Inclusion of traditional cultural norms in conservation strategies, and laboratory-based efficacy tests for the species identified are necessary, to promote the conservative and utilization of validated herbal medicines and TMK in rural settings.

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Traditional medicinal plant use in Loja province, Southern Ecuador.

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Traditional medicinal plant use in Loja province, Southern Ecuador.

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