Resumen

HURTADO-HUARCAYA, Jose. Cultural importance of medicinal plants in Quinua district (Ayacucho, Peru). Ecol. apl. [online]. 2024, vol.23, n.1, pp.33-46.  Epub 31-Jul-2024. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v23i1.2163.

Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been a very important resources in the daily life of the Peruvian population, research related to this resource being of importance. This study aimed to conduct an ethnobotanical investigation and determine the cultural importance of medicinal plants in the Quinua district (Huamanga, Ayacucho). Specimens of wild medicinal flora were collected, and open and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the local residents. A total of 115 medicinal plant species were identified, grouped into 44 families and 90 genera. The families with the highest representation of species were Asteraceae (33 spp.), Fabaceae (10 spp.), Lamiaceae (seven spp.), and Solanaceae (five spp.). A total of 17 subcategories of ailments and/or diseases are registered, with disorders of the digestive system, genitourinary system, inflammations, musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, and cultural syndromes having the highest number of species, with 101, 76, 76, 64, 59, and 50 species, respectively. The most culturally important medicinal plants identified were Urtica urens, Equisetum bogotense, Plantago major, Oenothera rosea, Tara spinosa, Ambrosia arborescens, Clinopodium brevicalyx, Lupinus ballianus, Schinus molle, and Clinopodium breviflorum. In conclusion, the residents of the Quinua district possess extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and continue to use them within traditional medicine.

Palabras clave : Andes; ethnobotany; traditional medicine; Peru; cultural significance.

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