Indigenous Medicinal Plants in Mexico: the Example of the Nahua (Sierra de Zongolica)

Abstract

As in most peasant cultures medicinal plants are a very important resource for the Nahua of the Sierra de Zongolica (Mexico). Documentation of the current indigenous medicinal uses of 203 plants in this region was conducted during 18 months of fieldwork. The 816 individual reports documented were divided into nine groups of indigenous uses. The frequency of usage of the individual plants reported was employed in the analysis of the ethnobotanical importance of the respective plants. Plants cited more frequently in a group of indigenous uses are regarded as of greater ethnobotanical importance than those cited only by a few informants. Data on phytochemistry, pharmacology and ethnobotany from the scientific literature were used to evaluate possible biological or pharmacological and toxicological effects of some particularly important plants. For most plants detailed studies on these actions are still lacking, which would allow a conclusive evaluation. This ethnobotanical evaluation forms the basis for such studies which have been started on some plants, and for better understanding their potential as minor economic products of the region. These uses may also give incentives to the conservation of the local biodiversity.

Medicinal plants in Mexico: healers' consensus and cultural importance

“…Ankli et al, 1998;Frei et al, n.d.;Weimann and Heinrich, 1997). F ic is relatively low for dermatological illnesses among the Maya and Nahua indicating that there is a low consensus on the treatment of dermatological problems.…”

“…There are about 200,000 inhabitants in the Sierra and 34,000 in the subdistrict (municipio) of Zongolica (Weimann and Heinrich, 1997). Since the 19th century the commercial production of co ee has played the dominant economic role.…”

“…Although this species is mostly planted as an ornamental, it is widely used to treat respiratory conditions, yet this may not be due to speci®c pharmacological e ects (Weimann and Heinrich, 1997).…”

“…. For each category the data were quanti®ed by adding up the individual reports on the uses of each plant (see Ankli et al, n.d.;Weimann and Heinrich, 1997). They were then ranked according to the number of reports of use.…”

Phytochemical compounds and antimicrobial activity of three medicinal plants (Alchornea hirtella, Morinda geminata and Craterispermum laurinum) from Sierra Leone

“…The most important of these bioactive compounds are alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds (Musyimi et al, 2008;Weimann and Heinrich, 1997;Atindehou et al, 2002;Edeoga et al, 2005).…”