Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes
Background and Aims: The main therapeutic sources of the traditional medicine of the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes is obtained from experts, midwives and traditional doctors (Thë’ Wala) located in the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes, which occupies an area of 25,400 hectare...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Formato: | Online |
| Idioma: | eng |
| Publicado: |
Instituto de Ecología, A.C.
2024
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| Acceso en liña: | https://abm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/abm/article/view/2257 |
| _version_ | 1799771439188934656 |
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| author | Paz Perafán, Gisela Mabel Montenegro Paz, Gerardo |
| author_facet | Paz Perafán, Gisela Mabel Montenegro Paz, Gerardo |
| author_sort | Paz Perafán, Gisela Mabel |
| collection | ABM |
| description | Background and Aims: The main therapeutic sources of the traditional medicine of the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes is obtained from experts, midwives and traditional doctors (Thë’ Wala) located in the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes, which occupies an area of 25,400 hectares. Our ethnobotanical research is based on the hypothesis that Nasa traditional knowledge reveals crucial information about native species with therapeutic potential.Methods: All species collected were identified in the herbarium of the University of Cauca (CAUP). Total ailments were classified into 15 disease categories. The informant consensus factor (ICF) was employed to assess the degree and cultural relevance of the use of the taxa for the different disease categories. The use value (UV) index was applied to establish a consensus on the effectiveness of the species used to cure the different illnesses.Results: Our study reports 106 medicinal plants, belonging to 45 families. Asteraceae formed the most predominant family, followed by Lamiaceae. Ailments affecting the digestive system were the most frequently targeted group, making use of 26 plant species (24.5%). ICF values ranged between 0.96 and 1, with the highest values recorded for cancer and poisoning (1 each). Some plants are cultivated in the herb garden, or Tul, and others are collected in mountainous regions or in páramo (high moorland) areas, indicating the fragility of the pharmacopoeia in these regions. Conclusions: The findings of this study underline the importance of medicinal plants and their integral role in daily human activities and disease management of the Nasa ethnic group. Certain native species with high medicinal value, but sharply declining wild populations, ought to be studied for the purposes of resource assessment and conservation. Future research on the chemical composition and bioactivity of medicinal plants is needed. |
| format | Online |
| id | oai:oai.abm.ojs.inecol.mx:article-2257 |
| institution | Acta Botanica Mexicana |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Instituto de Ecología, A.C. |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | oai:oai.abm.ojs.inecol.mx:article-22572024-05-13T16:09:13Z Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes Estudio etnobotánico de los usos de plantas medicinales del grupo étnico Nasa en los Andes colombianos Paz Perafán, Gisela Mabel Montenegro Paz, Gerardo combinación planta-planta conocimiento indígena etnobotánica plantas medicinales ethnobotany herb-herb combination indigenous knowledge medicinal plants Background and Aims: The main therapeutic sources of the traditional medicine of the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes is obtained from experts, midwives and traditional doctors (Thë’ Wala) located in the central mountain range of the Colombian Andes, which occupies an area of 25,400 hectares. Our ethnobotanical research is based on the hypothesis that Nasa traditional knowledge reveals crucial information about native species with therapeutic potential.Methods: All species collected were identified in the herbarium of the University of Cauca (CAUP). Total ailments were classified into 15 disease categories. The informant consensus factor (ICF) was employed to assess the degree and cultural relevance of the use of the taxa for the different disease categories. The use value (UV) index was applied to establish a consensus on the effectiveness of the species used to cure the different illnesses.Results: Our study reports 106 medicinal plants, belonging to 45 families. Asteraceae formed the most predominant family, followed by Lamiaceae. Ailments affecting the digestive system were the most frequently targeted group, making use of 26 plant species (24.5%). ICF values ranged between 0.96 and 1, with the highest values recorded for cancer and poisoning (1 each). Some plants are cultivated in the herb garden, or Tul, and others are collected in mountainous regions or in páramo (high moorland) areas, indicating the fragility of the pharmacopoeia in these regions. Conclusions: The findings of this study underline the importance of medicinal plants and their integral role in daily human activities and disease management of the Nasa ethnic group. Certain native species with high medicinal value, but sharply declining wild populations, ought to be studied for the purposes of resource assessment and conservation. Future research on the chemical composition and bioactivity of medicinal plants is needed. Antecedentes y Objetivos: Las principales fuentes terapéuticas de la medicina tradicional de la etnia Nasa en los Andes colombianos provienen de expertos, parteras y médicos tradicionales (Thë’ Wala) ubicados en la cordillera central de los Andes colombianos, la cual ocupa una superficie de 25,400 hectáreas. Nuestra investigación etnobotánica parte de la hipótesis que el conocimiento tradicional Nasa revela información crucial sobre plantas nativas con potencial terapéutico.Métodos: Todas las especies colectadas fueron determinadas en el herbario de la Universidad del Cauca (CAUP). Las dolencias se clasificaron en 15 categorías de enfermedades. Se utilizó el factor de consenso del informante (ICF) para evaluar el grado y la relevancia cultural del uso de los taxones para las diferentes categorías de enfermedades, y el índice de valor de uso (UV) para establecer un consenso sobre la efectividad de las especies utilizadas para curar las diferentes dolencias.Resultados: Nuestro estudio reporta 106 plantas medicinales, pertenecientes a 45 familias. Asteraceae constituye la familia más predominante, seguida de Lamiaceae. Las dolencias que afectan al sistema digestivo fue el grupo más afectado, utilizándose 26 especies de plantas (24.5%). Los valores del ICF oscilaron entre 0.96 y 1, registrándose los valores más altos para el cáncer y el envenenamiento (1 cada uno). Algunas plantas se cultivan en la huerta o “Tul” y otras se recolectan en regiones montañosas o en zonas de páramo, confirmando la fragilidad de la farmacopea en estas regiones.Conclusiones: Los hallazgos de este estudio subrayan la importancia de las plantas medicinales y su papel integral en las actividades humanas diarias y el manejo de enfermedades de la etnia Nasa. Ciertas especies nativas con alto valor medicinal, pero con poblaciones silvestres en marcada disminución, deberían estudiarse con fines de evaluación y conservación de recursos. Se necesitan futuras investigaciones sobre la composición química y la bioactividad de las plantas medicinales. Instituto de Ecología, A.C. 2024-05-06 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf application/epub+zip https://abm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/abm/article/view/2257 10.21829/abm131.2024.2257 Acta Botanica Mexicana; No. 131 (2024) Acta Botanica Mexicana; Núm. 131 (2024) 2448-7589 0187-7151 eng https://abm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/abm/article/view/2257/4531 https://abm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/abm/article/view/2257/4532 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 |
| spellingShingle | Paz Perafán, Gisela Mabel Montenegro Paz, Gerardo Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes |
| title | Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes |
| title_full | Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes |
| title_fullStr | Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes |
| title_short | Ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the Nasa ethnic group in the Colombian Andes |
| title_sort | ethnobotanical study of the uses of medicinal plants in the nasa ethnic group in the colombian andes |
| url | https://abm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/abm/article/view/2257 |
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