Folk medicine in the northern coast of Colombia: an overview

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Ricardo Gaitán-Ibarra¹  José Domingo Medina¹  Jaime Guzmán-Ledezma¹  Jairo Mercado-Camargo¹  Luís Franco-Ospina¹  Fredyc Díaz-Castillo¹  Harold Gómez-Estrada¹ 

[1] Grupo de Investigación en Química de Medicamentos, Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Departamento de Farmacia. Universidad de Cartagena. Cartagena de Indias Colombia

关键词: Medicinal plants;    Bolívar-Colombia;    Traditional knowledge;    Ethnopharmacological survey;   

Others  :  863896
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-7-27

 received in 2011-03-04, accepted in 2011-09-22,  发布年份 2011

【 摘 要 】

Background

Traditional remedies are an integral part of Colombian culture. Here we present the results of a three-year study of ethnopharmacology and folk-medicine use among the population of the Atlantic Coast of Colombia, specifically in department of Bolívar. We collected information related to different herbal medicinal uses of the local flora in the treatment of the most common human diseases and health disorders in the area, and determined the relative importance of the species surveyed.

Methods

Data on the use of medicinal plants were collected using structured interviews and through observations and conversations with local communities. A total of 1225 participants were interviewed.

Results

Approximately 30 uses were reported for plants in traditional medicine. The plant species with the highest fidelity level (Fl) were Crescentia cujete L. (flu), Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (flu and cough), Euphorbia tithymaloides L. (inflammation), Gliricidia_sepium_(Jacq.) Kunth (pruritic ailments), Heliotropium indicum L. (intestinal parasites) Malachra alceifolia Jacq. (inflammation), Matricaria chamomilla L. (colic) Mentha sativa L. (nervousness), Momordica charantia L. (intestinal parasites), Origanum vulgare L. (earache), Plantago major L. (inflammation) and Terminalia catappa L. (inflammation). The most frequent ailments reported were skin affections, inflammation of the respiratory tract, and gastro-intestinal disorders. The majority of the remedies were prepared from freshly collected plant material from the wild and from a single species only. The preparation of remedies included boiling infusions, extraction of fresh or dry whole plants, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, and seeds. The parts of the plants most frequently used were the leaves. In this study were identified 39 plant species, which belong to 26 families. There was a high degree of consensus from informants on the medical indications of the different species.

Conclusions

This study presents new research efforts and perspectives on the search for new drugs based on local uses of medicinal plants. It also sheds light on the dependence of rural communities in Colombia on medicinal plants.

【 授权许可】

   
2011 Gómez-Estrada et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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