Plantas medicinales empleadas en el núcleo familiar para tratar enfermedades relacionadas al covid-19, en el cantón Quito

Abstract

Abstract:The present work refers to the traditional knowledge about the plants used for the treatment of COVID -19 in urban and rural parishes of Quito canton. Based on a semistructured interview and with the respective qualitative, statistical and ethnobotanical analysis, comparisons of various types were shown. Information was collected on the plants, parts used, uses, places where they were obtained, mode of preparation, informants consensus factor and level of fidelity. Eigtheen species corresponding to 14 families were determined for the treatment of eight uses related to this disease. The most used structures are fresh leaves, which are mainly prepared in mixtures and infusions. No significant relationships were found for any of the relationships employed between informants, uses species employed, however consensus was recorded for all the uses recorded, with Chinchona officinalis, Zingiberofficinaleand Mentha piperitabeing recorded as the species used for the same main purposes. The study revealed that, in spite of having hospital centers in Quito, people still trust and use traditional medicine.