Plantas medicinales comercializadas en los mercados y ferias libres del cantón Zaruma, provincia de El Oro

Abstract

Abstract: In Ecuador, the use of medicinal plants is a common ancestral practice. Although there are little information about its uses and benefits, there are free markets and fairs that are dedicated to the commercialization of plants with healing properties. The investigation was carried out in the free markets and fairs of the Zaruma canton, province of El Oro. A semi-structured interview with 22 merchants, including rural and urban parishes, who commercialize 40 species belonging to 24 families, with 43 uses and 16 categories medical. The species are mainly used for disorders of the digestive system and respiratory, mostly orally and topically, mostly prepared as an infusion. The Families with the largest number of species are Lamiaceae and Asteraceae; the species with the greatest fidelity are Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F and Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Mansf. FIC values They vary between 1 and 0, with an average of 0.46. The neoplasia presented the highest FIC value: 1. In conclusion, low FIC values ​​were identified for all medicinal uses and therefore Therefore there is no consensus.