Plantas medicinales que se comercializan en los principales mercados del centro de la ciudad de Quito

Abstract

Abstract: The Andean Region from its origins to the present, uses medicinal plants to cure their diseases, under this context; the objective of this research work was to investigate the merchants in the markets of the center of Quito about the trade, use and ways of preparing medicinal plants. A non-experimental research was carried out, with a qualitative approach, the collection of information was through semi-structured interviews, to 27 merchants of medicinal herbs markets in the center of Quito. The results obtained showed the trade of 59 medicinal plants such as o la Ruta graveolens L. (rue), Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger), Brugmansia arborea L. (floripondio), Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (aloe), Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile), Phyllanthus niruri L. (chancapiedra), Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. (eucalyptus). They are the plants that the population of Quito acquires the most; The forms of use are: infusion, juice, cooking, mixing and crushing, depending mainly on the plant and use; preferably daily consumption. A large part of the population of the city of Quito, mainly those with low economic resources, are those who acquire medicinal plants to cure their diseases.