Plantas medicinales comercializadas en el cantón Suscal

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, medicinal plants sold in the market of the Suscal canton were evaluated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local vendors, plant samples were collected for botanical identification, and the information was analyzed using the Level of Fidelity and Informant Consensus Factor. Additionally, non-parametric statistical tests were used to explore differences according to the vendors' sociodemographic variables. Thirty-one species belonging to 21 families were recorded. Matricaria recutita L. was the most frequently cited and showed the highest fidelity for digestive disorders. Ruta graveolens L. showed specialization in magical-religious uses, and Equisetum bogotense Kunth in genitourinary disorders. Greater agreement was observed for circulatory disorders, magical-religious uses, and pregnancy/childbirth/puerperium, and less consensus for common ailments. No significant differences were found by education level or age regarding the number of medicinal species sold by each informant. The diversity of species sold in the Suscal canton is associated with the experience and practices of the vendors, rather than being related to formal sociodemographic characteristics.