Background
Methods
Study area
Study area
|
Number of vascular plant species
|
Number of medicinal plants
|
% of endemism
|
References
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Belize | 4423 | 64 | 19 | |
Jamaica | 2746 | 116 | 31 | |
Haiti | 4685 | 161 | 30 | |
Mexico | 30 000 | 5000 | 52 | |
Nicaragua | 5796-7000 | 229 | 19 | |
Panama | 8500-9000 | 265 | 19 | |
Cuba | 6015 | 101 | 53 | |
Puerto Rico | 2128 | 172 | 10 | |
Dominican Republic | 4685 | 200 | 30 |
Data collection
Surveyed communities
|
Number of informants
|
Ethnic prevalence
|
Surveyed communities
|
Number of informants
|
Ethnic prevalence
|
Surveyed communities
|
Number of informants
|
Ethnic prevalence
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belize (Caribbean Coast) | 200 |
Afro Caribbeans: prevalence of the African diaspora’s descendants | México (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) | 252 |
Amerindians: prevalence of pre-Columbian inhabitants’ descendants | Cuba (Trinidad) | 127 |
Mestizos: prevalence of mixed race persons (descendants with a mix of European, African and Amerindian characteristics) |
Jamaica | 270 | Nicaragua (Bosawás) | 139 | Puerto Rico (Eastern Region) | 351 | |||
Haití (La Chapelle) | 200 | Panamá (Bugle) | 197 | República Dominicana (Zambrana- jacobo-claro) | 95 |
Database
Data analysis
Results and discussion
Plant species used for the Afrocaribbean, Amerindian and Mestizo communieties
Main diseases treated with medicinal plants by Afrocaribbeans, Amerindians and Mestizos
Categories of disease
|
Afrocaribeans
|
Amerindians
|
Mestizos
|
---|---|---|---|
Number of species
| |||
Infectious and parasitic diseases (diarrhea, intestinal parasites, thrush) | 47 | 83 | 23 |
Symptoms, signs and abnormal findings (headache, fever, itching) | 46 | 82 | 32 |
Diseases of the digestive system (stomach cramps, flatulence, gastritis) | 41 | 82 | 40 |
Diseases of the respiratory system (asthma, flu, cough) | 31 | 53 | 48 |
Diseases of the genitourinary system (urinary infections, kidney stones, inflammation of ovaries) | 28 | 39 | 28 |
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (wound, poisoning, scorpion stings, snake bite) | 24 | 23 | 4 |
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (boils, abscesses, sores). | 23 | 49 | 12 |
Diseases of the circulatory system (hypertension, heart palpitations, circulatory problems) | 23 | 4 | 19 |
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (fractures, back pain, inflammation blow) | 21 | 24 | 6 |
Diseases of the nervous system (attacks of nerves, hysteria, epilepsy) | 8 | 11 | 14 |
Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (earache) | 4 | 12 | 3 |
Endocrinal, nutritional and metabolic diseases (anemia, uric acid, diabetes) | 2 | 12 | 2 |
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (birth complications, retained placenta, lack of milk). | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Diseases of the eye and adnexa (burning eyes, fleshy eye, eye irritation) | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Species use value in the three studied groups
Species and families
|
Categories ICD-WHO
|
Afro
|
Ame
|
Mes
|
R
|
Voucher number
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Momordica charantia L. - Cucurbitaceae
| I, IV, VI, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 5.33 | 1.33 | 3.33 | E | García 2329 |
Citrus aurantium L. - Rutaceae
| I, VI, X, XI, XIII, XVIII, XIX | 4.67 | 4.00 | 1.67 | E | Jiménez 1507 |
Citrus aurantiifolia (Chrisym.) Swimgle. Rutaceae
| I, IV, VI, IX, X, XI, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 3.33 | 6.67 | 1.67 | E | Jiménez 1499 |
Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. Asteraceae
| I, VI, X, XI, XII, XIV, XVIII, XIX, | 2.67 | 1.33 | 1.00 | N | Medina 181 |
Aloe vera (L.) Burm. - Xanthorrhoeaceae
| I, IV, VI, IX, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 2.00 | 7.33 | 3.00 | E | Jiménez 1525 |
Petiveria alliacea L.- Phytolaccaceae
| X, XI, XII, XIII, XVIII | 1.67 | 2.33 | 1.33 | N | Jiménez 24 |
Annona muricata L. - Annonaceae
| I, VI, IX, X, XI, XVIII | 1.33 | 3.33 | 2.67 | N | FORPLAN 1695 |
Psidium guajava L. - Myrtaceae
| I, X, XI, XII, XIII, XVIII, XIX | 1.33 | 3.33 | 1.67 | N | Jiménez 41 |
Persea americana Mill. - Lauraceae
| I, IV, X, XII, XIII, XIV, XVIII | 1.00 | 4.33 | 1.67 | N | Girón 245 |
Chenopodium ambrosioides L. - Amaranthaceae
| I, IX, XI, XVIII | 1.00 | 2.33 | 1.67 | N | Jiménez 1511 |
Ricinus communis L.- Euphorbiaceae
| I, X, VIII, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 3.33 | 1.67 | 0 | E | Jiménez 47 |
Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck - Rutaceae
| I, X, XI, XIII, XVIII | 3.33 | 0 | 0 | E | Veloz 3010 |
Gossypium barbadense L. - Malvaceae
| I, VIII, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 3.00 | 0 | 0 | E | García 2588 |
Saccharum officinarum L. - Poaceae
| I, VI, XI, XII, XIX | 3.00 | 0 | 0 | E | Mejía 9024 |
Lantana camara L. - Verbenaceae
| X, XI, XVIII | 2.33 | 0 | 0 | N | Girón 197 |
Zea mays L. -Poaceae
| I, IX, XII, XIII, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 2.00 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Girón 240 |
Musa paradisiaca L. - Musaceae
| I, XIII, XVIII | 2.00 | 0 | 1.00 | E | Jiménez 691 |
Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. - Crassulaceae
| IX, X, XIII | 2.00 | 0 | 0 | E | Ochoa 274 |
Haematoxylum campechianum L. - Fabaceae
| I, XIX, XVIII, XI | 2.00 | 0 | 0 | N | Rouzier 104 |
Ocimum gratissimum L. - Lamiaceae
| I, XI | 2.00 | 0 | 0 | E | Mejía 1399 |
Ocimum campechianum Mill. - Lamiaceae
| I, VIII, XI, XII, XVIII, XIX | 1.67 | 3.67 | 0 | N | Medina 276 |
Allium sativum L. - Amaryllidaceae
| I, IX, X, XI, XII, XV | 1.67 | 3.33 | 0 | E | Jiménez 1519 |
Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. - Malvaceae
| I, IX, X, XIII | 1.67 | 0 | 0 | N | Pimentel 1164 |
Zingiber officinale Roscoe - Zingiberaceae
| I, X, XI, XIII, XIV, XVIII | 1.33 | 2.33 | 0 | E | Ochoa 315 |
Carica papaya L. - Caricaceae
| I, VIII, IX, XI, XIII | 1.33 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Girón 227 |
Mangifera indica L. - Anacardiaceae
| I, IX, XII, XIV | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | E | Girón 810 |
Spondias mombin L. - Anacardiaceae
| I, XII, XIII, XIV | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | N | Medina 84 |
Crescentia cujete L. - Bignoniaceae
| VI, XII, XIII, XIV | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | N | Jiménez 22 |
Terminalia catappa L. - Combretaceae
| IX, XI | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | E | Arvigo 1061 |
Cucurbita moschata Duchesne - Cucurbitaceae
| I, XIV, XVIII | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | N | Jiménez 127 |
Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench - Malvaceae
| I, XIV, XVIII, XIX | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | E | Jiménez 683 |
Moringa oleífera Lam. - Moringaceae
| X, XI, XVIII | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | E | Rouzier 129 |
Ocimum basilicum L. - Lamiaceae
| I,VI, VII, IX, X, XVIII | 1.00 | 3.67 | 0 | E | Girón 168 |
Nicotiana tabacum L. - Solanaceae
| VIII, XII, XIX, XVIII, XIX | 1.00 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Girón 130 |
Tournefortia hirsutissima L. - Boraginaceae
| X, XVIII | 1.00 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Veloz 3024 |
Lippia graveolens Kunth - Verbenaceae
| VIII, XIV, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 3.67 | 0 | N | Ocampo 88 |
Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. - Burseraceae
| I, XI, XII, XVIII, XIX | 0 | 3.33 | 1.00 | N | Aker 492 |
Hamelia patens Jacq. - Rubiaceae
| VII, VIII, XII, XVIII, XIX | 0 | 3.33 | 0 | N | Medina 173 |
Ruta chalepensis L. - Rutaceae
| I, VI, VIII, X, XI, XIV, XVIII | 0 | 3.33 | 0 | E | Medina 236 |
Parthenium hysterophorus L. - Asteraceae
| X, XII, XIII, XIV, XIX | 0 | 3.00 | 0 | N | Arvigo 1097 |
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf - Poaceae
| IX, X, XI, XIV, XVIII | 0 | 2.67 | 1.33 | E | García 2654 |
Cecropia peltata L. - Urticaceae
| I, IV, X, XI, XIII, XIV | 0 | 2.67 | 1.00 | N | Medina 215 |
Allium schoenoprasum L. - Amaryllidaceae
| I, VIII, X, XI | 0 | 2.67 | 0 | E | Medina 125 |
Spondias purpurea L. - Anacardiaceae
| I, XI, XII, XVIII | 0 | 2.67 | 0 | N | Medina 84 |
Cocos nucifera L. - Arecaceae
| I, XI, XII, XIV, XVIII | 0 | 2.33 | 1.33 | E | Jiménez 1512 |
Piper auritum Kunth - Piperaceae
| X, XI, XII, XIII, XV, XVIII | 0 | 2.33 | 1.33 | N | Girón 273 |
Capraria biflora L. - Schrophulariaceae
| I, XII, XIV | 0 | 2.33 | 1.00 | N | Medina 27 |
Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. - Asteraceae
| I, X, XI | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | E | Medina 53 |
Tagetes erecta L. - Asteraceae
| X, XI, XII, XIII, XVIII | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | N | Medina 237 |
Bixa orellana L. - Bixaceae
| I, XI, XVIII | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | N | Medina 267 |
Struthanthus orbicularis (Kunth) Blume Lorantaceae
| XI, XII, XIII, XIV | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | N | Medina 224 |
Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth - Malpighiaceae
| I, XII, XVIII | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | N | Medina 69 |
Eryngium foetidum L. - Apiaceae
| I, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 2.00 | 0 | N | Jiménez 125 |
Kalanchoe integra (Medik.) Kuntze Crassulaceae
| I, X, XII, XVIII | 0 | 2.00 | 0 | E | Medina 8 |
Plantago major L. - Plantaginaceae
| I, XI, XII, XIV, XVIII | 0 | 1.67 | 2.00 | E | Medina 48 |
Heliotropium angiospermum Murray Boraginaceae
| I, X, XI, XIX | 0 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Medina 152 |
Clinopodium ludens (Shinners) A Pool. Lamiaceae
| I, X, XI | 0 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Medina 50 |
Brosimum alicastrum Sw. - Moraceae
| VI, X, XV, XIX | 0 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Paredes 254 |
Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen - Sapotaceae
| I, IV | 0 | 1.67 | 0 | N | Medina 39 |
Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. Lamiaceae
| VI, VIII, IX, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 1.33 | 4.00 | E | García 7541 |
Annona squamosa L. - Annonaceae
| I, IX, X, XVIII | 0 | 1.33 | 2.00 | N | Medina 55 |
Anacardium occidentale L. -Anacardiaceae
| I, X | 0 | 1.33 | 1.00 | N | FLORPAN 1870 |
Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. -Apocynaceae
| I, VII, XII | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Méndez 2476 |
Aristolochia maxima Jacq. - Aristolochiaceae
| IV, XI, XIX | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Medina 171 |
Aristolochia odoratissima L.- Aristolochiaceae
| X, XVIII | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | FLORPAN 5695 |
Ehretia tinifolia L. - Boraginaceae
| X, XV, XVIII | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Méndez 2448 |
Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult. Caryophyllaceae
| X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Jiménez 1353 |
Mentha citrata Ehrh - Lamiaceae
| I, XI | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | E | Medina 287 |
Pilocarpus racemosus Vahl - Rutaceae
| XI, XIII, XVIII | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Medina 203 |
Urera baccifera (L.) Gaudich. ex Wedd. Urticaceae
| XIII, XVIII, XIX | 0 | 1.33 | 0 | N | Medina 289 |
Mentha nemorosa Willd. - Lamiaceae
| I, IX, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.67 | E | Roig 4621 |
Justicia pectoralis Jacq. - Acanthaceae
| VI, IX, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.33 | N | Martinez 4758 |
Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G. Don. Asteraceae
| VI, IX, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.33 | N | Medina 159 |
Mentha piperita L. - Lamiaceae
| VI, IX, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.33 | E | Medina 54 |
Origanum majorana L. - Lamiaceae
| I, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.33 | E | Boucourt 4759 |
Ruta graveolens L.- Rutaceae
| VI, VIII, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.33 | E | Soberats 90-04 |
Bidens pilosa L. - Asteraceae
| X, XI, XII, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.00 | N | Boucourt 4767 |
Ocimum sanctum L. - Lamiaceae
| I, IV, IX, X, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.00 | E | Mejía 9143 |
Simarouba glauca DC. - Simaroubaceae
| VI, X, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.00 | N | Jiménez 40 |
Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. - Verbenaceae
| VI, VIII, XI, XVIII | 0 | 0 | 2.00 | N | FLORPAN 1933 |
Turnera ulmifolia L. Passifloraceae
| I, VI, XI, XIV | 0 | 0 | 1.67 | N | Méndez 149 |
Tradescantia spathacea Sw. - Commelinaceae
| X, XIII, XV | 0 | 0 | 1.33 | N | Jiménez 30 |
Rhizophora mangle L. -Rhizophoraceae
| XI, XII, XIV | 0 | 0 | 1.33 | N | Durán 433 |