Sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plants in Cantarranas, Huehuetla, Hidalgo, Mexico, as a means to improve the quality of life in the community

  • Berenice Nathaly López-Gutiérrez Laboratorio de Etnobotánica, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
  • Blanca Estela Pérez-Escandón Laboratorio de Etnobotánica, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
  • Miguel Angel Villavicencio-Nieto Laboratorio de Etnobotánica, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
keywords: cultural value, ethnobotany, herbal remedies, linking, Otomí-Tepehua

Abstract

The present study was carried in Cantarranas, Huehuetla, Hidalgo, Mexico. The vegetation type is tropical evergreen forest. Cantarranas presents high degree of marginalization, limited access to health services, and few opportunities to increase its economic income. The aim was to design a strategy for the sustainable harvesting and conservation of medicinal plants used by the community, as an alternative to solve social and environmental problems. The species were evaluated by ethnobotanical and ecological methods. Using structured interviews, index of cultural value, index of Friedman value, practices and management intensity, and uses and conditions treated were documented. The distribution and abundance were obtained with line ransects method. Nineteen plants were evaluated, they are used to treat 51 conditions; the gastrointestinal disorders were the most frequently treated with medicinal plants. The species with the higher index of cultural value were Equisetum myriochaetum (0.69), Psidium guajava (0.37), Jaegeria macrocephala (0.26) y Costus scaber (0.25). Hamelia patens recorded the highest level of ? delity (96%), followed by E. myriochaetum (88%). The values of management intensity are higher in species such as C. scaber (9.2) y P. guajava (9). The population density has a range between 1 and 387 individuals per hectare, depending on the species and life forms. Through linking society and University, we developed and offered a certi? ed program for members of the community related to the use and sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants. A Cooperative Society was incorporated with women of the community and they work in the conservation and sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants in the community.

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Sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plants in Cantarranas, Huehuetla, Hidalgo, Mexico, as a means to improve the quality of life in the community
Published
2014-08-14
How to Cite
López-Gutiérrez, B. N., Pérez-Escandón, B. E., & Villavicencio-Nieto, M. A. (2014). Sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plants in Cantarranas, Huehuetla, Hidalgo, Mexico, as a means to improve the quality of life in the community. Botanical Sciences, 92(3), 389-404. https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.106
Section
ETHNOBOTANY / ETNOBOTÁNICA