Inventario de plantas medicinales usadas tradicionalmente en la Comunidad Tierra Morada del Estado Trujillo, Venezuela

Abstract

The traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is disappearing and a lot of plants species are under risk of extinction due to the environmental deterioration. In this study, it was made an ethnobotanical identification of the medicinal plants used by the inhabitants of the rural community of Tierra Morada located in Trujillo state, township of Trujillo, district of Matriz to heal their diseases. It was made a questionnaire about ethnobotanical aspects to those people who were older than 60 years, who according to the community have a broader knowledge of medicinal plants. Taking as reference the results of such questionnaire, it was collected in wooden presses a sample of 42 medicinal species, which it was examined in the laboratory and classified taxonomically, with the help of experts and specialized bibliography, determining that the 42 species belong to 34 botanical families. These species are used by the community to heal 36 health problems, among them are diarrhea and cough. The botanical family with the highest report was the Myrtacea, with 3 plants (7,1%), regarding to the most used species were the Justicia sp, Sambucus sp and Waltheria Americana, applied to heal up to three different sufferings. In the elaboration of the medicinal preparations, it is used more frequently the whole plant and the most used method was the decoction.