Conocimiento y uso de plantas medicinales en estudiantes de educación básica de la comunidad campesina de Mocoy Abajo, Trujillo, Venezuela

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate ethnobotanical knowledge and the relative importance of the use of medicinal plants by students of Basic Education in the rural community of Mocoy Abajo, Cruz Carrillo Parish, Trujillo Municipality, Venezuela. Ethnopharmacological information was recorded using the TRAMIL survey, relative importance was estimated using the Signifi cant Use Level Index (NUS). The total student population was formed by 17 students, eight of 3rd grade and nine of 4th grade. The research showed that the 3rd grade students were able to identify 14 species, belonging to 10 botanical families; of these plants identifi ed, eight evidenced a level of signifi cant uses (NUS = 20 %). The 4th grade students were able to identify 20 plants for medicinal use, belonging to 15 botanical families, 13 with a NUS = 20 %. Both groups students evidenced to possess knowledge about that all the species are used treat some health problem and revealed six similar species with NUS = 20 %, were: Aloe vera, Verbena litoralis, Heliotropium indicum, Cymbopogon citratus, Lippia alba y Carica papaya. This information has been obtained mainly from parents and grandparents. Most of the traditional treatments are prepared with the aerial parts of the plants, in the form of decoction, administered orally. The results obtained demonstrate that the medicinal plants are strongly rooted in the students of this rural community.