Native Medicinal Flora of Argentina: a checklist, chemical composition, biological activity and analysis of its diversity

BARBOZA, G. E., J. J. CANTERO, C. NÚÑEZ, A. PACCIARONI & L. ARIZA ESPINAR

Sao Paulo

Congreso; XX Simpósio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil & X International Congress of Ethnopharmacology; 2008

Universidade Federale Sao Paulo, Universidade Federale RGS, Sociedade Brasileira de Plantas Medicinales

In the last years, the knowledge of the medicinal flora of Argentina has increased mainly through taxonomic, anatomical, and ethnobotanical studies of different provinces (Barboza et al. 2006 and bibliography cited herein), but an integrated analysis of the native vascular flora is still lacking. This work intends to present a complete checklist of the medicinal flora with additional information, and an analysis of its diversity. The checklist includes: Taxa (Latin and Vernacular names, Synonyms, and Exsiccata), Ethnomedical information/distribution, Biological activities, and Chemical data. The nomenclature has been checked in Zuloaga & Morrone (2008), and W3 Tropicos data bases. In Ethnomedical information, the use and the way organs are used (infusion, decoction, juice, etc.) are mentioned. The distribution was taken from Zuloaga & Morrone (2008). The Biological activities and Chemical data follow mainly NAPRALERT data base or specific literature. The taxa biodiversity index was calculated after Squeo et al. (1998). The Argentinean medicinal flora comprises 1488 taxa, 169 families, and 685 genera: Pteridophyta (53), Gymnospermae (14), and Angiospermae (1421). The 5 most representative families are: Asteraceae (16.8%), Fabaceae (7.33%), Euphorbiaceae (3.36%), Solanaceae (3.29%), and Verbenaceae (2.96%). In the northwestern region, Salta is the province with the highest number of taxa (766); in the northeastern, Corrientes with 738 spp., in central Argentina, Córdoba with 646, in Cuyo region, San Juan with 447, and finally in Patagonia, Neuquén with 370. Leaves (26,84 %) was the organ most frequently used. The use as emollient is the most cited (366 reports). Thanks to Secyt-UNC, Secyt-UNRC, and Ministerio Ciencia y Tecnología de Córdoba for financial support. Barboza, G. et al. Flora Medicinal de la Provincia de Córdoba. 2006. Squeo, F. et al. Revista Chilena Hist. Nat. 71: 571. 1998. Zuloaga, F. & O. Morrone. 2008. www.darwin.edu.ar2008