Medicinal use of plant species cultivated in a semi-rural community of the patagonian steppe

EYSSSARTIER, CECILIA; LADIO, ANA; LOZADA, MARIANA

BOLETíN LATINOAMERICANO Y DEL CARIBE DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES Y AROMáTICAS

SOC FITOQUIMICA LATINOAMERICANA

Lugar: Santiago, Chile; Año: 2009 vol. 8 p. 67 - 76

0717-7917

In the present study, we evaluated the medicinal use of plants cultivated in home-gardens, gardens and green houses in a semi-rural population of the Patagonian steppe, Argentina. We analyzed richness of native and exotic species utilized, botanical families, life forms, plant part used and therapeutic effects. Ethnobotanical fieldwork was conducted by means of semi-structured interviews and visits to each cultivated area. We recorded a total of 30 medicinal cultivated species and we found a higher proportion of exotic herbaceous plants. The species most frequently cited were: oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), mint (Mentha spicata L.), onion (Allium cepa L.), and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.). The Pilcaniyeu inhabitants commonly utilize these plants for hepatic-intestinal and respiratory affections. They mainly use leaves, while flowers and branches are utilized in a lesser proportion.