Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon
Abstract This study aims to document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Cashinahua people (also known as Huni Kuin) of the Curanja River, as well as describe and compare their uses with pharmacological and phytochemical records from previously published studies. The ethnic has been studie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00586-4 |
| _version_ | 1797827408699588608 |
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| author | Jana Horackova Maria Elena Chuspe Zans Ladislav Kokoska Naji Sulaiman Zoyla Mirella Clavo Peralta Ludvik Bortl Zbynek Polesny |
| author_facet | Jana Horackova Maria Elena Chuspe Zans Ladislav Kokoska Naji Sulaiman Zoyla Mirella Clavo Peralta Ludvik Bortl Zbynek Polesny |
| author_sort | Jana Horackova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study aims to document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Cashinahua people (also known as Huni Kuin) of the Curanja River, as well as describe and compare their uses with pharmacological and phytochemical records from previously published studies. The ethnic has been studied to a limited extent from an ethnobotanical perspective. The study area is located in the Ucayali region, eastern Central Amazon, where ancestral knowledge is preserved due to the limited accessibility of the region. Between November 2010 and June 2015, a total of 11 months were spent on the survey, which included a short-term visit to complete voucher specimen collection and taxonomic identification. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 Cashinahua traditional healers and 10 midwives. Vernacular names, ethnomedicinal uses, plant parts used and forms of preparation and administration were recorded. Ethnopharmacological, pharmacological and phytochemical uses were checked through survey of the previously published papers indexed on Web of Science databases between 2018 and 2022. We obtained data on 467 plant taxa, among which we highlighted 79 species unreported or rarely cited for medicinal use or phytochemical analysis. These species were spread over 60 genera and 42 botanical families, with Acanthaceae being the most represented. Leaves were used the most frequently (93.56%). Among the 79 species, the most reported therapeutic activities involved pregnancy and birth disorders (13.84%), followed by poisonings, infections and infestations. The predominant application form was external (87%). Our study indicates that there are locally valuable species that have not yet been studied for their medical potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:47:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e2cd340dae4c42c0a45b3dbbb83f4fff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:47:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e2cd340dae4c42c0a45b3dbbb83f4fff2023-05-14T11:24:57ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692023-05-0119112610.1186/s13002-023-00586-4Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian AmazonJana Horackova0Maria Elena Chuspe Zans1Ladislav Kokoska2Naji Sulaiman3Zoyla Mirella Clavo Peralta4Ludvik Bortl5Zbynek Polesny6Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences PragueDepartamento Académico de Ingeniería Civil y Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional Intercutural de QuillabambaDepartment of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences PragueDepartment of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences PragueInstituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San MarcosPrague Botanical GardenDepartment of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences PragueAbstract This study aims to document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Cashinahua people (also known as Huni Kuin) of the Curanja River, as well as describe and compare their uses with pharmacological and phytochemical records from previously published studies. The ethnic has been studied to a limited extent from an ethnobotanical perspective. The study area is located in the Ucayali region, eastern Central Amazon, where ancestral knowledge is preserved due to the limited accessibility of the region. Between November 2010 and June 2015, a total of 11 months were spent on the survey, which included a short-term visit to complete voucher specimen collection and taxonomic identification. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 Cashinahua traditional healers and 10 midwives. Vernacular names, ethnomedicinal uses, plant parts used and forms of preparation and administration were recorded. Ethnopharmacological, pharmacological and phytochemical uses were checked through survey of the previously published papers indexed on Web of Science databases between 2018 and 2022. We obtained data on 467 plant taxa, among which we highlighted 79 species unreported or rarely cited for medicinal use or phytochemical analysis. These species were spread over 60 genera and 42 botanical families, with Acanthaceae being the most represented. Leaves were used the most frequently (93.56%). Among the 79 species, the most reported therapeutic activities involved pregnancy and birth disorders (13.84%), followed by poisonings, infections and infestations. The predominant application form was external (87%). Our study indicates that there are locally valuable species that have not yet been studied for their medical potential.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00586-4EthnobotanyEthnomedicineIndigenous peopleTraditional knowledgePeru |
| spellingShingle | Jana Horackova Maria Elena Chuspe Zans Ladislav Kokoska Naji Sulaiman Zoyla Mirella Clavo Peralta Ludvik Bortl Zbynek Polesny Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Ethnobotany Ethnomedicine Indigenous people Traditional knowledge Peru |
| title | Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon |
| title_full | Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon |
| title_fullStr | Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon |
| title_short | Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon |
| title_sort | ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by cashinahua huni kuin herbalists in purus province peruvian amazon |
| topic | Ethnobotany Ethnomedicine Indigenous people Traditional knowledge Peru |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00586-4 |
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