Medicinal plants in northern Peru and southern Ecuador

Marañon Tal in Nordperu

Jahrtausendalte Terassen in Nordperu

Heilpflanzenmarkt in La Paz, Bolivien

Traditionelle Heilpflanzen Präparation in Nordperu

Analyselabor für Inhaltsstoffe von Heilpflanzen

The border region of Ecuador and Peru is one of the most species-rich areas on earth and therefore a "biodiversity hotspot" par excellence. Low passes in the Andes chain allow easy exchange between the flora and fauna of the Amazon basin and the Pacific lowlands. In addition, the region exhibits a very rapid transition between the humid montane forests of the northern Andes and the dry deciduous forests of the northern Peruvian lowlands.

Traditional healing methods have proven effective in many countries with or without access to conventional allopathic medicine. In the United States, these traditional practices are increasingly in demand for diseases that cannot be easily treated by mainstream medicine. More and more people are interested in the knowledge of traditional healers and the variety of medicinal plants that thrive in areas like northern Peru. While scientific studies of medicinal plants are ongoing, concerns have arisen about the preservation of both the wide variety of medicinal plants and the associated traditional knowledge of healing methods. To encourage further conservation work, this study attempted to document the sources of the most popular and rarest medicinal plants sold in the Trujillo and Chiclayo markets, as well as to provide an inventory of the plants sold in these markets, which will serve as a basis for comparison with future stocks. Individual markets and market stalls were subjected to a cluster analysis based on the variety of medicinal plants on offer.

Detailed questionnaires were developed for the survey of traditional plant uses, containing questions on plant origin, common name, disease category, recipe formulation, pricing and quantities sold. The authors chose to retain the traditional disease categories provided by the informants rather than attempting to return to the Western biomedical system. Surveys are conducted in Spanish by fluent speakers. Reviewers would contact healers and market vendors and explain the premise for the study, including the goal of preserving medicinal plants in the region. Healers and market vendors (both male and female) will be interviewed in Peru after explaining the scope of the study and obtaining their prior consent.

Once medicinal plants have been identified and collected, phytochemical bioassays are performed to determine if the plants exhibit antibacterial activity. The floristic composition as well as the complex phytochemistry of traditional herbal mixtures remain woefully understudied. This is all the more surprising given that traditional efforts to research medicinal products based on a single plant have yielded very little in recent decades and may actually explain why so many plant species documented for a particular use are “inefficient” or “toxic” when introduced into clinical trials. Traditional herbal blends, with their wealth of compound fragments and new compounds created in the manufacturing  process, may well provide new leads for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Further studies comparing the compositional composition of these preparations with single plant extracts as well as investigations comparing the efficacy and toxicity of herbal preparations with their single plant ingredients are underway.

References:

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Ascate-Pasos, ME; Ganoza-Yupanqui, ML; Suárez-Rebaza, LA; León-Vargas, FR; Bussmann, RW. (2022). Traditional use, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activity of Maytenus laevis Reissek. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 24:25. doi: 10.32859/era.24.25.1-19

Laure-Mora, AM; Ganoza-Yupanqui, ML; Suárez-Rebaza, LA; Bussmann, RW. (2021). Baccharis genistelloides (Lam.) Pers. "carqueja": a review of uses in traditional medicine, phytochemical composition and pharmacological studies Baccharis genistelloides (Lam.) Pers. “carqueja”: una revisión de usos en medicina tradicinal, composición fitoquímica y estudios farmacológicos. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 21:50. doi: 10.32859/era.21.50.1-37

Castañeda, R; Gutiérrez, H; Aponte, H; Ocampo, IZ; Bussmann, RW; Paniagua-Zambrana, NY (2021). El comercio de plantas medicinales silvestres en el distrito andino de Lircay, Huancavelica, Perú: Un estudio comparativo - The trade of wild medicinal plants in the andean district of Lircay, Huancavelica, Perú: A comparative study. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 21(22):1-32. doi: 10.32859/era.21.22.1-32

Ascate Pasos, ME; Ganoza Yupanqui, ML; Suárez Rebaza, LA; Bussmann, RW (2020). Valeriana pilosa Ruiz and Pav.: una revisión de usos tradicionales, fitoquímica y farmacología -Valeriana pilosa Ruiz and Pav.: a review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 20:19. doi: 10.32859/era.20.19.1-15.

Spirova, E.N., Ivanov, I.A., Kasheverov, I.E., Kudryavtsev, D.S., Shelukhina, I.V., Son, L.V., Lummis, S.C.R., Malca-Garcia, G.R., Bussmann, R.W., Hennig, L., Giannis, A., Tsetlin, V.I. (2019). Curare Alkaloids from Matis Dart Poison: Comparison with d-Tubocurarine in Interactions with Nicotinic, 5-HT3 Serotonin and GABAA Receptors. PlosOne 14(1) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210182

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2018). Medicinal plants of the Andes and the Amazon – The magic and medicinal flora of Northern Peru. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 15(2): 1-295. doi: 10.32859/era.15.1.001-293

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2018). Plantas medicinales de los Andes y la Amazonía – La flora mágica y medicinal del Norte de Peru. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 15(1): 1-293. doi: 10.32859/era.15.2.001-295

Bussmann, R.W., Tellez, C., Vega, C., Monigatti, M. (2018). Uso de plantas medicinales en los andes norte del Perú. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 15(3): 1-110. doi: 10.32859/era.15.3.001-110

Malca García, G.R., Hennig, L., Ganoza Yupanqui, M.L., Piña Iturbe, A., Bussmann, R.W. (2017). Constituents from the bark resin of Schinus molle L. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 27, 67-69.

Malca Garcia, G.R., Hennig, L., Rodríguez Rodrígues E.F., Bussmann, RW (2016). Coumarins of Loricaria ferruginea (Ruiz. and Pav.) Wedd. (Asteraceae). Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 26(4) doi: 10.1016/j.bip.2016.02.006

Paniagua-Zambrana, N.Y., Cámara-Leret, R., Bussmann, R.W., Macia, M.J. (2016). Patterns of medicinal use of palms across northwestern South America. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 182(2): 480-504.

Malca Garcia GR, Hennig L, Shelukhina I, Kudryatsev D, Bussmann RW, Tsetlin V, Giannis A (2015). Curare Alkaloids: Constituents of a Matis Dart Poison. Journal of Natural Products. 25;78(11):2537-2544. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00457

Malca Garcia, G.R., Hennig, L., Sieler, J., Bussmann, R.W., Giannis, A. (2015). Constituents of Corynaea crassa Hook.f. (Balanophoraceae) "Peruvian Viagra". Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 25(2):92-97.

Bussmann, R.W., Paniagua-Zambrana, N.Y., Castañeda Sifuentes, R.Y., Prado Velazco, Y.A., Mandujano, J. (2015). Health in a pot – the ethnobotany of emolientes and emolienteros in Peru. Economic Botany 69, 83-88.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2015). Medicinal plants of the Andes and the Amazon – The magic and medicinal flora of Northern Peru. William L. Brown Center, MBG, St. Louis. (ISBN 978-0-9960231-2-2).

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2015). Plantas medicinales de los Andes y la Amazonía – La flora mágica y medicinal del Norte de Peru. William L. Brown Center, MBG, St. Louis. (ISBN 978-0-9960231-3-9).

Vega, C., Tellez, C., Paniagua-Zambrana, N.Y., Bussmann, RW. (2014). Yo conozco y cuido las palmeras. William L. Brown Center, MBG, St. Louis. (ISBN 978-0-9960231-1-5).

Monigatti, M., Vega, C., Tellez, C., Bussmann, R.W. Uso de plantas medicinales en los andes norte del Perú. (2013). William L. Brown Center, MBG, St. Louis. (ISBN 978-0-9848415-8-5).

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D.(2007). Plants of the four winds - The magic and medicinal flora of Peru. Plantas de los cuatro vientos - La flora mágica y medicinal del Perú. Arogya, Honolulu. (ISBN 978-0-9789962-3-9).

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2014). Two decades of ethnobotanical research in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. Ethnobiology and Conservation 3:3, doi: 101545/ec2014-6-3.2-1-50.

Bussmann, R.W., Paniagua-Zambrana, N.Y., Applequist, W. (2014). Traditional Medicine in a Global Environment. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, doi:10.1155/2014/326895

Bussmann, RW (2013). The globalization of traditional medicine in northern Peru – from shamanism to molecules. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 291903, doi: 10.1155/2013/291903.

Bussmann R.W., Hennig L. Giannis A., Kutchan, T. (2013). Anthraquinone content in Noni.Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 208378, doi:10.1155/2013/208378.

Monigatti, M., Bussmann, R.W., Weckerle, C.S. (2013). Medicinal plant use in two Andean communities located at different altitudes in the Bolivar Province, Peru. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 145(2):450-464.

Azahuanche, F.P., Rodríguez Ávalos, F., León Aponte, G., Sharon, D., Bussmann, R.W., Willsky, G.R., Guerrero, G., Willner, K., Castro Dionicio, I. (2012). Estudio fitoquímico y antibacteriano de mezclas de plantas medicinales. En búsqueda de nuevos componentes. - Phytochemical and antibacterial study of medicinal plant mixtures. In search of new components. Pueblo Continente 23(32):339-343.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2011). Mending the heart. Plants used in Peruvian ethnomedicine for heart disease, blood pressure irregularities and cholesterol control. Arnaldoa 18(2):167-178.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2011). Traditional medicinal plants used in Northern Peru for kidney problems and urinary infections. Arnaldoa 18(1):77-94.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2011). Traditional knowledge for modern ailments – plants used for the treatment of diabetes and cancer in Northern Peru. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 5(31):6916-6930.

Bussmann, R.W., Malca, G., Glenn, A., Sharon, D., Nilsen, B., Parris, B., Dubose, D., Ruiz, D., Saleda, J., Martinez, M., Carillo, L., Walker, K., Kuhlman, A., Townesmith, A. (2011). Toxicity of medicinal plants used in Northern Peru. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 137: 121-140.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2011). Medicinal plants used in Northern Peru for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections and inflammation symptoms. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 5(8):1297-1304.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2011). Fighting pain. Traditional Peruvian remedies for the treatment of Asthma, Rheumatism, Arthritis and sore bones. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge: 10(3) 397-412.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A., Sharon, D., Chait, G., Díaz, D., Pourmand, K., Jonat, B., Somogy, S., Guardado, G., Aguirre, C., Meyer, K., Rothrock, A., Townesmith, A. (2011). Proving thatTraditional Knowledge works - The Antibacterial activity of Northern Peruvian medicinal plants. Ethnobotany Research and Application 9: 67-96.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2010). Plants used for the treatment of gastro-intestinal ailments in Northern Peruvian ethnomedicine. Arnaldoa 17(2):255-270.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2010). Peruvian medicinal plants for the treatment of liver and gallbladder ailments. Arnaldoa 17(2):243-254.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2010). Traditional Peruvian medicine for the treatment of respiratory disorders. Revista Peruana de Biologia 17(2): 331-346.

Hennig L., Malca-García G., Giannis A., Bussmann R.W. (2010). New constituents of Baccharis genistelliodes (Lam.) Pers. Archive for Organic Chemistry (vi): 74-82.

Bussmann, R.W., Malca, G., Glenn, A., Sharon, D., Chait, G., Díaz, D., Pourmand, K., Jonat, B., Somogy, S., Guardado, G., Aguirre, C., Meyer, K., Rothrock, A., Townesmith, A., Effio-Carbajal, J., Frías-Fernandez, F., Benito, M. (2010). Minimum inhibitory concentration of medicinal plants used in Northern Peru as antibacterial remedies. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 132: 101-108.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2010). Medicinal plants used in Northern Peru for reproductive problems and female health. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 6(30).

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Glenn, A. (2010). Healing the body, healing the soul. Traditional remedies for “magical” ailments, nervous system and psychosomatic disorders in Northern Peru. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 4(9):580-629.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A., Sharon, D. (2010). Antibacterial activity of medicinal plants of Northern Peru – can traditional applications provide leads for modern science? Indian Journal of Traditional Medicine 9(4): 742-753.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A. (2010). Cooling the heat - Traditional remedies for malaria and fever in Northern Peru. Ethnobotany Research and Application 8, 125-134.

Bussmann, R.W., Glenn, A., Meyer, K., Rothrock, A., Townesmith, A. (2010). Herbal mixtures in traditional medicine in Northern Peru. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 6(10).

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Diaz, D., Cardenas, R., Chait, G., Castro, M., Regalado, S., Del Toro C., R., Malca G., G., Perez A, F., Glenn, A. (2009). Antibacterial activity of medicinal plant species in Northern Peru. Arnaldoa 16(1):93-103.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Castro, M., Cardenas, R., Chait, G., Regalado, S., Del Toro C., R., Malca G., G., Perez A, F., Glenn, A. (2009). Phyto-Chemical Analysis of Peruvian Medicinal Plants. Arnaldoa 16(1):105-110.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Garcia, M. (2009). From Chamomile to Aspirin? Medicinal plant use among clients at Laboratorios Beal in Trujillo, Peru. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 7: 399-407.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2009). Markets, Healers, Vendors, Collectors, – the sustainability of medicinal plant use in Northern Peru. Mountain Research and Development 29(2): 128-134.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2009). Naming a phantom – the quest to find the identity of Ulluchu, an unidentified ceremonial plant of the Moche culture in Northern Peru. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 5(8

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2009). Shadows of the colonial past – diverging plant use in Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 5(4).

Bussmann, R.W., Barocio, Y., Díaz P., D., Sharon, D. (2008). Peruvian Plants Canchalagua (Schkuhria pinnata (Lam.) Kuntze):Hercampuri (Gentianella alborosea (Gilg.) Fabris):and Corpus Way (Gentianella bicolor (Wedd.) J. Pringle) prove to be effective in the treatment of acne. Arnaldoa 15(1): 149-152.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Ly, J. (2008). From garden to market? The cultivation of native and introduced medicinal plant species in Cajamarca, Peru and implications habitat conservation. Ethnobotany Research and Application 6: 351-361.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Perez, F., Díaz, D., Ford, T., Rasheed, T., Silva, R. (2008). Antibacterial activity of Northern-Peruvian Medicinal Plants - a low-cost laboratory approach to assess biological activity. Arnaldoa 15(1): 127-148.

Revene, Z., Bussmann R.W., Sharon, D. (2008). From Sierra to Coast: Tracing the Supply of Medicinal Plants in Northern Peru – a plant collector’s tale. Ethnobotany Research and Application 6: 15-22.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Vandebroek, I., Jones, A., Revene, Z. (2007). Health for sale: The medicinal plant markets in Trujillo and Chiclayo, Northern Peru. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 3:37.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D., Lopez, A. (2007). Blending Traditional and Western Medicine: Medicinal plant use amongst patients at Clinica Anticona in El Porvenir, Peru. Ethnobotany Research and Application 5: 185-199.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2006). Traditional plant use in Northern Peru: Tracking two thousand years of healing culture. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2:47.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D. (2006). Traditional plant use in Loja province, Southern Ecuador. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2:44.

Sharon, D., Bussmann, R.W. (2006). MIRT and the Ethnobotany in Trujillo, Peru. MIRT y la Etnobotanica en Trujillo. Lyonia 10(2): 91-104.

Bussmann, R.W. (2006). Andean floristic diversity and its importance for cultural diversity - examples from Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador. La diversidad floristica andina y su importancia por la diversidad cultural – ejemplos del Norte de Peru y Sur de Ecuador. Lyonia 10(2): 19-36.

Bussmann, R.W., Sharon, D.(2007). Plants of longevity - The medicinal flora of Vilcabamba. Plantas de longevidad - La flora medicinal de Vilcabamba. Arogya, Honolulu (ISBN 978-0-9789962-2-2).

Bejár, E., Bussmann, R.W., Roa, C., Sharon, D. (2001) Medicinal Herbs of Southern Ecuador – Hierbas Medicinales del Sur Ecuatoriano, 340p. San Diego, Latino Herbal Press.