Estudio Preliminar sobre Plantas Medicinales Utilizadas en Algunas Comunidades de las Provincias de Azuay, Cañar y Loja, para Afecciones del Aparato Gastointestinal

Ethnobotanical study was conducted onplants used for gastro intestinal disorders in the South of Ecuador, to contribute to knowledge of useful flora of the region and optimize the use of plant drugs. Semi-structured interviews were applied to 40 key informants from 17 different communities; the used plants were collected with the respective ethnobotanical tabs. 125 drugs and botanical samples were collected of 43 families 92genera and 117species. Of these, 80 samples of native, 39 introduced and three endemic. According to the habit, 83 are herbs, 36 shrubs, threevines and two trees. There have been 19 different symptoms associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The most frequently used plant parts are leaves, stems and flowers followed by a lesser extent roots, young shoots, fruits and seeds. The study indicates that the population, both indigenous and mestizo, uses a considerable number of medicinal plants for gastrointestinal diseases. The incidence of these diseases is very high, so the plants are collected or cultivated mostly near houses, and are used mixed,in various forms of preparation. Most of them are herbaceous plants,cultivated orcrop tolerated; this confirms their frequent and common use.