title: Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used in Xalpatlahuac, Guerrero, México.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medicinal plants have been used for centuries for the empirical treatment of many diseases. This study documented the use of plant species in traditional medicine in the municipality of Xalpatlahuac, Guerrero, México.
  
  
  METHODS
  Direct interviews were performed with inhabitants from Xalpatlahuac. The interviews were analyzed with two quantitative tools: (a) the informant consensus factor (ICF) that estimates the level of agreement about which medicinal plants may be used for each category and (b) the relative importance (RI) that determines the extent of potential utilization of each species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 67 plant species with medicinal purposes, belonging to 36 families and used to treat 55 illnesses and 3 cultural filiations were reported by interviewees. Nineteen mixtures with medicinal plants were reported by the interviewers. Mentha piperita was the most used plant for combinations (4 mixtures). The results of the ICF showed that diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems had the greatest agreement. The most versatile species according to their RI are Marrubium vulgare, Mimosa albida and Psidium guajava..
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that plant species play an important role in healing practices and magical-religious rituals among inhabitants from Xalpatlahuac, Guerrero, Mexico. Furthermore, pharmacological, phytochemical and toxicological studies with medicinal flora, including mixtures, are required for the experimental validation of their traditional uses.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., Mexico. carmenjuarezv@gmail.com
authors.forename: María del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Juárez-Vázquez
authors.forename: Candy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carranza-Álvarez
authors.forename: Angel Josabad
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alonso-Castro
authors.forename: Violeta F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: González-Alcaraz
authors.forename: Eliseo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bravo-Acevedo
authors.forename: Felipe Jair
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Chamarro-Tinajero
authors.forename: Eloy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D019448:Ethnobotany / Q000379:methods; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027522:Marrubium / Q000737:chemistry; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000737:chemistry; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D031647:Psidium / Q000737:chemistry; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations