MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE IN THE PROVINCE OF CHIMBORAZO, ECUADOR.
BACKGROUND
Phyto-therapy studies on Chimborazo province in Ecuador are really limited. This area, located within the Andes, is considered a millenarian and intercultural province, where multiples cultures and ethnic groups coexist.


METHODS
The study was conducted through direct interviews with 84 ancestral healers from the Province of Chimborazo, Ecuador.


RESULTS
We presented ten most used species by ancestral healers of Chimborazo province to cure different illnesses and their medicinal uses. We also provided the application mode and some features of healing that should be emphasized.


CONCLUSIONS
The nettle was the medicinal plant employed for more different illness and the chamomile was the one with higher prevalence. We could confirm that the Native Ecuadorians have a vast variety of traditions and popular medicinal practices that have great value and are needed to be researched and studied extensively.
Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center of Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.
Fátima
F
Morales
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.
Susana
S
Padilla
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.
Félix
F
Falconí
D000328:Adult; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D000078329:Workforce
D010936:Plant Extracts
Chimborazo; Ecuador; Medicinal plants; ancestral use