Ethnobotanical knowledge, richness and use value of medicinal plants in the community “Monterrey”, Villa Corzo, Chiapas (México)

Abstract

Seventy-three species of naturalized or native medicinal plants of the Monterrey community, municipality of Villa Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico were registered. A semi-structured interview was applied to a sample of 119 people, categorized by age and sex. The botanical family of each identified plants was determined, as well as the index of knowledge richness, the use value and the frequency of use. Among the most used species are the Verbena (Verbena officinalis L), the Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L.) and the Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), the Aloe (Aloe barbedensis Miller) and the Rue (Ruta chalepensis L.), which showed the highest rate of richness of knowledge, as well as use value. The botanical families most represented by species of medicinal use were Asteraceae with ten species, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Poaceae with four and Annonaceae, Apiaceae, Lauraceae and Rubiaceae, with three species.