Plants used to treat respiratory diseases introduced by Bolivian and Chinese immigrants in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

This contribution includes the registry of 28 species of medicinal plants and their derived products used to treat respiratory diseases in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina, introduced by Bolivian and Chinese immigrants. Information on these species (their assigned local uses) was obtained from interviews with local informants and from other sources, such as labels, brochures and catalogs, print and electronic. A bibliographic review was carried out on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate its correspondence with the assigned local uses. The degree of visibility of the treated species was analyzed, according to their circulation in the restricted commercial circuits (Chinese and Bolivian immigrants) and the general commercial circuit. Of the total, 17 species belong to the segment of Chinese immigrants, and the remaining 11 to the Bolivian segment. The most frequently reported respiratory conditions are: "asthma", "cough", "bronchitis", "respiratory tract infections", "lung ailments". The immigrant segments play a fundamental role in the conservation of biocultural diversity in the study area.