Ethnobotany of the old neighborhoods from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico: the use of medicinal plants

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used by various cultures since pre-Hispanic times in Mexico. In this study, the use of medicinal plants in the old neighborhoods of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico is described. 137 species, 130 genera and 68 families were recorded. 34% of the species belong to Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae and Fabaceae families. The neighborhoods of Mexicaltzingo and San Juan de Dios are the most related to the knowledge and use of medicinal plants, while El Santuario is the least similar to the rest. The diversity of uses of medicinal plants according to the Shannon index is high (between 3.0 and 4.92). The Use Value Index showed that Matricaria chamomilla L. was the species that obtained the highest value (0.28), followed by Gnaphalium americanum Mill. (0.23). The age group between 51 and 85 years old has greater knowledge about medicinal plants and their uses.