Use in traditional medicine of Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray (Asteraceae) in the community of San Martin de las Flores, Jalisco, Mexico

Abstract

The community of San Martin de las Flores, Jalisco, México has a varied flora, part of which is used by its residents to treat their diseases. One of these wild species that grows in this community is Verbesina sphaerocephala A.Gray (Asteraceae). The objective of this research was to provide an overview of local knowledge about the traditional uses of this plant. A quantitative ethnobotanical method to analyse the value of traditional use of this species among the community, as well as, bibliographic information on the existing phytochemical and pharmacological properties of species of the genus Verbesina has been used. When examining the general knowledge of V. sphaerocephala among the community, it was concluded that the plant is used mainly in traditional medicine to treat eight different types of diseases, highlighting its use as a wound healing and anti-inflammatory.