Work

Ethnobotanical evaluation of medicinal flora in Quechua and Aymara communities of the Capachica and Chucuito peninsulas, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Quechua and Aymara communities surrounding Lake Titicaca preserve extensive traditional knowledge of medicinal plants that remains largely undocumented. Understanding this knowledge is essential for recognising its role in local healthcare systems and its potential contribution to pharmacological research. This study aimed to document the diversity of medicinal plant species, their therapeutic applications, and to evaluate the differences in ethnomedicinal knowledge between the Capachica (Quechua) and Chucuito (Aymara) peninsulas. Herbarium collections and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 63 informants. Data were classified into 14 disease categories, and reliability was assessed using ethnobotanical indices: use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor (ICF), and Rahman similarity index (RSI). A total of 146 medicinal species were recorded, 82 shared between both peninsulas. Species knowledge was higher in Capachica (p = 0.02), with no gender difference (p = 0.25). Despite high floristic similarity (Sorensen = 72.81%), therapeutic uses varied (Rahman = 0–20.51), showing cultural differentiation. Twenty-five species had citation frequencies above 70%, notably Dysphania ambrosioides, Ambrosia arborescens, Bidens andicola , and Clinopodium bolivianum . The fidelity level identified Clinopodium bolivianum, Dysphania ambrosioides , and Sonchus oleraceus for digestive disorders; Achyrocline alata and Eucalyptus globulus for respiratory; and Ephedra rupestris for genitourinary conditions. The informant consensus factor exceeded 0.6 in most categories, reflecting strong agreement. Ethnobotanical knowledge remains vital to traditional healthcare among Quechua and Aymara communities. High consensus values and frequent citations of key species confirm their cultural and therapeutic relevance. Pharmacological validation of these plants is essential to integrate traditional practices into contemporary healthcare frameworks.

Source: Phytomedicine Plus

DOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2026.100985