Zootherapeutic practices in Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, México

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2011-10, Vol.138 (1), p.233-237
• Main Authors: Alonso-Castro, Angel Josabad, Carranza-Álvarez, Candy, Maldonado-Miranda, Juan José, del Rosario Jacobo-Salcedo, María, Quezada-Rivera, Diana Alicia, Lorenzo-Márquez, Habacuc, Figueroa-Zúñiga, Luis Alejandro, Fernández-Galicia, Carlos, Ríos-Reyes, Néstor Abel, de León-Rubio, Miguel Ángel, Rodríguez-Gallegos, Valentina, Medellín-Milán, Pedro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Products - therapeutic use; Crotalus; Ethnopharmacological field study; Ethnopharmacology; Female; General pharmacology; Humans; Informant consensus factor; Male; Medical sciences; Medicinal fauna; Medicine, Traditional; Mephitidae; Mexico; Middle Aged; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Relative importance; Respiratory Tract Diseases - drug therapy; Traditional medicine; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.020

This study demonstrates that many animal species play an important role in healing practices in Aquismón, San Luís Potosí, México. We found 24 animal species reported by interviewees as used for medicinal purposes. Nine medicinal species were identified not previously reported. Animal derived products have been a source of medicinal compounds since ancient times. This work documents the use of animal species in traditional medicine in the municipality of Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, México. Direct interviews were performed with inhabitants from Aquismón. The interviews were analyzed with two quantitative tools: (a) the informant consensus (ICF) that estimates the level of agreement about which animals may be used for each category and (b) the relative importance (RI) that determines the extent of potential utilization of each species. A total of 24 animal species used for medicinal purposes, belonging to 22 families and 4 taxonomic categories, were reported by interviewees. Nine medicinal species had not been reported in scientific literature. The results of the IFC showed that diseases of the respiratory systems had the greatest agreement. The most versatile species according to their RI are Crotalus atrox and Mephitis macroura. Further studies with medicinal fauna from Aquismón are required for the experimental validation of their traditional uses, especially with Mephitis macroura and Crotalus atrox.