Riqueza, uso y origen de plantas medicinales expendidas en los mercados de la ciudad del Cusco

A study of medicinal plants sold in nine markets—five major and four smaller zonal ones—in the city of Cusco, Peru, revealed a rich diversity of 152 species across 45 families. The most abundant were Asteraceae (36 species) and Lamiaceae (12), with Muehlenbeckia volcanica ('Mullaca'), Perezia virens ('Valeriana'), Matricaria recutita ('Manzanilla'), and Hypochaeris taraxacoides ('Pilli pilli') being the most frequently traded. The findings indicate that 75% of these plants are herbaceous, with 81% using the entire plant part, primarily prepared as infusions or 'mates calientes.' The study also identified that 83% of the species are native, predominantly from the Andean region surrounding Cusco, highlighting a strong connection to ancient Quechua knowledge. This research underscores the significant role of traditional medicinal practices in contemporary markets, mirroring patterns observed in other Andean regions like Bolivia and Ecuador.

Huamantupa, I., Cuba, M., Urrunaga, R., Paz, E., Ananya, N., Callalli, M., Pallqui, N., & Coasaca, H. (2011). Richness, use and origin of expended medicinal plants in the markets of the Cusco City. Revista Peruana de Biología, 18(3), 283–291. https://doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v18i3.439