The globalization of traditional medicine in northern peru: from shamanism to molecules.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med December 28, 2013 Rainer W. Bussmann 79 citations
In northern Peru, a region central to Andean traditional medicine, over 510 medicinal plant species are used, 83% native to Peru. Research involving interviews with healers and vendors and bioassays found that 50% of plants used in colonial times are no longer in the pharmacopoeia. Vendors specialize in different plant types, and 974 preparations treat 164 health conditions, with nearly 65% of plants used in mixtures. Antibacterial activity was confirmed in most plants for infections, while 24% of aqueous and 76% of ethanolic extracts showed toxicity, reflecting traditional preparation methods. Most species are wild-collected, raising sustainability concerns as demand grows without increased cultivation.