Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Mesoamerica

Ethnopharmacology in Mesoamerica examines the traditional use, pharmacological properties and cultural contexts of native botanical species employed by Indigenous and rural communities for health and healing. Spanning Mexico through Central America, this region is distinguished by remarkable biodiversity and a rich legacy of plant-based therapeutics rooted in Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, Nahua and other knowledge systems. Research integrates field-based documentation of remedies with phytochemical analyses, in vitro and in vivo bioassays, and safety profiling, aiming to validate efficacy and elucidate mechanisms of action. Key focal areas include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and neuroprotective activities of common taxa such as Salvia, Curcuma, Erythrina and Galphimia, alongside botanical agents used for digestive, respiratory and reproductive health. Contemporary efforts address the integration of traditional medicines into public health frameworks, recognising plurimedical systems and the imperative of universal health coverage for marginalised populations. Conservation of plant biodiversity, ethical benefit sharing and intellectual property considerations inform sustainable sourcing and community-driven bioprospecting. Recent advances in network pharmacology and chemoinformatics have accelerated the screening of phytochemical libraries, uncovering multi-target compounds with potential for drug development. The global significance of Mesoamerican ethnopharmacology lies in its contribution to novel therapeutic leads, culturally relevant healthcare models and strategies for biodiversity preservation under changing environmental and socioeconomic pressures.

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Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Mesoamerica publication trend

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Technical terms

Ethnopharmacology: The interdisciplinary study of how different cultures use plants, fungi and other natural substances for therapeutic purposes.

Phytochemical: A bioactive chemical compound produced by plants, often responsible for medicinal or toxic properties.

Plurimedical systems: Coexisting healthcare paradigms in which traditional, complementary and biomedical practices are employed by the same community.

Network pharmacology: An analytical framework combining systems biology and computational methods to map interactions between multiple compounds and biological targets.

References

1. Traditional Herbal Medicine in Mesoamerica: Toward Its Evidence Base for Improving Universal Health Coverage. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2020).
2. Medicinal Orchids of Mexico: A Review. Pharmaceuticals (2024).
3. Selection of Mexican Medicinal Plants by Identification of Potential Phytochemicals with Anti-Aging, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Oxidant Properties through Network Analysis and Chemoinformatic Screening. Biomolecules (2023).