Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Jinuo people in Yunnan, China

作者：Huang Q, Liu W, Li Y, Zhang J, Wu X, Wang J, Yu Z, Zhao Q, Yang L, Yin L, Li W · 发表于：Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1186/s13002-026-00927-z · 研究领域：Ethnobotany、Jinuo people、Medicinal plants、Traditional knowledge、Traditional medicine

BACKGROUND: Traditional medicine is rooted in knowledge systems developed over time across diverse cultures, serving as an important source of healthcare practices and therapeutic methods. Ethnic medicine, in particular, reflects rich experience in the use of medicinal plants and has significant practical value. The medicinal plants of the Jinuo people and their associated traditional knowledge are an important part of China's ethnomedical system, yet systematic studies are still limited. This study therefore conducts an ethnobotanical survey in Jinuo communities to document and analyze their use of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge. METHODS: The fieldwork was conducted from October 2021 to June 2025 in the Jinuo Ethnic Township of Jinuo Mountain, covering 12 villages. A total of 213 local residents were surveyed, including 126 men and 87 women. Thirteen traditional Jinuo healers were selected as key informants through purposive sampling. In addition, semi-structured interviews and group discussions were conducted with 200 additional informants from the Jinuo community. Finally, the collected ethnobotanical data were analyzed using relative frequency of citation (RFC). RESULTS: A total of 226 medicinal plant species were recorded in the study area, belonging to 197 genera and 90 families, with Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae as the dominant families. Herbaceous plants constituted the majority of medicinal species. Thirteen plant parts were used for m...