La pacha-muña (Hedeoma mandoniana Wedd), medicina ancestral en pobladores de Huánuco, Perú

Objective To learn about the healing properties of the leaves of the medicinal plant of ancestral use pacha-muña (Hedeoma mandoniana Wedd) through the knowledge of the inhabitants of the rural area of Antajirca and Bomboncocha, in the department of Huánuco, Peru, and to characterize its chemical composition. Methods Study with a mixed approach, of a qualitative nature, by conducting oral, uns-tructured interviews on the use and curative properties of the pacha-muña to 10 informal women workers, from the rural villages of Antajirca and Bomboncocha, district of Churu-bamba. And with a quantitative approach, since wild plants were collected, to submit their leaves to ethanol extraction, and expose the extract to qualitative tests such as: Shinoda, ferric chloride, foam test, by Fehling; among others. The technique of steam distillation was also applied to extract the essential oil, which was subjected to gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results Pacha-muña, a plant widely used by the inhabitants of the region, is consumed as an infusion to cure digestive problems (diarrhea, heartburn, halitosis, indigestion, colic), respiratory diseases (flu, bronchitis, asthma), among others. It was found that the leaves are mainly composed by: flavonoids, tannins, phenols and pulegone. Conclusion Pacha-muña is an aromatic herb widely used by the inhabitants of Huánuco as a cultural inheritance of high medicinal value, with healing effects explained by the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenols and pulegone.