ANTHROPOCENTRIC USE OF THE GUAJE LEUCAENA ESCULENTA (MOC. & SESSÉ EX. DC.) BENTH, IN TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE MIXTECA BAJA REGION OF OAXACA, MEXICO

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify by means of canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) the use of guaje in food and traditional medicine, as well as the level of knowledge of this plant in the communities of Santiago Huajolotitlan and S. Cacaloxtepec in the mixteca baja region of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Stratified random sampling was performed and a questionnaire was applied in each community. Subsequently the maximum potential knowledge value of each respondent (MP) was calculated, and data analysis was performed using canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). The MP was (0.87) for the community of S. Huajolotitlan and (0.81) for S. Cacaloxtepec, which showed that the respondents have knowledge about the biology and medicinal use of guaje. The CDA showed significant difference (α = 0.05) in how to prepare guaje in both communities in Huajolotitlan, 55.3% prepare guaje in sauce, 8.3% in guaximole. With regard to diseases related to parasites, the variation percentage was 57%, whereas it was 21% for stomach pain. In Cacaloxtepec, 30% of respondents consume guaje in sauce. The variation percentage for medicinal use was 35% for deworming and 16% for making handicrafts. It is concluded that the main use of guaje in both communities is as food, the seeds being the main edible structure, and as a deworming agent, for which the bark is used.