Identification, medicinal uses, and ecological benefits of wild high-andean plants in the Shallap valley, Huaraz, Peru

Abstract

High Andean wild flora plays a crucial role in the provision of ecosystem services and traditional medicine, representing a strategic resource for environmental sustainability and community health. This study aimed to identify wild high-andean plant species in the Shallap valley (Cordillera Blanca, Huaraz, Peru) and document their medicinal uses and ecological benefits. A descriptive, non-experimental, qualitative, and cross-sectional design was applied, establishing a 9 km transect with 10 georeferenced sampling points, where species were recorded through direct observation and photography. 38 species were identified across four main ecosystems—bofedales (high-Andean wetlands), shrublands, grasslands, and Andean forests—belonging to families such as Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Rosaceae. Among the most relevant findings were species with medicinal potential, including Perezia pinnatifida, Senecio rhizomatus, and Ephedra americana, associated with secondary metabolites with proven biological activity, as well as species with key ecological functions such as Polylepis spp. and Sphagnum spp., which contribute to water regulation, carbon sequestration, and erosion control. Additionally, evidence was found of certain species’ capacity for phytoremediation in soils contaminated by heavy metals. These results underscore the importance of conserving high-Andean wild flora and open opportunities for future research in applied ecology.