PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM FIVE MEDICINAL FOOD PLANTS FROM CARIBBEAN DARIEN

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Remote regions of Colombia, particularly in areas such as the Darién region, lack adequate healthcare services for vulnerable populations. In response, these communities have developed strategies to identify and utilize therapeutic plants from their local environment. <strong>Objective:</strong> To document the traditional knowledge of medicinal food plants in San Francisco de Asís (Acandí, Chocó) and identify key secondary metabolites through phytochemical analysis, validating their therapeutic uses and potential applications in healthcare. <strong>Methods: </strong>This research was conducted in the village of San Francisco de Asís (Acandí, Chocó), situated at 7°25’ N latitude and 74°26’ W longitude. The study involved Black and inland communities who have historically relied on traditional knowledge for health and wellness. Ethnobotanical methods were employed to document the knowledge of local peasants regarding food plants with medicinal properties. Subsequently, phytochemical analyses were performed to identify the secondary metabolites responsible for these therapeutic effects. <strong>Results</strong>: Five food plant species with medicinal properties were identified: pepper (<em>Capsicum annuum</em>), flame of the woods (<em>Ixora coccinea</em>), jagua (<em>Genipa americana</em>), long coriander (<em>Eryngium foetidum L</em>), and achiote (<em>Bixa orellana L</em>). <strong>Implications:</strong> These findings underscore the importance of traditional knowledge in healthcare practices and highlight the potential of these plants for broader medicinal applications. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: The phytochemical analyses of the five species revealed significant groups of secondary metabolites that correlate with the medicinal uses reported by the inhabitants of Darién. </p>