Introduction

Mexico is the fifth place with the greatest wealth of plants and animals, and the seventh in endemism. This country has 68 indigenous languages ​​and 364 spoken variants. Mesoamerica is one of the centers of origin and domestication, 30% of the population is indigenous, peasant, or Afro-Mestizo (^{Toledo & Barrera-Bassols, 2008}).

Among the countries with the greatest cultural and biological diversity, Mexico holds the second position (^{INECOL, 2022)}. The biocultural relationship is based on the responsible use and care of the environment, parallel to the perpetuity of traditions and customs of the established culture in a certain region. The biocultural resources are species of plants, animals, and fungi that are part of the articulation between the use, management, and traditional knowledge of communities (^{Dunn, 2017}).

The documentation of traditional knowledge in Mexico is important as many rural communities are losing their socioeconomic and cultural characteristics. According to the Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI), there are 23 ethnolinguistic groups categorized in "accelerated extinction", 15 in "slow extinction", and 14 are already in disappearance. Consequently, the documentation and preservation of native cultural knowledge are essential.

The term traditional medicine refers to all the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness (^{WHO, 2013}). Traditional medicine in Mexico is based mainly on herbalism, as it is the most accessible and effective medicine for both Mexican people in general as well as communities. More than 5,000 species represent 23% of the Mexican flora that has some traditional use; out of this total, 3,000 species are considered medicinal plants (^{SEMARNAT, 2021}). Although the majority of principles that constitute the main ingredients of patented medicines are derived from plant species, only 5% of all these plants have been analysed pharmacologically (^{SEMARNAT, 2021}). Based on relevance, Chiapas is considered the second state with the greatest biocultural wealth in Mexico (^{INECOL, 2022}), with ethnic groups such as the Tojolabal, Mame, Mochó, Tzeltal, Lacandona, Zoque, Tzotzil, Chol, etc. The majority are descendants of the Mayan culture. In addition to this, Chiapas owns one of the highest levels of vascular plants in the world’s biodiversity (^{Barthlott et al., 1996}).

The Chol ethnic group represents 12.5% ​​of the population with an indigenous language that habit in the northeast of Chiapas, between the municipalities of Palenque, Salto de Agua, Tumbalá, Tila, and Sabanilla which form an area of ​​approximately 4,000 km, located in the Northern Chiapas Mountains and the transition zone to the Gulf plain (^{IIS-UNAM, 2012}). The main vegetation found in these regions is typical of a rainforest. Few ethnobotanical studies have been carried out in Mexico with quantitative tools that allow corroborating ancestral knowledge for the treatment of diseases.

This is the first report about the medicinal plant knowledge in the Chol region of the state of Chiapas, Mexico.

Materials and methods

Study site. The municipality of Tila is located in the north of Chiapas under coordinates: latitude 17°09'56.52"N and longitude 92°39'33.48"W (Fig. 1A-B). Tila belongs to the rainforest area, so it has representative vegetation from the region, and it has 133 localities with a total of 83,505 inhabitants. The territorial extension is 798.57 km², which represents 0.93% of the state surface. The altitude is 840 m above sea level, and its climate varies according to the altitude: warm humid with rain throughout the year, and semi-warm humid above 1,000 m. (Fig. 1C) (^{INEGI, 2010}).

Fig. 1 A) State of Chiapas indicating the location of Tila B) Map of Tila municipality. C) The town of Tila taken from nearby mountains and fog 

Data collection. The research began in April 2018 and concluded in June of the same year. It was carried out in the community of Tila, Chiapas, Mexico. The ethnobotanical information was obtained through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with three healers (informants) from the region; two men (aged between 60-70 years old) and a female (62 years old). They shared the medicinal uses they give to plants and allowed us to keep a specimen of each species. Each specimen that was recognized as useful in the traditional Chol medicine was photographed and collected by recording data such as common name(s) in Spanish and Chol language, the use descriptions, categories of use and used parts of plants. All the specimens were temporarily placed in containers with water and soil until the investigation was finished; later brown paper bags were used for their transport in which they were carefully wrapped.

Data analysis. All the specimens obtained in Tila were carried to the botanical garden Faustino Miranda, which serves as the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural History in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. The curator Oscar Farrera Sarmiento (expert botanist) analyzed and classified the plants based on the International Plant Names Index guideline (IPNI). Finally, exhaustive research of each of the classified plants was carried out 1) to find out records of the plants as well as the medicinal uses attributed to them and 2) to contrast and/or add relevant information to the knowledge provided by Chol healers.

Results

In this research, 49 medicinal plants of the Chol culture were documented. Among them, 14 plants were not classified, while 35 different species were fully identified. They are distributed along 23 taxonomically botanical families. Table 1 shows the total of recollected, documented, and classified plants in the Chol culture for the treatments of different symptoms and ailments. Vouchers list is found in Appendix 1. A total of 25 plants were considered as endemic to either North, Central, and South America but currently grown in Mexico. On the other hand, 10 were considered “introduced plants” according to the botanic classification as their origins are not from the previously mentioned continents.

There are several plants with multiple medicinal purposes. Table 2 shows the five medicinal preparations that mix two or more plants to treat ailments such as urinary tract infection, hair loss, calm crying in children, gastritis, and decrease anger. The combinations of medicinal plants suggest that the pharmacological effect might be enhanced; most of the combinations are used in water or milk infusions.

The most abundant family found was Lamiaceae represented by five species (Fig. 2), followed by Begoniaceae, Urticaceae, and Asteraceae with three species; Euphorbiaceae, Crassulaceae and Verbenaceae with two species each, and the rest Moraceae, Zingiberaceae, Solanaceae, Rutaceae, Poaceae, Plantaginaceae, Piperaceae, Phytolaccaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Malvaceae, Equisetaceae, Costaceae, Commelinaceae, Bignoniaceae, Apiaceae, Annonaceae and Adoxaceae with one representative species.

Fig. 2 Photos of plants collected in Tila, Chiapas, Mexico in their wild form. A) “Monte de Erisipela”, Peperomia liebmannii C. DC. B) Ocimum aff. campechianum Mill. C) “Yermatin”, Salvia coccinea. 

Oral administration through preparations for infusion is the most common route of administration documented in this investigation, followed by topical administration.

During the collection of medicinal plants in Tila, Chiapas, Mexico, 49 specimens were obtained, of which only 35 could be classified by botanical experts. The variety of presentation of medicinal plants used in this region are mainly: herbs (the most common), shrubs and trees.

Discussion

The importance of medicinal plants in our country is undeniable, several ethnic groups of Chiapas Mexico have documented their traditional medicine, however, little information exists on Chol medicinal plants. Lamiaceae is the most common family of plants used in the Chol culture of Tila, Chiapas. This family included several genus of plants which has been documented with medicinal used in others regions of the world. An example of Lamiaceae member is the Ocimum, also called Tulsi, which has been associated with the treatment of gastrointestinal problems. It is a huge genus plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which comprises about 64 species of aromatic medicinal herbs with traditional uses (^{Zahran et al., 2020}). In general, Ocimum plants can be considered shrubs that contain essential oils of various aromas which are valuable in the pharmaceutical, perfumery, and food processing industries (^{Zahran et al., 2020}). Several reports have proven its medicinal benefits such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-viral, antipyretic, antioxidant, radical scavenging, anticancer, anti-ulcerogenic, and ulcer healing (^{Maurya & Sangwan, 2020}). These pharmacological actions are associated with the presence of specific bioactive phytoconstituents (^{Maurya & Sangwan, 2020}). The two major classes of secondary metabolites, phenylpropanoids, and terpenoids are found in essential oils (^{Maurya & Sangwan, 2020}).

The Ocimum campechianum Mill (Voucher #53875), also used in the Chol culture, is an interesting native species of the South and Central American tropics (^{Tacchini et al., 2020}). This plant is also known as “Albahaca de campo” or “Albahaca silvestre” and is widely used by the indigenous population both for culinary and medicinal purposes (^{Tacchini et al., 2020}). The Ocimum campechianum Mill leaves are used in infusions for the treatment of respiratory tract problems, cold, flu, fever, stomach disorders (as reported in this article), dysentery, rheumatism, paralysis, epilepsy, and mental illnesses (^{Can-Sulu, 2015}). Different attributions to this species are analgesic, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, antifungal properties, anesthetic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The predominant essential oil constituents such as methyl chavicol, eugenol linalool, camphor, and methyl cinnamate have been detected in this plant (^{Bomma et al., 2020}). In addition, it can be used topically during the bath to treat skin conditions, crushed leaves to treat nasal myiasis (parasitic disease), and root cooking to treat digestive problems (^{Can-Sulu, 2015}). Subsequently, this plant has been studied especially for leaf and aerial parts which have shown to have antifungal, insect repellent, and analgesic activities (^{Tacchini et al., 2020}).

The Ocimum Micranthum Willd (Voucher #53874) is an herbaceous plant distributed in regions of Mexico in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Yucatan (^{Caamal-Herrera et al., 2018}). Reports indicate that this plant contains essential oils responsible for medicinal activities against human pathogens, fungi, insects, and larvae in addition to its antioxidant, antiprotozoal, anti-inflammatory, and contraceptive properties (^{Caamal-Herrera et al., 2018}). These medicinal activities have been associated with the presence of diverse chemical compounds in the leaves of this plant (^{Caamal-Herrera et al., 2018}).

The Salvia is the most diverse genus of the Lamiaceae family, 306 Salvia species are found in Mexico; many have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, as antihydrotics, tonics, antirheumatoids, antimicrobials, antispasmodics, antiseptics, astringents, digestives, anti-inflammatories, carminatives, and chronic painkillers (^{Grzeszczuk et al., 2018}). Also, several studies have identified it as one of the most valuable sources of natural antioxidants (^{Grzeszczuk et al., 2018}). Several phytochemical compounds have been identified in this genus. The main chemical components identified in sage are essential oils, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, phenolic diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, and polysaccharides (^{Grzeszczuk et al., 2018}). Other major present antioxidants are the carnosol and carnosic (phenolic diterpenes), the rosmarinic, caffeic, ferulic, chlorogenic, (hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives), the salvianolic (dimer of rosmarinic acid). In addition, some essential oil compounds (camphor, 1, 8-cineole, α-thujone, β-thujone) and flavonoids (flavones of apigenin and luteolin, and their hydroxylated derivates) (^{Grzeszczuk et al., 2018}) reported. Finally, the use of Salvia Rubiginosa Benth (Voucher #53879) is also mentioned in the Tzetzal and Tzotzil groups of the Chiapas Highlands, mainly to treat stomach and respiratory ailments, constituting a fundamental part of their ethnopharmacology (^{Martínez, 2011}).

The Begoniaceae family was represented by three species of medicinal plants found in the region of Tila used by the Chol culture. Many species that belong to the Begoniaceae family are used for medicinal purposes; the Begonia glabra is used to heal shallow open wounds; while the Begonia fimbristipula reduces the fever, it is also used as a cough medicine, pain reliever, and is processed into drinks as the bitter tea (^{Siregar et al., 2018}). ^{Zubair et al., (2016)} suggests potential anticancer activity of alkaloid and glycoside-type compounds from Begonia species. The flowers of this species are used as a topical treatment to treat boils in this Chol culture or Tila, Chiapas. On the other hand, the ethanolic extract from Begonia thiemei species against Citrobacter freundii, suggest a potential source of new antimicrobial agents for the antibiotics development (^{Buyun et al., 2019}).

The Asteraceae family classified in this plant documentation was represented by three different species of plants. The Calea urticifolia (Mill.) DC. (Voucher #38625), commonly known as "bitter of the mount" is one of the most used plants in the traditional medicine in Yucatan as a remedy for pain, mainly stomach pain, malaria, and gastric ulcers (^{Mijangos-Ramos et al., 2018}). This agrees with the anti-inflammatory property attributed to it in this article. This can be found from Mexico to Panama, its leaves are used as a topical bactericide or as a treatment for gastric ulcers (^{Gogineni et al., 2019}). Another Asteraceae family is the Critonia morifolia (Voucher #45319), which has been reported with anticancer qualities by causing degradation of cell cycle regulators and downregulation of cyclin D1 and c-Myc proto-oncogenes, which have an important role in the development of various types of cancer (^{Unger et al., 2012}). This article documented the topical anti-inflammatory use.

Tagete is another member of the Asteraceae family and has around 50 plant species. Many medicinal properties have been demonstrated from the use of these plants; the leaves are used as an antiseptic, applied in boils and anthrax, for kidney problems, hemorrhoids, and muscle pain. Several studies have demonstrated medicinal properties in Tagetes erecta such as: antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, insecticide, larvicidal, hepatoprotective, antipyretic, cicatrizant, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiepileptic and antifungal (^{Singh et al., 2020}). In the Chol culture, its flowers are used to treat colitis. Several phytochemical components were found in different parts of Tagetes erecta, such as: quercetagetin-7-O-glucoside, 7β-hydroxysitosterol, erythrodiol-3-palmitate, erythrodiol, 1-[5-(1-propyn-1-yl) - [2, 2-bithiophen]-5-yl]-ethanone, α-terthienyl, β-sitosterol, daucosterol, quercetagetin, quercetagetin-7-methylether, kaempferol, syringic acid, gallic acid, lupeol, 3-α-galactosyl disyringic acid, 3-β- galactosyl disyringic acid, 6-ethoxy-2, 4- dimethylquinoline, oplodiol, (3S, 6R, 7E)-hydroxy- 4,7-megastigmadien-9-one, palmitin, ethylene glycollinoleate, and n- hexadecane (^{Li-Wei, 2011}).

Two species of the Crassulaceae family are commonly known by Chol healers. The Bryophyllum pinnatum (Voucher #39984) species, also known as the “leaf of life”, is a succulent medicinal herb. It usually grows in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate zones used in traditional medicine in Africa, tropical America, India, China, and Australia (^{Adibe et al., 2019}). This plant is used as anthelmintic, immunosuppressive, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory (same use given by the traditional Chol medicine), antidiabetic, nephroprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, anticonvulsant, neuropharmacological, and antipyretic activities (^{Ogidi et al., 2019}). Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri (Voucher #10193) is another medicinal herb that belongs to the Crassulaceae family. This plant is used in Latin America as a vaginal contraceptive as well as in the treatment of genital-urinary and vaginal infections (^{Palumbo et al., 2019}). In contrast to these uses, in the Tila region, this plant is used to treat headaches and is used topically for superficial wounds.

Out of the Euphorbiaceae family, two species were identified during the Chol medicinal plant documentation. Several members of the Euphorbia genus have been reported to be administered for ailments such as skin disease, rheumatism, gonorrhea, mucous membrane infections, boil, sores, hypertension, and in assisting wound healing, additional to be useful as purgatives and with exfoliant properties (^{Bolaji et al., 2019}). ^{Ikpefan et al. (2020)}, have highlighted that chloroform extraction and chromatographic vacuum liquid subtraction of Euphorbia graminea have shown the highest antimicrobial activity. This explains the wide use that is given in terms of skin diseases that have a microbial agent as their origin. Also, the Croton genus, a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, has shown interesting uses in traditional medicine. The presence of diterpenes, cyclitols, triterpenes, steroids, phenolic substances, and flavonoids have been reported, as they have biological properties (^{Barrera et al., 2016}) they undoubtedly promote the investigation of new bioactive substances of therapeutic interest. In the Chol region, people use it for superficial wounds.

Two genera from the Urticaceae were collected in this work. According to a study conducted by ^{Ria et al. (2014)}, the antimicrobial activity of several species of Urticaceae is demonstrated. This explains the scientific basis for the medicinal use of this species in the treatment of wounds also observed in this work. In addition, the traditional use of the Pilea microphylla has been reported as a treatment for bacterial infections. ^{Facey et al. (1999)}, verified the antimicrobial effect that this plant, finding some antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus from a mixture of acetone and ethyl acetate from Pilea microphylla.

The following genus was the only one documented for this respective taxonomic family of plants. The Malvaviscus arboreus is a specie of plant used by the Tila healers as a medicinal flower for gastrointestinal diseases, especially dysentery. ^{Hesham et al. (2021)}, reported medicinal properties found in the Malvaviscus arboreus such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and anti-infective activities attributed to the presence of a variety of phytochemicals.

As for the Adoxaceae family, the Chol population in this region uses the bark of the Sambucis mexicana (Voucher #44549) as a diuretic. The leaves and inner bark can be used as an insecticide and a dye. In several Mexican regions, the elderberry fruit is usually used to treat fever, cough, and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis. Furthermore, it is traditionally used in the treatment of digestive disorders, diarrhea, and red dysentery. Previous documentation demonstrates that it is also prescribed as a purgative, disinfectant, and diuretic to heal cavities, conjunctivitis, eye and ear infections, parasites, and rabies. The presence of di- and tri-terpene, glycosides, and phenols (e.g. flavonoids, tanninsa, and coumarins) has been associated with medicinal properties (^{Wright et al., 2007}).

The genus Rollinia generally grows in Central and South America. Antimicrobial effects of Rollinia extracts against Leishmania species have been proved to be major active metabolites due to a relation with acetogenins and alkaloids (^{Osorio et al., 2007}).

In the case of the Foeniculum vulgare, it is an herb with wide medicinal use. Fennel seeds are used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, carminative, and antispasmodic (^{Ahmed et al. 2019}). This last property coincides with that reported by healers from the Chol region. It is also used in indigenous medicine for the treatment of organ obstructions such as blood vessels, gall bladder, and liver; as well as for indigestion, nausea, colic, and flatulence (^{Ghazanfarpour et al., 2018}). Tabebuia is a genus of plants commonly used in traditional medicine to treat several ailments such as fever, pain, snake bite, as vermifuge or blood thinner, anemia, antimicrobial, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, wounds, influenza, cardiac and stomach problems, kidney, skin and throat inflammations, as well as cancer and tumors (^{Gómez & Luiz, 2018}). The specie of Tabebuia rosea is a neotropical species documented for infectious diseases treatment such as pruritic diseases and infections with fungi and yeast. Several phytochemical compounds have been associated with microbial inhibition. Along different extracts has been reported the presence of terpenes, steroids, sesquiterpenic, flavonoids, and phenolic acids from leaves and roots (^{Jimenez-Gonzalez et al., 2018}). These phytochemical compounds play an important role in the bioactivity of medicinal plants. In conclusion, the reported uses of Tabebuia in other bibliographies correspond with the reported ones in this article and are supported by ^{Jimenez-Gonzalez et al. (2018)}.

Tradescantia zebrine (Voucher #53872) is a perennial herbaceous species from the Commelinaceae family, which has been used to treat diseases related to blood disorders (^{Grace et al., 2020}). The extract of this plant has been used to hasten blood coagulation; this explains the medicinal use in gastric ulcers by Chol people in Tila. Several phytochemical compounds such as saponins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids have been detected for methanol extract from T. zebrina, as well as 15-lipoxygenase activity with possible applications in the treatment of asthma (^{Alaba & Chichioco-Hernandez, 2014}).

The Costus ruber C. Wright ex Griseb (Voucher #35173), which belongs to the Costaceae family and is also called “caña agría”, is used in traditional medicine. Costus pulverulentus is used for the empirical treatment of inflammation, pain, and cancer (^{Nascimento et al., 2016}).

The species of Equisetum myriochaetum (Voucher #8438) is widely distributed in Mexico, where has been associated with medicinal benefits, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and diuretic properties also reported in this work. The presence of phytochemicals such as saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids may support its wide spectra of bioactive effects, including its antiproliferative potential that has been paired with other members of this genus of plants (^{Olarzarán-Santibañez et al., 2021}). ^{Revilla-Monsalve et al. (2007)}, demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect from aqueous extracts of Cecropia obtusifolia (traditional form of consumption in Mexico) containing isoorientin and chlorogenic acid, without apparent adverse effects or hepatotoxicity. This hypoglycemic effect of Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol (Voucher #35732) is widely documented (^{Cadena-Zamudio et al., 2019}). In this sense, these research projects fundament the use that Chol healers give to this plant.

Bougainvillea glabra is used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, as well as to treat gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, etc.), and hypotension. Studies conducted on crude extracts, isolated pure compounds, or solvent fractions of B. glabra have shown antibacterial, antidiabetic, antifungal, analgesic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. The effects have been attributed to various secondary metabolites of flavonoids, betacyanins, terpenoids, glycosides, and essential and phenolic oils (^{Saleem et al., 2020}). In the Tila region, this plant is used to treat cough.

^{Lateef et al. (2018)} conducted a study that determined the antimicrobial, anticoagulant, and antioxidant activity of the Petiveria alliacea L. (Voucher #53880) leaf extract through the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from this herb. The effects of Petiveria alliacea L. have impacted positively on the central nervous system, specifically in processes such as memory and learning, where cognitive improvements may be achieved. ^{Zavala-Ocampo et al. (2022)} carried out a study that states that the methanol fraction of P. alliacea and its subfractions have antioxidant activity in addition to inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, which explains the cognitive improvement attributed to this herb. Contrary to other texts, this plant is used by Chol healers for the induction of menstrual bleeding.

Several medicinal properties have been connected with the Plantago major, and recent studies have confirmed it as an antitussive, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, anti-infective, antihemorrhagic, diuretic, wound healing, antipyretic, laxative, and astringent (^{Najafian et al., 2018}). The traditional doctors of Tila use it for "dolor de corazón" referring to an emotional illness.

The presence of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial potential has been observed from the aqueous ethanolic extract of the Saccharum officinarum bark. It should be noted that based on the scoop in which the sugar cane bark is edible, a certain level of safety and tolerability may be assured for human beings (^{Uchenna et al., 2015}).

Ruta graveolens (Voucher #13086) is widely known and used in traditional medicine regarding the antispasmodic, sedative, and stimulating effects for the beginning of the menstrual cycle; and wound healing, among others. These effects are supported by its high content of phytochemicals. Recently, ^{Pavić et al. (2019)} evaluated the total phenolic content of R. graveolens and its antioxidant and antibacterial activity through in vitro studies. ^{Donadu et al. (2021)}, pointed out that the R. graveolens has satisfactory antifungal activity against the Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans associated with oral candidiasis. In the Tila region, it is used to treat fever, so it may be connected with previous documentation about antimicrobial properties.

Antimicrobial peptides have been reported in the structure of several plants of the Solanaceae genus, the reason is that these peptides serve as chemical shields to protect themselves from pests and other microorganisms (^{Afroz et al., 2020}). This article detailed its use for urinary tract disorders.

In the case of Verbena littoralis H. B. K. (Voucher #40013) is a medicinal plant belonged to Verbenaceae widely distributed in South America. This plant has been used to treat liver intoxication and other hepatic disorders (^{Vestena et al., 2019}). Other uses such as shrub has been widely used in folk medicine as an effective antidiarrhetic, it has also been claimed as a remedy for typhoid fever, and cancer (^{Umasa & Castro, 1990}). Verbenalin 1 and Brasoside 2 are phytochemicals identified from the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts (^{Umasa & Castro, 1990}). According to healers choles, it is also attributed a certain antihemetic effect.

Lippia dulcis Trev (Voucher #40102), this is one of the most traditional, natural, and medicinal plants that belongs to the Verbenaceae family. Several compounds from the Lippia dulcis Trev have been reported, including the verbascoside (kusaginin, acteoside), a phenolic compound and a very strong antioxidant that provides anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits, as well as immunosuppressive, immune modeling, anticancer and hepatoprotective properties (^{Tomaszewska-Sowa, 2020}). In addition, the Lippia dulcis Trev has been used in the treatment of bronchitis, cough (as reported in this article), indigestion, liver disorders, hypertension, and dysentery (^{Tomaszewska-Sowa, 2020}).

Finally, the documentation of Zingiber officinale, identified as a Jengibre, is an herb used in the treatment of coughs in the Chol culture. ^{Hasan et al. (2012)}, informed about the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Zingiber officinale. It is suggested that this property comes from the gingerol produced by this herb since as soon as it comes into contact with the cell wall it breaks it, leading to the death of the microorganism.

Conclusions

Medicinal plants are a fundamental resource for the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Twelve indigenous peoples from Chiapas; Tseltal, Tsotsil, Chol, Zoque, Tojolabal, Mame, Kakchiquel, Lacandón, Mocho, Jacalteco, Chuj and Kanjobal, preserve the use of medicinal plants in their traditional medicine. Ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants used by the Chol culture are scarce. This work is an effort carried out in the context of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, most of which are collected from nature. It can be verified that inter-ethnic cultural interaction has influenced the coincident uses given to some wild plants, although different uses of the same plant were also observed in other regions of the country, the same situation that is observed in introduced plants. All this is the heritage of the Chol culture, the present work is an effort to contribute to the conservation of this knowledge.