Medicinal plants popularly used in the Brazilian Tropical Atlantic Forest (original) (raw)
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Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Atlantic Forest is a biome in dangerous situation and it lacks wider information on species with medicinal purposes used by people in this area. In this study an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Apiúna district, Brazil with the goal of assessing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by rural communities in a region covered by Atlantic Forest. Materials and methods: The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a free list of plants used for medicinal purposes. The respondents were selected by snow ball method. Therefore, the therapeutic use of plants was investigated and the species cited was collected and identified. Local plant uses were evaluated using ethnobotanical indices of diversity and equitability, and then compared with those obtained in other regions of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Besides, the informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated. Results: A total of 162 species belonging to 61 families were recorded, mainly Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. Furthermore, the species cited, 45.06% were native and 54.94% were considered exotic. The most frequently reported medicinal uses were the symptoms and signs (17.42%), digestive system (15.33%) and, infectious and parasitic diseases (12.73%). Although, the ICF calculation showed that mental and behavioral (0.85), respiratory system (0.79) and, digestive and genitourinary system diseases (0.78 for both) were the categories with higher values reached. Usually, the administration is oral from leaves preparations. Conclusions: Folk medicine in rural communities in this region of Atlantic Forest is an important source of primary health care. The results indicate an available knowledge of medicinal plants uses in this area, when compared to other regions previously studied. The fact that this research was conducted next to a conservation area makes it possible to dispose the knowledge organized here into a tool for environmental education as well as preservation. Moreover, the pharmacological information will further contribute for the validation and the use of these species in Brazilian health programs benefiting the population.
Survey of medicinal plants used in the region Northeast of Brazil
Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 2008
RESUMO: "Levantamento das plantas medicinais usadas na região Nordeste do Brasil". Este trabalho teve como objetivo um levantamento das plantas e dos seus usos como medicinais, as quais são utilizadas com fi ns terapêuticos na região Nordeste do Brasil. A área de estudo é reconhecida por uma rica biodiversidade, principalmente de plantas e de hábitats, abrangendo desde a Floresta Amazônica, Floresta Atlântica, sistemas de mangues e dunas costeiras, até fl orestas secas e savanas. Como resultados, foram registrados um total de 650 espécies pertencentes a 407 gêneros e 111 famílias, e suas informações etnomedicinais. A diversidade fl orística é dominada por vegetais superiores e apenas cinco espécies das famílias Aspleniaceae, Cyatheaceae, Equisetaceae, Polypodiaceae e Selaginellaceae pertencem ao grupo das Pteridófi tas, que corresconde a menos que 1% do total das espécies registradas. Este estudo sugere a grande importância da investigação das espécies farmacologicamente ainda não estudadas, uma vez que seus usos populares estão registrados.
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2016
Knowledge of medicinal plants has accumulated over centuries and often represents the only therapeutic resource of small municipalities in the interior of Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and use of medicinal plants by the population of the municipality of Bom Principio do Piaui, Piaui state, for the treatment of diseases in humans and domestic animals. Interviews were conducted with 38 residents using standardized questionnaire forms, with the "snowball" technique. Fifty nine families, 98 genera and 112 species were recorded. Of these, 22.3% were indicated for the treatment of diseases in animals and 9.8% were said to cause adverse effects. The families with most species were Fabaceae (14), Euphorbiaceae (11) and Lamiaceae (6). The species with greatest use value (UV) were Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao (0.65), Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants (0.63) and Amburana cearensis (Allemao) A.C.Sm. (0.42). The leaves were the part...
RESUMO: "Estudo Etnofarmacológico de Plantas Medicinais utilizadas em Rosário da Limeira, Minas Gerais, Brasil". Em virtude da importância do saber popular na utilização de plantas medicinais e da contribuição desse saber na preservação da flora medicinal, o trabalho atual tem o objetivo de resgatar e sistematizar o conhecimento popular de espécies medicinais e sua relação com usos terapêuticos, em Rosário de Limeira, MG. Os dados foram coletados entre janeiro e março de 2007. Quinze informantes foram entrevistados sobre seus conhecimentos das espécies medicinais, residentes nas comunidades rurais e nos bairros do município. A pesquisa revelou o uso de 66 espécies pertencentes a 33 famílias (Asteraceae com o maior número de espécies, seguido por Lamiaceae, Rutaceae e Bignoniaceae) usadas no tratamento de várias patologias. Das espécies medicinais citadas, 44,3% crescem espontaneamente e 55,7% são cultivadas. A principal parte vegetal usada na preparação dos fitoterápicos é a folha e a preparação mais comum é a infusão. As espécies mais usadas são: Baccharis trimera, Mentha sp., Plantago major, Chenopodium ambrosioides e Symphytum officinale.
The study of local knowledge about natural resources is becoming increasingly important in defining strategies and actions for conservation or recuperation of residual forests. This study therefore sought to: collect information from local populations concerning the use of Atlantic Forest medicinal plants; verify the sources of medicinal plants used; determine the relative importance of the species surveyed, and; calculate the informant consensus factor in relation to medicinal plant use. Data was obtained using semi-structured forms to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the medicinal use of specific plants. The material collected represent 125 plants, distributed among 61 botanical families, with little participation of native plants. This study demonstrated that local people tend to agree with each other in terms of the plants used to treat blood-related problems, but cite a much more diverse group of plants to treat problems related to the respiratory and digestive systems -two important categories in studies undertaken in different parts of the world. The local medicinal flora is largely based on plants that are either cultivated or obtained from anthropogenic zones, possibly due to the use and access restrictions of the legally protected neighboring forest. Despite these restrictions, the species with the highest use-value by this community was Pithecellobium cochliocarpum (Gomez) Macb., a native plant of the Atlantic Forest. Place of ethnobotanical data collection of the medicinal plants cited by the population in the municipality of Igarassu (Northeast Brazil) Figure 1 Place of ethnobotanical data collection of the medicinal plants cited by the population in the municipality of Igarassu (Northeast Brazil).
Knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the Semiarid Region of Brazil
This study aimed to record the knowledge and use of medicinal species in the Semiarid Region of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. Interviews were conducted with 100% of homeowners (men and women). We calculated the Relative Importance Index (RI) to determine local most important species. We recorded 45 species, 41 genera and 20 families. The most representative families were Fabaceae (12 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (5 spp.) and Anacardiaceae (4 ssp.). Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão and Syderoxylum obtusifolium (Roem & Schult.) T. D. Penn. were the most prominent species. There were 17 medicinal plants that showed great versatility in their use of RI > 1. There was predominance for treatment of respiratory system disorders, undefined diseases or undefined pain, digestive and genitourinary system disorders, and general inflammation and cicatrizing the two most cited diseases. The bark was the most used part with 1,399 use citations, and sauce was the main method of preparation (586 citations). This study demonstrated a greater use of two endangered species in the Caatinga, revealing conservation concerns.
Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants of the Pantanal Region (Mato Grosso, Brazil)
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Traditional knowledge is an important source of obtaining new phytotherapeutic agents. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was conducted in Nossa Senhora Aparecida do Chumbo District (NSACD), located in Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. 376 species of medicinal plants belonging to 285 genera and 102 families were cited. Fabaceae (10.2%), Asteraceae (7.82%) and Lamaceae (4.89%) families are of greater importance. Species with the greater relative importance wereHimatanthus obovatus(1.87),Hibiscus sabdariffa(1.87),Solidago microglossa(1.80),Strychnos pseudoquina(1.73) andDorstenia brasiliensis,Scoparia dulcisL., andLuehea divaricata(1.50). The informant consensus factor (ICF) ranged from 0.13 to 0.78 encompassing 18 disease categories,of which 15 had ICF greater than 0.50, with a predominance of disease categories related to injuries, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (ICF = 0.78) having 65 species cited ...
Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used in Rosário da Limeira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 2010
Em virtude da importância do saber popular na utilização de plantas medicinais e da contribuição desse saber na preservação da flora medicinal, o trabalho atual tem o objetivo de resgatar e sistematizar o conhecimento popular de espécies medicinais e sua relação com usos terapêuticos, em Rosário de Limeira, MG. Os dados foram coletados entre janeiro e março de 2007. Quinze informantes foram entrevistados sobre seus conhecimentos das espécies medicinais, residentes nas comunidades rurais e nos bairros do município. A pesquisa revelou o uso de 66 espécies pertencentes a 33 famílias (Asteraceae com o maior número de espécies, seguido por Lamiaceae, Rutaceae e Bignoniaceae) usadas no tratamento de várias patologias. Das espécies medicinais citadas, 44,3% crescem espontaneamente e 55,7% são cultivadas. A principal parte vegetal usada na preparação dos fitoterápicos é a folha e a preparação mais comum é a infusão. As espécies mais usadas são: Baccharis trimera, Mentha sp., Plantago major, Chenopodium ambrosioides e Symphytum officinale.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The American flora represents one of the world's wealthiest sources of material with pharmacological activity due to its biodiversity. Medicinal plants are widely used as home remedies in Brazil but several species used are native of other continents and were introduced here since the colonization, beginning in 1500. The Traditional Medicine Division of the WHO recognizes the importance of plant species used by the Amerindian as medicines, and recommends that their efficacies should be evaluated through pharmacological and toxicological assays. Aim of the study: To verify which Brazilian medicinal plants, especially those of Amerindian origin, were used in 19th century and have been evaluated by pharmacological studies. Materials and methods: Data about the use of native plants in traditional medicine were searched in bibliographic material from European naturalists who traveled throughout Minas Gerais in the 19th century. Results and conclusion: Two hundred and three species were described as useful by these naturalists and thirty-nine of them were also included in the first edition of Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia (FBRAS) in 1929, showing their use also in conventional medicine. Seventeen species have medicinal properties of Amerindian origin but despite the long tradition of medicinal plant use, only nine have been evaluated by pharmacological studies. That the studies which have been conducted to date have in each case confirmed the traditional uses of the plants examined. We suggest that the remaining species must be regarded as a priority for pharmacological studies, as they have promising phytotherapeutic potential.