Ethnobotanical knowledge in state schools and family health teams of Juazeiro do Norte – CE: a case study

Abstract

Ethnobotany refers to the study of the relationship between man and plants as well as their mode of use. This popular knowledge is part of the history and culture of peoples from its origin to the present day, and is passed on generation after generation, representing a more accessible alternative to treat illnesses. Some communities develop sacred rituals involving the medicinal power of plants, and scientifically, it is from the chemical compounds present in them that new drugs are produced. The aim of this study was to investigate the ethnobotanical knowledge of students in the second year of high school and of biology teachers in the EEM José Bezerra Menezes, EEMTI Figueiredo Correia and EEEP Professor Moreira de Sousa; the Health Agents working in FHS 30 and 52 and the Nurse responsible for the team that works at São Lucas Maternity Hospital, in the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, southern Ceará. The highest number of citations was found for the plants Peumus boldus Molina (37.41%), Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson (28.78%), Mentha spicata L. (20.86%) and Matricaria recutita L. (12.95%). This study is expected to find out which medicinal plants are most used by the researched communities as well as their mode of use, in addition to contributing to this knowledge being better shared among the population.