Abstract
The use of medicinal plants is an important source of therapeutic resources in rural communities and the wide versatility of some species may attract interest for prospecting studies. The aim of this study was to record and analyze local knowledge and the use of medicinal plants in the rural community of Malícia, municipality of Araçagi, Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil, applying quantitative methods to calculate the Relative Importance (RI) and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 46 heads of households. The interviews addressed questions about the used parts of the plants, therapeutic indications, and form of use. Therapeutic indications were classified into categories of body systems. The Relative Importance Index (RI) was calculated to verify the species versatility, and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was calculated to verify the consensus of use among informants regarding the body systems. A total of 111 plant species were recorded, inside 101 genera and 47 families. Fabaceae (16 spp.), Lamiaceae, and Myrtaceae (each one with 7 spp.) were the most representative families. Mentha arvensis, Aloe vera, and Myracrodruon urundeuva had the highest RI. A high consensus of use was observed among the informants for neoplasms, nervous system diseases, and infectious and parasitic diseases. Leaves were the part most cited for medicinal use. Regarding the method of preparation, the decoction and the oral administration route stood out. Neoplasms and respiratory system diseases had the highest ICF values. The results indicate a diversified knowledge of the local pharmacopeia and the need for in-depth studies to corroborate the effectiveness of medicinal plants and to understand the dynamics of local knowledge.
Highlights
Semistructured interviews were conducted with 46 heads of households. e interviews addressed questions about the used parts of the plants, therapeutic indications, and form of use. erapeutic indications were classified into categories of body systems. e Relative Importance Index (RI) was calculated to verify the species versatility, and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was calculated to verify the consensus of use among informants regarding the body systems
Studies in other parts of the world have recorded a greater number of species, such as Guinea-Bissau (218 sp.) [34], as a consequence of a review of data obtained from healers in different indigenous communities during 17 years, in a riparian community in Brazil (309 sp.) [54] and in a quilombola community in Brazil (133 sp.) [55], which may be related to cultural factors, due to the strong belief in the healing power of plants affirmed by people
When comparing the results of the present study with those performed in other biomes, we found that, e.g., in the Peruvian Amazon, there was a high representation for Fabaceae with 23 sp., followed by Araceae and Rubiaceae [56], whereas Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae were rare
Summary
Local Knowledge and Use of Medicinal Plants in a Rural Community in the Agreste of Paraıba, Northeast Brazil. Considering the high level of use of medicinal plants in developing countries and the growing interest in the field of herbal medicine, it is necessary to take a closer look at the conservation of these resources, because many communities are dependent on their availability, and many species of medicinal plants have appeared on lists of endangered species, creating a need to find practices for a more sustainable use [46] From all of these varied perspectives, studies on medicinal plants are of great importance in Brazil, given their great biodiversity, territorial dimension, and progressive loss of traditional knowledge due to the impacts of globalization on traditional populations. A point to be highlighted is that the studied community is located in an ecotone area, in the transition between the Mata Atlantica and the Caatinga, where we found species from both biomes, which makes the region with peculiar characteristics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
