Mixtures of medicinal plants from caatinga: Basis for further bioprospecting studies

Abstract

The use of mixtures of medicinal plants, when compared to the therapeutic objective of a particular plant, can show greater effectiveness in the cure or treatment of disorders or potentiate harmful effects to an organism. The present study aimed to verify the indications of medicinal plants, alone and in association. Ethnobotanical information was obtained through semi-structured interviews, using the snowball technique, collecting information related to preparation, part of the plant used and therapeutic purposes of the mixtures. The experts highlighted a total of 58 mixtures indicated for 41 diseases grouped into ten body systems, among which respiratory system disorders covered a more significant number of mixtures (28) and obtained the second largest consensus among the informants (ICF = 0.44). Symptoms in this category included flu and cough with higher indications and higher frequency of use in associations for Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. The Index of Taxon Usefulness in Mixtures (ITUM) ranged from 0.14 to 1.00. A total of 14 species showed values equal to 1.00, observed only in mixtures, highlighting Allium cepa L. with more indications of use. The mixtures showed no toxicity in the study. However, it is possible to observe some species with individual use that may confer antagonistic effects depending on their administration and dosage. Therefore, the results of this research show that the mixtures most used by the community are prepared with an association of two to three plants. The mixtures have more restricted indications of use, demonstrating specificity in the treatment of illness. Further pharmacological bioprospecting studies are needed to confirm and validate the therapeutic benefit of these medicinal plant associations. • Knowledge of the benefits of using medicinal plant mixtures. • Identification of medicinal plant species rich in ethno-pharmacological knowledge with high potential for economic development through sustainable. • Therapeutic preparations exploring species of the local biodiversity as an alternative to the local health care system .