Phytoterapic products marketed in free fairs of São Luís-MA: a therapeutic analysis

Abstract

Historically, medicinal herbs have been playing an essential role in the development of novel medications as well as the manufacturing of traditional herbal remedies. Brazil is among the nations in which commercialization of medicinal herbs is becoming more prevalent. This growth is attributed to the wealthy diversity of plants as well as the low cost of the therapy, as demonstrated by the fact that 82% of Brazilians use medicinal herbs on a regular basis to safeguard their good health. Utilizing qualitative as well as quantitative approaches, the primary objective of the investigation was to examine the way the aforementioned goods were being traded in São Luís marketplaces on the streets. According to information from stallholders, 86 products have been identified, the most of which were in oil form. These products have a variety of uses, including antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant qualities. The five most popular products in terms of sales and demand have been identified according to the samples that had been collected. These consist of andiroba oil, copaiba oil, pequi oil, castor oil, and the annatto syrup. Without knowing the products' origins, the individuals being interviewed reported that they were merely selling them. The vast majority of the products (≈ 80%) did not have labels specifying indications, how to use, contraindications, origin, or validity and, for the few that did, the information was incomplete. The study demonstrated that although the utilization of medicinal plants is an essential component of conventional medicine, merchants continue to have a deficiency of technical knowledge that put human health at risk through carelessness or even inappropriate usage of these products.