Use of medicinal plants by community from Fazenda Nova district, Brejo da Madre de Deus, PE, Brazil

Abstract

The survey of medicinal  plants used by people in the Fazenda Nova district, Brejo da Madre de Deus Municipality, Pernambuco State, Brazil was the main aim of this work. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews. The botanical material were identified and deposited at the Herbarium Professor VasconcelosSobrinho (PEUFR) of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Were recorded 81 species, distributed in 45 families. The families with  larger number of species were: Euphorbiaceae (7 ssp.), Caesalpiniaceae (5 ssp.), Lamiaceae ( 5 ssp.), Mimosaceae (5 ssp.), Asteraceae (4 ssp.), Fabaceae (4 ssp.), Bignoniaceae (3 ssp.) e Solanaceae (3 ssp.). Therapeutic indications for respiratory problems (24.54%), gastrointestinal disorders (17.47%) and inflammation in general (11.52%) are the most cited. The tea was the main form of preparation and the leaves were the part of the plant most used in the production of natural remedies. The species angico (Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan.), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva  FR. Allemão), babosa (Aloe vera L.), colônia (Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt. R. M. Sm), hortelã-miúda (Mentha crispa L.) e romã (Punicagranatum L.) stood out because besides being mentioned by all informants there was complete consensus regarding the main use of the plant, reaching ROP 100.