Ethnobotanical knowledge of herbalists about medicinal plants from the semiarid region in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times to treat illnesses. This study aimed to identify through questionnaire the medicinal plants most frequently sold on public and street markets in some municipalities of Paraíba state, northeastern Brazil, and the knowledge of herbalists about their therapeutic indications and forms of use. The sample consisted of 28 herbalists. Fifteen plants with a dental indication were identified, including barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), gengibre (Zingiber officinale), romã (Punica granatum), cajueiro-roxo (Anacardium occidentale), mulungu (Erythrina velutina) and quixaba (Sideroxylon obtusfolium), as well as 21 plants used for the treatment of general diseases, including barbatimão (S. adstringens), aroeira (M. urundeuva), cajueiro-roxo (A. occidentale), quixaba (S. obtusfolium), boldo (Peumus boldus) and erva doce (Pimpinella anisum). Bottled preparations ("garrafadas") and teas were the most frequently indicated forms of use. The results suggest that herbalists have a vast traditional knowledge of the therapeutic potential of commercialized plants.