Plantas Medicinais nos Quintais Urbanos do Município de Orleans, Santa Catarina, Sul do Brasil

Estudos etnobotânicos possibilitam compreender a forma como as pessoas se relacionam com as plantas, baseado nos saberes populares repassados entre as gerações. Este estudo se caracterizou em um levantamento etnobotânico das plantas medicinais cultivadas nos quintais urbanos dos agentes da Pastoral da Saúde, município de Orleans, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Utilizou-se entrevista semiestruturada, com aplicação de um formulário, com turnê guiada e registro fotográfico, para validação das informações. Foram entrevistados dezenove informantes e registradas 85 espécies pertencentes a 72 gêneros e 39 famílias botânicas, sendo as mais representativas Lamiaceae (13 espécies) e Asteraceae (10 espécies). A folha foi o farmacógeno mais utilizado. As formas terapêuticas de uso mais citadas foram infusão (50,6%) e decocto (49,4%). O estado e forma de uso do farmacógeno utilizados foram fresco e interno, respectivamente. As indicações terapêuticas que prevaleceram foram para enfermidades relacionadas ao trato alimentar e metabolismo, sangue e órgãos hematopoiéticos e sistema respiratório. A origem das plantas, em sua maioria, era exótica. No entanto, algumas espécies nativas estão sendo domesticadas o que poderá incluir plantas em cultivo de pequena escala em futuro próximo. O tempo de uso das plantas medicinais relatado foi mais de 50 anos, sendo a transmissão de forma transgeracional, o que atende os critérios da ANVISA quanto ao registro, com base na tradicionalidade de uso superior a 30 anos. Este estudo reflete o contexto cultural e ambiental enraizado de uma comunidade local, revelando a importância dos quintais como forma social e que pode contribuir para a manutenção dos espaços urbanos, por meio do registro do conhecimento popular. Palavras-chave: Etnobotânica. Pastoral da Saúde. Conhecimento Popular e Científico. Abstract Ethnobotanical studies make it possible to understand the way people relate to plants based on popular knowledge passed from generation to generation. The objective of this study was to perform an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants cultivated in the urban backyards of “Pastoral da Saúde” (Health Pastoral) agents, in Orleans municipality, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. A semi-structured interview was used, with application of a questionnaire, complemented with guided tour and photographic record for information validation. Nineteen informants were interviewed. The ethnobotanical survey recorded 85 species belonging to 72 genera and 39 botanical families. The most representative families were Lamiaceae 13 species) and Asteraceae (10 species). The most used pharmacogen was leaf. The most commonly mentioned pharmaceutical forms of use were infusion (50,6%) and decocted (49,4%). The state and form of use of the pharmacogen used were fresh and internal, respectively. The prevailing therapeutic indications were diseases related to the nutritional and metabolic problems, blood and hematopoietic organs and respiratory system. The plants’ origin was mostly exotic. However, some native species have already been domesticated which may include plants in small-scale cultivation in the near future. The reported time of use was over 50 years, with transmission being transgenerational, which meets ANVISA’s criteria for registration, based on traditional use higher to 30 years. This study reflects the rooted cultural and environmental context of a local community, revealing the importance of backyards as a social form and that can contribute to the urban spaces maintenance, through the popular knowledge registration. Keywords: Urban Ethnobotany. Health Pastoral. Folk and Scientific Knowledgment.

Medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and commercialized for skin conditions in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This contribution is part of Urban Ethnobotany and includes the registry of 14 species of medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and their derived products used to treat skin affections in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Information on these species (their assigned local uses) was obtained from interviews with local informants and from other sources, such as labels, brochures and catalogs, print, and the Internet. A bibliographic review was carried out on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate its correspondence with the assigned local uses. Of the total, nine species (70%) have academic studies related to skin conditions and that are correlated with their local uses. With respect to the commercialized products, half of the species have products that are exclusive to the Bolivian immigrant sector known as “Mercado Boliviano”, Liniers neighborhood (Buenos Aires city).

Medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and commercialized for skin conditions in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This contribution is part of Urban Ethnobotany and includes the registry of 14 species of medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and their derived products used to treat skin affections in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Information on these species (their assigned local uses) was obtained from interviews with local informants and from other sources, such as labels, brochures and catalogs, print, and the Internet. A bibliographic review was carried out on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate its correspondence with the assigned local uses. Of the total, nine species (70%) have academic studies related to skin conditions and that are correlated with their local uses. With respect to the commercialized products, half of the species have products that are exclusive to the Bolivian immigrant sector known as “Mercado Boliviano”, Liniers neighborhood (Buenos Aires city).

Medicinal Plants Used for Treatment of Diarrhoeal Related Diseases in Ethiopia

This paper presents a review of relevant antidiarrhoeal medicinal plants based on the fundamental knowledge accumulated by indigenous people of Ethiopia. The review includes an inventory carried out on the phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of plant species used in the treatments of diarrhoeal diseases. This study is based on a review of the literature published in scientific journals, books, theses, proceedings, and reports. A total of 132 medicinal plants used by local people of Ethiopia are reported in the reviewed literature. Herbs (43.6%) were the primary source of medicinal plants, followed by trees (27%). Some findings include the predominance of leaf material used (78%), as well as the frequent use of crushing of the plant parts (38%) as a mode of preparation. This study demonstrates the importance of traditional medicines in the treatment of basic human ailments such as diarrhoeal diseases in Ethiopia. Baseline information gaps were observed in different regions of Ethiopia. Thus, documentation of the knowledge held by other regions of Ethiopia that have so far received less attention and urban ethnobotany is recommended for future ethnobotanical studies. In addition, phytochemical studies are recommended mainly on frequently utilized medicinal plants for treatment of diarrhoeal diseases which can serve as a basis for future investigation of modern drug development. Although societies in Ethiopia have long used medicinal plants for diarrhoeal diseases treatment, it is also a good practice to perform toxicological tests.