Survey of medicinal plants used in the region Northeast of Brazil

This work has the objective a survey of the species of plants and their uses as medicinal, which are utilized for therapeutic purposes in Northeast region of Brazil. The area of study is recognized by a rich diversity of species of plants and habitats that ranges from Rainforest, Atlantic Forest, co...

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Published inRevista brasileira de farmacognosia Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 472 - 508
Main Authors Agra, Maria de Fátima, Silva, Kiriaki Nurit, Basílio, Ionaldo José Lima Diniz, Freitas, Patrícia França de, Barbosa-Filho, José Maria
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia 01.09.2008
Subjects
PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY
plantas medicinais
Ethnomedicine
Northeast of Brazil
popular medicine
Etnomedicina
etnobotânica
medicina popular
medicinal plants
Nordeste do Brasil
ethnobotany
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Summary:This work has the objective a survey of the species of plants and their uses as medicinal, which are utilized for therapeutic purposes in Northeast region of Brazil. The area of study is recognized by a rich diversity of species of plants and habitats that ranges from Rainforest, Atlantic Forest, coastal dunes systems and mangroves, to dry forests and savannas. As results, a total of 650 species belonging to 407 genera and 111 families were recorded and also their ethnomedicinal information. The floristic diversity is dominated by higher plants and only five species belonging to the families Aspleniaceae, Cyatheaceae, Equisetaceae, Polypodiaceae and Selaginellaceae were reported belonging to the Ferns group, which correspond to less than 1 % of the total of the registered species. This study aims at emphasizing the greatest importance of investigation of those species that have not been subject of pharmacological study, although their popular uses have already been reported.
ISSN:0102-695X
1981-528X
DOI:10.1590/S0102-695X2008000300023