Estudo etnobotânico de plantas medicinais, alimentares e tóxicas em comunidades do Sertão Paraibano - Brasil.

Abstract

An ethnobotanic survey of the medicinal, alimentary and toxic plants was carried out by interviewing 40 inhabitants of Catingueira/PB and Salgadinho/PB municipality. Data on the popular name and structure of the plant used for medicine or food production, and manipulation and preparation local techniques were collected. For toxic plants, more specific informations were collected, such as part of the plant that presented toxicity, and the type and consequences of intoxication. In Catingueira municipality, data analyses showed that 20 plant families and 28 plant species were classified as medicinal plants, and Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng., Lippia alba (Mill.)N.E.Br., and Mentha arvensis L. were cited by more than 22 of the interviewed inhabitants. 17 plant families and 24 plant species were considered as alimentary plants, and Caryca papaya L., Mangifera indica L. and Citrus x sinensis Macfad. were the most cited species. Six families and six species were considered toxic plants, and Malphighia glabra L. were the most cited ones. In the locality of Salgadinho, data analyses showed that 24 plant families and 38 plant species were classified as medicinal plants, and Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br., Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. and Mentha x villosa were cited by more than 24 of the interviewed inhabitants. 23 plant families and 33 plant species were considered as alimentary plants, and Mangifera indica L., Psidium guajava L. and Caryca papaya L. were the most cited species. Five families and eigth species were considered toxic plants, and Cnidoscolus urens L. were the most cited ones. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies may furnish more information in order to help the proper use of these plants on human health and environmental quality.