Levantamento do uso de plantas medicinais pela Comunidade Vila Capoeira, Município de Mãe d'Água, Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

Medicinal plants are used by humans since their existence and knowledge about ways of preparation and proper use of these herbs for the cure or alleviation of disease is passed down verbally for generations through direct contact with those who have this knowledge . This study was conducted in a rural community consisting of farmers and fishermen, called Vila Capoeira. It is located in the town of Mãe d‟Água state of Paraíba. This study aimed to conduct an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by rural community in order to record and preserve popular knowledge about the use of these plants. This study was exploratory and descriptive, with quantitative and qualitative approach. Data collection took place between September to December 2013, using as a survey instrument to collect semistructured interviews. The collected plants were identified, prepared and incorporated into the exsiccates collections of the Herbário do Centro de Saúde e Técnologia Rural da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande. 70 informants, 80% of whom were female, were interviewed to age of the informants was 22 to 74 years, the level of education (61%) can read and write. Lie between 10 and 30 years in the town (43%), often use plants as a way to cure or alleviation of disease (79 %), knowledge of preparation and use of medicinal plants is transferred among family members (91 %). The parts of the plants used were cited leaves (67%), tea was the most used form with (65 %). 50 species of plants distributed in 28 families, all describing what part used, how to use and indications were cited; Medicinal plants used by the community were more holy Grass Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. (13.45%), Lemon Herb Lippia alba (Mill) NE Br (10.76%) and Mallow 's kingdom or mint Graúda Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) (9.41%). The results show the importance of popular knowledge of the community . It is possible to state that carries knowledge about traditional medicine and herbal medicine , as observed in situ. The importance of plants is unparalleled, with direct source of funds for medicines, which are secular use an affinity with the community studied the local flora, and proves knowledge in the use of plants as traditional medicine.