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International Journal of
eISSN: 2381-1803

Complementary & Alternative Medicine

Research Article Volume 7 Issue 1

The Use of Herbal Medicine in a Rural Community in Vitória Da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil: An Indication for Pharmacological Studies

Gabriele Marisco,1 Thalana SS Silva,1 Renata Assun,1,2 Martin Brendel,2 Cristina Pungartnik2

1Departamento Ciências Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Brazil
2Departamento Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Brazil

Correspondence: Cristina Pungartnik, Departamento Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia dos Fungos, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km-16, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil, Tel 557336805438

Received: February 20, 2017 | Published: May 17, 2017

Citation: Marisco G, Silva TSS, Assunção R, Brendel M, Pungartnik C (2017) The Use of Herbal Medicine in a Rural Community in Vitória Da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil: An Indication for Pharmacological Studies. Int J Complement Alt Med 7(1): 00214. DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2017.07.00214

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Abstract

The present study evaluated ethno medicinal knowledge of people in the rural community of São Sebastião, Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. Using semi-structured interviews, 84 randomly chosen individuals informed about the use of traditional medicinal plants in their community, thereby identifying their therapeutic potential, which were categorized according to the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). The collected data were analyzed with using the Informant consensus factor (ICF), the Relative importance (RI) and the scores were calculated by using Fidelity level (FL). Forty-six species traditionally used in treatment of ailments were categorized as diseases: digestive system, respiratory problems, general symptoms/signs, nervous system and circulatory system. Lippia alba, Cymbopogon citratus and Foeniculum vulgare had a RI >1, indicating important value to the community. Highest values of FL were: Spondias purpureaBauhinia forficataPunica granatumMatricaria chamomillaStryphnodendron adstringensFoeniculum vulgareMentha piperitaAmburana cearensis and Dysphania ambrosioidesS. purpurea, to treat hypertension, and Amburana cearensis (indigestion) deserve in depth pharmacological and toxicological studies so that they might be included in the National Program of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapics of the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde and safely prescribed by regional health teams, lowering costs for local health system.

Keywordsethnobotanical study, northeast brazil, traditional medicine, medicinal plants, spondias purpurea

Abbreviations

ICF, informant consensus factor; RI, relative importance; FL, fidelity level; UESB, universidade estadual do sudoeste da bahia, HUESBVC, herbarium at uesb, vitoria da conquista

Introduction

Brazil is a continental country with six different biomes, Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal and Pampa,1 of which 3 are represented in the State of Bahia (Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado).2,3 Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by indigenous populations of rural areas of Bahia has not received enough attention so far, although in northeastern Brazil there are ethnobotanical studies recently published.4‒8 Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia was formerly (18th Century) inhabited by the Indian tribes Mongoiós (subgroup Camacãs), Ymborés (or Aimorés) and to a lesser extent by the Pataxós. Their villages were scattered over a wide range, known as the Sertão da Ressaca. Today, the original vegetation cover in Vitória da Conquista does not exceed 10%, consisting of Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes.9 This vegetation type is of fundamental importance for maintaining the quality of regional watersheds, such as Rio Mole, Rio Pardo and Rio Caculé (rivers) that benefit a large population of southwestern Bahia.10 The rural communities, mainly extinguished Brazilian natives (indigenous communities) own diverse knowledge about plants and caring for the environment. Thus, the need of research on communities and how they deal with plants so that their descendants acquire their traditional knowledge.11

Use of medicinal plants has grown considerably in the second half of the 20th century, from many parts of the world. In the developing countries 65-80% of the population depends exclusively on the medicinal plants for the basic healthcare,12 including Northeastern Brazil.5 Brazil was considered the seventh largest market, and from 2006 to 2010 grew by 14% and it is also estimated that by 2015 Brazil will be the sixth largest market in this sector.13 Important policies were implemented in the last decade to encourage research and development related to the use of medicinal plants and herbal remedies which may be provided with quality, safety and efficacy to the population, prioritizing the country's biodiversity.14 Considering the actual worldwide popular use of medicinal plants, the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS, Brazilian Health System), via the Brazilian Ministry of Health, has introduced the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices and the National Policy on Medicinal Plants in 200613,15 which lists some indications for the use of medicinal plants, such as Aloe vera L. (against psoriasis and burns), Salix alba L. (against backache) and Rhamnus purshiana DC. (to treat constipation). The increased prescription of medicinal plants via physicians of SUS has not only raised their consume in health care but has also helped to educate about possible dangers of their indiscriminate use. As prescription of local herbal medicines by qualified professionals and accurate information have increased and this will help to prevent medical application of unsafe and ineffective plants.16,17

Different tools to quantify ethno botanical data are applied in complementing studies of plant usage in folk medicine. Thus, collection of quantitative data could support the conservation of certain plant species and knowledge of their popular medical use, mainly by informing about species with several therapeutic indications.18,19 Some of these tools have been successful in identifying the pharmacological potential of medicinal plants, thus enabling their effective application in herbal medicine.20–22 The present study evaluated the ethno medicinal knowledge of the people in the community of São Sebastião, Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, using ethno botanical tools in order to provide baseline information for future ethno pharmacological and phytochemical studies.

Material and methods

Study area

The study area is located in the state of Bahia and the survey was conducted in the village of São Sebastião, which belongs to the city of Vitória da Conquista (14° 47' S and 40° 39' W). São Sebastião is a small rural community of 2,730 inhabitants (1,325 men and 1,405 women, average monthly income of U$ 280), to whom the use of medicinal plants may not only be a tradition but also an economic necessity; indeed, this area still hosts many Brazilian native plants, which are worth thorough study and protection, as elsewhere in Brazil.23,24 Figure 1 shows the detailed location map of the study area.

Figure 1 Location of the study area, village of São Sebastião, Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil.

Ethnobotanical survey

Data were collected during 2012 to 2014. Participants signed the Term of Free and Clarified Assent (demanded by the National Health Council through the Ethics and Research Committee, Resolution 196/96 of the CNS/MS). The study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research with Human Beings (CEP) of the State University of Southwestern Bahia (Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia-UESB) (N° 0134.0.454.000.11). Data of the semi-structured questionnaires informed on the respondents profile and knowledge about plants used in medicinal therapy, how the knowledge was acquired, plants frequently used by that community and their common therapeutic indications. The cited regional plant species were collected, identified and integrated into the collection of the herbarium at UESB, Vitoria da Conquista (HUESBVC).

Data analysis

The citations for therapeutic purposes were classified according to ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) established by World Health Organization.25 The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was calculated for each ailment category to identify the agreements of the informants on the reported cures for the group of diseases.26 The Relative Importance Value (RI), a measure of the diversity of medicinal applications, was calculated for each medicinal plant cited by informants.27 The highest possible RI value (2.0) indicates the species with the highest diversity of medicinal use. Scores were calculated Fidelity Level (FL).28

Results and discussion

Socio-demographic information

Eighty-four (84) community residents were interviewed (83.3% women aged between 18 and 80years, half declaring themselves "housewives") representing 84 families of whom 96% used medicinal plants to treat different diseases. In regard to the level of schooling, 10.8% were illiterate, 63.1% of respondents did not complete elementary school, 11.8% did not complete secondary school and 14.3% completed secondary school.

Acquisition, parts used and mode of preparation of medicinal plants

Table 1 reports 46 medicinal plants belonging to 30 families. This survey showed that some 80% of the species with medicinal properties were cultivated in orchards or gardens in backyards of the houses; 15% are considered wild and extracted from the surrounding environments and 5% of the plants were bought at popular markets or drugstores, demonstrating the importance of cultivation as the main source of medicinal plants. Several authors in similar ethnopharmacological studies have also reported that the majority of respondents acquired plants grown in their own backyard cultivars.20,24 The leaves (78.2%) were the most frequently used plant part for the treatment of diseases, followed by root (8.2%) and seed (6.4%) (Figure 2), which corroborated similar results found in other ethnobotanical studies.29,30 In many parts of Brazil the use of teas is a common practice. The main preparation methods of the plants cited were by decoction (69.3%), boiling plant material in water, and infusion (21.2%), which is worrying since infusion is used to prepare all tender parts of medicinal plants such as leaves, buttons and flowers, rich in volatile components, delicate aromas and active principles, degraded by the action of water and heat.31

Voucher

Scientific name

 Family

Popular name brazil

Part plant indicated

preparation

6453

Dysphania ambrosioides (L)
Mosyakin & Clemants

Amaranthaceae

Mastruz

Root, leaves

Juice, infusion, decoction,
maceration (cutaneous)

8010

Allium sativum L

Amaryllidaceae

Alho

Bulb

Decoction, juice, infusion

6452

Spondias purpurea L

Anacardiaceae

Seriguela

Leaves

Decoction

6377

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Apiaceae

Erva doce

Leaves, seed

Infusion, decoction

8008

Lepidium virginicum L.

Brassicaceae

Agrião

Leaves

Syrup

8007

Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.

Bromeliaceae

Abacaxi

Fruit

Decoction

8018

Matricaria chamomilla L.

Compositae

Camomila

Flower

Infusion

7994

Bidens pilosa L.

Compositae

Carrapicho de agulha

Root

Infusion, decoction

8012

Solidago microglossa DC.?

Compositae

Arnica

Leaves

Infusion

7999

Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.

Compositae

Carqueja

Leaves

Decoction

8019

Costus sp.

Costaceae

Cana dágua

Leaves

Decoction

8040

Cucumis sativus L.

Cucurbitaceae

Pepino

Fruit

Juice

7989

Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.

Cucurbitaceae

Chuchu

Leaves

Decoction

8030

Eleocharis sp.

Cyperaceae

Junça

Root

Decoction

8037

Aleurites moluccanus (L.) Willd

Euphorbiaceae

Nogueira

Seed

Maceration

8045

-

Lamiaceae

Tioioiô

Leaves

Decoction

6459

Plectranthus barbatus Andrews

Lamiaceae

Boldo

Leaves

Infusion, decoction, juice

8002

Mentha spicata L.

Lamiaceae

Hortelãzinho

Leaves

Syrup, infusion, decoction

8028

Plectranthus amboinicus
(Lour.) Spreng.

Lamiaceae

Hortelã grosso

Stem, leaves, root

Syrup, decoction

8005

Ocimum basilicum L.

Lamiaceae

Alfavaca

Leaves

Syrup, infusion

8009

Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Lamiaceae

Alecrim

Leaves

Decoction, syrup

8041

Mentha sp.

Lamiaceae

Poejo

Leaves

Infusion

8006

Persea americana Mill.

Lauraceae

Abacate

Leaves

Juice

8043

Senna sp.

Leguminosae

Sene

Leaves

Infusion

8014

Stryphnodendron adstringens
(Mart.) Coville

Leguminosae

Barbatimão

Root, leaves, bark

Infusion, decoction

8046

Amburana cearensis
(Allemao) A.C.Sm

Leguminosae

Umburana macho,
Umburana, amburana,
amburana-de- cheiro,
imburana, cerejeira-rajada.

Seed, bark

Infusion, decoction

8038

Bauhinia forficata Link

Leguminosae

Pata de vaca

Leaves

Infusion, decoction

6460

Punica granatum L.

Lythraceae

Romã

Leaves

Infusion, decoction

6461

Malpighia emarginata DC.

Malpighiaceae

Acerola

Leaves

Juice

8022

Dorstenia sp.

Moraceae

Contra- erva

Root

Decoction

8036

Myristica fragrans Houtt

Myristicaceae

Nós moscada

Seed, fruit

Juice, decoction

7996

Eugenia uniflora L.

Myrtaceae

Pitanga

Leaves

Decoction

8024

Eucalyptus sp.

Myrtaceae

Eucalipto

Leaves

Infusion, decoction

8021

Averrhoa carambola L.

Oxalidaceae

Carambola

Leaves

Infusion

8033

Passiflora edulis Sims

Passifloraceae

Maracujá

Leaves

Infusion, decoction

8042

Phyllanthus heteradenius
Müll. Arg.

Phyllanthaceae

Quebra-pedra

Root, stem, leaves

Decoction

8044

Plantago major L.

Plantaginaceae

Transagem

Leaves, root

Infusion, decoction

6384

Cymbopogon citratus
(DC.) Stapf.

Poaceae

Capim santo

Leaves, root

Infusion, decoction,
inhalation, juice

8029

Genipa americana L.

Rubiaceae

Genipapo

Fruit

Juice

8032

Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck

Rutaceae

Limão

Leaves, fruit

Decoction, juice

8031

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

Rutaceae

Laranja

Leaves

Decoction

8013

Ruta graveolens L

Rutaceae

Arruda

Leaves

Maceration

8017

Solanum melongena L

Solanaceae

Beringela

Fruit

Juice

7995

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown

Verbenaceae

Erva-cidreira

Leaves, seed, root

Infusion, decoction

8016

Aloe vera L.Burm.f.

Xanthorrhoeaceae

Babosa

Leaves

Scraping, topic contact

8026

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Zingiberaceae

Gengibre

Root

Decoction

Table 1 List of traditional medicinal plants investigated in this study with their related information

Figure 2 Plant parts used for treating diseases/disorders.

Ailments treated by medicinal plants

Respondents were asked to associate a medicinal plant with possible health care indications, according to WHO.24,32 The highest number of citations (106) was for digestive system, while the highest ICF value was obtained for nervous problems (0.85) and digestive system (0.84). Values for nine common diseases categories are given in Table 2. Most cited were those categories related to the digestive system (32.8%), followed by respiratory diseases (17%), general symptoms/signs of inflammation (14.5%), nervous system (13.3%) and circulatory system diseases (12.6%). Similar results were already found in other studies20,24,33,34 indicating that the residents of São Sebastião use medicinal plants as the first line of treatment for most common diseases.

Category

Species

Citations

ICF

Nervous system

7

43

0.85

Digestive system

17

106

0.84

Respiratory diseases

17

55

0.70

Circulatory system diseases

13

41

0.70

General symptoms/signsa

17

47

0.65

Endocrine disorders

4

8

0.57

Genitourinary diseases

10

14

0.30

Skin ailments

3

5

0.5

Neoplasias

1

1

0

Infectious diseases

1

1

0

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

1

1

0

Diseases of the ear

1

1

0

Table 2 Informant consensus factor (ICF) by category of diseases. (ICF is the number of use citations in each category minus the number of species used, divided by the number of use citations in each category minus one).
asymptoms and signs such as stomachache, inflammation, infection, fever, headache, malaise

Use and efficacy of the medicinal plants

Species with high value of RI (>1) are used to treat a variety of diseases and are therefore considered important to a community.27 Lippia alba with RI = 2 was the most versatile species in relation to its use and was indicated for cures of up to 6 body systems, followed by Cymbopogon citratus and Foeniculum vulgare (Table 3). All plants with RI >1 through this methodology assume that a plant is important when it is most versatile; they are measures of folk knowledge and interpretations of their use must be carefully made.4 The data indicated that some plants have more diversified medicinal uses or applications than others.35 Among all plants, Lippia alba with RI=2 was the most versatile species in relation to its use and has often been reported in ethnobotanical studies36 and pharmacological use, for example, vasorelaxant effect,37 action as a tranquilizer38 and effective at preventing gastric ulceration.39 However, when the objective is the search for new plant-derived drugs, the concordance of the answers as to the medicinal use of a particular plant is extremely important. Plants indicated for many different applications would have less credibility compared to those with a higher fidelity of use.33 Plants with relatively high level of concordance, i.e., with multiple informants agreeing on their therapeutic value, suggest a real efficacy in disease treatment.28

Species

Relative importance

Origin*

categories

Lippiaalba

2.0

Native

Diseases of the nervous system, genitourinary system, circulatory system, diseases, respiratory system, symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and the abdomen, general signs and symptoms

Cymbopogon citratus

1.87

Exotic

Diseases related to the respiratory system, circulatory and nervous, symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and the abdomen, diseases of the genitourinary system, general signs and symptoms

Foeniculum vulgare

1.43

Exotic

Diseases, symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen, diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the circulatory system, categories general signs and symptoms, , diseases of the genitourinary system

Aloevera

0.59

Exotic

Neoplasias, diseases of the skin, symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and the abdomen, categories general signs and symptoms

Mentha spicata

0.83

Exotic

Diseases digestive system and abdomen, diseases respiratory system, diseases of the genitourinary system

Dysphania ambrosioides

0.80

Native

Diseases, symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen, Diseases related to the respiratory system, general symptoms and signs, diseases of the skin

Myristica fragrans

0.59

Native

Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and the abdomen, general signs and symptoms, diseases of the circulatory system

Punica granatum

0.57

Exotic

Categories respiratory, digestive and genitourinary systems

Passiflora edulis

0.54

Native

Categories nervous system, circulatory, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases

Amburana cearensis

0.51

Native

Diseases digestive system and abdomen, general signs and symptoms

Plectranthus barbatus

0.45

Exotic

Diseases digestive system and abdomen, general signs and symptoms

Plectranthus amboinicus

0.43

Exotic

Diseases respiratory system, infectious diseases

Alliumsativum

0.39

Exotic

Respiratory diseases, diseases of the circulatory system

Stryphnodendron adstringens

0.37

Native

Categories general signs and symptoms, genitourinary, and skin diseases

Citrus limon

0.37

Exotic

Respiratory diseases, diseases of the circulatory system

Bauhinia forficata

0.24

Native

Diseases of the circulatory system, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases

Matricaria chamomilla

0.19

Exotic

Diseases of the nervous system

Ocimum basilicum

0.19

Exotic

Respiratory diseases, diseases of the circulatory system

Spondias purpurea

0.18

Exotic

Diseases of the circulatory system

Table 3 Relative importance (RI) values for medicinal plants used against specific ailments.
(RI=NP+NCS) where NP is obtained by dividing the number of properties (reported specific ailments) attributed to a species divided by the total number of properties attributed to the most versatile species (species with the highest number of properties). NBS is the number of body systems (ailment categories) treated by a given species divided by the total number of body systems treated by the most versatile species). Medicinal plant species used by community residents of Vitória da Conquista, recorded three or more times.
*All plants not originally native from Brazil were considered exotic

In order to find therapeutically potent plants for chemical screening, the Fidelity Level (FL) values of 16 medicinal plants (Table 4) were cited by three or more informants. Two plants were obtained: Spondias purpurea and Bauhinia forficata, with the highest (100%) FL values for hypertension and diabetes respectively. The species that gave the highest fidelity level values are considered more promising candidate plants for further pharmacological investigations and deserve priority attention.35 Most plants mentioned in the study, for example, Bauhinia forficata, Punica granatum, Matricaria chamomilla and Stryphnodendron adstringens showed high FL, as expected, since literature has plenty of ethnopharmacological studies related to them. However, the plants which mentioned high FL, Spondias purpurea and Amburana cearensis, are suggested for further study. Spondias purpurea was cited for only one treatment (hypertension, 100%), it is exotic (not originally native from Brazil), though it is widely used in northeastern Brazil. Amburana cearensis (indigestion, 55.5%) is native from Brazil and has few published information for a therapeutic target, furthermore it has been reported in other studies ethnobotanical.12,32 Therefore, these species are promising candidates for pharmacological studies.

Scientific names

Category

Ip

Iu

FL (%)

Spondias purpurea

Hypertension

6

6

100

Bauhinia forficate

Diabetes

5

5

100

Punica granatum

Sore throat

3

4

75

Matricaria chamomilla

Tranquilizer

2

3

66,6

Stryphnodendron adstringens

Inflammation

2

3

66,6

Foeniculum vulgare

Flatulence

20

34

58,8

Mentha spicata

Influenza

10

17

58,8

Amburana cearensis

Indigestion

5

9

55,5

Dysphania ambrosioides

Inflammation

5

9

55,5

Myristica fragrans

Headache

2

4

50

Allium sativum

Hypertension

2

4

50

Aloe vera

Skin diseases

2

4

50

Plectranthus amboinicus

Influenza

3

6

50

Plectranthus barbatus

Indigestion

3

7

42,8

Lippia alba

Flatulence

19

57

33,3

Cymbopogon citratus

Hypertension

17

54

31,4

Table 4 Fidelity level (FL) values of medicinal plants cited by three or more informants. FL= (Ip/Iu x100), where Ip is the number of informants who independently indicated the use of a species for the same major ailment and Iu the total number of informants who mentioned the plant for any major ailment

Comparison of outstanding medicinal plants with the literature and other studies

Comparison of the pharmacological literature published in different countries with the present ethnobotanical data showed that many of the plants have earlier been reported to have activities against specific diseases. Examples include Bauhinia forficata, used to treat diabetes, and Allium sativum, used to treat hypertension problems. Such observations hinted at the fidelity of the reports by the residents of São Sebastião, confirming that this knowledge has been preserved as in other communities. Whereas other medicinal plants are used differently, when compared to other traditional practices, for example Amburana cearensis was used against indigestion, but it was mentioned in other studies for antibacterial activity, to treat rheumatism, cold, sinusitis40 and as anti-inflammatory41 (Table 5). There is also a species used in this study, Spondias purpurea, but not mentioned in the literature for its medicine purpose.

Scientific Name

Ailments recorded in the present Study

Main use in the Present Study

Some medicines uses reported in the literature

Alliumsativum

Influenza and hypertension

Hypertension

Antifungal, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic,42  anti-hypertensive,43 attenuated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and fibrosis without significantly decreasing systolic blood pressure in hypertensive rats44

Aloevera

Hair loss, stomachache, skin inflammation, cancer, ulcer

Skin diseases

Lowering LDL, increasing HDL, decreasing blood glucose level, treating genital herpes and psoriasis,45 positive effect on body mass, caecum and tibial bones in the short term46 anti-inflammatory activity.47

Amburana cearensis

Headache, stomach problems, ulcer, intestinal Infection

Indigestion

Used to treat rheumatism, cold, and sinusitis .40, anti-inflammatory,41 antibacterial activity48,49

Bauhinia forficata

Diabetes

Diabetes

Antidiabetic activity,50 hypoglycemic activity,51 antioxidant activity, beneficial in the prevention of diabetes complications associated with oxidative stress52

Cymbopogoncitratus

Hypertension, tranquilizer, cramps, stomach problems, influenza, headaches

Hypertension

Cardio protective potential is mainly because of its antioxidant activity,53 antispasmodic, hypotensive, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiemetic, antitussive, antirheumatic, antiseptic and treatment for nervous and gastrointestinal disorders and fevers,54 antioxidant activity, antidiabetic activity,55 anti-hypertensive .56

Dysphania ambrosioides

Inflammation, toothache, scarring, ulceration, infection

Inflammation

Antitumor effect,57 anti-inflammatory activity .58, antifungal activity,59 amoebicidal activity 60

Foeniculumvulgare

Intestinal problems, hypertension, urinary infection

Flatulence

Colic in breastfed infant,61 antimicrobial properties62 was confirmed in review the used in many parts of the world for the treatment of a number of diseases, for example, abdominal pains, antiemetic, colic in children, constipation, depurative, diarrhea, flatulence and irritable colon63

Lippiaalba

Stomach and intestinal problems, influenza, tranquilizer, insomnia, hypertension, fever

Tranquilizer

Sedative, anxiolytic activities,64 antibacterial, antifungal,65 vasorelaxant effect was evaluated in vitro in rat superior mesenteric artery rings37

Matricaria chamomilla

Tranquilizer and insomnia

Tranquilizer

Decreased stress in bovines, associated with inhibition of cortisol production and calming and anxiolytic effects66 sleep aid, sedation67 induce recovery from a polycystic ovary syndrome induced state in rats, but also increase dominant follicles, better endometrial tissue arrangements can be regarded as another therapeutic effect68 protective effects on paraquat-induced damage via oxidative stress in rat lung.69

Mentha spicata

Stomach and intestinal problems, influenza, coughs, inflammations

Influenza

Effective inhibitor of LPS-induced inflammation 70 antioxidant effects71 effective for antiemetic treatment72

Myristica fragrans

Hypertension, headache, stomach problems

Headache

Extracts of nutmeg showed a good antidiarrheal effect, with a significant sedative property.73

Plectranthus amboinicus

Influenza, cough, worms

Influenza

The aqueous extract has the analgesic and anti-inflammatory abilities ,74,75 for diabetes, which may be due to the presence of flavonoids76 exhibited antioxidant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities,77 effectiveness against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin abscesses,78 treatment of rheumatoid arthritis79

Plectranthus barbatus

Stomach problems (indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, hangover)

Indigestion

The plant is also used to treat gastritis and intestinal spasms,80 stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and is used as purgatives, carminatives and as anthelmintic81 antioxidant activity82

Punicagranatum

Sore throat, stomach problems, uterine problems

Sore throat

Wound healing activity .83,anti-inflammatory effects84
might be used as an antibacterial agent in controlling oral infections85

Spondias purpurea

Hypertension

Hypertension

Antimicrobial activities,86 antioxidant activity87

Stryphnodendron adstringens

Inflammation and healing

Inflammation

Anti-inflammatory activity88 antibacterial activity 89,90 antifungal activity,91 reducing bacterial .92, tyrosinase inhibitory activity,93 in the treatment of leucorrhea, gonorrhea, gastritis, diarrhea, bleeding, and wound healing94

Table 5 Comparison of the uses of medicinal plants recorded with information gathered from the literature

Comparing this study to other ethnobotanical studies on traditional medicinal plants in Northeastern Brazil, although with areas of study in different proportions and methods of research, it was possible to observe that considerable similarity exists with respect to categories of cited diseases (problems of the respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system).4,5 According to this study, Amburana cearensis and Bauhinia sp are the most common medicinal plants in Northeastern Brazil cited in ethnobotanical surveys.5,6,12,23,18

Conclusion

Ethnobotanical studies in rural areas in Bahia, Brazil, are rare and, when available published in local reports, Brazilian journals or part of Governmental technical reports available mainly in Portuguese, these may contribute to perpetuate local knowledge far from the light of scientific knowledge. Additionally, more studies like this should be done in Bahia, by the cultural and biological diversity, and because it is the biggest state of Northeastern Brazil. The results presented here indicated that medicinal plants are commonly used by São Sebastião rural population, a total of 46 species were documented, the main indications for medicinal plant use were against digestive system, circulatory system and respiratory diseases and of general symptoms/signs of inflammation. This evidences that the knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in this region has been preserved, since 80% of the species with medicinal properties were cultivated in the houses.

In regard to future studies, it is suggested that plants with high FL deserve attention for pharmacological studies, phytochemical, toxicological and clinical trials so that they might be included in the National Program of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapics of the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde and safely prescribed by regional health teams, because there are still few plants in listed in this program. Thus, this work aimed to contribute in the long-run to improved health care in the regions of study, preservation of local knowledge, as well as search for pharmacologically principles from plants.

Acknowledgments

Work was supported by UESB. GMS was a doctoral student in RENORBIO post-graduation program. We thank Profesor Avaldo Soares Filho from UESB for kindly identifying the plants.

Conflicts of interest

Author declares there are no conflicts of interest.

Funding

None.

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