Use and marketing of medicinal plants in Humaitá, Amazonas

Abstract

Herbal medicine is an option in treating diseases, for being affordable and natural alternative front thea llopathic medicines. For this reason, it is observed that the trade and use of medicinal plants, aromatic and culinary is very intense in many cities. Storekeepers are important points of acquiring information on the use of native and exotic flora of the region Humaitá. This study aimed to gather information regarding the medicinal use of plants in the municipality of Humaitá (AM), evaluating the consensus on the therapeutic properties attributed by the sellers. Interviews were conducted with open and semi-structured questions with twelve storekeepers. It was measured the relative importance of each specie. They were cited 84 species of native and exotic plants, totaling 334 therapeutic indications by respondents, with emphasis indication for disorders of the digestive system. The species with emphasis in marketing were the Sambucus nigra L. (elderberry), Lavandula officinalis Chaix & Kitt(Lavender) and Copaifera sp. (Copaiba), with rates of relative importance greater than 1. The species Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgo biloba), Petiveria alliacea L. (Guinea, opossum - caá), Olea europaea L. (Olive) and Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson (Sucuba) had complete consensus among informants.