Popular knowledge and medicinal plants use in natividade city - RJ, Brazil

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants is widespread throughout the world including Brazil, with vast biological diversity and a rich cultural diversity. In this scenario, we highlight the vast storehouse of knowledge about management and use of medicinal plants. The aim of this work was to conduct an ethnobotanical study on the use of medicinal plants by the population of the city of Natividade - RJ. The data collection consisted in the application of a questionnaire to 240 households in this town. In addition to socioeconomic issues, people were asked the popular name of the plants, parts used, preparations and administration routes. The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that 77.5% of the people interviewed use plants with medicinal properties. The interviewed cited 23 species of 16 families. Among them, Boldo (Vernonia condensata Baker, Asteraceae) and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L., Lamiaceae) were the most cited. The Index of Relevance to all species was calculated. It was found that 34.78% of species have little use for the local community, 47.82% have intermediate use, and 17.40% species are widely used by the population of this town. The data suggest that the city of Natividade has a rich cultural heritage of medicinal plants, serving as source of information the inclusion of new medicinal plants in RENISUS.