Use of medicinal plants in the surroundings of the Parque Estadual da Serra Furada, Santa Catarina: an ethnobotanical approach

Abstract

The objective of this study was to ethnobotanical approach in the region of the State Park of Serra Furada (PESF) /SC, in a rural community that lives near the park and uses medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes. Home visits were made to the residents surrounding the PESF when we applied aquestionnaire/interviews, in order to obtain more information about the possible use by the respondent, the most widely used medicinal plant for later identification and data collection bibliography. We interviewed five residents, a representative sample compared to   to the small number of dwellings present in the study area (15). There were five reports of using herbal preparations: a decoction with Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltd. and Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf together, a syrup with Ruta graveolens L.; prepared from a Croton macrobothrys Baill., a decoction with Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) JF Macbr., and an infusion with Plantago major L.. Scientific information was gathered and compared to the information provided by the sampled population. The results of this study will provides data for future studies and ethnopharmacological research of therapeutic activities mentioned by respondents.