Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in district Three October, of city of São Gabriel, RS, Brazil

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants is a tradition widespread in diverse populations, adding therapeutic information from each region, accumulated over many generations . The research aimed to make an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal species used by the population of a district of the municipality of São Gabriel, RS and profiles of users. Pre-specified sampling parameters for calculation of sampling sufficiency was performed. Respondents were randomly selected by drawing lots of houses in a district and the residents to integrate the research. Of the people interviewed, 63 % were current users of medicinal plants, which are concentrated in the age group above 60 years of age, 67 % are female and most have as schooling, incomplete primary education. Were cited as the most used 37 species, represented by 23 families, with Asteraceae, with greater representation. Overall, the most used part of the plant was the leaf and as a way of preparing the infusion prevailed. Plants are mainly used to treat stomach problems. Stands out Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. as the most used species, followed by Matricaria chamomilla L..