Medicinal plants: an ethnobotanical study in the homegardens Sítio Cruz, São Miguel, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

The homegardens are agroforestry systems mainly composed of several species of medicinal use. The aim of this study was to perform an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal species in the homegardens of the Sítio Cruz in São Miguel, Rio Grande do Norte. We interviewed people responsible for twenty homegardens. We used the methodology of participatory research, the snowball technique, participatory mapping and semi-structured interviews. Most intervieweds were female (90%) and average age 52 years. Were found on average 24 species per homegarden. Sixty ethnospecies and 35 families were cited. The families Lamiaceae, Rutaceae and Anacardiaceae were the most frequent and major diseases were related to respiratory problems. The leaves were the plant parts most used mainly in the form of tea and “lambedor”. The homegardens have wide variety of medicinal species that are used to treat major diseases in the community. It also occurs managed diversity of spaces within the homegarden, where the number of medicinal species is kept variable. The woman has a fundamental role in the cultivation and use of plants and maintenance of the homegardens. The intervieweds have little knowledge of the possible risks in the use of medicinal plants, which is an aspect to be worked in the community in other studies.