Estudo etnodirigido de espécies vegetais utilizadas em comunidades quilombolas no Nordeste, Brasileiro

Abstract

The use of plant species for medicinal purposes is an ancestral practice and continues to be an important therapeutic approach, especially in traditional populations. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in the selection of plant material for bioproduct R&D investigations. However, indiscriminate use demands attention to pharmacovigilance in phytotherapy. In this context, this research aimed to carry out a survey of plant species used in quilombola communities based on an integrative literature review and an ethnopharmacological study in the municipality of São Bento, Maranhão. In the integrative review, documents published in the main scientific databases from 2002 to 2023 were analyzed. The ethnopharmacological research was carried out after approval of ethical procedures, through semi-structured interviews with 100 residents of São Bento, Maranhão and, with express authorization, the species were photographed and collected for identification. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, evaluating the frequency distribution for each question. The collected data were properly coded and entered into an electronic spreadsheet in the Microsoft Office Excel® 2013 program, according to the variables researched. The Relative Frequency of Citation (FRC), Importance Value (IVS), Usage Consensus Value (UCS) and Informant Consensus Factor (FCI) were calculated. In the

literature review, 82 plant species were identified, with emphasis on anti-flu (21.6%) and anti- inflammatory (17.6%) uses and the species Citrus limon and Cymbopogon citratus, with 3

citations each, among one remarkable diversity of species with medicinal use. In ethnopharmacological research, a prevalence of 100% in the use of medicinal species was found, with a predominance of females (82%), age group over 58 years old (33%), income below 1 minimum wage (57%) and primary education incomplete (59%). 95 species and 41 families were mentioned, with emphasis on Lamiaceae (12.6%). The most frequently used therapeutic categories were diseases of the digestive system (n=151), followed by signs, symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not classified elsewhere (n=101) and diseases of the respiratory system ( n=97). The highest indices in calculations based on FRC, IVS and UCs were Plectranthus amboinicus (n=51), Plectranthus barbatus (n=42), Lippia alba (n=41), Justicia acuminatissima (n=29). Reviews of validation studies confirmed the traditional use of these species for the therapeutic indications mentioned by the communities. However, there is a need for more studies to validate biological properties, especially of P. amboinicus and J. acuminatissima, aiming to contribute to the development of bioproducts that can be used in Primary Health Care in these communities. Furthermore, the majority of respondents (91%) do not recognize risks associated with the use of these species, indicating the need to implement pharmacovigilance programs in phytotherapy. These findings highlight the need for public policies that address the living and health conditions of these populations, given their social vulnerabilities, highlighting the need to continue scientific validation studies of plant species used as medicine, not just based on their historical-cultural aspects, but based on certification of effectiveness, safety and quality.