Etnobotânica e florística de plantas medicinais nativas de remanescentes de floresta estacional semidecidual na região do Alto Rio Grande, MG

Abstract

Information was gathered from rural communities of the south of the State of Minas Gerais, microregion of Alto Rio Grande, municipalities of Lavas, Carrancas, Ingaí, Itumirim and Itutinga, as to which, how and for what ends, the native semideciduous forest species plants in this kind of vegetation, are used for popular medicine. The method of questioning used was that proposed by Alencar & Gomes and the survey and data analysis were based on Trivinos method. Eight informants participated in the field work. For each medicinal species that was sampled, notes were taken on habit and the level of occurrence. In 12 sample areas, 351 individuals belonging to 64 families, 112 genres and 142 species, were surveyed. The families that presented the largest number of native medicinal species, were: Fabaceae - 11; Asteraceae - 10; Annonaceae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae e Rubiaceae - 7; Solanaceae - 5; Aristolochiaceae, Lamiaceae, e Malvaceae - 4; Anacardiaceae, Dilleniaceae, Lauraceae, Meliaceae e Rutaceae - 3; being that these contributed with 56,7% of the total of species. The genres that presented greater number of native medicinal species were: Aristolochia e Eugenia - 4; Luehea, Mikania, Solanum, Vitex e Xylopia - 3. The occurrence of rare species in the studied forest fragments was also verified, among which were: Geissospermum laeve (Vell) Miers., Capsicodendron dinisii (Schwacke) Occhioni, Citronella gongonha (Mart) R. A. Howard, Maytenus aquilifolia Mart., Vitex megapotamica (Spreng.) Moldenke, Virola sebifera Aubl., Eugenia pleurantha O. Berg., Baufourodendron riedelianum (Engl.) Engl., Solanum pseudoquina A. St.-Hil., Styrax pohlii A. DC. The most popular species used in popular medicine are: Tapirira guianensis Aubl. ("peito-de-pombo"/ pigeon breast), Aristolochia esperanze O. Kuntze ("papo-de-peru", turkey flab), Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. ("carqueja"), Bidens brasiliensis Sherf. ("picão-grande"), Protium spruceanum (Benth.) Engl.("amescla"), Capsicodendron dinisii (Schwacke) Occhioni ("casca-d´anta"), Lamanonia ternata Vell. ("açoita-cavalos"/ horse-whip), Bauhinia longifolia (Bong) D. Dietr. ("pata-de-vaca"/ cow´s hoof), Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. ("óleo-copaiba"), Hymenaea courbaril L. ("jatobá"), Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer ("sassafrás"), Herreria salsaparilha Mart.("salsaparrilha"), Strychnos brasiliensis (Spreng) Mart. ("quina-cruzeiro"), Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. ("quina-mineira"), Esenbechia febrifuga (A.St.-Hil.) A. Juss ex Mart. ("laranjeira-do-mato"), Cupania vernalis Cambess. ("camboatã"), Solanum cernuum Vell. ("panacéia"). The plants are mainly used for: easing urinary secretion, kidney afflictions, rheumatism, diabetes, inflammations, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, stomach pain, aiding scar tissue healing, paralysis, back pains, ulcers, afflictions of the respiratory system, bruises, contusions, blows, as anesthesia, to disinfect, liver molestations, urinary system afflictions, diarrhea, fevers, skin problems, worms. The main forms of usage of these regional plants are teas, by boiling or infused, followed by baths and compresses by boiling or infused or maceration. Palavras-chave: etnobotany, semi decidual forests, Alto Rio grande.