ABSTRACT
Abstract The Brazilian flora is very rich in medicinal plants, and much information about the traditional use of the Brazilian plants is only available from early literature and we are facing a rapid process of loss of biodiversity. To retrieve data about useful plants registered in the books of the Polish physicist P.L.N. Chernoviz, who lived in Brazil for 15 years in the 19th century. The aim is to improve our knowledge about Brazilian plants, and to ensure the benefits of sharing it with potential users. Data about Brazilian plants were obtained from six editions of the book Formulary and Medical Guide (Formulário e Guia Médico), published in 1864, 1874, 1888, 1892, 1897 and 1920. All this information was then organized in boxes, and correlated with pharmacological studies from PubMed and Lilacs. A total of 238 species were recorded and 117 different traditional uses were registered for the plants. The most common uses were to treat general skin diseases and intermittent fevers, as purgative, diuretics and andidiarrheal. From the total, only 61 species (25.6%) have been to date subject to pharmacological studies and had their activities confirmed. Chernoviz books represent an important source of data about plants used in traditional medicine of Brazil. Their records were collected at a time when Brazil's native vegetation was still largely intact, and traditional medicine was practiced based on native plants. We argue that these plants must be prioritized in development of medicines, submitting them to clinical studies or by considering their traditionality, as established by WHO. Strategies for the protection of the traditional knowledge are also necessary.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Studies of the vegetation on islands off the coast of southeastern Brazil are still very scarce, despite their importance for assessing, managing, and conserving insular biodiversity. We present here a list of the vascular flora of Queimada Grande Island (QGI; 24°29′10″ S, 46°40′30″ W, 57 ha, 33.2 km from the coast) in southeastern Brazil and describe its phytophysiognomies. The island is covered mainly by Atlantic Forest (Dense Ombrophilous Forest), as well as with rock outcrop and anthropogenic vegetation with herbaceous-shrub phytophysiognomies. QGI showed relatively low species richness (S = 125) when compared to other Brazilian coastal islands. Herbaceous (52) and climbing species (31) predominated on QGI. The richest families were Fabaceae (11 species), Poaceae (9), and Apocynaceae, Asteraceae and Orchidaceae (8 species each). Most species (S = 112) are autochthonous from different phytophysiognomies of the southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest complex. Many species associated with anthropically disturbed areas (S = 26) can be found on QGI, including the invasive grass Melinis minutiflora. There was a slight predominance of zoochory (S = 50). We did not identify any species endemic to QGI. One of its species (Cattleya intermedia, Orchidaceae) is vulnerable at both national and regional levels, and another (Barrosoa apiculata, Asteraceae) is presumably extinct on the mainland in São Paulo State. The vascular flora of QGI originated from the mainland Atlantic Forest complex, following the pattern of other coastal islands in southeastern Brazil. The flora and vegetation of QGI reflect the combination of insular conditions, the small size of the island, habitat restriction, steep topography, incipient soils, and the past use of the area with the introduction of several foreign species. We recommend permanent monitoring of the vegetation cover of QGI and its management, in order to ensure the conservation of the local native biota.
Resumo Estudos sobre a vegetação de ilhas costeiras no sudeste do Brasil ainda são muito escassos, apesar de sua importância para a avaliação, manejo e conservação da biodiversidade insular. Nós apresentamos aqui uma lista da flora vascular da Ilha Queimada Grande (IQG; 24°29′10″ S, 46°40′30″ W, 57 ha, 33,2 km da costa), sudeste do Brasil, e descrevemos suas fitofisionomias. A ilha é recoberta principalmente por Floresta Atlântica (Floresta Ombrófila Densa), bem como por vegetação sobre afloramento rochoso e vegetação antrópica com fisionomias herbáceo-arbustivas. A IQG apresentou riqueza relativamente baixa (S = 125) comparada a de outras ilhas costeiras do Brasil. Espécies herbáceas (52) e trepadeiras (31) predominaram na IQG. As famílias mais ricas foram Fabaceae (11 espécies), Poaceae (9), Apocynaceae, Asteraceae e Orchidaceae (8 espécies cada). A maioria das espécies (S = 112) é autóctone de diferentes fitofisionomias do complexo da Floresta Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil. Muitas espécies associadas a áreas antropicamente alteradas (S = 26) são encontradas na IQG, incluindo a gramínea invasora Melinis minutiflora. Houve ligeira predominância de zoocoria (S = 50). Nós não identificamos espécies endêmicas para a IQG. Uma espécie (Cattleya intermedia, Orchidaceae) encontra-se vulnerável em nível nacional e estadual, e outra (Barrosoa apiculata, Asteraceae) está presumivelmente extinta no estado de São Paulo. A flora vascular da IQG originou-se no complexo da Floresta Atlântica continental, seguindo o padrão de outras ilhas costeiras do sudeste do Brasil. A flora e a vegetação da IQG refletem a combinação da condição insular, tamanho reduzido da ilha, restrição de habitat, topografia acidentada, solos incipientes e o uso pretérito da área com a introdução de várias espécies alóctones. Nós recomendamos o monitoramento permanente da vegetação da IQG e seu manejo, visando garantir a conservação da biota nativa local.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACTThis study shows the results of a wide but non-exhaustive review on plants cited in the literacy work of the writer-naturalist João Guimarães Rosa (J.G. Rosa). Information about popular names and use of plants were recovered through a review in seven works of the author. The assignment of the scientific names was based in other previous ethnobotanical studies performed in similar areas of Cerrado in Minas Gerais state. For each species, data about their presence in the Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia, or use for preparing commercial products were checked. A total of 964 popular names for plants were recovered, 59 of them being more frequently cited. From the total citations, 57 native species have their use described by the author but curiously, only thirteen are referred to as medicinal. It is assumed that the literature from J.G. Rosa is very rich in data about the utility of the plants from the Cerrado; however, the present work shows that his interest was rather the literary (poetic) creation, and we demystify that supposition.