ABSTRACT
Objetivo. Describir el uso tradicional de 26 plantas, identificando la droga vegetal, su preparación y administración, los fines medicinales para los que se recomiendan y posibles prácticas de uso inadecuado. Materiales y métodos. Se aplicaron 16 entrevistas semiestructuradas a vendedores de plantas medicinales en 8 plazas de mercado de la ciudad de Bogotá, D.C. Adicionalmente se realizó la identificación taxonómica de las plantas con mayor reporte por parte de los vendedores y su uso tradicional fue comparado con las indicaciones farmacológicas reportadas en el Vademecum Colombiano de Plantas Medicinales. Resultados. Las plantas de mayor citación entre los vendedores entrevistados fueron: "Cidrón", "caléndula" y "manzanilla", seguidas por "cola de caballo", "ruda" y "albahaca" las cuales presentaron al menos tres reportes cada una. Se encontró que algunas de las plantas mencionadas por los vendedores no se reportan en el Vademécum Colombiano de Plantas Medicinales, entre ellas "paico", "chitato", "alfalfa", "laurel" y "suelda consuelda". Se detectó poco conocimiento por parte de los vendedores, sobre las posibles contraindicaciones o efectos adversos de las plantas medicinales lo que conlleva a prácticas inadecuadas en la comunidad. También se evidenció desconocimiento de las diferencias entre las formas de preparación infusión y decocción. Se identificaron plantas medicinales que pueden ser promisorias terapéuticamente por nuevos usos reportados, entre ellas "albahaca", "caléndula", "cidrón", "cola de caballo" y "manzanilla".
Objective. To describe information about traditional use of 26 plants, identifying plant drug, preparation and administration, medicinal purposes for recommended practices and possible misuse. Materials and Methods. This work was performed in 8 popular markets of Bogotá. By applying semi-structured interviews with 16 sellers of medicinal plants. Further taxonomic identification of medicinal plants was carried out with greater reporting by sellers and their traditional use was compared with pharmacological indications reported in the Vademecum Colombiano de Plantas Medicinales. Results. Report higher plants between sellers respondents were "cidrón", "calendula" and "manzanilla", followed by "cola de caballo", "ruda" and "albahaca", which presented at least three reports each one. It was found that some of the plants mentioned by the sellers do not appear in the Vademecum Colombiano de Plantas Medicinales plants including "paico", "chitato", "alfalfa", "laurel" and "suelda consuelda". Little knowledge was detected by sellers about possible contraindications or adverse effects of medicinal plants which leads to inadequate practices within the community. Ignorance of the differences between the forms of decoction and infusion preparation was also evidenced. Plants that may be promising therapeutic for new uses reported were identified including "albahaca", "calendula", "cidrón", "cola de caballo" and "manzanilla".
Subject(s)
Humans , Ethnopharmacology , Complementary Therapies , Phytotherapy , Medicine, TraditionalABSTRACT
The main goal of this paper was the study of the useful plants sold in the open-air fairs of Petrópolis and Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data collection was obtained through participant observation, semi structured interviews and free listing with four herbalist informants. From the interviews, 115 species (belonging to 49 families) were recorded: 94 for medicinal purposes, 12 with religious application, and 9 for ornamental purposes. Thirty percent of the species were native, and 72 percent herbaceous. The most representative families were Asteraceae (26 species) and Lamiaceae (10 species). The medicinal species related to diseases of the respiratory system were more common during the winter and autumn. "Espinheira-santa" (Clarisia cf. ilicifolia) had the highest Relative Importance (1.8) and collocation in all seasons using the Preference Ranking, although its effectiveness or toxicity levels have not been established. The importance of the study is to gather knowledge from local herbalists about commercialized species in open-air fairs and popular markets in the Rio de Janeiro State, which represent valuable resources for bioprospection.
O principal objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar as plantas úteis comercializadas em feiras livres em Petrópolis e Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados utilizando as técnicas de observação participante, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e listagem livre com quatro comerciantes de plantas medicinais. A partir dessas entrevistas, 115 espécies (pertencentes a 49 famílias) foram relacionadas: 94 com uso medicinal, 12 com uso religioso e 9 com uso ornamental. Trinta por cento das espécies são nativas e 72 por cento possuem hábito herbáceo. As famílias mais representativas foram Asteraceae (26 espécies) e Lamiaceae (10 espécies). As espécies medicinais indicadas para o tratamento de doenças do sistema respiratório foram mais freqüentes durante o outono e inverno. A espécie denominada como Espinheira-santa (Clarisia cf. ilicifolia) obteve o valor mais alto de Importância Relativa (1,8) e a mais alta colocação em todas as estações do ano utilizando o cálculo Preference Ranking, embora seus níveis de eficiência e toxidez não tenham sido ainda estabelecidos. O estudo se mostrou relevante, pois visa reunir o conhecimento dos informantes sobre as espécies que comercializam em feiras livres e mercados populares no estado do Rio de Janeiro, que representa uma valiosa fonte para a bioprospecção.