ANIMAIS E PLANTAS UTILIZADAS COMO MEDICINAIS POR UMA COMUNIDADE RURAL DO SEMI-ÁRIDO DA PARAIBA, NORDESTE DO BRASIL

Abstract

The knowledge concerning the therapeutic properties of animals and plants has been developed by human communities since the times remote and last of generations in generations. As the traditional medicine is intimately related to the natural resources, specifically to the biodiversity, it is more evident that the traditional knowledge associated to the use of the biological resources becomes important for its conservation and durable use. It is still more important in areas as the semi-arid Northeasterner, where the biome Caatinga prevails, which is little studied, above all of the point of ethnobiologic view. It was aimed at to accomplish a rising of the animal species and vegetable employees as medicinal in a rural community of the Queimadas Municipal district, semi-arid of the state of Paraíba, Northeast of Brazil, knowing the several related aspects the those practices. Free interviews were accomplished and applied semi-structured forms to the users of medicinal plants and animals. The value of use of each species and the factor of consent of the informers were calculated. A total of 53 medicinal animals (43 vertebrates and 10 spineless), distributed in 42 families, were mentioned for the treatment of 68 diseases. The animal species more mentioned were Gallus gallus - domestic chicken, and Tupinambis merianae - lizard. A total of 143 plants were mentioned, distributed in 64 families, which are used for the treatment of 88 diseases. The species more mentioned were Anacardium occidentale - purple chestnut and Mentha x villosa-nervata - mint-small. The Breathing Apparel was the isolated organic system with larger number of citations of animals and plants together. Some species of animals and plants threatened of extinction are being used by the community. Studies in pharmacology subsequent will be important for identification of bioactives compositions and therapeutic proofs of the used biological resources. Any conservation strategy should have direct connection with improvement of public health, particular ly for rural communities that have limited access to services of health efficient.