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This study aims to provide information about the chemical profile of the essential oil from

This study aims to provide information about the chemical profile of the essential oil from C. langsdorffii resin in areas of Cerradão, Carrasco, and Humid Forest. In order to obtain the essential oils, oil-resin was submitted to hydrodistillation process, and the chemical components were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-six constituents were identified in the essential oil of C. langsdorffii resin, of which 12 were present in Cerradão, 15 in Carrasco and 18 in Humid Forest, with β-bisabolene, caryophyllene oxide, γ-muurolene, α-caryophyllene and β-caryophyllene common to the three phytophysiognomies. Among the studied areas, the resin collection varied from 2.652 g to 20.263 g, while the essential oil yield varied from 2.216 % to 11.764 %. A concentration range of 0.60 % to 84.57 % was recorded among the compounds in the three study areas. There was variation in chemical composition both among phytophysiognomies and among individuals from the same location, where β-caryophyllene showed to be the majority for all areas studied, being present in all individuals from Cerradão, Carrasco and Humid Forest.

A educação é a base da consciência ecológica, assim, é possível nortear questões práticas quanto à conscientização ambiental considerando a primeira infância, por ser esse um período de aprendizagens significativas. Este trabalho procura estimular a consciência ecológica considerando o lúdico e a reutilização de materiais na construção de ecobrinquedos voltados para as crianças na primeira infância em situação de vulnerabilidade social ou educacional, com o objetivo de investigar a inclusão de práticas de Educação Ambiental no dia a dia como estratégia para perceber a mudança de comportamentos e atitudes nas crianças de 0 a 3 anos em risco social. Visando o contexto ambiental dentro dessa relação criança e cuidador, foram submetidos cerca de 30 crianças acompanhadas semanalmente pelo Programa Criança Feliz na cidade de Araripe-CE. Para acompanhar o desenvolvimento das crianças, observou-se semanalmente o ato de brincar. É fato que o ato de brincar desperta a imaginação das crianças. Quando colocadas diante de material reutilizável com o desafio de transformá-los, encontram maneiras de usar estes itens em suas brincadeiras. No sentido de avaliar e acompanhar o desenvolvimento infantil, as crianças que participaram da pesquisa apresentaram um resultado satisfatório, mesmo sendo um resultado parcial, o estudo mostrou que crianças que brincam se desenvolvem melhor. No que diz respeito ao brincar, inserindo brinquedos com materiais reciclados possibilita que a criança tome consciência da preservação do Meio Ambiente por meio do lúdico.

The phenology has been discussed according to climatic variations and the environmental characteristics of each physiognomy, trying to identify if there is variation in the vegetative and reproductive phenophases, for Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. in areas of the Cerradão, Carrasco and Humid Forest, Chapada do Araripe in Northeast Brazil and if they are correlated with seasonality. Monthly observation censuses were conducted on 10 individuals from each area from January 2019 to December 2020. The continuous, sub-annual, annual, and supra-annual classes were taken into account. The intensity and synchrony of individuals were evaluated, and seasonality was tested using Spearman's correlation with local weather variables. The species presented a semi-deciduous vegetative phenological strategy, with peaks occurring mainly at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. The flowering pattern of C. langsdorffii was considered annual and seasonal, because flowering occurred at similar periods in the three areas, with peaks in December and January. Fructification occurred annually, with seasonality only in the phyto-physiognomy of the Cerradão. C. langsdorffii bore fruit during the rainy season in the Cerradão, Carrasco and Humid Forest, with the exception only of 2020 in the Carrasco and Humid Forest, where individuals bore fruit during both the rainy and dry seasons. According to the correlation results, precipitation, temperature, and humidity shape the reproductive patterns of C. langsdorffii, which may also occur in populations of this species in other environments. Se ha discutido la fenología según las variaciones climáticas y las características ambientales de cada fisonomía, tratando de identificar si existe variación en las fenofases vegetativa y reproductiva, para Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. en áreas del Cerradão, Carrasco y Selva Húmeda, Chapada do Araripe en el Nordeste de Brasil y si se correlacionan con la estacionalidad. Se realizaron censos de observación mensuales a 10 individuos de cada zona desde enero de 2019 hasta diciembre de 2020. Se tomaron en cuenta las clases continua, subanual, anual y supraanual. Se evaluó la intensidad y sincronía de los individuos y se probó la estacionalidad mediante la correlación de Spearman con las variables climáticas locales. La especie presentó una estrategia fenológica vegetativa semidecidua, con picos ocurriendo principalmente al final de la estación lluviosa e inicio de la estación seca. El patrón de floración de C. langsdorffii se consideró anual y estacional, debido a que la floración ocurrió en períodos similares en las tres áreas, con picos en diciembre y enero. La fructificación ocurrió anualmente, con estacionalidad solo en la fitofisonomía del Cerradão. C. langsdorffii fructificó durante la estación lluviosa en el Cerradão, Carrasco y Selva Húmeda, con excepción solo de 2020 en Carrasco y Selva Húmeda, donde los individuos fructificaron tanto en la estación lluviosa como en la seca. De acuerdo con los resultados de la correlación, la precipitación, la temperatura y la humedad dan forma a los patrones reproductivos de C. langsdorffii, que también pueden ocurrir en poblaciones de esta especie en otros ambientes. A fenologia tem sido discutida de acordo com as variações climáticas e as características ambientais de cada fisionomia, procurando identificar se há variação nas fenofases vegetativa e reprodutiva, para Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. em áreas do Cerradão, Carrasco e Mata Úmida, Chapada do Araripe no Nordeste do Brasil e se estão correlacionadas com a sazonalidade. Foram realizados censos mensais de observação em 10 indivíduos de cada área de janeiro de 2019 a dezembro de 2020. Foram consideradas as classes contínua, subanual, anual e supraanual. A intensidade e sincronia dos indivíduos foram avaliadas e a sazonalidade foi testada por meio da correlação de Spearman com variáveis ​​climáticas locais. A espécie apresentou estratégia fenológica vegetativa semidecídua, com picos ocorrendo principalmente no final da estação chuvosa e início da estação seca. O padrão de floração de C. langsdorffii foi considerado anual e sazonal, pois a floração ocorreu em períodos semelhantes nas três áreas, com picos em dezembro e janeiro. A frutificação ocorreu anualmente, com sazonalidade apenas na fitofisionomia do Cerradão. C. langsdorffii frutificou durante a estação chuvosa no Cerradão, Carrasco e Mata Úmida, com exceção apenas de 2020 no Carrasco e Mata Úmida, onde os indivíduos frutificaram durante as estações chuvosa e seca. De acordo com os resultados de correlação, precipitação, temperatura e umidade moldam os padrões reprodutivos de C. langsdorffii, o que também pode ocorrer em populações desta espécie em outros ambientes.

Fabaceae is one of the largest families of ethnopharmacological importance. From this botanical group, important chemical constituents that act in the treatment and/or healing of various bodily systems arise. The objective of this study was to evaluate the most versatile Fabaceae species and the agreement of use among the informants, in the Chapada do Araripe Savanna. The research included five rural communities located in the municipalities of Nova Olinda, Crato, Barbalha, Moreilândia and Exu, covering the states of Ceará and Pernambuco. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 126 informants, adopting the snowball technique and using a standardized form. The relative importance and the Informant Consensus Factor were analyzed for the selection of species with therapeutic potential. Twenty-six medicinal species, distributed across 22 genera, were associated with seventy therapeutic purposes. As for the habitat of the species, the arboreal habitat predominated (76.92%). In relation to the plant parts, the bark (28.57%) and stem inner bark (26.53%) were the most used structures. Among the species, four showed great versatility in relation to their uses, with relative importance (RI¯>1), these being: Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (1.70), Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. (1.52), Bowdichia virgiloides Kunth (1.10) and Amburana cearenses (Allemand) A. C. Sm. (1.02). These species had eight to thirty curative properties and ranged from five to twelve body systems. The therapeutic indications cited were grouped into sixteen categories of body systems, of which Sensory System Disorders and Mental and Behavioral Diseases presented maximum values for the Informant Consensus Factor. For the Sexual Impotence category there was no agreement, whereas for the remaining systems the Informant Consensus Factor ranged from 0.33 to 0.91. The study evidences that the information of use and/or knowledge are shared among the people within the community, proving the great importance of Fabaceae in the use of medicinal plants. Keywords: Ethnopharmacology, Legumes, Therapeutic indications, Versatility, Informant consensus

Current ethnobiological studies can offer positive aspects when they include the knowledge of traditional communities in developing different strategies for biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to classify medicinal woody species for priority conservation site in an area of cerrado disjoint in Chapada do Araripe, northeastern Brazil. The availability of woody medicinal plants and conservation priority scores were achieved by the relative density of the sampled forest fragment and ethnobotanical information obtained through semi-structured interviews with 50 local informants. Sixty-one woody medicinal plants were recorded, belonging to 26 families and 59 genera; 29 of these were available and have the use of bark and inner stem bark associated (46.6%). Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel, Caryocar coriaceum Wittm., Ximenia americana L., Croton zehntneri Pax & K. Hoffm., Hymenaea courbaril L., Copaifera lansdorfii Desf., Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. & Schult.) T.D.Penn., Anacardium ocidentale L. and Dimorphandra gardneriana Tull. are some of the priority species needing attention in carrying out conservation measures, in order to ensure the perpetuation of these species and the sustainability of traditional therapeutics practices.

Objective To establish the chemical profile, and to evaluate the antibacterial and modulatory activity of the ethanolic extracts of the stalk's inner bark and heartwood of Secondatia floribunda . Methods Quantification of total phenols and flavonoids was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride, respectively. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diodearray Detector) and the Infrared Spectroscopy was performed using the measure by Attenuated Total Reflectance with Fourier Transform (ATR-FTIR). Antibacterial assays for determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and modification of aminoglycosides were performed by microdilution. Results Infrared spectra showed similar characteristics, having among its main absorption bands hydroxyl group (OH). The antibacterial activity showed clinically significant results for the strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . In modulation assay, synergic and antagonistic effect for both extracts was observed. Heartwood extract in combination with antibiotics showed a significant MIC reduction at 19.8% ( P P Conclusions This study is the first report of chemical and biological information of Secondatia floribunda suggesting that it is clinically relevant source of a new antibacterial therapy, especially due to the presence of significant levels of phenolic compounds.

In most of the ethnobotanical studies among species with greater versatility, the Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. stands out due to the high number of therapeutic properties attributed to the oil-resin of its trunks. This species is widely distributed occurring both in preserved and anthropogenic environments. Plants that occur in different environmental conditions present qualitative and quantitative variation of the chemical constituents responsible for the biological activity, moreover, physiological factors can alter the synthesis of these compounds. This study aims to contribute with information about the chemical profile of C. langsdorffii in two areas of cerrado (preserved and anthropic) in different phenological phases and seasons. The vegetative (leaf fall and budding) and reproductive phenophases (flowering and fruiting) were qualified as present and absent from August 2013 to July 2014. In order to obtain the essential oils, the oil-resin were subjected to hydrodistillation process in an adapted Clevenger type device. The identification of the essential oils' chemical components was performed by gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Statistical analyses of the results were obtained by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). The reproductive phase occurred only in anthropic areas. The essential oils of both areas had yields ranging from 5.1 to 28.8%; with higher yields at the end of the rainy season coincided with the fruiting phenophase in anthropic areas and the presence of only leaves in the conserved area. Total of 42 chemical constituents were identified, 27 common to the two areas. The main constituents were β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, germacrene B and caryophyllene oxide which presented changes in levels during all collections. Cluster analysis confirmed that the volatile oil of C. langsdorffii was strongly influenced in its chemical composition by the different areas (preserved and anthropic). These informations collaborate to establish the most appropriate collection period to obtain higher yields of Copaifera langsdorffii’s essential oil, as well as the desirable concentrations of the chemical compounds responsible for therapeutic activities.

This study had as its objective to analyze the phenolic composition variations of the Secondatia floribunda A.DC stem bark and heartwood under the influence of seasonality and in different phenological phases. To analyze the chemical composition variation, quarterly collections were performed over 2 years, including both rainy and dry seasons as well as the different vegetative and reproductive phases of the species. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC–DAD. During the study period, S. floribunda presented leaf fall, budding, flowering, and fruiting, the last two phases coinciding with the rainy season. The ethanolic extracts from the stem bark and heartwood showed yields varying from 1.8 to 36%, with higher values between the rainy season (with low levels of precipitation) and the dry season, showing no relation with the phenological phases. The phenolic composition of the stem bark and heartwood extracts over the 2 years of study was qualitatively identical, except for the absence of the flavonoid apigenin in the heartwood. The compounds varied within the plant parts and showed level alterations during all the collections, responding both quantitatively and qualitatively to seasonality and phenology. The extracts presented high phenolic compound quantities during the rainy season, especially during the reproductive phases. These informations are useful to increase the knowledge surrounding this species and to contribute to the understanding of defense mechanisms and adaptation to different seasonal periods and to the establishment of the best period to obtain higher concentrations of phenolic compounds responsible for different therapeutic activities.

This study reports the effects of seasonal variation on the total polyphenol and flavonoid content and the in vitro antioxidant activity of Secondatia floribunda A. DC. The extracts were prepared from the inner bark and heartwood of samples harvested in the 2015 to 2016. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was determined by specific qualitative tests. The in vitro antioxidant capacity was analyzed using the following tests: 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and iron (Fe2+) chelating activity. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid content varied over the harvest period. The DPPH and ABTS tests revealed that in the dry season had the most potent in vitro antioxidant activity, although the extracts obtained during the rainy season presented the higher Fe2+ chelating and Ferric reducing activities. In conclusion, the phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity are correlated, and both are influenced by seasonality.

This study aimed to conduct an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal species in an area of cerrado vegetation in the chapada do Araripe, Ceara, as well as evaluating and selecting species with potential for bioprospecting, based on the relative importance of the species and the consensus among the informants. The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a free list, and by using the technique "snowball". It was analyzed the relative importance of the mentioned plants as well as species that stood out on the bodily systems, based on the factor:consensus among the informants. It was recorded a total of 38 species distributed into 35 genera and 25 families. Of the total eight species (21%) presented great versatility (IR≥1) regarding to its use. The therapeutic indications were grouped into 14 categories of bodily systems. Disorder of respiratory and genitourinary systems, injuries, poisoning and other consequences of external causes and diseases of the blood, organs and connective tissue, obtained a greater consensus among the informants. Ximenia americana, Himathantus drasticus, Stryphnodndron rotundifolium, Hancornia speciosa and Cecropia pachysthachya were the species subject to further study, based on versatility, and consensus of the use among the informants. Key words: Ethnobotany, factor in consensus, local knowledge, potential therapeutic, regional species, relative importance.

This study aims to investigate the diversity of native medicinal plants in a caatinga area, verifying the versatility of species and concordance of use among the informants, in the Angico de Cima community, in the city of Aurora, Ceará, Brazil. Ethnobotanical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with key informants, adopting the snowball technique. The Relative Importance (RI) and Consensus Factor among Informants (ICF) were analyzed to indicate the most versatile species with the highest agreement of use, respectively. Within the 35 registered native species, eight presented great versatility, with a RI> 1, standing out Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. (1.86) and Heliotropium indicum (L.) Lehm (1.67). The 60 therapeutic indications were grouped into 13 body systems categories, of which Genitourinary System Disorder and Nervous, had the highest agreement of use with ICF from 0.8, each. Some species, such as Heliotropium indicum, have a high RI, are scarcely indicated for therapeutic activities in caatinga and require studies that prove their medicinal properties.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. This study aims to evaluate the versatility of these species and their agreement of use and/or the informants’ knowledge and verify the variability of the information on the indicated medicinal species in comparison to other species from northeastern Brazilian areas.Materials and Methods. Ethnobotanical information was acquired through interviews with 23 residents of the Quincuncá community, northeastern Brazil. From the obtained data, a comparative analysis of the therapeutic indications with other 40 areas in different biomes was conducted. For that, the relative importance index and informant consensus factor were calculated and compared to other indices evaluated in the literature.Results.A total of 39 medicinal species were cited and twenty-six species showed similarities among their therapeutic indications; however, species asGeoffroea spinosa,Lantana camara, and others can be highlighted, present in community disease indications that were not verified for other areas.Myracrodruon urundeuva,Mimosa tenuiflora,Stryphnodendron rotundifolium, andAmburana cearensishad the greatest versatility. In the Quincuncá community, medicinal species were indicated for 49 diseases, which were grouped into 15 categories of body systems.Conclusion. This study shows the presented divergence in relation to their therapeutic use; in this point, these divergences reinforce the importance of pharmacological research.

Much of the Brazilian semiarid region faces a considerable process of degradation of natural resources, and ethnobotanical studies have collaborated with important information about the use and traditional knowledge, serving as a tool to design conservation strategies of native plant species. Thus, this study aimed to determine medicinal species meriting conservation priorities in a “Caatinga” area in the northeastern of Brazilian territory. The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key subjects selected through the “snowball” technique. The availability and species conservation priority was verified by relative density, risk of collection, local use and use of diversity in the forest fragment sampled. It was recorded 42 native medicinal plants and conservation priority score was calculated for seven species, including Mimosa tenuiflora, Hymenaea courbaril , Ximenia americana and Amburana cearensis need immediate conservation and attention, since their collection does not occur in a sustainable way. In order to ensure the perpetuation of the species and the sustainability of traditional therapeutic practice there needs to be a development of conservation practices of caatinga remaining to better conserve the species of the biome.

O presente trabalho visou o levantamento etnobotânico das plantas medicinais, verificando a versatilidade das espécies utilizadas e o consenso de uso e/ou conhecimento entre os informantes, do Distrito de Aratama, no Município de Assaré, Ceará. As informações etnobotânicas foram obtidas através de entrevistas estruturadas e semi-estruturadas com os moradores locais. Foram citadas 116 espécies com fins medicinais pertencentes a 103 gêneros e 58 famílias com destaque para Fabaceae (10ssp.), Asteraceae (7spp.) e Lamiaceae (6spp.). Entre as espécies levantadas, Mentha spicata L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Allium sativum L., Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.), Ximenea americana L., se destacaram como as mais versáteis dentro da comunidade. As indicações terapêuticas citadas foram agrupadas em 16 categorias de sistemas corporais, dos quais as Desordens mentais e comportamentais, as Afecções ou dores não definidas, os Transtornos do sistema respiratório, as Doenças de pele e do tecido celular subcutâneo, e os Transtornos do sistema sensorial (ouvidos), mostram maior concordância entre os informantes na utilização de espécies para tratar um sistema corporal especifico. Os resultados mostraram elevada riqueza da flora medicinal presente na caatinga. Neste sentido, torna-se necessária a intensificação de estudos que avaliem e consolidem as propriedades químicas e farmacológicas destas espécies. This study is about an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants, checking the versatility of the species used and the consensus of use and/or knowledge among informants from the Aratama District, in the municipality of Assaré, state of Ceará, Brazil. The ethnobotanical information was obtained through structured interviews and semi-structured interviews with local residents. Approximately, 116 species were mentioned for medicinal purposes, belonging to 103 genera and 58 families, especially Fabaceae (10ssp.), Asteraceae (7spp.) and Lamiaceae (6spp.). Among the surveyed species, Mentha spicata L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Allium sativum L. and Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) Ximenea americana L. stood out as the most versatile in the community. The therapeutic indications mentioned were grouped into 16 categories of body systems; the mental and behavioral disorders, disorders or pain not defined, disorder of the respiratory system, skin diseases and subcutaneous tissue disorder, and disorder of the sensory system (ears) showed greater agreement among informants in the use of species to treat a specific body system. The results showed a high species richness of the medicinal flora present in the Brazilian Caatinga. Thus, it is necessary to intensify and consolidate studies assessing the chemical and pharmacological properties of these species.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Ethnobotanical studies have contributed significantly in research of plants with therapeutic potential. The aim of the present study was to learn about the use of native medicinal plants cited by the traditional population in “cerradao” (savanna woodland) areas in Northeast Brazil, providing data on therapeutic indications of the species used and their versatility. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted on the basis of a standardized questionnaire designed for key informants selected using the “snowball” technique. The selection of plants species with therapeutic potential was performed on the basis of the relative importance (RI) and informant consensus fator (ICF). Results A total of 78 species were indicated for 87 therapeutic purposes. Of these, 11 species presented great versatility of use (RI>1), as e.g.including Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., Hybanthus calceolaria (Mart.) Plumel., Heliotropium cf. indicum L., Croton zehntneri, Croton heliotropiifolius, Myracrodruon urundeuva, Stryphnodendro rotundifolium. Medicinal uses could be generalized Pax & K. Hoffm and Hymenaea courbaril L. The therapeutic indications were grouped into 14 use15 categories with 594 species–category combinations. The largest number of medicinal species was indicated for illnesses or undefined pain, followed by diseases associated with respiratory, digestive and genitourinaryof body systems. The factor informant consensus highlighted the agreement in the use of plants and showed that the, of which Diseases of the Nervous System and, Diseases of the Circulatory System had the greatest agreement 1.0 and 0.87 repectively, Disorders of the Visual Sensory System – Eyes and Respiratory System Disorder showed the highest agreement of use. Conclusions Most of the species cited by the key informants are well known scientifically, but it is interesting that some have been studied little or not all with regard to confirming their purported medicinal properties and can contribute substantially to pharmacological and phytochemical investigations in the search for new drugs.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The goal of this study was to conduct an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal species from the carrasco vegetation of the Araripe National Forest, state of Ceara, Brazil, as well as determining species with bioprospecting potential Materials and methods The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a free list. The relative importance of the plants cited was assessed, as well as species that stood out with respect to bodily systems, on the basis of informant consensus. Results A total of 32 species belonging to 29 genera and 20 families were recorded. Of this total, six species (19%) showed great versatility regarding their uses in regard to up to seven bodily systems. The therapeutic indications were grouped into 14 categories of bodily systems. Circulatory and genitourinary disorders, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, and undefined pain or disease showed the greatest consensus between informants. Conclusions Ximenia americana , Himathantus drasticus , Stryphnodndron rotundifolium , Bowdichia virgilioides , and Hymenaea courbaril were the species warranting more in-depth study, on the basis of versatility and informant consensus on the uses of the species.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Traditional medical systems represent an important source of knowledge about the use of biodiversity. Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies can encourage bioprospecting in the pursuit and selection of promising medicinal plants. This study investigated the diversity of medicinal plants in a disjunct area of cerrado in Chapada do Araripe, Ceara, Brazil, and assessed the species of interest for bioprospecting. Materials and methods Structured and semi-structured interviews were conducted through free listing, and the informants were recruited using the “snowball” technique. The relative importance and informant consensus factor were analyzed for the selection of plant species with therapeutic potential. Results A total of 68 species were recorded and cited for 91 therapeutic purposes. Of these, 10 species showed great versatility of use, including Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., Caryocar coriaceum Wittn., Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel, Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart., and Dimorphandra garderiana Tull. The therapeutic citations were grouped into 16 categories of body systems, of which Injuries, Poisonings and Other Consequences of External Causes, and Neoplasias showed the highest agreement of use. Conclusions Regarding the diversity of the species, some including Tocoyena Formosa (Cham. & Schlecht.) Schum., Himatanthus drasticus , Caryocar coriaceum , Roupala montana Aubl. and Stryphnodendron rotundifolium showed both high relative importance and strong consensus among informants, and although many have already been investigated scientifically, others are almost unknown with respect to their medicinal properties and can be targets for bioprospecting.

O uso de plantas medicinais para fins terapeuticos muitas vezes representa o unico recurso curativo ou paliativo de uma comunidade. O distrito de Aratama, municipio de Assare/Ceara apresenta clima quente, a vegetacao predominante e Floresta Caducifolia Espinhosa (caatinga). A pesquisa foi realizada por meio de entrevistas estruturadas e semiestruturadas com os informantes-chaves. Foram encontradas 30 familias, 46 generos e 53 especies. Dentre as familias Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae e Solanaceae tiveram o maior numero de especies. Lamiaceae se encontra como a mais representativa em outros levantamentos em areas de caatinga. Dos 46 generos, Solanum (Solanaceae) e Citrus (Rutaceae) foram os generos mais diversificados, com tres especies cada. As 53 especies cultivadas sao exoticas, esse numero citacoes e semelhante aos de outros levantamentos realizados em areas de caatinga. O maior uso de plantas exoticas deve-se ao fato de se apresentarem disponiveis e serem facilmente cultivadas, sendo possivel muitas vezes sanar problemas que nao seriam resolvidos pelo uso de especies locais. Quanto ao habito, 56,6% (30 spp.) sao herbaceas, 24,5% (13 spp.) sao arboreas, 11,3% (6 spp.) arbustivas e 7,5% (4 spp.) subarbustivas. Em relacao as partes das plantas mais utilizadas, a folha recebeu o maior numero de citacoes de uso: 36, seguida de semente com 12, fruto (6) e raiz (5). A decoccao foi o modo de preparo mais citado, seguido do lambedor e infusao. Os resultados indicam um grande conhecimento e uso das especies medicinais cultivadas, o que nos aponta a importância desses recursos nos sistemas medicos tradicionais na localidade estudada.

O estabelecimento de especies medicinais prioritarias para conservacao vem sendo cada vez mais necessario, visto o crescente interesse populacional pela fitoterapia, principalmente nos paises de maior biodiversidade. Dessa forma, avaliar aspectos biologicos e culturais associados ao uso da flora medicinal e fundamental para a conservacao das especies envolvidas. Esse estudo objetivou determinar especies medicinais lenhosas prioritarias para conservacao em uma area de caatinga no estado do Ceara, nordeste do Brasil. A diversidade de especies medicinais foi verificada atraves de um levantamento etnobotânico realizado na area. A disponibilidade e a prioridade de conservacao foram verificadas atraves de dados fitossociologicos associados a diversidade de uso no fragmento florestal amostrado. Foram registradas 34 especies medicinais utilizadas pela populacao local, destas 13 se encontravam disponiveis na area. O escore de prioridade de conservacao foi calculado para oito especies lenhosas, entre elas Myracrodruon urundeuva , Bauhinia cheilantha , Croton conduplicatus e Anadenanthera colubrina que necessitam de atencao conservacionista imediata, visto que sua coleta nao ocorre de forma adequada. Estas informacoes vem a contribuir para perpetuacao das especies e a sustentabilidade das praticas terapeuticas tradicionais.