Table 1.
Medicinal plants cited by residents of the Engenho Cuieiras community in the city of Aliança, Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. ADND = not defined disorders or pain; DGENM = endocrine, nutrition, and metabolic diseases; DIP = infectious and parasitic diseases; DPTCSC = diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue cell; DSOTC = disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue; IG = general inflammations; NEO = neoplasms; TSC = circulatory system disorders; TSSO = sensory system disorders (eye/ear); TSD = digestive system disorders; TSGU = genito-urinary system disorders; TSN = disorders of the nervous system; TSR = disorders of the respiratory system.
| Family/scientific name | Popular name | Origin | Habit | Therapeutic indication | Body system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthaceae | |||||
| Justicia gendarussa Burm.F. | Anador | Exotic | Herb | Pain | ADND, TSD |
| Adoxaceae | |||||
| Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl. | Flor de Sabugo | Native | Three | Cough | TSR |
| Amaranthaceae | |||||
| Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen | Acônico | Exotic | Herb | Fever | ADND |
| Anacardiaceae | |||||
| Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi | Aroeira | Native | Three | Injury, general inflammation, inflammation in uterus | IG, DTCSC, TSGU |
| Anacardium occidentale L. | Cajú-Roxo | Native | Three | Injury, general inflammation, intestinal infection | DTCSC, IG, TSD |
| Apiaceae | |||||
| Foeniculum vulgare Mill. | Êndio | Exotic | Herb | Pain, intestinal problem | ADND, TSD |
| Coriandrum sativum L. | Coentro | Exotic | Herb | Stomaching | TSD |
| Pimpinella anisum L. | Erva-doce | Exotic | Herb | Soothing, intestinal problem | TSN, TSD |
| Arecaceae | |||||
| Syagrus sp. | Coco-catolé | Native | Three | Osteoporosis | DSOTC |
| Asteraceae | |||||
| Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. | Alcachofra | Exotic | Herb | Pain of belly, liver problems | TSD, TSD |
| Matricaria recutita L. | Camomila | Exotic | Herb | Soothing | TSN |
| Acanthospermum hispidum DC. | Espinho-de-cigano | Exotic | Herb | Catarrh, cough | TSR |
| Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq. | Rabo-de-raposa | Exotic | Herb | Fungus | DPTCSC |
| Bignoniaceae | |||||
| Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos | Pau-d'arco-roxo | Native | Three | Inflammations | IG |
| Burseraceae | |||||
| Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand | Amescla, amescla- roxa e amescla-branca. | Native | Three | Pain, internal inflammations, intestinal infection | ADND, IG, TSD |
| Cactaceae | |||||
| Cereus jamacaru DC | Mandacaru, Cardeiro | Native | Shrub | Reins, spinal problems | TSGU, DSOTC |
| Chenopodiaceae | |||||
| Chenopodium ambrosioides L. | Mastruz | Exotic | Herb | Catarrh, bronchitis, worms | TSR, DIP |
| Costaceae | |||||
| Costus spicatus Sw. | Cana-de-macaco | Exotic | Herb | Blood pressure, spinal problems, reins | TSC, DSOTC, TSGU |
| Cucurbitaceae | |||||
| Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. | Chuchu | Exotic | Herb | Blood pressure | TSC |
| Cucumis sativus L. | Pepino | Exotic | Herb | Blood pressure | TSC |
| Euphorbiaceae | |||||
| Phyllanthus niruri L. | Quebra-pedra | Exotic | Herb | Reins, renal problem | TSGU, TSGU |
| Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur | Urtiga-branca | Native | Herb | Infections, eyes | IG, TSSO |
| Jatropha gossypiifolia L. | Pinhão-roxo | Native | Herb | Heals scarring | DPTCSC |
| Fabaceae | |||||
| Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville | Barbatimão | Native | Three | Wounds/cuts | DPTCSC |
| Hymenaea courbaril L. | Jatobá | Native | Three | Catarrh, cough | TSR |
| Mimosa pudica L. | Malícia-fina | Native | Herb | General inflammation, inflammation of the uterus, swelling of the legs | IG, TSGU, TSC |
| Senna occidentalis (L.) Roxb. | Manjerioba | Exotic | Herb | Catarrh, cough | TSR |
| Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth | Sucupira | Native | Three | Internal inflammations | IG |
| Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth | Sucupira-branca | Native | Three | Pain | ADND |
| Lamiaceae | |||||
| Rosmarinus officinalis L. | Alecrim | Exotic | Herb | Fever | ADND |
| Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng | Hortelã-Graúda | Exotic | Herb | Catarrh, cough | TSR |
| Ocimum basilicum L. | Manjericão | Exotic | Herb | Antiabortive, infections | IG, TSGU |
| Mentha piperita L. | Hortelã-miúda | Exotic | Herb | Anti-VCA, blood pressure, flu, parasites, amebiasis, pain in the belly | TSC, TSR, DIP, TSD |
| Ocimum campechianum Mill. | Alfavaca-do-mato | Native | Herb | Control of rates, gases, prostate | DGENM, TSD, TSGU |
| Lauraceae | |||||
| Persea americana Mill. | Abacate | Exotic | Three | Renal problem | TSGU |
| Nectandra cuspidata Ness & Mart. | Canela | Native | Three | Numbness, inflammation | TSD, IG |
| Liliaceae | |||||
| Aloe vera (L.) Berm.f. | Babosa | Exotic | Herb | Skin problems, inflammation, gastritis, osteoporosis | DPTCSC, IG, TSD, DSOTC |
| Allium cepa L. | Cebola-branca | Exotic | Herb | Catarrh | TSR |
| Malpighiaceae | |||||
| Malpighia glabra L. | Acerola | Exotic | Shrub | Cough | TSR |
| Malvaceae | |||||
| Abelmoschus esculentus L. | Quiabo | Exotic | Herb | Diabetes | DGENM |
| Urena lobata L. | Malva-Rosa | Native | Herb | Pain, intestinal problem | ADND, TSD |
| Mimosaceae | |||||
| Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan. | Angico | Native | Three | Catarrh, cough | TSR |
| Monimiaceae | |||||
| Peumus boldus Mol. | Boldo | Exotic | Herb | Intestinal problems | TSD |
| Moraceae | |||||
| Ficus sp. | Figo | Exotic | Three | Fungus | DPTCSC |
| Myrtaceae | |||||
| Eugenia uniflora L. | Pitanga | Native | Shrub | Intestinal problems | TSD, TSD |
| Psidium guajava L. | Goiaba | Native | Three | Intestinal problems | TSD, TSD |
| Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. | Eucalipto | Exotic | Three | Respiratory problems | TSR |
| Psidium guineense S.W. | Araçá | Native | Three | Intestinal problems | TSD |
| Syzygium jambolanum (Lam.) DC. | Azeitona | Exotic | Three | Diabetes | DGENM |
| Oxalidaceae | |||||
| Averrhoa carambola L. | Carambola | Exotic | Three | Renal problems | TSGU |
| Pedaliaceae | |||||
| Sesamum orientale L. | Gergilin | Exotic | Herb | Pain | ADND |
| Poaceae | |||||
| Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. | Capim-santo | Exotic | Herb | Pain, intestinal problems, soothing, pain | ADND, TSD, TSN, DSOTC |
| Saccharum officinarum L. | Cana-de-açucar | Exotic | Herb | Blood stagnation | TSC |
| Punicaceae | |||||
| Punica granatum L. | Romã | Exotic | Shrub | Inflammation of the throat, intestinal infections | IG, TSD |
| Rosaceae | |||||
| Malus domestica Borkh. | Maçã | Exotic | Shrub | Vision | TSSO |
| Rubiaceae | |||||
| Morinda citrifolia L. | Noni | Exotic | Shrub | Cholesterol, diabetes, pain, rheumatic fever, cancer prevention | DGENM, ADND, DIP, NEO |
| Genipa americana L. | Jenipapo | Native | Three | Catarrh | TSR |
| Borreria verticillata (L.) G. Mey. | Vassoura-de-botão | Exotic | Herb | Pain, inflammations, cough | ADND, IG, TSR |
| Rutaceae | |||||
| Ruta graveolens L. | Arruda | Exotic | Herb | Headache, earache | ADND, ADND |
| Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck | Laranja | Exotic | Three | Soothing, insomnia | TSN |
| Solanaceae | |||||
| Solanum paniculatum L. | Berinjela | Exotic | Herb | Cholesterol | DGENM |
| Solanum paniculatum L. | Jurubeba-branca, Jurubeba-roxa | Exotic | Herb | Catarrh, inflammations, stomachache, blood | TSR, IG, TSD, DGENM |
| Physalis angulata L. | Camapu | Native | Herb | Skin problems | DPTCSC |
| Verbenaceae | |||||
| Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Br. | Herb-cidreira | Exotic | Herb | Digestive problems, pain, insomnia, soothing | TSD, ADND, TSN, TSN |
| Vitaceae | |||||
| Cissus verticillata (L) Nicolson & C.E. Jarvis | Insulina | Native | Herb | Diabetes | DGENM |
| Zingiberaceae | |||||
| Alpinia speciosa (Blume) D. Dietr. | Colônia | Exotic | Herb | Fever, sinusitis, catarrh, flu, headache | ADND, TSR, TSR, ADND |