Levantamento das plantas medicinais utilizadas no município de Roque Gonzales, Rio Grande do Sul.

Abstract

(Survey of medicinal plants used in Roque Gonzales, Rio Grande do Sul). The current study consists in a qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Roque Gonzales, Rio Grande do Sul. The data collection was made through semi structured interviews applied to both rural and urban area attendees in the city mentioned before. The plants were photographed, collected and pressed for making exsiccatae and identification. Seventy interviews were performanced. 565 plants were 6 sampled, identified in 108 species and positioned in 42 different families. The biggest families, with a large number of species mentioned were Asteraceae (22) and Lamiaceae (19). Prevalent medicinal uses were associated to infectious and digestive system diseases. The leaves were the vegetal part more often used and the most mentioned way to prepare was infusion. In all attendees, women predominated. Attendees were considered 57% elderly, being 60 years old or more. 76% of the interviewed did not finish Elementary School. The results obtained in the current research suggest the importance of plants as a therapeutic source to people preventing and healing diseases. The high number of vegetal species used as medicinal, amongst the socio cultural profile data of users, could help formulating a program which promotes the use of medicinal plants in a rational way in the city.