title: An ethnopharmacological assessment of the use of plants against parasitic diseases in humans and animals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethnobotanical surveys are detecting an increasing frequency of exotic plant species in pharmacopeias, which has led researchers to investigate the role of such species in traditional medical systems. According to the diversification hypothesis, exotic species are included to complete pharmacopeias, i.e., to treat diseases for which no native species are known, thus broadening the scope of the plant repertoire.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was conducted at two rural communities in northeastern Brazil aiming at a survey of the plants known or used by the population to treat endo- and ectoparasitic diseases in humans and animals. In addition, plant extracts exhibiting acaricide activity were assessed using the engorged female immersion and larval packet tests (LPT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the present study showed a tendency for native species to be used against ectoparasites and exhibit a broader scope of use compared to exotic species. In turn, exotic species were predominantly indicated to treat diseases caused by endoparasites, although there was an overlap of native and exotic species relative to some therapeutic purpose, e.g., ticks. Only two of the plant species tested exhibited acaricide activity (Nicotiana glauca Graham and Croton blanchetianus Baill.), and in both cases, the activity was weak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ethnobotanical data do not fully support the suggested hypothesis. Overall, the wide versatility of exotic species was not exclusively used to treat parasitic diseases in humans and animals. In addition, the selection of acaricide plants based on the ethnopharmacological study generated uninteresting results.
authors: Laboratório de Etnobiologia Aplicada e Teórica (LEA), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900 Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors: Flávia dos Santos
authors: Fdos S
authors: Silva
authors: Laboratório de Etnobiologia Aplicada e Teórica (LEA), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900 Recife, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: upa@db.ufrpe.br.
authors: Ulysses Paulino
authors: UP
authors: Albuquerque
authors: Laboratório de Parasitologia (LAPA), do Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, CCAA - UFMA, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors: Livio Martins
authors: LM
authors: Costa Júnior
authors: Laboratório de Parasitologia (LAPA), do Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, CCAA - UFMA, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors: Aldilene da Silva
authors: Ada S
authors: Lima
authors: Laboratório de Etnobiologia Aplicada e Teórica (LEA), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900 Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors: André Luiz Borba
authors: AL
authors: do Nascimento
authors: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus, PI, Brazil.
authors: Júlio Marcelino
authors: JM
authors: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D003625:Data Collection; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000145:classification; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D012423:Rural Health; D013045:Species Specificity; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019155:Veterinary Drugs
keywords: Brazil; Ethnoveterinary; Insecticidal activity; Tick; Traditional botanical knowledge