title: Ethnopharmacology of medicinal plants of carrasco, northeastern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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 Ceará, Brazil, as well as determining species with bioprospecting potential
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Cel. Antônio Luis Pimenta, 1161, CEP: 63.100-000 Crato City, Ceará State, Brazil. Electronic address: renatadiassouza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Renata Kelly Dias
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Herbário Caririense Dárdano de Andrade-Lima, Department of Biological Sciences, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Arlene Pessoa
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Brazil.
authors.forename: Irwin Rose Alencar
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: de Menezes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Cel. Antônio Luis Pimenta, 1161, CEP: 63.100-000 Crato City, Ceará State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiany Alves
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Piauí, Zootecnia Department, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leilson Rocha
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Cel. Antônio Luis Pimenta, 1161, CEP: 63.100-000 Crato City, Ceará State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta Maria de Almeida
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D065132:Bioprospecting; D001938:Brazil; D003625:Data Collection; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Araripe National Forest; Bioprospecting; Ethnobotany; Semi-arid; Therapeutic species