title: Ethnobotanical study of plants used for therapeutic purposes in the Atlantic Forest region, Southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atlantic Forest is a biome in dangerous situation and it lacks wider information on species with medicinal purposes used by people in this area. In this study an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Apiúna district, Brazil with the goal of assessing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by rural communities in a region covered by Atlantic Forest.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a free list of plants used for medicinal purposes. The respondents were selected by snow ball method. Therefore, the therapeutic use of plants was investigated and the species cited was collected and identified. Local plant uses were evaluated using ethnobotanical indices of diversity and equitability, and then compared with those obtained in other regions of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Besides, the informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 162 species belonging to 61 families were recorded, mainly Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. Furthermore, the species cited, 45.06% were native and 54.94% were considered exotic. The most frequently reported medicinal uses were the symptoms and signs (17.42%), digestive system (15.33%) and, infectious and parasitic diseases (12.73%). Although, the ICF calculation showed that mental and behavioral (0.85), respiratory system (0.79) and, digestive and genitourinary system diseases (0.78 for both) were the categories with higher values reached. Usually, the administration is oral from leaves preparations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Folk medicine in rural communities in this region of Atlantic Forest is an important source of primary health care. The results indicate an available knowledge of medicinal plants uses in this area, when compared to other regions previously studied. The fact that this research was conducted next to a conservation area makes it possible to dispose the knowledge organized here into a tool for environmental education as well as preservation. Moreover, the pharmacological information will further contribute for the validation and the use of these species in Brazilian health programs benefiting the population.
authors: Laboratory of Bioactive Substances Analysis, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, CEP: 89012-900 SC, Brazil.
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Tribess
authors: Laboratory of Botany, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Brazil.
authors: Gabrielli Melatto
authors: GM
authors: Pintarelli
authors: Laboratory of Bioactive Substances Analysis, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, CEP: 89012-900 SC, Brazil.
authors: Larissa Alida
authors: LA
authors: Bini
authors: Laboratory of Bioactive Substances Analysis, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, CEP: 89012-900 SC, Brazil.
authors: Anderson
authors: A
authors: Camargo
authors: Laboratory of Botany, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Brazil.
authors: Luís Adriano
authors: LA
authors: Funez
authors: Laboratory of Botany, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Brazil.
authors: André Luís
authors: AL
authors: de Gasper
authors: Laboratory of Bioactive Substances Analysis, Department of Natural Sciences, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, CEP: 89012-900 SC, Brazil. Electronic address: anazeni@furb.br.
authors: Ana Lúcia Bertarello
authors: AL
authors: Zeni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D019448:Ethnobotany; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Atlantic Forest; Ethnobotany; Serra do Itajaí National Park; Therapeutic species