A Ethno-knowledge of medicinal plants in a community in the eastern Amazon

Abstract

The Amazon has many plant species with potential for medicinal use and a vast traditional knowledge accumulated over the years by the traditional peoples that inhabit the region. The objective of this work was to document traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants by community residents that had its physical area affected by the reservoir of a hydroelectric plant in the region of the Araguari river valley, Amapá, Brazil. Data were collected from May to October 2014. Non-probabilistic sampling (n = 15) and participant observation were used to select local experts who understood the use of medicinal plants. Socio-demographic and ethnobotanical were collected during semi-structured interviews. There were 45 species distributed in 31 botanical families, with indicative of medicinal use by local informants. The main parts used of the plants were bark and leaves.