Survey of medicinal plants sold at the free trade fair of the municipality of Patos, Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract

In poorer regions and even in large Brazilian cities, medicinal plants are marketed in open markets and popular markets and can also be found in residential backyards and in the nearby woods the houses Ethnobotanical studies in open markets and markets are important, since many times the plants marketed are not studied or have not had their active principles identified to validate them as a medicine or to take advantage of them properly and economically. In view of the above, the purpose of this work was to conduct an ethnobotanical survey in the free market and municipal market of Patos, Paraiba, Brazil. The research took place during the month of July 2017, through visits to the free fairs and interviews using questionnaires of the semi-structured type applied to the traders of medicinal plants. A total of 9 raizers were interviewed. A total of 36 medicinal plants were marketed. The most cited plants were cashew and aroeira both with (13.89%) and barbatimão (11.77%). The raizeiros and herbs have great social and economic importance in the cities, because the use of medicinal species minimizes costs with pharmaceutical drugs, but also is a source of income for these merchants. There is a wealth of knowledge about the rootstocks and grasses that operate in the Central Market of Patos, as well as a diversity of species traded.