Traditional Knowledge of Forest Medicinal Plants of Munduruku Indigenous People - Ipaupixuna

Abstract

Aims: The traditional knowledge about the use of typical flora of forests such as the Amazon rainforest, is undoubtedly an intangible richness of indigenous populations. Recording this knowledge to value it is essential in the construction of contemporary history, especially in the present times of invasion of the Indigenous Territories. Thus, the objective of this research was to elucidate from ethnobotanical diagnoses the useful flora of Munduruku indigenous families, as a renewable and exploitable natural resource. The working hypothesis was to confirm the dependency of these local communities on the forests, while medicinal environments. 
 Study Design: The structure of the research was based on three moments: 1. Intervention with the human component (conducting interviews with indigenous families); 2. Intervention with the plant component (preparation of the excicatas of the cited plants and taxonomic identification); 3. Analysis of human and plant components (ethnobotanical study).
 Place and Duration of Study: The research developed in a village called Ipaupixuna, whose indigenous families are from Munduruku ethnic group. The duration of the research was six (6) months.
 Methodology: The analysis was characterized by Quantitative ethnobotany whose variables analyzed were Relative Frequency of Citation, Use Valour, Level of Fidelity, Relative Popularity and Rank Order Priority. The statistical analysis comprised a Linear Pearson Correlation Matrix for dimensioning the correlation between the ethnobotanical variables.
 Results: The results showed rich diversity of species, with 110 plants being raised used by indigenous families in five categories: medicinal, food, crafts, construction and cosmetics. Arecaceae was the botanical family with the highest number of medicinal species. Dipteryx odorata was the specie with the highest Relative Frequency, while Plectranthus amboinicus and Caesalpinia ferrea as well as Fredericia chica presented high Use Value for the indigenous.
 Conclusions: The indigenous families of Munduruku ethnic group of Tapajós river Basin studied in this research, have in the Forest and in its backyards, sources of plants for multiple uses, thus evidencing the high dependence between indigenous people and Forests. The creation of new spaces called Medicinal Forests and Ethnogardens is essential to contributing to the health safety of indigenous families.

Etnoconocimiento de mujeres ribereñas sobre plantas en las comunidades de Porto Novo y Cajutuba, Belterra, Pará, Brasil

“…Valor de Uso (UV): UV = (ΣU) / N, donde ΣU = suma del número de usos de una determinada especie mencionada por los informantes y N = número total de informantes. El valor de uso identifica la importancia que cada especie de planta tiene para los informantes (OLIVEIRA, 2020;ALBUQUERQUE et al, 2010).…”

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Eight Species of Fabaceae That Are Commonly Used in Traditional Medical Practices in the Republic of Suriname

“…Despite the safety concerns, the seed and various other parts of D. odorata are traditionally used, among others, to fortify the scalp and improve hair growth; as a remedy for colds, fever, coughing, asthma, and tuberculosis; for treating stomach pain and diarrhea; against dysentery and schistosomiasis; as an emmenagogue, and as an aphrodisiac [200,201]. In Suriname, D. odorata seed is mainly used as an ingredient of products to treat hair loss, dandruff, and an itching scalp; against colds; and to command luck [125,202].…”

Plant resource uses and losses in a small maroon community in a Colombian Pacific hot spot

“…This species is indicated as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, so it is not possible to know the status or condition for maintaining the populations of this species. The impact on choibá (D. odorata) has already been registered due to the growing exploitation for timber purposes for construction and technology (Rêgo et al 2017;Oliveira 2020). Other factors that can justify the vulnerability of over-exploitation are biological characteristics such as reproductive capacity, needs for light, low dispersion rate, and high mortality rate (Herrero-Jauregui et al 2011).…”