In spite of heavy harvesting pressure on some of the most popular medicinal plant species, there are very few published studies concerning their conservation the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. In light of this fact, the present work sought to evaluate the local conservation and the harvesting sustainability of medicinal plants in an region of caatinga vegetation employing a fusion of biological and cultural approaches. Ethnobotanical methodologies and techniques were employed in the community of "Riachão de "Malhada de Pedra"" (municipality of Caruaru, state of Pernambuco, Brazil) in order to document local knowledge concerning medicinal plants and to examine the availability of those plants in a caatinga vegetation fragment located near that community. A total of 21 medicinal plant species were identified in the area and classified according to ecological factors and local uses. Two plants (Ziziphus joazeiro and Myracrodruon urundeuva) stood out has having high priority for conservation efforts. Sixteen species were identified as having populations adequate for harvesting through a system of pre-determined quotas, while four species were deemed sufficiently abundant to be harvested without risk of causing significant impact on their sustainability.

Unitermos: Florestas secas, Folin-Ciocalteau, plantas medicinais, semi-árido. ABSTRACT:The infl uence of seasonal climatic changes on tannin concentrations was examined in two caatinga (semi-arid) plant species (Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All. and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan). The Folin-Ciocalteau method was used to quantify total phenols, and the casein precipitation method was used for tannins. In general, there is a close relationship between tannin levels and rainfall, although species seem to adopt different strategies of tannin compound production in response to periods of drought and rainfall in the caatinga.Keywords: Dry forest, Folin-Ciocalteau, medicinal plant, semi-arid. INTRODUCTIONIt is well documented that some ecological variables can quantitatively and qualitatively affect tannin production in plants (Hatano et al., 1986;Teixeira et al., 1990;Furlan et al., 1999;Simon et al., 1999;Salminen et al., 2001;Paiva et al., 2002). Seasonal changes, for example, alter plant metabolism and, consequently, biosynthetic pathways (Hatano et al., 1986;Salminen et al., 2001). Periods of high temperatures are known to increase the concentration of phenolic compounds in many plants. Species of Lotus, for example, demonstrate seasonal variations in tannin concentration (Gebrehiwot et al., 2002), which have been shown to be signifi cantly higher during the spring and summer. The same response was seen with Alnus rubra Bong (González-Hernández et al., 2000). Comparisons between plants growing in tropical sub-humid and tropical semi-arid regions of Africa have demonstrated that total phenols levels increase in regions with more severe climates and with less available humidity (Makkar; Becker, 1998).In Brazil, only a limited number of studies have examined the infl uence of environmental variables on tannin production, and most of these have focused on plant defenses in areas of cerrado (savannah) and Atlantic Coastal Forest vegetation (Pais;Varanda, 2003;Pansera et al., 2003;Yariwake et al., 2005). Fewer studies have been undertaken in the caatinga yet and it certainly remains the most incompletely studied Brazilian biome. The caatinga is also the least protected region in Brazil, with less than 2 % of its lands included within any type of conservation area. Research programs in this semiarid region are therefore necessary, especially in light of the rapid alteration of this biome, and substitution of the native vegetation even before it can be effectively studied (Fernandes, 2002; Giullieti et al., 2002;Castelletti et al., 2003).In the present work, the tannin levels of two caatinga medicinal plants, Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All. and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan, were quantifi ed and compared with local seasonal rainfall data. Studies which increase our understanding of the behavior of caatinga plants are extremely important at this moment for conservation and sustainable. Management strategies are needed to protect and preserve many semi-arid species threatened with extinction...

RESUMO:O trabalho objetivou a realização de inventário sobre as plantas medicinais utilizadas pelos membros da Comunidade Rural de Santo Antônio, Currais, Piauí, e dessa forma analisar o valor de uso e a riqueza de espécies conhecidas. Foram mencionadas 121 espécies pelos 32 entrevistados. As famílias mais representativas foram Fabaceae, Arecaceae e Anacardiaceae. A espécie com maior valor de uso foi a imburana [Amburana cearensis (Allemao) A. C. Sm]. Não houve diferenças significativas quanto ao conhecimento entre gêneros, assim como a renda e escolaridade. No entanto, a idade influenciou significativamente no conhecimento sobre plantas úteis. A riqueza da flora piauiense, marcada por apresentar áreas de transição entre caatinga e cerrado na região sul, oferece uma oportunidade ímpar para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas abrangendo o escopo da biodiversidade vegetal e do conhecimento tradicional associado. There were no significant differences between genders in terms of knowledge, as well as income and education. However, the age significantly influenced knowledge about useful plants. The richness of the Piauí flora, marked by presenting areas of transition between the Brazilian Caatinga and Cerrado in the south, offers a unique opportunity for the development of research covering the scope of plant biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. Palavras

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Due to the current exploitation and consequent extinction of native medicinal plants around the world, new strategies have been proposed to address the sustainable use of this resource. Accordingly, the goal of this study is to assess the speed of bark regeneration of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão and to compare the tannin content before and after tissue regeneration. Twenty individuals from an area of Caatinga in Caruaru, Pernambuco State (NE Brazil), were selected. To evaluate the speed of bark regeneration, four treatments were established, according to the area of bark removed (10 × 2, 6 × 5, 8 × 5 and 10 × 5 cm), with five replicates (five individuals of M. urundeuva Allemão) and three treatments of tannin content (bark removed before damage, as regenerated tissue, and non-impacted bark or control). At the end of 23 months of monitoring the regeneration, we found that only seven of the 20 individuals analyzed did not fully heal. No significant correlation between the monthly percent regeneration and average monthly precipitation was found. The tannin content varied according to the quantified tissue (after damage, regenerated and control) as well as between damage classes (20 cm(2)-41.64 to 63.53 mg; 30 cm(2)-49.25 to 67.54 mg; 40 cm(2)-31.69 to 67.44 mg; 50 cm(2)-34.08 to 48.53 mg). Despite the variations found, there was no significant difference between the measurement periods (p > 0.05) or damage classes (p > 0.05). The results showed that the regeneration rate was higher in individuals belonging to the 10 × 2 and 10 × 5 cm groups and that there is no correlation between precipitation and regeneration speed. Tannin levels did not vary significantly in the tissues before damage and after regeneration.

BackgroundStudies aimed at investigating the influence of habitat change on species phenology. Studies that investigate people's perceptions of the phenology of certain species still area few; yet this approach is important for effective decision-making for conservation. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenology of Spondias tuberosa Arruda (Anacardiaceae), a native species of economic and ecological importance in northeastern Brazil, in five landscape units (LUs) (Mountain, Mountain Base, Pasture, Cultivated Areas and Homegardens) of a Caatinga region in Altinho, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. These data could then be compared with local people's perceptions of the species’ phenophases.MethodCollection of phenological data was carried out monthly from February 2007 to January 2009 and included activity, intensity and synchronization of reproductive and vegetative phenophases. Ethnobotanical data were gathered using a collaborative approach to access local people’s knowledge about the species’ phenological schedule.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the intensity of phenophases among LUs, and there was a correspondence between people’s perception of phenophases and the phenological data collected. The data show that the different management practices for LUs did not influence the phenology of the species.ConclusionThe main conclusion of this study is the use of traditional knowledge as interesting tool for rapid phenological diagnosis. However further studies need to be developed to test this tool in other environments and cultural contexts.

Background Hunting wild animals is essential for nutrition, clothing, predator control and disease treatment. As part of a system based on food choices and uses, it is influenced by ecological, economic and sociocultural patterns. In this context, the aim is to identify the game fauna of interest in the Brazilian semiarid region; indicate the methods, uses, patterns of choices and cultural importance of the fauna and identify which sociodemographic variables influence the knowledge and use of faunal resources. Methods Information on hunting and fauna use was obtained through semi-structured interviews, complemented with free interviews and informal conversations. The cultural importance of the species was calculated through the current use value. The generalized linear model was created to verify whether the sociodemographic profile of hunters influences the knowledge and use of game species. Results The results showed a representativeness of 56 species. The group of birds was the most representative in terms of taxonomic richness (48.2%), followed by the group of mammals (26.8%), reptiles (21.4%) and amphibians (3.6%). The animals mentioned are used for food, trade, control hunting (slaughter of animals considered invaders of property or harmful to humans), pets, zootherapy and ornamentation. Sociodemographic variables shaped the knowledge of faunal resources, in which the age of hunters showed a negative correlation with the number of known species. Conclusions The meaning and forms of use attributed to each species depend on ecological, economic and sociocultural factors, which dictate the relationship between human communities and natural resources. Socioeconomic variables shape hunting patterns in all its aspects, whether in perception that hunters have of the resources, forms of use and utilization of hunting strategies.