Intracultural Variation in the Knowledge of Medicinal Plants in an Urban-Rural Community in the Atlantic Forest from Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study assessed the intracultural knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in an urban-rural community in an Atlantic forest fragment in northeastern Brazil. We examined the importance of native and exotic species and the effects of gender and age on that knowledge. We also compared data obtained from different groups of informants (local experts and general community). We conducted 194 interviews between June 2007 and January 2008, using the freelist technique and semistructured forms to collect ethnobotanical data. Information obtained from the community was compared with that from six local experts who participated in a survey in 2003. From a total of 209 ethnospecies, exotic and herbaceous plants presented higher richness. With respect to the number of citations, women and older informants were shown to know a higher number of medicinal plants. Comparing knowledge of local experts with that of the general community, we noted that experts know a similar wealth of plant families and therapeutic indications, but the community knows a greater species richness. These results indicate that local experts may provide useful information for studies that search for a quick diagnosis of the knowledge of a given community.

Traditional Knowledge in a Rural Community in the Semi-Arid Region of Brazil: Age and gender patterns and their implications for plant conservation

“…The number of botanical families and genera identified in this study is similar to that reported in other studies conducted in the caatinga (Almeida et al 2012, Lucena et al 2013. This shows the relevance of native plants to livelihoods of rural communities who live in this biome.…”

“…In general, older individuals showed greater knowledge, which coincides with the pattern already registered elsewhere (Almeida et al 2012, Ladio & Lozada 2009, Srithi et al2009). This difference is explained by the accumulation of knowledge in every generation, since older people are more experienced and have more contact with plant resources and more time to exchange knowledge with other informants in the region (Almeida et al 2012, Ladio & Lozada 2009.…”

“…In the São Francisco community, traditional knowledge systems of useful plant species may exhibit intracultural variations mediated by factors such as age and gender that would be determinants in the perception of the local environment (Almeida et al 2012, Camou-Guerrero et al 2008, Dovie et al 2008, Souto & Ticktin 2012. There are clear differences in diversity of use between the youngest and oldest groups in the São Francisco community.…”

“…However, traditional knowledge has not been properly examined in terms of its utility for supporting plans for biodiversity conservation (Dovie et al 2008). This is partly because the knowledge about vegetal resources is dynamic and subject to several influences and may vary according to demographic attributes such as gender and age (Almeida et al 2012). Several authors have stated that preferences for the use of plant species can be different for males and females, which translates mostly into division of labor at the household level and even at the community level (Dovie et al 2008, Styger et al 1999.…”

“…This variation is called "intracultural variation" and occurs among members of the same cultural group due to gender, social, economic, and age differences, etc. (Almeida et al 2012, Dovie et al 2008.…”