Local knowledge of medicinal plants in three artisanal fishing communities (Itapoá, Southern Brazil), according to gender, age, and urbanization

Abstract

-(Local knowledge of medicinal plants in three artisanal fi shing communities (Itapoá, Southern Brazil), according to gender, age, and urbanization). This article analyzes some of the factors affecting the distribution of knowledge about medicinal plants of three artisanal fi shing communities in Itapoá Municipality, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Ninety semi-structured interviews were performed, which resulted in 109 cited plant species. The sample included both men (n=46) and women (n=44), in different age categories: 18-40 years old (n=18), 41-50 (n=21), 51-60 (n=28), and 61+ years old (n=23), and in three different communities: Barra do Saí (n=17), Itapema do Norte (n=31) and Pontal do Norte (n=42). Leaves are the plant parts most used by the communities (62%), and are obtained primarily through cultivation. Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult. (Boraginaceae) is the species most cited in the interviews, locally known as 'erva-baleeira' or 'erva-de-baleia'. The elderly have greater knowledge of species, but no gender differences were noticed. Less knowledge of plants was noticed in the more urbanized area when compared to the less urbanized areas. The most used plants are not related to the most frequent ailments. Medicinal plant use is an important resource for the health of these fi shing communities, but it is declining mostly due to the lack of interest on the part of the younger members, and to improved access to public health services. Key words: ethnobotany, artisanal fi sheries, traditional knowledge RESUMO -(Conhecimento local sobre plantas medicinais em três comunidades de pescadores artesanais (Itapoá, sul do Brasil), de acordo com gênero, idade e urbanização). Este artigo analisa alguns dos fatores que afetam a distribuição do conhecimento sobre plantas medicinais em três comunidades de pescadores artesanais do Município de Itapoá, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Noventa entrevistas semi-estruturadas foram realizadas, o que resultou em 109 espécies de plantas citadas. A amostra foi composta por homens (n = 46) e mulheres (n = 44), em diferentes categorias de idade: 18-40 anos (n = 18), 41-50 (n = 21), 51-60 (n = 28), e 61 anos ou mais (n = 23), e em três diferentes comunidades: Barra do Saí (n = 17), Itapema do Norte (n = 31) e Pontal do Norte (n = 42). Folhas são as partes da plantas mais utilizadas (62%), sendo obtidas principalmente por cultivo. Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult.(Boraginaceae) é a espécie mais citada nas entrevistas, localmente chamada de "erva-baleeira" ou "erva-de-baleia". Os idosos têm um maior conhecimento sobre as espécies, mas não houve diferenças em relação ao sexo dos entrevistados. Um menor conhecimento sobre as plantas foi observado na área mais urbanizada, quando comparada com as áreas menos urbanizadas. As plantas mais utilizadas não estão relacionadas com as doenças mais freqüentes. As plantas medicinais são um recurso importante para a saúde dessas comunidades de pescadores, mas este conhecimento pode estar se deteriorando devido principalm...

Medicinal Plant Use Influenced by Health Care Service in Mestizo and Indigenous Villages in the Peruvian Amazon

“…Choice between traditional and modern medicine depends on the users' social and cultural values with respect to each medicine (Janes, 1999;Wayland, 2004) or their knowledge of medicinal plants (Dahlber & Trygger, 2009). Use and knowledge of medicinal plants can be dependent on age, gender, occupation, education, or location of plant habitation (Case et al, 2005;Quinlan & Quinlan, 2007;Srithi et al 2009;Meretika et al, 2010). Modernization and globalization are also considered to cause a loss of medicinal plant knowledge (Benz et al, 2000;Voeks & Leony, 2004;Case et al, 2005;Voeks, 2007;Quinlan & Quinlan, 2007;Srithi et al, 2009;Meretika et al, 2010).…”

“…Use and knowledge of medicinal plants can be dependent on age, gender, occupation, education, or location of plant habitation (Case et al, 2005;Quinlan & Quinlan, 2007;Srithi et al 2009;Meretika et al, 2010). Modernization and globalization are also considered to cause a loss of medicinal plant knowledge (Benz et al, 2000;Voeks & Leony, 2004;Case et al, 2005;Voeks, 2007;Quinlan & Quinlan, 2007;Srithi et al, 2009;Meretika et al, 2010). The presence of the health care service also affects the loss of knowledge about medicinal plants (Caniago & Siebert, 1998;Vandebroek & Balick, 2012).…”

“…The presence of the health care service also affects the loss of knowledge about medicinal plants (Caniago & Siebert, 1998;Vandebroek & Balick, 2012). Meretika et al (2010) show urbanization to be one of the important factors for the decrease in plant use and knowledge. All these studies show that the use and knowledge of medicinal plants varies depending on various factors, however, modernization and the presence of modern medicine appear as a key regarding the loss of knowledge, thus use of medicinal plants.…”

How are legal matters related to the access of traditional knowledge being considered in the scope of ethnobotany publications in Brazil?

“…Albertasse Almeida & Bandeira 2010;Althaus-Ottman et al 2010;Barroso & Hanazaki 2010;Carneiro et al 2010;Carniello et al 2010;Christo et al 2010;Costa & Mitja 2010;Giraldi & Hanazaki 2010;Merétika et al 2010;Oliveira et al 2010a;Oliveira et al 2010b;Oliveira et al 2010c;Roque et al 2010;Silva & Freire 2010;Zuchiwschi et al 2010;Brito & Senna-Valle 2011;Costa & Mayworm 2011;Cunha & Bortoloto 2011;Gandolfo & Hanazaki 2011;Lima et al 2011;Marinho et al 2011;Oliveira et al 2011;Mattos et al 2012;Miranda & Hanazaki et al 2011;Siviero et al 2011;Silva et al 2011;Aguiar & Barros 2012;Araújo & Amorozo 2012;Brito & Senna-Valle 2012;Castro et al 2012;Chaves & Barros 2012;Cunha-Lima et al 2012;Espinosa et al 2012;Freitas et al 2012;Gomes & Bandeira 2012;González-Perez et al 2012;Lima et al 2012;Lucena et al 2012;Nunes et al 2012;Oliveira & Menini-Neto 2012;Paulino et al 2012;Poderoso ...…”

Where are the Brazilian ethnobotanical studies in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga?

“…Over the past few decades, ethnobotanical studies have documented local knowledge about the biodiversity of these ecosystems. For example, the cultural richness of the Caiçaras (Hanazaki et al 2000;Albertasse et al 2010), Azorean descendants (Giraldi & Hanazaki 2010), artisanal fisherman (Fonseca-Kruel & Peixoto 2004;Merétika et al 2010), indigenous groups Cunha et al 2012), Quilombolas (Crepaldi & Peixoto 2010;Gomes & Bandeira 2012), Sertanejos (Andrade et al 2006), as well as rural (Negrelli & Fornazzari 2007;Paulino et al 2012) and urban (Dorigoni et al 2001;Almeida et al 2006) communities have been studied. In Brazil, Quilombolas are traditional people of Afro-Brazilian descent, and Sertanejos are traditional people that occupy the semiarid region, whose livelihood is usually associated with some degree of pastoralism (Diegues & Arruda 2001).…”