Medicinal plants and animals of an important seasonal dry forest in Brazil

Abstract

Research performed in recent years indicates that efforts are still needed to understand the advances in the Caatinga, an important dry seasonal forest, and identify its potential for bioprospecting. These efforts are also important for pinpointing the challenges that should be addressed in future research focused on identifying new candidates for pharmacological studies in this complex region. Thus, in this review, we present the main advances of studies on plants and medicinal animals in the Caatinga region and their implications for ethnopharmacology, and we then discuss future challenges to promote the search for candidates with pharmacological potential. Based on an exploration of the available literature, we performed a critical reading of the available evidence to provide a good scenario on the studies in the region. We find that despite the large number of studies available, it is necessary to organize efforts to fill gaps in different areas of knowledge and optimize the search for new natural products.

Priority areas for restoring ecosystem services to enhance human well‐being in a dry forest

“…Although the use of plants as a food/medicinal provision service is currently decreasing (Cruz et al 2014), these products can represent the survival of countless families invisible to income transmission programs. Also, studies have been developed in the Caatinga about the popular knowledge of medicinal plants with pharmacological potential (Albuquerque et al 2020), indicating that these species can be widely planted in the biome for local use. The use of native species with multiple functions in restoration projects can guarantee the return of important ecosystem services that are local means of subsistence and promote the well-being of the most vulnerable population (Alexander et al 2016).…”

“…Furthermore, the remaining native vegetation of Caatinga is highly fragmented throughout the biome, which requires more efficient methods of ecological restoration (Antongiovanni et al 2018). A large number of people in Caatinga (mostly rural) directly depend on the natural resources to meet their needs, and the tree species has been preferred by local population use that can supply distinct resources even during the dry season (Albuquerque et al 2017). There is constant pressure on native vegetation for wood consumption, mainly for firewood and charcoal used as a source of household energy, which is more intensively exploited in periods of drought (Ribeiro et al 2015).…”

Effects of Feeding ACP® as a Bio-supplement to Ewes Pre- and Postpartum on Energy Profile and Offspring Growth Weight

“…Since the restrictions of antibiotic and chemical supplements use in animal farming, natural options of a bio supplement have been a common topic on animal husbandry research. As a result, the idea of a sustainable production throughout all the steps of animal farming, has forced the use for local and natural based feeding products (Silva et al, 2012;Albuquerque et al, 2020). In addition to this, prevention of metabolic diseases of the transitional periods such as ketosis, and a quick return to reproduction after parturition, are the most recommended targets on small ruminant production (De tarso, 2017).…”

Local Wisdom and Medicinal Plant Utilization of Certified Folk Healers for Therapeutic Purposes in Buriram Province, Thailand

“…In terms of therapeutic purposes, it is important to identify medicinal plants used by folk healers to discover new and potential drug candidates. 1 Nowadays, resources are being used more than necessary, resulting in encroachment of forest areas. Thailand is one of the countries facing the problem of plant resources depletion.…”