SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY COMMUNITIES IN THE URBAN AREA IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MOJU/PA

Abstract

The objective of the work was to survey medicinal plants used in urban communities in the municipality of Moju/PA and will contribute to a broader understanding of the role of these species in the daily life of the population and to the appreciation of the cultural and natural heritage of the Amazon. The study was carried out in the municipality of Moju/Pará. The research was carried out in different stages, including data collection through semi-structured interviews, participant observation and bibliographic research. The methodology adopted allowed a deep understanding of the practices of use of medicinal plants in the urban context, focusing on the identification of the species used, their applications and the traditional knowledge involved. The plants mentioned by the interviewees were categorized according to their popular name and the scientific identification of the species was carried out based on the specialized literature. The plants were classified according to the diseases for which they are indicated, in addition to the forms of preparation (part of the vegetable) and use. The information obtained in the interviews was analyzed to trace the socioeconomic and cultural profile of the users of medicinal plants, verifying the relationship between factors such as gender, age, education and income with the use of these practices. The research respected all ethical aspects related to data collection in urban communities. All participants were informed about the research objectives and written informed consent was obtained before conducting the interviews. The identity of the interviewees was kept confidential, and the research followed the ethical principles recommended for research with traditional populations and local communities.