Wednesday, 4 November 2015

2009 Ethnopharmacological notes about ancient uses of medicinal plants in Trás-os-Montes (northern of Portugal)

Volume 124, Issue 2, 15 July 2009, Pages 270-283


CIAGEB - Faculdade de Ciências de Saú, Escola Superior de Saú, UFP, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, P-4200-150 Porto, Portugal
IBB-Instituto para a Biotecnologia e a Bioengenharia, Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, P-4710-057 Braga, Portugal
REQUIMTE - Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal

Abstract

Aim of the study: In order to preserve the ancestral knowledge, an ethnopharmacological study has been carried out in two councils belonging to Trás-os-Montes region a small area located in the northern of Portugal. In that area, medicinal plants, most of the species wild, are still in use among farmers, shepherds and other people who live far from villages and built-up areas. Materials and methods: Among the 46 people that were interviewed (mean age of 66 years old), 88 species belonging to 42 families of vascular plants were identified for treatment of various human ailments. An ethnopharmacological report is made consisting of species names, vernacular names, popular uses of the plants and their pharmacological properties. Results and conclusion: The most dominant family is Lamiaceae (18%) and the most frequently part of the plant used for the treatment of diseases are leaves (37.9%). The largest number of taxa is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders (73.9%). © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author keywords

Ethnobotany; Folk medicine; Medicinal plants; NE Portugal

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: Alnus glutinosa extract; Asplenium trichomanes extract; Borago officinalis extract; Chamaespartium tridentatum extract; Chelidonium extract; Glechoma hederacea extract; herbaceous agent; Lonicera periclymenum extract; Matricaria chamomilla extract; plant extract; Polygonatum officinale extract; Polygonum aviculare extract; Rosa canina extract; Taraxacum panalpinum extract; unclassified drug
EMTREE medical terms: Achillea; adult; aged; agricultural worker; Agrimonia; agrimonia eupatoria; alder; Alnus glutinosa; Althea rosea; angiosperm; Arctium; arctium minus; Artemisia; Artemisia absinthium; artemisia vulgaris; article; Asplenium trichomanes; asthma; atherosclerosis; bermuda grass; betula alba; birch; bleeding; bronchitis; Buxus; buxus sempervirens; Calamintha nepeta; Calluna; calluna vulgaris; Capsella; capsella bursapastoris; Castanea sativa; catnip; cellulitis; Chamaespartium tridentatum; Cistus; cistus ladaniferus; colic; common cold; constipation; coughing; Crataegus; crataegus monogyna; Cynodon; Cystisus scoparius; dandelion; depression; diarrhea; digitalis purpurea; dill; drug indication; ear infection; ear nose throat disease; eczema; epistaxis; Erigeron; erigeron canadensis; erythraea centaurium; ethnobotany; ethnopharmacology; female; fennel; fever; Fragaria vesca; Fraxinus; fraxinus excelsior; Fumaria; fumaria officinalis; furunculosis; Galium; galium aparine; gallbladder disease; gastritis; gastrointestinal disease; Geranium; geranium molle; Glechoma hederacea; gout; gynecologic disease; hair loss; health survey; Helichrysum; Helichrysum stoechas; hemorrhoid; higher plant; hoarseness; human; Humulus lupulus; Hypericum perforatum; hypertension; hyssopus officinalis; Ilex; ilex aquifolium; infection; inflammatory disease; influenza; insomnia; ischialgia; ivy; jaundice; juglans regia; kidney disease; Laurus; laurus nobilis; Lavandula multifida; Lavandula pedunculata; lavender; leukorrhea; Leyisticum officinale; liver disease; Lonicera; Lonicera periclymenum; lung disease; maize; malaria; male; Malva; Malva vulgaris; marigold; medicinal plant; menstruation disorder; Mentha; Mentha aquatica; Mentha piperita; Mentha rotundifolia; Mercurialis annua; metabolic disorder; mouth infection; muscle disease; Nepeta; neuralgia; neurologic disease; oak; obesity; olive tree; parasitosis; Parietaria; parietaria judaica; pharyngitis; plant leaf; Plantago; Plantago coronopus; plantago lanceolata; plantago major; Polygonatum; Polygonatum officinale; Polygonum; polygonum aviculare; Portugal; Prunella; Prunella vulgaris; Pulmonaria; pulmonaria officinalis; quercus robur; respiratory tract disease; rheumatic disease; rosa canina; rose; rosemary; Rumex; rumex acetosa; Ruta montana; Rutaceae; Salix atrocinerea; Salvia officinalis; Sambucus nigra; Sanguisorba; Sanguisorba minor; Satureja hortensis; savory; scots pine; skin disease; solid tumor; Sorbus; Sorbus aucuparia; squash; stomach pain; stone formation; strawberry; Tanacetum vulgare; Taraxacum panalpinum; taxon; Thymus pulegioides; traditional medicine; tuberculosis; ulcer; Umbilicus rupestris; urinary tract disease; Urtica dioica; Valeriana officinalis; Verbascum; Verbascum tapsus; verbena officinalis; Verbenaceae; Vinca; Vinca difformis; viola odorata; Violaceae; walnut; white clover; wild species; willow; wound
MeSH: Aged; Ethnobotany; Ethnopharmacology; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal; Portugal
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.