Table 1 Medicinal plants mentioned in the free lists and collected by the locals within the FLONA region (Horizonte community, NE Brazil)

AMARANTHACEAE

Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze

nelvagina

headache

herb

native

0.235

0.102

0.0

n.c

Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

mentruz

bone fracture

herb

exotic

0.497

0.137

7.7

n.c

ANACARDIACEAE

Anacardium occidentale L.

cajueiro

healing wounds

tree

native

0.418

0.146

47.7

n.c

Mangifera indica L.

mangueira

breathing difficulties

tree

exotic

0.020

0.009

0.0

n.c

Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão

aroeira

cutaneous illness

tree

native

0.451

0.167

10.4

6601

Spondias purpurea L.

ciriguela

dysentery

tree

exotic

0.170

0.071

20.0

n.c

Spondias tuberosa Arr.Cam.

Imbu

stomachache

tree

native

0.007

0.001

0.0

6604

Astronium fraxinifolium Schott.

gonçalave

flu

tree

native

0.150

0.058

20.0

6690

ANNONACEAE

Annona squamosa L.

pinha

fever

tree

exotic

0.013

0.007

0.0

6600

Annona coriacea Mart.

ariticum

dysentery

shrub

native

0.150

0.073

5.9

6614

APIACEAE

Apium sp.

milindro

high pressure

herb

0.020

0.011

0.0

6615

Coriandrum sativum L.

coentro

child stomachache

herb

exotic

0.013

0.003

0.0

6670

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

endro

heartburn

herb

exotic

0.183

0.046

18.8

n.c

Pimpinella anisum L.

erva doce

general pain

herb

exotic

0.190

0.057

11.1

6606

APOCYNACEAE

Catharanthus roseus L.

boa noite

healing wounds or scars

herb

exotic

0.007

0.004

0.0

6596

Hancornia speciosa Gomes

mangaba

varicose veins

tree

native

0.601

0.235

75.0

6700

Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel.

janaguba

gastritis

tree

native

1.085

0.446

88.9

6660

Secondatia floribunda A. DC.

catuaba cipó

dilated veins

climber

native

0.026

0.010

75.0

n.c

ARECACEAE

Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart.

macaúba

to clean the intestine

tree

native

0.013

0.002

50.0

6590

Attalea speciosa Mart.

babaçu

bruise

tree

native

0.007

0.003

0.0

n.c

Cocos nucifera L.

côco

dehydration

tree

native

0.026

0.010

50.0

n.c

Syagrus cearencis Noblik

catolé

hernia

tree

native

0.013

0.010

0.0

n.c

ASTERACEAE

Acanthospermum hispidum DC.

espinho cigano

bronchitis

herb

exotic

0.131

0.044

0.0

n.c

Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen

agrião

cough

herb

native

0.046

0.009

25.0

n.c

Agerantum conyzoides (L.) L.

mentrasto

vaginal hemorrhage

herb

exotic

0.065

0.019

0.0

n.c

Artemisia vulgaris L.

anador

headache

herb

exotic

0.301

0.109

7.7

6656

Artemisia absinthium L.

lorma

indigestion

herb

exotic

0.183

0.085

5.6

8108

Bidens pilosa L.

carrapicho de agulha

woman inflammation

herb

native

0.052

0.019

16.7

6591

Egletes viscosa (L.) Less.

macela

digestive gases

herb

native

0.399

0.136

16.3

6603

Helianthus annuus L.

girassol

thrombosis

herb

exotic

0.288

0.069

13.0

6665

Indet

rosamelia

cutaneous illness

herb

0.007

0.006

0.0

6653

Tanacetum vulgare L.

pruma

indigestion

herb

exotic

0.085

0.034

0.0

n.c

Vernonia condensata Backer.

boldo de chile

heartburn

shrub

exotic

0.033

0.013

0.0

n.c

BIGNONIACEAE

Anemopaegma laeve DC.

manacá

rheumatism

climber

native

0.013

0.005

100.0

6669

Tabebuia sp.

podaico

all kind of pain

tree

native

0.052

0.020

20.0

n.c

BIXACEAE

Bixa orellana L.

urucum

hematoma

shrub

native

0.098

0.023

75.0

6698

BORAGINACEAE

Heliotropium indicum L.

crista de galo

teething in children

herb

exotic

0.275

0.069

16.7

n.c

BRASSICACEAE

Brassica rapa L.

mustarda

brain hemorrhage

herb

exotic

0.229

0.064

0.0

8110

BROMELIACEAE

Ananas sativus Schult. & Schult. f.

abacaxi

flu

herb

native

0.072

0.011

14.3

6695

BURSERACEAE

indet

amesca

headache

tree

native

0.007

0.002

6663

CACTACEAE

Cereus jamacaru DC.

mandacaru

menopause

shrub

native

0.007

0.002

0.0

n.c

Harrisia adscendens (Gürke) Britton & Rose

rabo de raposa

menopause

shrub

native

0.020

0.008

33.3

6580

Melocactus bahiensis (Britton & Rose) Luetzelb

coroa de frade

magical protection

herb

native

0.007

0.001

0.0

6618

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.

palma

dysentery

shrub

exotic

0.013

0.005

0.0

6696

Pereskia grandifolia Haw.

rosa doce

flu

shrub

native

0.020

0.009

0.0

n.c

CANNABACEAE

Cannabis sativa L.

maconha

back pain

shrub

exotic

0.052

0.018

33.3

6574

CAPPARACEAE

Cleome spinosa Jacq.

musambe

flu

shrub

exotic

0.039

0.016

16.7

6644

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl.

sabugueira

teething in children

shrub

exotic

0.026

0.010

0.0

n.c

CARICACEAE

Carica papaya L.

mamão

constipation

shrub

exotic

0.098

0.030

9.1

6657

CARYOCARACEAE

Caryocar coriaceum Wittm.

pequi

throat and lung pain

tree

native

0.863

0.200

98.3

6592

CELASTRACEAE

Maytenus distichophylla Mart.

bom nome

back pain

tree

native

0.092

0.015

50.0

6613

CONVOLVULACEAE

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir.

batata doce

nervousness

herb

native

0.007

0.003

100.0

6659

Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult.

salsa

itching

herb

native

0.065

0.023

50.0

6582

COSTACEAE

Costus spicatus (jacq.) Sw.

cana de macaco

kidney stone

herb

native

0.007

0.003

0.0

6584

CRASSULACEAE

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken

malva da costa

vaginal inflammation

herb

exotic

0.680

0.270

3.1

n.c

CUCURBITACEAE

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai

melancia

fever

herb

exotic

0.026

0.011

0.0

6583

Cucurbita maxima Duch. ex Lam.

abóbora

malnutrition

herb

native

0.007

0.004

0.0

n.c

Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber

gerimum

malnutrition

herb

exotic

0.007

0.004

0.0

n.c

Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn.

cabacinho

abortive

climber

native

0.013

0.008

50.0

8107

Momordica charantia L.

melão

itching

climber

exotic

0.020

0.007

33.3

6577

Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.

chuchu

back pain

climber

exotic

0.046

0.011

28.6

n.c

ERYTHROXYLACEAE

Erythroxylum ampliofolium (Mart.) O.E. Schulz

catuaba

erectile dysfunction

shrub

native

0.222

0.093

80.0

6649

EUPHORBIACEAE

Croton blanchetianus Baill.

marmeleiro

diarrhea

shrub

native

0.105

0.025

11.1

6594

Croton campestris A.St.-Hil.

velame

cutaneous illness

herb

native

0.490

0.175

67.3

6622

Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill.

pinhão bravo

headache

shrub

native

0.046

0.016

0.0

6612

Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

pinhão roxo

neuralgia

shrub

native

0.092

0.027

12.5

6645

Manihot esculenta Crantz

macaxeira

malnutrition

shrub

native

0.007

0.003

0.0

8109

Manihot esculenta Crantz

mandioca

hematomas

shrub

native

0.033

0.010

75.0

6691

Ricinus communis L.

mamona

constipation

shrub

exotic

0.144

0.033

42.9

n.c

FABACEAE

Acosmium dasycarpum (Vogel.) Yakovlev

pau pra tudo

all kind of pain

tree

native

0.111

0.058

35.7

n.c

Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Sm.

imburana

bronchitis

tree

native

0.314

0.076

8.3

n.c

Bauhinia outimouta Aubl.

mororó

teething in children

shrub

native

0.085

0.023

22.2

6647

Bauhinia variegata L.

pata de vaca

diabetes

tree

exotic

0.059

0.023

16.7

n.c

Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth

sicupira

back pain

tree

native

0.229

0.104

30.4

n.c

Caesalpinia ferrea C.Mart.

pau ferro

bronchitis

tree

native

0.163

0.056

41.2

n.c

Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

andu

hoarse

shrub

exotic

0.118

0.030

8.3

n.c

Centrosema sp.

alcançu

bronchitis

shrub

native

0.569

0.215

70.9

6699

Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.

podoia

arthritis

tree

native

0.425

0.153

47.2

6661

Crotalaria incana L.

chucalinho

colic

shrub

native

0.013

0.004

0.0

n.c

Dimorphandra gardneriana Tul.

faveira

back pain

tree

native

0.059

0.093

100.0

6598

Dioclea grandiflora Benth.

mucunã

back pain

climber

native

0.007

0.005

100.0

n.c

Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong

tamburí

stomachache

tree

native

0.052

0.020

0.0

n.c

Hymenaea stignocarpa Mart. ex. Hayne

jatobá

expectorant

tree

native

0.634

0.274

55.9

6585

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit

linhaça

high cholesterol

tree

exotic

0.105

0.024

55.6

n.c

Mimosa pudica L.

malicia

tooth pain

shrub

native

0.007

0.005

6689

Parkia platycephala Benth.

visgueiro

healing wounds

tree

native

0.020

0.008

0.0

6654

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

manjerioba

abortive

shrub

native

0.072

0.029

0.0

6635

Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart.

barbatenã

healing wounds or scars

tree

native

1.144

0.451

75.7

n.c

Vicia faba L.

fava

carbuncle

climber

exotic

0.007

0.001

100.0

6693

Vigna unguiculata L., Walp.

feijão de corda

carbuncle

climber

exotic

0.026

0.002

66.7

6579

KRAMERIACEAE

Krameria tomentosa A. St.-Hil.

carrapicho de boi

abortive

shrub

native

0.137

0.036

50.0

n.c

LAMIACEAE

Aeollanthus sp.

hortelã

throat pain

herb

exotic

n.c

Hyptis martiusii Benth.

cidreira brava

flu

shrub

native

0.007

0.001

0.0

n.c

Mentha piperita L.

hortelã

throat pain

herb

exotic

0.915

0.397

8.2

6607

Ocimum gratissimum L.

alfavaca

sinusitis

herb

exotic

0.209

0.070

4.8

6605

Ocimum americanum L.

manjericão

inner ear pain

herb

exotic

0.144

0.044

15.4

n.c

Ocimum basilicum L.

manjericão

inner ear pain

herb

exotic

n.c

Plectranthus neochilus Schltr.

boldo

indigestion

herb

exotic

0.183

0.084

0.0

6621

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng.

malva do reino

expectorant

herb

exotic

1.000

0.448

7.5

n.c

Plectranthus barbatus Andrews

sete dor

indigestion

shrub

exotic

0.170

0.072

5.3

6640

Rhaphiodon echinus (Nees & Mart.) Schauer

betonca

pain when urinate

herb

native

0.052

0.008

0.0

6692

Rosmarinus officinalis L.

alecrim

stomachache

herb

exotic

0.967

0.438

33.0

6597

LAURACEAE

Persea americana Mill.

abacate

diuretic

tree

exotic

0.229

0.060

14.3

6595

LYTHRACEAE

Punica granatum L.

romã

throat inflammation

shrub

exotic

0.235

0.089

51.7

6611

MALPHIGIACEAE

Byrsonima sericea DC.

murici

hemorrhage

tree

native

0.052

0.015

16.7

n.c

Malphigia glabra L.

acerola

anemia

shrub

exotic

0.046

0.015

66.7

6688

Stigmaphyllon paralias A. Juss.

salsa parrilha

scabies

shrub

native

0.039

0.015

66.7

n.c

MALVACEAE

Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench

quiabo

snake bite

herb

exotic

0.007

0.006

0.0

6572

Gossypium barbadense L.

algodão

carbuncle

shrub

exotic

0.026

0.004

0.0

n.c

Gossypium hirsutum L.

algodão

carbuncle

shrub

exotic

n.c

Sida cordifolia L.

malva branca

teething in children

herb

native

0.216

0.068

26.3

n.c

Waltheria indica L.

malva

“no local use”

herb

native

0.000

0.005

100.0

n.c

MELIACEAE

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

neem

lice

tree

exotic

0.020

0.007

0.0

6602

MENISPERMACEAE

Cissampelos ovalifolia DC.

orelha de onça

indigestion

herb

native

0.320

0.109

32.3

6641

MUSACEAE

Musa paradisiaca L.

banana

flu

herb

exotic

0.033

0.011

0.0

6620

MYRTACEAE

Campomanesia eugenioides (Cambess.) D.Legrand

fruta bola

malnutrition

shrub

native

0.013

0.001

50.0

n.c

Eucalyptus citriodora F. Muell.

eucalipto

sinusitis

tree

exotic

0.673

0.220

26.6

6576

Eugenia uniflora L.

pitanga

intestinal parasites

shrub

native

0.065

0.016

0.0

n.c

Myrciaria sp.

cambuí

the informant do not record the local use

shrub

native

0.000

0.002

0.0

6650

Psidium guajava L.

goiaba

healing wounds

tree

native

0.065

0.025

12.5

n.c

Psidium guajava L.

goiaba branca

dysentery

tree

native

0.078

0.027

12.5

n.c

Psidium sobraleanum Proença & Landrum

goiabinha

dysentery

shrub

native

0.065

0.033

0.0

6664

Psidum myrsinites DC.

araçá vermelho

diarrhea

tree

native

0.190

0.088

4.3

6619

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

azeitona preta

diabetes

tree

exotic

0.013

0.001

0.0

6610

NYCTAGINACEAE

Boerhavia diffusa L.

pega pinto

skin diseases in children

herb

exotic

0.059

0.014

0.0

n.c

Mirabilis jalapa L.

bonina

brain hemorrhage

herb

exotic

0.033

0.009

0.0

6588

OLACACEAE

Ximenia americana L.

ameixa

healing wounds or scars

shrub

native

0.621

0.233

46.7

6571

PASSIFLORACEAE

Passiflora edulis Sims

maracujá

insomnia

climber

native

0.085

0.026

36.4

8104

Passiflora cincinnata Mast.

maracujá do mato

insomnia

climber

native

0.190

0.047

5.0

6581

Passiflora sp.

maracujá peroba

calmative

climber

native

0.007

0.002

100.0

6648

Turnera subulata Sm.

xanana

renal infection

herb

native

0.092

0.030

33.3

6609

PHYLLANTHACEAE

Phyllanthus urinaria L.

quebra pedra

kidney stone

herb

native

0.170

0.055

10.5

n.c

PHYTHOLACCACEAE

Petiveria alliacea L.

tipí

inner ear pain

herb

native

0.052

0.010

0.0

6658

PLANTAGINACEAE

Plantago sp.

chapeu de couro

the informant do not record the local use

herb

0.000

0.004

0.0

6638

POACEAE

Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitchc.

capim de planta

diuretic

herb

exotic

0.026

0.004

0.0

n.c

Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.

capim santo

calmative

herb

exotic

0.444

0.191

5.8

6628

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor

citronela

sinusitis

herb

exotic

0.020

0.005

0.0

6586

Saccharum officinarum L.

cana

calmative

herb

exotic

0.131

0.039

0.0

6568

Zea mays L.

milho

urinary infection

herb

exotic

0.013

0.001

0.0

6646

POLYGALACEAE

Polygala paniculata L.

caninana

rheumatism

herb

native

0.046

0.023

66.7

6642

PROTEACEAE

Roupala montana Aubl.

congonha

liver problems

tree

native

0.124

0.039

40.0

6666

RHAMNACEAE

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.

juazeiro

expectorant

tree

native

0.092

0.021

20.0

n.c

RUBIACEAE

Coffea arabica L.

café

throat pain

shrub

exotic

0.052

0.023

0.0

n.c

Tocoyena formosa (Cham. & Schltdl.) K.Schum.

genipapim

bone fracture

shrub

native

0.013

0.010

33.3

n.c

RUTACEAE

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

laranja

somniferous and calmative

tree

exotic

0.340

0.107

17.1

6651

Citrus aurantium (L.)

laranja da terra

intestinal parasites

tree

exotic

0.020

0.009

25.0

6701

Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.

limão

cold

tree

exotic

0.163

0.052

36.4

n.c

Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack

jasmim laranja

indigestion

shrub

exotic

0.124

0.045

0.0

n.c

Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth

jaborandi

fever

shrub

native

0.046

0.019

11.1

6573

Ruta graveolens L.

arruda

general pain

herb

exotic

1.183

0.479

59.4

6643

SALICACEAE

Casearia javitensis Kunth

café bravo

fatigue

shrub

native

0.007

0.002

0.0

6617

SANTALACEAE

Phoradendron mucronatum (DC.) Krug & Urb.

estreico de passarinho

measles

parasitic

native

0.007

0.005

0.0

n.c

SAPINDACEAE

Magonia pubescens A. St.-Hil.

tingui

healing wounds

tree

native

0.007

0.001

0.0

n.c

Serjania sp.

cipó de vaqueiro

hematoma

climber

native

0.007

0.004

0.0

6575

Talisia escuelenta A. St.-Hil.) Radlk.

pitomba

rheumatism

tree

native

0.013

0.007

0.0

6593

SAPOTACEAE

Pouteria glomerata (Miq.) Radlk.

mamelada

cough

tree

native

0.007

0.001

0.0

6629

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Scoparia dulcis L.

vassourinha

teething in children

herb

native

0.235

0.073

14.3

6587

SMILACACEAE

Smilax campestris Griseb.

japecanga

cough

climber

native

0.105

0.029

62.5

6694

SOLANACEAE

Capsicum frutescens L.

pimenta ardosa

cutaneous illness

herb

native

0.013

0.003

0.0

6570

Solanum erianthum D. Don

jurubeba

skin irritation

shrub

native

0.033

0.012

60.0

n.c

Solanum sp.

jurubeba

skin irritation

shrub

6636

Solanum agrarium Sendtn.

melancia da praia

menopaue

herb

native

0.052

0.019

0.0

6668

Solanum americanum Mill.

vamora

menopause

herb

native

0.013

0.010

0.0

6655

URTICACEAE

Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.

zezinho

breathing difficulties

herb

native

0.007

0.004

0.0

6599

VERBENACEAE

Lantana camara L.

chumbim

vaginal hemorrhage

shrub

native

0.046

0.016

25.0

6608

Lippia gracilis Schauer

alecrim do mato

carbuncle

shrub

native

0.026

0.016

20.0

n.c

Lippia alba Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P.Wilson

carmelitana

intestinal problems

shrub

native

0.020

0.012

0.0

6589

Lippia alba Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britton & P.Wilson

cidreira

non appetite

shrub

native

0.569

0.244

3.3

6569

VIOLACEAE

Hybanthus calceolaria (L.) Oken.

papaconha

teething in children

herb

native

0.346

0.101

32.3

6652

VOCHYSIACEAE

Qualea parviflora Mart.

pau piranha

for the placenta to came out after birth

tree

native

0.052

0.027

0.0

n.c

XANTHORRHOEACEAE

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.

babosa

gastritis

herb

exotic

0.412

0.099

0.0

6578

ZINGIBERACEAE

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm.

colônia

low blood pressure

herb

exotic

0.098

0.036

0.0

6637