Uso zootécnico de plantas medicinais por produtores rurais: um estudo etnobotânico em uma comunidade ribeirinha do município de Lábrea, Amazonas

Abstract

Ethnotany is a field of study dedicated to investigating the relationship between human communities and plants. It seeks to understand how plants are used by different cultures, including their medicinal use. Based on agroecological concepts, we know that in riverside communities, there are producers of domestic animals, who have a system in which it is possible to verify which animals also need care, so it is important to highlight the use of medicinal plants to treat illnesses in an animal production system. Based on these concepts, the following research aimed to carry out an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in animals by rural producers in the riverside community of Samaúma in the municipality of Lábrea – AM. The research presented a qualitative, quantitative approach and the case study method was used for the field study. For the interviews, semi-structured questionnaires were used with open and closed questions related to socioeconomic data, data on the use of medicinal plants in animals and environmental perception. After collection, species identification was carried out through photographic records and using the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group APG III, then the samples were passed through the herborization process and then sent to the herbarium of the Federal University of Amazonas HUAM/ UFAM. As a result, the results obtained by the interviewees showed that the species of plants with medicinal action for the treatment of diseases in animals that were most prominent were andiroba and amor-crescido, and the type of disease mentioned was injuries. Therefore, research carried out in the riverside community of Samaúma revealed significant knowledge about plant species used in animal health. In this sense, ethnobotany and the use of medicinal plants in riverside communities not only contribute to the health and well-being of animals, but also play an essential role in environmental conservation, the appreciation of local culture and community strengthening.