Perspectives on Medicinal Plants in Public Markets across the Amazon: A Review

• Published in: Economic botany 2016-03, Vol.70 (1), p.64-78
• Main Authors: Lima, Pedro Glécio Costa, Coelho–Ferreira, Márlia, da Silva Santos, Ronize
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asteraceae; Bark; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Exploitation; Fabaceae; Forest products; Lamiaceae; Life Sciences; Literature reviews; Medicinal plants; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant diversity; Plant Ecology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Review; Species diversity; Species richness; Urban areas
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/s12231-016-9338-y

Vendors in markets and street fairs in tropical urban centers play an important role in structuring the exploitation and distribution of non–timber forest products, including many medicinal plant species. This literature review seeks to estimate and compare the species richness of medicinal plants in urban markets across northern South America, focusing on the Amazon region. Information was systematized from scientific articles and research papers emerging from work carried out in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Guiana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Given the variation in botanical naming conventions, results were standardized using the APG III system. A total of 16 studies were reviewed, most of these coming from Brazil (5), Venezuela (3), Colombia (2), and Peru (2). Overall 844 species were identified, varying between 16 and 251 species per study, with a median of 91 (±63). The highest diversity of medicinal plant species was found in Suriname (251) and Venezuela (164). Among the 133 families identified, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae had the highest number of species overall. The most common plant parts encountered were leaves (324), followed by bark (162), whole plants (130), aerial parts (88), roots (80), fruit (76), and seeds (63). Ethnobotanical studies in urban centers are important for understanding the exploitation of botanical resources in different Amazonian ecosystems, highlighting the use of different species in regional pharmacopeias and pointing towards factors that could influence the conservation of medicinal plants. Nos centros urbanos, as feiras e mercados têm grande importância botânica, por permitirem o intercâmbio e distribuição de produtos florestais não madeireiros. Este trabalho visou realizar um levantamento dos estudos sobre plantas medicinais em mercados do norte da América do Sul, com enfoque na região amazônica, procurando verificar a riqueza de espécies e a variação desta entre regiões. Foram compiladas informações de artigos e trabalhos acadêmicos realizados na Bolívia, Brasil, Colômbia, Equador, Peru, Venezuela, Guiana, Suriname e Guiana Francesa. Em função dos estudos apresentarem diferentes sistemas de classificação botânica, foi realizada a padronização para o sistema APG III. Catalogaram–se 16 trabalhos, com destaque para o Brasil (5), Venezuela (3), Colômbia (2) e Peru (2). A riqueza total foi de 844 espécies, com uma variação de 16 e 251 espécies por estudo e média 91 ±63 espécies. As riqueza