ETNOFARMACOLOGIA NA VALIDAÇÃO E FARMACOVIGILÂNCIA EM FITOTERAPIA: Revisão do uso de espécies vegetais em comunidades tradicionais brasileiras e o estudo no Quilombo Embiral Cabeça-Branca, Maranhão, Brasil

Abstract

Humans have an intimate relationship with plants, as old as their own history, using plants for a wide variety of purposes. Ethnodirected research (ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological) provides extensive knowledge of the diverse uses of plant resources by communities and ethnic groups, with an emphasis on traditional populations. However, it should be noted that most of the population is unaware of the risks and dangers associated with the indiscriminate use of plant species, especially for therapeutic purposes. Thus, this work aimed to survey the plants used and/or mentioned in the therapeutics and/or prevention of diseases by traditional communities and to develop an ethnopharmacological study in the Quilombo Embiral Cabeça-Branca in the municipality of Pedro do Rosário, state of Maranhão. The research began with an integrative review (chapter 01) The study, entitled “Ethnopharmacology: a review of the use of medicinal plants in traditional Brazilian communities,” included studies published from 2004 to 2025, resulting in 22 studies. Research predominantly involved riverside and quilombola communities, with species distributed across 14 botanical families, notably Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Rutaceae, and a higher frequency of *Aloe vera* (L.) Burm.f. and *Dysphania ambrosioides* (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants; with evidence of the use of exotic plant species. Subsequently, field research was conducted using an ethnodirected approach. (chapter 2) entitled “Ancestral Knowledge and Healing Practices: An Ethnobotanical Study in the Quilombola Territory of Embiral CabeçaBranca” was conducted, in which the shaman Luiz Teixeira was interviewed. This resulted in the identification and characterization of species widely used in the territory as a form of healing, some without proven efficacy and therapeutic safety, which should prompt further validation studies, as is the case with the species Papa-terra and Pariri; the appeal of part of the community for assistance in the context of healing was also evident. It is worth emphasizing that both studies evidenced the inappropriate use of plant species, whether due to therapeutic ineffectiveness, toxicity risks, and/or methods of use incompatible with those described in official compendiums, such as Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (vernacular name: babosa). Given these inconsistencies and with the aim of raising awareness of the associated risks and dangers, thus supporting pharmacovigilance actions, as well as preserving local culture, an educational booklet (chapter 03) was developed as feedback to the Embiral community, entitled “Medicinal Plants of Embiral Cabeça-Branca - MA”. These data encourage the continued validation of plant species and reinforce the role of ethnopharmacology as a tool, both in the selection of plant species for Research and Development of new bioproducts and in the identification of risks and dangers associated with the popular therapeutic use of plants without proven efficacy and safety, thus encouraging Pharmacovigilance actions in Phytotherapy.