Etnobotânica de Aloe vera (Asphodelaceae) no Piauí, Nordeste do Brasil

Resumo Antecedentes: Investigar como as comunidades locais se relacionam com os recursos vegetais e relevante para a construcao de novos conhecimentos e tambem para o aprimoramento desses usos. Neste contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisao bibliografica e apontar as principais aplicacoes de Aloe vera (erva medicinal) no estado do Piaui, nordeste do Brasil. Metodos: Informacoes etnobotânicas e etnobiologicas sobre o uso de Aloe vera no Piaui foram extraidas, principalmente, de artigos cientificos indexados nas bases de dados PubMed , SciELO , Science Direct e Web CAPES . A partir dos indexadores digitais ( Aloe vera , plantas medicinais, propriedades farmacologicas e medicina tradicional), foram selecionados trabalhos realizados no periodo de 2010 a 2019. Resultados: Aloe vera e utilizada na medicina tradicional e veterinaria, como comestico e tambem com o fim magico-religiosa. Conclusoes: Aloe vera e frequentemente citada em trabalhos etnobotânicos realizados no Piaui, evidenciando o acentuado cultivo dessa planta em diversas comunidades do estado. Palavras-chave: America do Sul, etnobiologia, plantas medicinais, propriedades farmacologicas. Abstract Background : Ethnobotanical studies are an important tool for traditional knowledge rescue and valorization, indicating how community members use the plants for food, construction, rituals, and medicine. Aloe vera is widely used as medicinal herb throughout Brazil, besides that, the investigation of how local communities are related to available plant resources is relevant for the construction of new knowledge and also for the improvement of these uses. Thus, the aim of this work was to point out the applications of Aloe vera in the state of Piaui, northeastern Brazil. Methods : For this review, the databases SciELO , Science Direct, Pubmed and Web CAPES were used. Books and articles were selected, comprising aspects directly or indirectly involved in ethnobotanical and ethnobiological research at Piaui, following the time frame from 2010 to 2019. Information related to the research location, data collection and the main results obtained about the uses of the plant were listed in the selected manuscripts. The main descriptors used were: Aloe vera , medicinal plants, pharmacological properties and traditional medicine. Results : Were recorded 35 ethnobotanical studies carried out in Piaui, which 23 cited the use of Aloe vera in the communities studied. The application of the referred species being mentioned in 24 cities. In Piaui, this species has been reported as a medicinal herb, cosmetic product, in veterinary medicine and also for magical-religious purposes. Aloe vera had its application registered in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders; respiratory disorders; as a healing agent, against skin injuries; in the treatment of hemorrhoids and also as an anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antifungal. Some studies indicate certain chemical compounds contained in Aloe vera as efficient in the treatment of several diseases for which this species is used as medicinal herb in Piaui. Conclusions : Aloe vera species is frequently cited in ethnobotanical studies carried out in Piaui, evidencing the considerable cultivation of this plant in several communities throughout the state. Keywords : South America, biological activities, medicinal plants, pharmacological properties.