Abstract

Many studies on medicinal plants were conducted without botanical or pharmacological selection, in what produced little information to support the use of phytotherapic medicine in basic health units. The aim of this work was to generate data from important medicinal plants used by Brazilian population obtained from ethnopharmacological studies and indicate its correct use based on pharmacological test. It was demonstrated that a proportion higher than 60% of errors from ethnopharmacologic indications confronted against ratified pharmacological studies. From these data, the health professional could obtain scientific support to use phytotherapy in alternative medicine in basic health units.

Key words: Ethnopharmacology, pharmacobotany, phytotherapy, basic health unit.