ETHNOBOTANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FOREST ESSENCES WITH MEDICINAL PROPERTIES USED BY THE XIPAYA ETHNICITY IN THE CITY OF ALTAMIRA-PA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to carry out an ethnobotanical characterization of forest essences with medicinal properties used by the Xipaya ethnicity from Tukamã village in PA. For this, traditional methods for ethnobotanical surveys were used, such as the application of descriptive and qualitative questionnaires, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indexes, and Pielou’s evenness and agreement of main use (AMU) indexes. The most cited botanical families were Fabaceae, Moraceae, Lecythidaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Lauraceae. It was observed that the preparation methods weredifferent, and the parts of the plant that were used were also different. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was 3.24. The Pielou’s evenness index was 0.97, and the Simpson diversity index was 0.04. All were considered significant. The species with precious bark (Aniba canelilla), red cedar (Cedrela odorata), Genipa (Genipa Americana), Pink Ipê (Tabebuia impetiginosa), Mulungu (Erythrina mulungu), Quassia (Quassia amara), and dragon's blood (Croton urucurana) were unanimous regarding AMU. Therefore, we observed that the Xipaya community, from the Tukamã village, still hold enough information on medicinal forest essences, the women being the main key holders of these practices and thus contributing to the education, culture, and lifestyle of this community. Keywords: Indigenous women, biodiversity of species, medicinal plants.