The use of medicinal plants shows the reality of part of the Brazilian population whose limited access to the health public programs leads to the development and conservation of a rich ethnobotanic knowledge. However, the popular knowledge needs systematization for adequate utilization. The aim of this work was to study the use of medicinal plants in Ariquemes, Rondônia State, Brazil, and to evaluate the social and economic patterns in relation to the use of phytotherapy. To have access to ethnobotanic and ethnosocial data structured interviews were applied to 44 persons chosen for their prestige in the community in relation to the knowledge and use of medicinal plants, identifying therapeutic purpose, part of the plant used and methods of preparation. Moreover, the species of each used plant was identified. The ethnobotanic knowledge (estimated by the number of citations per informer) was correlated to the knowledge source, religious and educational aspects, region of origin, residence period in Ariquemes and sex of the informers. Sixty-three species of medicinal plants being used by the population were identified, distributed in thirty-eight families, the Lamiaceae being the most representative. The most used part and method of preparation were the leaf and decoction. Ethnosocial studies allowed to infer that the books were the major source of ethnobotanic knowledge; which concentrates in the masculine individuals; and evangelic people; with basic level (1st to 4th series); from the Southeast of Brazil. Residence period in Ariquemes did not affect the ethnobotanic knowledge.
ethnobotany; phytotherapy; Amazon
