The aims of this study were: to identify the plant species used for medicinal purposes by the community at Ipameri (Goiás State); to investigate the preferences with respect to the production and marketing of these plants; and to diagnose the gender profile and the age and wage ranges of users. Thus, structured interviews were conducted with 200 families in the city and plants were collected for their correct identification. The material was herborized, identified and deposited in the Herbarium of "Universidade Estadual de Goiás" (HUEG). Of the 200 families interviewed, 75 said they did not make use of plants for medicinal purposes (37.5%), while 125 said they do use them (62.5%). The latter group reported the 35 most used species: "hortelã-rasteira" (Mentha x villosa L.), "boldo-sete-dores" (Plectranthus barbatus Andrews.), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.), "quebra-pedra" (Phyllanthus niruri L.), chamomile (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert.), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.), guaco (Mikania glomerata Spreng.), mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides L.), clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.), wormwood (Artemisia canphorata Vill.), balm (Eysenhardtia platycarpa Mich.), broom (Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), aloe (Aloe vera L.) and mallow (Althaea officinalis L.). All consumer families (100%) stated to prefer plants grown organically, to select the plants based on their good appearance (68% families) and to eat them in natura (unprocessed, 100%). The use of medicinal plants in Ipameri is independent of gender (54% womem and 46% men) and extends to several age and socioeconomic ranges, configuring thus a good consumer market.
ethnobotany; medicinal plants; polyculture
