ABSTRACT:
This study aimed to analyze the packages of medicinal plants sold in pharmacies and drugstores in the city of Ijuí, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, according to the Brazilian legislation about the subject. Data collection was conducted in December 2011 in 13 selected pharmaceutical establishments located downtown, and data were collected using a form prepared from the aforementioned resolution. The medicinal plants included in the analysis were from different types of packages and brands. We evaluated 44 packages of medicinal plants, of which 71% were irregular in relation to shape, therapeutic indication and method of preparation. Moreover, 16% of the total products tested had no package security. The popular nomenclature was present in all samples, while the botanical nomenclature, in 75%. We concluded that all analyzed packages were irregular according to the Brazilian RDC 10/2010 because none of them had all of the requirements. The results observed, such as lack of information on the packages or leaflets to guide consumers, may compromise the safe use of plants and endanger the health of users.
Medicinal plants; package; pharmacy; marketing products