Diabetes is an attractive target to search for new methods of treatment, with the possibility of using several medicinal plant species. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of the use of medicinal plants considered hypoglycemic for diabetic patients from Vitoria de Santo Antão-Pernambuco State, Brazil. This was a transversal descriptive study conducted with 158 diabetic patients enrolled in the program HIPERDIA at the PSF's of this city, between July 2009 and May 2010 with data collected by means of structured form. Among interviewees, 36% reported the use of medicinal plants considered hypoglycemic. A total of 35 different plants belonging to 24 families were cited and the most frequent species were: Asteraceae (12.5%) and Myrtaceae (9.37%). The most prevalent medicinal plant was "pata-de-vaca" (Bahuinia sp.), with 16.8%, followed by "azeitona roxa" (Syzygium jambolanum DC.) and "insulina" (Cissus sicyoides L.). Most individuals (58%) cultivated the medicinal plant they used, and for those who acquired them, the main source was "raizeiros" [people similar to healers but who only sell medicinal plants] (28.16%).
Diabetes mellitus; medicinal plants; phytotherapy; PSF - Hiperdia
