Tradition Beyond the Hotspot: Biocultural Conservation and Medicinal Plant Diversity in the Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil
by
, , , and
Silvia Beatriz Bürger Tinelli
1,
Regiane Quesada Bertão
1,
Joyner David Anaya Miranda
2
,
Ezilda Jacomassi
3,
Zilda Cristiani Gazim
1,
Odair Alberton
1 and
Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior
1,2,3,*
1
Graduate Program in Biotechnology Applied to Agriculture, Paranaense University, Umuarama 87502-210, Paraná, Brazil
2
Cardiovascular Pharmacology Laboratory, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
3
Graduate Program in Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines in Basic Health Care, Paranaense University, Umuarama 87502-210, Paraná, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2026, 7(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg7030028
Submission received: 26 May 2026
/
Revised: 12 July 2026
/
Accepted: 20 July 2026
/
Published: 22 July 2026
Abstract
The Ilha Grande National Park region (Brazil) holds one of the most diverse traditional knowledge repositories among Atlantic Forest conservation areas. This study describes the current composition of the medicinal plant knowledge, its taxonomic breadth, and its relevance for conservation. In 2026, this inventory documented 47 species from 33 botanical families cited across a sample of 4 remaining traditional healers. About 27.7% of these specimens are wild/native to nature and 72.3% are cultivated, reflecting both historic management and the residents’ long tradition in household plant acclimatization. The collection includes 25 species of herbs and 11 species of trees, as well as 9 shrubs and 2 climbers. Quantitative analysis at the category level revealed that gastrointestinal disorders had the highest consensus index (ICF = 0.375) after interviews, taxonomic revision, data grouping, and standardizing nomenclature based on the British National Formulary. The results reveal a severe risk of information erosion and a limited representation of younger generations among practitioners, underscoring the need for targeted safeguarding. Strengthening national partnerships, developing cooperative cultivation networks, and improving scientific validation records are proposed as key strategies to enhance the biocultural preservation value of this traditional heritage. Overall, the Ilha Grande healer knowledge serves as an important scientific, educational, and pharmacological resource and plays a central role in advancing the preservation of Brazil’s medicinal plant diversity.
1. Introduction
Medicinal plants of the Atlantic Forest exhibit a broad geographic distribution, with the highest species richness in tropical regions. They play a crucial role due to their utility and diverse uses, including therapeutic indications, preparation of home remedies, healthcare, and phytotherapeutic applications, presenting great sociocultural and economic significance for local communities and traditional health systems [1,2]. The biome harbors a critical biodiversity globally. Unfortunately, globalization, rapid cultural assimilation, rural exodus, and intense anthropogenic pressures have placed traditional knowledge and this ecosystem at severe risk of erosion and disappearance [3]. In Brazil, several plants are considered native and widely used in popular medicine, but many are fragmented and hyper-threatened [4].
Historically, the use of botanical resources symbolized the foundation of medical practices in anthropological history, with their application reflecting empirical mechanisms of survival and adding vitality to traditional medicine. This prominence and the intricate historical amalgamation of indigenous, African, and European knowledge systems shaped the rich cognitive matrix of ethnomedicine in the Brazilian territory [5]. Medicinal plants are distributed across all phytogeographic domains of the country and form part of the megadiversity of Brazil’s flora, which stands out for possessing the world’s highest plant diversity, including highly threatened biodiversity hotspots, such as the Atlantic Forest itself [6].
Traditional healers and folk practitioners are essential for the ex situ and in situ conservation of vernacular knowledge, preventing the extinction of empirical knowledge while acting as fundamental epistemic actors in the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies [7]. Strategic actions based on the preservation of oral memory, domestic cultivation of living collections in adjacent backyards, rigorous botanical identification, and scientific validation of biological parameters are critical to guarantee the safe use and preservation of this biocultural diversity [8]. Beyond their cultural, social, historical, and anthropological value, healers maintain a dynamic repository of practices that supports ethnobotanical studies and provides guidance for materials in pharmacological, nutritional, and industrial applications [9].
Although numerous ethnobotanical surveys predominantly focus on urbanized or easily accessible areas, the most profound traditional knowledge and practices are often preserved in isolated regions and surrounding Conservation Units, directly reflecting in situ patterns of biodiversity [10]. The systematic documentation of these practices is of paramount importance for the scientific community, as it directly aids in mapping plant species and their corresponding local therapeutic indications. Because a substantial portion of this knowledge remains informal within these communities, there is vast potential to expand scientific investigations, particularly since countless species and traditional applications have yet to undergo rigorous systematic validation. Concurrently, the biomedical literature emphasizes critical concerns regarding the lack of dosage standardization and the risk of toxicity arising from taxonomic misidentification, underscoring the strategic role of pharmacological research in validating the rational use of native flora [11,12]. Furthermore, the robustness and diversity of these ethnobotanical surveys establish a solid foundation for subsequent studies in functional ecology, phytochemical screening, and biodiscovery. By systematically recording these data, researchers contribute directly to both biodiversity characterization and biocultural conservation, aligning with national healthcare and environmental preservation policies. In Brazil, the institutionalization of these practices serves as a cornerstone for the Unified Health System (SUS) to meet integrative medicine guidelines, thereby fostering the safe clinical use of medicinal plants while mitigating the loss of intangible cultural heritage and genetic diversity [13].
Situated in a geographically critical zone of the Upper Paraná River floodplain, the Ilha Grande National Park encompasses a protected area of approximately 2042.85 km2, organized into an intricate network of hundreds of fluvial islands, sandbars, and alluvial plains, with the seasonal semideciduous forest representing a key ecosystem within the Atlantic Forest domain [14]. Historically, medicinal plants have been central to the daily lives of riverine and local populations, with emblematic species being used since ancient times for the treatment of acute and chronic afflictions. The expansion and maintenance of this knowledge in the region occurred under the direct influence of past generations, who cataloged and orally transmitted the uses of multiple botanical families (such as Lamiaceae and Asteraceae) and published, through living tradition, a fundamental basis for regional ethnomedicine. Over the last decades, historical and socio-environmental data reveal that local residents introduced and adapted the management of dozens of plant specimens, consolidating a rich mosaic of human–nature interactions [15].
This study aims to document the current composition, taxonomic diversity, and relevance for conservation and biological validation of the medicinal plants used by the remaining healers in the region of the Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil, and to propose strategies to value traditional knowledge in order to optimize future pharmacological screenings, biocultural conservation, and local sustainable development.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
The study was conducted in the region of the Ilha Grande National Park, located across the states of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The park encompasses a total area of approximately 2042.85 km2 (204,285 ha). The sampled municipalities included Guaíra, Alto Paraíso, Altônia, São Jorge do Patrocínio, and Icaraíma in the state of Paraná, as well as Mundo Novo, Eldorado, Naviraí, and Itaquirai in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The regional climate is classified as mesothermal humid subtropical, characterized by a mean annual temperature of 22 °C and an annual rainfall ranging between 1200 and 1300 mm. The predominant vegetation of Ilha Grande is characterized by “Swampy Regions” and “Floodfields”, which form mosaics with the seasonal semideciduous forest—a vegetation type belonging to the Atlantic Forest biome.
2.2. Ethnobotanical Survey and Ethical Considerations
The research protocol was previously approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Paranaense University (UNIPAR), Paraná, Brazil (CAAE no. 74085323.8.0000.0109). All methodological procedures complied with the ethical standards established by the National Research Ethics Commission through Resolution 466/2012 of the National Health Council. The ethnobotanical investigation was divided into three consecutive stages:
2.2.1. Selection of Informants
The identification of traditional healers was performed using the non-probabilistic “snowball” sampling methodology [16]. Following this technique, initial participants referred new candidates, who subsequently indicated further informants. Sampling continued until the “saturation point” was reached, defined as the stage where new interviewees began to repeat previously interviewed individuals without adding novel relevant data to the research.
2.2.2. Semi-Structured Interviews
Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with all identified healers after formal introductions and the signing of the Informed Consent Form (ICF). Information confidentiality and anonymity were strictly guaranteed to all participants. Healers were interviewed regarding their socioeconomic profiles and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. Data on the specific plant parts used, preparation methods, dosages, routes of administration, and primary therapeutic indications were recorded.
2.2.3. In Situ Guided Tours
In the final stage, informants were invited to walk through the biome to perform in situ collections of the reported plant species.
2.3. Species Collection and Herbarium Taxonomic Identification
All medicinal species recognized by the healers that were in the reproductive phase were collected and cataloged. For each specimen, vernacular names, habitat characteristics, and specific collection sites were documented. A voucher specimen was collected at the site indicated by local healers. The vouchers were deposited at the HEUP (Educational Herbarium of the Paranaense University) and DDMS (Herbarium of the Federal University of Grande Dourados, located at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences—FCBA, as part of the Museum of Biodiversity—MuBio/UFGD, Brazil). Taxonomic identification was performed by Dr. Ezilda Jacomassi (UNIPAR) and Dr. Augusto Giaretta de Oliveira (UFGD) through morphological comparisons with existing voucher specimens and consultations of digital library databases.
2.4. Data Analysis and Quantitative Indices
Reported medical uses were categorized according to the British National Formulary classification system [17]. The therapeutic indications mentioned by the traditional healers were grouped into 11 categories of pathologies, symptoms, and effects: (1) endocrine system diseases (ESDs), (2) gastrointestinal system diseases (GSDs), (3) cardiovascular system diseases (CSDs), (4) obstetric, gynecological, and urinary tract diseases (GUDs), (5) immunological diseases, poisonings, and others (IPOs), (6) malignant diseases (MADs), (7) infectious diseases (INDs), (8) musculoskeletal and joint diseases (MJDs), (9) respiratory system diseases (RSDs), (10) skin, eyes, ears, nose, and oropharynx diseases (SODs), and (11) central nervous system diseases (NSDs).
The quantitative importance of each species was determined using the Use Value (UV) index [18], calculated according to the following formula:
where U represents the total number of citations for a specific species, and N denotes the total number of informants.
UV = U/N
Additionally, the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was calculated to assess the agreement among informants regarding the medicinal uses within each pathological category [19], using the following equation:
where Nur is the number of use reports in each specific category, and Nt is the number of distinct species recorded within that category.
ICF = (Nur − Nt)/(Nur − 1)
3. Results
3.1. Demographic Characteristics
The healers were identified in only four municipalities within the Ilha Grande National Park region: Altônia, Guaíra, Eldorado, and Naviraí (Table 1; Figure 1 and Figure 2). The sample comprised four individuals—three women and one man—aged between 50 and 64 years. Regarding their educational background, three respondents had completed elementary school, while one had completed high school. All healers had resided in their respective regions for 20 to 30 years. Concerning the transmission of knowledge on medicinal plants, all interviewees reported relying on oral communication heavily influenced by family traditions (Table 2).
3.2. Medicinal Plants and Associated Knowledge
The traditional healers reported the use of 47 plant species, belonging to 33 botanical families. The most frequently cited families were Lamiaceae (n = 7 spp.), Asteraceae (n = 5 spp.), Amaranthaceae (n = 4 spp.), and Verbenaceae (n = 3 spp.) (Table 2). Regarding growth habits, herbaceous plants were the most frequently utilized (25 spp.), followed by trees (11 spp.), shrubs (9 spp.), and climbers (2 spp.). Approximately 72.3% of the identified species are cultivated in areas adjacent to the households (Table 3).
The most commonly used plant parts were leaves (65.4%), followed by roots/tubers and flowers (11.5% each), fruits (9.7%), and the whole plant (1.9%). Infusions were the predominant preparation method (63.5%), followed by tinctures (13.5%), maceration (11.5%), decoction (7.7%), salads (1.9%), and poultice (1.9%) (Table 3).
3.3. Data Analysis and Quantitative Factors
The detailed quantitative analysis of the ethnobotanical categories involving pathologies, symptoms, and effects is presented in Table 4. Out of a total of 72 use reports, 25 were directed toward the treatment of gastrointestinal system diseases. This was followed by obstetric, gynecological, and urinary tract diseases (n = 11); respiratory system diseases, and musculoskeletal and joint diseases (n = 7); endocrine system diseases (n = 6); skin, eyes, ears, nose, and oropharynx diseases (n = 5); immunological diseases, poisonings, and others, as well as malignant diseases (n = 3); central nervous system diseases, and cardiovascular system diseases (n = 2); and infectious diseases (n = 1) (Table 4).
The most significant UV were recorded for Momordica charantia L. and Piper regnellii (Miq.) C. DC., both with a UV of 1.0. These were followed by Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze, Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants, Artemisia absinthium L., Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), Achillea millefolium L., Commelina sp., Bauhinia variegata L., Juncus sp., Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br., Leonurus sibiricus L., Salvia officinalis L., Moringa oleifera L., Argemone mexicana L., Petiveria alliacea L., Bouchea fluminensis, and Aloysia triphylla Royle, all sharing a UV of 0.75 (Table 3). Gastrointestinal system diseases yielded the highest ICF (0.375), followed by respiratory system diseases (0.333) and obstetric, gynecological, and urinary tract diseases (0.250).
4. Discussion
Our documentation of 47 botanical species across 33 families within the Ilha Grande National Park region mirrors the floristic complexity expected in fragmented areas of the Atlantic Forest [2]. However, the most critical finding of this study is the precarious state of this biocultural heritage. We identified only four traditional healers across four municipalities, a number that signals a severe limitation and an imminent risk of knowledge extinction [21,22]. Currently, the transmission of this expertise remains predominantly oral and tethered to specific family lineages, a process increasingly disrupted by rural exodus and the waning interest of younger generations [7,23,24]. As these key informants represent the last repositories of long-standing therapeutic traditions, the data gathered here serve as a vital, urgent baseline. Systematic documentation of these practices is not merely an academic exercise; it is a necessary intervention to preserve human experience that would otherwise vanish alongside the individuals who hold it.
The ethnobotanical profile of the region shows a preference for domesticated species (72.3%) over native flora, suggesting a cultural shift in resource utilization. Nevertheless, several native species, most notably Piper regnellii and Momordica charantia, demonstrated high Use Values (UV = 1.0). These species serve as primary pillars for local healthcare and represent prime candidates for rigorous pharmacological validation. Our analysis of the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF = 0.375) further highlighted a significant consensus regarding the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, indicating that traditional healers rely on a specific, shared repertoire for these conditions. Scientific literature has already begun to validate components of this knowledge, particularly regarding the gastroprotective and antidiabetic properties of M. charantia [25,26,27]. By identifying such high-consensus categories, this study provides a strategic roadmap for future research, suggesting that updating preclinical or clinical evidence for understudied species like P. regnellii could effectively bridge the gap between traditional ethnomedicine and modern therapeutic practice [28,29].
The biological diversity of the Ilha Grande region offers a significant opportunity to promote the cultivation of native medicinal plants, particularly the 25 herbaceous and 11 woody species identified in our survey. Integrating these species into botanical gardens and regional productive chains is an essential strategy to foster both community sustainability and the protection of their ecosystems of origin [30]. Effective conservation policies must prioritize species that are endemic, rare, or threatened by anthropogenic impacts. We propose that establishing cooperative networks between universities, botanical gardens, and the Brazilian SUS is the most viable path to scaling up the cultivation of these plants. Such integrated networks facilitate the exchange of scientific and traditional knowledge, transforming local medicinal practices into validated therapeutic options while simultaneously bolstering the preservation of the Atlantic Forest’s unique flora.
It is essential to acknowledge that the small sample size (n = 4) inherently limits the statistical robustness of our findings, particularly regarding the generalizability of the Use Value (UV) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) metrics. Because traditional medicinal knowledge is highly heterogeneous—varying significantly across families, generations, and local environmental contexts—the results presented here should be interpreted as a specific record of the informants’ localized expertise rather than an exhaustive census of the region. Nevertheless, the scarcity of knowledge holders identified in this study is, in itself, a significant indicator of the ongoing biocultural erosion within the Ilha Grande National Park. While these limitations highlight the need for future research to expand the sampling framework to include a broader spectrum of community members, our findings provide a vital preliminary baseline. Recognizing this fragility is a necessary precursor to developing robust, representative research, ensuring that subsequent efforts to document traditional knowledge are rooted in an accurate assessment of the community’s current capacity [21,22].
Ultimately, a comprehensive safeguarding policy is essential to guide the proper management of intangible heritage and medicinal flora. When deciding which actions to prioritize, researchers and environmental agencies must consider factors such as local resource availability, the progression of rural exodus, and community engagement [22]. Beyond these factors, conservation policies in the Ilha Grande National Park must prioritize species native to the Atlantic Forest, particularly those that are rare, endemic, or threatened by anthropogenic impacts. Our results highlight the value of establishing cooperative partnerships with universities, botanical gardens, and the Brazilian SUS to jointly scale up cultivation, enrich local culture, and stimulate regional productive chains. Given the constraints of time and resources, developing integrated conservation networks and fostering the exchange of traditional and scientific knowledge represent practical, high-impact strategies. These approaches must be actively pursued to strengthen the conservation of both Brazil’s flora and its invaluable traditional knowledge [30].
5. Conclusions
The ethnobotanical inventory conducted in the Ilha Grande National Park region provides critical, foundational insights into a rich yet highly vulnerable repository of traditional medicinal plant knowledge. By documenting 47 plant species across 33 botanical families, this study underscores the deep historical integration of regional ethnomedicine within the local landscape. However, the heavy reliance of this heritage on a limited group of only four practitioners, combined with a notable absence of younger generations involved in the practice, suggests an imminent risk of localized cultural erosion and the potential loss of irreplaceable traditional knowledge.
Given the exploratory nature and limited sample size of this study, these findings should be interpreted with caution. While they underscore clear local vulnerabilities, any extrapolation to national conservation strategies remains speculative and warrants further large-scale investigation. Nevertheless, our data support the value of targeted, community-based actions. Establishing cooperative networks between universities and local stakeholders appears to be a viable path for biocultural preservation. Ultimately, bridging oral traditions with botanical rigor may help safeguard regional empirical data, potentially contributing to the rational use of biodiversity within Brazil’s SUS, provided that future efforts remain adapted to specific local socio-ecological realities.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, A.G.J.; methodology, formal analysis, investigation, and data curation, S.B.B.T., R.Q.B., J.D.A.M., E.J., Z.C.G. and O.A.; writing—original draft preparation, S.B.B.T. and R.Q.B.; writing—review and editing, supervision, project administration, funding acquisition, A.G.J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by the Foundation for Support to the Development of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT, Brazil; grant numbers 71/700.135/2018 and 83/013.186/2023), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil; grant number 407685/2018-9; and 443528/2024-1), and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil).
Institutional Review Board Statement
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Paranaense University (protocol code no. 74085323.8.0000.0109; approved on 14 September 2023).
Informed Consent Statement
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Data Availability Statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Abbreviations
The following abbreviations are used in this manuscript:
| CAAE | Certificate of Presentation for Ethical Appreciation |
| IBGE | Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics |
| ICF | Informant Consensus Factor |
| SUS | Unified Health System |
| UV | Use Value |
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Figure 1.
Aerial image illustrating the Ilha Grande National Park region, highlighting the Paraná River and the complex of islands and floodplains.
Figure 1.
Aerial image illustrating the Ilha Grande National Park region, highlighting the Paraná River and the complex of islands and floodplains.
Figure 2.
Location of Ilha Grande National Park along the Paraná River, on the border between the states of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) and Paraná (PR), highlighting the cities of Guaíra, Altônia, Naviraí, and Eldorado as geographic reference points.
Figure 2.
Location of Ilha Grande National Park along the Paraná River, on the border between the states of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) and Paraná (PR), highlighting the cities of Guaíra, Altônia, Naviraí, and Eldorado as geographic reference points.
Table 1.
Municipalities with remaining healers from the Ilha Grande National Park region, use-reports, and species cited.
Table 1.
Municipalities with remaining healers from the Ilha Grande National Park region, use-reports, and species cited.
| City | Distance from Brasília ** (km) | Population * (Inhabitants) | Use Reports | Species Cited | Sample Fraction | Sample Size (n) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altônia | 1387 | 18,742 | 28 | 20 | 0.250 | 1 |
| 2 | Guaíra | 1414 | 32,097 | 21 | 14 | 0.250 | 1 |
| 3 | Eldorado | 1378 | 11,386 | 12 | 08 | 0.250 | 1 |
| 4 | Naviraí | 1300 | 50,457 | 11 | 08 | 0.250 | 1 |
| Total | - | 112,682 | 72 | 50 | 1.000 | 4 |
* Source (IBGE, 2022) [20]; ** Brasília: federal capital of Brazil.
Table 2.
Demographic characteristics of traditional healers identified in the Ilha Grande National Park region.
Table 2.
Demographic characteristics of traditional healers identified in the Ilha Grande National Park region.
| Demographic Data | Altônia (PR) | Guaíra (PR) | Eldorado (MS) | Naviraí (MS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | Female | Female | Male |
| Age | 57 | 64 | 63 | 57 |
| Occupation | Healer | Homemaker | Homemaker | Healer |
| Marital status | Married | Married | Married | Married |
| Experience | More than 20 years | More than 20 years | More than 27 years | More than 30 years |
| Ethnicity | Multiracial | White | Multiracial | White |
| Education level | High school | Elementary school | Elementary school | Elementary school |
| Source of knowledge | Books and family tradition | Family tradition and pastoral care | Family tradition and foreigners | Family tradition |
Table 3.
Traditional plants used by healers in the Ilha Grande National Park region.
| Family and Scientific Name | Common Name | Voucher | Habitat | Part Used | Collection Site | Use Category | Method of Preparation | Use Value (UV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranthaceae | ||||||||
| Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze | Terramicina | 47 | HE | LE | Nat | IPO/GSD | IN | 0.75 |
| Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants | Erva-de-santa-maria | 03 | SHR | LE | Nat | GSD/MJD | IN/MA | 0.75 |
| Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen | Ginseng | 11 | HE | ROT | Cult | NSD | DE | 0.50 |
| Asphodelaceae | ||||||||
| Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. | Babosa | 148 | HE | WP | Cult | SOD | MA | 0.50 |
| Annonaceae | ||||||||
| Annona muricata L. | Graviola | 282 | TR | LE | Cult | RSD/MAD | IN | 0.50 |
| Apiaceae | ||||||||
| Foeniculum vulgare Mill. | Erva-doce | 84 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD/GUD | IN | 0.50 |
| Asteraceae | ||||||||
| Artemisia absinthium L. | Losna | 55 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD/GUD | IN/MA | 0.75 |
| Ageratum conyzoides L. | Erva-de-são-joão | 63 | HE | FL/LE | Cult | NSD | IN | 0.50 |
| Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray | Flor-da-amazônia | 115 | SHR | LE | Nat | GSD | TI | 0.50 |
| Stevia rebaudina (Bertoni) Bertoni | Estévia | 390 | HE | LE | Cult | ESD | IN | 0.75 |
| Achillea millefolium L. | Mil-em-rama | 08 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD/GUD | IN | 0.75 |
| Bignoniaceae | ||||||||
| Tabebuia sp. | Ypê-roxo | 268 | TR | FL | Nat | RSD | IN | 0.50 |
| Bixaceae | ||||||||
| Bixa orellana L. | Urucum/ colorau | 62 | TR | FR | Nat | SOD/GSD | TI | 0.50 |
| Boraginacea | ||||||||
| Symphytum officinale L. | Confrei | 135 | HE | LE/ROT | Cult | SOD | PL/SB | 0.50 |
| Cactacea | ||||||||
| Pereskia aculeata Mill. | Ora-pro-nobis | 88 | CL | LE | Cult | IPO/GSD | SL | 0.50 |
| Cannaceae | ||||||||
| Canna sp. | Batata da India | 79 | HE | ROT | Cult | MJD | TI | 0.25 |
| Celastraceae | ||||||||
| Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reissk | Espinheira-santa | 36 | TR | LE | Nat | GSD | IN | 0.50 |
| Commelinaceae | ||||||||
| Commelina benghalensis | Trapoeraba | 394 | HE | LE | Nat | GSD/GUD | IN | 0.75 |
| Crassulaceae | ||||||||
| Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym. -Hamet & H. Perrier | Aranto | 389 | HE | LE | Nat | MJD | IN | 0.25 |
| Cucurbitaceae | ||||||||
| Momordica charantia L. | Melão-de-são-caetano | 302 | CL | LE | Nat | ESD/GSD | IN | 1.00 |
| Euphorbiaceae | ||||||||
| Croton campestris | Velame-do-campo | 1121 | SHR | LE | Cult | MJD | IN/DE | 0.25 |
| Fabaceae | ||||||||
| Bauhinia variegata L. | Pata-de-vaca | 06 | TR | LE | Nat | ESD/GUD/MJD | IN | 0.75 |
| Juncaceae | ||||||||
| Juncus sp. | Junco | 103 | HE | ROT | Cult | MJD | IN | 0.75 |
| Lamiaceae | ||||||||
| Plectranthus barbatus Andrews | Boldo | 58 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD | MA | 0.50 |
| Melissa officinalis L. | Cidreira | 323 | HE | LE | Cult | CSD/GSD | IN | 0.50 |
| Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. | Cordão-de-frade | 239 | HE | LE/FL | Cult | GUD/GSD | IN | 0.75 |
| Ocimum gratissima L. | Alfavaca | 17 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD | IN/TI | 0.25 |
| Stachys byzantine K.Koch | Pulmonaria | 391 | HE | LE | Cult | RSD | IN | 0.50 |
| Leonurus sibiricus L. | Rubim | 19 | HE | LE/FR | Cult | GSD/RSD | IN | 0.75 |
| Salvia officinais L. | Salvia | 32 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD/RSD/GUD | IN | 0.75 |
| Lauraceae | ||||||||
| Persea americana Mill. | Abacate | 80 | TR | FR | Cult | GUD/ESD | DE | 0.5 |
| Malpighiaceae | ||||||||
| Herteropterys aphrodisiaca O. Mach | Nó-de-cachorro | 175 | SHR | LE | Cult | ESD | TI | 0.50 |
| Marantaceae | ||||||||
| Maranta arundinaceae L. | Araruta | 392 | HE | ROT | Cult | GSD | PL | 0.25 |
| Myrtaceae | ||||||||
| Plinia cauliflora(DC.) Kausel | Jabuticaba | 339 | TR | LE/FR | Cult | GSD | IN | 0.25 |
| Moringaceae | ||||||||
| Moringa oleifera L. | Muringa | 273 | TR | FR | Nat | GSD/MAD | IN | 0.75 |
| Musaceae | ||||||||
| Musa paradisíaca L. | Banana | 387 | TR | FL | Cult | RSD | IN | 0.50 |
| Papaveraceae | ||||||||
| Argemone mexicana L. | Cardo-santo | 46 | HE | LE | Cult | GSD/SOD | TI | 0.75 |
| Plantaginaceae | ||||||||
| Plantago australis Lam. | Tansagem | 25 | HE | FL | Nat | GUD | IN | 0.25 |
| Phytolaccaceae | ||||||||
| Petiveria alliacea L. | Guiné | 30 | SHR | FL | Cult | GUD/MJD | IN | 0.75 |
| Piperaceae | ||||||||
| Piper regnellii (Miq.) C. DC. | Pariparoba | 116 | SHR | LE | Cult | GSD/IND | IN | 1.00 |
| Poaceae | ||||||||
| Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor | Citronela | 314 | SHR | LE | Cult | SOD | IN | 0.25 |
| Rosaceae | ||||||||
| Prunus persica (L.) Batsch | Pêssego | 211 | TR | LE | Cult | RSD | IN | 0.25 |
| Verbenaceae | ||||||||
| Bouchea fluminesis | Gervão | 83 | HE | LE | Cult | IPO/MAD | IN | 0.75 |
| Aloysia triphylla Royle | Erva-cidreira | 345 | SHR | LE | Cult | CSD/GSD | IN/TI | 0.75 |
| Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke | Burrito | 388 | SHR | LE | Cult | GSD/GUD | MA | 0.50 |
| Zingiberaceae | ||||||||
| Curcuma longa L. Urticaceae | Açafrão | 70 | HE | ROT | Cult | GSD | DE | 0.50 |
| Cecropia pachystachya Trécul | Embaúba | 301 | TR | LE | Nat | ESD | IN | 0.50 |
Habit: tree (TR), climber (CL), herb/herbaceous (HE), and shrub (SHR). Parts used: flowers (FLs), fruits (FRs), leaves (LEs), root/tuber (ROT), and whole plant (WP). Origin: (Cult) cultivated and (Nat) nature/wild. Categories of pathologies, symptoms, and effects: endocrine system diseases (ESD), gastrointestinal system diseases (GSDs), cardiovascular system diseases (CSDs), obstetric, gynecological, and urinary tract diseases (GUDs), immunological diseases, poisonings, and others (IPOs), malignant diseases (MADs), infectious diseases (INDs), musculoskeletal and joint diseases (MJDs), respiratory system diseases (RSDs), skin, eyes, ears, nose, and oropharynx diseases (SODs), and central nervous system diseases (NSDs). Method of preparation: decoction (DE), infusion (IN), maceration (MA), poultice (PL), sitz bath (SB), tincture (T), and salad (SL).
Table 4.
Quantitative analysis of ethnobotanical categories involving pathologies, symptoms, and effects.
Table 4.
Quantitative analysis of ethnobotanical categories involving pathologies, symptoms, and effects.
| Categories | Use Reports | % URtot | Taxa | % Taxa | % Leaves | % Root/Tuber | % Flowers | % Fruits | % Whole Plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal system diseases | 25 | 34.70 | 16 | 22 | 61.76 | 33.30 | 16.66 | 80 | 0 |
| Obstetric, gynecological, and urinary tract diseases | 11 | 15.20 | 9 | 12.5 | 23.52 | 0 | 50 | 20 | 0 |
| Central nervous system disease | 2 | 3.00 | 2 | 2.77 | 2.94 | 16.70 | 16.66 | 0 | 00 |
| Cardiovascular system diseases | 2 | 3.00 | 2 | 2.77 | 5.88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Skin, eyes, ears, nose, and oropharynx diseases | 5 | 7.00 | 5 | 6.94 | 8.82 | 16.70 | 0 | 20 | 100 |
| Immunological diseases, poisonings, and others | 3 | 4.10 | 3 | 4.16 | 8.82 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Respiratory system diseases | 7 | 9.70 | 5 | 6.94 | 14.70 | 0 | 33.33 | 20 | 0 |
| Endocrine system diseases | 6 | 8.30 | 6 | 8.33 | 14.70 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Musculoskeletal and joint diseases | 7 | 9.70 | 7 | 9.72 | 11.76 | 33.30 | 16.66 | 0 | 0 |
| Infectious diseases | 1 | 1.30 | 1 | 1.38 | 2.94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malignant diseases | 3 | 4.00 | 3 | 4.16 | 5.88 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
Total number of use reports is 72; the total number of taxa is 59; % URtot: percentage of use reports that contributed to the total use reports per disease category; Taxa: total number of plant species contributing to the use reports of the respective disease category; % Taxa: percentage of plant species reported for a disease category relative to the total number of reported plant species; % Leaf/aerial part: percentage of use reports for the respective disease category indicating leaves or aerial parts; % Root/tuber: percentage of use reports for the respective disease category indicating roots or tubers; % Bark/stem: percentage of use reports for the respective disease category indicating bark and stems; % Flowers: percentage of use reports for the respective disease category indicating flowers; % Fruits: percentage of use reports for the respective disease category indicating fruits; % Whole plant: percentage of use reports for the respective disease category indicating the whole plant.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Tinelli, S.B.B.; Bertão, R.Q.; Miranda, J.D.A.; Jacomassi, E.; Gazim, Z.C.; Alberton, O.; Gasparotto Junior, A. Tradition Beyond the Hotspot: Biocultural Conservation and Medicinal Plant Diversity in the Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2026, 7, 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg7030028
AMA Style
Tinelli SBB, Bertão RQ, Miranda JDA, Jacomassi E, Gazim ZC, Alberton O, Gasparotto Junior A. Tradition Beyond the Hotspot: Biocultural Conservation and Medicinal Plant Diversity in the Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. 2026; 7(3):28. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg7030028
Chicago/Turabian StyleTinelli, Silvia Beatriz Bürger, Regiane Quesada Bertão, Joyner David Anaya Miranda, Ezilda Jacomassi, Zilda Cristiani Gazim, Odair Alberton, and Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior. 2026. "Tradition Beyond the Hotspot: Biocultural Conservation and Medicinal Plant Diversity in the Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil" Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 7, no. 3: 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg7030028
APA StyleTinelli, S. B. B., Bertão, R. Q., Miranda, J. D. A., Jacomassi, E., Gazim, Z. C., Alberton, O., & Gasparotto Junior, A. (2026). Tradition Beyond the Hotspot: Biocultural Conservation and Medicinal Plant Diversity in the Ilha Grande National Park, Brazil. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 7(3), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg7030028
