Plants used in treatment of leishmanial ulcers due to leishmania (viannia) braziliensis in an endememic area of Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT

This paper records the plants used in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (L(V)b) among the rural population of a cocoaproducing coastal area of Bahia state, Brazil. An enquiry conducted among a hundred patients identified 49 plant species used to treat skin ulceration caused by this Leishmania species. The principal plants used are caju-branco (Anacardium occidentale- Anacardiaceae), used by 65 per cent of the population, folha-fogo Clidemia hirta-Melastomataceae) 39 per cent, alfavaca-grossa Plectranthus amboinicus - Lamiaceae) 33 per cent, mastruz Chenopodium ambrosioides - Chenopodiaceae) 31 per cent, erva-de-santa-maria (Solanum americanum - Solanaceae) (25 per cent) and transagem (Plantago major - Plantaginaceae) 2 per cent.