This thesis investigated the phytochemistry and pharmacology of immunomodulatory medicinal plant species used traditionally by the Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers Association (QMHA) of Belize, and the Cree of Eeyou Istchee (CEI) of northern Quebec. Using quantitative ethnobotanical methodology, we identified 107 plant species belonging to 49 families used by Q’eqchi’ healers in the treatment of symptoms from 14 usage categories related to inflammation. Regression analysis revealed that the Piperaceae, Araceae, and Begoniaceae are preferentially selected by the Maya. Healer consensus for plant species was high, with 56 species (52%) being used by all the healers, and consensus for usage categories was also high, as informant consensus factor (FIC) values for each category were greater than 0.4. Fifty-two Belizean species were evaluated for their TNF-α inhibitory activity in an LPS-stimulated THP-1 monocyte model. Twenty-one species (40%) demonstrated significant TNF-α inhibition when assayed at 100 µg/mL, 8 of which had greater than 50% of the activity of the parthenolide positive control (10 µg/mL). Significant regressions were found between the anti-inflammatory activity and total healer frequency of use (Fuse) and the use reports for 3 usage categories, which indicated that ethnobotanical parameters can in part predict the activity of traditionally used species. Five sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the leaves of Neurolaena lobata, one of the most active species tested, all of which demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity greater than that of parthenolide (IC50 = 4.79 µM), with IC50s ranging from 0.17-2.32 µM. Lobatin B was the most active isolate tested. Ethanolic and water extracts of 17 species used by Cree healers were evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity. In general, the average anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extracts was 1.8 times greater than that of water extracts, and the pro-inflammatory activity of water extracts was 3.7 times greater than ethanolic extracts. Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana were the most anti-inflammatory ethanolic and water extracts, while the water extract of Sarracenia purpurea was the most pro-inflammatory. Picea marina cones, the most anti-inflammatory Cree medicine, were subjected to bioassay guided isolation. This led to the isolation of the anti-inflammatory lignan (+)-lariciresinol-9’-p-coumarate, which had an IC50 of 28.4 µM. Together, these results validate the traditional knowledge shared by our Q’eqchi’ and Cree collaborators, and draw attention to the therapeutic potential of subtropical and boreal plants as culturally appropriate complements to modern medicine. - Cette thèse porte sur la phytochimie et la pharmacologie des espèces de plantes médicinales immunomodulatrices utilisées traditionnellement par le Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers Association (QMHA) du Belize, et les Cris d'Eeyou Istchee (CEI) du nord du Québec. En utilisant une méthodologie ethnobotanique quantitative, nous avons identifié 107 espèces végétales appartenant à 49 familles utilisées par les guérisseurs Q'eqchi’ dans le traitement de symptômes appartenant à 14 catégories d'utilisation liées à l'inflammation. Une analyse de régression a révélé que les familles Piperaceae, Araceae, et Begoniaceae sont préférentiellement choisis par les Mayas. Le consensus entre guérisseurs pour les espèces végétales était élevé, avec 56 espèces (52%) étant utilisés par tous les guérisseurs, et le consensus pour les catégories d'utilisation était également élevé, car les valeurs de facteur de consensus des informants (FIC) pour chaque catégorie étaient supérieurs à 0,4. Cinquante-deux espèces du Belize ont été évaluées pour leur activité inhibitrice de TNF-α dans un modèle de THP-1 monocytes stimulés par le LPS. Vingt-et-une espèces (40%) ont montré une inhibition significative de TNF-α lorsque dosés à 100 µg/mL, dont 8 d’entre elles ont démontrées plus de 50% de l'activité du contrôle positif parthénolide (10 µg/mL). Des régressions significatives ont été observées entre l'activité anti-inflammatoire et la fréquence d'utilisation de guérisseurs totale (Fuse) et les rapports d'utilisation pour 3 catégories d'utilisation, ce qui indique que les paramètres ethnobotaniques peuvent en partie prédire l'activité des espèces traditionnellement utilisées. Cinq lactones sesquiterpéniques ont été isolés à partir des feuilles de Neurolaena lobata, l'une des espèces les plus actives testées, qui a démontré une activité anti-inflammatoire supérieure à celle du parthénolide (CI50 = 4,79 µM), avec des CI50 allant de 0,17 à 2,32 µM. Lobatin B était l’isolât le plus actif testé. Des extraits éthanoliques et aqueux de 17 espèces utilisées par les guérisseurs Cris ont été évalués pour leur activité immunomodulatrice. En général, l'activité anti-inflammatoire moyenne des extraits éthanoliques était 1,8 fois supérieure à celle des extraits d'eau, et l'activité pro-inflammatoire des extraits d'eau était de 3,7 fois supérieure à celle des extraits éthanoliques. Picea mariana et Pinus banksiana étaient les extraits éthanoliques et aqueux avec le plus d’activité anti-inflammatoire, tandis que l'extrait aqueux de Sarracenia purpurea était le plus pro-inflammatoire. Le cône de Picea marina, le médicament traditionnelle Cris le plus anti-inflammatoire, a été soumis à une isolation guidée par essais biologiques. Cela a mené à l'isolement du lignane anti-inflammatoire (+)-lariciresinol-9'-p-coumarate, qui avait une CI50 de 28,4 µM. Ensemble, ces résultats valident les connaissances traditionnelles partagées par nos collaborateurs Q'eqchi' et Cris, et mettent en évidence le potentiel thérapeutique des plantes subtropicales et boréales comme des compléments à la médecine moderne qui sont culturellement appropriées.

This thesis focuses on the traditional cultivation of an edible root species by Kwaxsistalla, Clan Chief Adam Dick, of the Qawadiliqalla Clan, of the Dzawada ēnuxw, a subgroup of Kwakwaka’wakw, occupying the Kingcome Inlet area on the Central Coast of British Columbia. Kwaxsistalla is a traditionally trained Clan Chief and potlatch speaker with recognized authority to share his detailed knowledge and experiences of his clan’s food production system. This research is centered on his Clan’s tekkillakw (estuarine salt marsh root garden) root gardens of the Kingcome River estuary, and the long-standing practices associated with the large-scale production of tleksem Pacific silverweed [Argentina egedii (Wormsk.) Rydb.; syn. Potentilla pacifica (L.) Howell.], is one of the four cultivated root species. Kwaxsistalla has shared his hands-on knowledge of how root garden cultivation fits into his family’s seasonal patterns of food production as well as detailed accounts of how to construct and use tools for cultivating, weeding, harvesting, and cooking estuarine roots. He has also provided information that has been instrumental in developing a model of aboriginal management of estuarine root gardens (Deur 2005). This thesis builds on Deur’s model by attempting to experimentally replicate tekkillakw management in order to better understand the management effect on the abundance, size, and flavour of Argentina egedii roots. Over the course of the 2008 growing season I randomly subjected 60 ¼ square meter patches of Kwaxsistalla’s fallow tekkillakw to either a “till” or “till + weed” treatment and allocated 30 similar patches as a control. I applied a roto-tilling treatment just prior to the growing season, a weeding treatment mid-summer, and harvested the roots near the end of the growing season. While the short duration of my study and use of a roto-tiller limit the inferential power of my results, I found that tilling and weeding significantly increased the abundance or A. egedii but significantly decreased the root size. Throughout the same 2008 field season I also collected root specimens for analysis of their bitter and sweet constituents and found (bitter) tannins concentrations to be highest in the late summer and lowest in the spring and fall. / Graduate

Ecological research aimed at the conservation of useful plants has rarely considered the spatial distribution of resources nor the potential implications for management. In this thesis I examined the spatial patterning of a group of 23 useful plant species on the 3,500 ha territory of a Kuna community in Darien, Panama. A systematic random sampling scheme was used to survey the distribution and abundance of the species, as well as the physical environment. A series of canonical analyses was conducted to evaluate the species-environment relationships and to identify spatial structures in the species distributions left unexplained by the environmental variables. Four distinct distribution patterns were identified among the species; these were most strongly explained by land-use, the degree of canopy closure and topography. Significant spatial structures, independent of the environmental variables, were related to anthropogenic pressures and an edaphic gradient. The habitat associations of the individual species are described and data on one species, Sabal mauritiiformis , is used to illustrate the utility of these data in the management of plant resources on human landscapes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:28:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marilena Cordeiro Fernandes de Jesus.pdf: 6483798 bytes, checksum: cc8b8763997024645b7bf0594e69e3df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-13 / Etnobotânica é definida como o estudo do conhecimento e das conceituações desenvolvidas por qualquer sociedade a respeito do mundo vegetal, englobando tanto a maneira como o grupo social classifica as plantas, como seus usos. O Brasil que é megadiverso, possui cerca de 40.982 espécies da flora e nada menos que 218 povos indígenas, somando uma população aproximada de 350 mil pessoas. Uma das vertentes da etnobotânica é o levantamento das espécies utilizadas pelas comunidades tradicionais. Tal levantamento pode servir como base para a elaboração de modelos sustentáveis uma vez que ambientes naturais como a Floresta Atlântica brasileira, e seus ambientes costeiros, vem sendo ameaçada há muito anos, tendo sua cobertura vegetal original sido drasticamente diminuída. Sendo assim, esse trabalho teve como objetivo realizar o levantamento das espécies conhecidas e utilizadas pelas comunidades de Pontal do Ipiranga e Degredo visando gerar dados que contribuam para a conservação dos remanescentes florestais e os saberes a eles associados. O trabalho foi realizado em Pontal do Ipiranga e Degredo, ambos localizados em Linhares, ES em área de restinga que vem sendo devastada pela ação humana. Para o levantamento,foram realizadas excursões entre março de 2010 a agosto de 2011 com entrevistas, turnê guiada e coleta do material botânico.Os dados obtidos em campo foram sintetizados e análises qualitativas e quantitativas, tais como valor de uso das espécies e índice de diversidade, foram realizadas. Três informantes, duas mulheres em Pontal do Ipiranga e um homem em Degredo foram identificados através do método Bola de Neve. Além desses, 57 pessoas escolhidas aleatoriamente em ambas as localidades, foram entrevistadas.Como resultados foram levantadas no total85 espécies pertencentes 67 gêneros e 39 famílias para as duas localidades. As famílias com maior número de espécies citadas foram Fabaceae eMyrtaceae eas categorias de usomais representativas foram medicinal, alimentar, tecnologia e ornamental.A categoria ritualística só foi registrada em Pontal e melífera somente em Degredo. O hábito mais freqüente das espécies em Pontal do Ipiranga foi erva e em Degredo foi arbusto e as partes mais utilizadas foram frutos, flores e caule. As espécies com maior valor de uso foram AnacardiumoccidentaleL. eEugeniaunifloraL.com 1,17 e 0,98 respectivamente. O índice de diversidade de conhecimento etnobotânico das comunidades de Pontal do Ipiranga e Degredo foi 1,67 na base 10, considerado baixo em relação a outros trabalhos. As principais conclusões do trabalho são que os informantes locais, apesar de em número reduzido, podem ser reconhecidos como especialistas nas comunidades; há espécies que além de úteis para as comunidades, encontram-se em risco de extinção e que é fundamental a criação de uma Unidade de Conservação em Pontal do Ipiranga e Degredo / Ethnobotany is defined as the study of knowledge and concepts developed by any society about the plant world, covering either the way how the social group classifies plants, or their uses. Brazil, that is quite different, has about 40,982 species of flora and no less than 218 Indians, adding a population of approximately 350 thousand people. One of the aspects of ethnobotany is the survey of the species used by traditional communities. Such survey can serve as basis for the development of sustainable models once that natural environments such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and their coastal environments, has been endangered for many years, and its original vegetation drastically diminished. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct the survey of the species known and used by communities from Pontal do Ipiranga and Degredo in order to generate data that contribute to the conservation of forest remnants and knowledge associated with them The study was done in Pontal do Ipiranga and Degredo, both localized in Linhares, ES. in area of sandbank that has been endangered by the human action. For the survey, were conducted excursions between March/2010 up to August/2010 with interviews, guided tours and collection of botanical material. The data obtained in the field were synthesized and were made qualitative and quantitative analysis, such as the value of use of species and the index of diversity. Three informers (two women in Pontal do Ipiranga and a man in Degredo) were identified by the method of Snowball. Besides, 57 people chosen randomly in both localizations, were interviewed. As the results were collected in a total of 85 species belonging 67 genus and 39 families for the both localizations. The families with the largest number of collected species were Fabaceae and Myrtaceae and the categories of use more representative were medicinal, alimentary, technology and ornamental. The ritualistic category only was registered in Pontal and honey varieties only in Degredo. The habit more often of the species in Pontal do Ipiranga was grass and in Degredo was bush and the most commonly used parts were fruits, flowers and stalk. The species with large value of use were AnacardiumoccidentaleL. and Eugenia unifloraL. with1,17 and 0,98 respectively. The diversity index of ethnobotany knowledge of the communities from Pontal do Ipiranga and Degredo was 1,67 in the base 10, considered low in relation to other studies. The main conclusions of the study are that the local informers, instead of in reduced number, can be recognized as specialist in the communities; the communities know little about of the native species more restricted; there are species, which not only useful to communities, are at risk of extinction and is critical to create a Conservation Unit in Pontal do Ipiranga and Degredo

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:57:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3287.pdf: 3885384 bytes, checksum: 92f4ff4d5a164c324d354d3623d15d05 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-03 / Quilombos are the greatest symbols of resistance against the system of slavery that continued in the Brazilian territory for many years. Spread throughout the Brazilian territory these communities have created strategies model of survival against the hub and conservative land, and fight mainly to have their territory recognized and respected. In this context the community of Cedar, in southwest Goiás, is a community made up of descendants of former slaves and who recognize themselves as bearers of an identity based on the same origin and a common culture distinct from other groups surrounding. This paper seeks to show how this community of spatially established in a territory where there is predominance of monoculture and how to setup ethnobotanical knowledge in this area. We analyzed data from 25 family units, relating to housing, lifestyle, sociospatial training, health, education, values, culture, attitudes, opinions of the individuals interviewed and traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants, were mentioned 94 plant species used for medicinal purposes, and leaves the predominant part in the medications. This community maintains practices brought by their ancestors centuries. One reason for the intense relationship between this community and environment in which it operates is providing numerous resources that nature provides to this community and are essential for their survival and reproduction. / Os quilombos são os maiores símbolos de resistência frente ao sistema escravocrata que perdurou no território brasileiro por muitos anos. Espalhados por todo o território brasileiro estas comunidades criaram estratégias de sobrevivência frente ao modelo fundiário concentrador e conservador e lutam principalmente para terem seus territórios reconhecidos e respeitados. Neste contexto a comunidade do Cedro, no sudoeste de Goiás, é constituída de descendentes de escravos que se reconhecem como portadores de uma identidade baseada na mesma origem e numa cultura comum distinta dos demais grupos circunvizinhos. Esse trabalho busca mostrar de que forma essa comunidade se estabeleceu espacialmente em um território onde há predominância de monocultura latifundiária e de que forma o conhecimento etnobotânico se configura nesse território. Foram analisados dados de 25 unidades familiares, referentes à moradia, modo de vida, formação sócio-espacial, saúde, educação, valores, cultura, atitudes, opiniões dos sujeitos entrevistados e conhecimento tradicional referente ao uso de plantas medicinais, sendo citadas 94 espécies vegetais utilizadas para fins medicinais, sendo as folhas a parte predominante nas medicações. Essa comunidade mantém práticas centenárias trazidas pelos seus ancestrais. Uma das causas da intensa relação entre essa mesma comunidade e o meio em que está inserida é o fornecimento de inúmeros recursos que a natureza dispõe a ela e que são fundamentais para a sua sobrevivência e reprodução.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:10:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MadsonROT_DISSERT.pdf: 2710176 bytes, checksum: 59479473bbac6ecc9da8138e4c255249 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / The aim of this study was to test the Ecological Apparency Hypothesis comparing two rural communities in Jo?o C?mara (RN) and Remigio (PB), in the Northeast of Brazil. This hypothesis assumes that plants are perceived, known and used by human populations according to their local availability. The most used species would be the ones that are more available in the forest (apparent), and apparently suffer greater pressure of use. Communities were consulted through semi-structured interviews. In Remigio 42 people were interviewed, and 50 in Jo?o C?mara. The importance of each species was evaluated considering the distinction between citations from current and potential uses. The ethnobotanical information was associated with phytosociological parameters collected by the point-centered quarter method in forested areas, where 50 transects were distributed in each community, and 4,000 individuals sampled in total. Based on the interviews, 58 useful species were recorded, 42 genera and18 families. In the phytosociological study 30 species, 22 genera and 12 families in Jo?o C?mara, In Rem?gio were identified 34 species, 22 genera and nine families.The species were grouped into 11 categories of use. The ecological appearance was confirmed only in the Jo?o C?mara, which best explained the relationship between local availability and use of timber resources. Positive correlations were observed also between the technology category VUpotential and dominance. The point-centered quarter was efficient to test appearance, however, further studies through the point-centered quarter method are recommended / O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar e comparar a Hip?tese da Apar?ncia Ecol?gica em duas comunidades rurais nos munic?pios de Jo?o C?mara (RN) e Rem?gio (PB), Nordeste do Brasil. Essa hip?tese preconiza que as plantas s?o percebidas, conhecidas e utilizadas pelas popula??es humanas de acordo com sua disponibilidade local. As esp?cies mais utilizadas seriam aquelas mais dispon?veis na floresta (s?o mais aparentes), [supondo que sofrem maior press?o de uso]. As comunidades foram consultadas por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Foram entrevistadas 42 pessoas em Rem?gio e 50 em Jo?o C?mara. A import?ncia de cada esp?cie foi avaliada por meio do Valor de Uso (VU), levando em considera??o a distin??o entre cita??es de usos atuais e potenciais. As informa??es etnobot?nicas foram associadas aos par?metros fitossociol?gicos por meio do m?todo do Ponto Quadrante em ?reas florestais, onde 50 transectos foram distribu?dos em cada comunidade, e 4.000 indiv?duos amostrados no total. Foram identificadas 30 esp?cies, 22 g?neros e 12 fam?lias em Jo?o C?mara, e 34 esp?cies, 22 g?neros e nove fam?lias em Rem?gio. Durante as entrevistas, foram relatados usos para 58 esp?cies, pertencentes a 18 fam?lias e 42 g?neros. As esp?cies foram agrupadas em 11 categorias de uso. A apar?ncia ecol?gica foi confirmada somente em Jo?o C?mara, onde se explicou melhor a rela??o existente entre a disponibilidade local e a utiliza??o dos recursos madeireiros. Correla??es positivas foram observadas para a categoria tecnologia entre o VUpotencial e domin?ncia. Observou-se tamb?m que a utiliza??o do m?todo do ponto quadrante foi eficiente no teste da apar?ncia, contudo sugere-se a realiza??o de novos estudos utilizando esta mesma metodologia

Orientador: Maria Christina de Mello Amorozo / Banca: Lin Chau Ming / Banca: Natalia Hanazaki / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um inventário das plantas alimentares cultivadas e coletadas da vegetação nativa e ruderal, em área de Mata Atlântica, conhecidas por dois grupos de populações rurais: um residente no Núcleo Santa Virgínia (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar) e outro no seu limite. Os 23 entrevistados amostrados atenderam aos seguintes critérios: origem na região do Núcleo; idade superior a 45 anos; intimidade no trato com a terra. Ao todo foram levantadas 146 espécies botânicas, distribuídas em 43 famílias botânicas, sendo as famílias Solanaceae e Cucurbitaceae as mais representativas e basicamente hortícolas. Os índices de diversidade Shannon-Wiener e equidade de Pielou foram 1,98 (Base 10) e 0,91, respectivamente. Os dois grupos de bairros apresentaram uma similaridade de citação de plantas alimentares de 75,0%. A freqüência do consumo alimentar foi analisada por meio de dados obtidos pelo método retrospectivo das últimas 24 horas, revelando que os alimentos cultivados e coletados da vegetação nativa são consumidos esporadicamente De acordo com a amplitude total do nicho alimentar dada pelo índice de Levins (21,3) e de Levins padronizado (21,0%), verificou-se que mesmo com um elevado número de itens consumidos, 2 são poucos os alimentos que compõem a dieta básica da comunidade, demonstrando que a população amostrada é mais especialista, o que indica dependência de alguns alimentos. Notase que a comunidade possui um conhecimento significativo das plantas alimentares e que há uma significante riqueza de espécies e de variedades cultivadas nos quintais e nas roças, apesar da dieta principal ser adquirida basicamente no comércio local. A comunidade rural estudada se revelou como um importante sistema de conservação de germoplasma de plantas cultivadas. Palavras-chave: Etnobotânica, plantas alimentares, comunidades rurais, Mata Atlântica. / Abstract: The goal of this study was to carry out an inventory of the food plants cultivated and collected of the native and spontaneous vegetation, in an area of Atlantic Forest, known by two groups of rural populations: a resident in the “Núcleo Santa Virgínia” (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar) and another one in its limits. The 23 informants took care of the following criteria: origin in the region; superior age of 45 years old; familiarity in the treatment with the land. At all, 146 botanical species were raised, distributed in 43 botanical families, being the most representative families and basically horticultural families, the Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae. The Shannon-Wiener diversity’s index and Pielou’s equity had been 1.98 (Base 10) and 0.91, respectively. The two groups of districts had presented a citation similarity of nutritional plants cited of 75.0%. The frequency of the alimentary consumption was analyzed through data obtained with a 24 hours recall method, showing that the cultivated and collected foods from the native vegetation are consumed sporadically. In accordance with the total amplitude of the food niche given by the Levins’s index (21.3) and standardized Levins (21.0%), was verified that, in spite of a greater number of food items consumed, the basic diet of the 4 community is composed by few items, showing that the population is more specialist, what indicates a dependence of some foods. It is noticed that the community has a significant knowledge on the nutritional plants and there are a great number of species and varieties cultivated in the yards and countrysides, despite the main diet being acquired basically in the local commerce. The agricultural community studied is an important system of cultivated plants conservation. Key-words: Ethnobotany, food plants, rural communities, Atlantic forest. / Mestre

O objetivo desta pesquisa consiste em, a partir de um trabalho de campo de caráter etnográfico, seguir as plantas dos moradores do município de Guarani das Missões, noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul, destacando as tramas entre os vegetais e as religiosidades populares. Para tanto, fiz uso da técnica de pesquisa conhecida como observação participante e também mantive um diário de campo. Durante o trabalho de campo, conheci dezenas de espécies de ervas, dentre as quais selecionei as mais relevantes para refletir sobre as relações entre humanos e não humanos. Os caminhos dessas plantas me levaram a abordar, além dos itinerários religiosos, as relações entre mercadoria e dádiva, as medicinas populares, bem como a noção de corpo. Aceitando as provocações da chamada virada ontológica em antropologia e o convite, feito pelos recentes desdobramentos da obra de Tim Ingold, de seguir os fluxos de materiais, pude perceber o quanto as plantas são perpassadas por fluxos de diferentes ordens, de tal modo que as fronteiras entre elas e o mundo ficam borradas. Além disso, para acompanhar as rotas das plantas, tampouco as noções das ciências sociais puderam ser invólucros. Assim, as reflexões sobre os apontamentos do trabalho de campo tiveram que estar abertas aos deslizes do mundo. De modo similar, a singularidade da humanidade precisou ser suspensa, pois tanto humanos quanto não humanos testemunham o mundo. Ainda que isso signifique uma ênfase na continuidade, não implica em ausência de interrupções ou em homogeneidade. Expressa, contudo, que as trajetórias das plantas e das outras coisas são criativas. / Based in an ethnographic fieldwork, this research aims to follow the plants of inhabitants of Guarani das Missões, northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. My emphasis is to highlight the connections between vegetables and popular religiosity. The research instruments utilized were participant observation and ethnographic diary. During the fieldwork, I found dozens of species of plants, and among these I selected the most relevant ones to think about the relations between humans and nonhumans. The paths of the selected plants conducted me to consider religious itineraries, the relations between commodity and gift, popular medicines, and also the notion of body. Accepting the provocations of the called “ontological turn” in Anthropology and the rouse made by recent developments in the work of Tim Ingold (about following the flows of materials), I identified how the influence of flows from different orders helps to blur the boundaries between plants and the world. In order to follow the routes of the plants, social sciences common notions could not be used as "wrappers". In this way, I could say that the reflections on the fieldwork's notes had to be open to think about the world changes. Similarly, the human uniqueness had to be rethought, because both humans and nonhumans witness the world. Even if it means an emphasis on continuity, this does not imply absence of interruptions or homogeneity. It expresses, however, that the trajectories of plants and other things are creative.

O objetivo desta pesquisa consiste em, a partir de um trabalho de campo de caráter etnográfico, seguir as plantas dos moradores do município de Guarani das Missões, noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul, destacando as tramas entre os vegetais e as religiosidades populares. Para tanto, fiz uso da técnica de pesquisa conhecida como observação participante e também mantive um diário de campo. Durante o trabalho de campo, conheci dezenas de espécies de ervas, dentre as quais selecionei as mais relevantes para refletir sobre as relações entre humanos e não humanos. Os caminhos dessas plantas me levaram a abordar, além dos itinerários religiosos, as relações entre mercadoria e dádiva, as medicinas populares, bem como a noção de corpo. Aceitando as provocações da chamada virada ontológica em antropologia e o convite, feito pelos recentes desdobramentos da obra de Tim Ingold, de seguir os fluxos de materiais, pude perceber o quanto as plantas são perpassadas por fluxos de diferentes ordens, de tal modo que as fronteiras entre elas e o mundo ficam borradas. Além disso, para acompanhar as rotas das plantas, tampouco as noções das ciências sociais puderam ser invólucros. Assim, as reflexões sobre os apontamentos do trabalho de campo tiveram que estar abertas aos deslizes do mundo. De modo similar, a singularidade da humanidade precisou ser suspensa, pois tanto humanos quanto não humanos testemunham o mundo. Ainda que isso signifique uma ênfase na continuidade, não implica em ausência de interrupções ou em homogeneidade. Expressa, contudo, que as trajetórias das plantas e das outras coisas são criativas. / Based in an ethnographic fieldwork, this research aims to follow the plants of inhabitants of Guarani das Missões, northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. My emphasis is to highlight the connections between vegetables and popular religiosity. The research instruments utilized were participant observation and ethnographic diary. During the fieldwork, I found dozens of species of plants, and among these I selected the most relevant ones to think about the relations between humans and nonhumans. The paths of the selected plants conducted me to consider religious itineraries, the relations between commodity and gift, popular medicines, and also the notion of body. Accepting the provocations of the called “ontological turn” in Anthropology and the rouse made by recent developments in the work of Tim Ingold (about following the flows of materials), I identified how the influence of flows from different orders helps to blur the boundaries between plants and the world. In order to follow the routes of the plants, social sciences common notions could not be used as "wrappers". In this way, I could say that the reflections on the fieldwork's notes had to be open to think about the world changes. Similarly, the human uniqueness had to be rethought, because both humans and nonhumans witness the world. Even if it means an emphasis on continuity, this does not imply absence of interruptions or homogeneity. It expresses, however, that the trajectories of plants and other things are creative.

The units of preservation are important areas of ecological and social interest that aims protect for biodiversity and the sustenance from local communities. In Sergipe, one of the great importance areas for state biodiversity maintenance has been being PARNASI. Even with all that highlight, few are the developed jobs in this geared region to the aspects of partner-environmental involving the populations interaction of the spill with for local biodiversity. In this sense, that work consisted in a rising ethnobotanical aiming know the composition floristic and her respective utilities for the rural communities of the spill to PARNASI. This study is presented in three chapters. It in the first objectified accomplish a description of the study area and a theoretical and methodological rising of the jobs ethnobiological already published. In the second chapter objectified lift the wealth of arboreal species and shrub, from the popular knowledge, found in the four different forest fragments used by these communities. And in the third chapter was accomplished a rising ethnobotanical, identifying categories of popular uses for the vegetable resources, analyzing the importance of the arboreal species and shrub for the specialists of this region. That work was accomplished with four different rural communities of the spill to PARNASI, in the region defined by the river Poxim-Açú (Pedrinhas, Ladeira, Caroba e Cajueiro). The data were lifted, by means of the participating observation, interviews semi-structured, with 31 specialists recognized in the communities as detainers of the traditional knowledge. The inventory floristic with help of these specialists was at the same time done, in four atlantic forest indicated fragments from the communities' local utilization. The picked data enabled the elaboration of a listing contend 185 ethnospecies, grouped in 111 goods and 50 families. Regarding the origin that 83% of the species was observed are native of the region and just 17 % are exotic. The collection of the vegetable resources it's given in different Habitats being 67% collected in area of humid forest, 17% in boards areas and 16% in areas anthropogenic. The families with larger number of found useful species were Fabaceae (31ssp.), Myrtaceae (19ssp.) And Arecaceae (9ssp.). The species were classified in five use categories: Fuel (28%), mystic-farmcológico (21%), feed (18%), loggers (17%), other uses (16%). The general panorama of results of this work shows that there are use different from the flora standards among studied groups. The groupings accomplished by that study reflect that communities' way of life influences directly in the specialists' knowledge on the plants, differentiating it, even when they inhabit areas where the availability of the natural resources is similar. / As unidades de conservação são importantes áreas de interesse ecológico e social que visam proteger a biodiversidade e o sustento das comunidades locais. Em Sergipe, uma das áreas de grande importância para manutenção da biodiversidade do estado tem sido o Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana (PARNASI). Mesmo com todo destaque, poucos são os trabalhos sócio-ambientais envolvendo a interação das populações do entorno com a biodiversidade local. Neste sentido, esse trabalho consistiu em um levantamento etnobotânico visando conhecer a composição florística e suas respectivas utilidades para as comunidades rurais do entorno ao PARNASI. Este estudo está apresentado em três capítulos. No primeiro objetivou-se realizar uma descrição da área de estudo e um levantamento teórico e metodológico dos trabalhos etnobiológicos já publicados. No segundo capítulo objetivou levantar a riqueza de espécies arbóreas e arbustivas, a partir do conhecimento popular, encontradas nos quatro diferentes fragmentos florestais utilizados por essas comunidades. E no terceiro capítulo foi realizado um levantamento etnobotânico, identificando categorias de usos populares para os recursos vegetais, analisando a importância das espécies arbóreas e arbustiva para os especialistas dessa região. Esse trabalho foi realizado com quatro diferentes comunidades rurais do entorno ao PARNASI, na região delimitada pelo rio Poxim-Açú (Pedrinhas, Ladeira, Caroba e Cajueiro). Os dados foram levantados, por meio da observação participante, entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com 31 especialistas reconhecidos nas comunidades como detentores do saber tradicional. Paralelamente foi feito o inventário florístico com auxílio desses especialistas, em quatro fragmentos de mata indicados a partir da utilização das comunidades locais. Os dados colhidos possibilitaram a elaboração de uma listagem contendo 185 etnoespécies, agrupadas em 111 gêneros e 50 famílias. Quanto à origem observou-se que 83% das espécies são nativas da região e apenas 17 % são exóticas. A coleta dos recursos vegetais deu-se em diferentes habitas sendo 67% coletados em área de floresta úmida, 17% em áreas de tabuleiros e 16% em áreas antropogênica. As famílias com maior número de espécies úteis encontradas foram Fabaceae (31ssp.), Myrtaceae (19ssp.) e Arecaceae (9ssp.). As espécies foram classificadas em cinco categorias de uso: combustível (28%), místico-farmacológico (21%), alimentar (18%), madereiro (17%), outros usos (16%). O panorama geral de resultados deste trabalho mostra que existem padrões de uso distintos da flora entre os grupos estudados. Os agrupamentos realizados por esse estudo refletem que o modo de vida das comunidades influi diretamente no conhecimento dos especialistas sobre as plantas, diferenciando-o, mesmo quando habitam áreas onde a disponibilidade dos recursos naturais é similar.