Qualidade da espinheira-santa comercializada no mercado formal na cidade de Pelotas

Abstract

The practice of safe phytotherapy does not occur only through the analysis of the final product, but also in obtaining the plant species, from its identification, growing, harvest, processing, storage, and commercialization. The lack of quality, adulteration, and the misuse may interfere with the efficacy and even in the safe use of the product. One of the widely used species is Maytenus ilicifolia Mart ex Reissek (espinheira-santa), which is a common practice both in popular medicine and official health system for treatment of dispepsy. The objective of this work was evaluate the parameters of quality of dry samples of „espinheira-santa‟ available in formal local marketing in the municipality of Pelotas. The design of this study is descriptive, experimental and analytical. Eleven samples of medicinal plants popularly known as „cancorosa‟ and/or „espinheira-santa‟ were collected from formal marketing (pharmacies, drugstores and super markets), and a standard sample was collected from Instituto Federal Sul Riograndense, Campus Pelotas – Visconde da Graça. Physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics were evaluated, as well as the labels of the products. All samples were not approved at least in two parameters analyzed, indicating that is necessary to expand surveillance to ensure consumer safety.