Affiliation:
1. Department of Biological Sciences State University of Feira de Santana Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Feira de Santana Novo Horizonte Bahia 44036‐900 Brazil
2. Department of Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences Federal University of Sergipe, Cidade Universitária Prof. José Aloísio de Campos Av. Marcelo Deda Chagas, s/n, Rosa Elze São Cristóvão Sergipe 49107‐230 Brazil
3. Department of Geography & the Environment California State University Fullerton 800 N. State College Blvd. Fullerton CA 92831‐3599 USA
Abstract
ABSTRACTThe Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome, stands as a reservoir of remarkable biodiversity. Its significance transcends ecological dimensions, given the direct reliance of the local population on its resources for sustenance and healthcare. While Myrtaceae, a pivotal botanical family within the Brazilian flora, has been extensively explored for its medicinal and nutritional attributes, scant attention has been directed towards its contextual relevance within the Caatinga's local communities. Consequently, this inaugural systematic review addresses the ethnobotanical roles of Myrtaceae within the Caatinga, meticulously anchored in the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched Scopus, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scielo, and LILIACS. No date‐range filter was applied. An initial pool of 203 articles was carefully scrutinized, ultimately yielding 31 pertinent ethnobotanical studies elucidating the utility of Myrtaceae amongst the Caatinga's indigenous populations. Collectively, they revealed seven distinct utilization categories spanning ~54 species and 11 genera. Psidium and Eugenia were the genera with the most applications. The most cited categories of use were food (27 species) and medicinal (22 species). The importance of accurate species identification was highlighted, as many studies did not provide enough information for reliable identification. Additionally, the potential contribution of Myrtaceae fruits to food security and human health was explored. The diversity of uses demonstrates how this family is a valuable resource for local communities, providing sources of food, medicine, energy, and construction materials. This systematic review also highlights the need for more ethnobotanical studies to understand fully the relevance of Myrtaceae species in the Caatinga, promoting biodiversity conservation, as well as support for local populations.
Funder
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior