Resumo

MACIEL, Maria Aparecida M. et al. Medicinal plants: the need for multidisciplinary scientific studies. Quím. Nova [online]. 2002, vol.25, n.3, pp. 429-438. ISSN 0100-4042.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422002000300016.

This paper presents a program emphasizing ethnopharmacological approaches that could allow great success in the study of medicinal plants. The minimum ethnopharmacological research team should consist of a botanist, a chemist and a pharmacologist with each carrying the responsibility for answering in sequential fashion critical questions. The chemical composition and pharmacological properties of the very efficient medicinal plant Croton cajucara were investigated according to ethnopharmacological approaches. The study with this Croton proved to be both efficient and successful. This happy situation was only possible because a multidisciplinary team was involved getting the research done correctly. The ethnopharmacological study involving one other especies Copaifera will be cited.

Palavras-chave : ethnopharmacology; phytochemistry; Croton cajucara; Copaifera.