This study included 13 populations sampled in the states Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, and Bahia, to collect ecogeographic data of "poaia" (Psychotria ipecacuanha). Frequency-of-occurrence analysis consisted of the following environmental characteristics: altitude, rainfall, maximum, medium and minimum absolute temperatures, latitude and longitude. Ethnobotanical analysis consisted of a survey on therapeutic and homeopathic forms, as well as on the popular knowledge related to "poaia" use. The levels of the alkaloids emetine and cephaeline were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Nearly 87% shrubs occurred in dystrophic soil. Among the evaluated micronutrients, Fe, Mn and Cu presented significant correlations with stem number per shrub (SN) and dry root weight (RW). The length of 65% shrubs was lower than 2 m, and mean dimensions were 1.8 x 1.3 m. The photosynthetically active radiation percentage ranged from 0.14% to 17%. Concerning the places where shrubs were found, around 69% were considered of low inclination. Root chemical characterization indicated 1 and 2% emetine content in approximately 65% analyzed samples, and less than 0.3% cephaeline in 61% samples. Morphologic and chemical characteristics were analyzed by the principal component technique. In conclusion, the obtained results are low informative regarding genetic diversity, which allows the discard of characteristics presenting small variation and those highly correlated.
Psychotria ipecacuanha; emetine; cephaeline
