Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The use of medicinal plants in ritualistic practices is quite common in the religions existing in Brazil. Therefore, the present study presents an ethnobotanical research on the use of medicinal plants in the Umbanda and Candomblé Cultural Association located in Puxinanã, Paraíba. Fifty interviews were conducted with people who attend the terreiro, which shows the intense use of natural herbs in rituals, the three most cited being black jurema (Mimosa tenuiflora), liamba (Vitex agnus castus L.) and purple top (Jatropha gossypiifolia. L.), it was also found that all respondents consider the use of herbs important, highlighting the need for them to be present in the ritualistic Umbanda and Candomblé. The results confirm that the Terreiro goers have a great knowledge and make use of rituals with medicinal plants, preserving the popular culture in religion.

Medicinal plants have been part of the history of mankind since the beginning, having therapeutic, curative and preventive action against numerous diseases. This knowledge was passed on between generations, with the elderly being the ones with the greatest knowledge and practices with medicinal plants. However, its improper use may represent health risks, especially for the elderly. Therefore, the objective of this study was to carry out a research with an ethnobotanical approach with elderly students from the Open University at Maturity University of the State University of Paraíba, in the municipality of Lagoa Seca - PB. At first, an interview was conducted with 27 elderly people through a semi-structured questionnaire, with questions about their profile and the use of medicinal plants, followed by lectures on the use of medicinal plants, ways of cultivation and preparation. Of the elderly, 85.15% were women and 14.81% men, with ages ranging from 61 to 87 years. Regarding the use of medicinal plants, the most cited were teas (66.66%) and compresses (18.51%). Regarding effectiveness, 92.59% stated that they obtained good results with the use of plants and 7.40% were not satisfied with the result. Most of the elderly students at the Open University at Maturity in the city of Lagoa Seca - PB, use medicinal plants to treat diseases, with rosemary for bone problems, chamomile for high blood pressure and fennel for insomnia. They are very interested in the safe and rational use of medicinal plants, indicating the importance of educational actions on this topic.

Rational soil management and diagnosis are crucial and must be considered when planning sustainable agricultural production. Therefore, the objective with this research was to evaluate the evolution of soil quality through Pfeiffer's Chromatography after the use of agroecological practices in an experimental system. The work was carried out in the municipality of Bananeiras, Paraíba, in an experimental subsystem with Noni planting (Morinda citrifolia), located on the first floor of the Center for Human and Agricultural Sciences at the Federal University of Paraíba Three soil samples in the 0-20 cm layer were collected in the field and taken to the Agroecology laboratory to perform the practice of Pfeiffer Chromatography. The chromatogram interpretation process was used, verified during the use of agroecological practices such as application of biofertilizer, green manure and soil monitoring in the subsystem. As a result, chromatograms before agroecological practices obtained sufficient soil health, whereas for soil chromatograms after agroecological practices there was an improvement for all areas of chromatography. Therefore, agroecological practices provided improvements in soil quality and life and Pfeiffer's chromatography was essential to diagnose soil health.

The Development of Sustainable and the fight for equality between genders are themes directly linked, once the agricultural women are responsible for promoting hair environmental conservation, utilization of natural invasive control practice biofertilizer production, planting of various vegetables and various medical plants, contributing to biodiversity diversity, help to keep alive the culture of Creoles, assuming in this interim posture of environmental and cultivation preservation. A qualitative investigation was carried out not a Trade Union of Remígio-PB Rural Workers, aiming to know the perceptions about female labor relations in agriculture and to value the knowledge of female farmers, relating them to sustainable development and the importance of the struggle for equality in relations between genders. Given this can be affirmed that the Sustainable Development depends on autonomy this can be achieved through equal opportunities and relationships between men and women.

Since the beginning, man has used plants and natural products, due to their high potential for prevention and cure of the main affections affected to them. Medicinal plants can also be used to treat animals, in natura or transformed into different types of preparations, being considered as a safe, viable and low-cost alternative, especially for family farmers, since it reduces the use of synthetic medicines. Thus, the aim of this study was to prepare different artisanal products based on medicinal plants for animal use, as well as to encourage and promote the use of natural products in the treatment and prevention of diseases in animals. Soaps, ointments and handmade oils were produced at the Biology Laboratory on Campus II of the State University of Paraíba. These products were distributed with farmers, tutors and animal protection entities, in addition to being exhibited at scientific and cultural events, together with seedlings of medicinal species and informative folders on the subject. The preparation and distribution of these products, in addition to the distribution of seedlings and informative folders, appear as a way to disseminate knowledge about safe and rational use and encourage the cultivation and use of plants in animal treatment.

This work aims to diagnose the socioeconomic and environmental situation around the Apodi Lagoon, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, as well as to identify the implications on the quality of life of the riverside populations, located in the Malvinas neighborhood of Apodi. As a methodological procedure, a semi-structured questionnaire was used with questions about the socioeconomic profile of the interviewee, components of aspects of environmental sanitation and environmental perception. 185 interviews were carried out during the months of February to May 2017. Residuals and effluents from residential sewage have several impacts on the environment, leading to serious problems related to population health and the degradation of natural resources. In addition, it was verified that most of the individuals are inserted in a medium of socioeconomic vulnerability. The population as one of the main agents of pollution of the lagoon pointed out the realization of cultural events. According to the interviewees, the Apodi lagoon is contaminated, the population recognizes this type of pollution, but it is used for various activities, including fishing and agriculture. Thus, the Apodi Lagoon has its environmental condition compromised and it is necessary to adopt mitigating measures with the purpose of promoting sustainable development and reversing the current level of environmental degradation.

The objective of this study was to analyze the centesimal composition of Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna minuta, as well as to evaluate their yields of carbohydrate extraction, aiming the application of their biomasses to animal feed. For the centesimal composition of the raw material, the percentages of moisture, minerals, proteins, cell wall fraction, lipids and soluble carbohydrates were evaluated. The results obtained in the biomass composition of E. crassipes revealed 8.48% crude protein and 68.45% cell wall fraction. For L. minuta, 14.95% crude protein and 53.43% cell wall fraction were obtained. For moisture, ash, crude protein, cell wall fraction and lipids there was a statistically significant difference between the species. For the yield of carbohydrate extraction, an average of 0.83% was found for L. minuta, this value being lower than that obtained for E. crassipes (2.65%). The evaluation of the centesimal composition and the carbohydrate extraction of the biomasses of E. crassipes and L. minuta was carried out and the results obtained for the protein and fiber levels showed that the biomasses of these species can be used in animal feed.

The current water crisis has led society to change its habits of use of water resources and the reuse of water becomes an alternative to this crisis. The constructed wetlands are low in cost of operation and maintenance and can make water reuse possible, as well as having a great efficiency in the removal of impurities in the water. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of a vertical constructed wetland using as substrates waste from the civil construction and ornamental plant, in the treatment of dark gray water from kitchen sinks, as well as directing the treated water to the non-potable reuse appropriate. Dark gray water was collected in the snack bar of the Federal University of Campina Grande Pombal campus, from May to June 2017, and inserted into the system. The system was built in a plastic container of 20 L and formed by layers of debris from construction materials. Physical-chemical and microbiological parameters of raw gray water and post-treatment water were analyzed to verify the efficiency of the system. Some parameters had a reduction greater than 80% that was the case of turbidity and total coliforms, and above 90% being this for sedimentable solids. For reuse, it was verified that the treated water could be reused in the washing of vehicles and sidewalks, irrigation of gardens, reuse in fodder and pasture for livestock. It is hoped that this study will allow the use of constructed wetlands on a large scale for greater water availability.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of ice cream consumed in Frutal/MG, through the determination of total and thermotolerant coliforms, coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Salmonella spp. 40 ice cream samples from 5 ice cream shops were randomly collected. The samples were diluted from 10-1 to 10-4 fold in peptone water. The total coliforms were determined in Bile Brilhante Broth, at 35ºC for 24-48h. From the positive tubes, an aliquot was transferred for EC medium for the determination of thermotolerant coliforms at 45ºC, for the same period. Staphylococcus coagulase positive was counted in Baird Parker medium and Salmonella spp counts was done in Salmonella Shigella (SS) medium. It was observed that 11 samples (27.5%) had indices higher than allowed by the legislation for thermotolerant coliforms (> 50 NMP / g). One sample (2.5%) was contaminated with coagulase positive Staphylococcus. Salmonella spp. was also detected in a sample (2.5%). In total, 14 samples (35.0%) were unfit for consumption because they were out of the standard for at least one of the evaluated microorganisms. The results indicate the need to improve hygiene conditions in the production, storage and/or handling in establishments where there was contamination of ice creams, since the consumption of ice cream outside microbiological standards may represent risks to consumer health.

Belonging to the Integrated Territory of Serra da Capivara, semi-arid Brazil, the economy of São Raimundo Nonato is based on the agricultural sector with emphasis on honey production and small animal husbandry. The objective of the study was to perform an analysis of the environmental, social, economic and technical aspects of the beekeeping sector in the municipality of São Raimundo Nonato. A direct field survey was carried out with the application of a semistructured questionnaire, individually applied in the communities of São Vítor, Nova Jerusalém and Macacos. The average honey productivity in the year 2016 varied between 15 and 25 kg per hive/year and the total production was approximately 39,000 kg. The beekeeping activity in the communities collaborates expressively in the financial income of the families involved, strengthening the beekeeper/farmer and family is economy and permanence in the field, the net annual income of 80% of beekeepers is 5000 reais with the sale of honey. On the environmental aspect, there is an awareness of beekeepers in which the preservation of flora is substantial for the growth of the productive chain. Increasing productivity and exploiting new bee products such as propolis, royal jelly, pollen, wax and honeycomb in the pot are the biggest yearnings of beekeepers.