MEDICINAL PLANT TRADE AS A BUSINESS ALTERNATIVE IN ARAGUARI, MG, BRAZIL

Resumo

The use of products based on medicinal plants has arisen as a strong trend worldwide. They comprise a promising market which has already reach expressive figures and become an attractive business environment. However, despite the social and economic importance these plants have, neither Brazil nor Minas Gerais (MG) state have adequately invested in their production, industrialization and distribution. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the existence of trade patterns of medicinal plants at the Araguari Public Market in Araguari, a city located in MG, Brazil. The methodology comprised semi-structured interviews which were answered by medicinal plant salespersons on appropriate forms. Informants mentioned the sixteen most sold medicinal plants; regarding the number of species, the family Fabaceae stood out. Most identified species are tree-like plants that are native to biomes, such as the Cerrado and the Mata Atlântica. This study showed that medicinal plant production and trade follow a local pattern, i. e., plants are bought from third parties with no minimum quality standard, except in city pharmacies, where quality control is strict. However, concerning the Araguari Public Market, there is need to implement public policies on professional training aiming at people who sell medicinal plants, so as to add value to popular knowledge about these plants and to make clients develop trust in these services.