This work presents a survey of the medicinal plants used by Tapebas Indians from the state of Ceará - Brazil, trying to rescue their culture which is vanishing through the years. Several interviews were performed at the indian's community located at municipality of Caucaia, 16 Km away from Fortaleza, Capital city of the state of Ceará. A total of 63 plants were cited. The interviews were based on the frequency that the plants are used and their respective uses. Samples of the plants were collected and classified by botanists of the Prisco Bezerra Herbarium of the Universidade Federal do Ceará. A literature survey was carried out with all known plants to obtain chemical, pharmacological and toxicological informations. The results show that the Tapebas use plants with no reported chemical and pharmacological informations and other plants which were already studied but need yet more studies to assure complete safety for a general use and production of phytoterapics.
Medicinal plants; indians; Tapebas; Ceará
