The use of medicinal plants corresponds to an ancient practice, either as an alternative medicine for the cure of several diseases, or as a method of abortion. Nevertheless, the population in general does not know the risks involved in the use of medicinal plants. In this sense, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the consumption rate of medicinal plants by women in a Basic Health Unit (BHU), on order to identify which plant species have been most frequently consumed by them, including during the pregnancy. Through an exploratory questionnaire with 48 women, it was observed that most part of the interviewees had children and the most of them cited Peumus boldus, Baccharis trimera and Cassia angustifolia, which were mainly used for stomach aches or digestives (53%), for colds (23%), menstrual cramps (4%) or to menstruate (2%). The remaining part of the study consisted in the visual and chemical analysis of the plant species cited by the interviewees, including other species that have been popularly used as a method of abortion. Comparative visual analysis of medicinal plants (Group A-C) from four different shops showed the absence of quality control concerning packing specifications and the separation of the plant material to be consumed. The analysis of the chemical profiles of these samples by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated that those species belonging to the Group C were significantly different from those plants having the same identification, except for Peumus boldus, whose samples were similar in terms of chemical composition.
women; medicinal plants; bortive plants
