Short Lecture “Medicinal plants from Brazil: the contribution of Giuseppe Raddi”

Brazilʼs flora is rich in medicinal plants due to the wide plant biodiversity, which is enriched by millennial Amerindian traditional knowledge. However, all the ecosystems, including Amazon rainforest, have been quickly replaced by monocultures of sugarcane, soybeans, eucalyptus, and livestock. The development of bioproducts from Brazilian plants is currently strongly stimulated. In order to contribute with this, our research group is working for decades in recover data about useful Brazilian plants registered in historical bibliography. Emphasis is done in the work produced by European naturalists, that traveled in the country in 19th century. Among these scientists is the Italian botanist Giuseppe Raddi (1770 – 1829). Raddi arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1817 and have identified several useful plants around that city. His work is registered in many publications, being one of the most important the Flora Brasiliana published in 1975/76. In this work Raddi describes important species as Cariniana estrellensis (Raddi) Kuntze (Anacardiaceae, jequitibá), Cyrtopodium glutiniferum Raddi (Orchidaceae) and the spice Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, known and used in many parts of the world.

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Publication History

Article published online:
12 December 2022