https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/bireme/viz/plantas-medicinas-brasileiras-en/evidence-map

This map provides an overview of the evidence on the effects of Brazilian medicinal plants on health outcomes. Based on a comprehensive literature search, 214 systematic reviews were included in the map. All studies were assessed, characterized, and categorized by a team of researchers from the Laboratory of Natural Product Technology (LTPN) at the School of Pharmacy, Fluminense Federal University. Main Findings ● The reviews evaluated the effects of interventions with 69 types of plants, organized into four categories: cultivated, native, exotic, and introduced in Brazil. ● The interventions were associated with 130 health outcomes organized into 17 groups: Well-being, Vitality, and Quality of Life; Cancer; Pathological Conditions; Skin Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Respiratory Disease; Rheumatic Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Pain; Biological Factors, Enzymes, Proteins; Gastrointestinal Diseases, Liver Diseases; Psychological and Behavioral Indicators; Metabolic and Physiological Indicators; Mental Health; Oral Health; and Reproductive Health. ● A total of 465 associations were identified between the interventions (plants) and health outcomes, with emphasis on cultivated plants (251 associations, 54%). ● The “Mental Health” outcome group received the most associations (66 associations, 14%), followed by the “Oral Health” group (42 associations, 9%). ● Regarding the outcomes, the highlights were: Anxiety Disorders (20 associations), Dementia (16 associations), Diabetes Mellitus (17 associations), and Menstrual Disorders (15 associations). ● Among the plants, highlights include: Ginkgo biloba (76 associations), Aloe vera (50), Zingiber officinale (39), Panax ginseng (28), and Curcuma longa (23). Implications for Practice and Research ● Considering the effect of the interventions on the outcomes, the studies reported positive or potentially positive effects for the majority (68%) of the associations (181 associations with positive effects and 137 with potentially positive effects). ● Highlights include the positive or potentially positive effects reported in interventions with Ginkgo biloba for the following outcomes: Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Cognitive Performance (8, 7, and 7 associations, respectively). ● In 87 associations (19.7%), no effect was reported between the intervention and the outcome. ● An inconclusive effect was reported for a small portion of the associations (9%), which requires further research. No negative or potentially negative effects were reported. In 19 associations, the effect was not reported. ● It should be noted that this list is dynamic and may change as new studies are published.