The Brazilian Ethnoveterinary Analyzed by the One World-One HealthTM Perspective

Abstract

The research and development of herbal medicines used in Veterinary Medicine are still incipient. The present study pursued the status of ethnoveterinary research in Brazil based on a narrative review of the literature. Medicinal plants, animals, and minerals are used to treat companion and production animals in urban and rural areas. In urban areas, using plants to treat infectious diseases and digestive problems in companion animals is frequent. In contrast, plants to treat livestock are accessed to control bacteria involved in cattle mastitis and pathogens involved in hemorrhagic enteritis in small ruminants, such as Haemonchus spp. Nonetheless, reports describing the use of animal tissues as fat, animal products as honey, and mineral products were described and commented on. Much has yet to be done in terms of systematizing ethnoveterinary in Brazil so that the therapeutic potential of the fauna and flora of Brazil can be accessed. Brazil has the most extraordinary biodiversity in the world, and it is the country that has enormous potential for the development of medicines obtained from natural sources to be used in veterinary, in addition to human medicine, despite being one of the most significant animal protein exporting countries. The One World, One Health concepts are fundamental to support the development of ethnoveterinary, to effectively contribute to building the necessary knowledge to sustain animal welfare, which is essential for the development of a sustainable world based on the preservation of natural resources associated with the promotion of global health.