Analysis of some parameters of herbal products commercialized in Teresina–PI in accordance with brazilian legislation

Resumo

Phyto-therapeutic medicines are products obtained exclusive with plant extract, accordance with Brazilian legislation. However, many phyto-based products are sold in the market in disagreement with the law. The aim of this work was to conduct an exploratory study of herbal products commercialized in the city of Teresina, Piauí State, Northeast of Brazil. Data were obtained from those over the counter products from stores of a great drugstores chain, two supermarkets and drugstores, comprising 21 shops. The observed parameters were relative to pharmaceutical formulation and those registered in the labeling and package leaflet, including “pthyto-therapeutic medicine” designation, absence or presence of therapeutic indications and contraindications. A total of 363 herbal products were recorded, among then 81.0% were sold in solid formulation, 14.3% in liquid and 4.7% in the semi-solid. In relation to the nomenclature in the package label, 120 products showed only the scientific name, 25 only the popular name and 69 both names. Besides, less than half of the products showed the designation “phyto-therapeutic medicine”. Considering those phyto-therapeutic medicines with package leaflet, 69 presented therapeutic indication and 79 showed contraindications. It is interesting to note that the most of phyto-therapeutic medicines available in the Teresina market are in disagreement with the Brazilian legislation regarding to therapeutic indications and contraindications as well as the pthyto-therapeutic medicine designation.