Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapeutics: Assessment of Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge at a Higher Education Institution in Northern Minas Gerais

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines has been consolidated as a therapeutic practice of cultural relevance and growing scientific interest. However, gaps persist in the knowledge of future health professionals, especially regarding public policies and regulations that govern their use in Brazil. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the knowledge and perceptions of Pharmacy students from a private institution in Montes Claros – MG, Brazil, about medicinal plants, herbal medicines, national policies, and related regulations. This is an observational, descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional study, conducted with 132 students of both sexes, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The results showed a predominance of female participants (65.9%) and the age group between 18 and 28 years (78.0%). It was found that 65.9% of students were able to differentiate medicinal plants from herbal medicines, while 93.2% reported having already used such resources. Despite this broad acceptance, knowledge about policies and regulations proved to be limited: only 29.5% were aware of the PNPIC, 22.0% of the PNPMF, 21.2% of the Farmácia Viva Program, 35.6% of Resolution No. 546/2011, and 31.1% of RDC No. 26/2014. It is concluded that, although there is wide receptivity to the use of herbal medicines, deficiencies remain in technical-scientific and regulatory knowledge, reinforcing the need for greater inclusion of phytotherapy in academic curricula to train professionals qualified for the rational and safe use of these resources.