ESTUDO ETNOBOTÂNICO DE PLANTAS MEDICINAIS DA MATA CILIAR DO SUBMÉDIO SÃO FRANCISCO, NORDESTE DO BRASIL

: The Riparian Forest of Submediate São Francisco has great phytodiversity, with potential biological activity and intrinsic relationship with the riverside population. Thus, the objective of this research was to identify species known and used as medicinal attested by the traditionality of use. The research subjects were the residents of the community of Jatubarana located 600 meters from the banks of the São Francisco River in the municipality of Chorrochó, Bahia. Data collection occurred by field research, applying the free list and structured questionnaire, based on the concept of ''head of family''. A total of 59 species and 29 botanical families were recorded, of which five families contributed a greater number of species: Fabaceae (9), Euphorbiaceae (7), Lamiaceae (4), Anacardiaceae (4), Apiaceae (4). According to the popular pharmacopoeia of the studied community, the mentioned plants have efficacy in relieving the disease, characterizing the medicinal potential of the native and exotic species of the Caatinga. The stem was apart from the most cited plant in the therapeutic use, the way of preparing the most used remedies was tea and the most cited therapeutic indication was for respiratory disease. Twelvespecies presented great Relative Importance regarding medicinal uses with IR≥2 indicated for up to three body systems, the most versatile species was Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Staph with IR (2,0). The study was essential for the ethnobotanical rescue, identifying the plants of medicinal interest of the Caatinga biome, raising awareness of the importance of the Riparian Forest and its conservation.