Abstract
Introduction: Since 2006, herbal medicine in Brazil has been encouraged with the implementation of the National Policy and Program for Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapeutics (PNPMF). The rational use of phytotherapy by the population depends on traditional knowledge combined with scientific studies, sanitary regulations, biodiversity sustainability programs, and public policies that facilitate its implementation within the Unified Health System (SUS). In this context, the Fitoterapia Brasil portal (www.fitoterapiabrasil.com.br) gathers content about medicinal plants and phytotherapeutics extracted from digital or physical documents, assessed and validated by a curator. The portal was developed under the project "Structuring the Living Pharmacy in SUS in the municipality of Jardinópolis/SP," funded by the Ministry of Health, linked to the SCTIE/MS01/2017 Notice, in partnership with the Municipal Health Department of Jardinópolis-SP and the University of Ribeirão Preto/SP. Objectives: The aim is to compile data on native and exotic medicinal plants, aiming to promote the rational use of phytotherapeutics, ensure biodiversity resource sustainability, and contribute to PNPMF guidelines. Methods: The technical details of the website include a Drupal content management system, PHP language, MySQL database, and a fully integrated control panel with features essential for a Web 2.0 platform. This structure was developed by a specialized company. Selection of technical-scientific and educational information on medicinal plants and phytotherapeutics was rigorously analyzed from primary, secondary, or traditional sources. Specific and standardized methodologies were employed for content insertion. Due to the diverse areas encompassing phytotherapy, the portal is subdivided into topics: Medicinal Plants, Legislation, Quality Control, Living Pharmacies, Concepts, Virtual Library, Diseases & Medicinal Plants, Botany, Conservation & Biodiversity, Research Groups, Seeds & Seedlings, Product & Industry, People & Knowledge, Education & Art, and Sites. To ensure clear and objective access to data, the portal was publicly launched in July 2021, accompanied by dissemination strategies targeting healthcare professionals, researchers, and students. Results: The portal currently features 127 medicinal plants, 158 legislative documents, 520 research groups, 186 national and international documents, 682 concepts, 54 diseases and medicinal plants, 37 groups focusing on tradition, education, and art, and 47 websites. Today, the portal records approximately 4,600 accesses per month. Conclusion: The Fitoterapia Brasil portal meets the increasing demand for curated and updated information on the subject. Its comprehensive approach covering themes such as science, tradition, art, legislation, education, and biodiversity caters to a diverse audience, from healthcare professionals authorized to prescribe phytotherapeutics to lay users interested in the topic.
