Traditional Medicinal Plants: Espinheira-Santa, Guaco, and Maracujá-Medicinal in Phytotherapy

The traditional Brazilian medicinal plants — espinheira-santa, guaco, maracujá-medicinal, erva-baleeira, carqueja, chapéu-de-couro, and dozens of other species from RENISUS — are the foundation of Brazilian phytotherapy. ANVISA Resolution RDC 26/2014 simplified the registration of national phytotherapeutics and created a new category of Traditional Phytotherapeutic Product (PTF) with easier access to the market.

The phytotherapeutics market in Brazil generates over R$ 3 billion a year and grows 20% annually — with increasing prescriptions by integrative doctors and in UBS of the SUS. Family farmers who produce RENISUS plants with certified quality have contracts with phytotherapeutic laboratories and the public health network itself.

When traditional medicinal plants are cultivated with correct botanical identification and quality certification, this segment can significantly contribute to job and income generation in Brazil.

Participate in our strategic actions for implementing the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and 255 segments of the national agro — from the grain chain to sustainable extraction, encompassing horticulture, fruit farming, livestock, and much more.

The series Innovation for Brazil to Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide, in the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to produce traditional medicinal plants with quality for the phytotherapeutic market

The production of medicinal plants for phytotherapeutics begins with rigorous botanical identification — with a specimen deposited in a herbarium and identification report issued by a qualified botanist. This is the most critical requirement and frequently unmet by producers.

✔    Botanical identification with specimen — ANVISA requirement

✔    Harvest during the peak concentration period of actives

✔    Good Agricultural Practices (BPA) for medicinal plants — IN 26 MAPA

✔    Marker Chemical Analysis — espinheira-santa (maitenina), guaco (coumarin)

✔    PRONAF and PNPMF for RENISUS medicinal plants

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents, in detail, the best solutions for this segment and the other 254 of the Brazilian agro — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does the traditional medicinal plants chain require

Medicinal plants require certified dryers, analysis laboratories, and traceability — with increasing demand from phytotherapeutic laboratories for qualified suppliers.

Solutions by engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain requires solutions in all of them:

Electrical and Computer Engineering — certified BPA medicinal plant dryers;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — humidity sensors for controlled drying;

Control and Automation Engineering — batch traceability systems;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — mills and packaging machines for medicinal herbs;

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for herb dryers;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — traceability of markers for ANVISA.

✔    Dryers with temperature control and BPA

✔    Analysis laboratory for phytochemical markers

✔    Batch traceability for ANVISA

✔    Consulting for the registration of Traditional Phytotherapeutic Product

✔    Partnership with phytotherapeutic laboratories for supply contracts

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How municipalities can support traditional medicinal plants with a Live Pharmacy

The Live Pharmacy Program of the Ministry of Health is the public policy with the greatest impact for medicinal plants — and the municipality that implements it creates accessible health products with cultural identity.

✔    Live Pharmacy Program with RENISUS plants

✔    Certified BPA municipal medicinal garden

✔    Municipal IDM: RENISUS plants in local SUS

✔    Partnership with phytotherapeutic laboratories for local biomass

✔    Medicinal Plants Festival — public health and culture

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents a step-by-step guide for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for all 255 agro segments. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agro Product Merchants

How traditional medicinal plants generate business for pharmacies and the SUS

The dry espinheira-santa supply contract for phytotherapeutic laboratory is one of the most stable B2B businesses in the medicinal plants market — the laboratory that approves a quality biomass supplier renews the contract annually without bidding, since the quality is proven and changing suppliers poses a risk.

For the compounding pharmacy market, the standardized extract of maracujá-medicinal is one of the most prescribed phytomedicines in Brazil — with compounding laboratories paying R$ 50 to R$ 100/kg of standardized dry biomass.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and food service:

Dry espinheira-santa for phytotherapeutic purposes — long-term B2B;

Guaco extract for syrup — high-volume pharmaceutical product;

Maracujá-medicinal for anxiolytic — growing mental health market;

Carqueja for digestive — product with regional identity;

Chapéu-de-couro for anti-inflammatory — increasing use in SUS;

RENISUS plant kit for live pharmacy — product for public health.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Phytotherapeutic laboratories: quality biomass for capsules

✔    Compounding pharmacies: extracts and tinctures of traditional plants

✔    SUS and UBS: RENISUS plants for phytotherapy prescription

✔    Specialty stores: artisanal teas from medicinal plants with identity

✔    Family farmers: RENISUS as a guaranteed market

✔    ANVISA consultants: facilitated PTF registration

Growth strategies for local merchants

The producer of medicinal plants who certifies BPA and sells with marker analysis report has the most differentiated B2B product in the market — as the phytotherapeutic laboratory pays a premium for suppliers that provide complete documentation and do not need to conduct the analysis internally.

The PRONAF and BNB/FNE cover medicinal plants. Pronampe finances laboratories. SEBRAE subsidizes BPA certification.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Merchant of Agro Products maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities in all 255 segments of the agro. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Network of Innovation and Technology

By acquiring any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Network of Innovation and Technology. Groups with 30 members will be able to organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agro Product Merchants

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Lecturer: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering