Contribution to the floristic and ethnobotanic study of the most utilized medicinal plants in the Sétifian Tell (south of the Tamentout forest) east Algeria

Abstract

This study aims to know the natural heritage of the Tamentout forest through a floristic inventory made in several cantons and to evaluate the uses of traditional medicine in the Sétifian Tell, by conducting an ethnobotanical study at the level of several localities in the region. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the listed flora identified 101 plant species, which are divided into 38 families and 97 genera. An important representation of the Asteraceae (19%), Fabaceae and Lamiaceae families (11%) are noted. The floristic study emphasizes the presence of several biological types, with a codominance of hemicryptophytes (with 42%) and therophytes (31%). The Mediterranean floristic element constitutes the most important chorological ensemble (52%). The ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 82 informants, with a total of 290 questionnaire cards. All the results were processed by statistical processing software: Excel 2007 and IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. These results showed that the leaves are the most used part (43%) and that the methods of use are prepared in the form of infusion (25%), poultices (18%), and decoction (11%). The most common forms of use are herbal tea (46%), powder (25%), and essential oil (19%). The oral route is the most widely used route of administration (51%). The most common pathologies are those of the digestive system (20%) and the respiratory system (18%). This study made it possible to identify the diversity of the flora of the Tamentout South Slope forest and list its traditional care and consequently to contribute to the conservation of the Mediterranean pharmacopeia that is being lost.

Ethnobotanical knowledge of Daphne gnidium L. species in Taza (Northeastern Morocco)

“…Leaves were the most used plant part (100%). Previous studies involving the D. gnidium plant realized in several regions of Morocco were in accordance with this result (Akdime et al 2015, Bellakhdar et al 1991, El-Hilaly et al 2003, Fatiha et al 2019, Merzouki et al 2000, Slimani et al 2016, also in Algeria (Benarba et al 2015, Boudjelal et al 2013, Yaici et al 2020.…”

“…In Algeria, Djebel Zdimm (Northeast) (Chermat & Gharzouli 2015) has a similarity with our area (JI = 0.4), and two similar uses were cited (dermatological and hair care). The lowest similarity was observed in Bechar and Adrar (Southwest) (Benarba 2016) (JI=0.25) and forest of Tamentout (East) (Karima et al 2020) (JI = 0.16), two uses were observed similar hair care and dermatological respectively.…”

“…The aerial part is used in Algeria for its anti-inflammatory effect (Boudjelal et al 2013), and as an odontalgia in Spain (Benítez et al 2010). In Algeria the leaves are used for hair loss (Benarba et al 2015), hair care (Chermat & Gharzouli 2015), and rheumatic and muscular pains (Yaici et al 2020). In Spain, the flowers are used against skin, cutaneous and tissue diseases (Belda et al 2013), and the roots and branches are used for an insecticide effect (González et al 2011).…”