Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal analysis of wild medicinal plants traditionally used in Naâma, southwest Algeria

Abstract

Algerian people largely rely on traditional medicine practices as part of a community's identity. This first ethnobotanical study aimed to quantify and document the wild medicinal plant taxa from four family and the related traditional knowledge in Naâma province, Algeria. The survey was carried out between 2018 and 2020. The socio-demographic data and the use of medicinal species were recorded and collected randomly from 84 indigenous people using pre-prepared questionnaire. The result was evaluated using quantitative indices. A total of 27 medicinal plant species belonging to 21 genera used in the community were mostly recorded. The most represented families were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae (12 species for each of them). The aerial parts were the most frequently used plant part (73 %), while a decoction (34 %), and infusion (31 %) were the major modes of remedy preparation. The species with high UV were Rosmarinus officinalis L. (0.80), Artemisia herba-alba Asso (0.76), and Juniperus phoenicea L. subsp. phoenicea (0.75). Species with highest FL were: Ephedra alata subsp. alenda (Stapf) Trab (100 %), Teucrium polium L. (60 %), and Ballota hirsuta Benth (57.14.5 %). Atractylis caespitosa Desf and Nepeta nepetella subsp.amethystina (Poir.) Briq were newly cited as medicinal plants and have not been recorded previously in Algeria. Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut were reported to treat COVID-19 symptoms. The results obtained indicate the richness of the area with medicinal plants as well as knowledge of alternative medicine. The most cited plants could be contained molecules that can be tested for therapeutic uses.

Thymus hirtus Willd. ssp. algeriensis Boiss. and Reut: A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, and Health-Enhancing Effects

“…In traditional Algerian medicine, T. algeriensis has been used as an astringent, expectorant, and healing agent and a blood circulation stimulant and aphrodisiac [ 87 , 88 ]. Infusion, decoction, and powder of the aerial parts are used in Naâma, southwest Algeria for treating colds as an anti-inflammatory, to manage hypercholesterolemia and menstrual cycle problems, and recently against COVID-19 [ 34 ]. El Kantara’s area (Algerian Sahara gate) is traditionally employed to flavor coffee, buttermilk, and tea.…”

“…Botanical influences from different directions could explain the Maghreban floristic biodiversity. Several regions of the Mediterranean climate are found, from desert to mountain, with transitions from plains to steppes [ 33 , 34 ]. The Maghreb has about 8000 km of coastline, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.…”

“…This similarity is reflected in the traditional uses of plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Indeed, its species are the most frequently cited in ethnopharmacological surveys, particularly in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. The Lamiaceae are represented by 29 genera in Algeria, 11 in Mauritania, 32 in Morocco, 22 in Libya, and in Tunisia by 26 genera [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Role of ethno-phytomedicine knowledge in healthcare of COVID-19: advances in traditional phytomedicine perspective

“…Perry , Origanum vulgare L. , Mentha × piperita L. , Zingiber officinale Roscoe , Aucklandia costus Falc., Artemisia herba-alba Asso , Aloysia citriodora Palau , Eucalyptus globulus Labill , Nigella sativa L. , and Citrus × limon (L.) Osbeck Belmouhoub et al [ 22 ] Southwest Algeria 2 Artemisia herba-alba Asso , and Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut Bouafia et al [ 31 ] Bangladesh 15 Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees , Mangifera indica L. , Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.…”

Optimization of hydrodistillation extraction using response surface methodology and Chemical composition of essential oil from Moroccan endemic medicinal plant Ballota hirsuta

“…In folk medicine, the leaves are the part of the plant most used for treating general health, gastrointestinal, gynecological and pediatric problems (Teixidor-Toneu et al 2016). In Algeria, these leaves are used against bruises, injuries and rheumatic pain (Kechar et al 2016;Boua a et al 2021). The phytochemical screening of various organs of B. hirsuta showed the existence of avonoids, polyphenols and tannins which are thought to be responsible for its biological activities (Ferreres et al 1986;Kechar et al 2015; Kechar and Hellal 2017, Kechar and Hellal 2021).…”