Ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants used by local populations in Tlemcen National Park (extreme North West Algeria)

Abstract

Medicinal plants are currently used by local populations to treat different diseases around the world. In the present study, the local knowledge of medicinal plants used by indigenous populations living in the Park of Tlemcen (North-West Algeria) has been documented. A total of 254 informants with a strong ethnomedicinal knowledge living in the national park of Tlemcen were interviewed by using a questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using quantitative indices such as the ethnobotanicity index (EI), use value (UV), and Informant Consensus Factor (FIC). 109 species belonging to 54 families were identified and used by indigenous populations to treat different diseases. The most frequent families were lamiaceae (15.5%), asteraceae (11.9%), and rosaceae (5.5%). Roots, rhizomes or tubers were the most used part for medical care (37.6%), followed by leaves (33.6%), other aerial parts (16%), fruits (8%), flowers (1.6%), and seeds (3.2%). Regarding modes of preparation, we noticed that decoction (40.4%) and infusion (28.5%) were the most predominant. Moreover, Thymus lanceolatus (UV=0.96), Origon glandulosum (UV=0.96) and Ammoides verticillata (UV=0.94) were the most frequently used species. FIC values ranged from 0.65 to 0.98. The highest FIC were recorded for reproductive and sexual disorders (0.98), respiratory tract diseases (0.98), cardiovascular system disease and blood disorders (0.94), digestive disorders (0.93), and general health (0.93). A variety of species are used to treat several ailments. Recorded species with high UV should be prioritized for conservation and subjected to further phytochemical and pharmacological studies.

Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers in Algeria: A Multiregional Ethnobotanical Study

“…We also found that oral ingestion was the most frequently used mode of administration, followed by external application, steam, and nasal inhalation. Our findings are consistent with those we previously reported in South-West Algeria ( Benarba, 2016 ), North-West Algeria ( Benarba, 2015 ), and Extreme-West Algeria (Tlemcen) ( Zatout et al, 2021 ). Likewise, oral and topical applications were found to be the most frequently used administration methods used by local healers or populations in other regions in Algeria ( Hammiche and Maiza, 2006 ; Boudjelal et al, 2013 ; Sarri et al, 2014 ; Miara et al, 2018 ) and neighboring countries ( Mrabti et al, 2019 ; Fakchich and Elachouri, 2014 ; Benitez et al, 2010 ).…”

“…The traditional healers in the study areas reported that 64% of medicinal species were mixed with other medicinal plants, whereas 43% of herbal mixtures were prepared by adding different adjuvants with a dominance of honey, olive oil, animal fat, or vinegar. In concordance with our findings, several ethnobotanical investigations carried out in Algeria demonstrated that honey was the adjuvant most frequently added to prepare medicinal herbal mixtures (Benarba, 2016;Ouelbani et al, 2016;Zatout et al, 2021). Our findings are also in perfect consistency with those reported in other regions around the world Amri and Kisangau, 2012;Pranskuniene et al, 2016).…”

“…In a previous study carried out in North-West Algeria, we found that gastrointestinal diseases had the highest F IC value of 0.658, followed by general health (F IC = 0.645) and respiratory diseases (0.642), while the cancer category was recorded to be the 4th highest (F IC = 0.524) ( Benarba et al, 2015 ). Moreover, a recent study carried out in the extreme North-West of Algeria reported that the reproductive and sexual disorders F IC value were the highest score (0.98), and for the cancer category, they had an F IC value of 0.77 with 6 species ( Zatout et al, 2021 ). In disagreement with our findings, Bouasla and Bouasla (2017) indicated that cancer (F IC = 0.25) was the least known ailment to be treated in the traditional medicine of the local population in North-East Algeria.…”

“…Similar results were found in previous ethnobotanical studies ( Benarba, 2015 ; Merrouni and Elachouri, 2020 ). In fact, decoction and infusion were found to be the most used in the recent ethnobotanical studies in Algeria ( Benarba et al, 2015 ; Benarba, 2016 ; Mechaala et al, 2021 ; Zatout et al, 2021 ) and neighboring countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, and Italy in Africa and in Europe ( Giday et al, 2009 ; Benitez et al, 2010 ; Amri and Kisangau, 2012 ; Menale et al, 2016 ; Savić et al, 2019 ). The dominance of decoction or infusion could be explained by the disinfection potential of heating besides its extraction enhancing effects ( Benarba, 2015 ).…”

An Algerian endemic species in danger to disappear due to pandemic, Origanum vulgare subsp. glandulosum (Desf.) Letsw

“…Traditional medicine is viewed as a combination of knowledge and practice used in diagnosing, preventing, and eliminating the disease (Villena-Tejada et al 2021). It is old but still widely used in all societies, and it is common in all cultures, including North Africa (Ozioma and Chinwe 2019;Zatout et al 2021). The use of medicinal plants is a common practice in traditional medicine in Algeria.…”