Inventory of Medicinal Plants Used Traditionally to Manage Kidney Diseases in North-Eastern Morocco: Ethnobotanical Fieldwork and Pharmacological Evidence

Abstract

Kidney disease is one of the most common health problems and kidney failure can be fatal. It is one of the health disorders associated with extreme pain and discomfort in patients. In developing countries, such as Morocco where socioeconomic and sanitary conditions are precarious, medicinal plants are considered the primary source of medication. In the present work an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in a remote area of North-Eastern Morocco and we focused on (1) establishing a record of medicinal plants used traditionally by local people to treat kidney diseases and (2) correlate the obtained ethnomedical use with well-studied pharmacological evidence. From February 2018 to January2020, information was gathered from 488 informants using semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using three quantitative indices: The use value (UV), family use value (FUV), and informant consensus factor (ICF). A total of 121 plant species belonging to 57 botanical families were identified to treat kidney diseases. The families most represented were Asteraceae (14 species), followed by Lamiaceae (12 species) and Apiaceae (10 species). The most commonly used plant parts were leaves, followed by the whole plant and they were most commonly prepared by decoction and infusion. The highest value of the (UV) index was attributed to Herniaria hirsuta L. (UV = 0.16), and the highest family use value (FUV) was assigned to Caryophyllaceae with (FUV = 0.163). Regarding the informant consensus factor (ICF), this index’s highest values were recorded for kidney stones (ICF = 0.72). The use of 45% of the selected plants were validated based on literature review. This study helped document and preserve crucial traditional plant knowledge of 121 plant species used to treat kidney problems that can be used in the search for new biologically active compounds through more upcoming pharmacological studies.

Comparison of Phenolic Metabolites in Purified Extracts of Three Wild-Growing Herniaria L. Species and Their Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities In Vitro

“…Furthermore, trans-GMCA, GMPPA as well as 4,4 -dimethoxy-2,2 -di-O-hexoside-truxinate were previously identified in n-butanol fraction from aerial parts of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. [19] HIh-PE contained a variety of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric (HMG) acid conjugates with quercetin (peak 22), 7-O-methylquercetin (peak 31), kaempferol (peaks 24, 28), and 7-Omethylkaempferol (peaks [33][34][35][36][37]. Three non-phenolic metabolites: maltol derivative (LB), N-malonyl-tryptophan (peak 14), and a trace amount of blumenin isomer (peak 23) were also identified in these extracts.…”

“…Despite the presence in traditional medicine and contemporary herbal therapies, molecular mechanisms and main pathways of biological actions of Herniaria species are poorly recognized. So far, only some aspects of the biological actions of H. glabra and H. hirsuta L. have been described [32,33]. While the most of studies on H. glabra are focused on its diuretic [34] and anti-urolithiasis activity [35], other biological actions of different Herniaria species remain inadequately recognized.…”

An Overview of Bioactive Flavonoids from Citrus Fruits

“…In vitro study showed that flavonoids extracted from C. reticulata has strong anti-collagenase and anti-elastase potential [87]. In Morocco, according to Bencheikh et al, Citrus species (lemon, lime, age-leaved rock-rose and sweet orange) are widely used in the treatment of renal problems, including renal stones, colic and insufficiency [88]. Murata et al showed both hesperetin and naringenin extracted from Citrus fruits had anti-allergic effects on rat basophil leukemia RBL-2H3 cells.…”

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oil from Cistus ladanifer L.

“…AMPs play a crucial and fundamental role in traditional medicine and play a very significant role in drug discovery [1]. Natural substances account for around 25% of all medicines available for the treatment of illnesses (plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi) [2]. Cistus ladanifer L. is one of the medicinal plants, belonging to the Cistaceae family, the latter represented by seven genera (Cistus, Fumane, Halimium, Tuberaria, Helianthemum, Hudsonia and Lechea), the genus Cistus alone encompass 16 species particularly distributed in the Mediterranean region [3,4], this kind is widespread in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Algeria, and Morocco [5].…”