Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used in the Northeastern Part of Morocco

Abstract

The knowledge of the plants that are used may provide insight on their properties for further exploration. This study aimed to identify and collect data about medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by the population of the provincial region of Taza, Morocco. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among 200 informants, competent villagers, herbalists, and traditional healers from the provincial region of Taza city through direct interviews using a structured questionnaire. The survey reported 55 plant species belonging to 28 families used in the folk medicine. Informants’ results showed that the most frequently used plants were Origanum compactum, Mentha pulegium, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Aloysia citrodora, Calamintha officinalis Moench, and Artemisia herba-alba Asso., with a relative frequency of citation of 76%, 72%, 60%, 42%, 40%, and 30%, respectively. Moreover, in this study, the Lamiaceae family was the most commonly reported plant family, and the leaves were the most frequently used parts of the plants; otherwise, decoction and infusion were the most used modes in the preparation of remedies from medicinal plants in the traditional medicine. The sociodemographic characteristics showed that women use medicinal plants slightly more than men, the illiterate people use the medicinal plant the most, and old people have more information about the medicinal plants than the new generations. The region of Taza of Morocco has an important floristic biodiversity of medicinal plants which are used in traditional medicine practice. This result provides a good database for pharmacological screening in the search for new plants that can contain new bioactive molecules that can be used as a bioactive ingredient of medicament or as a biological alternative in pharmacology.

Profile of Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used for the Treatment of Skin Burns

“…It was also noted that women actively participated in this survey (83.49%) compared with men (16.51%). This is in line with previous studies carried out in Morocco, where women were more interested in traditional medicine [ 27 , 28 ]. Unfortunately, most participants did not have formal education (75.69%).…”

“…Our results were similar to the only work carried out in Morocco by Salhi et al [ 3 ] on plants used against skin burns. Other work carried out in Morocco on medicinal plants against different pathologies showed that the leaves were the most commonly used parts [ 19 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 68 ]. The results demonstrated that the powder was the main and simplest traditional application method used in the treatment of skin burns either alone or in combination with adjuvants such as honey, olive oil, and rose oil.…”

First contribution to the ethnobotanical knowledge in the Peloritani Mounts (NE Sicily)

“…vulgare, Mentha pulegium and Allium sativum. Fruits of F. vulgare are used to cure stomach pain and gastrointestinal problems, leaves of M. pulegium are applied to treat the cold and A. sativum is quoted for its cardiovascular proprieties (e.g., to cure hypertension) [78,79]. Among those uses, from phytochemical viewpoint, were studied the fruits of F. vulgare, which have analgesic [80] and carminative [81] properties, therefore its utilization in folk medicine appears also well supported.…”

Tetraclinis articulata (vahl) masters: An insight into its ethnobotany, phytochemistry, toxicity, biocide and therapeutic merits

“…In North Africa, various parts of this tree, such as leaves, stems, roots, fruit, and seeds, have been used in the traditional folk medicine against multiple health conditions. Different parts of the plant have been reportedly prepared in the form of decoction, infusion, fumigation, and paste and applied topically or orally to treat diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diarrhea, rheumatism, intestinal, respiratory, and skin diseases ( Kachmar et al, 2021 ; Idm’hand et al, 2020 ; Amel, 2013 ; Buhagiar et al, 2000 ). Recent studies have lent credence to several ethnomedicinal applications of T. articulata including, antioxidant ( Djouahri et al, 2016 ), antimicrobial ( Bahri et al, 2015 ), anti-inflammatory ( Rached et al, 2018 ), neuroprotective ( El Jemli et al, 2016 ; Sadiki et al, 2018b ), vasorelaxant ( Zidane et al, 2014 ), and anticancer properties ( Calderón-Montaño et al, 2021 ).…”