Medicinal plants and their traditional uses in the highland region of Bordj Bou Arreridj (Northeast Algeria)

Publication date: Available online 21 February 2019Source: Journal of Herbal MedicineAuthor(s): Mohamed Djamel Miara, Hamdi Bendif, Khellaf Rebbas, Bounar Rabah, Mohammed Ait Hammou, Filippo MaggiAbstractIn the highlands of Bordj Bou Arreridj in Northeast Algeria, traditional knowledge about medicinal plants is still put to use, but has been poorly explored by researchers. In view of its natural and cultural richness and the socio-economic context, this area is an ideal location for the study of aromatic and medicinal plants and their traditional uses. The aim of this ethnobotanical study was to shed light on how medicinal plants are used in traditional phytotherapy in the region of Bordj Bou Arreridj. Over a two-year period (2014-2016), herbalists practicing phytotherapy in the region were surveyed, and asked to provide information about themselves and the plants they used (vernacular name, mode of preparation, parts used and toxicity). The data was analyzed in terms of the Use-Value of species (UV), Medicinal Informant Agreement Ratios (Med. IARs), Fidelity Level (FL) and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Among the 51 herbalists interviewed, men dominated the practice of traditional phytotherapy. The majority of these herbalists, whose ages varied between 46 and 65, are illiterate. During the survey, 83 species of medicinal plants were identified. They belong to 66 genera and 37 botanical families, among which Lamiaceae were the most used. The herbalists most commonly u...
Source: Journal of Herbal Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research