Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used in the Region of Middle Oum Rbia (Morocco)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Plant Archives Vol. 19 No. 2, 2019 pp. 2005-2017 e-ISSN:2581-6063 (online), ISSN:0972-5210 ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE REGION OF MIDDLE OUM RBIA (MOROCCO) Ben Akka Fatiha1, Salhi Souad1, Benkhnigue Ouafae1, Dahmani Jamila2, Douira Allal2 and Zidane Lahcen1 1Department of Biology, UFR: Mycology, Laboratory of Nutrition, Health and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Kenitra, Morocco 2Department of Biology, Laboratory of Botany and Plant Protection, Faculty of Sciences Kenitra, Morocco Abstract In order to enhance the heritage of the medicinal plants used in the traditional pharmacopoeia in the Middle Oum Rbia region. We carried out an ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants, which was based on a survey of 1360 people from different population groups, broken down by sex, age, grade, family status and chosen medicine, randomly selected from 34 strata that are answered by questionnaire form. The analysis of the data collected shows that 69% of respondents combine modern medicine and traditional medicine, 19% practice traditional medicine and 12% use modern medicine, 58% of respondents who use medicinal plants are women. The floristic analysis of the data made it possible to identify 74 families, 198 genera and 238 species of which Origanum compactum, Trigonella foenum graecum and Chenopodium ambrosioides are the most used species. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae and Brassicaceae are the richest families of species exploited for therapeutic purposes. The part of the plant most used is the leaf and the most common methods of preparation are infusion and decoction. In addition, it is the digestive, respiratory and dermatological disorders that are most treated by medicinal plants; However, most users of medicinal plants are not aware of the need to respect the dose and toxicity potential of these plants. In addition, some respondents reported the toxicity of certain plants, namely: Chenopodium ambrosioides, Catharanthus roseus, Nerium oleander, Atractylis gummifera. This work can be a source of information for phytochemists and pharmacologists interested in research on medicinal plants. In addition, the valuation of medicinal plants is a socio-economic benefit. Keywords : Morocco, Middle Oum Rbia, medicinal plant, ethnobotanical survey. Introduction living in poverty according to the UNDP report in 2014 Man has gradually become aware of the possibility and rely almost exclusively on herbal medicine. On the of curing his illnesses by plants. It is a knowledge that other hand, in industrialized countries where problems of has developed over millennia. Herbal medicine varies resistance have emerged as a result of over-consumption according to the local flora; Specific herbal preparations of drugs, alternatives to modern medicine are being sought have been used to control diseases in humans and (Akerele, 1988). livestock (Waller et al., 2001). Afterwards, the The increased use of medicinal plants worldwide is development of commercial relations has favored the a threat to their long-term survival. Many plants are exchange of the most famous medicinal plants as well as threatened with extinction or severe genetic therapeutic knowledge. impoverishment (Hamilton, 2004). It is then necessary to Most of the world’s population still depends on implement a strategy of valorization and sustainable traditional medicine and therefore on the use of plants development of the entire aromatic and medicinal plants and plant extracts; 2.2 billion people in the world are still sector, while involving the people concerned and taking *Author for correspondence : E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2006 Ben Akka Fatiha et al. them into consideration in any awareness program. The population Morocco has a rich plant heritage because of its According to the 2014 General Population and richness and diversity. Among these natural resources, Housing Census (RGPH), the Beni Mellal-Khénifra aromatic and medicinal plants (MAP) play a large role region has 2,520,776 inhabitants of which 49.14% in urban and play a large role in the national economy (Bellakhdar, areas, which is lower than the national rate (60,36%). 1997). Morocco is among the top five floristically richest The density is 88.8 inhabitants per km2. countries in the Mediterranean basin and is a traditional Climate and precipitation supplier of the world market in aromatic and medicinal The geographical position of the region of Beni plants (Quezel and Medail, 1994). Mellal-Khénifra, confers a climatic diversity which varies The Middle Oum Rbai region, due to its geographical from a humid climate (tops of the chain of High Atlas position and climatic context, offers significant ecological and some peaks of the middle Atlas) to a semi-arid climate and floristic diversity. Therefore, a phytotherapeutic below the mountainous mass passing through the sub- tradition is strongly rooted in this region. It is in this humid (Ministry of the Interior, 2015). perspective that we conducted an ethnobotanical study The dominant climate is of continental type: intense in the region of Middle Oum Rbai, in order to establish cold in winter with very hot summers. In addition, the the inventory of medicinal plants used by the local average annual rainfall varies considerably. In 2012, the population for the medication, to collect information province of Beni Mellal recorded a rainfall of 291 mm, concerning the therapeutic uses that are practiced there, while in 2008; it was of the order of 460.3 mm. This in particular the modes of use and administration and finally to clear the principal affections treated by these plants. Presentation of the study area Field of study : Geographical location of the study area The region of Middle Oum Rbai includes the provinces of Khouribga, Fkih Ben Saleh and Kasbat Tadla, it is part of the region of Beni Mellal-Khénifra created by the territorial division of 2015 and it is located in the northern part of the country. The region of Beni Mellal- Khénifra includes five provinces: Blessed Mellal, Azilal, Fkih Ben Saleh, Khenifra, Khouribga. It covers an area of 28,374 Km² or 3.99% of the national territory. The Beni Mellal-Khénifra region is bounded on the west by the Casablanca Settat and Marrakesh-Safi regions, on the south by the Draa Tafilalet region and on the east by the Eastern region and on the north by the Fes Meknes and Rabat Sale Kenitra (Fig.1). Fig. 1 : Map of Provinces of the Beni Mellal-Khénifra Region (Ministry of the Interior, 2015). Ethobotnical Study of medicinal plants used in the region of middle Oum Rbia (Morocco) 2007 rainfall showing significant variations from year to year and refuse to answer our questions but once we put them is often poorly distributed throughout the year. The high in trust by explaining the objectives of the study, they concentrations of rainfall during a given period are collaborate sympathetically. The ethnobotanical survey sometimes the cause of certain disasters such as floods, form was filled out with 1360 people from different land subsidence and collapse of old buildings. The province profiles. The pre-established questionnaire first includes of Azilal, meanwhile, records an average rainfall of 450 questions relating to the profile of the informant: Age, mm with significant snowfall, which contributes to the intellectual level, family situation, chosen medicine and improvement of the water volumes of the reservoirs. then questions about each of the medicinal plants used: While Khouribga and Kasba Tadla record respectively vernacular name of the plant, part used, dose used, the 278 mm and 334 mm. Mean annual temperatures vary method of preparation and use and the disease treated. between highs of 40°C in the province of Beni-Mellal The plants indicated by the population were collected in and minimum of 2°C in the province of Azilal. The snow order to identify them. The identification and identification appears from 900 m of altitude and the prevailing wind is of the different species were made at the level of the Chergui during the summer period (Ministry of the Laboratory of Nutrition, Health and Environment at the interior, 2015). Kenitra Faculty of Science based on the following works: Material and methods • New flora of Algeria and the southern desert regions of Quezel & Santana (1962, 1963), volumes I and II. Choice of the region • Practical flora of Morocco by Fennane et al., (1999, The present ethnobotanical and floristic research 2007), Volume 1, 2 and 3. concerns the region of Middle Oum Rbia whose choice was based on the phytogeographic subdivision of • The medicinal plants of Morocco of Sijelmassi (1993). Morocco de Sauvage and Vindt (1961); it is the X • The traditional Moroccan pharmacopoeia of subdivision (Middle Oum Rbia) which has not been the Bellakhdar (1997). subject of any study of this kind to our knowledge. • Moroccan medicinal and aromatic plants of both the Choice of ethnobotany survey points informant profile and the floristic data. The determination of the survey points is based on Results and discussion the stratified sampling technique (Daget and Godron, Distribution of the sample according to the chosen 1982). We then determined 34 strata, with a staff of 40 medicine people per stratum. The study involved a total sample of 1360 people (Fig. 2). 69% of respondents combine modern medicine and traditional medicine for treatment, 19% practice traditional We identified 34 strata (Table 1.), of which we medicine and 12% use modern medicine only (Fig. 3). conducted our ethnobotanical survey in the study area on a sample of 1360 people, with a total of 40 people per Traditional medicine stratum. To better evaluate the importance of traditional Ethnobotanical survey medicine, we will consider the number of respondents who use traditional medicine and that of people who The ethnobotanical survey, conducted in the Oum combine the two medicines (modern and traditional), the Rbia region, between 2010 and 2015, was based on whole constitutes a staff of 1200 people.