Ethnobotanical and Ethnomedicinal Analysis of Wild Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Naâma, Southwest Algeria
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Vegetos (2021) 34:654–662 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-021-00229-7 RESEARCH ARTICLES Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal analysis of wild medicinal plants traditionally used in Naâma, southwest Algeria Miloud Bouafa1,2,6 · Fouzia Amamou3 · Mohamed Gherib2 · Mohammed Benaissa4 · Rachid Azzi1 · Saïd Nemmiche5 Received: 10 February 2021 / Revised: 13 May 2021 / Accepted: 18 May 2021 / Published online: 11 June 2021 © Society for Plant Research 2021 Abstract Algerian people largely rely on traditional medicine practices as part of a community’s identity. This frst ethnobotanical study aimed to quantify and document the wild medicinal plant taxa from four family and the related traditional knowledge in Naâma province, Algeria. The survey was carried out between 2018 and 2020. The socio-demographic data and the use of medicinal species were recorded and collected randomly from 84 indigenous people using pre-prepared questionnaire. The result was evaluated using quantitative indices. A total of 27 medicinal plant species belonging to 21 genera used in the community were mostly recorded. The most represented families were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae (12 species for each of them). The aerial parts were the most frequently used plant part (73 %), while a decoction (34 %), and infusion (31 %) were the major modes of remedy preparation. The species with high UV were Rosmarinus ofcinalis L. (0.80), Artemisia herba-alba Asso (0.76), and Juniperus phoenicea L. subsp. phoenicea (0.75). Species with highest FL were: Ephedra alata subsp. alenda (Stapf) Trab (100 %), Teucrium polium L. (60 %), and Ballota hirsuta Benth (57.14.5 %). Atractylis caespitosa Desf and Nepeta nepetella subsp.amethystina (Poir.) Briq were newly cited as medicinal plants and have not been recorded previously in Algeria. Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut were reported to treat COVID-19 symptoms. The results obtained indicate the richness of the area with medicinal plants as well as knowledge of alternative medicine. The most cited plants could be contained molecules that can be tested for therapeutic uses. Keywords Medicinal plants · Traditional medicine · Ethnobotanical · Naâma * Miloud Bouafa 2 Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources [email protected] in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones, University Center of Naâma, BP 66, 45000 Naâma, Algeria Fouzia Amamou [email protected] 3 Laboratory of Natural Products, Faculty of SNV-STU, LAPRONA, University of Tlemcen, BP 119, Imama, Mohamed Gherib 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria [email protected] 4 Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Natural Mohammed Benaissa Ecosystems, Faculty of SNV-STU, University of Tlemcen, [email protected] BP 119, Imama, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria Rachid Azzi 5 Department of biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, [email protected] University of Mostaganem, Mostaganem, Algeria Saïd Nemmiche 6 Present Address: Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural [email protected] Sciences and Life Sciences of the Earth and the Universe, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid, BP 119, Tlemcen, Algeria 1 Laboratory of Antifungal, Antibiotic, Physico-chemical, Synthesis and Biological Activity, Faculty of SNV-STU, University of Tlemcen, BP 119, Imama, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria Vol:.(1234567890)1 3 Vegetos (2021) 34:654–662 655 Introduction knowledge. In this framework, there is an urgent need for studying, recording, and sharing this heritage using In Algeria, traditional medicine practices are linked to the an ethnobotanical approach survey to protect it. (Tuttolo- history of Arab-Muslim medicine in the Maghreb (North mondo et al. 2014; Bouasla and Bouasla 2017; Eddouks Africa). These practices are a model of transmission of et al. 2017). Arab-Muslim medicine. Some therapeutic uses are trans- This study aimed to document the ethnobotanical knowl- mitted directly from religious texts and are still relevant as edge focusing on ethnomedicine in Naâma province, a stra- hijâma (Cupping therapy), Ruqyah (Reciting Quran), and tegic region of southwest Algeria, bordered by Morocco. We phytotherapy (Saad and Said 2010). inventoried, for the frst time, all medicinal plants taxa from Phytotherapy is known since antiquity as the most eas- Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Cupressaceae, and Ephedraceae ily accessible resource and the basis of health care; has using as medicine. The traditional therapeutics were docu- evolved across the ages to become an important knowledge menting and analyzing using quantitative indices. Data were of drug discovery. However, no ofcial strategic plan (reg- compared to historical literature carried out in Algeria and ulatory or legislative) has been developed in the country the Mediterranean basin. for the integration of traditional medicine into the health care system. The Algerian Public Health Code of 23 Octo- ber 1976 (158) rendered the practice of medicine without Materials and methods a license an ofense; apart from Sec. 364 on the practice of herbalists, no exceptions were made for the practice of Survey area traditional medicine (WHO 2001). On other hand, the pro- duction and marketing of herbal drugs are permissible to Naâma province is located in the southwest of Algeria (N a small extent. More than twenty herbal drug products are 33°26′, W 0°54′) (Fig. 1). It is part of the Western High- commercialized in the pharmaceutical market of Algeria lands, covers an area of 29.514 Km². It has an estimated pop- (Bouzabata 2017). Due to the geographical position in the ulation of 192.891 with an average density of about 6.5 Hab/ 2 south Mediterranean basin, Algeria with its spacious area Km . The area is characterized by an ecological diversity is characterized by several climatic regions and diversifed represented by three principal regions: steppe, mountain, vegetation; more than 3139 species of wild and naturalized and pre-Saharan with 74 %, 12 %, and 14 % of the total area plants growing in the country become part of a communi- respectively. The climatic year is divided into two main sea- ty’s identity. Algerian people used part of these species for sons: cold and relatively rainy from November to April, hot diferent purposes, which are refected in the widespread and dry from May to October. The rainfall remains weak and use of medicinal plants by herbalists, healers, and people irregular in comparison to the north bordering provinces; to treat several diseases (Miara et al. 2018). Nevertheless, the temperature ranging from 8 °C in December/January to many geographical regions and ethnic communities in this 31.5 °C in July/August (www. andi. dz/ PDF/ monog raphi es/ country like the province of Naâma (South-West of Alge- NAAMA. pdf). ria) have still not been explored. It has a reserve of medici- nal species, a background of practice in traditional medi- Data collection cine for humans. Unfortunately, the indigenous knowledge of plants in Naâma and other provinces is inherited and This survey has been done between 2018 and 2020. A transmitted orally from one generation to the next which total of 84 people were face to face interviews, all people makes them vulnerable to loss; Besides, the new genera- interviewed had been informed about the objective of this tion is not interested to archive it from the older generation study. A semi-structured questionnaire interview was used (Bouasla and Bouasla 2017). to record socio-demographic data (gender, age, educational Ethnobotany carrying great importance for several level) and the use of medicinal species (vernacular names, felds and the most ethnobotany’s contributions and chal- illnesses treated, part used, method of preparation). The lenges are to close the gap between researcher and indig- plant name has been checked with the plant list database enous knowledge, to understanding how humans perceive (http://www. thepl antli st. org ) and the African plant database their standing within nature, to boost methodological (http:// www. ville- ge. ch/ musin fo/ bd/ cjb/ africa/ reche rche. methods to explore plants from diverse disciplines, and to php). Voucher specimens were confrmed by experiment- promote inter-generational continuity (Rodríguez-Calde- ing botanists and stored in the herbarium of the laboratory rón et al. 2019). Many ethnobotanical studies were under- of antifungal, antibiotic, Physico-chemical, synthesis, and taken in the Mediterranean region, especially in Algeria biological activity, Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, have warned against losing some traditional medicinal Algeria. 1 3 656 Vegetos (2021) 34:654–662 Fig. 1 Location map of study area Data analysis can show that the utilization of plant for specifc therapeutic purposes is preferred if respondents cited it frequently. FL Family use value (FUV) was calculated using the following formula: FL= (Np/N)× 100; where Np: is the number of respondents that recom- The FUV was calculated using this formula: FUV = ΣUVs/ mended the use of the plant for a specifc disease, and N is ns; where ΣUVs is the sum of use value of the species within the number of respondents that suggested the plant for vari- a family and ns is the total number of species within the ous illnesses (Phillips 1996). same family. The FUV is calculated to identify the impor- tance of plant families (Eddouks et al. 2017). Use value (UV) Results and discussion The particular use of UV is to determine the relative sig- Informants’ sociodemographic profle nifcance of the local species. It was used to defne the most cited plant species to treat a disease category. UV was calcu- In this study 84 people were questioned (Table 1), women lated using this formula: UV = ΣUi/N; where Ui: number of are more interested in traditional medicine (57.14 %) com- uses reports per species, and N: total number of informants pared with men. This predominance of women can be (Trotter and Logan 1986). explained by their responsibility towards the family in car- ing for the health of family members, particularly children Fidelity level (FL) (Miara et al. 2018). The age range over 60 years is the most frequency range (25 %). Older people have more knowl- The FL value is calculated to estimate the importance of edge and experience than the younger due to the inherent the species for a given purpose.