Ethnobotanical knowledge of Medicinal plants in Fez-Meknes region: Origin of used species, plant-disease associations, used parts, and preparation forms

Authors

  • Souad Maache Université Sidi Mohammed Ben Abd Ellah
  • Adel Tahraoui Regional Center of Education and Training Careers (CRMEF), Fez-Meknes, Morocco
  • Ghizlane Nouioura Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
  • Yissam Lakhdar Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
  • Karima El-Yagoubi Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
  • Ilham Elarabi Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
  • Badiaa Lyoussi Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco

Abstract

Background: Ethnobotanical studies conducted in the Fez-Meknes region, located in North-central Morocco, and home to UNESCO cultural sites such as Fez and Meknes, have been limited in scope. The existing studies primarily concentrate on the use of medicinal plants for treating particular ailments. The present study unveils the plentiful ethnomedicinal knowledge in the region employed to address a wide array of health concerns. The present study aims to gather and document ethnobotanical data from local populations, encompassing herbalist and non-herbalist informants in the Fez-Meknes region, with a focus on comparing their knowledge.

Methods: 478 informants participated in this study, comprising 408 local inhabitants (non-herbalists) and 70 herbalists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at eleven sites throughout the study area to collect data. Descriptive and Multivariate statistics were used for data analysis. Comparisons have addressed both non-herbalists and herbalists among sampled sites.

Results: In total, 82 species from 73 genera and 34 families were identified. Herbalists, citing 67 species to non-herbalists' 56, showed greater knowledge, with a notable 41-species overlap. The plants were mostly cultivated (40.6%) or from the wild (34.7%). Herbalists acquired knowledge from their parents and elderly individuals (52.9%), while informants from written sources. Leaves were the most used parts, while decoction and infusion were the dominant preparation modes. Administration was mostly oral to manage fifteen illness categories (i.e. digestive system, respiratory, dermatological problems).

Conclusion: The study unveils rich traditional knowledge, emphasizing the vital role of traditional medicine, especially medicinal plants, in addressing various diseases. Herbalists exhibit distinct knowledge, with partial overlap between non-herbalists and herbalists in understanding plant uses. Many plants serve versatile therapeutic purposes across different ailments, and respondents introduce novel uses for medicinal plants.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, Clustering, Traditional use, Medicinal plants, Fez-Meknes region, Morocco.

Author Biography

Souad Maache, Université Sidi Mohammed Ben Abd Ellah

Laboratoire des substances naturelles, pharmacologie, environnement, modélisation, santé et qualité de vie (SNAMOPEQ). Faculté des sciences Dhar El Mahraz

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Published

2024-05-22

How to Cite

Maache, S., Tahraoui, A., Nouioura, G. ., Lakhdar, Y., El-Yagoubi, K. ., Elarabi, I., & Lyoussi, B. (2024). Ethnobotanical knowledge of Medicinal plants in Fez-Meknes region: Origin of used species, plant-disease associations, used parts, and preparation forms. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 29, 1–20. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5810

Issue

Vol. 29 (2024)

Section

Research

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