Exploring ethnobotanical knowledge and traditional uses of Ceratonia siliqua L. in the Taounate Region, Morocco

Abstract

Background: Documenting traditional knowledge about plant species is important for their conservation. Ceratonia siliqua L., a Mediterranean plant in the Ceratonia genus and Fabaceae family, is widely grown in the Taounate region for its medicinal properties. The choice of this study area is particularly important, as Taounate has a rich tradition of carob use, making it an ideal place to explore local knowledge. This study aims to assess and document ethnomedical knowledge related to C. siliqua, as transmitted by the indigenous population, in order to promote its use.

Methods: A total of 115 indigenous informants were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The data collected were analysed and compared using descriptive indicators such as relative citation frequency, Fidelity level, Jaccard index, chi-square test and multiple correspondence analysis.

Results: The results of the study reveal that digestive disorders is the disease category for which the relative frequency of citations reaches its maximum (0.644) and the level of fidelity reaches 100%. Four categories of use of Ceratonia siliqua L. were identified by the different groups of informants, with food (89.56%) and medicinal uses (64.44%) predominating. The most common form of preparation was powder. In addition, we documented traditional recipes used by the population to treat various illnesses. In particular, this study identified new uses, notably for the treatment of pneumonia and eye diseases in cattle, which is a first in the ethnobotanical literature concerning this species. In addition, significant relationships were established between the sources of knowledge and the socio-demographic characteristics of the informants, such as gender, socio-economic level and level of education, underlining the importance of these factors in the transmission of traditional knowledge.

Conclusions: Our results enrich the documentation of local knowledge, support the development of conservation strategies and promote the sustainable use of Ceratonia siliqua L., while encouraging further pharmacological research.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical study, socio-economic, traditional uses, traditional medicine, Ceratonia siliqua L., Taounate, Morocco