Ethnobotanical insights into the traditional use of six medicinal plants in Morocco: Therapeutic applications, indigenous knowledge, and scientific valorization

Authors

  • Rafik Aniba Team of Biotechnology & Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
  • Asmaa Dihmane Team of Biotechnology & Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
  • Habiba Raqraq Team of Biotechnology & Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
  • Amina Ressmi Team of Biotechnology & Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.
  • Kaotar Nayme Laboratoire de bactériologie moléculaire, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Mohammed Timinouni Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et bio-informatique : Ecole des Hautes Etudes de Biotechnologie et de santé (EHEB) ; Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Abouddihaj Barguigua Team of Biotechnology & Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.

Abstract

Background: This ethnopharmacological study documents traditional knowledge on the use of six medicinal plants (Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha pulegium, Salvia sclarea, Pinus halepensis, Pistacia lentiscus, and Origanum compactum) by the population of the Casablanca-Settat region for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Methods: Between January and July 2025, data were collected from 385 herbalists and traditional practitioners in both urban and rural areas using a structured questionnaire. Ethnobotanical indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL), were applied to evaluate the cultural and therapeutic relevance of each species.

Results: The majority of respondents (95.7%) regarded medicinal plants as a frequently used complementary or alternative option, with 97.1% reporting their regular use in practice. Decoction was the most common preparation method. Plant parts varied by species: leaves for S. sclarea, M. pulegium, P. lentiscus, and O. compactum; flowers for L. angustifolia; and bark for P. halepensis. M. pulegium had the highest RFC (0.852), followed by L. angustifolia and O. compactum (0.675 each). M. pulegium and O. compactum were predominantly used for respiratory infections, P. lentiscus for wound healing, and L. angustifolia and O. compactum for skin infections. Polyherbal remedies were the dominant practice, while P. halepensis was more frequently employed as a monotherapy. Oral administration was preferred, although dosing practices remained empirical and non-standardized.

Conclusions: These findings provide a foundation for pharmacological validation and the sustainable valorization of Moroccan medicinal plants as potential allies in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords: Ethnobotany; traditional medicine; medicinal plants; Casablanca-Settat; infectious diseases.

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Published

2025-11-27

How to Cite

Aniba, R., Dihmane, A., Raqraq , H., Ressmi , A., Nayme , K., Timinouni , M., & Barguigua , A. (2025). Ethnobotanical insights into the traditional use of six medicinal plants in Morocco: Therapeutic applications, indigenous knowledge, and scientific valorization. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 32, 1–23. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/7435

Issue

Vol. 32 (2025)

Section

Research

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