Ethnopharmacological study of plants used in Diabar region, Azerbaijan

Authors

  • Javanshir Isayev Isa Azerbaijan Medical University, Department of Pharmacognosy. Anvar Gasim Zadeh 14, Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1022
  • Khuraman Mustafayeva Niyazi Azerbaijan Medical University, Department of Pharmacognosy. Anvar Gasim Zadeh 14, Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1022
  • Narmin Babayeva Tayyar Azerbaijan Medical University, Department of Pharmacognosy. Anvar Gasim Zadeh 14, Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1022
  • Nilufar Safarova Mubariz Azerbaijan Medical University, Department of Pharmacognosy. Anvar Gasim Zadeh 14, Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1022
  • Aydan Gadimli Israfil Azerbaijan Medical University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Education. Samad Vurgun 167, Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1022
  • Gunay Jafarova Saleh Azerbaijan Medical University, Department of Pharmacognosy. Anvar Gasim Zadeh 14, Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ1022
  • Ghulam Mujtaba Shah Department of Botany, Hazara, University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan.
  • Khursheed Ur Rehmman Department of Botany, Hazara, University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan.
  • Ikramullah Khan Department of Botany, Hazara, University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan.
  • Fazal Ullah Hazara university of Mansehra

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants play an important role in traditional healthcare systems worldwide, and ethnopharmacological studies are essential for documenting traditional knowledge. The Diabar region in Azerbaijan's Talysh mountains possesses a rich heritage of traditional medicine; however, such knowledge remains largely undocumented. This study aimed to systematically record and analyze the medicinal plants used by local communities in this under-researched area.

Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 140 participants across 21 villages using semi-structured interviews and field surveys. Quantitative indices, including Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), were calculated to assess plant importance.

Results: The research documented 205 plant species from 60 families used to treat various ailments. The most cited families were Asteraceae (30 species) and Lamiaceae (20 species). Cydonia oblonga recorded the highest RFC (0.90). The most frequently treated conditions were cough (67 reports), digestive disorders (55), and inflammation (53). Quantitative analysis highlighted species with high cultural significance; notably, Cydonia oblonga also demonstrated a high Use Value (0.89), alongside Thymus trautvetteri (UV = 0.70) and Morus nigra (UV = 0.71). The data further revealed significant use of plants for liver disorders, infections, and as sedatives.

Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive inventory of medicinal plants in the Diabar region, preserving valuable traditional knowledge. The findings identify culturally important plants that warrant further phytochemical and pharmacological research to validate their therapeutic applications and potential for drug development.

Keywords: Azerbaijan, Diabar, ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, medicinal plants, Talysh.

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Published

2026-05-24

How to Cite

Javanshir Isayev Isa, Khuraman Mustafayeva Niyazi, Narmin Babayeva Tayyar, Nilufar Safarova Mubariz, Aydan Gadimli Israfil, Gunay Jafarova Saleh, Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, Khursheed Ur Rehmman, Ikramullah Khan, & Ullah, F. (2026). Ethnopharmacological study of plants used in Diabar region, Azerbaijan. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 34, 1–13. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/7758

Issue

Vol. 34 (2026)

Section

Research

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