Ethnobotanical knowledge and quantitative evaluation of medicinal plants in the Dahra Region, Northwestern Algeria

Authors

  • Houria Krelifi Otsmane Departement of Agronomy, Laboratory of Natural Bioresources, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Hassiba Benbouali, Chlef, Algeria.
  • Fatima Senouci University Hassiba Benbouali, Chlef
  • Roumaissa Messaoud Djebara Departement of Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Hassiba Benbouali, Chlef, Algeria.
  • Aicha Zidane Departement of Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Hassiba Benbouali, Chlef, Algeria.
  • Adda Ababou Departement of Biology, Laboratory of Natural Bioresources, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Hassiba Benbouali, Chlef, Algeria.

Abstract

Background: This ethnobotanical investigation documents and analyzes traditional medicinal knowledge in the Dahra region of northwestern Algeria.

Methods: Data were collected from 420 informants across 11 municipalities using semi-structured interviews. Sociodemographic analysis revealed that traditional medicine remains widely practiced across educational and urban–rural boundaries, with women serving as principal custodians of household phytotherapeutic knowledge. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Fidelity Level (FL %), were applied to assess the cultural importance and reliability of recorded species.

Results: A total of 45 medicinal plants belonging to 23 botanical families were identified. The Lamiaceae family predominated (28.9%), followed by Apiaceae (11.1%) and Asteraceae (8.9%), reflecting a preference for aromatic taxa rich in essential oils, terpenoids, and flavonoids. Leaves were the most frequently used organs (≈ 50%), while decoction and infusion were the dominant preparation methods. High ICF values for respiratory (0.87), digestive (0.83), and immunity-related (0.81) disorders. Among individual taxa, Origanum vulgare (UV = 0.51; RFC = 30.2%), Mentha spicata (UV = 0.35), and Foeniculum vulgare (UV = 0.07) emerged as cultural keystone species, illustrating both pharmacological relevance and symbolic significance. Several species exhibited perfect fidelity (FL = 100%), notably Citrullus colocynthis, Arbutus unedo, and Melissa officinalis, confirming their recognized specificity and therapeutic reliability.

Conclusions: Overall, the Dahra ethnopharmacopoeia represents a dynamic, adaptive knowledge system in which ecological adaptation, cultural continuity, and empirical efficacy converge.

Keywords: Ethnobotany; Traditional medicine; Valorization; Quantitative indices; Dahra region; Algeria

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Published

2026-01-01

How to Cite

Krelifi Otsmane, H. ., Senouci, F., Messaoud Djebara , R., Zidane , A., & Ababou, A. . (2026). Ethnobotanical knowledge and quantitative evaluation of medicinal plants in the Dahra Region, Northwestern Algeria. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 33, 1–17. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/7825

Issue

Vol. 33 (2026)

Section

Research

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