An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used for skin diseases by the local people in El Bayadh region, Algeria

Authors

  • Nadia Toumi Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences of nature and life, NOUR Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria and Faculty of Sciences, Nour Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria
  • Zohra Nouri Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences of nature and life, NOUR Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria
  • Abbes Dellal Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences of nature and life, NOUR Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria
  • Oum Enoune Bendouma Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences of nature and life, NOUR Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria
  • Rachida Benabdallah Benarmas Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology M-B of Oran, Algeria and Laboratory of Functional Eco-Materials and Nanostructures (LEMFN)
  • Fatima Zohra Bekri Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences of nature and life, NOUR Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria
  • Mustapha Mahmoud Dif Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences of nature and life, NOUR Bachir University center, El Bayadh 32000, Algeria

Abstract

Background: Despite Algeria's rich botanical diversity (approximately 1000 medicinal species among 3139 spermatophytes), ethnobotanical documentation of dermatological uses in rural El Bayadh remains limited. This study documents medicinal plants used by traditional herbalists for treating skin diseases in this region.

 

Methods: Structured questionnaires were administered to 50 herbalists. Data on demographics, plant uses, preparation methods, and administration routes were summarized; the frequency citation index was calculated.

 

Results: Forty-two species from 25 families were recorded for 25 skin diseases. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae were the most represented (11.90% each). Leaves were the most used plant part (25.13%), and oil extraction predominated (38%). Topical administration was most frequent (67%). Reported patient satisfaction was high (89%), often attributed to cost-effectiveness. Several species have not been previously reported for dermatological applications.

 

Conclusions: This first comprehensive documentation for El Bayadh highlights substantial therapeutic knowledge and underscores the urgent need for documentation and conservation given the concentration of this knowledge among elderly practitioners.

Background: Despite Algeria's rich botanical diversity (approximately 1000 medicinal species among 3139 spermatophytes), ethnobotanical documentation of dermatological uses in rural El Bayadh remains limited. This study documents medicinal plants used by traditional herbalists for treating skin diseases in this region.

Methods: structured questionnaires were administered to 50 herbalists. Data on demographics, plant uses, preparation methods, and administration routes were summarized; the frequency citation index was calculated.

Results: Forty-two species from 25 families were recorded for 25 skin diseases. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae were the most represented (11.90% each). Leaves were the most used plant part (25.13%), and oil extraction predominated (38%). Topical administration was most frequent (67%). Reported patient satisfaction was high (89%), often attributed to cost-effectiveness. Several species have not been previously reported for dermatological applications.

Conclusions: This first comprehensive documentation for El Bayadh highlights substantial therapeutic knowledge and underscores the urgent need for documentation and conservation given the concentration of this knowledge among elderly practitioners.

Keywords: Medicinal plants; Ethnobotany; Dermatological diseases; Traditional medicine; Algeria

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Published

2026-03-30

How to Cite

Toumi, N., Nouri, Z., Dellal, A., Bendouma, O. E., Benarmas, R. B., Bekri, F. Z., & Dif, M. M. (2026). An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used for skin diseases by the local people in El Bayadh region, Algeria . Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 33, 1–14. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/8079

Issue

Vol. 33 (2026)

Section

Research

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