Arctium atlanticum in Moroccan and Algerian traditional medicine: a critical scoping review of ethnobotanical knowledge, botanical traceability, and conservation priorities

Abstract

Background: Arctium atlanticum is a Moroccan-Algerian burdock associated with traditional medicinal practices but remains poorly documented as a people-plant relationship. This review synthesized ethnobotanical knowledge, vernacular nomenclature, botanical traceability, distribution, conservation, and limited experimental evidence directly attributable to the species.

Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute, PRISMA-ScR, and PRISMA-S guidance, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched using the accepted name, historical synonyms, and vernacular names. The species-name search was updated on 13 July 2026, and vernacular-name searches were conducted on 29 July 2026. Direct evidence was analysed separately from contextual literature, and key decisions and extracted data were subsequently independently verified by a second author.

Results: Forty-two records were identified, eight duplicates removed, and 34 unique records screened. Nineteen sources were retained: 14 direct and five contextual. Four ethnobotanical surveys documented roots, leaves, underground parts, and capitula used as infusions, decoctions, raw material, or fried topical preparations. Reported purposes included hair and skin complaints, digestive and metabolic uses, and locally recorded “cancer” or “tumor” categories. Botanical traceability was uneven, while species-specific knowledge holders, transmission pathways, harvesting practices, doses, outcomes, and adverse effects were generally not reported. One publication provided in vitro evidence of antioxidant and cholinesterase-inhibitory activity. No validated species-specific phytochemical profile, toxicological study, or clinical evidence was found.

Conclusions: A. atlanticum is culturally relevant but ethnobotanically and experimentally underdocumented. Priorities are ethically grounded knowledge documentation, voucher-based authentication, population and harvesting assessment, conservation of associated knowledge, and characterization of documented preparations before pharmacological, computational, or preclinical investigation.

Keywords: Arctium atlanticum; Lappa atlantica; Burdock; Ethnobotany; Traditional knowledge; botanical traceability; Morocco; Algeria; PRISMA-ScR