An ethnobotanical study of forage plants in Zhuxi County in the Qinba mountainous area of central China

BackgroundEcological migration serves as an important measure for poverty eradication as well as for the protection, inheritance, and utilization of traditional ecological knowledge. This study investigated and cataloged the traditional forage plant resources and recorded the associated traditional knowledge of immigrant villages in Hongsibu District of Ningxia, China. The diversity of traditional forage plant resources and the changes in associated traditional ecological knowledge were compared among ecological immigrant villages from different emigration areas, with a hope of providing a reference for forage development, the conservation of wild forage plant resources, and the development of regional animal husbandry.MethodsFrom March 2018 to May 2019, a field investigation was conducted in six villages in Ningxia. Through the snowball technique, a total of 315 immigrants were interviewed using various methods, including semistructured interviews and key person interviews, which included opportunities for free listing. The changes in the utilization of traditional forage plants were compared between the ecological migrants and the original inhabitants, and the causes underlying the changes were analyzed. In addition, the major forage plant species in the research area were investigated and evaluated.Results(1) The six investigated villages reported 224 traditional forage plant species that belong to 42 families and 150 genera. Compared with their original living areas, the number of traditional forage plant species used in the immigrant villages decreased with the increase in the relocation distance. (2) The utilization of traditional forage plants varied among the immigrants who moved to Hongsibu District from forest areas, loess hilly areas, and semiarid desertified areas. The smaller the difference was in ecological environment between the immigration and emigration areas, the more the traditional forage plant knowledge had been retained. (3) The diversity and associated knowledge of traditional forage plants retained by ecological migrants are closely correlated to gender, age, education level, and occupation.ConclusionThis study revealed that the diversity of traditional forage plants and associated knowledge retained after migration vary among ecological immigrants from different areas; generally, the immigrants that relocated from a closer place retained more ecological knowledge. In the immigrant villages with significantly different natural resources and a long distance from the migrants’ original locations, the diversity of traditional forage plants decreased, and the traditional knowledge about forage plants showed signs of being forgotten and abandoned by the younger generation. Therefore, measures are urgently needed to document and protect the forage plant resources and preserve the traditional knowledge of ecological immigrants.

BackgroundThe Yi people are a sociolinguistic group living in Mile City, which is their typical settlement in southeastern Yunnan, China. Over the long history of using medicinal plants, the Yi people have accumulated and developed a wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a vital role in their health care. However, only a few studies have been performed to systematically document the medicinal plants commonly used by the Yi people. This study provides fundamental data for the development and application of ethnomedicine as well as supports the conservation of the traditional medical knowledge of the Yi people.MethodsThis study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2022 and involved five townships in Mile. Information regarding medicinal plants was obtained through semistructured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. The collected voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation, and fidelity level.ResultsIn total, 114 informants distributed in five townships of Mile were interviewed. The Yi people used 267 medicinal plant species belonging to 232 genera and 104 families to treat various diseases. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae were the most commonly used plant families by the Yi people. In addition, herbs were most commonly used by the Yi people. Whole plants and roots were the preferred medicinal parts. Decoctions were the most common method of herbal medicine preparation. There are 49 different recorded diseases treated by Yi medicinal plants, and among them, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, traumatic injury, fractures, and digestive system diseases have the largest number of species used. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that plants such as Zingiber officinale, Lycopodium japonicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Panax notoginseng, Cyathula officinalis, and Leonurus japonicus played crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment.ConclusionTraditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely associated with the social culture of the local Yi people. The medicinal plants used for health care in the study area were diverse. Local healers were skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Their treatment methods were convenient and unique, exhibiting distinctive regional characteristics. However, the inheritance of their traditional medicinal knowledge and protection of wild medicinal plant resources are facing serious challenges, including the decreasing number of local healers, aging of healers, lack of successors, and excessive harvesting of medicinal plant resources. This ethnobotanical survey provides a useful reference for the sustainable utilization and protection of medicinal plant resources in Mile and the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge of the Yi people.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda

The Dulong people have accumulated a wealth of traditional botanical knowledge (TBK) over a long period on bamboo use to adapt to their living environment, which impacts many aspects of the life, culture, and creative productivity of the Dulong people. However, research on TBK associated with bamboo in Dulong communities is still lacking. It is urgent to investigate and document the TBK related to bamboo in the context of rapid economic development and social changes in Dulong communities. Field surveys were conducted four times between 2019 and 2020. Thirty informants were selected using snowball sampling and were interviewed using free lists and semi-structured interviews. Most informants were or had been engaged in bamboo collection and weaving. The participatory observation approach has also been applied to field surveys. The use value (UV) of bamboo species and the relative frequency of citations (RFC) were used to evaluate and compare the importance of bamboo plants used by the Dulong people. Through ethnoecological investigations, 12 bamboo species belonging to seven genera traditionally used by the Dulong people and TBK associated with bamboo were recorded. Phyllostachys sulphurea, Dendrocalamus fugongensis, and Fargesia pleniculmis were the most valuable and favored species, as indicated by their relatively high RFC and UV indices. The Dulong people have accumulated a wealth of TBK associated with bamboo and are familiar with the distribution, ecology, morphology, characteristics, and purpose of bamboo species in the Dulongjiang region. These bamboo plants and their traditional knowledge have great potential for conserving the local biodiversity and sustainable development. In the future, we will increase the growth of industries related to bamboo plants, such as bamboo shoots as food, bamboo as medication, bamboo for the weaving industry, and bamboo for biocultural diversity conservation.

BackgroundA homegarden is a conventional small-scale agricultural ecosystem dominated predominantly by humans. Homegarden plants, which are plants with specific functionalities that are either cultivated or consciously preserved within the homegarden, are the most critical elements of the homegarden and are capable of providing a multitude of products and services. Recognized as one of China’s biodiversity hotspots, the Wuling mountain area has long been inhabited by multiple ethnic groups, each of which has accumulated a wealth of traditional knowledge. This study focuses on the Tujia ethnic communities in Laifeng County, situated in the hinterland of the Wuling mountain area, with the primary objective of collecting, documenting, and organizing local homegarden plants, their functions, and the associated traditional knowledge, and exploring the factors influencing their composition and diversity.MethodsFrom May 2023 to August 2024, field surveys were conducted in Laifeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, China. Semi-structured interviews and participatory observation were used to gather information on homegarden plants with informed consent. To analyze and evaluate homegarden plants, we employed the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Jaccard index (J) for quantitative analysis. Additionally, the factors influencing the composition of homegarden plants were investigated using redundancy analysis (RDA).ResultsThis study documented a total of 414 species of homegarden plants from 114 families. These plants are primarily sourced from market purchases (158), spontaneous species (107), wild introductions (103), neighborhood sharing (59), and self-preservation (36). Homegarden plants serve multiple functions, including ornamental (201), medicinal (189), edible (165), traded (95), timber (34), forage (28), and other functions (11). There are 24 homegarden plants with an RFC greater than 0.5, indicating their high importance, including Allium fistulosum, Raphanus sativus, and Brassica rapa var. chinensis. The Jaccard index results suggest the highest degree of similarity between the homegarden plants in Geleche Town and Dahe Town. The RDA results established that knowledge of herbal medicine and homegarden area are two significant factors impacting the composition and diversity of homegarden plants, with the average age of the household resident population also exerting an influence.ConclusionsThis study reveals the composition, source diversity, and functional diversity of homegarden plants within the Laifeng Tujia ethnic community, along with the influencing factors. These homegarden plants play an integral role in sustaining the balance of the homegarden ecosystem and supporting the daily lives of local residents. The management of homegarden plants by the Laifeng Tujia ethnic community carries traditional agricultural knowledge and wisdom. Emphasis should be placed on bolstering the understanding, protection, and transmission of traditional knowledge and culture related to homegardens, which play a vital role in safeguarding local agricultural biodiversity and fostering sustainable development.

BackgroundMountains, shaped by geophysical barriers and environmental gradients and with biodiversity, serve as critical hotspots of co-evolved biocultural diversity and traditional ecological knowledge. Within China’s Hengduan Mountain Range, the Wuliang and Ailao Mountains (Yunnan Province, southwestern China) are global biodiversity conservation priorities. Jingdong Yi Autonomous County, encircled by mountain ranges, possesses exceptional biological and biocultural resources. Meanwhile, local traditional markets emerge as ethnobiologically vital nexus, sustaining socioeconomic interaction while serving as reservoirs of genetic resources with associated traditional knowledge. Therefore, this study aims to (1) Systematically document edible & medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge in Jingdong County, and identify culturally significant species for local communities. (2) Explore the multidimensional functions of traditional markets and clarify their key contributions. (3) Clarify how and why traditional markets can further enhance local wisdom preservation and community resilience.MethodsThe ethnobotanical surveys were conducted both in the large periodic traditional markets across three seasons in Jingdong County to document utilized plants and associated traditional knowledge. Additional ethnobotanical investigations were conducted in 7 towns and villages to gather supplementary information on some key cultural and economic plants. The species of significant importance to local people were identified using the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) method, and comparisons among local ethnic groups, previous investigations were conducted with the Jaccard similarity index (JI) to identify specificity and commonalities. For each documented species, the vernacular names, growth form, source, consumed parts, processing method, and the effectiveness, and additional use(s) of utilized plants were recorded. The original disease records were standardized according to the WHO International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-3).ResultsThe ethnobotanical surveys documented 226 taxa (including species and varieties) from 84 families and 187 genera, with Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, and Fabaceae being the most frequently represented families. Of these, 59 taxa were primarily used as edible plants (EP), 70 taxa as medicinal plants (MP), and 97 taxa as medicinal food plants (MFP). For edible purposes, leaves were the predominated part and were typically stir-fried. For medicinal use, the main preparation method was decoction or alcohol maceration, and the primary used part were roots. A total of 47 human ailments mentioned by informants were classified into 13 ICPC-3 categories, with the “Immune System” category being the most numerous. The utilization of MFP and dietary regimen concepts reflects the rich biocultural diversity and survival wisdom of local people. A quantitative analysis using RFC demonstrated that plants such as Aralia gintungensis and Trachycarpus fortunei were important to local communites. Similarity analysis revealed that the difference between the Yi and Han people was minimal (JI = 0.62), whereas the plant species sold at the market and those used by village herbalists differed from each other (JI = 0.09). Additionally, in such remote areas, traditional markets serve as a critical nexus that connects livelihood support, knowledge transmission, and resource preservation.ConclusionThis study presented 226 taxa of edible and medicinal plants utilized by local communities in Jingdong, showcasing the rich biocultural diversity of this intermontane region. Additionally, the study analyzed how local traditional markets in remote mountainous areas function as essential hubs for socioeconomic interaction and living reservoirs of plant resources with their traditional knowledge. Our findings highlight the need to enhance attention and resource allocation to local markets, thereby enabling markets to mobilize their potentials in foresting the synergy between conservation and sustainable development through a bottom-up approach for the indigenous peoples and local communities.

BackgroundBaise City in Guangxi, China, is a culturally and ecologically diverse region where traditional plant knowledge persists despite ongoing urbanization. Traditional markets in such areas play a crucial role in the transmission and preservation of ethnobotanical knowledge. However, no prior ethnobotanical studies have focused on the Jīn Sān Jiǎo Agricultural Market, making this the first systematic documentation of plant diversity and use at this important site.MethodsThis study surveyed plant species sold at the Jīn Sān Jiǎo Agricultural Market. A total of 78 species from 38 families were documented through market observations and vendor interviews. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including species use value (SUV), family use value (FUV), and relative frequency of citation (RFC), were applied to assess plant importance.ResultsA total of 78 species belonging to 38 plant families were recorded during the ethnobotanical survey. The market featured a wide range of edible, medicinal, packaging, and spice plants. Cucurbitaceae, Apiaceae, and Solanaceae were the most represented families. Availability of plant materials closely followed natural phenological cycles supported by staggered planting and imports. Key species included Oryza sativa L. (staple food), Cucurbita maxima Duchesne (versatile vegetable), and Allium sativum L. (aromatic spice). Medicinal plants were fewer in the market, reflecting its primary focus on food crops, while traditional plant-based packaging highlights the unique preparation of certain foods, as well as ecological awareness and sustainable practices.ConclusionThis study provides the first ethnobotanical account of the Jīn Sān Jiǎo Agricultural Market, contributing new insights into plant diversity, traditional knowledge, and cultural practices in Southwestern China. The market functions as a critical node for conserving plant biodiversity, supporting food and livelihood security, and maintaining ethnobotanical knowledge in an urbanizing region. Further research should explore seasonal dynamics, ethnographic perspectives, and phytochemical properties to better understand the food–medicine continuum in this context.

Background: Dayak Ga'ai, who lived in Berau, East Kalimantan, has rich ethnobotanical knowledge reflecting their deep connection with nature. Ethnobotanical knowledge in Dayak Ga'ai communities does not exist in the form of comprehensive documentation; it is only passed down orally, so it is at high risk of being lost. Documenting and preserving this knowledge is crucial for cultural and environmental conservation. Methods: This study employs interview methodologies utilizing purposive sampling. We conducted interviews with 70 respondents from five villages. The questions encompass respondent characteristics and ethnobotanical aspects of local wisdom knowledge. We additionally investigated and cataloged the plant. The Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Cultural Significance Index (ICS) are ethnobotanical indexes employed for data analysis. Results: The results show that 169 species belonging to 56 families are known and utilized in the live of Dayak Ga’ay community. Categorized into revealed that 13 species are used for cultural purposes, 15 species for handicrafts, 114 species for traditional medicine, 67 species for food, and 38 species for traditional tools and equipment. There are 7 species in each index, namely Calamus sp. (RFC = 0.61; UV = 2.46; ICS = 36), Goniothalamus macrophyllus (RFC = 0.56; UV = 2.78; ICS = 46), Eusideroxylon zwageri (RFC = 0.46; UV = 1.37; ICS = 15), Vitex pinnata (RFC = 0.41; UV = 0.83; ICS = 15), Shorea sp. (RFC = 0.37; UV = 1.48; ICS = 17), Licuala spinosa (RFC = 0.31; UV = 1.57; ICS = 40), and Curcuma longa (RFC = 0.30; UV = 0.60; ICS = 18). They found plants in forests, gardens, and yards. Conclusions: The Ga'ai Dayak utilize diverse plants. Nevertheless, the ethnobotanical knowledge of these plants is decreasing due to modernization, migration, and deforestation. It is necessary to conserve natural resources and incorporate ancient knowledge into contemporary conservation and educational initiatives. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Dayak Ga’ai; Traditional knowledge, Cultural heritage, Berau

BackgroundThe Tibetan wooden bowls are common utensils and feature obvious Tibetan cultural traits. However, research on Tibetan wooden bowls is limited, especially the ethnobotanical study related to wooden bowl production. This study will explore the traditional knowledge related to the use of plants in the production of Tibetan wooden bowls as well as the cultural connotations and social significance of these bowls in Benzilan Town through an ethnobotanical investigation.Materials and methodsIn August 2024 and March 2025, we employed key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and participatory observations to conduct an ethnobotanical investigation of Tibetan wooden bowls in Benzilan Town. Also, we used relative frequency of citation (RFC) and informant consensus factors (ICF) to indicate the different perceptions of different vocational groups and villages in terms of plants used as raw materials. And we documented and analyzed the plants used to lacquer and dye through participatory observation.ResultWe recorded a total of 18 plant species used in different stages of Tibetan wooden bowl production, belonging to 16 families, of which 13 plant species are used as raw materials, and 6 plant species are used for lacquering and dyeing. Among these plant species, Taxus yunnanensis (can be used as both raw material and dye material) and Torreya yunnanensis are under official protection due to their rarity. All the raw materials are collected from these plants in a reasonable manner.ConclusionThe skilled craftsmen of Benzilan Town possess a wealth of traditional knowledge about Tibetan wood bowl making. This traditional knowledge not only promotes the sustainable use of resources but also contributes to the preservation and inheritance of traditional wood bowl crafting techniques. Furthermore, Tibetan wooden bowls, as important handicrafts, have not only driven the development of ethnic tourism but also stimulated the local economy. More importantly, the flourishing of the Tibetan wooden bowl industry not only helps preserve and pass down Tibetan culture but also fosters the dissemination of Tibetan culture. This case study may also encourage other similar regions to pay more attention to their local traditional handicrafts and provide a basis for subsequent studies.

The propagation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria has pushed the population searching alternative therapies as preventives and treatment selections. The use of medicinal plants is a promising alternative solution to strengthen immunity and chase COVID-19. The aim of this study was to carry out an ethnobotanical survey in the Bejaia department (Algeria) to identify the plants used during the current pandemic. The study was conducted from February to May 2021. The interviews were conducted with 400 informants in order to assemble socio-demographic and floristic features of the respondents and used plants. The data analysis was performed by means of Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Family Importance Value (FIV), and Plant Part Value (PPV). 23 medicinal plants belonging to 12 families were adopted by the population of the Bejaia localities to prevent and treat COVID-19 infection. Aloysia citriodora Palau (RFC = 0.248), Mentha spicata L. (RFC = 0.145), Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck (RFC = 0.135), Thymus vulgaris L. (RFC = 0.118), Zingiber officinalis Roscoe (RFC = 0.09), Artemisia herba-alba Asso (RFC = 0.065), and Eucalyptus globules labill (RFC = 0.063) were the most cited species. The leaves of these plants which are used (65%) in the form of infusion (43.6%) are administered orally (95.03%) to treat and relieve certain symptoms of COVID-19. The current survey is the only one in the Bejaia department regarding the exploitation of medicinal herbs in the COVID-19 pandemic. These plants can be used as a platform to manage COVID-19.

This ethnobotanical study, conducted among the Mossi, Lyele, and Nuni populations in Burkina Faso, aims to document and analyze the therapeutic uses of fourteen medicinal plant species. A combined approach involving socio-demographic analysis, use value (UV) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) calculations, as well as evaluation of preparation methods, dosages, and times of administration was used. Data were statistically processed using RStudio (version 4.5.1). Results show a predominantly elderly population (67% ≥ 50 years) and a high illiteracy rate (72.1%), indicating that traditional knowledge is mostly transmitted orally. Euphorbia hirta emerges as the most used species, with the highest UV and RFC. Other frequently cited species include Spondias mombin, Annona senegalensis, and Acacia macrostachya. Decoction and infusion are the most common preparation techniques. Heatmaps highlight the variability of dosages and administration times depending on the species. A circular network diagram shows the density of interactions between plant species, ethnic groups, preparation methods, and treated ailments, reflecting a systemic organization of traditional therapeutic knowledge. These findings emphasize the need to preserve and promote this ethnobotanical heritage.

Background: Kashmir Himalaya hosts the most diverse and rich flora in the world, which serves as grazing land for millions of small ruminants in the area. While most plant species are beneficial, some can be poisonous, causing economic losses and animal health issues for livestock. Consequently, this study is the first comprehensive report on the traditional phyto-toxicological knowledge in District Muzaffarabad and the assessment of its authenticity through experimental studies in rats.Methods: The data regarding traditional knowledge was gathered from 70 key respondents through semi-structured interviews, which was quantitatively analyzed and authenticated through plant extract testing on Wistar female rats and comparison with published resources.Results: A total of 46 poisonous plant species belonging to 23 families and 38 genera were reported to be poisonous in the study area. Results revealed that leaves were the most toxic plant parts (24 species, 52.1%), followed by the whole plant (18 species, 39.1%), stem (17 species, 36.9%), and seeds (10 species, 21.7%). At the organ level, liver as most susceptible affected by 13 species (28.2%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (15 species, 32.6%), nervous system (13 species, 8.2%), dermis (8 species, 17.3%), renal (7 species, 15.2%), respiratory (4 species, 8.7%), cardiovascular system (3 species, 6.5%), and reproductive system (2 species, 4.3%). The poisonous plant species with high Relative frequency citation (RFC) and fidelity level (FL) were Nerium oleander (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100), Lantana camara (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100), and Ricinus communis (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100). Experimental assessment of acute toxicity assay in rats revealed that Nerium oleander was the most toxic plant with LD50 of (4,000 mg/kg), trailed by Ricinus communis (4,200 mg/kg), L. camara (4,500 mg/kg), and Datura stramonium (4,700 mg/kg); however, other plants showed moderate to mild toxicity. The major clinical observations were anorexia, piloerection, dyspnea, salivation, tachypnea, constipation, diarrhea, tremor, itchiness, and dullness.Conclusion: This study showed that numerous poisonous plants pose a significant risk to the livestock industry within Himalayan territory, leading to substantial economic losses. Consequently, it is of utmost importance to conduct further comprehensive studies on the phytotoxicity of plants.

BackgroundCentral Myanmar is located in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, and the Bamar people are the main ethnic group, which settled there over 1000 years ago. Despite being the core region of the country, central Myanmar has been ignored in previous ethnobotanical studies. Local healthy foods and knowledge are regarded as treasures for resource development and pharmaceutical drug discovery, and market surveys are a good strategy in ethnobotanical research. Thus, we collected and documented typical vegetables and local knowledge in local markets and then analysed the diversity and local knowledge of these vegetables.Materials and methodsObservations and interviews were used in the field study, and 10 markets and fairs were selected in central Myanmar. A total of 277 vegetable stalls or shops were visited. We compared the local knowledge we collected with selected important and typical herbal books on traditional Myanmar medicine. Quantitative analysis, including frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC) and use value (UV), was used to assess the diversity and local knowledge of these vegetables.ResultsA total of 132 plant taxa from 47 botanical families and 116 genera were collected. Most (106 taxa, 80.3%) of these vegetables were cited by the informants as functional foods that had health benefits, while others were regarded as merely “good for health”. The main health function of the vegetables was treating digestive problems. Sixty-four species were recorded in selected herbal books on traditional Myanmar medicine, and forty-seven taxa were not recorded in these books but were nonetheless used as healthy vegetables by local people. Twenty-eight species of vegetables were collected from wild places.ConclusionThe diversity and local knowledge of healthy vegetables in central Myanmar were rich. Nevertheless, the diversity of wild vegetables was seemingly relatively low. The possible reason was that we counted only the vegetables that were from entirely wild sources as “wild vegetables”. The most frequently cited vegetables were commonly cultivated species, which reflects the fact that plants cultivated on a large scale comprise the major source of vegetables. Some lesser known vegetables could reflect the unique food culture of local people, but most of these were cited only a few times by the interviewees, which caused low UV and RFC rankings for them in the league table. In addition, future research should pay more attention to the food safety of these vegetables.

Background: Moroccan Pre-Rif is characterized by the abundance of its vegetable resources, especially its aromatic and medicinal plants. The Medicinal plants are used to treat certain diseases, as they have therapeutic properties. However, the region is not sufficiently studied, particularly in terms of its flora. Objectives: The ethnobotanical study carried out in the province of Taounate (Pre-rif of Morocco) aims to collect information on the medicinal and aromatic plants used in phytotherapy in order to draw up a floristic inventory of the region, and to highlight this plant heritage. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among the population of some communes of the province of Taounate between May 2020 and May 2021. The study targeted people belonging to different categories of age, sex and family status. Data were collected using questionnaire forms based on structured interviews and analysed through the relative frequency of citation (RFC), the family importance value index (FIV) and the value of the plant part used (VPP). Results: The analysis of the results obtained revealed a total of 111 medicinal plant species belonging to 52 botanical families, the most abundant of which are the Lamiaceae (FIV=13.327%), the Asteraceae (FIV=6.164%), the Apiaceae (2.878%), the Fabaceae (FIV=5.07%) and the Rosaceae (FIV=2.998%). The most cited species are Origanum compactum Benth (RFC= 43.81%), Mentha pulegium L. (RFC=36.39%), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RFC=30.85%), Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (RFC= 22.27%). This analysis also allowed to determine that most of the diseases, especially digestive, are treated by the leaves of the plants which represent the most used plant part and also by the decoction which constitutes the most frequent mode of preparation. Conclusion: According to the present survey, the population of the province of Taounate relies mainly on medicinal plants for treatment despite the development of modern medicine. Keywords: Pre-rif of Morocco, Taounate, Medicinal plants, Ethnobotanical surveys, Traditional medicine.

This study presents an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the treatment of urogenital disorders in the Drâa-Tafilalet region, located in southeastern Morocco. The survey involved 200 herbalists and medicinal plant vendors across three provinces: Errachidia, Tinghir, and Zagora. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using metrics such as use value (UV), frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and family importance value (FIV). The study identified 80 species belonging to 44 plant families. The most represented families were Asteraceae (8 species), Lamiaceae (7 species), Apiaceae (7 species), and Fabaceae (6 species). The species most frequently cited treating urogenital disorders included Petroselinum sativum Hoff. (RFC = 0.018), Arenaria rubra L. (RFC = 0.016), Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lank. (RFC = 0.016), Zea mays (RFC = 0.013), Artemisia herba-alba (RFC = 0.013), and Ammi visnaga (RFC = 0.011). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part (35 %). The primary preparation methods of these remedies were decoction (53.75 %) and infusion (30 %), with oral administration being the preferred route (95 %). The findings of this study provide a valuable resource for researchers and practioners of traditional medicine, highlighting the importance of Morocco's medicinal flora. This ethnobotanical knowledge not only supports the conservation of national pharmacopoeia but also offers a promising foundation for the discovery of new therapeutic agents, particularly for the treatment of urogenital disorders. Future research could further investigate the bioactive compounds present in the identified species, potentially leading to innovative treatments for urogenital health issues.