Comparative ethnobotanical analysis of the used medicinal plants in the region of the Northern Black Sea coast (Bulgaria)

Petya Boycheva,Dobri Ivanov

doi:10.2478/asn-2021-0017

Abstract

Abstract The current ethnobotanical study summarizes the use of medicinal plants by locals in the region of the Northern Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria. The survey was conducted in the period between 2014 and 2020. After prior informed consent, 709 local residents from 32 settlements were interviewed. The interviews with the local population were conducted using the “face to face” technique with the help of pre-prepared original questionnaires. The study presents quantitative ethnobotanical information on the use of medicinal plants in the study area. The results were analyzed using quantitative indices: Respondent Consensus Ratio (FIC), Loyalty Level Index (FL) and Significance Value Index (IVs). A total of 332 species of medicinal plants belonging to 250 genera of 90 families have been identified for the region of the Northern Black Sea Coast. The largest number of citations are registered for the use of medicinal plants for culinary purposes and for use in human medicine. The use of medicinal plants in other household applications has been studied.

Highlights

Due to the trend of globalization, traditional knowledge, including that of medicinal plants, is declining and some of it is irretrievably lost
From the study we found that in the floristic subregion of the North Black Sea coast, locals use 332 species of medicinal plants belonging to 250 genera and 90 families
151 species from 126 genera and 57 families are included in the Medicinal Plants Act of the Republic of Bulgaria

Summary

Introduction

Due to the trend of globalization, traditional knowledge, including that of medicinal plants, is declining and some of it is irretrievably lost. The use of synthetic and artificial products is increasing, as is the use of foreign plant species, which are replacing traditionally used plants [1]. This determines the relevance and importance of conducting ethnobotanical research in order to learn, store and update this Full Paper. 730 species of spontaneously distributed higher plants are included in the Medicinal Plants Act of the Republic of Bulgaria [3]. The other 114 species are spontaneously distributed and are described in the literature on medicinal plants in Bulgaria [4]

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Conclusion