Ethnobotany and diversity of medicinal and food plants used in the region Chtouka Ait Baha and Tiznit (Western Anti-Atlas), Morocco

Abstract

Western Anti-Atlas of Morocco represents an important area with interesting knowledge of medicinal and food plants, particularly the use of medicinal plants for human healthcare. Moreover, the geographic location of this region makes this site a remarkable area of incredible biodiversity and the highest levels of endemism. This work aims to make an inventory of plant species used in Chtouka Ait Baha and Tiznit provinces in folk medicine to manage different diseases and, at the same time, used in food. The survey was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 450 interviews were conducted with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. The data were analyzed using the use-value (UV) and the relative frequency citation (RFC). Eighty-four species belonging to 37 families were inventoried in this survey, with Lamiaceae as the dominating family. Two species that showed a significant value of UV (UV≥1.50) and RFC (RFC≥0.50) are Thymus leptobotrys Murb. and Thymus saturejoides Coss. with the highest value obtained for Thymus leptobotrys Murb. (UV=2.60). The digestive system was the highest foremost treated disease in the region (22% of treated infections). The obtained results also showed that seeds and leaves were the most cited plant part used, and the decoction is the preferred mode of preparation. The method of consumption the medicinal plants as food is fresh or dried with a percentage of 36%.