Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Treatment of Kidney Diseases in Fez–Meknes Region, Morocco

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to inventory and collect information on plants and mixtures commonly used by herbalists to treat kidney disease in the Fez–Meknes region. We also aimed to compare the results obtained with the results of the other studies and exploit the correlations between different factors. An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted from 289 local herbalists in eight different areas of Fez–Meknes region. Ethnomedicinal uses and ethnobotanical indices were analyzed using quantitative tools, i.e., the total number of citation (TNC), use value (UV), family use value (FUV), fidelity level (FL), and rank order priority (ROP). Statistical analyses such as Pearson correlation and chi-squared test were performed to delineate any correlation. Two hundred and eighty-nine herbalists were questioned. Sixty-nine plant species belonging to 38 families were cited by herbalists for traditional treatment of kidney disease. The highest value of UV was obtained for Herniaria glabra L. (UV = 0.79), and Caryophyllaceae was the family frequently cited (FUV = 0.795). Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. & Dur. had the highest value of FL with a value of 100%, and the highest value of ROP was recorded for Herniaria glabra L. (ROP = 91%). Sociodemographic characteristics had a significant impact on the knowledge of toxic plants. Our study has revealed a cultural heritage linked to herbalism and a great wealth of medicinal plants, whose valorization and protection are necessary. Several studies are needed to sensitize herbalists and population on the danger of toxic plants, to extract chemical compounds from the main plants used, and to evaluate their toxicity.