Abstract
Abstract Objective In this study, determination and documentation of folk medicines that are being used by indigenous people in Bafra was aimed. Materials and methods Scientific trips were organised to the region and folk medicines were identified by interviewing individuals which have knowledge of folk medicine. One hundred and fifty-five plant samples were collected during the study. Obtained data were statistically analysed by using four quantitative indices; “informant consensus factor”, “use value”, “relative frequency of citation” and “cultural importance index”. Results Fifty-three genera and 62 taxa belonging 33 families were recorded to be used in the treatment of different diseases. The usage of five species (Anthemis coelopoda var. coelopoda, Tanacetum corymbosum, Quercus frainetto, Salvia forskahlei and Lavatera punctate) as folk medicine was previously undocumented in Turkey. In addition, new usages of 13 folk medicines [Allium porrum, Brassica oleracea, Corylus maxima, Foeniculum vulgare, Helianthus annuus, Melissa officinalis subsp. altissima, Petroselinum crispum, Plantago major subsp. intermedia, Prunus avium, Punica granatum, Sedum pallidum, Vitis sylvestris and Zea mays] in Turkey were also detected. Folk medicines are mostly used for muscle-skeletal (FIC=0.6935), respiratory (FIC=0.6909) and dermatological system disorders (FIC=0.5555). In addition, Cydonia oblonga (UV value=0.23), Urtica dioica (UV value=0.19), Sambucus ebulus (UV value=0.18) and Allium cepa (UV value=0.16) were the most cited species in Bafra. Conclusion Once again, the present investigation has highlighted the gradual reduction in the use of folk medicines, and ethnobotanical knowledge has been falling into oblivion rapidly. Therefore, ethnobotanical inventory surveys should be undertaken throughout Turkey before this important cultural heritage becomes lost.
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