Medicinal and non-medicinal uses of some plants found in the middle region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gifted with a wide range of flora, consisting of different species of trees, shrubs and herbs. It contains hydrocarbon, edible and medicinal plants. Eighty three species (belonging to thirty four plant families) have been investigated for their traditional and medicinal potentiality. The ethnopharmacy of Saudi Arabia represents a good example of a strongly interconnected integration between straight forward familiar medicinal remedies, health, diet and traditional healing practices characterized by cultural specific symbolism. Some of these species have uses other than being medicinal; examples include Adiantum capillus-veneris as refreshing summer drink, Beta vulgaris as source of sugar, Chenopodium murale for making dye, Eleusine indica for paper manufacture,Acacia farnesiana for making perfumes and dyes. Sixty four species are used for treating ailments of different digestive system organs (stomach and intestinal pain, appetizer, emetic). Five species are used as a remedy for diabetes; 18 species are used as diuretic plants; 14 are used for liver and spleen disorders; 17 for rheumatoid and joint inflammation pain; 9 plants for treating cancer and tumors; 24 are used for different skin diseases; 9plants are used as antimicrobial, fungicide and insecticide and 19 are used for sexual diseases. Some of these plants have been used in medicinal remedy, as food and source of non-edible oil. Key words: Medicinal plants, economic uses, Saudi Arabia.