Medicinal plants traditionally used in Koya, Kurdistan region of Iraq

Abstract

Nearly every ethnic group in the world has its own traditional medicinal expertise and experiences on which they rely on. Usage of traditional medicinal plants presents a significant aspect of the imbedded culture of people in developing and developed countries. Documentation of utilised medicinal plants in a particular region at an interval of time is crucial for biological exploration and conservation. In Kurdistan region of Iraq documentation of traditional medicinal plants is not well studied. The information of traditional utilisation of medicinal plants in Kurdistan region is still at the hand of traditional herbalist. The study aimed at identifying different medicinal plants used by traditional herbalist in Koya locale of Erbil in northern Iraq. Non-random probability sampling and expert method with the aid of in-depth interview guide was used. Forty plants species with medicinal value were documented. Family Lamiaceae has the highest abundance (12.2%), Rosaceae (7.3%), then Fabaceae (4.9%) and Lauraceae (4.9%) respectively. Leaves (28.6 %) are the most utilised part of medicinal plants in the study area. The most prepared form of preparation of medicinal plants is decoction (57.1%) and powder form (18.4%). Oral is the most common application form (69.4%). Significant number of medicinal plants utilised in Koya are wild (36.7%). Aged people are the custodian of traditional knowledge in Koya, Kurdistan region of Iraq. The study revealed new un investigated plants species that could serve as a potential source of modern medicine in Kurdistan region of Iraq. There is need for pharmacological investigation of the medicinal plants for herbal medicine production in the region to avoid over sampling of the most popular species.