Highest Informant Consensus Factor Research Articles

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Human and Livestock Ailments in Hulet Eju Enese Woreda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Indigenous people of a given community have their own local specific knowledge on plant use, management, and conservation. The objective of this study was to document medicinal plants used to treat human and livestock ailments in Hulet Eju Enese Woreda. The data were collected using semistructured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations with local people. A total of 100 informants over the age of 20 years were selected to collect information on medicinal plant use. Descriptive statistics (percentage and frequency), Jaccard's similarity index, independent sample t-test and analysis of variance, informant consensus factor, fidelity level, preference ranking, and direct matrix ranking were computed. A total of 80 medicinal plant species belonging to 75 genera and 52 families were documented. In terms of species diversity, Solanaceae stood first with 5 species followed by Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae with 4 species each. Out of eighty medicinal plants, 53 species were used to treat only human ailments, 8 species were used to treat only livestock ailments, and the remaining 19 species were used for treating both human and livestock ailments. From the total medicinal plant species, shrub constitutes the largest number with 42.5% species. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves, accounting for 28.9%. The major routes of administration were oral accounts, 81 (57%), followed by dermal, 45 (31.7%), nasal, 6 (4.2%), and others, 10 (7%). In the disease category with the highest informant consensus factor (0.83) value was sudden sickness. There was highest preference (49) for Phytolacca dodecandra to treat rabies. Cordia africana was shown to be the top multipurpose species. This study revealed that the study area was rich in medicinal plants. Agricultural expansion, charcoal making, and firewood collection were considered major threats to medicinal plants. Therefore, awareness creation to the youth and training to the healers play a pivotal role to prevent the loss of indigenous knowledge.

Ethnomedicinal Values of Weeds in Kanchanpur District, Far-Western Nepal

Background: Far-Western Terai Region of Nepal is a large source of floral diversity. Most of the plants are medicinal and available as wild or weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants and competing with crop plants for common resources (water, mineral nutrients, space, and light) and reduce the yield of wanted plants. However, the weeds and their medicinal properties were scarcely documented. The aim of the present study was to explore the diversity of commonly used weeds of Kanchanpur district, to be precise on cataloguing the indigenous knowledge how local weeds are managed and utilized by local people.Methods: The study district is border to India at southwestern part of the country. The information of weeds and their medicinal uses was collected by using semi-structured questionnaires in which participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and rapid rural appraisal (RRA) tools were used. The quantitative data were analyzed by use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), Fidelity Level (FL), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC).Results: A total of 108 weed species were recorded under 44 families as medicinal to treat different ailments. Among them, 79 species were dicotyledons, 25 monocotyledons (19 grasses and 6 sedges species) and 4 pteridophytes. The composition of species to their respective families showed the highest (12%) occurrence by families Poaceae and Asteraceae with first rank and the lowest (1%) occurrence by families Alismataceae and Typhaceae with sixth rank category. Weed species were being used as similar to other plant species used for ethnobotany, however the use as ethnomedicinal was remarkable. The medicinal use of weeds with the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) (0.75) was for fever and in palpitation of heart and the lowest ICF (0.45) for paralysis and arthritis. The Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were used to demonstrate that which weeds could be further used for pharmacological study and advancement of drug discovery. Conclusions: The finding proved the significance of weeds as medicine so there is a dire need to create awareness among the people for conservation and sustainable use of these weeds. Although weeds are undesirable plants, but they have high medicinal values, thus their controlled cultivation might be necessary as extensive cultivation may have bad impact on normal crops. The information of weed species and their use to treat various ailments must be explored, preserved, documented, and transferred from generation to generation.Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Indigenous knowledge, Kanchanpur, Nepal, Weeds.

Ethnoveterinary practice of medicinal plants in Chhatradev Rural Municipality, Arghakhanchi District of Western Nepal

Abstract. Dhakal A, Khanal S, Pandey M. 2021. Ethnoveterinary practice of medicinal plants in Chhatradev Rural Municipality, Arghakhanchi District of Western Nepal. Nusantara Bioscience 13: 29-40. The use of medicinal plants is a traditional system in treating domestic animals in Nepal. This study was done to investigate and document knowledge about using different plants with medicinal value to cure different animal ailments in Chhatradev Rural Municipality, Arghakhanchi district of western Nepal. A total of 100 elderly people rearing domestic animals and having traditional knowledge of ethnoveterinary plants were selected for interview. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed, and interviews were conducted for addressing detailed ethnoveterinary information. The uses of 103 plant species belonging to 56 families were documented for the treatment of 21 animal ailments. Fabaceae was found to be a dominant family with 10 plant species followed by Poaceae (8 species). The most commonly used plant parts were leaf, seed, and fruit. Herbs were dominant with 44 plant species followed by trees (32 species), shrubs (14 species), and climbers (13 species). The wide application of the medicinal plants as the form of paste formulation was observed for 41 plant species, while 25 plant species were used as powder formulation followed by Juice (21 species), raw (20 species), decoction (19 species), infusion (5 species), and roasted formulation (3 species). Oral route was the most common route followed by dermal and ocular. It was found that the informant consensus factor (ICF) values varied from 0.858 to 0.96. A high informant consensus factor was found for ailment of reproductive category (0.96) followed by respiratory (0.957), gastrointestinal (0.949) while the least was in urinary problem category (0.858). The highest citation frequency was found for Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (247) followed by Myristica fragrans Houtt. (111), Sesamum indicum L. (109), Saccharum officinarum L. (107) and Zea mays L. (97). The wide use and rich knowledge of ethnoveterinary practice were found in the study area. This study might be handy to discover useful ethnopharmaceutical agents applicable in the livestock industry. Conservation programs should be done from the government level and study on the use of medicinal plants for treating animal diseases is recommended.

Ethnobotanical characterization of medicinal plants used in Kisantu and Mbanza-Ngungu territories, Kongo-Central Province in DR Congo

BackgroundThe phytotherapeutic knowledge of the Kongo people in the territories of Kisantu and Mbanza-Ngungu in Kongo-Central Province (DR Congo) is rapidly eroding. To document the remaining knowledge, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey on the most important medicinal plant species and diseases treated with them, as well as plants with therapeutic potential. We also checked for the cultural similarity in medicinal plant knowledge between the two territories and how knowledge about Kongo medicinal plants differs between different social groups.MethodsFrom June 2017 until February 2018 and from February 2019 until April 2019, we conducted a survey with 188 phytotherapists, selected using the snowball method and surveyed using semi-structured interviews. Voucher specimens were taken for identification. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using medicinal use value (UVs), informant agreement ratio (IARs), informant consensus factor (ICF), and species therapeutic potential (STP). Rahman’s similarity index was used for ethno-cultural comparison of medicinal plant knowledge between the two communities. Medicinal knowledge between different social groups was analyzed using non-parametric tests and Poisson regression.ResultsA total of 231 plants (i.e., 227 botanical species, representing 192 genera and 79 families) were reportedly used to treat 103 diseases. Most abundant taxa were reported for the Fabaceae family (including 11.9% of species and 10.9% of genera). Most reported species (45.0%) were from anthropized areas. Leaves (39.4%), herbs (37.1%), decoction (41.7%), and oral ingestion (72%) were the most frequently cited plant part, botanical form, preparation, and administration method, respectively. Four of all inventoried species showed high UVS (> 0.05), whereas eight had an IAR of one. According to ICF, 31 diseases were mentioned. Highest ICF (≥ 0.4) was observed for hemorrhoids (0.44), amoebiasis (0.43), and itchy rash (0.42). Fifty-four plant species were identified as likely possessing an interesting therapeutic potential. Low ethno-cultural similarity in medicinal knowledge (RSI = 16.6%) was found between the two territories. Analysis of the Kongo medicinal plant knowledge showed that the mean number of reported species and diseases vary considerably depending on gender, type, and residence of therapists (P < 0.05).ConclusionResults prove that the Kongo phytopharmacopeia makes use of interesting medicinal plant species that could be further studied for conservation and pharmacological applications.

A survey of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by women and herbalists from the city of Agadir, southwest of Morocco

IntroductionIn southern Morocco, medicinal plants are mostly used by women but their knowledge about plants is poorly documented. This work aimed to study the use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine by local women and compare this with herbalists from the city of Agadir, southern Morocco. MethodsThe study was conducted with 73 housewives and 27 herbalists, using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. ResultsNinety-six species belonging to 48 families and 92 species belonging to 43 families were cited by herbalists and housewives. The dominant plant families were Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Herbalists recorded high Use Value (UV) for Ruta montana and Ocimum basilicum. Housewives had high UV for Ficus carica, Cichorium intybus, and O. basilicum. Seriphidium herba-alba, Origanum vulgare and Lavandula dentata showed high Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) for both groups of respondents. High RFC were also noted for Salvia rosmarinus and Tetraclinis articulata by herbalists. High Fidelity Level (FL) were recorded by herbalists and housewives for Rubia peregrina fort anaemia, Globularia alypum for burns, Ononis natrix forliver disorders, Punita granatum for stomach problems. Housewives noted high FL for D. ambrosioides for fever and Olea europaea for diabetes. Fever, diabetes, wounds and influenza showed high Informant Consensus Factor by herbalists and housewives, but housewives had higher agreement. New uses were reported by housewives: O. natrix for liver disorders, Ammodaucus leucotrichus for abdominal pain, and Origanum majorana for diabetes. ConclusionHousewives had a rich knowledge about the use of medicinal plants that was different to that of herbalists.

Ethnomedicinal Practices by Tharu Ethnic Community in Rupandehi and Nawalparasi Districts, Western Nepal

Tharus are the marginalized indigenous people of Nepal. This study was carried out using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) from 2019 to 2020. The ethnomedicinal data were collected using a semi-structured interview with 75 key informants, local healers, and Guruwas. A total of 74 plants, belonging to 39 families, for the treatment of 11 categories of ailments, were documented. The highest informant consensus factor (FIC) value was for respiratory troubles (0.84), followed by the skeletomuscular disorder (0.83), and dermatological trouble (0.82). The highest frequency of citation (%) was found in Azadirachta indica (90 %), followed by Calotropis gigantea (67 %), Euphorbia antiquorum (67 %), and Rauvolfia serpentina (51 %). Fabaceae (6 spp.) was the most dominating family; herbs (47 %) the most frequently used life forms; leaves (32 %) the most frequently used plant part, and juice (30 %) being the most widely preferred mode of drug preparation. Different parts of the plant species were used for the treatment of more than one ailment using a different mode of drug preparation, and a single species was used to treat more than one ailments. The high average FIC value (0.72) showed that there was a higher agreement among the informants for the use against certain categories of ailments. Some plants like Rauvolfia serpentina, Piper longum, and Asparagus racemosus need a proper conservation strategy, as their population is decreasing in this area.

Documentation of medicinal plants used by Aneuk Jamee tribe in Kota Bahagia Sub-district, South Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract. Suwardi AB, Mardudi, Navia ZI, Baihaqi, Muntaha. 2021. Documentation of medicinal plants used by Aneuk Jamee tribe in Kota Bahagia sub-district, South Aceh, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 6-15. Aneuk Jamee is one of the ethnic communities living along the western-south coast of Aceh. Various plants are used by the Aneuk Jamee tribe as a traditional medicine in treating diseases and disorders. The aim of this study was therefore to document the medicinal plants used by the Aneuk Jamee tribe in the Kota Bahagia sub-district, South Aceh, Indonesia. This study was conducted in three villages, namely Jombo Keupok, Seuneubok Kuranji, and Alur Dua Mas, Kota Bahagia subdistrict, South Aceh District, Aceh Province. This study was based on field surveys, plant collection, and interviews with the local people. Interviews were performed with 60 informants selected by using the Snowball Sampling technique. A total of 96 medicinal plant species, consisting of 50 families, have been documented to be used by the Aneuk Jamee tribe in the Kota Bahagia subdistrict. Fifty-nine (61%) species are cultivated and 37 (39%) species are wild. Leaves are the most widely used plant part (28%), followed by the fruit (19%), flower and tuber (6% each), seed (3%), and sap (2%) and the main mode of preparations are decoction (60%), followed by raw consumption (14%), smeared (10%), pounded (7%), dropped (6%), and affixed and squeezed (1% each). The high informant consensus factor (ICF=0.98) was assigned to the diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism category.

Traditional knowledge, use and conservation of plants by the communities of Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya

Rural communities in Kenya largely depend on plant resources for their livelihood. The utilization of these resources depends on the availability of plant resources and the level of knowledge of the residents. We conducted an ethnobotanical study in Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya to determine the knowledge and utilization of various plant species by the local communities. The study was conducted in four major administrative regions from June 2018 to February 2019, involving interview schedules using semi-structured open-ended questionnaires and guided field collections with 48 informants. A total of 214 plant species distributed in 73 families and 169 genera with 616 Use Reports (URs) were documented. Fabaceae was the highest family cited by the informants (31 species) followed by Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae (each with 11 species). Trees (49%) and shrubs (32%) were the top life forms of the plants frequently utilized by the local residents. The general plant uses reported were medicinal, food, fodder, construction, fuel, pesticidal, religious, live fencing, and making crafts. Zanthoxylum gilletii, Prunus africana, and Solanum incanum were found to be highly valued by the local communities. Plant utilization as food and medicinal uses against snake-bite related problems had the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Only 29 (13.6%) of the species reported had their status assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservation measures, alongside awareness creation in this region, are highly recommended for the species endemic to the region, highly depended on by the community, and those threatened according to IUCN standards.

Skincare plants of the Naxi of NW Yunnan, China

The Naxi of Northwest Yunnan, China use medicinal plants to treat skin conditions related to traditional lifestyles in extreme environments. However, modernization endangers both the medicinal plants used to treat skin conditions and traditional knowledge. Therefore, investigation and documentation of the medicinal plants used and associated traditional knowledge is necessary. In this study, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey in 12 Naxi communities in Northwest Yunnan. For this purpose, we used semi-structured surveys to interview 840 informants from Naxi communities. We used informant consensus factor and use frequency as quantitative indices to evaluate the importance of medicinal plant species. A total of 161 medicinal plant species belonging to 69 families were documented. The highest informant consensus factor (ICF) values were recorded for skin nourishing (ICF = 0.849), frostbite and chapped skin (ICF = 0.833). These skin treatments are highly related to the environment and lifestyle of Naxi communities. The main active compounds of plants used to treat skin conditions in Naxi communities are known to have skin-treating properties. This study reveals that the skin conditions treated by the Naxi are associated with traditional medicine culture and social economic development. In addition, this study uses ethnobotanical indices to explain how skin condition treatments are linked to the natural environment of Naxi communities.

A comparative ethno-religious study of traditionally used medicinal plants employed in the management of cardiovascular diseases

BackgroundDespite the availability of conventional medicine, Mauritians have a deep-rooted interest in the use of traditional herbal medicines (THMs) for the management of diseases. Nonetheless, there is currently a dearth of study that specifically addresses the extent of use of THMs among cardiovascular patients. PurposeTo document THMs employed against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and to highlight cultural similarities and differences in their use among different religious groups. MethodsInformants (n = 384) were recruited via a face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. Quantitative indexes, (frequency index (FI), informant consensus factor (ICF), cultural importance index (CII), and Jaccard similarity index (JSI)) were calculated. Pearson Chi-Squared test was performed to measure the relationship between demographic characteristics and use of TMs. ResultsOne hundred plants and 19 polyherbal formulations (PHF) were reported to be used against CVDs. Fruit (42.8 %) was the most used plant part and juice (27.8 %) was the most frequently reported method of preparation of plant based remedies. Based on the FI, Citrus limon scored the highest value (FI = 9.1). Hypertensive disease category was the most cited ailment category with the highest informant consensus factor (ICF = 0.65). The CII showed that Ocimum tenuiflorum, Camellia sinensis, Murraya koenigi, and Citrus limon were the culturally most important plants among Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist, respectively. The highest similarity of plant usage was between the Hindu and Muslim community (JSI = 90.9). ConclusionsThis research provides a basis of comparative preliminary documentation and analysis of therapies used to treat CVDs. More research is needed with a focus on pharmacological investigations to discover useful bioactive constituents.

Ethnomedicinal uses, phytoconstituents and pharmacological importance of pteridophytes used by Malayalis in Kolli hills, India: A quantitative survey

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The medicinal value of pteridophytes has been known to humans since ancient times; however limited data is available about their phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties. Hence, this study was planned to document medicinal usage of pteridophytes by Malayali people in Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats, India. Existing information on phytoconstituents, previous reports on similar therapeutic uses and pharmacological activities for the documented species were compiled. Methods: Fieldwork was conducted from October 2015 to September 2016 and ethnomedicinal data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from the healers in the study area. The collected data were analyzed through fidelity level (FL) and informants consensus factor (ICF) and recorded illnesses were sorted into 17 ailment categories for the purpose of statistical calculations. Results: A total of 55 species of medicinally important pteridophytes representing 23 families and 38 genera were identified in the study. Mostly fronds were used for preparation of medicine (37 %). Powder (31 %) was one of the dominant preparation methods in treating various ailments. Highest FL (100 %) was recorded for 24 species and highest ICF was recorded for kidney problems (0.90). Conclusions: The present study has an important contribution towards the preservation of indigenous knowledge which is being eroded among younger generations. Most of the frequently used species documented in this study are scarcely explored in phytochemical and pharmacological aspects, despite their remarkable usage among the Malayalis. Hence, this study stresses the need for phytochemical, toxicological and clinical studies on documented species of pteridophytes for the discovery of active molecules and new drug sources.

Ethnobotanical survey of the medicinal flora of Harighal, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

BackgroundThe present study is the first quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of Harighal, an inaccessible and unexplored area of District Bagh Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The exploration, quantification, and comparison of ethnobotanical knowledge among different rural communities of the study area were mainly focused during field survey.MethodologyIn total, 79 informants (49 men and 34 women) were selected randomly to collect data using a semi-structured questionnaire. Various quantitative indices, including use value, relative frequency of citation, relative importance, fidelity level, and informant consent factor, were employed to evaluate the gathered information. Furthermore, primary data were also compared with twenty-two papers published from adjoining areas.ResultA total of 150 medicinal plants belonging to 98 genera and 60 families were documented. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Rosaceae were the dominant families having 15 species each. Of these, 76 species were indigenous, 74 exotic, 136 were collected in the wild, 10 cultivated, and 4 both wild-collected and cultivated. Herbaceous taxa were the most used life form, and leaves were the most exploited plant part. Decoctions were the most preferred method used in preparation of herbal recipes. Three species viz. Mentha longifolia, Berberis lycium, and Galium aparine had the highest use value (1.05), relative frequency of citation (0.81), and relative importance value (96), respectively. The highest informant consensus factor (ICF) was reported for digestive disorders. Mentha longifolia, Punica granatum, Zanthoxylum alatum, and Olea ferruginea had 100% fidelity values. The Jaccard index revealed that uses of plants were more similar in two neighboring areas, i.e., Pearl Valley and Toli Peer.ConclusionLocal inhabitants still prioritize herbal medicines as an effective way to treat a wide variety of ailments. Elders and health practitioners of the study area are well aware of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, but young people are not much interested in herbal practices. Thus, valuable knowledge about the use of plants is on the verge of decline.

Plants used as medicinal in Güémez, Tamaulipas, north-eastern Mexico

The use of medicinal plants in Mexico has a diverse and deeply-rooted tradition concerning. Plants play an important role in traditional medicine among the inhabitants of Güémez, Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. With the aim of obtaining quantitative information on the plants and their uses as medicinal sources, semi-structured interviews with 113 local residents were taken. In addition, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Use Value (UV) were calculated. A total of 85 species of medicinal plants belonging to 44 families were identified. The most common families were Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The most used part of the plant was the leaf and the most frequent preparation method was boiling, preparing as an infusion. A total of 50 medicinal uses were registered. Fever had highest ICF (0.93), whereas, according to UV, the most important plants were Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt., Mentha spicata L., Matricaria recutita L. and Achillea millefolium L. The information generated strengthens traditional knowledge, bringing new species and uses to the country´s records for future phytochemical studies that could lead to new medicines.

Local knowledge of traditional medicinal plants use and education system on their young of Ammatoa Kajang tribe in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Azis S, Zubaidah S, Mahanal S, Batoro J, Sumitro SB. 2020. Local knowledge of traditional medicinal plant use and education system on their young Ammatoa Kajang tribe in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3989-4002. Kajang tribal community in Indonesia has been using plants as traditional medicine for long periods of time; however, this traditional knowledge has not been appropriately documented. Therefore, to prevent the knowledge from being degraded or vanished, it needs to be documented. This study aimed to (i) document the local knowledge of Ammatoa Kajang tribe on the use of traditional medicinal plants, (ii) describe the education system of their young generation, and (iii) conduct Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Use Value (UV) analyses. The research data were obtained from 114 informants through semi-structured interviews. This research uses descriptive analysis, quantitative ICF, and UV. A total of 104 plant species from 50 families were identified. Parts of plants that were frequently used by the tribal community were leaves (48.56%). Before using the medicinal plants, the people customarily boiled (33.09%) the plants. The youth received education through informal education that became the highest level of education delivered orally by the family (51.75%). The highest ICF was found in the Digestive System Diseases category, and the highest UV was observed in Piper betle.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Khandadevi and Gokulganga Rural Municipality of Ramechhap District of Nepal

Background: This study was focused on the ethnobotany of different ethnic communities residing in Majhuwa and Chuchure villages of Khandadevi and Gokulganga Rural Municipality of Ramechhap District of Bagmati Province of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.Methods: The ethnobotanical study was carried out by using semi-structured questionnaires in which participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and rapid rural appraisal (RRA) tools were used to acquire knowledge from local people regarding ethnobotanical uses of plants of their surroundings. The quantitative data were analyzed by the relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), and informant consensus factor (ICF).Results: A total of 139 plant species belonging to 74 families were found to have ethnobotanical significance. Among these species, herbs accounted for 41% followed by trees (29%), shrubs (14%), climbers (9%), grasses (3%), epiphytes (1%), ferns (1%), fungi (1%), and lichens (1%). Out of which, 136 species were of medicinal importance and used to treat different ailments followed by other uses such as fodder, veterinary, religious, pesticide, timber, etc. The new uses of Lespisorus mehrae, Plumbago zeylanica, Pterocarpus santalinus, Rhus parviflora, and Roscoea auriculata were found. The highest RFC was found to be 0.82 for Ageratina adenophora, Curcuma domestica, Acorus calamus, Centella asiatica, Avena sativa, and Allium sativum. The highest UV was found in Zingiber officinale (1.30), and the highest ICF was found in the gastro-intestinal disorders ailment category (0.50).Conclusions: For the first time, we revealed the ethnobotanical application of plant species from Majhuwa and Chuchure villages of Ramechhap District. This study showed that Majhuwa and Chuchure villages are rich in medicinally important plant species and different ethnic communities have enormous knowledge of ethnobotanical uses of plants. Moreover, illegal collection, trade, and marketing have threatened the abundance and distribution of some high-value medicinal plants. It is of utmost importance to conserve floral diversity through the local peoples’ participation. Key Words: Ramechhap, Medicinal Plants, Ethnobotanical knowledge, UV, RFC, ICF

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Mulam people in Guangxi, China

BackgroundThe Mulam are an ethnic group native to Guangxi, and nearly 80% of the Mulam population lives in Luocheng Mulam Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southern China. They have accumulated rich medicinal folk knowledge through practice and experience in their long-term struggles with disease and the harsh natural environment. However, their traditional medicinal knowledge is threatened due to a lack of written records, conservative inheritance patterns, and rapid economic development. Therefore, the investigation and documentation of medicinal plants and their associated indigenous wisdom are necessary.MethodEthnobotanical data were collected from 12 villages and five communities in Luocheng County from January 2013 to April 2017. A total of 128 informants were interviewed through semistructured interviews, field observations, group discussions, and guided field walks. Quantitative indices such as use categories, preference ranking exercises, the informant consensus factor (ICF), and the fidelity level (FL) were used to evaluate the importance of medicinal plant species. Additionally, group discussions were conducted about the conservation of and threats to medicinal plants and traditional knowledge.ResultsA total of 456 medicinal plant species from 350 genera and 132 families were recorded and documented in our ethnobotanical investigation. Most of them (335 species, 73.47%) were obtained from wild habitats. Most of the documented species (246) were herbaceous (54%), followed by shrubs, with 76 species (17%), lianas, with 75 species (16%), and trees, with 59 species (13%). The most common method of administration was oral administration, which was used for 390 species (62.70%). The most common method of preparation was decoction (316 species, 54.11%). The plants were used to treat 312 human diseases in 12 disease categories, and most of the categories had a high ICF value. The highest ICF value was recorded for gynecological ailments (0.92), followed by nervous and psychosomatic problems (0.90) and digestive system diseases (0.89). Traditional medicinal knowledge and medicinal plants are under threat due to conservative inheritance processes and anthropogenic pressures for various reasons.ConclusionA rich diversity of medicinal plants is distributed in the Mulam area, and these plants play an important role in healthcare among the Mulam people. Mulam people are skilled in using the plants in their surroundings to treat diseases in their daily lives. However, their traditional medicinal knowledge and medicinal plants are greatly threatened by rapid economic development for various reasons. Thus, policies and practices for the conservation of medicinal plants and the associated traditional knowledge are necessary.

Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used for chronic diseases treatment in Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region (Morocco)

Background : This work aims to the valorization of resources in the provinces of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region, particularly aromatic and medicinal plants, and to the collection and documentation of the new ethno-medico-botanical information concerning the traditional use of these medicinal plants against chronic disease. Methods : An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region with traditional herbalists, on one hand, and with subjects suffering from chronic diseases on the other hand, during 5 months from February to June 2019. Data were collected thanks to 581 questionnaire cards based on semi-structured interviews. Relative Citation Frequency (RFC), Family Importance Value (FIV), Plant Part Value (PPV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were used in ethnobotanical data analysis. Results : A total of 79 medicinal and aromatic plant species were identified, belonging to 74 genera and 39 botanical families, of which Lamiaceae (FIV=0.038) and Asteraceae (FIV=0.015) were the most frequently represented. The most cited plant species were Nigella sativa (RFC=0.12), and Origanum compactum (RFC= 0.091). Leaves represent the most used plants part with PPV=0.246 and decoction was the major preparation model of remedies (37.7%). Concerning treated diseases, chronic kidney disease has the highest ICF (0.93). Furthermore, 18 cases of side effects related to the use of medicinal species such as Aristolochia longa and Peganum harmala were recorded. Conclusion : In light of this work, the population recognizes the effectiveness of medicinal plants in the treatment of chronic diseases, but their use will have to go through extensive phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological research in order to clarify their effectiveness and innocuousness. Keywords : Medicinal and aromatic plants, Ethnobotanical surveys, Chronic diseases, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region.

Ethnomedicinal survey of the plants used for gynecological disorders by the indigenous community of district Buner, Pakistan

Background: This study is the first of its own kind conducted in the study area with the aim to document and conserve the indigenous traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used for curing gynecological diseases. Materials and Methods : During the course of work, the use of medicinal plants and their ethnomedicinal uses for gynecological problems were documented by interviewing 532 people of different ages (20-110 years) through semi-structured interviews Results : The result of the present work is showing the dependency of the indigenous population on medicinal plants. In the present work 60 plants, species belonging to 40 families were collected and their medicinal uses were documented by interviewing both genders of the local population through semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires. The results of the study were compared to 14 previously published articles. The result of this study indicates that Asteraceae was the dominant family with 4 species. Similarly, the dominant life form was herb (39 species) and the most used plant part was leaf (19 species). The highest RCF (Relative Citation Frequency) value was obtained for Acacia modesta Wall. 0.71. The highest UV (Use Value) was 0.91 for Trachyspermum ammi (L.) sprague and lowest UV was 0.50 for Ficus benghalensis L. The highest ICF (Informants Consensus Factor) value 1.0 was obtained for emmenagogue and vomiting and the lowest for leucorrhoea (0.67). Conclusions: The present study shows that the study area is rich in ethnomedicinal knowledge. The result also indicates that the local population is more sensitive and careful about gynecological diseases. This study is providing a baseline for future pharmacological studies to discover new herbal drugs. Keywords: Traditional knowledge conservation; Ethno-medicine; Gynecological disorders; Buner; Pakistan

Ethnobotanical Study Aimed at Investigating the Use of Medicinal Plants to Treat Nervous System Diseases in the Rif of Morocco

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the treatment of neurological diseases in the Rif region of northern Morocco. MethodsAn ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the Rif (northern Morocco) from 2016 to 2018. In order to gather information about indigenous medicinal plants and local ethnomedical knowledge, 625 local traditional herbalists and users of these plants were interviewed. The data were collected through semistructured interviews and group discussions, analyzed, and compared by quantitative ethnobotanical indices such as family importance value, relative frequency of citation, plant part value (PPV), fidelity level, and informant consensus factor (ICF) . ResultsData were collected from 31 medicinal plant species belonging to 14 botanical families. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most commonly reported medicinal plants, with 5 species each. Concerning the diseases treated, epilepsy problems have the highest ICF (0.99). The survey revealed that leaves were the most used part of the plants (PPV= 34.7%), and the most commonly used preparation was an infusion (41.6%). ConclusionThere exists indigenous ethnomedical knowledge of medicinal plants in the Moroccan Rif to treat neurologic diseases. Based on our findings, we recommend that phytochemical and pharmacologic research be considered to discover potential treatments from these documented plants.

Ethnobotanical study of plants used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in a population bordering the forest of Izarène

Context: Ethnobotanical surveys among users of medicinal plants have allowed us to inventory the medicinal species used and to safeguard the maximum of information acquired by the local population in traditional phytotherapy. Aims: To contribute to a better knowledge of the medicinal plants used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, an ethnobotanical study was carried out among the population bordering the Izarène forest. Methods: Using 480 questionnaire sheets, ethnobotanical field surveys were conducted during two campaigns (2013 to 2015). The determination of the different survey media was carried out using stratified probability sampling techniques. The ethnobotanical data were analyzed through the calculation of quantitative indices, such as Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Family Importance Value index (FIV), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Use-Value of the Plant Part (PPV). Results: Analysis of the results revealed 40 plant species, which fall into 19 botanical families. The Lamiaceae family was the most represented (14 species, FIV = 0.076). The highest Relative Citation Frequency (RFC) (0.22) was recorded for Mentha pulegium. Concerning the diseases treated, asthma had the highest ICF (0.95). The leaf was considered the most used part of the plant (PPV = 0.34), and most of the remedies were prepared as decoctions. Conclusions: The results obtained could constitute a basis for further studies for the valorization of medicinal plants used against respiratory diseases through biological and phytochemical studies of the inventoried plants.