Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Arjan - Parishan protected area in Fars Province of Iran.

Objective : Today, medicinal plants are widely used in remedies for several ailments and improvement of human health because of their pharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to document important useful medicinal plants and their medicinal characteristics for treatment of human ailments in the Arjan (_) Parishan protected area in Fars province of Iran during 2010-2012. Materials and Methods : Data were obtained using direct interviews with 80 informants particularly those who were more familiar with the herbs and their medicinal properties. Collected plants were recognized and families, genera, and species determined using indispensable references. In this paper, scientific name, local name, parts used, and ways of application and ailments treated using traditional medicinal plant species have been provided. Results : We documented 85 plant species belonging to 39 families and 78 genera used for treating ailments. Among which, Asteraceae with 13 species was the most frequently used family and fruits and leaves were the favored parts for local users. Our results indicated that in this area, the highest compliance in the use of plants in treating ailments were related to the intestinal digestive system (40.8%). Conclusion : The present study is the first contribution to the ethnobotany of this region. Our results showed that some plants are used for medicinal purposes in this region, either for the same or for different purposes. Generally, the results of the present investigation can be used as a basis for selecting useful medicinal plants and also help to preserve precious information that may otherwise be lost to future generations.

Introduction

Nowadays, medicinal plants are extensively utilized in traditional medicine for treating ailments (Davidson-Hunt, ‎‎2000 ▶). There is an increasing interest in public for consumption of medicinal plants since they are inexpensive and ‎widely available. According to the statics of world health organization, more than 80% of world population ‎particularly in the under- developed countries, provide their primary healthcare necessities from medicinal herbs (W‎HO, 2007 ▶). The history of using medicinal plant to treat diseases goes back to the ancient history. The study of ‎local knowledge about medicinal herbs is becoming increasingly important in defining strategies for conservation ‎and utilization of biological resources (Jeruto et al., 2008 ▶). The notable use and commercialization of medicinal ‎plants to alleviate and cure health problems and ailments in all cities of the country, points out the importance of ‎these natural resources in the folk medicine and culture of the Iranian people (Emami et al., 2012 ▶). However, most ‎of the useful information is still available for traditional healers and knowledge of healers is either lost or passed to ‎next generation by the word of mouth (Yirga, 2010 ▶). In many developing countries, medicinal plants have not been ‎well studied, tested, or documented (Amiri and Joharchi, 2013 ▶). Ethnobotany deals with the collection of valuable ‎medicinal plants by a group of people and describes their different uses (Safa et al., 2012 ▶). Hence, ‎identification of useful medicinal plants is an excellent policy to understand their properties by indigenous ‎inhabitants. Our surrounding nature is the habitat of many unknown medicinal plants that indigenous people use ‎ for treating their ailments. Iran, by having varied climate and geographical regions and also different types of ‎mountains, plains, deserts, hills, river and lakes, and wetlands is considered to be a center for accessing valuable and ‎scare medical species (Ahvazi et al., 2012 ▶). The native knowledge of medicinal plants has been put in danger of ‎being lost by assimilating these tribes and loss of traditional community life (Mosaddegh et al., 2012 ▶). Therefore, it ‎seems necessary to perform ethnobotanical studies in Iran to record all the knowledge of folk medicine practiced ‎among native people (Naghibi et al., 2005 ▶). Arjan – Parishan protected area with two very beautiful wetlands ‎Parishan and Arjan is situated 60 km west of Shiraz in Fars province. This geographic region is one of the ‎most important human migration roads in Iran, showing a great plant biodiversity, so traditional usage of ‎medicinal plant is a familiar therapeutic way for native people. In recent years, traditional use of plants for medical ‎purposes has drawn the attention of researchers in our country as well (Ahvazi et al., 2012 ▶; Mirdeilami et al., 2011 ▶; ‎Ghorbani, 2005 ▶; Mosaddegh et al., 2012 ▶; Safa et al., 2012 ▶). However, there are no published records on ‎ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants in the area.‎

The main objective of the present study was to elicit data on the traditional uses of medicinal plants in the Arjan- ‎Parishan protected area.

‎ Study area

The Arjan – Parishan protected region (29˚ 34' 48'' N and 51˚ 54' 36'' E) covers an area of about 60000 hectares in ‎southwest Iran (Figure 1), receiving an average annual rainfall of about 430 mm. This very beautiful area of ‎attractive landscape such as the Arjan and Parishan wetlands is located between Kazeroon and Shiraz. The vast ‎majority of the residents of this region are ethnic Persians. In this area, agriculture plays the main economic role.‎

Figure 1

Study area: Geographical location of Arjan- Parishan area in Fars Province, Iran

People of the Arjan – Parishan region have a long history of utilizing medicinal plants to cure their diseases ‎according to their cultural background. This area is important for plant biodiversity due to the presence of some ‎important habitats such as international wetland of Parishan and “oak forest” that are dominated by Quercus ‎brantii L. Approximately, 60 % of this area is surrounded by Zagros Mountain. International Wetland of Parishan ‎is located 12 km to the southeast of Kazeroon. The climate of this area is arid and cold desert with the average ‎elevation 820 mabove sea level. Arjan wetland with altitude of 2015 m above sea level is situated 60 km ‎west of Shiraz in Fars province. This area has semi-arid to semi-humid climate. Due to variation in altitude, ‎topography, and bio-climate within this area, the diversity of medicinal plants and indigenous medical knowledge ‎are rich. Therefore, this biodiversity can be important in aspects of ethnobotanical and pharmaceutical potentials. ‎At present, the Arjan – Parishan area is considered as protected area by IUCN classification.

Materials and Methods

In order to gather information on medicinal species found in the Arjan- Parishan protected area, an investigation was performed during 2010-2012. According to the geographical and topographic maps, various parts of the region were referred in proper seasons and then the vernacular information of plants and their usages were collected from well-experienced people and finally all collected plants specimens were dried and pressed. All plant species encountered during field observations were recorded. A questionnaire was administered to the local people, through face-to-face interviews. During the interviews, local names, utilized parts, and preparation methods of the plants as well as information on the types of ailments treated using traditional medicinal plant species were recorded. The informants were selected as they were known as being knowledgeable by the local community. Interviews were done at informants’ homes, farms, or medicinal plant markets, after making clear that they are participating in a research project with the purpose of saving the local traditional knowledge. Collected plants were recognized and their families, genera, and species were determined using of Flora Iranica (Assadi et al., 1989 ▶; Awan et al., 2011 ▶; Parsa and Maleki, 1978 ▶; Rechinger, 1987), Flora of Turkey (Davis, 1965-1988 ▶), Flora of Syria (Post and Dinsmore, 1932 ▶), and Flora of Iraq (Townsend et al., 1966-1985 ▶). Identified plants were deposited at the herbarium of Payame Noor university center of Bushehr.

Results

The present ethnobotanical survey gathered information on 85 plant species reported by the informants for their medicinal use (see Tables 1). The species belonged to 78 genera and 39 families. Collected species included two ‎pteridophyta, one gymnosperma, two monocotyledons, and 80 dicotyledones (the largest order in the medicinal flora of ‎area). According to results of this experiment, the largest genera were Anthemis, Artemisia, Capparis, Morus, Rumex, ‎Ziziphus, and Amygdalus (2 species each). The most common application methods were edible (40%) followed by ‎decoction (27%), infusion (17%), poultice (6%), hydrodistillation (4%), drench (4%), and powder (2%) (Figure 2). ‎

Table1

Medicinal plant species collected from Arjan - Parishan protected area and their traditional uses.

Family	Scientific name	Local name	Part used	Local uses	Uses	H. No
Anacardiaceae	Pistacia khinjuk Stocks.	Kolkhong	Fr	Body reinforcement, Joint and muscles pain	Edible,Poultice	522
Apiaceae	Ammi majus L.	Khelal Dandoon	A. p	As toothpick	Edible	547
	Anethum graveolens L.	Sheved	Se, L	Indigestion in childrenBlood Lipid, Joint pain	Edible	591
	Coriandrum sativum L.	Gishniz	L, Se, St	Reducing blood lipid and sugar, Flatulency, Antiseptic	Edible,Decoction	609
	Foeniculum vulgare Mill.	Rajuoneh	Se	Painful menstruation, Joint pain, Flatulency, Back pain, Nervous weakness	Decoction	565
	Oliveria decumbens Vent.	Den	Fr	Stomachache, Dyspepsia, Flatulency	Decoction	624
Araceae	Biarum straussii Engl.	Kardeh	L	Kidney stone, Cholagogue	Edible	637
Asteraceae	Achillea tenuifolia Lam.	Bimadaroon	Fr	Blood fat, Flatulency, Abdominal pain	Infusion	502
	Anthemis altissima L.	Baboone	Fr	Heart tonicMenstruate pain	Infusion	538
	Anthemis austroiranica Rech.f., Aellen & Esfand.	Baboone	Fr	Heart tonicMenstruate pain	Infusion	615
	Artemisia annua L.	Dermane	A. p,Fl	Stomachache, Blood fat	Edible	545
	Artemisia dracunculus L.	Tarkhonii	St, L	Decrease blood pressureAppetizing, Spice,	Edible	651
	Calendula persica C.A. Mey.	Gole Gorbe	Fl, L	Skin diseases	Decoction	664
	Centaurea bruguierana (DC.) Hand.-Mazz.	Bad Bord	Fr	Blood sugar, Diabetes	Infusion	564
	Cichorium intybus L.	Kashni	St, L	Liver tonic	Hydrodistilation	521
	Cynara scolymus L.	Kangar	L, Rh	Cooling	Edible	544
	Echinops cephalotes DC.	Shekarook	Re	Digestive problems,	Decoction	537
	Lactuca serriola L.	Bikh Bonje	L	Appetizing, Cholagogue	Edible	671
	Matricaria recutita L.	Baboone Gawy	Fr	Antimicrobial, Hair tonic	Infusion	511
	Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.	harKhangaloo	Se, Fl	Decrease blood pressure	Decoction	567
Berberidaceae	Berberis vulgaris L.	Zereshk	Fr	Fever, Liver tonic, Heart tonic	Edible	641
Boraginaceae	Anchusa italica Retz.	Gol GoZaboon	Fr	Treatment of respiratory problems	Infusion	536
	Heliotropium europaeum L.	Oftow Paras	A. p	Scorpions Bite	Decoction	548
Brassicaceae	Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.		St, Fl	Astringent, Anti blood pressure,Gastrodynia	Drench	593
	Nasturtium officinale R. Br.	Bakaloo	ST, L	Kidney stone	Infusion	673
	Sisymbrium loeselii L.	Khakshir	Se	Vitamin c content	Drench	596
Capparidaceae	Capparis parviflora Boiss.	Kewerak-Lagjin	St, Fr, Fl	Flatulency, DiureticAstringent, Rheumatism	Edible	569
	Capparis spinosa L.	Kewerak-Lagjin	St, Fr, Fl	Diuretic, Astringent, Rheumatism, Blood fat and sugar, Hemorrhoids	Edible	519
Cucurbitaceae	Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.	Khiar Gorgoo Hendoone Aboo Jal	Se	Diabetes, Laxative	Powder	534
Cuscutaceae	Cuscuta kurdica Engelm.	Saratan	Wh. p	Depression, Analgesic	Decoction	543
Ephedraceae	Ephedra pachyclada Boiss.	Hoonder	St, L	Mouthwash	Decoction	563
Equisetaceae	Equisetum arvense L.	Dom Asbi	St, L	Wound washing	Decoction	642
Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbia helioscopia L.	Shir Shirook	La	Warts	Poultice	597
	Ricinus communis L.	Kernatoo	Se	purgative	Poultice	550
	Quercus brantii Lindl.	Bali	Fr	Astringent, Diarrhea	Edible	601
Fumariaceae	Fumaria vaillantii Loisel.	Shatarreh	Wh.P	Cold	Hydrodistilation	687
Juglandaceae	Juglans regia L.	Gerdoo	Fr	Treatment of anemia, Improve memory	Edible	551
Lamiaceae	Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds.	Pidom	Fl, L	Heatstroke, Jaundice	Edible	603
	Melissa officinalis L.	Badranjbouie	Se, L	Sedative	Decoction	532
	Ocimum basilicum L.	Reihoon	L	Fever, Mouth wound	Edible	562
	Otostegia persica (Burm.) Boiss.	Shekar Shafa	Fr	Diabetes	Decoction	542
	Salvia macrosiphon Boiss.	Gol Pashe Paroon	A. p	Treatment of respiratory problems, Prevention of insects bite	Edible	643
	Teucrium polium L.	Alpe	L, Fl	Regulating blood lipid and Sugar, Diabetes, scented	Infusion	571
	Vitex agnus-castus L.	Bangroo	Fl, L, Fr	Astringent,Hemorrhoids	Decoction	675
Malvaceae	Alcea aucheri (Boiss.) Alef.	Gol Khatmii	L, Fl, R	Emollient, Prevention ofhair loss	Infusion	685
	Malva parviflora L.	Toolak	L, Fl	Treatment of Kidney and bladder infections, Emollient	Edible	683
Moraceae	Ficus carica L.	Anjir	Fr, La	Purgative, Warts	Edible	605
	Morus alba L.	Tite Safid	Fr, La	Emollient, Cold	Edible	504
	Morus nigra L.	Tite Siah	Fr	Emollient, Cold	Edible	560
Myrtaceae	Myrtus communis L.	Mourd	L	Fatigue	Vapor
Oleaceae	Olea europaea L.	Zeytoon	Fr	Emollient	Edible	541
Papilionaceae	Alhagi camelorum Fisch.	Khar Shotor Toranjabin	Wh.P	Kidney stone	Decoction	573
	Glycyrrhiza glabra L.	Meik Mahak	R	Pectoralgia, Bone pain,Fatigue	Decoction	531
	Melilotus indicus (L.) All.	Shabdar	L, Fl	Blood diluents	Decoction	645
	Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) J.F. Macbr.	Kharak Sag	Se	Healing the wounds	Poultice	559
	Trifolium repens L.	Shabdar		Expectorant, Emmenagogue		590
Plantaginaceae	Plantago major L.	Barhang	Se	Expectorant, Emollient, Pectoralgia	Infusion	606
Poaceae	Phragmites australis (Cav) Trin.ex.Steud	Ney	L, Fl	Stopping mother milk	Decoction	676
Podophyllaceae	Leontice leontopetalum L.	Tegh Tegh Konak	Fr	Pectoralgia	Decoction	574
Polygonaceae	Rumex dentatus L.	Torshook	L	Appetizing, Cholagogue	Edible	646
	Rumex vesicarius L.	Torshook	L	Appetizing, Cholagogue	Edible	552
Portulacaceae	Portulaca oleracea L.	Ghorfe	L, Se	Diuretic, Blood purifier, Anti blood lipid	Edible	517
Primulaceae	Anagalis arvensis L.	Anaghalis	Fr	Insect bites,Diuretic, Expectorant	Oultice	558
Pteridaceae	Adiantum Capillus-Veneris L.	Parsiavashoon	L	Earache, Common cold, Kidney stones Expectorant	DecoctionInfusion	510
Punicaceae	Punica granatum L.	Anar	Fr	Appetizing, Jaundice, Cholagogue	Edible	505
Ranunculaceae	Adonis dentata Delile.	Gole Atashin	L , Fl	Rheumatism	Decoction	579
Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus nummularia (Burm. f.) Wight & Arn.	Lamrik	Fr	Appetizing, Cholagogue	Edible	586
	Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd.	Konar	L, Fr	Washing hair,Cold	Powder, Edible	607
Rosaceae	Amygdalus communis L.	Badoum	Fr	Skin diseases,Treatment ofasthma	Infusion	540
	Amygdalus glauca Browicz.	Akhorak	Fl, Se	Skin diseases,treatment ofasthma	Infusion	516
	Crataegus aronia (L.) Bosc. ex Dc.	Kiial	Fr	Insomnia- migraineCholagogue,	Edible	680
	Malus communis Desf.	Sib-E Kohi	Se	Vitamin,Tonic	Edible	530
	Pyrus communis L.	Anchochak	Se	Kidney stone	Edible	580
	Rubus sanctus Schreb.	Tit Are	Fr	Diuretic, Appetizing, Expectorant	Edible	584
Salicaceae	Salix alba L.	Bidmeshk	Ba	Rheumatism	Hydrodistilation	608
Solanaceae	Datura stramonium L.	Tatureh	Se, L	Gout, Burning wounds		556
	Hyoscyamus tenuicaulis Schönb.-Tem.	Bang Done	Se	Anti- asthma, Sedative		682
	Solanum nigrum L.	Rob Torwak	Fr	Emollient, Reducing blood lipid and glucose, Bronchitis, Pectoralgia	Decoction	648
Urticaceae	Urtica pilulifera L.	Gazane	Wh.p	Rheumatism, Rash	Decoction	506
Verbenaceae	Verbena officinalis L	Shapasand	A. p	Blood purifier, Fever	Decoction	527
Vitaceae	Vitis vinifera L.	Angour	Fr	Appetizing, Contain a variety of vitamins	Edible	553
Zygophylaceae	Peganum harmala L.	Dounesht	Fr	Rheumatism, Antiseptic, Expectorant	Decoction	524
	Tribulus terrestris L.	Khar Pelangi	Wh. p	Kidney stone	Infusion	514

Figure 2

Mode of preparations and their percentages

However, some plants were used in more than one method of preparation. Different parts of medicinal plants ‎‎(roots, leaves, fruits and seeds, intact plant, etc.) were used by the local inhabitants as medicines (23). Fruits and ‎leaves each with (25%) followed by seeds (14%), flowers (13%), stem (8%), aerial parts (5%), whole plant (3%), ‎latex (2%), root (2%), rhizome (1%), receptacle, (1%) and bark (1%) were among the most widely used medicinal ‎parts (Figure 3). In this paper, we also mentioned the list of most efficient medicinal plants of the Arjan - Parishan ‎protected area for treating ailments (Table 2). As shown in Figure 4, Asteraceae with 13 species followed by ‎Lamiaceae with seven species, Rosacesae with six species and Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, and Papilionaceae families each ‎with five species were the most frequent families in the area.

Figure 3

Plant parts used in treating ailments and their percentage

Table 2

The most efficient medicinal plants of Arjan - Parishan protected area for treating ailments

Digestive	Foeniculum vulgare, Oliveria decumbens, Biarum straussii, Achillea tenuifolia, Artemisia annua, Artemisia dracunculus, Cichorium intybus, Echinops cephalotes, Lactuca serriola, Berberis vulgaris, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardaria draba, Descurania Sophia, Capparis parviflora, Capparis spinosa, Citrullus colocynthis, Ricinus communis, Quercus brantii, Mentha longifolia, Vitex agnus-castus, Alcea aucheri, Malva parviflora, Ficus carica, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Olea europaea, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Plantago major, Rumex dentatus, Rumex vesicarius, Punica granatum, Crataegus aronia, Rubus sanctus, Datura stramonium, Solanum nigrum, Vitis vinifera
Kidney and Urinary system	Adianthum capillus-veneris, Biarum straussii, Nasturtium officinale, Capparis parviflora, Capparis spinosa, Malva parviflora, Alhagi camelorum, Portulaca oleracea, Anagalis arvensis, Rubus sanctus, Hyoscyamus tenuicaulis, Tribulus terrestris
Heart and blood vessels	Anthemis altissima, Anthemis austro-iranica, Artemisia dracunculus, Silybum marianum, Berberis vulgaris, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Juglans regia, Melilotus indicus, Prosopis farcta, Portulaca oleracea, Verbena officinalis
Skin and Hair	Calendula pérsica, Matricaria recutita, Euphorbia helioscopia, Alcea aucheri, Ficus carica, Morus alba, Ziziphus nummularia, Ziziphus spina-christi, Amygdalus communis, Amygdalus glauca, Urtica pilulifera
Respiratory	Anchusa italic, Equisetum arvense, Salvia macrosiphon, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Plantago major, Amygdalus communis, Amygdalus glauca, Datura stramonium, Hyoscyamus tenuicaulis, Solanum nigrum
Common Cold, Antipyretic And Expectorant	Adiantum capillus-veneris L., Berberis vulgaris, Ocimum basilicum, Trifolium repens, Plantago major, Anagalis arvensis, Rubus sanctus, Verbena officinalis, Peganum harmala
Blood Sugar	Centaurea bruguierana, Capparis spinosa, Citrullus colocynthis, Otostegia persica, Teucrium polium, Solanum nigrum
Blood Lipid	Anethum graveolens, Achillea tenuifolia, Artemisia annua, Teucrium polium, Portulaca oleracea, Solanum nigrum
Rheumatism	Capparis parviflora, Capparis spinosa, Adonis dentate, Salix alba, Urtica pilulifera, Peganum harmala
Depression and Nerve system relaxant	Cuscuta kurdica, Melissa officinalis, Crataegus aronia, Salix alba, Hyoscyamus tenuicaulis
Mouth and Tooth	Ammi majus,Matricaria recutita, Ephedra pachyclada, Juglans regia, Ocimum basilicum
Antiseptic	Centaurea bruguierana, Matricaria recutita, Descurania Sophia, Peganum harmala
Bone, Joints and Muscle	Pistacia khinjuk, Capparis spinosa, Myrtus communis, Glycyrrhiza glabra
Reconstituent and Vitminae	Pistacia khinjuk, Sisymbrium loeselii, Capparis spinosa
Menstruate	Anthemis altissima, Anthemis austro-iranica, Trifolium repens
Insects Bite	Heliotropium europaeum, Salvia macrosiphon

Figure 4

Plant families with the highest number of cited species

The results obtained from the present study indicated ‎that medicinal plants of the Arjan – Parishan protected area are used in the treatment of many diseases particularly ‎for intestinal-digestive disorders (40.8%), bone and joints pain (15.6%), kidney and urogenital diseases (14.4%), ‎blood sugar and lipid (14.4%), common cold, expectorant, and fever (10.8%), appetizing (10.8%), heart-blood ‎circulatory system disorders (9.6%), respiratory disorders (7.2%), antiseptic (4.8%), skin and hair (4.8%), menstruate ‎‎(4.8%), insect bite (3.6%), and sedative (2.4%) (Figure 5).‎

Figure 5

Ailments treated by medicinal plants along with their percent

Discussion

During recent decades, chemical side effects have been identified and actions have been taken to overcome this ‎problem (Mozaffari Nejad et al., 2013 ▶). Hence, even in the modern age, in developed countries, people still rely on ‎traditional system of healthcare not only because of its low price, but also due to low side effects as compared to ‎modern allopathic medicine (Awan et al., 2011 ▶). It is believed that rational use of native medicinal plants along ‎with effective synthetic drugs may benefit and improve the quality of life and living standards of the native ‎inhabitants (Namsa et al., 2011 ▶; Oliveira et al., 2011 ▶). Despite the importance of these plants for health ‎improvement, it seems that some of the most promising medicinal plants have not yet been fully identified. For this ‎reason, documentation of the indigenous knowledge through ethno- botanical studies is important for the ‎conservation and utilization of biological resources (Muthu et al., 2006 ▶).‎ ‎ Because of seasonal, soil, climatic, and topography variation, Iran is rich in plant biodiversity and especially ‎medicinal plants.

The Arjan – Parishan protected area comprise great biodiversity of plant species bearing variation ‎of climatic and also different ecological habitats such as mountains, hills, plains, valleys, and lakes. It appears that ‎there are many medicinal uses for the treatment of different diseases in the study area which were rarely revealed ‎before this. According to the current study, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the dominant locally used families (Figure 4). Our results are also in ‎agreement with ethnobotanical studies performed in other parts of Iran such as Hormozgan province (Safa et al., ‎‎2012 ▶), Kohghiluyeh va Boyer Ahmad province (Mosaddegh et al., 2012 ▶), and Maraveh Tappe region, north of Iran ‎‎(Mirdeilami et al., 2011 ▶). It may be due to adaptation of these families with arid and semiarid conditions. ‎Moreover, from the large genera found in this area, Ziziphus and Amygdalus can be referred which provide ‎suitable habitat for other medicinal plants because of the vicinity to the Zagros mountain range. From the 85 species ‎reported in this paper, some of the plants are being used more frequently and also are well-known compared to others ‎which may be due to their availability and knowledge of the local people.Among them, Adiantum capillus- veneris L., ‎Oliveria decumbens, Achillea tenuifolia, Anthemis altissima, Anthemis austro-iranica, Cynara scolymus, Berberis ‎vulgaris, Nasturtium officinale, Capparis spinosa,‎‏ ‏Citrullus colocynthis, Quercus brantii, Melissa officinalis, ‎Ocimum basilicum, Teucrium polium,‎‏ ‏Malva parviflora, Ficus carica, Olea europaea, Alhagi camelorum, ‎Plantago major, and Portulaca oleracea can be named. Some of medicinal plants in this region belong to different species of ‎a genus, but their species are all known to one local name. The best examples are ‎Anthemis austro-iranica, Anthemis altissima,‎‏ ‏Rumex dentatus, Rumex vesicarius, Capparis spinosa, and Capparis ‎parviflora. Some other medicinal plants in this region have vast distribution such as Pistacia ‎khinjuk, Achillea tenuifolia, Capparis spinosa, Euphorbia helioscopia, Mentha longifolia, and Olea europaea. Among ‎these medicinal plants, some are located in impossible places such as Pistacia khinjuk, Crataegus aronia, Malus ‎communis, Pyrus communis, therefore, they are used mostly by native people who have easier access to them. ‏.‏In addition, some ‎plants have both medicinal and edible uses and increasingly entered the market in specific seasons, ‎such as Cynara scolymus, Berberis vulgaris, Juglans regia, Ficus carica, Olea europaea, Vitis vinifera, Crataegus ‎aronia, Punica granatum, and Ocimum basilicum. It seems that there are many medicinal uses for the treatment of ‎several ailments and illnesses in the studied area. Traditional understanding of phytotherapy of this district provides ‎excellent outcome in treating different types of ailment such as intestinal-digestive disorders, followed by bone and ‎joint pain, kidney and urogenital diseases, blood sugar and lipid, common cold, expectorant and fever, appetizing, ‎heart-blood circulatory system disorders, respiratory disorders, antiseptic, skin and hair, menstruate, insect bite, as well as as a ‎sedative. The high use of medicinal plants by the native inhabitants to cure intestinal-digestive ailments could be ‎attributed to the high preponderance of these disorders in the area. It appears that the gastrointestinal system is the ‎most common use in studies in different districts of Iran (Mosaddegh et al., 2012 ▶; Miraldi et al., 2001 ▶). The most ‎frequently used parts by local people were leaves and fruits. Our data are in agreement with the recent results of ‎Rajaei and Mohamadi (2012) ▶. They reported that the leaves are the dominant part used. As shown in Table 2, in order to ‎relieve pain, people use some plants that are mentioned more frequently by the informants for the same use compared to other plants ‎such as Glycyrrhiza glabra L, Pistacia khinjuk, Capparis spinosa, and Myrtus communis. Considering the extreme ‎importance of plants of the area in treating gastrointestinal ailments, it is recommended to conduct further studies to ‎identify the active ingredients of these herbs.‎

In this research paper, efforts have been made to document the traditional knowledge of important medicinal ‎plants of the Arjan – Parishan protected area. The presence of 85 medicinal plants indicates high biodiversity of ‎medicinal plant in the region. These plants are abundantly found in this region and are considered to be ‎used for treatment of various diseases. It is concluded that the Arjan – Parishan protected area has good ‎ethnobotanical potentials for medicinal plants and all of the plants found in this study are most favorite among the local ‎people. According to the results of this research, fruits and leaves are the major used parts in this region. It ‎is important to emphasize that intestinal-digestive system is the first target for traditional medicine in the area. ‎Therefore, the information documented on the medicinal plants of the Arjan – Parishan protected area may serve ‎as baseline data for future pharmacological and phytochemical studies and consequently discover new drugs.‎

Conflict of interest

We certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the manuscript.