Irene Teixidor-Toneu1, Gary J Martin2, Ahmed Ouhammou3, Rajindra K Puri4, Julie A Hawkins5. 1. Section of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Harborne Building, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AS, UK. Electronic address: i.teixidor-toneu@reading.ac.uk. 2. Global Diversity Foundation, Marrakech, Morocco. Electronic address: gmartingdf@gmail.com. 3. Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ecology and Environment, Regional Herbarium MARK, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, PO Box 2390, Marrakech 40001, Morocco. Electronic address: ouhammou@gmail.com. 4. Centre for Biocultural Diversity, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK. Electronic address: r.k.Puri@kent.ac.uk. 5. Section of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Harborne Building, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AS, UK. Electronic address: j.a.hawkins@reading.ac.uk.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional knowledge about medicinal plants from a poorly studied region, the High Atlas in Morocco, is reported here for the first time; this permits consideration of efficacy and safety of current practises whilst highlighting species previously not known to have traditional medicinal use. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study aims to document local medicinal plant knowledge among Tashelhit speaking communities through ethnobotanical survey, identifying preferred species and new medicinal plant citations and illuminating the relationship between emic and etic ailment classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected using standard methods and with prior informed consent obtained before all interactions, data were characterized using descriptive indices and medicinal plants and healing strategies relevant to local livelihoods were identified. RESULTS: 151 vernacular names corresponding to 159 botanical species were found to be used to treat 36 folk ailments grouped in 14 biomedical use categories. Thirty-five (22%) are new medicinal plant records in Morocco, and 26 described as used for the first time anywhere. Fidelity levels (FL) revealed low specificity in plant use, particularly for the most commonly reported plants. Most plants are used in mixtures. Plant use is driven by local concepts of disease, including "hot" and "cold" classification and beliefs in supernatural forces. CONCLUSION: Local medicinal plant knowledge is rich in the High Atlas, where local populations still rely on medicinal plants for healthcare. We found experimental evidence of safe and effective use of medicinal plants in the High Atlas; but we highlight the use of eight poisonous species.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional knowledge about medicinal plants from a poorly studied region, the High Atlas in Morocco, is reported here for the first time; this permits consideration of efficacy and safety of current practises whilst highlighting species previously not known to have traditional medicinal use. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study aims to document local medicinal plant knowledge among Tashelhit speaking communities through ethnobotanical survey, identifying preferred species and new medicinal plant citations and illuminating the relationship between emic and etic ailment classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected using standard methods and with prior informed consent obtained before all interactions, data were characterized using descriptive indices and medicinal plants and healing strategies relevant to local livelihoods were identified. RESULTS: 151 vernacular names corresponding to 159 botanical species were found to be used to treat 36 folk ailments grouped in 14 biomedical use categories. Thirty-five (22%) are new medicinal plant records in Morocco, and 26 described as used for the first time anywhere. Fidelity levels (FL) revealed low specificity in plant use, particularly for the most commonly reported plants. Most plants are used in mixtures. Plant use is driven by local concepts of disease, including "hot" and "cold" classification and beliefs in supernatural forces. CONCLUSION: Local medicinal plant knowledge is rich in the High Atlas, where local populations still rely on medicinal plants for healthcare. We found experimental evidence of safe and effective use of medicinal plants in the High Atlas; but we highlight the use of eight poisonous species.
Authors: Salima Boutahiri; Mohamed Bouhrim; Chayma Abidi; Hamza Mechchate; Ali S Alqahtani; Omar M Noman; Ferdinand Kouoh Elombo; Bernard Gressier; Sevser Sahpaz; Mohamed Bnouham; Jehan-François Desjeux; Touriya Zair; Bruno Eto Journal: Pharmaceutics Date: 2021-11-26 Impact factor: 6.321