Ethnobotanical Treasures of Khénifra in Morocco: Medicinal Plants for Relieving Respiratory Problems
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Traditional healing practices in Khénifra, Morocco, have been passed down through generations, utilizing the region's diverse local flora to treat various ailments. This study focuses on documenting the ethnobotanical knowledge related to the treatment of respiratory issues, an area where medicinal plants play a significant role. The aim is to identify the plant species used by local healers, examine their therapeutic properties, and analyze their potential contributions to modern medicine. Through fieldwork and interviews with traditional healers, combined with botanical analysis, the research reveals a wide variety of plant species employed to address respiratory conditions. The findings underscore the importance of preserving this traditional knowledge, not only as a cultural heritage but also as a valuable resource for developing sustainable healthcare solutions. In doing so, the study contributes to the understanding of how indigenous practices can inform scientific advancements, particularly in pharmacology and the search for new treatments. Statistical analysis using Usage Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) revealed that rosemary (UV = 0.16, RFC = 0.05) and celery (UV = 0.12, RFC = 0.08) were the most versatile and frequently cited plants. Additionally, leaves were identified as the most commonly used part of the plants. In contrast, plants like eucalyptus and tansy had low UV and RFC values, indicating limited use and knowledge.The conservation of this knowledge is crucial, as it provides insights that could lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic agents and promote sustainable development initiatives.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Boudjelal A, Benjelloun D. An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Khénifra Province, Morocco. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;174:268–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.07.010.
Benali A, El Ouardighi S. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in the Khénifra region, Morocco. J Med Plant Res. 2016;10(20):413–424.
Cherifi M, Bourhia M. Ethnobotanical and pharmacological study of medicinal plants in the Khénifra region, Morocco. Phytother Res. 2018;32(5):874–887.
Ajjoun M, Fakchich J, Elachouri M. First insight on ethnobotanical appraisal of plants used traditionally as medicine by Berber community (Amazigh-speaking), living in Driouch province (North eastern Morocco). Ethnobot Res Appl. 2021; 22:1-71.
El Hadj MB, Louati M. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for respiratory problems in Morocco. J Med Plant Stud. 2019;7(1):24–34.
Hassan S, Lamine S. Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in the Khénifra region of Morocco. Phytother Res. 2018;32(6):1032–1041.
Boudjelal A, Fadli M. Traditional healing practices and medicinal plants for respiratory ailments in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017; 17:156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1632-z.
Boudjelal A, Benjelloun D. An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Khénifra Province, Morocco. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015; 174:268–280.
Khalil AA, Khedher NB, El-Moudden T. Traditional medicine in Morocco: Ethnobotanical insights on medicinal plants for respiratory disorders. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020; 257:112-123
Hassan S, Lamine S. Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in the Khénifra region of Morocco. Phytother Res. 2018;32(6):1032–1041. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6132.
Mahraz MA, Idrissi MA, Mzali A, Mrayej HE, Lfatouhi A, Salim R, et al. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and aromatic plants used in the treatment of skin burns in the Province of Sefrou, Morocco. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2024 ;8(3) :6487–6497. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v8i3.3.
Mahraz AM, Elhachmia C, Zakia R, Taleb M. Medicinal plants of Moulay Yaâcoub Province in Morocco: An ethnobotanical and biodiversity survey. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2023 ;7(8) :3590–3601. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v7i8.3.
Mahraz MA, Salim R, Loukili EH, Assouguem A, Kara M, Ullah R, Bari A, Fidan H, Laftouhi A, Idrissi AM, Hammouti B, Rais Z, Taleb M. Exploratory evaluation supported by experimental and modeling approaches of Inula viscosa root extract as a potent corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in a 1 M HCl solution. Open Life Sci. 2022;17(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0879.
Mzali A, Mahraz AM, Benlabchir AA, Benzeid H, Hassani AC, Amalich S, Doukkali A. Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological surveys of Cannabis sativa (Beldiya species) use in the provinces of Taounate and Al Hoceïma. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2023;7(12):5523–5533.
Mahraz MA, Idrissi MA, Mzali A, Mrayej HE, Lfatouhi A, Salim R. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and aromatic plants used in the treatment of skin burns in the Province of Sefrou, Morocco. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2024;8(3):6487–6497. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v8i3.3.
Mahraz AM, Elhachmia C, Zakia R, Taleb M. Medicinal plants of Moulay Yaâcoub Province in Morocco: An
ethnobotanical and biodiversity survey. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2023;7(8):3590–3601. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v7i8.3.
Hassan HM, Tizniti S. Sample size and demographic characteristics in social research: A review. J Soc Res Methodol. 2019;11(2):158–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2018.1543546.
Khan SM, Khan AM. Demographic and socioeconomic factors affecting study results: A statistical overview. Int J Stat Probab. 2021;12(4):45–56. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijsp.v12n4p45.
Smith JA, Smith LM. Analyzing the impact of gender and age on survey results: Methodological considerations. Surv Res Method. 2020;14(1):67–80. https://doi.org/10.18148/srm/2020.v14i1.7508.
Phillips O, Gentry AH. The usefulness of tropical trees in traditional medicine: A study of Usage Value and Relative Frequency of Citation. Econ Bot. 1993;47(3):239–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862959.
Günther T, Alarcón R. Ethnobotanical evaluation of medicinal plants in the Andean region: Usage Value and Relative Frequency of Citation. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016; 183:225–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.11.039.
Jouda J, Morales M. Assessing the cultural significance of medicinal plants: A comparison of Usage Value and Relative Frequency of Citation. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2018; 14:12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0203-7.
Boudjelal A, Benjelloun D. An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Khénifra Province, Morocco. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;174:268–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.07.010.
Hassan S, Lamine S. Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in the Khénifra region of Morocco. Phytother Res. 2018;32(6):1032–1041. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6132.
El Hadj MB, Louati M. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for respiratory problems in Morocco. J Med Plant Stud. 2019;7(1):24–34. https://doi.org/10.22271/23190303.2019.v7.i1a.485.
Salehi B, Venditti A, Frezza C, Yücetepe A, Altuntaş Ü, Uluata S. Apium plants: Beyond simple food and phytopharmacological applications. Appl Sci. 2019;9(17):3547. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9173547.
Achour S, Chebaibi M, Essabouni H, Bourhia M, Ouahmane L, Salamatullah AM. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used as therapeutic agents to manage diseases of humans. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2022;2022(1):4104772. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4104772.
Marković M, Pljevljakušić D, Matejić J, Nikolić B, Smiljić M, Ðelić G. The plants traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory infections in the Balkan Peninsula (Southeast Europe). Lekovite Sirovine. 2022;42:68–88. https://doi.org/10.5937/leksir2242068M.
Matejić JS, Dragićević AV, Jovanović MS, Žarković LD, Džamić AM, Hinić SS. Plant products for musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, and genitourinary disorders in Eastern and South-Eastern Serbia – Folk uses comparison with official recommendations. Rec Nat Prod. 2024;18(1):1–52. https://doi.org/10.25135/rnp.364.22.10.261.
Karpavičienė B. Traditional uses of medicinal plants in south-western part of Lithuania. Plants. 2022;11(16):2093. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162093.
Hadj-Said D, Bouazza B. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in Kabylia, north of Algeria: an ethnomedicinal survey. J Herbal Med. 2023; 40:100685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2023.100685.
Reckhenrich AK, Klüting A, Veit M. Ivy leaf extracts for the treatment of respiratory tract diseases accompanied by cough: A systematic review of clinical trials. HerbalGram. 2018;(117):1–12.
Iswantini D, Tuwalaid B. The potency of Legetan warak (Adenostemma lavenia) and Kersen leaf (Muntingia calabura) extract as a candidate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) herbal medicine. In: 2nd International Conference on Science, Technology, and Modern Society (ICSTMS 2020); 2021: 447–52. Atlantis Press.