Ethnobotanical Investigation of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Treatments in Ain Mediouna and Thar Souk (Taounate; Morocco)

Abstract

Despite the advancement in modern medicine, medicinal plants still occupies a prominent place in Moroccan culture. It has been jealously preserved and passed down from generation to generation.  The aim of this study was to establish a comprehensive inventory of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in two rural areas; Ain Mediouna and Thar Souk of Taounate province, Morocco, and to raise awareness about the importance of this wealth of medicinal plants in order to preserve them. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted by distributing questionnaires in twenty-one Douars within the study areas, and by oral interview of selected population. The survey was conducted from January to December, 2023. The results obtained showed that the province of Taounate has 40,631.49 hectares of forest located mainly in the northern part, where there is a great diversity of MAPs. The floristic analysis of the survey identified 61 species belonging to 31 families of which the lamiaceaes were the most represented (20%), followed by the asteriaceaes (10%), and lastly the other families with low frequencies. The majority of the species are cultivated (67%) while 33% are wild. This work affirmed that most MAPs are used to treat digestive disorders and skin infections, followed by neurological disorders, and fever. Most of the respondents use MAPs for therapeutic purposes only, and preserve them by drying, storing in plastic or glass bottles. The study provided an information base of MAPs of the study area, as well as its cultural and therapeutic significance in the customs of the populations.