An ethnobotanical study of the traditional uses of medicinal and aromatic plants of the regions of Relizane (North-West Algeria)

ABSTRACT

The present study aims at documenting the use of the medicinal plants by the local populations of five regions in the province of Relizane in the North-West of Algeria. Our findings show that the local populations use 104 species from 46 botanical families. The predominant families are Lamiaceae (12%), Apiaceae (10%), Compositae (8%), and Fabaceae (5%). Moreover, the most frequently cited species are Thymus vulgaris L. (83 citations), Olea oleaster Hoffmanns. & Link (80 citations), Mentha spicata L. (75 citations), and Eucalyptus salmonophloia F.Muell. (71 citations). The highly cited medicinal species may be further investigated through future phytochemical and biological studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnobotany
• medicinal
• plants
• Relizane
• Algeria

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to traditional healers and local people in Relizane province for sharing their ancestral knowledge throughout the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.