Ethnobotanical Survey of Some Plants Used in Traditional Medicine in Southern Algeria (Ouargla, El-Oued, Adrar, Illizi)

Abstract

The present study aims to census the ethnomedicinal plants occurring within the native traditional drugs of four regions within the Algerian Sahara, to determine a catalog of medicative plants, and to collect all the knowledge regarding their therapeutic uses practiced by the native population within the studied regions. The information on medicative uses of plants relies on a field survey, interviews, structured questionnaires, and discussion with ancient healers and knowledgeable persons. Using 243 questionnaire cards, the ethnobotanical field surveys were conducted with satisfactory results for two years (2016 and 2017). This investigation created its potential to inventory 102 species happiness to thirtyeight botanical families distributed over ninety-one genera. The family Lamiaceae is the most dominant family that was wont to treat numerous diseases, followed by the family of Asteraceae and Apiaceae. These healthful plants square measure ready in numerous forms like stewing, infusion, compress, inhalation, and herbal tea, that square measure made of leaves, stems, flowers, boughs, fruits, and roots. The dominant diseases that may be treated with over 2 plants square measure dyspepsia, constipation, abdomen pain, diabetes, wounds, skin diseases, and symptom. The results obtained represent a very valuable source of knowledge for the regions studied and for the medicative flora of Algeria.