Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Medicinal Plants Used in Sefrou City (Center of Morocco), a Focus of Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Sefrou city, located in the center of Morocco, is a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis which constitutes a major public health problem. The majority of the rural local population resorts to herbal medicine to cure this parasitic disease. The aim of this study, which has never been undertaken in Sefrou area, was to document the list of medicinal plants used for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis and to verify if their leishmanicidal activity is mentioned in the literature. The current ethnopharmacological study was conducted using a questionnaire based on informations about anti-cutaneous eruption plants used by the local population and prescribed by the herbalists. The present work has taken into consideration the representation of the plant name (local and scientific), the used part, the mode of preparation and administration. A total of 17 plant species belonging to 12 families were mentioned: the Lamiaceae family was the most represented (29.4%) with 5 species, followed by the Myrtaceae family (11.8%) with 2 species. For the rest of the 10 families, they were represented with the same percent (5.9%) which means one species per family. According to the calculated frequency index (FI), the most recommended species were the following: Lavandula dentata (FI = 93.75%), Berberis hispanica (FI = 87.5%), Cistus salviifolius (IF = 87.5%), Crataegus oxyacantha (FI = 81.25%), and Ephedra altissima (FI = 75%). Leaves (29.4%) and flowers (23.5%) were the favored used parts. Decoction (58.82 %) was the most frequently used method to prepare remedies which are taken externally (64.7%). These medicinal plants can be a source of natural leishmanicidal drugs – some of them have already been confirmed experimentally in the bibliography. More indepth investigations must be undertaken to assess the antileishmanial potential of the inventoried plants.