Reflection on medicinal plants, especially antivirals and how to reconsider ethnobotany as an interesting way for health preservation

The medicinal plants, which are at the origin of the medical sciences, are gradually passing from the apothecary vials, from the handmade bags of the tradipraticians to the laboratories to provide countless new medicines synthesis models. Today, chemical drugs have replaced most herbal drugs in pharmacies. Empirical knowledge has been neglected as chemistry progressed. Yet 80% of the world’s population is still being treated with plant-based medicines. Indeed, some parts of our earth still keep intact the medicinal knowledges, through tradition, culture and heritage preserved by the tradipraticians, who still practice all over the world. It is possible that in the face of the threat of epidemics, which are constantly putting us to the test, plant drugs are once again an important alternative to consider. Our article deals with 3 connected topics: an ethnobotanical survey (experimental result); the creation of a project model of ethnobotanical garden (experimental result); and a knowledge inventory on antiviral plants (bibliographical synthesis in the framework of scientific monitoring). There is a lot of knowledge that can be reinvested. Through some results of ethnobotanical surveys, an inventory of antiviral plants and the model of a project to set up ethnobotanical gardens in the city, re-appropriation of ethnobotanical knowledge will be shown to prove valuable for research and may be an alternative for the future for the preservation of the health of all. Key words: Medicinal plants, antivirals activities, metabolites, ethnobotanical garden project, traditions.