Contribution to the ethnobotanical study of antidiabetic medicinal plants of the Central Middle Atlas region (Morocco)

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was carried out in the Central Middle Atlas in the years 2013 and 2014 to establish the catalog of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes. Thus, 1560 people were interviewed, using questionnaires. The latter enabled us to gather information on traditional healing practices of the local population including scientific name, French name, vernacular name, plant parts used , therapeutic indications , revenues and mode of administration. The results show that 76 medicinal species were inventoried in the study area. These plant species are included into 67 genus and 40 families. The most represented families are: Lamiaceae (12 species), Asteraceae and Brassicaceae species with 14 each. Of 76 medicinal species found in the region, four species are reported for the first time in the traditional treatment of diabetes in Morocco. They are Pistacia atlantica, Ptychotis verticillata, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Alyssum spinosum, Cistus albidus, Juniperus thurifera, Ephedra nebrodensis, Thymus algeriensis, Th. munbyanus, Th. zygis, Abelmoschus esculentus, Fraxinus augustifolia, Sorghum vulgare and, Eriobotrya japonica. The leaves are the most used organs (38%). The decoction is the dominant mode of preparation (50%) and administration is mostly for oral use (97%).

Se ha realizado un estudio etnobotánico en el Medio Atlas Central durante los años 2013 y 2014. El objetivo ha sido establecer el catálogo de plantas medicinales utilizadas en la medicina tradicional para el tratamiento de la diabetes. 1560 personas fueron entrevistadas utilizando un cuestionario que nos permitió recoger información sobre las prácticas terapéuticas tradicionales de la población local, incluyendo nombre científico, nombre francés, nombre vernáculo, una o más partes de la planta utilizada, indicaciones terapéuticas, y modos de administración. Los resultados muestran 76 especies medicinales son utilizadas para tal fin en el área de estudio. Estas especies se agrupan en 67 géneros y 40 familias. Las más representadas son Lamiaceae (12 especies), Asteraceae y Brassicaceae con cuatro especies para cada una. De 76 especies medicinales encontradas en esta región, 14 se citan por primera vez en el tratamiento tradicional de la diabetes en Marruecos. Se trata de Pistacia atlantica, Ptychotis verticillata, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Alyssum spinosum, Cistus albidus, Juniperus thurifera, Ephedra nebrodensis, Thymus algeriensis, Th. munbyanus, Th. zygis, Abelmoschus esculentus, Fraxinus augustifolia, Sorghum vulgare, Eriobotrya japonica. Las hojas son las partes más utilizadas (38%). La decocción es el modo dominante de preparación (50%) y la administración es predominantemente por vía oral (97%).

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was carried out in the Central Middle Atlas in the years 2013 and 2014 to establish the catalog of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes. Thus, 1560 people were interviewed, using questionnaires. The latter enabled us to gather information on traditional healing practices of the local population including scientific name, French name, vernacular name,  plant parts used , therapeutic indications , revenues and mode of administration. The results show that 76 medicinal species were inventoried in the study area. These plant species are divided into 67 genres and 40 botanical families. The most represented families are: Lamiaceae (12 species), Asteraceae and Brassicaceae species with 14 each. Of 76 medicinal species found in the region, four species are reported for the first time in the traditional treatment of diabetes in Morocco, and are not included in previous studies. It’s about Pistacia atlantica, Ptychotis verticillata, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Alyssum spinosum, Cistus albidus, Jeniperus thurifera, Ephedra nebrodensis, Thymus algeriensis, Thymus manbyanus, Thymus zygis, Abelmoschus esculentus, Fraxinus augustifolia, Sorghum vulgare, Eriobotrya japonica. The leaves are the most used organs (38%). The decoction is the dominant mode of preparation (50%) and administration is mostly for oral use (97%).