Qualitative and Quantitative Ethnobotanical Analysis of the Knowledge of Indigenous Populations on Medicinal Plants in the Meknes Region of Morocco

Abstract

Plants constitute a major resource used for subsistence by people. Ethnobotany plays an important role in preserving plant diversity and in understanding and interpreting the knowledge that allows plants to be used effectively and sustainably to meet people's needs. Indeed, medicinal plants are a therapeutic resource that is frequently mobilized by populations for the treatment of various diseases in physiotherapy. In this study, based on 394 questionnaire forms, a series of ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in 2018. The surveys focused on the main medicinal plants used and their uses in traditional herbal medicine. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices were used to assess the importance of plants in traditional medicine and the relationships between populations and the natural systems that surround and support them. The analysis of the results allowed the inventory of 84 species and 44 families, the most represented in the region being the Lamiaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae. The species shown to be most used by the local population were: Origanum compactum, Dysphania ambrosioides and Lavandula angustifolia. In particular, the local population was found to make use of the plants to treat dermatological, metabolic, respiratory, rheumatological, urological, cardiovascular, nervous system, nephrological and ENT diseases. Moreover, plant foliage was the most used part and the majority of the remedies are prepared as infusion and decoction. This study reveals that the population of the prefecture of Meknes has a thorough knowledge of medicinal plants and uses them traditionally for the treatment of a variety of diseases.