Étude floristique et ethnobotanique de la flore médicinale du Haut Atlas oriental (Haute Moulouya)

Abstract

Objective: This study is considered as a contribution to the study of medicinal plants that are used in traditional herbal medicne by the local population of the Haute Moulouya.
Methods and results: Using 320 questionnaires, a series of ethnobotanical surveys was conducted in the field during the years of 2012 and 2013. The location of different backgrounds for the floristic and ethnobotanical surveys was spotted by the stratified random sampling method. The study of medicinal plants showed a floristic richness of 115 medicinal species divided into 45 families and 99 genera with a predominance of the following families: Lamiaceae (20), Asteraceae (11), Apiaceae (8), Fabaceae (7) Rosacea (5), and Poaceae (5). The results of this study also showed that the foliage is the most used part, and the majority of remedies are prepared as a decoction. Herbal remedies are often used to treat digestive disorders (44%), and 40% of these plants have caused poisoning.
Conclusion and Application : These surveys provide information on medicinal plants (floristic data, the used part, mode of preparation, and toxicity) and the profile of the informant (gender, age, level of education,…).They have also assessed the impact of the collection of medicinal plants on the environment. Moreover, this study could offer an important value for bibliographic researches in the fields of phytochemistry, pharmacology and a seat base for future generations.

Keywords: medicinal plants; ethnobotany; floristic; traditional herbal medicine; Haute Moulouya.