Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Maden (Elazig-Turkey)
Graphical abstract
Introduction
Turkey has a very extraordinary rich flora and a great knowledge of folkloric medicines, and consequently represents a potential resource for such studies (Hudson et al., 2000). Turkey is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of plant diversity. To date approximately 10,500 plant species have been identified within her borders and 30% of these are endemic (Davis, 1965–1985, Güner et al., 2000). Endemism is one of the most important indicators to evaluate environmental value of an area. In Turkey, the rate of endemism in plant species is relatively high when compared with other European countries (Ugulu et al., 2008). Medical folklore researches about diseases in which herbal drugs are used colloquially in Turkey, their effects and names have been going on increasingly since Republican period (1923) (Baytop, 1999).
East Anatolia has a rich flora, due to its variable climate and high number of ecological zones. This diversity in flora provides a rich source of medicinal plants, which has long been utilized by Anatolian cultures, and hence accounts for the accumulation of remarkable medicinal folk knowledge in the region (Özgökçe and Özçelik, 2004).
Documentation of the indigenous knowledge through ethnobotanical studies is important for the conservation and utilization of biological resources (Muthu et al., 2006). Therefore, establishment of the local names and indigenous uses of plants has significant potential societal benefits (Bağcı, 2000).
Majority of the Turkish people living in rural areas traditionally use plants. Generally, they use plants for nourishment and medical purposes. As the case in the other countries of the world, in recent years, the plants – used traditionally for curative purposes – have attracted attention of the researchers (Ekici et al., 1998, Yeşilada et al., 1999, Tuzlacı and Tolon, 2000, Dogan et al., 2004, Şimşek et al., 2004, Uzun et al., 2004, Kargıoğlu et al., 2008, Kültür, 2008, Yıldırım et al., 2008, Koyuncu et al., 2009, Cansaran and Kaya, 2010, Çakılcıoğlu et al., 2010, Tuzlacı et al., 2010, Bulut, 2011, Güneş and Özhatay, 2011, Öztürk and Ölçücü, 2011).
This study identified not only the wild plants collected for medical purposes by local people of Maden County in the Eastern Anatolia Region, but also the uses and local names of these plants. Also, with a view that chemical researches about herbs used in traditional medicine are valuable in terms of treatment, we tried to create a source for researchers in ethnobotany, pharmacology and chemistry science by comparing the knowledge we gained with ethnobotany and previous laboratory studies in Turkey and world.
Section snippets
Study area
Study area was located on the east of Anatolian diagonal, in the skirts of South-Eastern Taurus Mountains (Çakılcıoğlu et al., 2008), in the Upper Euphrates Region of the Eastern Anatolia Region (Şengün, 2007). Maden (Fig. 1) belongs to the Iran-Turan Plant Geography Region and falls within the B7 grid square according to the Grid classification system developed by Davis (1965–1985).
Maden County has always witnessed continuous interstate conflicts; it changed hands for a short time, as the
Demographic characteristics of study participants
Demographic characteristics of the respondents were determined and recorded through face-to-face interviews. Of the participants who took part in the questionnaire, 15 were between the ages of 32 and 40, 23 were between the ages of 41 and 50, 63 were between the ages of 51 and 60, and 42 were over the age of 61. Of the participants, 31 were residing in the region for less than 10 years; 112 were residing in the region for 11 years and above. A total of 121 were living in villages, 22 were
Conclusions
In the research area, local people were found to use 88 plants from 41 families for curative purposes. These plants, which are used in the treatment of many diseases. By drying infusions or decoctions of these plants, local people use them during the whole seasons of the year. Elderly population is in majority in our field of study. Elder people have more information about herbs compared to the younger ones. Herbal treatment has become a tradition for the residents of the study region. People
Acknowledgements
The authors thank, the head of 23rd Region of the Chamber of Pharmacists; to Mustafa Çiçek grade teacher, and Pharmacy Technician Menan Artan, for providing us valuable information and accompanying us during the interview process.
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