Elsevier

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 137, Issue 1, 1 September 2011, Pages 469-486
Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Maden (Elazig-Turkey)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.05.046Get rights and content

Abstract

Aim of the study

This study aimed to identify wild plants collected for medical purposes by the local people of Maden County, located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, and to establish the uses and local names of these plants.

Materials and methods

Field study was carried out over a period of approximately 2 years (2008–2010). During this period, 131 vascular plant specimens were collected. Demographic characteristics of participants, local plant names, utilized parts and preparation methods of the plants were investigated and recorded. In the scope of the study, the plant species were collected; herbarium materials were prepared; and the specimens were entitled. The Zazas are of the major ethnic group in the region. In addition, the relative importance value of the species was determined and informant consensus factor (FIC) was calculated for the medicinal plants included in the study.

Results

A total of 88 medical plants belonging to 41 families were identified in the region. 4 plants out of 88 were recorded to be used for curative purposes for the first time. It was determined that the local names of four different kinds of plants used in Maden were same as the different kinds of plants used in different regions. The most encountered medicinal plant families were Urticaceae (>21%), Rosaceae and Lamiaceae (>17% of use-reports), Asteraceae (>13%), Fabaceae (>8%), Brassicaceae (>7%), Poaceae (>4%); the most common preparations were decoction and infusion. Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata, Rosa canina L. and Urtica dioica L. was the plants most used by the local people. Anthemis wiedemanniana Fisch. and Mey., Bunium paucifolium DC. var. brevipes (Freyn & Sint.) Hedge & Lam., Tchihatchewia isatidea Boiss., Thymus haussknechtii Velen. were found to be the endemic plants used for medical purposes in Maden, Turkey. The medicinal uses of Bunium paucifolium DC. var. brevipes (Freyn & Sint.) Hedge & Lam., Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. caucasica Roussi, Gladiolus atroviolaceus Boiss., Ixiolirion tataricum (Pallas) Herbert subsp. montanum (Labill.) Takht. were recorded for the first time.

Conclusion

Herbal treatment has become a tradition for the residents of the study region. These plants, which are used in the treatment of many diseases. Comparison of the data obtained in this study from the plants growing in Maden with the experimental data obtained in the previous laboratory studies proved most of the ethnobotanical usages. Literature review showed that curative plants of Maden are used in different parts of the world in the treatment of the same or similar diseases. If a plant is used to treat the same disease in different places across the world then its pharmacologic effect could be accepted. It would be beneficial to conduct pharmacologic studies on such plants. These plants, used in the treatment of many different diseases, are in this region at abundant amounts. Drying enabled local people to use medicinal plants during all seasons of the year. 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. It is tried to generate a source for persons studying in ethnobotany, pharmacology and chemistry sciences by comparing knowledge gained from traditionally used herbs with previous laboratory studies.

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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