Volume 163, 2 April 2015, Pages 1–11
An ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants in Espiye and its surrounding (Giresun-Turkey)
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
This
paper provides significant ethnobotanical information on medicinal
plants in Espiye in the Black Sea Region. Recording such data calls for
urgency. This is the first ethnobotanical study in which statistical
calculations about plants are carried out by means of FIC method in
Northern (Espiye-Giresun) part of Turkey. This study aims to identify
the wild plants collected for medicinal purposes by locals of Espiye
which is located in the Black Sea Region of Turkey, and to identify the
uses and local names of these wild plants.
Materials and methods
A
field study had been carried out for a period of approximately 2 years
(2012–2014). During this period, information about medicinal use of 55
wild and 15 cultivated plants were collected. Demographic
characteristics of participants, names of the local plants, their
utilized parts and preparation methods were investigated and recorded.
Through face-to-face interviews, we identified and recorded demographic
characteristics of the respondents. We interviewed 128 persons who are
over the age of 29. The plant taxa were collected within the scope of
the study; and herbarium materials were prepared. In addition, the
relative significance value of the taxa was determined, and informant
consensus factor (FIC) was calculated for the medicinal plants included
in the study.
Results
We have
found out in the literature review of the plants included in our study
that 70 plant taxa are already used for medicinal purposes while 3
plants are not available among the records in the literature. The most
common families are Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, and
Ericaceae. We include in our study and report for the first time the
medicinal uses of Alchemilla crinita Buser, Stachys sylvatica L., and Thymus leucotrichus Hal. var. leucotrichus
Hal. Names of local plants in Turkey vary especially due to
vernaculars. The plants that the locals of Espiye use are called with
the same or different local names in various parts of Anatolia.
Conclusion
We
found out that locals living in the research area use for therapeutic
purpose 70 plants taxa which belong to 36 families. Turkish citizens
with different ethnic backgrounds took the questionnaire. These people
use these wild plants in treatment of several diseases. Comparison of
the data obtained in this study with the experimental data obtained in
the previous laboratory studies on the wild plants which grow in Espiye
proved ethnobotanical usages to a great extent. Literature review
indicated that the therapeutic plants that grow in Espiye are used in
different parts of the world for the treatment of similar diseases.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Ethnobotany;
- Medicinal plants;
- Use value;
- Informant consensus factor;
- Espiye;
- Giresun
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
+90 505 384 60 18; fax: +90 454 611 60 08.
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