a
Research Center for Environment and Development, Beirut Arab University, Bekaa, Lebanon
b Faculty of Agriculture, Lebanese University, Dekwaneh, Beirut, Lebanon
b Faculty of Agriculture, Lebanese University, Dekwaneh, Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological
relevance Medicinal plant species in Lebanon are experiencing severe
threats because of various environmental conditions, human expansion
footprints and recent growing global demand. Organized research and
information on indigenous medicinal plants and knowledge have been very
limited and little efforts have been invested to develop a complete
inventory for native medicinal plants and associated traditional
knowledge in the country. Recognized as a key biodiversity area of the
Mediterranean Basin, Mount Hermon hosts important richness of medicinal
plants that has been traditionally used in treatment of many illnesses
since generations. Novel knowledge gathered by the present investigation
is important in preserving indigenous knowledge of Mount Hermon
community and revitalizing traditional herbal
medicines. Material and methods Ethnopharmacological information was
collected by semi-structured interviews with 53 native informants
(herbalists, traditional healers, midwives and local adult villagers) in
13 towns and villages surrounding Mount Hermon. The interviews were
conducted through guided field visits and discussion groups whilst
collecting plants specimens. Taxonomical identification of plant species
was based on the determination keys of the "New Flora of Lebanon and
Syria" and specimens were deposited at the herbarium of the Research
Center for Environment and Development at Beirut Arab University.
Results The results obtained indicate that 124 plant species of Mount
flora are still used in traditional medicine by the local communities as
an important source of primary health care and treatment of a wide
range of different illnesses. These species belonged to 42 families and
102 genera. Compositae (19 species), Labiatae (18 species), Rosaceae
(11) and Umbelliferae (11) formed the dominant families. Informants'
Consensus Factor (FIC ) analysis revealed that among the 14
illness categories used, respiratory (0.94), gastrointestinal and renal
(0.93), genital systems (0.92) had the highest FIC values. The Medicinal
Importance (MI) of these systems had also the top positions (16.24,
13.60, 13.18 and 12.09, respectively), whilest Mentha spicata subsp.
condensata (Briq.) Greuter et Burdet recorded the heighest Cultural
Importance (CI) value at 4.75. Conclusion This study documents for the
first time the ethnopharmacological knowledge regarding part of the
Lebanese flora in Mount Hermon. The perpetuity of this knowledge of
successive generations can be used as an important tool for the future
phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies, as well as
conservation and management of medicinal plants as part of the local
cultural heritage. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author keywords
Ethnopharmacology; Lebanon; Medicinal Plants; Mount Hermon
Indexed keywords
EMTREE medical terms: adult; aged; Article; Compositae;
ethnopharmacology; female; health survey; human; identification key;
Labiatae; Lebanon; male; medicinal plant; Mentha spicata; midwife;
normal human; plant identification; primary health care; Rosaceae; rural
population; semi structured interview; species composition; species
identification; taxonomy; traditional healer; traditional medicine;
Umbelliferae
Species Index: Apiaceae; Asteraceae; Lamiaceae; Mentha spicata; Rosaceae
ISSN: 03788741
CODEN: JOETDSource Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.06.052Document Type: Article
Publisher: Elsevier Ireland Ltd
