Ethnobotanical of medicinal plants used against snakebites in the Oued Righ region

Abstract

This work aims to identify an ethnobotanical study in Oued Righ (the Sahara Desert of Algeria), characterized by its rich and diverse medicinal plants. A series of surveys was conducted among local residents in the study area (200 questionnaires) to obtain as much information as possible about the therapeutic uses of medicinal plants in treating snake bites. The results obtained from the residents allowed for the identification of 41 species belonging to 21 plant families. Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae family) is considered the most widely used plant, with a utilization rate of 15.61%. Additionally, the Nigella sativa plant (Ranunculaceae family) was found to be used at a rate of 12.20%. We also discovered the Artemisia campestris plant (Asteraceae family), which was used at a rate of 10.24%. These were the species most frequently used in our study, and the seeds were the most commonly used part (26.24%). The plants were prepared in various ways, but the most common method in our study was compresses (50.79%). Most of the plants used were wild (60.96%), and the majority of them were used alone (64.36%). The la rgest proportion of information on plant therapy was obtained from ancestors and the general public, and most of the results from plant therapy were satisfactory (60.33%). Therefore, this study is considered an important source of information that contributes to the knowledge of medicinal plants and their therapeutic use. This study can serve as a database to evaluate this valuable