ABSTRACT
Background. In
Morocco, the use of folk medicine and phytotherapy is very common to treat
several diseases including cancer. The aim of our study was to perform an
ethnobotanical investigation of the plants used in traditional medicine to
treat cancer in the region of Meknès-Tafilalet. Methods. An
ethnobotanical survey has been conducted in Meknès-Tafilalet region (Meknès,
Errachidia, Moulay Idriss, Khenifra, Ifrane and Azrou). Information was gathered from traditional
healers, herbalists, patients and users
of medicinal plants using semi-structures
questionnaires. Results. Our study demonstrates that the practice of phytotherapy for the treatment of diseases and
cancer in particular is important since
68.5% of the informants indicated using medicinal plants. In addition, our
study reports that 35 different plants, belonging to 23 botanical
families, are used in the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Of those, Lamiaceae,
Asteraceae, Liliaceae and Fabaceae are
the most used families. In addition, we show that Aristolochia longa is the plant mainly
used to treat cancer specifically. Our data indicate that leaves and seeds
(respectively 36.9% and 28.6%) are the parts of the plants mainly used, largely processed in powder (76.9%). Our data indicate that despite
unprecise data on the posology, adverse effects are seen only in 15% of the
cases. Conclusion. Our study is an
essential documentation on traditional
use of medicinal plants in Meknes-Tafilalet region that will contribute to the
preservation of the ancestral knowledge and will promote protection of biodiversity of this region.