ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SOME LIBYAN MEDICINAL PLANTS GROWING WILD IN ALJABAL ALAKHDAR

A. Aljaiyash*, Amna Hussein Lasema, Noor Al-huda Abd El-mene'm Altrekey and Rayan Ahmed Eltalhi and Hanaa Labiad

ABSTRACT

For years, Libyan herbalists have been using traditional plant-based medicines; however, most of these traditional healers misuse their use because of the limited information about harmful side effects. The traditional healers prescribe recipes that do not comply with any quality standard. This study was designed and initiated in an effort to classify and shortlist some reported medicinal plants used by traditional healers in the east part of Libya. Data from this work was obtained by collecting semi-interviews and direct questionnaires from local traditional healers. This study targeted herbalists in the city of Al-Bayda. A total of 20 of the identified plant species belonged to 14 botanical families, and number of recipes has been selected and studied in this project. The most plant species used in recipes by herbalists were Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Matricaria chamomilla respectively. The most represented family is that of Lamiaceae with 5 species, followed by that of Asteraceae with 3 species. The preparations were obtained either from a mixture of two plant species (with 10%), or from a mixture of three (with 15%), mixture of four (with 20%) and five for 2 recipes ( with 25%). In the other hand, a list of some plant species used by traditional healers was presented as a single recipe, explaining the ways of using them, the parts of the plant used and the therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Medicinal plants; Pharmacopoeia; Ethnopharmacology; Traditional healers; Aljabal Alakhdar; Libya.