Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used in Jajarm County
Fatemeh Mahjoub
1
(
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
)
Mahdi Kolahi
2
(
Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Water and Environment Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
)
Hamid Moazzeni
3
(
Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
)
Keywords: Ethnobotany, Medicinal Plants, Indigenous Knowledge, Ethnopharmacology,
Abstract :
The primary objective of this study was to comprehensively document the indigenous botanical knowledge pertaining to medicinal plant uses among the residents of Jajarm County, North Khorasan, Iran. Additionally, the research aimed to introduce prevalent plant species while undertaking a quantitative analysis of data gathered from both urban and rural sectors within the study area. The study population consisted of 81 knowledgeable individuals from Jajarm and its neighboring villages who were queried regarding their familiarity with plant uses, application techniques, and intended purposes. These individuals were selected through a random and snowball sampling method and engaged in semi-structured questionnaire-based interviews and informal discussions, following their prior consent. Taxonomic identification of all mentioned plant species was accomplished using diverse botanical references. Ethnobotanical metrics such as Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were employed to analyze the amassed data. The investigation revealed 69 distinct plant species belonging to 30 botanical families, with Lamiaceae and Apiaceae standing out as the most abundant families. Notably, plant leaves were identified as the most frequently utilized component, predominantly through decoction. Mentha aquatica emerged with the highest UV, Thymus spp. demonstrated the most prominent RFC, while gastrointestinal disorders exhibited the highest ICF. The findings of this research underscored the depth of indigenous botanical wisdom, notably among the older female demographic of the region. This valuable insight provides a foundational platform for the selection of plants warranting further exploration in the realms of phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
