Herbal remedies used for the treatment of infertility in females by traditional healers in the northwest of Algeria.

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: According to the world health organization, infertility is a global health issue affecting millions of people of reproductive age worldwide. Available data suggests that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals have infertility globally. Aim of the study: The aims of this work is to inventory plants used in the treatment of female primary infertility by the herbal healers in the northwest of Algeria. Materials and methods: A number of 30 herbal healers and resource persons were interviewed. This ethnobotanical survey has permitted to identify 41 recipes in which involved 49 plant species belonging to 23 family used to treat primary infertility in women by traditional healers in the northwest of Algeria.The scientific name, family, common name, part used, mode of preparation as well as of administration, days of treatment and the indication are provided. Results: Results show that The Lamiaceae family is the best represented with 9 species and 32.14% of the frequency of use, followed by the Apiaceae with 8 species and Asteraceae with 4 species and frequency of use 9.52% for each .The aerial parts are the most commonly parts used with a rate of 22% of total parts of the plant, followed by the leaves with 18%, seeds 16%,root and rhizome 12%,fruit and flower (10% each); bark bulb(4% each), kernel and pollen grains(2% each) Infusion is the main mode of preparation with rate of 40% of total preparations, mixture with 37%, decoction with 17%, and finally paste with 6%. Recipes were principally taken orally (83 %) or topically (17%) as poultice (10%) or as vaginal steaming (7%). Conclusions: Herbal healers in northwest of Algeria have a wide range of herbal remedies used to treat primary infertility in females; their knowledge is a natural heritage from their ancestors transmitted through centuries. Keywords: ethnobotany, infertility, recipes, herbal healers, northwest of Algeria.

Keywords

• ethnobotany
• infertility
• recipes
• herbal
• algeria

References

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