Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)

Herbal medicine (HM) is frequently used by diabetic patients in Morocco, although limited information exists about the specific plants used by diabetic patients in the SALÉ region. This study aims to collect a list of plant species used by diabetic patients as traditional remedies. This study is ba...

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Main Authors: Youssef S'HIH, Ibrahim Hinad, Abdechahid Loukili, Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2025-06-01
Series:Traditional and Integrative Medicine
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Online Access:https://jtim.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jtim/article/view/1719
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author Youssef S'HIH
Ibrahim Hinad
Abdechahid Loukili
Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi
author_facet Youssef S'HIH
Ibrahim Hinad
Abdechahid Loukili
Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi
author_sort Youssef S'HIH
collection DOAJ
description Herbal medicine (HM) is frequently used by diabetic patients in Morocco, although limited information exists about the specific plants used by diabetic patients in the SALÉ region. This study aims to collect a list of plant species used by diabetic patients as traditional remedies. This study is based on an ethnobotanical survey. It was carried out using questionnaires with a sample of 300 diabetic patients visiting the health centres in SALÉ. The results indicate that 93% of type 2 diabetic patients and 7% of type 1 diabetic patients use HM alongside modern medications. Patients justify their use of HM due to its easy accessibility (34.3%), greater efficacy (27.7%), and low cost (27%). The majority (60.3%) are unable to specify the dosage used, and 95.3% are unaware of the toxicity of the plants. This study identified 32 medicinal plant species from 18 botanical families, with the most commonly used plants being Olea europea L. (9.3%), Coriandrum sativum L. (7.7%), Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (7.3%), Marrubium vulgare L. (6%), Lepidium sativum L., Lawsonia inermis L., Capparis spinosa L. (5.7%), and Artemisia absinthium (5%). The most used plant parts are leaves (40%) and seeds (23.67%); with infusion and decoction being the preferred preparation methods for oral administration. The findings indicate that the SALÉ region has a wide range of HM knowledge for treating diabetes, which needs further scientific study. This knowledge can serve as a foundation for pharmacological studies to assess the antidiabetic effects of these plants.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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series Traditional and Integrative Medicine
spelling doaj-art-b3b1e495891e40419d1129dd20fdb0742025-08-20T03:50:25ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesTraditional and Integrative Medicine2476-51042476-51122025-06-0110210.18502/tim.v10i2.19059Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)Youssef S'HIH0Ibrahim Hinad1Abdechahid Loukili2Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi3Laboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra, Ibn Tofail University, MoroccoLaboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra, Ibn Tofail University, MoroccoLaboratory of Scientific Research and Pedagogical Innovation, Regional Centre for Education and Training., Khemissat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, MoroccoLaboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco Herbal medicine (HM) is frequently used by diabetic patients in Morocco, although limited information exists about the specific plants used by diabetic patients in the SALÉ region. This study aims to collect a list of plant species used by diabetic patients as traditional remedies. This study is based on an ethnobotanical survey. It was carried out using questionnaires with a sample of 300 diabetic patients visiting the health centres in SALÉ. The results indicate that 93% of type 2 diabetic patients and 7% of type 1 diabetic patients use HM alongside modern medications. Patients justify their use of HM due to its easy accessibility (34.3%), greater efficacy (27.7%), and low cost (27%). The majority (60.3%) are unable to specify the dosage used, and 95.3% are unaware of the toxicity of the plants. This study identified 32 medicinal plant species from 18 botanical families, with the most commonly used plants being Olea europea L. (9.3%), Coriandrum sativum L. (7.7%), Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (7.3%), Marrubium vulgare L. (6%), Lepidium sativum L., Lawsonia inermis L., Capparis spinosa L. (5.7%), and Artemisia absinthium (5%). The most used plant parts are leaves (40%) and seeds (23.67%); with infusion and decoction being the preferred preparation methods for oral administration. The findings indicate that the SALÉ region has a wide range of HM knowledge for treating diabetes, which needs further scientific study. This knowledge can serve as a foundation for pharmacological studies to assess the antidiabetic effects of these plants. https://jtim.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jtim/article/view/1719Ethnobotanical surveyHerbal medicineDiabetes mellitusthe SALÉ regionMorocco
spellingShingle Youssef S'HIH
Ibrahim Hinad
Abdechahid Loukili
Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi
Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)
Traditional and Integrative Medicine
Ethnobotanical survey
Herbal medicine
Diabetes mellitus
the SALÉ region
Morocco
title Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)
title_full Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)
title_fullStr Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)
title_full_unstemmed Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)
title_short Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)
title_sort ethnobotanical survey of antidiabetic medicinal plants used by patients visiting health facilities in the sale region morocco
topic Ethnobotanical survey
Herbal medicine
Diabetes mellitus
the SALÉ region
Morocco
url https://jtim.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jtim/article/view/1719
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