Ethnopharmacological Use of Wild Medicinal Plants in Western Desert and Oasis Region, Egypt

Background:

“Back to Nature” is our Moto for solutions to human health problems, both within as well as outside Egypt, has important implications for local, especially tribal communities.

Materials and methods:

The survey was based on qualitative and quantitative research on both the collection and analysis of data, both social and cultural beside ethnographic literature through numerous field trips that gives a very rich background to different life aspects of inhabitants of the Egyptian Western Desert and Oases. The ethno botanical survey was carried out on the Wahateya (inhabitants of the Oases in Egypt). The areas of investigation were Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga, Siwa, & Wadi-el-Natrun Oases. Visiting private farms and households interviews were conducted with men, women and children.

Results:

A total of more than 250 plant species were recorded, of these 53 species were considered to be of medicinal value as for example: Hyoscyamus muticus L.; Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.; Calotropis procera (Aiton.) W.T.; Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile.; Portulaca oleracea L. and Artemisia monosperma Delile;. Representative herbarium specimens (about 100) and available seeds (about 30) were collected. Botanical and ecological surveys as well as phytochemical and biological surveyes were carried out. The Wahateya were found to possess a highly knowledgeable recognition about plants especially those of the medicinal value. This knowledge is passed from one generation to another.

Conclusions:

Conservation and sustainable use of wild medicinal plants in the studied area is highly important and women play an important role in this sector. Development of this sector is highly recommended.

References:

[1] Ross, I. A. (1999). Medicinal Plants of the World. Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersy.

[2] Boulos, L. (2000). "Flora of Egypt", volumes 1 – 3, printed by Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo, Egypt.