Traditional knowledge and biodiversity of medicinal plants in the Taounate region for treating human diseases: An ethnobotanical perspective

Background: The Taounate region in Morocco boasts a rich diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants. Traditional knowledge, passed down through generations, plays a pivotal role in developing affordable medicines derived from natural products. Our primary objective was to investigate the botanical diversity, comprehend its importance for the local communities, and enhance the value of the plants utilized in this area for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. Methods: An ethnobotanical study was conducted in Taounate province through semi-structured interviews of 476 individuals from 15 different localities. The data were analyzed using specific ethnobotanical indexes such as the Cultural Importance Index (CI), Fidelity Level (FL), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). Influence and correlation between sociodemographic variables and traditional therapeutic use were performed using a series of bivariate and multivariate tests. Results: The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (80.66%), followed by seeds (9.03%). Oral ingestion was the most frequently cited way of remedy application (68.23%). The diseases for which plants are most commonly used are Gastrointestinal and Dermatological illnesses. After analyzing the results of the ethnobotanical indices, three plants stand out, namely Myrtus communis, Arbutus unedo and Inula viscosa. Moreover, the statistical analyses revealed significant relationships between various variables. A chi-square test demonstrated a significant association between the methods of preparation of the plants and municipalities (p = 0.032), as well as between plant parts and municipalities (p = 0.0036), but not between gender and types of plants used (p = 0.072). The Kruskal-Wallis test indicated no significant effect of respondents’ age on the type of plants used (p = 0.6369). Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) identified associations among methods, types of plants, and municipalities, accounting for 13.09% of the total variability. Lastly, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis confirmed significant relationships between plant distribution and municipalities, validated by the PERMANOVA test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge Transmission: Despite the persistence of traditional medicine, gaps exist in knowledge transmission to future generations. Focusing on species like Myrtus communis, Arbutus unedo, and Inula viscosa could enhance short-term community health and pave the way for affordable natural medicines. Our study underscores the need for continued research, conservation, and knowledge dissemination to harness the full potential of Taounate’s botanical treasures. Keywords: Plants, Survey, Ethnobotany, Taounate, Therapeutic use