New ethnobotanical know-how characterizing the medicinal flora of the province of Taza (northern Morocco): Valorization and quantification of qualitative knowledge

Background: Understanding how medicinal plants are used allows one to appreciate the richness of traditional medicine practices and to respect and preserve cultural knowledge. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey including 340 respondents was carried out in 28 communities of Taza province from March 2021 to June 2022. Sociodemographic data and characteristics accompanying the uses of medicinal species were characterized. The percentages of new parts-used, new preparation methods and new methods of administration are calculated for the first time. Encryption of the criteria of collection period (CCP), plant state (CPS), part used (CPU), preparation (CP), administration (CA) and type of use (CTU) is adopted to facilitate the quantitative analysis of these qualitative characteristics. The Literature indices of plant part value (PPV), family importance value (FIV) and family use value (FUV) were calculated. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed. Results: The average age of the studied population was (52±13 years) of which 62.1% were males, 77.9% were married, and 35% were illiterate. Fifty-seven used parts, 91 preparation and 34 administration methods are newly identified. Knowledge sources are parental (82.6%). Plants are used for their high efficiency (84.3%), separately (80.5%), orally (94.3%), dried (68.8%), stored shady (48.1%), airly (61.4%), based on Infusion preparation (61%) and harvested throughout the year (61.5%). Leaves are the most used part (VPP=49.4%). Treatment satisfaction is higher (93.9%). The highest (FIV=120) and (FUV=0.353) are of Oleaceae. The first PCA revealed that (PCI=38.76%) is constructed following a strong positive correlation is significant with socio-economic level, monthly income and education level, which forms three sociodemographic characteristics that tend to be evaluated together. The second PCA revealed that most of the variation was captured by (PC1=40.50%), which grouped (CPS, CPU, CCP and CP), While (PC2=20.35%) included CA and CTU. The third PCA revealed that (PC1'=76.32%) has a strong positive correlation with FUV and FIV, while (PC2'=23.68%) has a strong positive correlation with FUF. Conclusions: The way medicinal plants are used can vary greatly depending on cultural traditions and desired therapeutic effects. This know-how strengthens social practice, reflects the heterogeneous ethnocultural sociodemographic profile and deserves to be optimized via the ethnopharmacological experiences of experts. Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, Indices, Medicinal plants, Preservation, Taza (Morocco).