Ethnobotanical study of the therapeutic plants of the Beni Haoua region in the wilaya of Chlef (Algeria)

Background: The aim of this study is to identify the use of medicinal plants and to highlight the ethnobotanical knowledge of the inhabitants of Beni Haoua, located to the north-east of Chlef (Algeria). Methods: Ethnomedical data were collected from 100 local informants via semi-structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews between 2022 and 2023. The main information collected concerned useful plant names, harvested plant parts, preparation methods, categories of use and the various diseases treated. Statistical processing of the data was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2016 for Windows and XLstate 2024.For a quantitative analysis we used the following indices (IFC), (UV) and (RFC). Results: This study found that there were more women herbalists than men. Younger practitioners (aged 20-30) seem to be more associated with higher levels of education. The above experiment shows that the local population uses 54 plants belonging to 28 botanical families. The most frequently used families are Lamiaceae (20%), Asteraceae (13%) and Apiaceae (7%). The most frequently cited species are Mentha spicata L. (0.042), followed by Eucalyptus globulus Labill (0.038). Leaves, fruits and aerial parts were the most commonly used parts, oral administration is the most widely used, with infusion and decoction being the most common techniques. Most disease categories have a high informant consensus factor (IFC) of between (0.91) and (0.94). Conclusions: The primary objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the ethnobotanical heritage of the Beni Haoua population. The study revealed a rich diversity of medicinal plants, demonstrating the deep bond between the local population and their natural environment. This study lays the foundations for future interdisciplinary collaborations between ethnobotanists, pharmacologists and healthcare professionals. Keywords: Medicinal plant, Ethnobotany, Beni Haoua area, Chlef, Algeria