An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and wild food plants in Kırşehir (Türkiye)

This study compiles information regarding the use of certain plants found in Kırşehir and its surrounding regions in the Central Anatolia Region in folk medicine and other ethnobotanical characteristics. A total of 180 people participated in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants. As a result of the study, demographic characteristics of the participants, types of medicinal plant used by the people of the region, preparation techniques, usage patterns and frequency were determined. Local people benefit from 80 plants belonging to 28 families. The most commonly encountered medicinal plant family was Asteraceae (22 taxa). Twenty-two disease categories were identified in which traditional medicinal plants were used. Local people frequently use medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. These include dermatologic ailments (ICF 0.87), hematology issues (ICF 0.98), high cholesterol (ICF 0.98), gastrointestinal problems (ICF 0.88). Medicinal plants are also employed for treating cancer (ICF 0.95), hand tremors (ICF 1.00), cataracts (ICF 1.00), and gonorrhea (ICF 1.00), and kidney stones (ICF 1.00). The highest UV was found for Mentha arvensis and M. pulegium. This research is important in terms of transferring traditional knowledge to future generations. Moreover, the findings obtained should be investigated in fields such as pharmacology and phytotherapy.