The Olive Tree (Olea Europea L.) and Traditional Medicine in the Skikda Region (North-East Algerian)

Since antiquity, the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) has played a very important role in the life of Mediterranean populations who consider it as symbol of peace, solidarity and as well as trade and economy. In addition, olive oil is a major constituent of the "Mediterranean diet" given to its nutritional importance. The Skikda region served as the ethnobotanical survey site. This study allowed us to interview 100 people, whose objective is to know the benefits and the area of this tree use for of local populations. Informants profiles showed that women aged between 41 and 50 years, use the olive tree much more than men with a rate of 70 %. Concerning the plant parts used, fruits were the most ones food (50 %) and in therapeutic field (30 %). Made from ripe fruits, olive oil appears to be the most widely utilized cure in our studied region (78 %), with 29 % against constipation and 23 % against cough.