Ethnobotanical Study on the Use of Medicinal Plants With Antiviral Interest, Case of Sars-Cov-19, in the Region of Seraidi (Annaba, North-East Algeria)

Abstract

The taxonomic diversity and the richness of the region of Seraidi (North-East Algeria) in medicinal plants, as well as the appearance of diseases of viral origin, in particular, the current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, led us to the realization of an ethnobotanical survey of plants with antiviral interests. The survey was conducted based on a pre-established quiz, with 120 people from different categories of the population of Seraidi, with the aim of listing the medicinal plants used in the treatment of viral diseases and collecting as much information as possible on this subject. After analyzing, the information provided by the people interviewed, we listed 32 species belonging to 20 families, of which the Lamiaceae family is the most represented. Older women are the most affected by the use of plants; people without a higher intellectual level have the most knowledge about the use of plants with antiviral interest. The leaf is the most widely used organ, in the form of a decoction or infusion, administered orally.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by people cured of SARS-CoV-2 in the center of Algeria

“…Our results concerning plant families used by patients are very close to those recorded by other studies carried out in Algeria (Belmouhoub & Aberkane 2021, Brahimi et al 2022, Djouamaa et al 2022 and Morocco (Benkhaira et al 2021, Chaachouay et al 2021, Chebaibi et al 2022Flouchi et al 2023). However, there are a few differences in the frequency of plant species used compared to studies performed by other scientists (Brahimi et al 2022, Chebaibi et al 2022, Djouamaa et al 2022Flouchi et al 2023).…”

“…In addition, no significant difference was noticed in the use of herbal medicine between men and women (Table 2), unlike the results obtained by other ethnobotanical studies in Algeria, where often women use more medicinal plants than men (Allali et al 2008, Azzi et al 2012, Belmouhoub et al 2022, Djouamaa et al 2022.…”

“…These results clearly show the strong attachment of the Algerian population to folk medicine and their vast knowledge in the field of herbal medicine (Allali et al 2008, Boudjelal et al 2013, Telli et al 2016, Belmouhoub et al 2022, Djouamaa et al 2022. Many ethnobotanical studies have reported that North African societies are very attached to medicinal herbs to prevent and treat several diseases (Belayachi et al 2013, Alves-Silva et al 2017, Dehyab et al 2020.…”

“…Like all North African countries, in Algeria, since the apparition of this pandemic, people have used more medicinal plants and some natural products known for their curative effect against viral and bacterial infections, especially infections affecting the respiratory system (Belmouhoub & Aberkane 2021, Brahimi et al 2022, Djouamaa et al 2022.…”

“…Whereas very few ethnobotanical surveys were conducted to enumerate the medicinal herbs used to prevent or treat SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the information reported in these studies was collected from herbalists or healers (Belmouhoub & Aberkane 2021, Brahimi et al 2022, Djouamaa et al 2022. However, to our knowledge, no ethnobotanical survey has been carried out in Algeria, where information is obtained directly from people already infected with COVID-19.…”