Ala Ayari¹*, Saber Jedidi^1,2, Houcem Sammari¹ and Hichem Sebai¹

¹University of Jendouba, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Béja, Laboratory of Functional Physiology and Valorization of Bio-resources, Beja, Tunisia
²University of Jendouba, Sylvopastoral Institute of Tabarka, Laboratory of Sylvo-Pastoral Resources, Tabarka, Tunisia

*Corresponding Author: Ala Ayari, University of Jendouba, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Béja, Laboratory of Functional Physiology and Valorization of Bio-resources, Beja, Tunisia.

Received: May 14, 2024; Published: June 04, 2024

Abstract

Ethnopharmacology is a field of scientific inquiry dedicated to exploring the traditional utilization of medicinal plants and natural treatments, intending to uncover novel pharmaceuticals and gain deeper insights into the therapeutic properties of plants. Our focus was on conducting an ethnopharmacological investigation into the traditional medicinal uses of red beetroot in the Northwestern region of Tunisia. We chose these specific areas due to their abundance of the plants under study. The findings of our study demonstrated the utilization of Beta vulgaris L. in traditional medicine for treating various ailments, particularly those affecting the digestive system, such as constipation and inflammation. Additionally, our research uncovered the diverse applications of different parts of the red beetroot in its mature state, employing various primary preparation methods: decoction, infusion, and use in Human diets (juices and salads) using primarily the roots. The choice of preparation and administration methods showed a strong correlation with the targeted pathologies. Hence, ethnopharmacological investigations are crucial for guiding us towards identifying specific biological activities and potentially innovating new therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Beta vulgaris L; Ethnopharmacology; Survey; Northwestern Tunisia

References

1. Falzon CC and Balabanova A. “Phytotherapy: An Introduction to Herbal Medicine”. Primary Care 2 (2017): 217-227. 
2. Fraguas-Sánchez AI and Torres-Suárez AI. “Medical Use of Cannabinoids”. Drugs 16 (2018): 1665-1703.
3. Naeem A., et al. “Natural Products as Anticancer Agents: Current Status and Future Perspectives”. Molecules23 (2022): 8367.
4. Sen T and Samanta SK. “Medicinal plants, human health and biodiversity: a broad review”. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology 147 (2015): 59-110.
5. Pang GM., et al. “Herbal medicine in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus”. Chinese Medical Journal (England)1 (2019): 78-85.
6. Mirmiran P., et al. “Functional properties of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) in management of cardio-metabolic diseases”. Nutrition and Metabolism (London) 17 (2020): 3.
7. Frank T., et al. “Urinary pharmacokinetics of betalains following consumption of red beet juice in healthy humans”. Pharmacological Research 4 (2002): 290-297.
8. Belhadj Slimen I., et al. “Chemical and Antioxidant Properties of Betalains”. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 4 (2017): 675-689.
9. Bosemark, N. O. l0. La betterave à sucre 133.
10. Bajaj YPS. “Biotechnologie in Agriculture and Forestry”. Plant Protoplasts and Genetic Engineering 29 (1986): 16.
11. Tresca G., et al. “Evaluating herbal medicine preparation from a traditional perspective: insights from an ethnopharmaceutical survey in the Peruvian Amazon”. Anthropology and Medicine 3 (2020): 268-284.
12. Sebai H., et al. “Etude ethnobotanique de trois plantes traditionnellement utilisées pour le traitement des pathologies du tractus gastro-intestinal en Tunisie”. Revue de la Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte XII (2014): 215-224.
13. Brinsi C., et al. “Enquête Ethnopharmacologique sur l’usage traditionnel de l’Aneth (Anethum graveolens) dans le Nord-Ouest de la Tunisie”. Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires10.2 (2020): 282-286.
14. Lazli A., et al. “Étude ethnobotanique et inventaire des plantes médicinales dans la région de Bougous (Parc National d’El Kala,-Nord-est algérien)”. Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège88 (2019): 22- 43.
15. Aliahmadi M., et al. “Effects of raw red beetroot consumption on metabolic markers and cognitive function in type 2 diabetes patients”. Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders 1 (2021): 673-682.
16. Kapil V., et al. “Dietary nitrate provides sustained blood pressure lowering in hypertensive patients: a randomized, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study”. Hypertension2 (2015): 320-327.
17. Al-Harbi LN., et al. “Beta vulgaris (Beetroot) Methanolic Extract Prevents Hepatic Steatosis and Liver Damage in T2DM Rats by Hypoglycemic, Insulin-Sensitizing, Antioxidant Effects, and Upregulation of PPARα”. Biology (Basel) 10.12 (2021): 1306. 
18. Belhi., et al. “The Antioxidant Activity and the Ruminal Fermentation Parameters of Moringa oleifera among Sheep and Goats”. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 7.1 (2018): 83-92.
19. Benjamim CJR., et al. “Nitrate Derived from Beetroot Juice Lowers Blood Pressure in Patients with Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”. Frontiers in Nutrition 9 (2022): 823039.

Citation

Citation: Ala Ayari., et al. “An Ethnopharmacological Study on the Traditional Medicine of Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra L.) in the Region of Beja (Northwestern of Tunisia)". Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 8.7 (2024): 08-12.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2024 Ala Ayari., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.