Houcem Sammari*, Saber Jedidi, Anouar Abidi and Hichem Sebai

Laboratory of Functional Physiology and Valorization of Bio-resources, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Béja, University of Jendouba, Tunisia

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

Received: July 01, 2024; Published: July 30, 2024

Abstract

Phytotherapy is one of the oldest medicines in the world. Indeed, humans have tested and selected the best medicinal plants to treat themselves. In this regard, ancient civilisations have described several wild or cultivated plants as a remedy for several diseases. Nowadays, this ancestral medicine remains massively deployed, especially in developing countries. In the same context, an ethno-pharmacological survey concerning the use of azerole (Crataegus azarolus L.) in alternative medicine was carried out in the regions of Tabarka and Ain Draham. In this respect, we aimed, in the present study, to realize a survey by identifying the interviewed persons as well as to describe the modes, routes, frequency of use to treat several pathologies. The survey also described the plant used parts, the forms of use, and picking stages. Our results showed that the population of Tabarka and Ain Draham frequently uses the different plant parts to treat several pathologies, such as cardiovascular diseases, digestive tract disorders, and diabetes. The mature fruits were consumed directly, while the aerial and root parts were used fresh or dried in decoction, maceration, and infusion. Finally, the majority of the individuals surveyed expressed their satisfaction for treatment with azerole. The method of administration, dosage, and frequency of use of which strongly depend on the pathology to be treated. In conclusion, the obtained findings constitute a precious source of information for the northwestern regions of Tunisia and the national medicinal flora.

Keywords: Phytotherapy; Crataegus azarolus; Ethnopharmacological Survey; Northwestern Tunisia

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Citation

Citation: Houcem Sammari., et al. “Ethnopharmacological Survey on the Traditional Use of Azerole (Crataegus azarolus L.) in Tabarka and Ain Draham Regions (Northwestern Tunisia)"Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 8.8 (2024): 114-118.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2024 Houcem Sammari., 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.