Étude ethnobotanique des plantes médicinales associées à l’huile d’olive dans la région de Sétif

Abstract

This ethnobotanical study was conducted in the Wilaya of Sétif to explore the traditional use of mixtures of olive oil and medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes. A total of 137 participants responded to a questionnaire disseminated both online and in the field. The collected data reveal a predominance of female respondents 87% and a strong representation of young people under 30 years old 77%. The results indicate that rosemary, thyme, and garlic are the plants most commonly combined with olive oil. Most respondents prepare their mixtures themselves, mainly using maceration. Leaves are the most used plant part 49%, and the main routes of application are cutaneous 56% and oral 37%. Regarding effectiveness, 88% of respondents consider these natural remedies effective or very effective. The preference for natural remedies is explained by the perceived reduction of side effects, easy access, low cost, and perceived effectiveness. However, obstacles such as the lack of scientific evidence, plant availability, and time-consuming preparation were reported. An in-silico study was conducted to evaluate the interaction between several bioactive compounds from olive oil and rosemary with filaggrin, a key protein involved in atopic dermatitis. The results showed promising docking scores between these compounds and filaggrin, highlighting the therapeutic potential of these mixtures in inflammatory skin diseases