Enquête Ethnobotanique sur les Plantes Médicinales Antidiabétique dans les deux Régions Barika et Sétif.

Abstract

Medicinal plants are among the most important natural resources utilized in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, owing to their active compounds with diverse therapeutic properties. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally, witnessing a continuous rise in the number of affected individuals. Its treatment and the mitigation of its complications remain a vast field for scientific research, which enhances the interest in medicinal plants as potential therapeutic alternatives. This study represents a scientific contribution to the inventory and valuation of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes in the regions of Sétif and Barika. It aims to document the inherited folk knowledge among the inhabitants of these two regions and to preserve this botanical heritage from extinction. The study relied on a field research methodology, which involved distributing questionnaires and conducting interviews with various segments of society, including patients, herbalists, and physicians, while collecting data regarding the medicinal plants used, their parts, and their preparation methods. The results revealed a significant plant diversity in the Sétif and Barika regions, with the dominance of certain plant families such as Lamiaceae, and Apiaceae. It was also found that cinnamon, olive leaves, mugwort (Chih), and berberine are among the most frequently used, and that decoction and infusion represent the most common preparation methods. These findings confirm that herbal medicine still constitutes a fundamental pillar of primary healthcare for diabetic patients in these two regions, which warrants further scientific studies to understand the biological properties of these plants and ensure their safe and effective use.