Floristic and ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants in Sétif city - rational use and conservation

Abstract

This ethnobotanical study documents traditional medicinal plant knowledge in Sétif city, Algeria, through interviews with 60 local participants (50 community members and 10 herbalists). Focusing specifically on the urban environment of Sétif, the research recorded traditional uses of 25 plant species employed in local healthcare practices. The study highlights the unique characteristics of urban ethnobotanical knowledge in Sétif, where traditional plant use persists within a modern city context. Findings underscore the urgent need to preserve this vulnerable intracultural knowledge system before it disappears. The research provides baseline documentation for future pharmacological studies while emphasizing the importance of safety considerations in traditional plant medicine. This urban-focused approach contributes new insights to Mediterranean ethnobotany by examining how traditional plant knowledge adapts in city environments .