Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Pirot District (southeastern Serbia)

This study provides information on plants used for medicinal purposes in Pirot District (southeastern Serbia). The population of 157 villages in four municipalities of Pirot District (631 informants) completed questionnaires about the knowledge and use of medicinal herbs; the questionnaires included information about respondents and specific issues related to the applications of medicinal herbs. There were 4817 URs (use reports) on plants used for different ailments classified in various categories. The informant consensus factor (ICF) for the most frequently reported taxa and a comparison of nationality and gender in the use of plants for most frequent medical indications were calculated by ICF analysis. The overlap of plant taxa and URs recorded for three ethnic groups (Serbian, Bulgarian, and Roma) in the study area is also presented. Multivariate correspondence analysis was performed. A total of 182 medicinal plant taxa belonging to 68 families were recorded, of which 53 are included in European Pharmacopoeia 10.2. The most frequently mentioned families were Lamiaceae (1322 URs), and Compositae (899 URs). Hypericum perforatum and Matricaria chamomilla were the most used plant species. Aerial parts and leaves were the most frequently used plant parts. Infusion and oil extracts were the most reported preparations of medicinal herbs. Among 14 categories, respiratory (1235 URs), and digestive (911 URs) groups of diseases were the most frequently reported. Data on the knowledge and use of medicinal plants in Pirot District could be a good starting point for further ethnopharmacological investigations.