MEDICINAL PLANTS USED AGAINST GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS IN SETIFIAN HIGH PLATEAU, ALGERIA

An ethnobotanical survey of plants used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders was carried out in the region of Setifian High Plateau, Algeria. Information on the names of plants, used parts and methods of preparation was obtained from traditional medical practitioners, herbalist, hawkers in traditional medicines and rural dwellers, using semi-structured questionnaire. In studied region 50 plants belonging to 29 families (Table 1) were found to be used against gastrointestinal ailments. Most dominant family used against gastrointestinal complaints was Lamiaceae (8 plants) followed by Apiaceae (7 plants) and Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae (3 plants each). The rest are represented by one plant each (23 families). Among all parts of a plant, medicinal property is mainly found in the leaves (36%), followed by seeds (22%), aerial parts (14), fruits (12%), roots (6%), flowers 6%) and bulbs (4%). Also, it was determined that gastrointestinal system ailments for which the folk medicinal plants are mostly used, are as follows: constipation, diarrhea, gastritis and ulcer, intestinal winds, nausea, gastralgia and indigestion. Most of the herbal recipes were taken orally in decoction or infusion form with water, salt, and sugar. This study showed that plants are actively used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in the region of Setif, Algeria.