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. 2022 Apr 26;44(6):577-597.
doi: 10.1016/j.pld.2022.03.005. eCollection 2022 Nov.

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Güce district, north-eastern Turkey

Mustafa Karaköse  1
Affiliations

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Güce district, north-eastern Turkey

Mustafa Karaköse. Plant Divers. .

Abstract

This study aims to identify medicinal plants traditionally used to treat diseases by local people living in Güce district, north-eastern Turkey. The study was carried out between 2018 and 2021 using a two-part semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire with 165 local people. Data were analysed using use-report, frequency of citation, and informant consensus factor. Informants identified 128 vascular medicinal plant taxa belonging to 54 families and 106 genera. The most common plant taxa belong to Rosaceae (16 taxa/12.5%), Asteraceae (12 taxa/9.4%), and Lamiaceae (9 taxa/7%) families. The most frequently used preparation method reported was decoction (39.8%); the most commonly utilized plant parts were leaves (40.3%). Statistical analysis reveals that women in Güce district (df = 163, p = 0.043 < 0.05) possess the most traditional knowledge. The highest frequency of citation (61) and use report (92) were recorded for Tilia rubra subsp. caucasica, and the highest informant consensus factors were cited for respiratory system disorders (0.86), digestive system disorders (0.73), and skin disorders (0.71). This study reported nine plant taxa as medicinal plants for the first time, and documented a total of 293 new therapeutic uses. However, the study indicates that the transfer of traditional knowledge to future generations is limited (F = 3.355, p = 0.020). Action should be taken as soon as possible to preserve existing traditional knowledge and to ensure its transfer to future generations.

Keywords: Colchic; Ethnobotany; Frequency of citation; Informant consensus factor; Traditional medicine; Use-record.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location of the study area.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Photographs from the study area. a: hazelnut and tea plantations; b: Picea orientalis forest and tree line; c, d: Gözde Çolak Karakose is interviewing local people; e: plant presentation with illustrated brochure; f: forest engineer Mustafa Şen (Tirebolu Forestry Management Directorate); g: Fındıklı village; h: Dayıcık village; i: interview with Mehmet Ali and his father.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Representative medicinal plant species in this study. a: Taxus baccata L.; b: Pinus sylvestris var. hamata Steven; c: Rhododendron ponticum L.; d: Trachystemon orientalis (L.) D. Don; e: Viscum album L. subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm.; f: Picea orientalis (L.) Peterm; g: Smilax excelsa L.; h: Urtica dioica L.; i: Malva sylvestris L.; j: Lilium ciliatum P.H. Davis; k: Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint.; l: Plantago major L.; m: Amaranthus retroflexus L.; n: Ruscus colchicus Yeo; o: Tripleurospermum elongatum (DC.) Bornm.; p: Prunus laurocerasus L.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Families of the most common medicinal plant species.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Preparation methods of herbal recipes.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Plant part usage rates.
Supplementary figure
Supplementary figure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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