Ethnobotanical knowledge of Daphne gnidium L. species in Taza (Northeastern Morocco)

Abstract

Background: Documentation of indigenous knowledge of plant species is the most important factor for their conservation. Daphne gnidium L. species is a Mediterranean basin plant belonging to the genus Daphne, which belongs to its family Thymelaeaceae, widely used in this area to treat various ailments. This study aims to evaluate and document the local traditional knowledge about ethnomedicinal uses of the D. gnidium plant, possessed by the native population to contribute to its better valorization. Methods: A total of 112 native informants including laypeople, herbalists and practitioners of traditional healers were interviewed through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The data was analyzed and compared by descriptive indicators such as Relative Frequency of Citation, Fidelity level, Jaccard’s index, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Results: The highest values of the relative frequency of citation (1 and 0.61) and fidelity level (100% and 62%) were obtained for hair care and skinhead disease respectively. Four categories of use of Daphne gnidium L. were identified by the different groups of informants; the cosmetic use category is the most cited (100%) and the medicinal category (64%). The frequent mode of preparation is powder form. New use (bone fracture) was cited and documented for the first time in the current ethnobotanical study about D. gnidium species. Conclusion: Our results contribute to the documentation of local knowledge, for development of conservation strategies, and sustainable use of Daphne gnidium, and to encourage further pharmacological research. Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, Daphne gnidium, Relative Frequency of Citation, Fidelity Level, Multiple Correspondence Analysis.