Ethnobotanical Survey of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Used in Kenitra Province -Morocco

Abstract

In Morocco, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) constitute a fundamental component of traditional healthcare. This study aimed to systematically document the ethnobotanical knowledge in the province of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, a region where this biocultural heritage is under threat from modernization and generational knowledge erosion. Using standard ethnobotanical methodologies, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 150 individuals. Data on plant uses, preparation methods, and therapeutic applications were collected. Quantitative analysis included the calculation of the Use Value (UV) index to determine the cultural importance of species and botanical families. The results identified 32 species belonging to 14 families. The most represented were the Lamiaceae (11 species, or nearly 34.37%); the Asteraceae (5 species, 15.62%); and the Apiaceae (5 species, 15.62%). Quantitative analysis identified Mentha × piperita (UV=0.80) and Origanum compactum (UV=0.70) as the most culturally significant species, primarily used for digestive and respiratory ailments. The dominant preparation was infusion (42.3%), mainly administered orally as herbal tea (53%). This study confirms a rich and living ethnobotanical tradition in the Province of Kenitra, aligned with regional patterns. The quantitative identification of high-UV species provides a clear priority list for conservation and future pharmacological research. The findings underscore an urgent need for strategies to preserve this vulnerable knowledge through scientific validation, sustainable management, and intergenerational educational programs.