Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants in Bingöl (City center) (Turkey)

Abstract

This paper illustrates the result of an ethnobotanical study carried out in the Bingöl region of Turkey. The aim of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants in the district of Bingöl province. The ethnobotanical results contain quantitative information on the diversity of medicinal plants documented in the region. This study, conducted between 2010 and 2012, gathered information on the medicinal plant species traditionally used in Bingöl, Turkey and the local names of these plants. In the scope of the study, medicinal plant species and related information was collected; herbarium materials were prepared; and the specimens were labelled. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and personal observations. Results were analysed using quantitative indices of information consent factor (ICF/FIC), fidelity level (FL) and use value (UV). A total of 93 medical plants belonging to 38 families were identified in the region. Among these, 80 species grew wild and 13 species were cultivated. The most common medicinal plant families were Asteraceae (14), Rosaceae (12), Lamiaceae (10) and Apiaceae (7). The most common preparations were infusion and decoction. A total of 220 medicinal uses (remedies) were recorded. The use of traditional medicine was still widespread among the people in Bingöl. However, due to the increasing health service facilities in the area, herbal medicine seemed to be more related to health care and disease prevention than cure. There is a gradual loss of traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants by the younger generations. © 2018