This study was conducted to identify medicinal plants traditionally recommended by herbalists in Fez city, Central Morocco, to fight against insects responsible for vector-borne diseases. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out on medicinal and aromatic plants in 2013 using a structured interview. Thus, 250 herbalists were questioned in order to obtain complete information on the traditional uses of medicinal and aromatic plants used as bioinsecticides against mosquitoes transmitting vector-borne diseases. The results of this study identified 22 species belonging to 13 families. Lamiaceae (32%), Asteraceae (9%), and Rutaceae (9%) were the most represented families. The results have also shown that the leaves (26%), stems (23%), flowers (20%), and the whole plant (14%) constitute the most utilized parts. Moreover, therapeutic (33%) and cosmetic (31%) uses were also mentioned. During the process of fighting against mosquitoes, the plants were used as essential oils (37%), extracts (31%), and cultivates (15%). This study represents a great interest for future research concerning plants used as bioinsecticides. It could also contribute to the study and exploration of the Moroccan medicinal flora as bioinsecticides in the control of insects responsible for the vector-borne diseases, which is poorly known nowadays.
Key words: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Vector-borne disease, Bio Insecticides, Ethnobotanical surveys, Fez-Morocco.
|
