Ethnobotanical survey in the Palestinian area: a classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the West Bank to evaluate the r elative efficacy of the plants used to treat skin diseases and prostate can cer. A total number of 102 informants, 30 years and older and either native born or had been living in the West Bank for more than 30 years, were inte rviewed using a previously prepared questionnaire. Of about 165 plant speci es mentioned by the informants, 63 (38.1%) were mentioned by three or more informants. On the basis of their primary uses, 21 of these plants were rep orted to relieve skin disorders, 17 for urinary system disorders, 16 for ga stric disorders, nine for cancer and prostate disorders, eight for arthriti s, five for respiratory problems, and five for other ailments. Indices on f idelity levels (FLs), relative popularity level (RPL), and rank-order prior ity (ROP) were calculated. Plants were classified in two groups: 'popular' (RPL = 1) or 'unpopular' (RPL < 1). The following plant species were classi fied as popular in this study: Teucrium polium: Matricaria aurea, Urtica pi lulifera, Paronychia argentea, Petroselinum sativum, and Salvia fruticosa. The remaining 57 species were classified as 'unpopular'. Fifty-nine plants were claimed to be effective against cancer and prostate disorders, which i nclude Arum dioscorides, U. pilulifera, Allium sativum, Viscum cruciatum, a nd Allium cepa. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.