PHYTOTHERAPY OF HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES IN ORIENTAL MOROCCO

In order to select the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension and/or diabetes, a survey was undertaken i n different areas of oriental Morocco. The patients (370 women and 256 men) were divided into three groups: diabetics (61%), hypertensives ( 23%) and hypertensive diabetic persons (16%). On average, 67.5% of pat ients regularly use medicinal plants. This proportion is perceptibly t he same in all groups and does not depend on sex, age and socio-cultur al level. This result shows that phytotherapy is widely adopted in nor theastern Morocco. For diabetes, 41 plants were cited, of which the mo st used were Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Leguminosae), Globularia al ypum L. (Globulariaceae), A, Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Compositae), Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) and Tetraclinis art iculata Benth. (Cupressaceae). In the hypertension's therapy 18 vegeta l species were reported, of which the most used were Allium sativum L. (Liliaceae), Olea europea L. (Oleaceae), Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae) , UI ?ica dioica L. (Urticaceae) and Petroselinum crispum A.W. Hill (A piaceae). Among the 18 species used for hypertension, 14 were also emp loyed for diabetes. Moreover, these two diseases were associated in 41 % of hypertensives. These findings suggest that hypertension observed in this region would be in a large part related to diabetes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.