Medicinal and aromatic plants traditionally used to treat metabolic diseases in the Rabat region, Morocco

Abstract

Diabetes and hyperlipidemia are major human health problems due to their high levels of mortality and morbidity. During the last decades, people affected by metabolic diseases are turning more and more to traditional medicine due to the undesirable side effects of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic drugs. Morocco has a wide floral diversity, which offers a wide range of aromatic and medicinal plants with potential application in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical market. In this survey, we are going to highlight the medicinal plants used traditionally by the Rabat community for the treatment of metabolic diseases like hypercholesterolemia and diabetes. A total of 475 participants were interviewed in this survey using a semi-structured questionnaire form. The results obtained were interpreted through the ethnopharmacological parameters such as UV, RFC and FUV. The results revealed 83 and 41 floristic species recorded as a remedy against diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, respectively. The most cited species are: Olea europaea, Solanum melongena and Linum usitatissimum. Leaves and seeds are the most used plant parts, while the oral administration of powder is the most common route of administration. It should also be noted that Moringa oleifera, Stevia rebaudiana, and Panax ginseng are not used by citizens but only by herbalists as anti-diabetic plants imported from outside Morocco, which implies that the people of Rabat region are not familiar with imported plants and are using the endemic and condiment species. The results of this study pave the way for phytochemical and pharmacological studies to confirm the activity of the highlighted species, and toxicological studies regarding the duration of treatment, dose and interaction with other drugs.