An Ethnobotanical Study of Hepatoprotective Herbs from Shahrekord, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Southwest of Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND and objective: Hepatoprotection using herbal drugs and preventing very common liver disease is very necessary in today’s world. Therefore, this ethnobotanical study was conducted to identify and report medicinal plants in Shahrekord with hepatoprotective effect. Factors such as oxidative stress, free radicals, white alcohol, chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, viruses and drugs can cause liver tissue damage. Methods: In this ethnobotanical study, indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants used as hepatoprotective agents in Shahrekord was investigated from 21 April 2017 to 19 February 2018 by referring to 29 traditional therapists in the region under study and administering a questionnaire to them. The results of the questionnaires were consistently tabulated. Data were finally analyzed by the Excel software. Frequency of rate was also calculated and reported. Results: The results showed that in Shahrekord, 15 medicinal plant species from 9 herbal families consisting of Silybum marianum, Nigella sativa, Cichorium intybus L., Rheum ribes L., Alyssum spp., Fumaria spp, Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam, Descurainia sophia (L.) Prantle, Taraxacum officinale, Malva sylvestris L, Rumex pulcher L., Melissa officinalis L, Alhagi maurorum, Alcea spp. and Echinophora platyloba DC. from a total of six plant families are used as hepatoprotective plants. Conclusion: Due to the importance of herbs in Shahrekord, and their high use and consumption by the people, the results of this ethnobotanical study can provide a good basis for more scientific use of medicinal plants to produce products with higher efficacy and less harms.