Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Jordan, Mujib Nature Reserve and surrounding area

Aim of the study: Medicinal plants are an important element of indigenous systems in Jordan. These resources are usually regarded as part of a culture's traditional knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study is to collect information from local population concerning the use of medicinal plants of the Mujib region; identify the most important medicinal plants used; determine the relative importance of the species surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (Fic) in relation to medicinal plant use. Materials and methods: Qualitative tools were used for data collection and to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the medicinal use of specific plants. The collected data were used to calculate the Fic and the plant use values. Results and conclusions: Fifty-eight plants were identified to be still in use in traditional practice in Mujib. Our results showed that the highest use values were recorded for the species Artemisia sieberi Bess. and Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., while the highest Fic was cited for digestive problems. Anthropologically, women were the primary gatherers while healers were reported to be both females, predominantly, and males; yet, herbalists are deficient in this local community. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.