Ethnobotanical Survey on Antidepressive Plants Used for Mood Management in Algeria

 

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Abstract

Depression is a mood disorder associated with cognitive decline. To self-medicate, people use medicinal herbs to limit the side effects associated with taking antidepressants, such as addiction, hallucinations, and dizziness. Current research consists of ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants used to improve depression-related mood disorders, and the socio-economic profiles of people with depression (gender, age, education level…) and information about the listed antidepressant plants (common name, part used…). 129 individuals belonging to some regions of Algeria answered our questionnaire among which 82% are women and 98% are academics. The informants cited 44 species (Mentha spicata with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) =0.69, Chamomilla nobilis RFC=0.49, Aloysia citrodora RFC=0.19, Lavandula officinalis, Melissa officinalis RFC=0.17, Foeniculum vulgare RFC=0.1, Pimpinella anisum RFC=0.09 and Hypericum perforatum RFC=0.07…) belonging to 25 botanical families represented mainly by the Lamiaceae family (38%). Infusion remains the most common method of preparation, and the leaves are the most used part. These plants modulated the depressive state of informants in a similar way to synthetic antidepressants. These plants deserve to be studied for the development of new herbal drugs with acceptable side effects.

Zusammenfassung

Depression ist eine Gemütserkrankung, die u. a. mit einem kognitiven Abbau einhergeht. Die Einnahme von Antidepressiva hat verschiedene Nebenwirkungen, z. B. Abhängigkeit, Halluzinationen und Benommenheit. Viele Menschen greifen zur Selbstmedikation mit Arzneipflanzen, um diese Nebenwirkungen zu begrenzen. Ziel dieser ethnobotanischen Studie ist es, die Verwendung von Arzneipflanzen zu erheben, die in Algerien zur Behandlung von depressionsbedingten Stimmungsstörungen verwendet werden. Die Untersuchung befasst sich auch mit dem sozioökonomischen Zustand von Menschen mit Depressionen (Geschlecht, Alter, Bildungsniveau) und bietet Informationen über die aufgelisteten antidepressiven Arzneipflanzen (einschließlich des gebräuchlichen Namens und des verwendeten Teils).

Die Stichprobe umfasste Befragte aus verschiedenen Regionen Algeriens (N = 129), die unseren Fragebogen beantworteten (82% Frauen, 98% Akademiker:innen). 44 Arten, die zu 25 botanischen Familien gehören und hauptsächlich von der Familie der Lamiaceae repräsentiert werden (38 %), wurden von den Befragten genannt: am häufigsten Mentha spicata RFC = 0,69, Chamomilla nobilis RFC = 0,49, Aloysia citrodora RFC = 0,19, Lavandula officinalis, Melissa officinalis RFC = 0,17, Foeniculum vulgare RFC = 0,1, Pimpinella anisum RFC = 0,09 und Hypericum perforatum RFC = 0,07). RFC = relative frequency of citation.

Die gebräuchlichste Methode der Anwendung ist die Zubereitung als Tee, wobei die Blätter am häufigsten verwendet werden. Es wurde berichtet, dass diese Pflanzen den depressiven Zustand der Befragten in ähnlicher Weise beeinflussen wie synthetische Antidepressiva. Für die Zukunft sollten die Pflanzen weiter untersucht werden, um neue pflanzliche Arzneimittel mit überschaubaren Nebenwirkungen zu entwickeln.

Publication History

Article published online:
25 April 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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