Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ain Sekhouna, Saida, Algeria

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a common anthropozoonosis and a major public health problem in Algeria. Therefore, we conducted an ethnopharmacological survey in the locality of Ain Sekhouna (located in the highlands of western Algeria), one of the foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis. We aimed to identify the medicinal plants and natural remedies used by the local population to treatment cutaneous leishmaniasis. We identified three plant species, belonging to three distinct families, used as natural remedies against the disease, namely, Haloxylon scoparium Pomel (Chenopodiaceae, 73%), Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae, 18%), and Camellia sinensis L. (Theaceae, 9%). Additionally, 35% of the plant-based medicines mostly comprised the powdered form of the aerial parts of the plant. According to the respondents, the powder is combined with butter, cade oil, or honey and is applied exogenously on the skin. Overall, these medicinal plants can be used as a source of natural medicines, in combination with commonly used dermatological excipients, to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Keywords

• Ain Sekhouna
• Algeria
• cutaneous leishmaniasis
• ethnopharmacological survey
• medicinal plant
• natural remedy