Ethnobotanical Study of Plants Used for the Treatment of Urolithiasis in Morocco

Abstract

Urolithiasis (UL) is a frequent pathology which affects between 5 and 20% of the population according to the countries and areas. The aim of this study was to determine the medicinal plants used traditionally by patients with UL in the Kenitra and Sidi Kacem cities (Morocco). From January 2012 to February 2015, 50 herbalists and 166 patients with urolithiasis who live in the area under study were interviewed by using structured questionnaire. The following data were recorded: name of the patients or herbalists with their age, sex name of the plant (s) (vernacular name), parts used mode of preparation and administration. A total of 42 plant species belonging to 24 families, mostly from the Apiaceae (16.66%) Lamiaceae (11.9%) were used to treat the UL in the area. All the plants were prepared by decoction which are taken orally for a period of one week. Herniaria hirsuta (Hh) and Ziziphus lotus (Zl) were repeatedly mentioned by the patients and herbalists as most used for the management of UL in this area. It’s concluded that the traditional remedies are the first line to treat the UL in this area. Hh and Zl were the most commonly used plants in this treatment which a study of antiurolithiatic characteristics seem to be necessary to evaluate its use in therapy. Key words: Urolithiasis, Medicinal plants, Questionnaire, Traditional medicine, Morocco.