Therapeutics to Treat Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders: A Promising Perspective from Algerian Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Ancient people sought out drugs in nature to prevent, cure, and treat their diseases, including mental illnesses. Plants were their primary source for meeting their healthcare needs. In Algeria, folk medicine remains a fundamental part of the local intangible knowledge. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive ethnomedicinal investigation and documentation of medicinal plants and the different plant formulations traditionally used in Algeria for the treatment of pain, psychiatric, and neurological disorders. It also intends to improve the current knowledge of Algerian folk medicine. Several scientific databases were used to accomplish this work. Based on this investigation, we identified 82 plant species belonging to 69 genera and spanning 38 distinct botanical families used as remedies to treat various psychological and neurological conditions. Their traditional uses and methods of preparation, along with their phytochemical composition, main bioactive constituents, and toxicity were noted. Therefore, this review provides a new resource of information on Algerian medicinal plants used in the treatment and management of neurological and psychological diseases, which can be useful not only for the documentation and conservation of traditional knowledge, but also for conducting future phytochemical and pharmacological studies.

Keywords: Africa; Algeria; Ayurveda; CNS; Chinese medicine; ethnobotanical; medicinal plants; neurological disorders; pharmacopoeia; psychiatric; traditional healers; traditional medicine.

Figure 8

Major components of Thymus numidicus Poir. and Thymus fontanesii Boiss. & Reut. essential oils from Algeria [186,187].

Figure 10

Main components of the essential oil of Stachys circinnata l’Her. From Algeria [201].

Figure 16

Toxic tropane alkaloids identified in Datura stramonium growing in Algeria [283,284].

Figure 1

Major biogeographical/bioclimatic regions of Algeria [6,7,8].

Figure 2

Routes of the Silk Road [16].

Figure 3

Algerian medicinal plants used to treat mental disorders. (A) Pistacia lentiscus L., (B) Myrtus communis L., (C) Mentha piperita L., (D) Pinus halepensis Mill., (E) Crataegus oxyacantha L., (F) Crataegus azarolus L., (G) Olea europaea L., (H) Hypericum perforatum L., (I) Salvia officinalis L.

Figure 4

Distribution of the different reported species among the botanical families.

Figure 5

Selected flavonoids found in Roman chamomile.

Figure 6

Selected secondary metabolites isolated from Hypericum species.

Figure 7

Bioactive phenolic acids from Melissa officinalis.

Figure 9

Some principle constituents of Lavandula officinalis essential oil grown in northeastern Algeria [197].

Figure 11

Selected secondary metabolites isolated from Passiflora and Peganum harmala species.

Figure 12

Curcumin, the main active molecule of Curcuma longa L.

Figure 13

Selected hydroxycoumarins isolated from Fraxinus species.

Figure 14

Totarol, a molecule found in the Juniperus species.

Figure 15

Toxic components present in Ferula communis L.