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. 2025 May 31;21(1):39.
doi: 10.1186/s13002-025-00793-1.

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used in the Aseer province, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Manal A Alshaqhaa  1 , Imen Souid  2 , Atef Korchef  3 , Manar D Alshehri  1
Affiliations

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used in the Aseer province, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Manal A Alshaqhaa et al. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. .

Abstract

Background: Aseer province is a semi-arid region in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. It represents a rich source of ethnobotanical knowledge and plant biodiversity. However, this knowledge has been passed verbally devoid of documentation.

Methods: In the present work, we carried out for the first time an ethnobotanical survey, using quantitative parameters (relative frequency of citation (RFC); informant consensus factor (ICF); fidelity level (FL%); relative popularity level (RPL), and rank-order priority (ROP)), to provide insights into the traditional use of medicinal plants (MPs) in the Aseer province.

Results: One hundred and fifty informants, aged 18 to over 60, mentioned 80 different plant species belonging to 38 families of angiosperms to treat 9 ailments. A comparison with the literature in nearby areas revealed 10 species used as MPs only in the Aseer region. Syzygium aromaticum and Mentha spicata had the highest RFC (0.71). The level of agreement among the informants, for plant species used against dermatological problems, was remarkably high (ICF = 0.88). A lower level of agreement (ICF = 0.66-0.86) was noticed among the informants concerning the use of MPs to treat insect bites, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, skeletomuscular disorders, toothache, mouth inflammation, stress and insomnia, and cold and respiratory tract diseases. In addition, 36 plant species, mentioned by at least 9 informants, had healing efficacity (FL%) ranging between 32 and 100. Among these species, 12 were grouped as popular (RPL = 0.54-1).

Conclusion: The present documentation on MPs can efficiently provide as a basis for additional pharmacological and phytochemical research and conservation studies.

Keywords: Aseer; Drugs, secondary metabolism; Ethnobotany; Medicinal plants; Saudi Arabia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The experimental protocol was approved by the ethical committee of King Khalid University (KKU), Abha, Saudi Arabia (Registration number HAPO-06-B-001). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Location of the studied area in Saudi Arabia map. b Governorates, cities, and villages where the survey was conducted (1. Bishah, 2. Sabt Al Alaya, 3. Shaaf Belqarn, 4. Al-Majardah, 5. Tanomah, 6. Wadi Taiah 7. Algaal, 8. Tabab, 9. Bhat Rabiah, 10. Maha’el Asseer, 11. Abha, 12. Almahalah, 13. Khamis Mushait, 14. Al Yazeed, 15. Al Sarhan, 16. Surat Ubayda, 17. Rejal Almaa, 18. Halali, and 19. Al Haridhah)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percent of the MPs families used in the Aseer region
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Percent of a Preparation methods and b Administration modes used by the inhabitants in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Percent of the plant parts used by the inhabitants in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A group scatterplot relationship between Iu (The total number of informants who indicated the use of a species for any ailment), the number of ailments and relative popularity level (RPL). Cited numbers showed MP names as given in Table 5. The popular group comprised 4: Ziziphus spina-christi; 5: Lawsonia inermis; 6: Lepidium sativum; 7: Syzygium aromaticum; 9: Zingiber officinale; 11: Hibiscus sabdariffa; 16: Aloe vera L.; 17: Matricaria chamomilla; 18: Rosmarinus officinalis; 23: Citrus limon; 30: Pimpinella anisum L.; 36: Mentha spicata
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