Ethnopharmacological investigation and traditional cultural use of anticancer medicinal plants in Morocco’s Casablanca-Settat region

Background: This ethnopharmacological study investigated the usage of medicinal plants by the Moroccan population in the Casablanca-Settat region for combating different types of cancer, aiming to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plant use passed down through generations, in the area, particularly in the context of cancer treatment. Methods: Using a pre-established questionnaire, the study covered both urban and rural communities in the Casablanca-Settat region, involving 321 cancer patients and 33 herbalists and traditional practitioners over an 11-month period, from November 2021 to October. Data analyses employed ethnobotanical indices, including use value (UV), family use value (FUV), plant part value (PPV), factor informant consensus (FIC), and fidelity level (FL). Results: The research revealed a diverse range of participants' age, with females comprising the predominant users of medicinal plants. The FIC method identified distinct patterns of medicinal plant usage for various cancers. Throughout the investigation, a total of 90 plant species were identified, of which four are endemic to Morocco, belonging to 54 families. Commonly utilized families included Pinaceae (FUV=0.150), Aristolochiaceae (FUV=0.119), Berberidaceae (FUV=0.102), and Lamiaceae (FUV=0.076). Marrubium vulgare (UV=0.534) was the most frequently mentioned species. The study highlighted that plant leaves were the most utilized parts, with decoction and oral route being the preferred methods of preparing and administering the herbal treatments, respectively. Moreover, toxic plants, notably Aristolochia clematitis, were also identified, posing risks like severe kidney damage.k Conclusions: This research provides valuable insights into traditional medicinal practices in the region and their potential applications in cancer treatment.