Ethnopharmacobotanical investigation of plants used for respiratory disorders in Transylvania, Romania

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory disorders remain a significant public‑health concern across Europe, and traditional ethnomedical knowledge continues to play an important role in several Transylvanian communities. This study aims to document the plant species applied for respiratory conditions in Transylvania and to evaluate whether their uses are supported by current pharmacological evidence. By systematically mapping vernacular practices and comparing them with available biomedical data, we seek to clarify the therapeutic relevance and potential scientific grounding of these traditional remedies. METHODS: We conducted semi‑structured interviews across 20 settlements with Székely and Csángó ethnical groups, recorded vernacular names, local disease terms, drug parts, and preparations of plant. We recorded vernacular names of respiratory diseases and matched them with the International Classification of Diseases. The comparative analysis of the data was supported by a review of ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological literature. RESULTS: We recorded 91 plant taxa (40 families, predominantly Asteraceae and Lamiaceae). From aerial parts of plants mainly infusions and syrups were prepared and applied for cough, common cold, sore throat and pneumonia. Uses of some plants (e.g. Sambucus nigra, Salvia officinalis) adjunct expectorant/anti‑inflammatory profiles converged with contemporary pharmacology, while safety signals were flagged for Tussilago farfara (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) and Convallaria majalis (cardiac glycosides). Conservation concerns emerged for protected plants (e.g. Arnica montana, Trollius europaeus). CONCLUSION: Traditional Transylvanian respiratory herbal remedies reflect a close relationship between culturally rooted practices and remedies with varying degrees of pharmacological support. By identifying plant species used locally and assessing their biomedical plausibility, this study highlights taxa with promising evidence as well as those requiring further scientific evaluation.