Ethnomedicinal survey of anti-urolithiatic medicinal plants used in the region of Mascara, Algeria

Objective: To conduct an ethnomedicinal survey and conserve traditional medicinal practices in the Mascara region of northwestern Algeria. In this region, traditional medicinal knowledge has primarily been transmitted orally, and the study aims to document it in written form for better utilization in the field of pharmacology. Methods: Purposive sampling with semi-structured questionnaires was adopted with ethnobotanical data obtained from 135 local informants, including 22 herbalists. The study participants were asked about their sociodemographic profiles and ethnomedicinal knowledge about anti-urolithiatic medicinal plants. Results: Sixty-three anti-urolithiatic species belonging to 59 genera and 32 families were inventoried. All plants are prescribed orally, and decoction presents the most common preparation method (46.0%). Seeds are the most used parts (27.0%). The most frequent botanical families were Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Rosaceae. The predominant anti-urolithiatic plants are Herniaria hirsute L., Hordeum vulgare L., Linum usitatissimum L., Zea mays L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., and Apium graveolens L. Conclusions: This study highlights the diversity of the phytotherapeutic practices used against urolithiasis in the region of Mascara. It also suggests that ethnomedicine is well-entrenched in local health practices in this area. However, this knowledge acquired by the local inhabitants over the centuries risks disappearing since it is mainly held by older people and is not documented.