Herbal treatments for diabetes mellitus in Algeria Province, Algeria: insights from patients and traditional healers

MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR DIABETES IN ALGIERS

Abstract

Despite the widespread use of traditional phytotherapy in Algiers, the capital and most populated city of Algeria, ethnobotanical knowledge concerning antidiabetic medicinal plants in this urban region remains undocumented. Data were collected between October 2021 and August 2023 using semi-structured questionnaires covering socio-demographic characteristics, vernacular plant names, preparation methods, administration routes, and posology. Interviews were conducted with 161 diabetic patients (types 1 and 2), 25 herbalists, and 14 traditional healers residing in Algiers Province who agreed to participate; non-residents and unwilling informants were excluded. Plant species were identified from ethnobotanical literature and validated against The Plant List database; no voucher specimens were collected. Data were analysed using ethnobotanical indices, including Relative Citation Frequency (RCF) and Use Value (UV). We recorded 64 plant species belonging to 34 botanical families, with Lamiaceae most represented (12 species). Leaves (34.4%) and infusions (70.3%) were the predominant plant parts and preparation methods. Seven species -Urticadioica, Eucalyptus globulus, Thymus vulgaris, Senna alexandrina, Melissa officinalis, Momordica charantia, and Rhamnus alaternus -were used exclusively for type 2 diabetes. Notably, Mentha piperita, Melissa officinalis, and Senna alexandrina are mentioned here for the first time as antidiabetic remedies in Algeria. The most frequently cited species were Oleaeuropaea (RFC = 0.66), Artemisia herba-alba (0.49), and Cinnamomum cassia (0.405). Based on UV, Laurus nobilis was the highest value (3.85). This study provides the first ethnobotanical inventory of antidiabetic plants in Algiers Province, revealing rich traditional knowledge and critical safety awareness gaps. These findings contribute to preserving Algeria's intangible cultural heritage and offer a scientific basis for future pharmacological research on the use of plants to manage diabetes in North Africa.