Ethnobotanical study of antidiabetic plants used in Souk Ahras, Algeria and assessment of the antioxidant activity of Olea europaea L

Abstract

The present study aimed to conduct an ethnobiological survey on the use of antidiabetic plants in the Souk-Ahras region of Algeria, while also investigating the antioxidant activity of Oleaeuropaea L. leaves. An ethnobiological survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire directed at diabetic patients, traditional healers, and herbalists. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents of various extractsof Oleaeuropaea L. leaves were determined through spectrophotometric methods, and the antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay.

A total of 200 participants were surveyed, comprising 52% women and 48% men, with the majority (31%) falling within the age group of 50 to 60 years. Notably, 55% of those utilizing traditional medicine were illiterate. The survey identified 23 species of medicinal plants belonging to 16 different families, with the Lamiaceae family being the most represented (3 species). The most frequently mentioned species included Olea europaea L. (18%), Artemisia herba alba Asso(14.5%), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (10.5%), and Eucalyptus globulus Labill (10%). The leaves were the most commonly used part of the plants (42 %), and infusions were the preferred method of preparation (39%). Furthermore, the study revealed that the infusion extract of Oleaeuropaea L. exhibited the highest polyphenol content (161.45±0.03 µg GAE/mg) and demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity, while the decoction extract showed the highest flavonoid content (94.2±0.032 mg QE/mg). These findings underscore the significance of traditional medicinal plants in local healthcare and their potential benefits, particularly in the management of diabetes.