An Ethnobotany and vegetation surveys of twenty plant species disseminated in Rada'a, Qarn elasad and El-khubar areas

Study and documentation of the traditional use of plants in Yemen is very important to preserve the cultural heritage of society and verifying the validity of those uses in order to establish or reject them according to their scientific justification. In this regard, this study aimed to explore plant distribution and document of local knowledge related to the medicinal and non-medicinal use of about twenty plant species that are pervasive in the districts of Rada'a, Qarn elasad and El-Khubar. For this purpose, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted within these districts through interviews with traditional healers (Attars) and local populations. Furthermore, another survey was performed to know the geographical distribution of these species in the three areas. For non-medical use results revealed that 30% of screened plant species was used as edible, pasture and cattle feed, while 40% of them was used for curing digestive system disorders regarding medical use. The most organ used by indigenous people for traditional curing of these plants was leaves. Results of vegetation survey demonstrated that the highest cultivated outdoor plant was Ocimum basilicum in three districts, while Catha edulis showed to be the highest cultivated field plant in three areas and the most available indigenous plants species in three districts were Fagonia indica, Peganum harmala and Aerva javanica. These results will be helpful and basis for further biological and pharmacological investigations in future.