Ethnobotany and taxonomy of medicinal plants used for diseases treatment of the digestive system in Hadramaout (Yemen)

The study of phyto-therapeutic Yemenite traditions was carried out in 14 municipalities in Hadramaout. The traditional medicine of Yemen is highly original according to the richness of local flora characterized by a strong endemism. A repertory of 183 medicinal plants species, being of 143 genera and 61 botanical families have been recorded with their empirical use in the treatment of the digestive system disorders. Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae and Lamiaceae families are among the most exploited. Iphiona scabra is the most used species (cited 162 times) followed by Foeniculum vulgare (cited 102 times). 98% of the interviewed persons reported being users of traditional herbal medicine. The outcome was favourable in case of 90% declared as improvement of symptoms or cure. The majority of users are unaware of the toxicity of the plants used. However the plant poisonings have paradoxically concerned nearly 3% of the traditional herbal medicine users.