Keywords

Medicinal plants; Jordan valley; Fifa village; Plant usage

Introduction

Ethno-botany is the science of documentation and conservation of original knowledge which has been using by ethnic people since ancient history [1]. Today, millions of people around the world consume plant-based medicines as part of traditional medicine for a range of medical disorders. The use of traditional medicine in developing countries contributes directly to the socio-economic status and well-being of the rural communities [2]. Conservation of plants and other natural resources has been an integral part of the cultural ethos of indigenous communities. Different religions having their own traditions, beliefs, and rituals are associated with conserving the biodiversity and forests products [3].

Jordan is a small country, but it has a great diversity of wild plants due to the varied geography and climate. It has been estimated that there are a total of 2000 plant species, belonging to 700 genera [4]. The land itself is unique in its natural diversity due to its geographical location at the meeting point of three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe). Its special climate, which is influenced by the Mediterranean as a moderating factor and the desert as a drying factor) [5]. Flora of Jordan is rich regarding to its number of plant species. A number of 2,978 species belonging to 120 families and 719 genera are recorded in Jordan, a total number of medicinal plants are recorded, 363 species of vascular plants, belonging to 263 genera and 86 families, the taxa recorded are wild plants that occur in Jordan, except few species cultivated and well known to the people in the country [6-9]. The aim of this study is to collect as much information about medicinal plants in the Jordan Valley and save this knowledge from loss.

Material and Methods

Fifa village is located at the southwestern part of Jordan, about 33.5 km south to southeast of the Dead Sea 157 km north of Aqaba city [East 731366.653, North 3427479,77] center coordinates. It is situated in the Jordan Rift Valley between the southern part of the Dead Sea and the northern extent of Wadi Araba) Fifa village is located within the Sudanian (Tropical) Bio-Geographical Zone, which is characterized by high temperatures with warm winters and hot summers, combined with low annual rainfall of about 50-100 mm/year.

The survey was done between September 2019 and October 2019. Using open interviews, questionnaires, were adopted for documentation of botanical knowledge in Jordan valley the local communities have vast knowledge about their live fencing practices and the species used. The interviews were carried out from local people to document local name and botanical uses. About 100 informants have been interviewed on random basis.

Results and Discussion

In this survey, 17 plant species belonging to 14 families have been established to treat different diseases in the Jordan valley. The plant parts mostly reported in this regard were leaves (10 plant species, 59%) Latex (1 plant species, 6%) Bulbs (4 plant species, 23%), tubers (1 plant species, 6%) and flowers (1 plant species, 6%).in durum wheat. The variation observed for grain yield ranged from 7.07 to 2.92 t/ha with mean of 4.99 t/ha.

This study came to the conclusion of the plant species used in folk medicine in the Jordan Valley region, in order to preserve this knowledge from loss and contamination for future generations. During the study, 20 plant species with medical use were registered through 100 questionnaires that were filled from the population in the region [10]. This shows a slight decline in the use of this type of medicine especially in the young category. As access to treatment became easy in rural areas, the use of folk medicine in the region declined

Conclusion

The present study indicates that there are about 17 plant species used for medicinal purposes were recorded in the Fifa village where the percentage of traditional medical use decreased especially among the youth category This study came to save this knowledge of being lost which has become used almost by a few people especially the elderly.

Acknowledgment

The survey Team would like to thank the continuous support of all colleagues for their help in contributing to the development of this study. We are grateful to Mr. Nashat Hamidan director of Conservation Monitoring Center, for his the unlimited support and help. Our thanks extend to Ibrahim Al-Mahasneh the manager of Fifa Nature Reserve for his logistical support, and the rangers for field support.

References

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