Exploring Ethnobotany in the Catalan Linguistic Area: Traditional Plant-Based Knowledge for Addressing Gastrointestinal, Metabolic, and Nutritional Disorders.

Abstract

<p>Ethnobotanical research in the Catalan linguistic area (CLA) is crucial due to the persistence</p><p>of traditional medicinal plant knowledge. Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders are</p><p>major global health issues requiring effective treatments. This study aimed to analyze plants used</p><p>for these disorders in the CLA, compare the findings with phytotherapy literature, and examine</p><p>correlations between plant use in humans and animals. Data were sourced from the database of</p><p>the research group of Catalan ethnobotany at the University of Barcelona and the Botanic Institute</p><p>of Barcelona, representing a collection of ethnobotanical studies. A total of 630 plant taxa were</p><p>examined, with 15,252 use reports (UR) provided by 2301 informants. Gastrointestinal disorders</p><p>were the focus, comprising 94.24% of the UR. The high informant consensus factor (0.96) indicated</p><p>strong reliability of the results. The most often reported species were Matricaria recutita (5.97%),</p><p>Thymus vulgaris (5.12%), and Lippia triphylla (4.90%). Lamiaceae (19.86%), Asteraceae (18.78%), and</p><p>Rosaceae (5.55%) were the top botanical families. The main uses were digestive (17.62%), intestinal</p><p>anti-inflammatory (15.68%), and antidiarrheal (8.91%). The main part of the plant used was the</p><p>aerial part (33.22%). Tisane (69.25%) was the most cited pharmaceutical form. Traditional uses were</p><p>confirmed by pharmacological literature in 57.59% of cases. This work highlights the potential of</p><p>medicinal plants for treating gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders in the CLA. Further</p><p>research is possible in other territories, as well as in the phytochemical and medicinal aspects of the</p><p>plants recorded.</p>