Ethnobotanical study of medicinal and aromatic plants in the south of Algeria: the Touat and Tidikelt[Etude ethnobotanique des plantes médicinales et aromatiques dans le sud algérien : le Touat et le Tidikelt]

The Algeria recognized by its varietal diversity in medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as their various uses popular in the whole of the terroirs of the country. This communication presents the results of an ethnobotanical study, in two Saharan regions located in the south of Algeria, the Touat(Adrar) and the Tidikelt (In Salah), known since ancient times as the oasis of date palms, and the intercalated cultures under these palm trees. They consist among others of medicinal and aromatic plants, which are watered by foggaras (ancestral irrigation system underground). The cultivation of these plants as the Touat Jadis nicknamed "the Touat el henné", explained their interest in the touatian society for its various uses. Our contribution by this sociological study included in the framework of scientific research projects, through surveys on ground on the relationship between man and the medicinal and aromatic plants in these two regions. In total 280 people have been investigations (200 persons in the region of Touat and 80 in the region of Tidikelt). The survey was supplemented by participatory observations made from the farmers, healers, herborisees and sellers of medicinal plants. It allowed us to collect specific information, for each region, on the employment and the usage of its plants. We have thus found that the rudimentary knowledge of medical practices of the people of the Touat and Tidikelt, are infinitely based on medicinal and aromatic plants used in the purpose of cure mainly diseases of the gastro-intestinal system ; and to relaunch social events, religious, casual.