Ethnobotanical Assessment of Medicinal Plant Use in Diyala Province, Iraq

Abstract

A comprehensive ethnobotanical investigation was conducted in Diyala Province, central-eastern Iraq, a region recognized for its rich plant biodiversity. The primary aim of this study was to assess community knowledge and the use of medicinal plants. Data were collected from 500 participants through structured interviews and online questionnaires. The majority of respondents were 18–25 years old, held Bachelor's degrees (60.0%), and were female (76.2%). More than half of the participants (51.8%) resided in rural areas and reported using medicinal plants occasionally (53.2%), mainly because they perceived these remedies to be less toxic than conventional medicines (54.0%). Most respondents (42.2%) used medicinal plants for therapeutic care, whereas only 20.0% reported using them for preventive purposes. The Internet, books, and television were the primary sources of information on medicinal plants (37.6%). Although 51.8% of participants recognized the potential interactions between medicinal plants and conventional medications, 61.8% reported that they did not inform their physicians about their use of these remedies. Ethnobotanical analysis identified 30 medicinal plant species belonging to 16 plant families, with Lamiaceae being the most frequently represented family, followed by Rutaceae and Apiaceae. This study represents the first comprehensive ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant use in Diyala Province and provides valuable insights into local health practices, traditional knowledge, and the continued reliance on medicinal plants within the community.