Ethnobotanical utilization of Alhagi maurorum Medik.
in traditional recipes of Algerian Sahara Illizi Wilaya

Fatma Zohra Chakou, Zakaria Boual, Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj, Atallah Badreddine, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, Cherkaoui El Modafar, Imen Fendri, Slim Abdelkafi, Pascal Dubessay, Christine Gardarin, et al.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

To cite this version:

Fatma Zohra Chakou, Zakaria Boual, Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj, Atallah Badreddine, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, et al. Ethnobotanical utilization of Alhagi maurorum Medik. in traditional recipes of Algerian Sahara Illizi Wilaya. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 2021, 6 (3), pp.1-8. 10.1007/s41207-021-00277-0. hal-03463078

HAL Id: hal-03463078

https://uca.hal.science/hal-03463078

Submitted on 2 May 2024

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<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Ethnobotanical utilization of Alhagi maurorum Medik.
in traditional recipes of Algerian Sahara Illizi Wilaya

Fatma Zohra Chakou, Zakaria Boual, Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj, Atallah Badreddine, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, Cherkaoui El Modafar, Imen Fendri, Slim Abdelkafi, Pascal Dubessay, Christine Gardarin, et al.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

**To cite this version:**

Fatma Zohra Chakou, Zakaria Boual, Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj, Atallah Badreddine, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, et al. Ethnobotanical utilization of Alhagi maurorum Medik. in traditional recipes of Algerian Sahara Illizi Wilaya. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 2021, 6 (3), pp.1-8. 10.1007/s41207-021-00277-0. hal-03463078

HAL Id: hal-03463078

https://uca.hal.science/hal-03463078v1

Submitted on 2 May 2024

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>
# Ethnobotanical utilization of *Alhagi maurorum* Medik. in traditional recipes of Algerian Sahara Illizi Wilaya

Fatma Zohra Chakou<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" /> · Zakaria Boual<fnref n="1" /> · Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj<fnref n="1" /> · Atallah Badreddine<fnref n="6" /> ·

Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi<fnref n="3" /> · Cherkaoui El Modafar<fnref n="3" /> · Imen Fendri<fnref n="5" /> · Slim Abdelkafi<fnref n="4" /> · Pascal Dubessay<fnref n="2" /> ·

Christine Gardarin<fnref n="2" /> · Cédric Delattre<fnref n="2" /> · Guillaume Pierre<fnref n="2" /> · Philippe Michaud<fnref n="2" />

## Abstract

*Alhagi maurorum* Medik. (Fabaceae) is a spontaneous shrub native to the region extending from Russia to the Mediterranean and used by rural and Saharan Algerian people for its medicinal effects. This study aims to document the medicinal uses of *A. maurorum* in Illizi (southern Algeria). Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Illizi between June and September 2018 through face-to-face interviews with 73 residents and traditional practitioners, using prepared questionnaire and specimen indexed of the plant. The data collected were analyzed using $\chi^2$ test of independence to study the association between categorical variables. Findings revealed four local names for this plant, the main one being Atjer (57.98%), and the preferential use of leaves (59.42%) and seeds (37.58%). It is consumed mainly by illiterate people (82.60%) over 55 years of age (56.52%) and to treat various ailments such as fever (28.99%) and gastrointestinal disorders (26.08%). The majority of remedies are prepared in the form of a macerate (43.47%). Recorded ethnomedicinal properties of the plant should be subjects of further pharmacological studies to validate their popular use.

**Keywords** Ethnobotany · *Alhagi* · Sahara · Algeria · Fabaceae · Medicine

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

Zakaria Boual
biozakaria1983@gmail.com

## Introduction

Medicinal plants and seaweeds are considered as a rich source of important bioactive compounds (Agisho et al. 2014; Benarba et al. 2015; Hentati et al. 2020), and their traditional use has a long history of practice in therapy of different diseases (Eddouks et al. 2007). Indeed, about 80% of the world's population depend on traditional medicine for their health care (Agisho et al. 2014). For a significant percentage of this population and notably for those in developing countries, these local and free medicinal substances of the traditional pharmacopoeia are often the sole drugs available. Many academic studies have been undertaken to study the botanical and therapeutic aspects of medicinal plants, to validate and integrate their medicinal properties in a model health system exploiting their active ingredients (Biyiti et al. 2004). The term ethnobotany was first proposed at the beginning of the twentieth century by the botanist John William Harshberger (White James 1931). It defines the study of plants from a geographic region through local people's knowledge of their usage in foods and medicine. Ethnobotanical studies are proving to be one of the

<footnote n="1">¹ Laboratoire de Protection des Ecosystèmes en Zones Arides et Semi-Arides, Université Kasdi Merbah-Ouargla, Ouargla, Algeria</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Institut Pascal, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Guéliz, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴ Laboratoire de Génie Enzymatique et Microbiologie, Equipe de Biotechnologie des Algues, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Université de Sfax, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵ Laboratoire de Biotechnologies des Plantes Appliquées à l'Amélioration des Plantes, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sfax, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶ Faculty of Applied Sciences, Kasdi Merbah-University-Ouargla, Ouargla, Algeria</footnote>
# Ethnobotanical utilization of *Alhagi maurorum* Medik. in traditional recipes of Algerian Sahara Illizi Wilaya

Fatma Zohra Chakou<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" /> · Zakaria Boual<fnref n="1" /> · Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj<fnref n="1" /> · Atallah Badreddine<fnref n="6" /> ·

Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi<fnref n="3" /> · Cherkaoui El Modafar<fnref n="3" /> · Imen Fendri<fnref n="5" /> · Slim Abdelkafi<fnref n="4" /> · Pascal Dubessay<fnref n="2" /> ·

Christine Gardarin<fnref n="2" /> · Cédric Delattre<fnref n="2" /> · Guillaume Pierre<fnref n="2" /> · Philippe Michaud<fnref n="2" />

## Abstract

*Alhagi maurorum* Medik. (Fabaceae) is a spontaneous shrub native to the region extending from Russia to the Mediterranean and used by rural and Saharan Algerian people for its medicinal effects. This study aims to document the medicinal uses of *A. maurorum* in Illizi (southern Algeria). Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Illizi between June and September 2018 through face-to-face interviews with 73 residents and traditional practitioners, using prepared questionnaire and specimen indexed of the plant. The data collected were analyzed using $\chi^2$ test of independence to study the association between categorical variables. Findings revealed four local names for this plant, the main one being Atjer (57.98%), and the preferential use of leaves (59.42%) and seeds (37.58%). It is consumed mainly by illiterate people (82.60%) over 55 years of age (56.52%) and to treat various ailments such as fever (28.99%) and gastrointestinal disorders (26.08%). The majority of remedies are prepared in the form of a macerate (43.47%). Recorded ethnomedicinal properties of the plant should be subjects of further pharmacological studies to validate their popular use.

**Keywords** Ethnobotany · *Alhagi* · Sahara · Algeria · Fabaceae · Medicine

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

## Introduction

Medicinal plants and seaweeds are considered as a rich source of important bioactive compounds (Agisho et al. 2014; Benarba et al. 2015; Hentati et al. 2020), and their traditional use has a long history of practice in therapy of different diseases (Eddouks et al. 2007). Indeed, about 80% of the world's population depend on traditional medicine for their health care (Agisho et al. 2014). For a significant percentage of this population and notably for those in developing countries, these local and free medicinal substances of the traditional pharmacopoeia are often the sole drugs available. Many academic studies have been undertaken to study the botanical and therapeutic aspects of medicinal plants, to validate and integrate their medicinal properties in a model health system exploiting their active ingredients (Biyiti et al. 2004). The term ethnobotany was first proposed at the beginning of the twentieth century by the botanist John William Harshberger (White James 1931). It defines the study of plants from a geographic region through local people's knowledge of their usage in foods and medicine. Ethnobotanical studies are proving to be one of the

<footnote>Zakaria Boual
biozakaria1983@gmail.com</footnote>

<footnote n="1">¹ Laboratoire de Protection des Ecosystèmes en Zones Arides et Semi-Arides, Université Kasdi Merbah-Ouargla, Ouargla, Algeria</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Institut Pascal, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Clermont Auvergne INP, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Guéliz, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴ Laboratoire de Génie Enzymatique et Microbiologie, Equipe de Biotechnologie des Algues, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Université de Sfax, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵ Laboratoire de Biotechnologies des Plantes Appliquées à l'Amélioration des Plantes, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sfax, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶ Faculty of Applied Sciences, Kasdi Merbah-University-Ouargla, Ouargla, Algeria</footnote>
dependable approaches to document, validate, and explain
from mechanistic point of view popular and ancestral knowl-
edge (Magwede et al. 2014) to develop new drugs (Koné
2009). Moreover, this practice allows the conservation of
ancestral popular culture. These ethnobotanical approaches
have resulted in numerous currently active compounds used
as drugs in medicine. For examples, digoxin (Digitalis
glycoside) first identified from Digitalis purpurea, a plant
traditionally used by European populations for its positive
cardiovascular effects, is now a drug of choice for the treat-
ment of disturbances in cardiac rhythm or congestive heart
failure (Pervaiz et al. 2006). In the same way, etoposide and
teniposide (semisynthetic derivatives of podophyllotoxin)
extracted from rhizome of Podophyllum peltatum, a plant
consumed by Native Americans to treat some cancers, is
now a chemotherapy medication for numerous cancer treat-
ments as these compounds act as topoisomerase inhibitors
(Imbert 1998). Another ethnobotanic success was that of
vinca alkaloids of Catharanthus roseus G. Don (pink peri-
winkle plant) from Madagascar. Traditional medicinal appli-
cations of this plant to cure patients suffering from diabe-
tes, to reduce blood pressure, or as disinfectant led to the
identification of several vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine,
vindesine, vinorelbine, and vincristine, which are currently
the second class of most used cancer fighters (inhibitors of
cell division) (Moudi et al. 2013). It is therefore of utmost
importance to screen ethnobotanic practices in the context
of climate warming and/or changing lifestyle of rural and
indigenous populations. Therefore, ethnobotanical investi-
gations have been carried out on plants widely used in folk
medicine and distributed in the dry lands of Saharan Alge-
ria. The ethnobotanical survey carried out by Chehma and
Djebar (2008) identified 62 spontaneous species regrouped
in 31 botanical families used in traditional pharmacopoeia
in northern Algerian Sahara. Kemassi et al. (2014) invento-
ried 33 species belonging to 19 families in Ghardaia region
(north of Algerian Sahara) used by the local population of
"M'zab" to treat diabetes. In addition, Bouallala et al. (2014)
have identified 22 medicinal species belonging to 21 genera
and 16 families practiced by people of the region of El-Oued
(northeast of Algeria).

Algeria is characterized by a diverse flora of medi-
nal and aromatic plants (Azzi et al. 2012) of which 3164
species of vascular plants have been recorded (Vasish-
and Kumar, 2004). According to Benarba et al. (2014),
several ethnobotanical studies have been undertaken to
explore the efficiency and biological activities of Algerian
medicinal plants (Benarba et al. 2015). However, some
ancestral knowledge of Saharan rural people regarding the
use of *Alhagi maurorum* is still insufficient. *Alhagi maur-
orum* Medik. (*Fabaceae*), a perennial plant, is a spiny
shrub (Suthar et al. 2016) native to North Africa (Algeria,
Egypt, Libya, Niger, and Sudan), the Middle East, and

South East Europe (International Union for Conservation
of Nature and Natural Resources 2005). It has numerous
disease therapy properties (Al-Snafi 2015; Chakravarty
1976) and applications depending on area, such as Shook,
Aqool, Shooq El Jamal, Shprim, and Lehlah (Al-Snafi
2015). Turkish people decoct it to obtain a tonic agent
called Devediúi (Altundag and Ozturk 2011). In Iran, it is
known as Khareshotor, Oshtorkhar, and Khardaro (Tonek-
aboni and Tohfan 2008; Tavassoli et al. 2020) and used to
treat aphthous ulcers and diarrhea, and as an appetite sup-
pressant (Tavassoli et al. 2020; Emami et al. 2012; Amiri
et al. 2014). Traditional knowledge is conveyed informally
through oral traditions of elders that may disappear after
their death, leading to the exhaustion of this imperative
information. There is no documentation of *Alhagi mauro-
rum* Medik. plant in medicinal preparations of Algerian
traditional medicine. Hence, the aim of this study is to
document the local knowledge and traditional uses of the
plant from the people of Illizi, providing data for further
work to investigate the pharmacological and phytochemi-
cal importance of this plant.

**Material and methods**

**Presentation of the study area**

The wilaya of Illizi is located in the far southeast of the
country (Fig. 1). It is bordered to the north by the wilaya of
Ouargla, to the northeast by Tunisia, to the east by Libya,
to the west by the wilaya of Tamanrasset, and to the south
by Niger. It shares 1233 km of borders with Tunisia, Libya,
and Niger. The climate of the wilaya is arid desert and very
dry with extremely irregular rain. June is the hottest month
of the year and January the coldest (Abid 2018). The aver-
age temperatures in winter vary between 25.7 °C maximum
and 8.1 °C minimum, and in summer 41.2 °C maximum
and 26.3 °C minimum (NAID 2013). The majority of the
population is Berber-speaking Touareg (NAID 2013; Miara
et al. 2019).

**Identification of *Alhagi maurorum* Medik. from Illizi**

The collected plant material was identified using Ozenda's
identification keys for Sahara flora (Ozenda 2004), Quézel
and Santa (1962, 1963). The perennial plant has rigid and
very thorny branches, and its cloves have red-brown color
divided by irregular constrictions. Samples of the above-
described parts were collected in Belbachir city 26°28 north
latitude and 8°28 east longitude (Map GPS) and prepared in
specimen indexed of the plant and used during the survey.
dependable approaches to document, validate, and explain
from mechanistic point of view popular and ancestral knowl-
edge (Magwede et al. 2014) to develop new drugs (Koné
2009). Moreover, this practice allows the conservation of
ancestral popular culture. These ethnobotanical approaches
have resulted in numerous currently active compounds used
as drugs in medicine. For examples, digoxin (Digitalis
glycoside) first identified from Digitalis purpurea, a plant
traditionally used by European populations for its positive
cardiovascular effects, is now a drug of choice for the treat-
ment of disturbances in cardiac rhythm or congestive heart
failure (Pervaiz et al. 2006). In the same way, etoposide and
teniposide (semisynthetic derivatives of podophyllotoxin)
extracted from rhizome of Podophyllum peltatum, a plant
consumed by Native Americans to treat some cancers, is
now a chemotherapy medication for numerous cancer treat-
ments as these compounds act as topoisomerase inhibitors
(Imbert 1998). Another ethnobotanic success was that of
vinca alkaloids of Catharanthus roseus G. Don (pink peri-
winkle plant) from Madagascar. Traditional medicinal appli-
cations of this plant to cure patients suffering from diabe-
tes, to reduce blood pressure, or as disinfectant led to the
identification of several vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine,
vindesine, vinorelbine, and vincristine, which are currently
the second class of most used cancer fighters (inhibitors of
cell division) (Moudi et al. 2013). It is therefore of utmost
importance to screen ethnobotanic practices in the context
of climate warming and/or changing lifestyle of rural and
indigenous populations. Therefore, ethnobotanical investi-
gations have been carried out on plants widely used in folk
medicine and distributed in the dry lands of Saharan Alge-
ria. The ethnobotanical survey carried out by Chehma and
Djebar (2008) identified 62 spontaneous species regrouped
in 31 botanical families used in traditional pharmacopoeia
in northern Algerian Sahara. Kemassi et al. (2014) invento-
ried 33 species belonging to 19 families in Ghardaia region
(north of Algerian Sahara) used by the local population of
"M'zab" to treat diabetes. In addition, Bouallala et al. (2014)
have identified 22 medicinal species belonging to 21 genera
and 16 families practiced by people of the region of El-Oued
(northeast of Algeria).

Algeria is characterized by a diverse flora of medi-
nal and aromatic plants (Azzi et al. 2012) of which 3164
species of vascular plants have been recorded (Vasish-
and Kumar, 2004). According to Benarba et al. (2014),
several ethnobotanical studies have been undertaken to
explore the efficiency and biological activities of Algerian
medicinal plants (Benarba et al. 2015). However, some
ancestral knowledge of Saharan rural people regarding the
use of *Alhagi maurorum* is still insufficient. *Alhagi maur-
orum* Medik. (*Fabaceae*), a perennial plant, is a spiny
shrub (Suthar et al. 2016) native to North Africa (Algeria,
Egypt, Libya, Niger, and Sudan), the Middle East, and

South East Europe (International Union for Conservation
of Nature and Natural Resources 2005). It has numerous
disease therapy properties (Al-Snafi 2015; Chakravarty
1976) and applications depending on area, such as Shook,
Aqool, Shooq El Jamal, Shprim, and Lehlah (Al-Snafi
2015). Turkish people decoct it to obtain a tonic agent
called Devediúi (Altundag and Ozturk 2011). In Iran, it is
known as Khareshotor, Oshtorkhar, and Khardaro (Tonek-
aboni and Tohfan 2008; Tavassoli et al. 2020) and used to
treat aphthous ulcers and diarrhea, and as an appetite sup-
pressant (Tavassoli et al. 2020; Emami et al. 2012; Amiri
et al. 2014). Traditional knowledge is conveyed informally
through oral traditions of elders that may disappear after
their death, leading to the exhaustion of this imperative
information. There is no documentation of *Alhagi mauro-
rum* Medik. plant in medicinal preparations of Algerian
traditional medicine. Hence, the aim of this study is to
document the local knowledge and traditional uses of the
plant from the people of Illizi, providing data for further
work to investigate the pharmacological and phytochemi-
cal importance of this plant.

**Material and methods**

**Presentation of the study area**

The wilaya of Illizi is located in the far southeast of the
country (Fig. 1). It is bordered to the north by the wilaya of
Ouargla, to the northeast by Tunisia, to the east by Libya,
to the west by the wilaya of Tamanrasset, and to the south
by Niger. It shares 1233 km of borders with Tunisia, Libya,
and Niger. The climate of the wilaya is arid desert and very
dry with extremely irregular rain. June is the hottest month
of the year and January the coldest (Abid 2018). The aver-
age temperatures in winter vary between 25.7 °C maximum
and 8.1 °C minimum, and in summer 41.2 °C maximum
and 26.3 °C minimum (NAID 2013). The majority of the
population is Berber-speaking Touareg (NAID 2013; Miara
et al. 2019).

**Identification of *Alhagi maurorum* Medik. from Illizi**

The collected plant material was identified using Ozenda's
identification keys for Sahara flora (Ozenda 2004), Quézel
and Santa (1962, 1963). The perennial plant has rigid and
very thorny branches, and its cloves have red-brown color
divided by irregular constrictions. Samples of the above-
described parts were collected in Belbachir city 26°28 north
latitude and 8°28 east longitude (Map GPS) and prepared in
specimen indexed of the plant and used during the survey.
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 1** Geographical location of Illizi wilaya (Miara et al. 2019): a study area (Illizi town) (Abid 2018)</figcaption></figure>

## Collection of ethnobotanical data

The survey was conducted during June and September 2018 in Illizi town with 73 individuals from different areas of Illizi wilaya, traditional practitioners and residents, born and/or living for a long time (more than 10 years) in the district.

For the purpose of this study, an inventory interview method was selected that requires less time to collect ethnobotanical data (Silva et al. 2014) since the presentation of a specimen indexed of *Alhagi maurorum* (Fig. 2) was given and open questions asked in Arabic and Amazigh languages (Fig. 3).

The questionnaire (Fig. 3) was prepared with slight modifications according to Bouallala et al. (2014) that contained eight parameters divided into two sections. The first one depended on the respondent (commune, age, sex, and educational level). The second focused on the plant (local name, used parts, treated diseases, and methods of preparation).

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 2** Indexed *Alhagi maurorum* specimen used for the ethnobotanical survey</figcaption></figure>

## Data analysis

Data collected were analyzed via Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16 and Microsoft Excel 2007 for plotting tables and graphs. The association between
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 1** Geographical location of Illizi wilaya (Miara et al. 2019): a study area (Illizi town) (Abid 2018)</figcaption></figure>

## Collection of ethnobotanical data

The survey was conducted during June and September 2018 in Illizi town with 73 individuals from different areas of Illizi wilaya, traditional practitioners and residents, born and/or living for a long time (more than 10 years) in the district.

For the purpose of this study, an inventory interview method was selected that requires less time to collect ethnobotanical data (Silva et al. 2014) since the presentation of a specimen indexed of *Alhagi maurorum* (Fig. 2) was given and open questions asked in Arabic and Amazigh languages (Fig. 3).

The questionnaire (Fig. 3) was prepared with slight modifications according to Bouallala et al. (2014) that contained eight parameters divided into two sections. The first one depended on the respondent (commune, age, sex, and educational level). The second focused on the plant (local name, used parts, treated diseases, and methods of preparation).

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 2** Indexed *Alhagi maurorum* specimen used for the ethnobotanical survey</figcaption></figure>

## Data analysis

Data collected were analyzed via Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16 and Microsoft Excel 2007 for plotting tables and graphs. The association between
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 3** Questionnaire paper used for the ethnobotanical survey</figcaption></figure>

categorical variables was determined by Pearson $\chi^2$ test of independence, with conditions of use being no more than 20% of cells in contingency table (cross tabulation) having expected values less than 5 and $p$ value less than chosen significance level $\alpha=0.05$ (Moore et al. 2013).

# Results and discussion

## Sociodemographic profile of respondents

### Use of plant according to sex

In total, of the 73 people interviewed, 69 declared to know the plant, revealing a widespread medicinal practice in Illizi, especially by women (52.17%—37 interviewees versus 47.83%—32 interviewees for men). No significant relation between sex of interviewees and plant use was revealed ($p=0.473 > a$, and 50% of cells in cross tabulation have expected count less than 5). This suggests there is information exchange between both sexes.

Ethnobotanical research published recently (Bouasla and Bouasla 2017; Bakiri et al. 2016; Lahsissene and Kahouadji 2010) also reported a dominance of women among the people surveyed. Bouasla and Bouasla (2017) attributed this bias to regional traditions and women's occupation of preparing plant-based recipes for family members. Knowledge has been passed down through generations by mothers to daughters.

### Use of plant according to age and educational level

As demonstrated in Fig. 4, individuals aged over of 51 years old demonstrated the greatest use of *Alhagi maurorum*,

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 4** Repartition of age group respondents according to sex</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 5** Educational level of interviewed people</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 3** Questionnaire paper used for the ethnobotanical survey</figcaption></figure>

categorical variables was determined by Pearson χ² test of independence, with conditions of use being no more than 20% of cells in contingency table (cross tabulation) having expected values less than 5 and *p* value less than chosen significance level *a*=0.05 (Moore et al. 2013).

# Results and discussion

## Sociodemographic profile of respondents

### Use of plant according to sex

In total, of the 73 people interviewed, 69 declared to know the plant, revealing a widespread medicinal practice in Illizi, especially by women (52.17%—37 interviewees versus 47.83%—32 interviewees for men). No significant relation between sex of interviewees and plant use was revealed (*p* = 0.473 > *a*, and 50% of cells in cross tabulation have expected count less than 5). This suggests there is information exchange between both sexes.

Ethnobotanical research published recently (Bouasla and Bouasla 2017; Bakiri et al. 2016; Lahsissene and Kahouadji 2010) also reported a dominance of women among the people surveyed. Bouasla and Bouasla (2017) attributed this bias to regional traditions and women's occupation of preparing plant-based recipes for family members. Knowledge has been passed down through generations by mothers to daughters.

### Use of plant according to age and educational level

As demonstrated in Fig. 4, individuals aged over of 51 years old demonstrated the greatest use of *Alhagi maurorum*,

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 4** Repartition of age group respondents according to sex</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 5** Educational level of interviewed people</figcaption></figure>
with 56.52%, followed by the age group 36–50 years old at 39.14%. The age class having the lowest use of *Alhagi maurorum* was that of 20–35 years old, with 4.34%.

For both sexes (Fig. 5), 82.6% are illiterate, decreased for middle, secondary, and university levels to 8.7%, 5.8%, and 2.9%, respectively.

Similar results were reported in another ethnobotanical study by Bouasla and Bouasla (2017) about medicinal uses of plants in the northeast of Algeria (Skikda wilaya). The authors concluded that educated people with modern Western lifestyle have little interest in traditional medicine based on the use of plants. Knowledge of the properties and uses of medicinal plants is generally acquired through long experiences accumulated and passed on from one generation to the next (Bammou et al. 2015).

The “study discontinuation” observed among individuals questioned belonging to the middle category was due to families’ economic situations requiring them to leave the classrooms early and help their parents herd sheep, the main source of their livelihood, as well as due to geographic isolation of their cities and poor means of transport in Saharan regions of Illizi wilaya. Consequently, such living conditions certainly create a relationship between herbs and human since childhood, allowing information to be passed down from generation to another, sparing of transportation expenses and care.

## Local nomination

The collected plant was presented to local habitants, most of them from the Touareg community of Illizi, for identification. Four common terms were used by the interviewed people. These names, never reported previously to our knowledge, were Atjer (57.98%) and Ahjer (28.98%), both meaning “Something that brings goodness,” Karde (7.24%) “In relation to use it as food Camel,” and Debagh (5.80%) “To leather tanning by local people.”

## Used parts

Leaves were the most used plant part for 59.42% of users, mostly as an antihyperglycemic agent, followed by seeds (37.58%) for fever treatment, and roots and gum (1.5% each) for gastrointestinal disorders and hyperglycemia, respectively. Ethnobotanical research conducted in Illizi by Miara et al. (2019) reported leaves (52%), followed by seeds (13%), as the most used parts of plants in Touareg community preparations. Even if the use of specific organs is correlated with treatments of specific pathologies as described above, the majority of leaf usage can be explained by availability and the ease of collecting this part of the plant (Akerreta et al. 2007). They are considered as the site of photosynthesis and sometimes the storage of secondary metabolites responsible

for the biological properties of the plant (Bigendako-Polygenis and Lejoly 1990). Moreover, high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of 83.5% in free radical scavenging were established by Laghari (2012) for the leaf extract of *Alhagi maurorum*. Active phytochemical compounds were detected in aqueous extract of plant leaves, including several subclasses of flavonoids and phenolic acids such as chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin, chrysoeriol-7-oxylosoid, coumaric, and caffeic and ferulic acids (Ahmed 2019). Diethyl ether and petroleum ether extracts of *A. maurorum* aerial parts were analyzed for their chemical composition by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, which characterized fatty acids and coumarins as main constituents (Loizzo et al. 2014). Essential oils from the leaves and stems contain volatile fractions composed of terpenoids, ketones, acid derivatives, and hydrocarbons (Muhammad et al. 2014). Recently, Al-Saleem et al. (2019) isolated from root extract of the plant 14 flavonoids, including quercetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, naringenin, and mauritianin.

## Traditional preparations

As shown in Fig. 6, to facilitate the administration of the active ingredient for many medicinal purposes, the maceration of seeds (34.78%) and leaves (8.69%) in warm water is the most frequently mode of plant preparation (43.47%), followed by dried powder with 30.45% of plant preparations (swallow with milk/cold water), infusion (13.04%) of leaves (11.59%) and seeds (1.45%) in hot water, and dried root decoction in water (1.45%). In addition, new modes of preparation were reported, such as application of leaf powder during roasting of meat (5.8%) or leather tanning (4.34%) as well as pounding gum (1.45%) added to fennugreek seeds (*Trigonella foenum-graecum*) against hyperglycemia. Ethnobotanic research has been carried out by Hammiche and Maiza (2006) in Tassili N'ajjer (Illizi), who

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 6** Different modes of preparation for different parts of *Alhagi maurorum*</figcaption></figure>
with 56.52%, followed by the age group 36–50 years old at 39.14%. The age class having the lowest use of *Alhagi maurorum* was that of 20–35 years old, with 4.34%.

For both sexes (Fig. 5), 82.6% are illiterate, decreased for middle, secondary, and university levels to 8.7%, 5.8%, and 2.9%, respectively.

Similar results were reported in another ethnobotanical study by Bouasla and Bouasla (2017) about medicinal uses of plants in the northeast of Algeria (Skikda wilaya). The authors concluded that educated people with modern Western lifestyle have little interest in traditional medicine based on the use of plants. Knowledge of the properties and uses of medicinal plants is generally acquired through long experiences accumulated and passed on from one generation to the next (Bammou et al. 2015).

The “study discontinuation” observed among individuals questioned belonging to the middle category was due to families’ economic situations requiring them to leave the classrooms early and help their parents herd sheep, the main source of their livelihood, as well as due to geographic isolation of their cities and poor means of transport in Saharan regions of Illizi wilaya. Consequently, such living conditions certainly create a relationship between herbs and human since childhood, allowing information to be passed down from generation to another, sparing of transportation expenses and care.

## Local nomination

The collected plant was presented to local habitants, most of them from the Touareg community of Illizi, for identification. Four common terms were used by the interviewed people. These names, never reported previously to our knowledge, were Atjer (57.98%) and Ahjer (28.98%), both meaning “Something that brings goodness,” Karde (7.24%) “In relation to use it as food Camel,” and Debagh (5.80%) “To leather tanning by local people.”

## Used parts

Leaves were the most used plant part for 59.42% of users, mostly as an antihyperglycemic agent, followed by seeds (37.58%) for fever treatment, and roots and gum (1.5% each) for gastrointestinal disorders and hyperglycemia, respectively. Ethnobotanical research conducted in Illizi by Miara et al. (2019) reported leaves (52%), followed by seeds (13%), as the most used parts of plants in Touareg community preparations. Even if the use of specific organs is correlated with treatments of specific pathologies as described above, the majority of leaf usage can be explained by availability and the ease of collecting this part of the plant (Akerreta et al. 2007). They are considered as the site of photosynthesis and sometimes the storage of secondary metabolites responsible

for the biological properties of the plant (Bigendako-Polygenis and Lejoly 1990). Moreover, high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of 83.5% in free radical scavenging were established by Laghari (2012) for the leaf extract of *Alhagi maurorum*. Active phytochemical compounds were detected in aqueous extract of plant leaves, including several subclasses of flavonoids and phenolic acids such as chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin, chrysoeriol-7-oxylosoid, coumaric, and caffeic and ferulic acids (Ahmed 2019). Diethyl ether and petroleum ether extracts of *A. maurorum* aerial parts were analyzed for their chemical composition by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, which characterized fatty acids and coumarins as main constituents (Loizzo et al. 2014). Essential oils from the leaves and stems contain volatile fractions composed of terpenoids, ketones, acid derivatives, and hydrocarbons (Muhammad et al. 2014). Recently, Al-Saleem et al. (2019) isolated from root extract of the plant 14 flavonoids, including quercetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, naringenin, and mauritianin.

## Traditional preparations

As shown in Fig. 6, to facilitate the administration of the active ingredient for many medicinal purposes, the maceration of seeds (34.78%) and leaves (8.69%) in warm water is the most frequently mode of plant preparation (43.47%), followed by dried powder with 30.45% of plant preparations (swallow with milk/cold water), infusion (13.04%) of leaves (11.59%) and seeds (1.45%) in hot water, and dried root decoction in water (1.45%). In addition, new modes of preparation were reported, such as application of leaf powder during roasting of meat (5.8%) or leather tanning (4.34%) as well as pounding gum (1.45%) added to fennugreek seeds (*Trigonella foenum-graecum*) against hyperglycemia. Ethnobotanic research has been carried out by Hammiche and Maiza (2006) in Tassili N'ajjer (Illizi), who

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 6** Different modes of preparation for different parts of *Alhagi maurorum*</figcaption></figure>
reported the fresh or dried uses by the practitioners of plants, essentially in the form of decoction, maceration, and infusion in water. Sometimes oils and rarely milk are used. Infusion and decoction were reported also as major methods of preparation in Illizi (Miara et al. 2019).

## Treated diseases

Interviewees used different parts of *Alhagi maurorum* to treat various illnesses and ailments, mainly fever (28.99%) and gastrointestinal disorders (26.08%). New therapeutic uses were also reported for treatments of hyperglycemia (18.84%), genitourinary infections in women (11.60%), diarrhea (8.7%), leather tanning (4.34%), and external hemorrhoids (1.45%) (Table 1). Statistically, no significant correlation related all treated diseases to used parts since 82.1% cells in contingency table have an expected count of less than 5 and $p=0.175>a$. The independence of used parts (notably both of leaves and seeds) to treated diseases indicates the effectiveness of *A. maurorum* parts and their chemical content in the treatment of common illnesses mentioned above. This result is supported by studies of Ahmed (2019) and Al-Saleem et al. (2019). Indeed, these authors have reported the presence of flavonoids in the leaves and roots of the plant.

Some ethnomedicinal uses have been reported in different countries around the world, such as Egypt (Srivastava et al. 2014), Palestine (Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2000), or Saudi Arabia (El-Shabasy 2016). Preparation methods of *A. maurorum* mentioned above (maceration, infusion, and decoction in water) facilitate the liberation of active ingredients described

as flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids (Rahman et al. 2011; Al-Snafi et al. 2019). Their presence in plant extracts may explain their curative potential as described for leave infusions prepared for gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover Amani et al. (2006) have reported very promising antiulcerogenic activity of ethanolic extracts (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) of the plant containing six active flavonoids against ulceration in rats. The macerate extract of leaves used for fever and genitourinary infections in women contained antioxidant agents as described by Ahmed (2019). Moreover, aqueous extract of plant leaves administrated at 300 mg/kg to rats exposed to oxidative stress induced by tetrachloride revealed its positive action on count, vitality, normality of spermatozooids, and antioxidant status (glutathione). Another study has also reported the antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of *A. maurorum* aerial parts in diethyl and petroleum ethers extracts against a panel of human cancer cell lines using the sulforhodamine B assay. Diethyl ether extract composed of fatty acids and coumarins as main constituents showed the strongest activity against C32 melanoma cell line (IC50 value of 2.7 µg/ml) and the highest radical scavenging activity against ABTS radical (IC50 4.7 g/ml). Petroleum ether extract composed mainly of fatty acids exhibited lower antiproliferative activity against C32 melanoma cell line (IC50 of 62.3 µg/ml) and reduction of ABTS radical (IC50 5.9 g/ml) (Loizzo et al. 2014).

Leaves and seeds used for diarrhea and decocted roots for gastrointestinal disorders were reported in the present study, and phenolic extracts of green parts of *Alhagi maurorum* were confirmed to have antibacterial effects against

<table><caption>**Table 1** Treated diseases and modes of preparation using *Alhagi maurorum* in Illizi</caption><thead><tr><th>Ailment/object</th><th>Used part</th><th>Modes of preparation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2">Fever</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Mac: 1–2 glasses per day<br>Pow: take a teaspoon with a glass of water or milk</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: 1–2 glasses per day</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Gastrointestinal disorders</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: 1 cup per day<br>Pow: with glass of water</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: 1 cup per day</td></tr><tr><td>Roots</td><td>Dec: 1–2 glasses per day</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Hyperglycemia</td><td>Gum</td><td>Pow: taken mixed with powder of fenugreek with water after meal</td></tr><tr><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: 1 cup after meal<br>Mac: 1 cup after meal<br>Pow: during roasting of meat<br>Pow: small quantity taken between the fingers with cup of water after meal</td></tr><tr><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: external uses</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: external uses</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Diarrhea</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Pow: small quantity taken between the fingers with milk or water</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: 1–2 glasses per day</td></tr><tr><td>Leather tanning</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Pow: place on animal leather</td></tr><tr><td>External hemorrhoids</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: use vapor infusion after it cools down</td></tr></tbody></table>

Mac maceration, Pow powder, Inf infusion, Dec decoction
reported the fresh or dried uses by the practitioners of plants, essentially in the form of decoction, maceration, and infusion in water. Sometimes oils and rarely milk are used. Infusion and decoction were reported also as major methods of preparation in Illizi (Miara et al. 2019).

## Treated diseases

Interviewees used different parts of *Alhagi maurorum* to treat various illnesses and ailments, mainly fever (28.99%) and gastrointestinal disorders (26.08%). New therapeutic uses were also reported for treatments of hyperglycemia (18.84%), genitourinary infections in women (11.60%), diarrhea (8.7%), leather tanning (4.34%), and external hemorrhoids (1.45%) (Table 1). Statistically, no significant correlation related all treated diseases to used parts since 82.1% cells in contingency table have an expected count of less than 5 and *p*=0.175>a. The independence of used parts (notably both of leaves and seeds) to treated diseases indicates the effectiveness of *A. maurorum* parts and their chemical content in the treatment of common illnesses mentioned above. This result is supported by studies of Ahmed (2019) and Al-Saleem et al. (2019). Indeed, these authors have reported the presence of flavonoids in the leaves and roots of the plant.

Some ethnomedicinal uses have been reported in different countries around the world, such as Egypt (Srivastava et al. 2014), Palestine (Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2000), or Saudi Arabia (El-Shabasy 2016). Preparation methods of *A. maurorum* mentioned above (maceration, infusion, and decoction in water) facilitate the liberation of active ingredients described

as flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids (Rahman et al. 2011; Al-Snafi et al. 2019). Their presence in plant extracts may explain their curative potential as described for leave infusions prepared for gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover Amani et al. (2006) have reported very promising antiulcerogenic activity of ethanolic extracts (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) of the plant containing six active flavonoids against ulceration in rats. The macerate extract of leaves used for fever and genitourinary infections in women contained antioxidant agents as described by Ahmed (2019). Moreover, aqueous extract of plant leaves administrated at 300 mg/kg to rats exposed to oxidative stress induced by tetrachloride revealed its positive action on count, vitality, normality of spermatozooids, and antioxidant status (glutathione). Another study has also reported the antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of *A. maurorum* aerial parts in diethyl and petroleum ethers extracts against a panel of human cancer cell lines using the sulforhodamine B assay. Diethyl ether extract composed of fatty acids and coumarins as main constituents showed the strongest activity against C32 melanoma cell line (IC50 value of 2.7 µg/ml) and the highest radical scavenging activity against ABTS radical (IC50 4.7 g/ml). Petroleum ether extract composed mainly of fatty acids exhibited lower antiproliferative activity against C32 melanoma cell line (IC50 of 62.3 µg/ml) and reduction of ABTS radical (IC50 5.9 g/ml) (Loizzo et al. 2014).

Leaves and seeds used for diarrhea and decocted roots for gastrointestinal disorders were reported in the present study, and phenolic extracts of green parts of *Alhagi maurorum* were confirmed to have antibacterial effects against

<table><caption>**Table 1** Treated diseases and modes of preparation using *Alhagi maurorum* in Illizi</caption><thead><tr><th>Ailment/object</th><th>Used part</th><th>Modes of preparation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2">Fever</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Mac: 1–2 glasses per day<br>Pow: take a teaspoon with a glass of water or milk</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: 1–2 glasses per day</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Gastrointestinal disorders</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: 1 cup per day<br>Pow: with glass of water</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: 1 cup per day</td></tr><tr><td>Roots</td><td>Dec: 1–2 glasses per day</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">Hyperglycemia</td><td>Gum</td><td>Pow: taken mixed with powder of fenugreek with water after meal</td></tr><tr><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: 1 cup after meal<br>Mac: 1 cup after meal<br>Pow: during roasting of meat<br>Pow: small quantity taken between the fingers with cup of water after meal</td></tr><tr><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: external uses</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: external uses</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Diarrhea</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Pow: small quantity taken between the fingers with milk or water</td></tr><tr><td>Seeds</td><td>Mac: 1–2 glasses per day</td></tr><tr><td>Leather tanning</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Pow: place on animal leather</td></tr><tr><td>External hemorrhoids</td><td>Leaves</td><td>Inf: use vapor infusion after it cools down</td></tr></tbody></table>

Mac maceration, Pow powder, Inf infusion, Dec decoction
E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
and Staphylococcus aureus (Al-Kamel and Al-Snafi 2019).
Here, we report also the use of exsudate gum and seeds of
Alhagi maurorum plant as treatment against hyperglycemia.
To date, no scientific study has focused on chemical compo-
sition and biological activities of *Alhagi maurorum* with the
objective to make clear its medicinal uses by people from
Illizi.

Conclusion

The present ethnobotanical survey conducted in Illizi (south
of Algeria) firstly highlights the relative importance given
to *Alhagi maurorum* Medik. in traditional medicine of this
area. Traditional knowledge of interviewed people about the
plant revealed four local appellations (Atjer, Ahjer, Karde,
and Debagh), and uses to treat notably gastrointestinal dis-
orders, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, genitourinary infections
in women, and external hemorrhoids.., Aerial parts (seeds
and leaves) of the plant prepared mainly by maceration but
also as dried powder water, infusion, and decoction were
the most used. Correlations of sociodemographic origins
of informants with uses of *A. maurorum* revealed the inde-
pendence of the plant uses from sex, age groups, and treated
diseases that should be investigated in further experimental
studies.

The exploration of the rich indigenous knowledge of the
Illizi population, always poorly documented, led to the exploi-
tation and investigation of the pharmacological potential of
*A. maurorum* plant. Consequently, future ethnopharmacologi-
cal studies will aim to establish relationships between the tra-
ditional uses of the plant and its chemical content.

**Acknowledgements** The authors would like to thank the people of the Illizi region who generously agreed to share their knowledge, and Prof. Amar Eddoud (Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Kasdi Merbah University, Ouargla, Algeria) for his help in botanic identification of the plant.

**Funding** This work was funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, within the framework of the Hubert Curien Program (PHC Maghreb), grant number 18MAG36.

Declarations

**Conflict of interest** No conflicts of interest to declare.

References

Abid L (2018) La couverture sanitaire de la wilaya d'Illizi. www.sante.maghreb.com/algerie/docu_64.pdf

Agisho H, Osie M, Lambore T (2014) Traditional medicinal plants utilization, management and threats in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia. J Med Plants Stud 2:94-108

Ahmed MA (2019) Protective effect of aqueous extract of *Alhagi maurorum* in spermatogenesis and antioxidant status of adult rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride. Iraqi J Vet Sci 33(1):1-7

Akerreta S, Cavero RY, Calvo MI (2007) First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 3:1-26

Ali-Shtayeh MS, Yaniv Z, Mahajna J (2000) Ethnobotanical survey in the Palestinian area: a classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 73(1-2):221-232.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00316-0

Al-Kamel ML, Al-Snafi AE (2019) Antibacterial effect of the phenolic extract of *Alhagi maurorum*. IOSR J Pharm 9(9):47-55

Al-Saleem MSM, Al-Wahaib LH, Abdel-Mageed WM, Gouda YG, Sayed HM (2019) Antioxidant flavonoids from *Alhagi maurorum* with hepatoprotective effect. Pharmacogn Mag 15(65):592

Al-Snafi AE (2015) *Alhagi maurorum* as a potential medicinal herb: an overview. Int J Pharm Rev Res 5(2):130-136

Al-Snafi AE, Al-Kamel ML, Esmael ME (2019) Antifungal effect of *Alhagi maurorum* phenolic extract. IOSR J Pharm 9(8):7-14

Altundag E, Ozturk M (2011) Ethnomedicinal studies on the plant resources of east Anatolia, Turkey. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 19:756-777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.05.195

Amani AAS, Maitland DJ, Soliman GA (2006) Antiulcerogenic activity of *Alhagi maurorum*. Pharm Biol 4(44):292-296.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13880200600714160

Amiri MS, Joharchi MR, Taghavizadehaz迪 ME (2014) Ethnomedicinal plants used to cure jaundice by traditional healers of Mashhad, Iran. Iran J Pharm Res 13(1):157-162

Azzi R, Djaziri R, Lahfa F, Sekkal FZ, Benmehdi H, Belkacem N (2012) Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in the North Western and South Western Algeria. J Med Plants Res 6:2041-2050. https://doi.org/10.5897/JMPR11.1796

Bakiri N, Bezzi M, Khelifi L, Khelifi-Slaoui M (2016) Enquête ethnobotanique d'une plante médicinale Peganum harmala L. dans la région de M'sila. Revue Agric 1:38-42

Bammou M, Daoudi A, Sellam K, ElRhaffari L, Ibijbijen J, Nassiri L (2015) Étude Ethnobotanique des Astéracées dans la Région Meknès-Tafilalet (Maroc) [Ethnobotanical Survey of Asteraceae Family used in Meknes-Tafilalet Region (Morocco)]. Int J Innov Appl Stud 13(4):789

Benarba B, Meddah B, Tir-Touil A (2014) Response of bone resorp-
tion markers to *Aristolochia longa* intake by Algerian breast
cancer postmenopausal women. Adv Pharmacol Sci 2014:1-4.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/820589

Benarba B, Belabid L, Righi K, Amine Bekkar A, Elouissi M, Khaldi A, Hamimed A (2015) Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Mascara (North West of Algeria). J Ethnopharmacol 175:626-637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.09.030

Bigendako-Polygenis MJ, Lejoly J (1990) La pharmacopée tradition-
nelle au Burundi. Pesticides et médicaments en santé animale.
Pres Univ Namur, pp 425-442

Biyiti LF, Meko'o DJL, Tamzc V, Amvam Zollo PH (2004) Recherche de l'activité antibactérienne de quatre plantes médicinales camerounaises. Pharm Med Trad Afr 13:11-20

Bouallala M, Bradai L, Abid M (2014) Diversité et utilisation des plantes spontanées du Sahara septentrional algérien dans la pharmacopée saharienne: cas de la région du Souf. Revue ElWat-hat Pour Les Recherches Et Les Etudes 7(2):18-26

Bouasla A, Bouasla I (2017) Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in northeastern of Algeria. Phytomedicine 36:68-81.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2017.09.007
E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
and Staphylococcus aureus (Al-Kamel and Al-Snafi 2019).
Here, we report also the use of exsudate gum and seeds of
*Alhagi maurorum* plant as treatment against hyperglycemia.
To date, no scientific study has focused on chemical compo-
sition and biological activities of *Alhagi maurorum* with the
objective to make clear its medicinal uses by people from
Illizi.

**Conclusion**

The present ethnobotanical survey conducted in Illizi (south
of Algeria) firstly highlights the relative importance given
to *Alhagi maurorum* Medik. in traditional medicine of this
area. Traditional knowledge of interviewed people about the
plant revealed four local appellations (Atjer, Ahjer, Karde,
and Debagh), and uses to treat notably gastrointestinal dis-
orders, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, genitourinary infections
in women, and external hemorrhoids.., Aerial parts (seeds
and leaves) of the plant prepared mainly by maceration but
also as dried powder water, infusion, and decoction were
the most used. Correlations of sociodemographic origins
of informants with uses of *A. maurorum* revealed the inde-
pendence of the plant uses from sex, age groups, and treated
diseases that should be investigated in further experimental
studies.

The exploration of the rich indigenous knowledge of the
Illizi population, always poorly documented, led to the exploi-
tation and investigation of the pharmacological potential of
*A. maurorum* plant. Consequently, future ethnopharmacologi-
cal studies will aim to establish relationships between the tra-
ditional uses of the plant and its chemical content.

**Acknowledgements** The authors would like to thank the people of the Illizi region who generously agreed to share their knowledge, and Prof. Amar Eddoud (Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Kasdi Merbah University, Ouargla, Algeria) for his help in botanic identification of the plant.

**Funding** This work was funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, within the framework of the Hubert Curien Program (PHC Maghreb), grant number 18MAG36.

**Declarations**

**Conflict of interest** No conflicts of interest to declare.

**References**

Abid L (2018) La couverture sanitaire de la wilaya d'Illizi. www.sante.maghreb.com/algerie/docu_64.pdf

Agisho H, Osie M, Lambore T (2014) Traditional medicinal plants utilization, management and threats in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia. J Med Plants Stud 2:94-108

Ahmed MA (2019) Protective effect of aqueous extract of *Alhagi maurorum* in spermatogenesis and antioxidant status of adult rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride. Iraqi J Vet Sci 33(1):1-7

Akerreta S, Cavero RY, Calvo MI (2007) First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 3:1-26

Ali-Shtayeh MS, Yaniv Z, Mahajna J (2000) Ethnobotanical survey in the Palestinian area: a classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 73(1-2):221-232.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00316-0

Al-Kamel ML, Al-Snafi AE (2019) Antibacterial effect of the phenolic extract of *Alhagi maurorum*. IOSR J Pharm 9(9):47-55

Al-Saleem MSM, Al-Wahaib LH, Abdel-Mageed WM, Gouda YG, Sayed HM (2019) Antioxidant flavonoids from *Alhagi maurorum* with hepatoprotective effect. Pharmacogn Mag 15(65):592

Al-Snafi AE (2015) *Alhagi maurorum* as a potential medicinal herb: an overview. Int J Pharm Rev Res 5(2):130-136

Al-Snafi AE, Al-Kamel ML, Esmael ME (2019) Antifungal effect of *Alhagi maurorum* phenolic extract. IOSR J Pharm 9(8):7-14

Altundag E, Ozturk M (2011) Ethnomedicinal studies on the plant resources of east Anatolia, Turkey. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 19:756-777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.05.195

Amani AAS, Maitland DJ, Soliman GA (2006) Antiulcerogenic activity of *Alhagi maurorum*. Pharm Biol 4(44):292-296.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13880200600714160

Amiri MS, Joharchi MR, Taghavizadehaz迪 ME (2014) Ethnomedicinal plants used to cure jaundice by traditional healers of Mashhad, Iran. Iran J Pharm Res 13(1):157-162

Azzi R, Djaziri R, Lahfa F, Sekkal FZ, Benmehdi H, Belkacem N (2012) Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in the North Western and South Western Algeria. J Med Plants Res 6:2041-2050. https://doi.org/10.5897/JMPR11.1796

Bakiri N, Bezzi M, Khelifi L, Khelifi-Slaoui M (2016) Enquête ethnobotanique d'une plante médicinale Peganum harmala L. dans la région de M'sila. Revue Agric 1:38-42

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Koné D (2009) Enquête ethnobotanique de six plantes médicinalesaliennes: extraction, identification, alcaloïdes-caractérisation, quantification de polyphénols: étude de leur activité antioxydante. Doctoral dissertation, Université Paul Verlaine-Metz

Laghari AH (2012) Free phenolic acids and antioxidant capacity of methanolic extracts obtained from leaves and flowers of camel thorn (Alhagi maurorum). J Nat Prod Res 26(2):173-176

Lahsissene H, Kahouadji A (2010) Usages thérapeutiques traditionnels des plantes médicinales dans le Maroc occidental: cas de la région de Zaër. Phytothérapie 8(4):210-217

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Magwede K, Tshisikhawe MP, Luseba D, Bhat RB (2014) Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in treatment of ticks. Int J Exp Bot 83:155-165

Miara MD, Teixidor-Toneu I, Sahnoun T, Bendif H, Hammou MA (2019) Herbal remedies and traditional knowledge of the Tuareg community in the region of Illizi (Algerian Sahara). J Arid Environment 167:65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.04.020

Moore DS, Notz WI, Flinger MA (2013) The basic practice of statistics, 6th edn. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York

Moudi M, Go R, Yien CY et al (2013) Vinca alkaloids. Int J Prev Med 4(11):1231-1235

Muhammad G, Ajaz Hussain M, Anwar F, Ashraf M, Gilani AH (2014) Alhagi: a plant genus rich in bioactives for pharmaceuticals. Phytothérapie Res 29(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5222

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Ozenda P (2004) Flore et végétation du Sahara. 3, Paris

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Quezel P, Santa S (1962) New flora of Algeria and southern desert regions. French National Center for Scientific Research, Paris

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Rahman SMA, Abd-Ellatif SA, Deraz SF, Khalil AA (2011) Antibacterial activity of some wild medicinal plants collected from Western Mediterranean coast, Egypt: natural alternatives for infectious disease treatment. Afr J Biotechnol 10:10733-10743. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB11.007

Silva HCH, Caraciolo RLF, Marangon LC, Ramos MA, Santos LL, Albuquerque UP (2014) Evaluating different methods used in ethnobotanical and ecological studies to record plant biodiversity. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 10(1):1-11

Srivastava B, Sharma H, Dey YN, Wanjari MM, Jadhav AD (2014) *Alhagi pseudalhagi*: a review of its phyto-chemistry, pharmacology, folklore claims and Ayurvedic studies. Int J Herb Med 2(2):47-51

Suthar P, Mathur K, Goyal M, Yadav SK (2016) Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties of plant Alhagi maurorum (Medik.): a review. World J Pharm Pharm Sci 5(4):682-692

Tavassoli AP, Anushiravani M, Hoseini SM, Nikakhtar Z, Baghdad HN, Ramezani M, Emami SA (2020) Phytochemistry and therapeutic effects of *Alhagi* spp. and Tarangabin in traditional and modern medicine: a review. J Herbmed Pharmacol 9(2):86-104. https://doi.org/10.34172/jhp.2020.13

Tonekaboni MMH, Tohfan AM (2008) Rarity of the Faithful. Sahar Publishers, Tehran

Vasisht K, Kumar V (2004) Compendium of medicinal and aromatic plants Africa. ICS-UNIDO, Trieste

White James T (1931) The national cyclopaedia of American biography, vol 21. University of Michigan
Chakravarty A (1976) The plant wealth of Iraq (a dictionary of economic plants). Botany Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform

Chehma A, Djebar MR (2008) Les espèces médicinales spontanées du Sahara Septentrional Algérien: distribution spatio-temporelle et étude ethnobotanique. Revue Synthèse Des Sciences Et De La Technologie 17:36-45

Eddouks M, Ouahidi ML, Farid O, Moufid A, Khalidi A, Lemhadri A (2007) L'utilisation des plantes médicinales dans le traitement du diabète au Maroc. Phytothérapie 5(4):194-203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10298-007-0252-4

El-Shabasy A (2016) Survey on medicinal plants in the flora of Jizan Region, Saudi Arabia. Int J Bot Stud 2(1):38-59

Emami S, Nadjafi F, Amine G, Amiri M, Khosravi M, Nasseri M (2012) Les espèces de plantes médicinales utilisées par les guérisseurs traditionnels dans la province de Khorasan, nord-est de l'Iran. J Ethnopharmacol 48:48-59

Hammiche V, Maiza K (2006) Traditional medicine in Central Sahara: pharmacopeia of Tassili N'ajjer. J Ethnopharmacol 105:358-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.028

Hentati F, Tounsi L, Djomdi D, Pierre G, Delattre C, Ursu AV et al (2020) Bioactive polysaccharides from seaweeds. Molecules 25(14):3152

Imbert TF (1998) Discovery of podophyllotoxins. Biochimie 80(3):207-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0300-9084(98)80004-7

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (2005) A guide to medicinal plants in North Africa. IUCN Publications Services Unit

Kemassi A, Darem S, Cherif R, Boual Z, Sadine S, Aggoune MS, Ould El Hadj-Khelil A, Ould El Hadj MD (2014) Recherche et identification de quelques plantes médicinales à caractère hypoglycémiant de la pharmacopée traditionnelle des communautés de la vallée du M'Zab (Sahara Septentrional Est Algérien). J Adv Res Sci Technol 1(1):1-5

Koné D (2009) Enquête ethnobotanique de six plantes médicinalesaliennes: extraction, identification, alcaloïdes-caractérisation, quantification de polyphénols: étude de leur activité antioxydante. Doctoral dissertation, Université Paul Verlaine-Metz

Laghari AH (2012) Free phenolic acids and antioxidant capacity of methanolic extracts obtained from leaves and flowers of camel thorn (Alhagi maurorum). J Nat Prod Res 26(2):173-176

Lahsissene H, Kahouadji A (2010) Usages thérapeutiques traditionnels des plantes médicinales dans le Maroc occidental: cas de la région de Zaër. Phytothérapie 8(4):210-217

Loizzo MR, Rashed K, Said A, Bonesi M, Menichini F, Tundis R (2014) Antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of *Alhagi maurorum* (Leguminosae) aerial parts. Ind Crops Prod 53:289-295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.12.049

Magwede K, Tshisikhawe MP, Luseba D, Bhat RB (2014) Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in treatment of ticks. Int J Exp Bot 83:155-165

Miara MD, Teixidor-Toneu I, Sahnoun T, Bendif H, Hammou MA (2019) Herbal remedies and traditional knowledge of the Tuareg community in the region of Illizi (Algerian Sahara). J Arid Environment 167:65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.04.020

Moore DS, Notz WI, Flinger MA (2013) The basic practice of statistics, 6th edn. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York

Moudi M, Go R, Yien CY et al (2013) Vinca alkaloids. Int J Prev Med 4(11):1231-1235

Muhammad G, Ajaz Hussain M, Anwar F, Ashraf M, Gilani AH (2014) Alhagi: a plant genus rich in bioactives for pharmaceuticals. Phytothérapie Res 29(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5222

NAID (2013) Celebrations of S'Beiba (Illizi). National Agency for Investment Development Invest in Algeria. Online. http://www.andi.dz/PDF/monographies/Illizi.pdf

Ozenda P (2004) Flore et végétation du Sahara. 3, Paris

Pervaiz MH, Dickinson MG, Yamani M (2006) Is digoxin a drug of the past? Cleve Clin J Med 73:8214

Quezel P, Santa S (1962) New flora of Algeria and southern desert regions. French National Center for Scientific Research, Paris

Quezel P, Santa S (1963) Nouvelle Flore d'Algérie et des régions Désertiques Méridionales, vol 1 et 2. CNRS Paris, p 1170

Rahman SMA, Abd-Ellatif SA, Deraz SF, Khalil AA (2011) Antibacterial activity of some wild medicinal plants collected from Western Mediterranean coast, Egypt: natural alternatives for infectious disease treatment. Afr J Biotechnol 10:10733-10743. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB11.007

Silva HCH, Caraciolo RLF, Marangon LC, Ramos MA, Santos LL, Albuquerque UP (2014) Evaluating different methods used in ethnobotanical and ecological studies to record plant biodiversity. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 10(1):1-11

Srivastava B, Sharma H, Dey YN, Wanjari MM, Jadhav AD (2014) *Alhagi pseudalhagi*: a review of its phyto-chemistry, pharmacology, folklore claims and Ayurvedic studies. Int J Herb Med 2(2):47-51

Suthar P, Mathur K, Goyal M, Yadav SK (2016) Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties of plant Alhagi maurorum (Medik.): a review. World J Pharm Pharm Sci 5(4):682-692

Tavassoli AP, Anushiravani M, Hoseini SM, Nikakhtar Z, Baghdad HN, Ramezani M, Emami SA (2020) Phytochemistry and therapeutic effects of *Alhagi* spp. and Tarangabin in traditional and modern medicine: a review. J Herbmed Pharmacol 9(2):86-104. https://doi.org/10.34172/jhp.2020.13

Tonekaboni MMH, Tohfan AM (2008) Rarity of the Faithful. Sahar Publishers, Tehran

Vasisht K, Kumar V (2004) Compendium of medicinal and aromatic plants Africa. ICS-UNIDO, Trieste

White James T (1931) The national cyclopaedia of American biography, vol 21. University of Michigan