Ethnobotanical use of plants from the genus Galium in the Pirot District

Abstract

The subject of this paper was the investigation of the ethnobotanical application of plants from the genus Galium in the Pirot District (Southeastern Serbia). The study was conducted in the form of surveys among the rural population in four municipalities. The mentioned plant species from respondents were G. aparine, G. odoratum and G. verum. The use of G. odoratum against bile disease was mentioned. Both G. aparine and G. verum are used for the treatment of inflammation of the oral cavity. G. aparine is additionally useful for the treatment of cardiac diseases, and cancerous diseases. G. verum is also useful against fainting, hoarseness, kidney and bladder diseases, skin diseases, and diabetes. The mentioned ethnopharmacological uses of G. aparine, and uses of G. verum against fainting, inflammation of oral cavity, hoarseness, and diabetes, as well as the ritual use of G. verum against evil eye for women are different and new in presented investigation in comparison with previously conducted ethnobotanical studies in Serbia and Balkan Peninsula.