Ethnobotanical survey on plants used during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taza (Morocco) and population satisfaction according to the "Rules of Association" approach

Abstract

Context: In an emergency situation such as the current COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of effective treatment, medicinal plants constitute an alternative solution to strengthen immunity, combat and prevent this disease and reduce related sickness. Aims: To determine the ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants used in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the satisfaction of the latter, thanks to the use of the associative database. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Taza region among confirmed cases of COVID-19 and their contacts. For this purpose, a questionnaire was distributed to participants. Quantitative analysis was used to assess ethnobotanical knowledge with the use, for the first time, of a method of artificial intelligence: the association rule, to determine participant satisfaction according to the different variables studied. Results: A total of 222 patients, distributed equally in rural and urban areas, participated in the study and indicated the use of 17 species belonging to nine botanical families. Lamiaceae was the most used family, and leaves were the most used part and were prepared in the form of infusion. The rule of association demonstrated strong satisfaction with using these plants among the participants, especially the positive cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ethnobotanical survey in the Taza province (Morocco). Conclusions: This work provides ethnobotanical information on plants used to treat and prevent COVID-19 for positive cases and their contacts. It would be interesting to confirm their usefulness and efficacy through experimental studies.