Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in the Management of COVID-19 in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Mahmoud D. Abdulrahman; Fattma Z. Mohammed; Saber W. 	 Hamad; Harmand A. 	 Hama; Abubakar A.	 Lema

doi:10.14500/aro.11042

Mahmoud D. Abdulrahman Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0944-7282
Fattma Z. Mohammed Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7532-9615
Saber W. Hamad (1) Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq. (2) Department of Field Crops and Medicinal Plants, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6640-1702
Harmand A. Hama Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1307-4271
Abubakar A. Lema Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Al-Qalam University Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9505-9723

Keywords: Coronaviruses, Expert sampling method, Iraqi Kurdistan, Medicinal plant, Relative frequency of citation

Abstract

Coronaviruses are infectious respiratory tract illnesses, but they can also affect the digestive tract and infect both humans and animals. The new coronavirus results in complicated health problems all over the world. The most urgent concern of all researchers around the world has been the treatment of the virus. The following study aimed to use quantitative ethnobotany to help scientist in addressing the deadly virus. Expert sampling method was adopted with the aid of an in-depth interview guide. Thirty-nine respondents were interviewed. Eighty-one medicinal plant species from 35 families were documented. Males 25 (64.1%) constitute the greater percentage of the total respondents. Majority of the respondents had formal education. Eighty-one medicinal plant species from 35 families were documented. Leaves are the most utilized 25.8 followed by seed 17.7 and fruits 12.1%, respectively. Relative frequency of citation ranged from 0.5 to 0.9, whereas the FL value ranged from 0.4 to 0.85, revealing how effective the documented plant species are in the management of COVID-19 in the region. A greater amount of research into documented medicinal plants is warranted because of the high likelihood that they contain many active ingredients.

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Author Biographies

Mahmoud D. Abdulrahman, Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Mahmoud D. Abdulrahman is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq. He got his B.Sc. degree in Biology, M.Sc. degree in Plant Biotechnology, and Ph.D. degree in Plant Systematics. His research interests are in Plant Systematics, Plant Anatomy, Ethnobotany, and Phytochemistry. Abdulrahman is a member of the Plant Systematic Society, Genetic Society of Nigeria, and Botanical Society of Nigeria.

Fattma Z. Mohammed, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Fattma Z. Mohammed is an Assistant Lecturer at Department of Nursing, Faculty of College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq. She got her B.Sc. degree in Biology- Microbiology and M.Sc. Degree in Biology- Environmental Science. Her research interests are in Environmental Science, Ecology & Pollution, Microbiology, Ethnobotany and medicinal plants.

Saber W. Hamad, (1) Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq. (2) Department of Field Crops and Medicinal Plants, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq.

Saber W. is a lecturer at the Department of Field Crops and Medicinal Plants, College of Agricultural and Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University. He got his B.Sc. degree in plant production, M.Sc. degree In field crops production and Ph.D. degree in Plant Physiology at Newcastle University, UK. His research interest is in allelopathy, secondary plant products and medicinal plants.

Harmand A. Hama, Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Harmand A. Hama is an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, Tishk International University. He got his B.Sc. degree in Biology science, M.Sc. degree in Molecular Biology. His research interests are in Molecular Biology, Cancer research, Genetics and Ethnobotany.

Abubakar A. Lema, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Al-Qalam University Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Abubakar A. Lema is a Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Al-Qalam University Katsina. He got his B.Sc. degree in Biology, M.Sc. degree in Biotechnology and Ph.D. degree in view in Agricultural Biotechnology. His research interests are in Plants Biotechnology.

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