Ethnopharmacological study of natural products used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in Algeria: cellular and molecular aspect, virtue and toxicity

Abstract

Respiratory diseases are a major public health problem worldwide. To resolve this concern, ethnopharmacological research has become more than necessary for the identification and discovery of new alternatives. The present research is an ethnopharmacological study of natural products used by local Algerian populations to treat respiratory diseases. The obtained results made it possible to document 121 natural products. This includes 115 aromatic and medicinal plants, 4 animal species (camel, goat, snail and hen) and 2 mineral products (water and sand). The most represented plant families are the Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae and Astreaceae. In addition, leaves, seeds and fruits were the most used plant parts. However, decoction, ingestion and inhalation are the most widely used modes of administration. The main active compounds present in the listed natural substances are polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes and alkaloids. Further studies are recommended to experimentally evaluate the biological potential of documented natural products.