Study of Ethnobotany and Traditional Use of Some Medicinal Plants in Iranshahr County

Ethnobotanical research is a valuable guide for identifying new medicinal plants and herbal medicines. The present study aimed to identify and document the traditional use of medicinal plants in Iranshahr County, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. This research was conducted through field surveys, local people's knowledge, and research in documents and beliefs found in the region. Plant species from different regions were collected based on the introduction by local villagers, especially experienced, elderly and knowledgeable people. After identifying the plants of the region, their local names, medicinal properties, methods of use, and other relevant information were gathered simultaneously. In this study, 31 species of medicinal plants with different uses were identified. The majority of species belonged to the Lamiaceae family. Some medicinal plants such as Salvia mirzayanii, Tribulus terrestris, Portulaca oleraceae, Capparis decidua and Ruta graveolens were identified by many individuals, and their therapeutic properties were mentioned. Most of the known plants in traditional medicine were used for digestive disorders, kidney diseases, and soothing purposes. The most functional parts of the plants were leaves, stems, and seeds. Considering the diversity of medicinal plants in the county and their widespread use by indigenous people for treating diseases, further investigations could not only preserve endangered plant species due to drought but also lead to breakthroughs in the application of medicinal plants in disease treatment and provide better use of medicinal plants and their products.