Climate and Ecosystem of Arid and Semi-arid Regions

Climate and Ecosystem of Arid and Semi-arid Regions

Ethnobotanical and Indigenous Knowledge Study of Medicinal and Edible Plants in the Mohammadabad Katoul Region (Case Study: Siah Marzkuh Rangelands, Golestan Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohadeseh Soleymani 1
Azadeh Soltani 2
Vahid Aranian 3
1 Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
2 PhD Graduate, Department of Desert Management and Control, Faculty of Desert Studies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
3 PhD student Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
10.22075/ceasr.2025.38010.1054
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The indigenous knowledge of local communities regarding medicinal and edible plants constitutes a valuable asset for the sustainable management of natural resources and the advancement of traditional medicine. This study aimed to investigate and document the ethnobotanical knowledge and traditional practices related to medicinal and edible plant species in the rangelands of Siahmarzkouh, located in the Mohammadabad Katul region of Golestan Province, northern Iran.
Materials and Methods: The study focused on identifying plant species used by local communities, their medicinal and nutritional applications, methods of processing, and their role in local livelihoods and culture. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and questionnaires with 53 local residents (33 men and 20 women). Most participants were elderly (53% over 60 years old) and had low or no formal education (76% illiterate). Their primary occupations included livestock herding (37%), horticulture (22%), farming (19%), and beekeeping (11%).
Results: A total of 58 plant species belonging to 28 families were identified. The most represented families were Asteraceae (19%), Lamiaceae (10%), Poaceae (7%), and Rosaceae and Apiaceae (each 5%). Prominent species included Cichorium intybus, Allium rubellum, Urtica dioica, Mentha longifolia, and Physalis alkekengi. These plants were mainly used for treating respiratory (32%), digestive (20%), urinary and circulatory (15%), dermatological (12%), and cold-related illnesses (7%), as well as for food consumption (9%). The aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers) were most commonly utilized. Preparation methods included decoction, infusion, poultice, and raw consumption or inclusion in traditional dishes like soups and salads. Noteworthy species with specific uses were Echium russicum (sedative and cold remedy), Allium rubellum (blood pressure reduction and abscess treatment), Fumaria officinalis (treatment of skin disorders and kidney stones), Cichorium intybus (stomach tonic and lactation aid), Urtica dioica (cough remedy and blood pressure enhancer), Mentha longifolia (calming agent and flavor enhancer), Chenopodium album (used in Ash), Anthemis nobilis (treatment of kidney stones and bloating), and Betula species (treatment of skin diseases and kidney stones). Dominant plant life forms included herbaceous species (49%), shrubs (19%), and subshrubs (16%). The most frequent biological types were hemicryptophytes (31%), therophytes (26%), and geophytes (19%).
Conclusion: This study aimed to document the indigenous knowledge of local communities in Mohammadabad Katul regarding medicinal and edible plants. A total of 58 medicinal species were identified, of which only about 30 were actively used by the local population for therapeutic or nutritional purposes. The most dominant plant families included Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae. Frequently used species such as Matricaria chamomilla (for anti-inflammatory purposes), Thymus kotschyanus (for digestive disorders), and Echium amoenum (for stress and blood pressure management) were among the most culturally significant.
Plant parts commonly utilized included leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots, and were typically prepared as infusions, decoctions, or topical applications. Although the local communities demonstrated deep knowledge regarding plant characteristics, harvesting seasons, and preparation methods, the limited range of species used compared to the overall plant diversity reflects a decline in ethnobotanical knowledge in the region.

The findings highlight the importance of systematic documentation of this knowledge to support biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and the development of plant-based pharmaceuticals. Cultural shifts, youth migration, and the erosion of oral traditions pose serious threats to the continuity of this knowledge system. Nevertheless, modern tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ethnobotanical databases, and the growing global interest in medicinal plants provide valuable opportunities for the preservation, revitalization, and sustainable utilization of this unique biocultural heritage.
Keywords
Ethnobotany
Medicinal Plants
Indigenous Knowledge
Mohammadabad Katul
Marzkouh Rangelands
Subjects
1. Akhani, H., Djamali, M., Ghorbanalizadeh, A., & Ramezani, E. (2010). Plant biodiversity of Hyrcanian relict forests, N Iran: an overview of the flora, vegetation, palaeoecology and conservation. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 42(1), 231-258.
2. Barani, H. (2003). Study of the Foundations of Rangeland Culture Among Herders in Eastern Alborz. Ph.D. Dissertation, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 321 pages. (in Persian)
3. Berkes, F. (2018). Sacred Ecology (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315114644
4. Blancas Vázquez, J. J., Casas, A., Ramírez-Monjaraz, H., Martínez-Ballesté, A., Torres-García, I., Abad-Fitz, I., ... & Vallejo, M. (2023). Ethnobotany of the Nahua people: plant use and management in the Sierra Negra, Puebla, Mexico. In Ethnobotany of the mountain regions of Mexico (pp. 453-516). Cham: Springer International Publishing.‏
5. Dif Rakhsh, S. M. (2012). Study of Indigenous Knowledge (Ethnobotany and Ethnoecology) of Major Non-Forage (Edible, Medicinal, and Industrial) Species in Deli Kama Region, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 248 pages. (in Persian)
6. Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Management Organization of Golestan Province. (2015). Basic Study Reports Related to the Watershed Management Project in the Mohammadabad Katoul Watershed, Aliabad Katoul County, 536 pages. (in Persian)
7. Forouzeh, M. R., Heshmati, G. A., & Barani, H. (2014). Ethnobotanical Study of Edible and Medicinal Rangeland Species in Deylagan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. Iranian Journal of Anthropology Research, 4(1), 109–129. (in Persian)
8. Ghorbani, A. (2005). Ethnobotanical studies in the Turkmen Sahra region of northern Iran (Part I): General results. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 102(1), 58–68. (in Persian)
9. Heinrich, M., & Jäger, A. K. (Eds.). (2015). Ethnopharmacology. Wiley-Blackwell.
10. Hosseini, S., Abrasaji, G., & Hosseini, H. (2008). Medicinal plants of Golestan Province. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, 24(4), 472–498. (in Persian)
11. Kiasi, Y., Forouzeh, M. R., Mirdeilami, S. Z., & Niknahad-Gharmakher, H. (2023). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by QizilbashTribe in North of Iran. Environmental Resources Research, 11(2), 239-256.‏
12. Maffi, L., & Woodley, E. (2012). Biocultural diversity conservation: a global sourcebook. Routledge.‏
13. Mahare Silab Khorasan Consulting Engineers. (2014). Physiographic Studies of the Mohammadabad Watershed. Report No. 337. (in Persian)
14. Martin, G. J., Camacho-Benavides, C. I., & Del Campo, C. (2021). Ethnobotany: A methods manual (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003105374
15. Mirdailami, S. Z., Heshmati, G. A., & Barani, H. (2014). Ethnobotanical and Ethnoecological Studies of Medicinal Species in Kachik Rangelands (Case Study: Northeastern Golestan Province). Iranian Journal of Indigenous Knowledge, 1(2), 130–154. (in Persian)
16. Mozaffarian, V., Ghahremaninejad, F., Narimisa, S., Jafari, E., Kazempour-Osaloo, Sh., Lotfi, E., & Asadi, M. (2018). Flora of Iran, (S. Safavi & A. Masoumi, Eds.; R. Habibi, M. Nobakht, & R. Farahdoust, Illus.). Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. (In Persian)
17. Mukherjee, P. K., Venkatesh, P., & Ponnusankar, S. (2010). Ethnopharmacology and integrative medicine–Let the history tell the future. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine, 1(2), 100.‏
18. Naddaf, M., Joharchi, M., & Amiri, M. (2019). Ethnomedicinal applications of plants for the treatment of neurological disorders in the herbal markets of Bojnourd, North Khorasan Province, Iran. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 9(2), 153–163. (in Persian)
19. Pieroni, A., & Quave, C. L. (Eds.). (2014). Ethnobotany and biocultural diversities in the Balkans: perspectives on sustainable rural development and reconciliation. Springer.‏
20. Rajaei, P., & Mohamadi, N. (2012). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of Hezar mountain allocated in south east of Iran. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research: IJPR, 11(4), 1153.‏
21. Razmjooei, D., Zarei, Z., & Azmand, R. (2017). Ethnobotanical Study (Identification, Medicinal Properties, and Usage) of Some Medicinal Plants in Behbahan County, Khuzestan Province. Medicinal Plants Quarterly, 16(4), 33–50. (in Persian)
22. Saadati, R., Sattarian, A., Daneshvar, A., & Amini, E. (2023). Ethnobotanical study (with emphasis on medicinal uses) on Eastern Golestan province (Turkmen tribes) plants. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, 39(1), 16-37.‏
23. Saadatpour, M. (2017). An Ethnobotanical Study of Forage Plants in the Sajasrud Region, Zanjan Province. M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 187 pages. (in Persian)
24. Süntar, I. (2020). Importance of ethnopharmacological studies in drug discovery: role of medicinal plants. Phytochemistry Reviews, 19(5), 1199-1209.‏
Climate and Ecosystem of Arid and Semi-arid Regions
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 3
December 2025
Pages 18-37

  • Receive Date 07 June 2025
  • Revise Date 28 December 2025
  • Accept Date 15 January 2026