The Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used Against Cardiovascular Diseases In Türkiye

Abstract

Since time immemorial humankind benefits from plants as nutritient, medicine, cosmetic or to make tools and shelters for itself. Through history, traditional knowledge was gathered by trial-and-error method, practices were developed and sustained. It has been passed on from generation to generation to reach our day. This study aims to gather information on medicinal plants used traditionally against cardiovascular diseases in Turkey before it is lost forever. The library of Istanbul University being in the first place, the approachable sources has been scanned throughly. Plants’ scientific name, Turkish name, family, used parts, method of uses and the effects has been put together in a table. As a result, we composed a report of 129 plants of 43 families used for cardiovascular diseases. It has been concluded that of these, the most outstanding herbs are Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Lavandula stoechas L., Melissa officinalis L., Tribulus terrestris L., Urtica dioica L. and Viscum album L. Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae were the most used plant families. It has been detected that the people mostly benefit from the the leaves, aerial parts, fruit and flowers of medicinal plants as infusion or decoction. Although the biological activity studies on the plants most used by the people support the use in cardiovascular diseases, more studies are needed to provide scientific evidence to folklore use, especially for L. stoechas. It is thought that this study may be a resource for the development of future herbal medicines or treatments.