Traditional ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinal plants used for external therapies in Alasehir, Turkey

Traditional Ethnobotanical Knowledge (TEK) is the main resource of the all ethnobotanical investigations. Documentation of the TEK through ethnobotanical studies is important for the conservation and utilization of biological resources and should be carried out before such rich heritages are lost due to various anthropogenic and other natural causes. In this reason, the aims of this study is identified not only the medicinal plants used for external therapies by local people of Alasehir District in the Aegean Region of Turkey, but also drawing attention to traditional knowledge that is in danger of being lost. The information including the various data such as local names, ailments and diseases treated, therapeutic effects, parts of plants used and methods of preparation were obtained from local people through individual and face-to-face interviews. Also, the fidelity levels of the species were determined. At the end of the study, it is found that 37 taxa of medicinal plants are used for external therapies by the community. These medicinal plants belong to 27 families. Most used families were Asteraceae and Liliaceae. Allium cepa (100 %) has the highest fidelity level and Ficus carica ssp. carica (65 %) has the lowest. The knowledge of medicinal plants used by the people of Alasehir seems to be well known to its culture and tradition.