Traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the Eastern Desert of Egypt: a case study from Wadi El-Gemal National Park

The inherited culture of the uses of medicinal plants by local inhabitants were documented in Wadi El-Gemal National Park, Eastern Desert, Egypt. A total of 70 plant species were recorded as sources of medicines. The inhabitants are currently using only 32 plant species for treating various diseases. About 40.2% of the recorded uses were for treating digestive tract disorders, 13.4% for nervous system related, 10.4% for urinary tract disorders, 7.5% for skin related disorders and 4.5% for respiratory diseases. Further, 26 plants were used to cure more than one ailment, while 6 plants were used for single therapeutic application. When considering the plant species used by inhabitants for curing different ailments, the most represented families are Leguminosae (7 species) and Compositae (6 species). More efforts are needed to enhance the awareness of the local inhabitants for the proper methods of using medicinal plants. Keyword: Medicinal plants, traditional knowledge, conservation, Wadi El-Gemal.