Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmaceutical study of Tturkmens of Golestan and Khorasan provinces, north of Iran

Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmaceutical studies are best way for screening medicinal properties of plants. Indigenous people use their native plants for medical perposes that may be of high potential and value for modern pharmacology. Turkmens are descendants of Oguz Turks and originaly nomadic group. they are culturaly an isolated ethnic group inhabited in NE of Iran and taking ethnopharmaceutical research in this area would be of great interest. Data have been collected through ethnopharmaceutical interviewes taken with elder people of tibes who where expert in medicinal plants, bonesetters and midvifes. Information on the medicinal plants, local names, plant part use, illness treatment, mode of preparation and adminstration were documented. also plant voucher specimens and plant materials for further chemical analysis have been collected. Some native plant species have been recorded to have medicinal properties and usage. For example Dorema hyrcanum Koso.-Pol., Ferula oopoda (Boiss. & Buhse.) Boiss., Euphorbia marschalliana, Caccinia macranthera (Bankes & Sol.) Brand and Biebersteinia multifida DC.. Also some antique usages for other common and rare plants have been recorded. These plants are good targets for phytochemical analysis.