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Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences logoLink to Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
. 2020 Jun 20;27(10):2706–2718. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.06.020

A review on ethno-medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Riaz Ullah a,⁎, Ali S Alqahtani a,b, Omar MA Noman a, Abdulaziz M Alqahtani b, Samir Ibenmoussa c, Mohammed Bourhia c
PMCID: PMC7499296  PMID: 32994730

Abstract

The traditional medicine based on medicinal plants in the Kingdom of Arabia Saudia presents a strong relationship belonging to natural remedies, health, diet, and folk healing practice recognized by a specific culture. The aim of the current study is to carry out an ethnobotanical review on medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the Kingdom of Arabia Saudia including information on plant species, used parts, preparation method as well as medical uses. Earlier published data in journals, textbooks, periodicals, websites, and databases written in pharmacological evidence of Suadi medicinal plants were based on gathering information. The present review work reported that 96 species belonging to 47 families have been used in Saudi Pharmacopeia. Amaranthaceae has the highest number of plant species (7) Followed by Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, and Fabaceae with 5 plant species in each. The inventoried plant species in the current work are frequently used for the treatment of various illnesses and to ensure the medication safety of Saudi people. The biological analysis of plant form used in Saudi natural remedies showed the dominance of herb and subshrub form with a percentage of 43% and 30% respectively. The most used preparation method of plant drugs, which used in Saudi Alternative medicine was decoction and infusion. The whole plant, leaves, seeds, and aerial parts were the most useful plant parts in natural preparation in Saudi traditional medicine with a percentage of 29%, 28%, 7%, and 5% respectively as reported in the present review work. The present review work gives big data about medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia including data about plant species, used parts, preparation method as well as medical uses.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Saudi Arabia, Ethnopharmacology, Traditional medicine, Folk medicine

1. Introduction

Medicinal plants have become a worldwide topic drawing an impact on world health. Herbal medicine has played a crucial role in the maintenance of the healthcare system of the wide population throughout the world (Akerele, 1988). This is majorly enhanced in less-developed or developing countries, where the history use of traditional medicine interrupted. The knowledge and the progress of the medical benefits of herbs have grown in both, developing and developed countries (Organization, 1998). Medicinal herbs have constituted the basis of alternative medicine and lead to be the main pathway for conceptualizing new drugs (Newman et al., 2000). At an earlier time of the nineteenth century, more than 80% of Medicine was formulated from plants, and especially after the scientific revolution, the field of herbal medicine has conducted the evolvement of the pharmaceutical industry where the synthesized drugs noticeable (Shinwari and Qaiser, 2011). The larger use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases is due to one hand that plants or their derivatives are considered as safe and effective drugs, as well as with fewer secondary effects and are low in cost (Odhav et al., 2013). The alternative medicine knowledge based on the use of plants in treatment represents an inheritance passed from generation to upcoming over centuries either verbally or in writing, taking into account that the traditional inheritance may be facing extinction if it is not transmitted to next generation and still limited to former only (Schulze, 2017).

Folk medicine took place in the Kingdom of Arabia Saudia by 1940 with less demand for traditional medicine. Meanwhile, since 1990 the Saudi people changed their thinking towards traditional medicine and have increased its use in common life (Organization, 2001). Numerous ethnobotanical surveys carried out in Saudi Arabia showed that a large proportion of Saudi citizens are dependent on traditional medicine whether alone or associated with modern medicine (Bodeker and Ong, 2005).

An ethnopharmacological survey targeted the use of medicinal plants belong Saudi citizens showed that 80% of the interviewed have used herbal medicine for medications. It was reported in another study that 20% and 70% of the asked people using the herbal medicine for chronic and acute conditions respectively (Alanzi et al., 2016).

The usage of herbal medicine belongs the Saudi patients in the treatment of diseases like cancer, asthma, neurological and hepatic diseases was reported around 55%, 80% and 42.3%,90% respectively (Jazieh et al., 2012, Al Moamary, 2008, Mohammad et al., 2015). 81.2% of Saudi citizens living in Riyadh city were asked about their opinion regarding the use of herbal medicine, they consider that the use of this model of medicine in treatment is still safe and harmless as reported previously (Suleiman, 2014). Another study took place in Jeddah reported among diabetic patients 64% prefer to use herbs to control diabetes. In this study, it was reported that 55.1% of Jeddah citizens prefer the use of plants rather than synthesized drugs and around 75.2% simultaneously use both, herbs and prescribed drugs (Kamel et al., 2017).

The current review was conducted to gather information about the plants used by Saudi citizens in traditional medicine, such as to highlight the description of medicinal plants including local name, the parts used, the preparation methods as well as traditional uses.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Study area

Saudi Arabia is the third biggest country in the Asian continent after China and India. Geographically the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is found on the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, located east of the Red Sea and west of the Persian Gulf.

Its coordinates are defined as 2500N, 04500E. It covers most of the Arabian Peninsula area and is connecting Africa and Eurasia (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Map of Saudi Arabia (study area).

2.2. Data collection

Previously published data in journals, textbooks, periodicals, websites, databases and folklore information written in pharmacological profile and traditional uses of Suadi medicinal plants were checked for collecting information

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Ethnomedicinal data about medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The fruits of the present review of ethnomedicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1.

Summary of ethnopharmacological data about medicinal plants used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Plant family Plant species Local name Used parts Medicinal uses/activities References
Malvaceae Abutilon pannosum Verdc Whole plant Antimicrobial (Akbar and Al-Yahya, 2011)
Malva parviflora Khobizza Aerial plant Boils, inflamed purulent wounds, and swellings (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Fabaceae Acacia arabica Gum arabic tree Whole plant Haemorrhae, diarrhoea, scurvy, dysentery scurvy, and colds (Al-Musayeib et al., 2012)
Rhazya stricta Harmal Aerial parts Skin and stomach diseases, Curative for chronic rheumatism andtumor (Marwat et al., 2012)
Apocynaceae Carissa edulis Tome Leaves and Roots Regulate blood glucose, athelmintic, antiscorbutic, astringent, stomachic and toothace. (Kaunda and Zhang, 2017)
Adenium arabicum Adnah whole herb and bark Used in bones dislocations, wounds, skin infections, paralysis and painful joints (Ghazanfar, 1994)
Nerium oleander Difla Areal parts Sthma, diabetes mellitus, corns (Bokhari, 2009a)
Adenium obesum Adne Areal parts Headache (Bokhari, 2009)
Catharanthus roseus Wenka Flower, Leaves, Roots Reducing blood glucose (Al-Shaqha et al., 2015)
Mimosaceae Albizzia lebbeck Lebbeck Phloem Anthelmintic night-blindness (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Acanthaceae Blepharis aspatensis Heyne ex Roth Leaves Dysuria, headache (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Anisotes trisulcus Madh Leaves Diabetes
Foot inflammation		 (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Aerva javanica Tourism Whole plant Toothache (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Boraginaceae Alkanna orientalis – Whole plant Diuretic, antimicrobial effect, and central nervous system stimulation (Akbar and Al-Yahya, 2011)
Arnebia hispidissima Kohael Whole plant Treatment of fever (Srivastava et al., 1996)
Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera Mahwat Whole herb Diuretic, alterative, antiperiodic purgative, astringent stomachache, bowel complaints piles, boils and skin eruptions. (Al-Asmari et al., 2017)
Aerva lanata Schult Leaves Antihyperglycaemic, -urolithic , astringent
Purgative, diuretic and demulcent		 (Adepu et al., 2013)
Achyranthes aspera Mahwat Whole plant (Bokhari, 2009)
Alternanthera sessilis Tamil Leaves Treating hepatitis, tight chest, bronchitis, asthma (Saqib and Janbaz, 2016)
Amaranthus spinosus Qutaifa Stem, Root Emollient in scorpion sting (Al-Asmari et al., 2017)
Amaranthus caudatus Kaf Almehana Leaves Diuretic, blood purifier, treatment of piles, strangury, and abortifacient used as an abortifacient (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962)
Amaranthus viridi Shae whole herb antipyretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, stomachic. leucorrhoea and leprosy (Chopra, 1956)
Annonaceae Chenopodium ambrosioides Errwa Leaves Diuretc and tonic, laxative (Yadav et al., 2007)
Annona squamosa Qishda Leaves, roots Treatment of leukemia and cancer (Champy, 2011)
Apiaceae Carum carvi Karawiya Root Neurological digestive, for gynaecological and urological problems, Infusion, ground (Alqethami et al., 2017)
Conium maculatum Hemlock Flower and stem Analgesic (Madaan and Kumar, 2012)
Petroselinum crispum Magdnus leaves Reatment of diseases of the prostate, liver, and spleen (Al-Asmari et al., 2014)
Anethum graveolens Dill whole herb Antimycobactetial, Antifungal, psychoactive, insecticides, hallucinogenic and insecticides (Jirovetz et al., 2003)
Asclepiadaceae Desmidorchis retrospiciens Ghlotha Areal Parts Chickenpox- smallpoxmeasles (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Monolluma quadrangula Gelf Leaves Influenza- diabetes (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Sarcostemma viminale Al Ashr latex Wounds (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Ceropegia variegata Drat Elkelb Aerial part Taeniafuge (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Asteraceae Artemisia judaica Beithran Areal parts Cough – cold (Abdel-Kader et al., 2018)
Achillea fragrantisma Gaisom Leaves Used as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activity (Saeidnia et al., 2011)
Artemisia herba-alba Chih Leaves Dental hygiene, abdominal pain, colic and liver failure (Mohammed et al., 2018)
Francoeuria crispa Gethgath Whole herb Antipyretic, treatment of inflammations, decreasing thirst, enhancing hunge (Ahmad et al., 2016)
Anvillea garcinii nougd Whole plant Colds, digestive problems, gastro -intestinal troubles, pulmonary affections, and digestive problems (El Hassany et al., 2004)
Loranthaceae Loranthus acaciae Zucc. Wiens Leaves Hypertension, cancer, obesity, gastrointestinal tract damage (Noman et al., 2019)
Capparaceae Capparis spinosa Kuber Fruits Hypertension, inflammation, emmenagogue, anemia, rheumatism, dropsy, antidiabetic, analgesic; anthelmintic, rheumatism, paralysis, the treatment for spleen and tubercular glands (Sher and Alyemeni, 2010)
Gramineae Oymbopogon citrates Lemon grass Stalk and leaves Treatement of bacterial infections (Noor, 2016)
Verbenaceae Lantana camara Lantana Leaves and flower Respiratory tract infections
Treatement of tuberculosis		 (Kirimuhuzya et al., 2009)
Labiate Ocimum basilicum Bobraii Stem and leaves Poor digestion, migraine, depression, kidney malfunction and skin infections (Adtani et al., 2014)
Oleaceae Olea europaea azeiton leaves Gingivitis, otitis, icterus, cough, Aesthetic, liver diseases, thrush, dental caries, oesophageal swelling, ulcers, oedemas, wound demulcent, emollient, cholagogue, calculi and diabetes. (Hashmi et al., 2015)
Alliaceae Allium cepa Basar Bulb Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim (Borborah et al., 2014)
Allium sativum Thom Bulbuls Anti-septic, anti-hypertensive (Abdallah, 2017)
Allium ampeloprasum – Leaves Antimicrobial (Alamri and Moustafa, 2012)
Asphodelaceae Aloe vera sebra Whole plant As laxative, peptic ulcers, in asthma, and diabetes (Syed et al., 1996)
Asphodelus tenuifolius Broque seeds Colds, haemorrhoids and rheumatic pain (Abdel-Mogib and Basaif, 2002)
Cactaceae Opuntia
Ficus-indica 		Tin Shokai Stems and Fruits Antidiabetic
Hypoglycemic		 (Osuna-Martínez et al., 2014)
Fabaceae Lupinus albus Tirmees Seeds Diuretic, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic and vermifuge (Knecht et al., 2006)
Trigonella foenum-graecum Lhelba Seeds Anti-diabetic, antipyretic, diuretic, antiradica (Mehrafarin et al., 2011)
Alhagi graecorum Aqool Whole herb Analgesic, Anti haemorrhoides, anti-tussine, Anti haemorrhoides, aphrodisiac, diuretic and laxative (El-Shabasy, 2016)
Alhagi maurorum Al -Agool Leaves Antioxidant, antinociceptive, antiseptic, anthelmintic, expectorant, carminative, diuretic, emmenogogue and sedative, taken in whooping cough, bronchitis and colds (Ahmad et al., 2000, Leung, 1980)
Astragalus spinosus kated Whole plant Used to treat leukemia, wound healing (Bedir et al., 2000)
Meliaceae Azadirachta Indica Neem Whole plant Used as antifungal (Aly and Bafeel, 2010)
Lamiaceae Teucrium polium Giadah Leaves Hypolipidemic,
Hypoglycemic, treat liver disease, jaundice, diabetes, fertility problems and cancer.		 (Djordjevic et al., 2018, Ljubuncic et al., 2005)
Salvia officinalis Meramiah Leaves Treatment of heartburn and bloating (Ghorbani and Esmaeilizadeh, 2017)
Acanthaceae Belpharis ciliaris Shok aldab whole herb Used to treat toothache and skin wounds (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Lauraceae Cinnamomum burmannii Gerfah Bark Analgesic, anti-diabetic, anti- antirheumatic, anti-thrombotic (Al-Dhubiab, 2012)
Laurus nobilis Ghr Leaves Astringent, stomachic, stimulant and narcotic (Chalumeau and Benito-espinal, 1984)
Capparidaceae Cadaba farinose Asef Whole herb Used as a purgative, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, antisiphilitic, aperient, a remedy for dysentery, fever, cough and lungs problem (El-Shabasy, 2016)
Capparis cartilagnia Shafallah Whole herb Antiseptic, laxative, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory (Al-Shanwani, 1996)
Capparis deciduas Tandhab Whole herb Analgesic, aphrodisiac carminative, laxative and diaphoretic, anthelmintic and emmenagogue (Ageel et al., 1986)
Caralluma sinaica Did Elkalba Whole plant Antiprotozoal (Al-Musayeib et al., 2012)
Lythraceae Punica granatum Roumon Fruit Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes (Bhowmik et al., 2013)
Myrtaceae Syzygium aromaticum Kronful Flower Buds Treatment of toothache, mouth, throat inflammation and gastrointestinal disorders. (Bhowmik et al., 2012)
Pedaliaceae Sesamum indicum L. Smsim Seeds Improve nutritional status prevention of diseases (Moazzami and Kamal-Eldin, 2009)
Ranunculaceae Nigella sativa Hba souda Seeds Monitor of adverse outcomes, medication safety, patient compliance (Al Jaouni et al., 2017)
Rhamnaceae Ziziphus spina christi Sider Leaves Treatment of pulmonary ailments and fevers (Asgarpanah and Haghighat, 2012)
Zingiberaceae Curcuma longa Karcum Roots Relieving gas, improving digestion, regulating menstruation, relieving arthritis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antimicrobial and cholesterol lowering (Benzie and Wachtel-Galor, 2011)
Zingiber officinale Zingabil Rhizome Treatment of heart diseases and lungs, relief cough and cold, throat infection and besides (Kumar Gupta and Sharma, 2014)
Tamaricaceae Tamarix aphylla Athil Leaves
Rhizome		 Infection of wound, Stomach ache (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Liliaceae Asphodelus fistulosus Al-Himaar Aerial parts Stimulant, laxative, diuretic and crushed treatment of ulcer; used to make cakes of boiled, anthelmintic and Stomach ache (Qureshi et al., 2010)
Poaceae Dactyloctenuium aegyptium Behma Whole herbs Wound sepsis (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Panicum turgidum Temam Whole herb Eye infection (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Cynadon dactylon Thil Whole plant Treatment of anasarca, cancer, convulsions, cough, cramps, diarrhea, dysentery, headache, hypertension, snakebite, sores (Nagori and Solanki, 2011)
Brassicaceae Farsetia aegyptiaca Jerbaa Whole herb Toothache, gingivitis and rheumatism (Sakkir et al., 2012, El-Ghazali et al., 2010, El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Eruca sativa Roucka Seeds Anticancer, antiulcer, diuretic (JAAFAR and JAAFAR, 2019)
Anastatica hierochuntica Khaf Maryam Whole herb Anti -diabetic activity
Facilitate maternity		 (Rahman et al., 2002)
Papaveraceae Argemone Mexicana Argemnia Whole plant Antimicrobial (Akbar and Al-Yahya, 2011)
Polygonaceae Emex spinosa Hambaaz Whole herb Appetizer, biliousness, and to stimulate appetite (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Polygonaceae Calligonum comosum Artaa Whole herb Anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effect (Kamil et al., 2000)
Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera Oshar Latex Used to treat psoriasis, leishmaniasis, and skin infections (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Chenopodiaceae Anabasis setifera Hamd Leaves Anti-inflammatory (Abdou et al., 2013)
Caesalpinaceae Cassia italica Sanamakka Whole herb Laxative and urinary tract purifier (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Resedaceae Reseda muricata Presl. Danban Fruit Menstruation tonic (El-Ghazali et al., 2010)
Euphorbiaceae Chrozophora oblongifolia Tannom Roots Heating (Sher and Aldosari, 2013)
Acalypha fruticosa mchacha root Root in goat bone soup and drink the soup to treat liver problems (Sripathi and Sankari, 2010)
Acalypha indica Anama whole herb Cure from bronchitis, and asthma, pneumonia (Yusuf et al.)
Tamaricaceae Tamarix aphylla Cedaar Leaves Treating wounds (Emad and Gamal, 2013)
Zygophyllaceae Tribulus terrestris Tikandu Seeds Tonic, diuretic, and aphrodisiac (Al-Asmari et al., 2014)
Typhaceae Typha domingensis Pardey Whole plant Cardiac depression (Akbar and Al-Yahya, 2011)
Tiliaceae Grewia tenax Aub Aerial parts Liver disorder (Al-Said et al., 2011)
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The present survey reported that 96 species springing from 47 families have been used in Saudi Pharmacopeia (Table 1). Amaranthaceae has the highest number of plant species (7) Followed by Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, and Fabaceae with 5 plant species in each. The present data were in accordance with other previous literature (Alfarhan et al., 1998a), in which it was reported that these mentioned families were the mostly used in traditional medicine in Saudi Arabia.

Data presented in Table 1 shows several plant species, frequently used for the treatment of various illnesses associated with skin and stomach diseases, respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis antipyretic, inflammations, anasarca, cancer, astringent, convulsions, cough, cramps, diarrhea, dysentery, headache, hypertension, snakebite, sores decreasing thirst, enhancing hunger monitor of adverse outcomes, medication safety, diuretic, alterative, antiperiodic and purgative.

The most cited plant families in the present work were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Asclepiadaceae, Apocynaceae, Acanthaceae, Apiaceae and Poaceae, Annonaceae, Zingiberaceae, and Brassicaceae. All these plant families, as well as others reported in the present review, have been previously investigated in Saudi’s flora (Alfarhan et al., 1998a, Alfarhan et al., 1998b, Hostettmann et al., 2000)

It was reported that herbal medicine used traditionally for disease treatment, also used as a precursor for the development of several promising drugs (Balunas and Kinghorn, 2005, Hostettmann et al., 2000). The present work highlights these practices from an ethnopharmacological survey by targeting 96 medicinal plant species frequently used by almost all Saudi Arabian people (Table 1).

3.2. Biological form of plants used in Saudi Arabia traditional medicine

The biological analysis of plants used in Saudi natural remedies showed the dominance of herb and subshrub forms with a percentage of 43% and 30% respectively. The shrub and tree were also reported with a low percentage of 6% and 21% respectively (Table 2). These results were in agreement with earlier found data which reported that the most biological form of plants used in traditional medicine was subshrub, shrub, and herb (Bourhia et al., 2019).

Table 2.

Plant species and habits.

Plant species Habit Photograph
Rhazya stricta Subshrub graphic file with name fx1.gif
Adenium obesum Tree graphic file with name fx2.gif
Nerium oleander Subshrub graphic file with name fx3.gif
Blepharis maderaspatensis Herb graphic file with name fx4.gif
Anisotes trisulcus Shrub graphic file with name fx5.gif
Aerva javanica Subshrub graphic file with name fx6.gif
Achyranthes aspera Herb graphic file with name fx7.gif
Aerva lanata Herb graphic file with name fx8.gif
Alternanthera sessilis Herb graphic file with name fx9.gif
Amaranthus spinosus Herb graphic file with name fx10.gif
Chenopodium ambrosioides Herb graphic file with name fx11.gif
Annona squamosa Tree graphic file with name fx12.gif
Carum carvi Herb graphic file with name fx13.gif
Conium maculatum Herb graphic file with name fx14.gif
Desmidorchis retrospicien Subshrub graphic file with name fx15.gif
Petroselinum crispum Herb graphic file with name fx16.gif
Desmidorchis retrospiciens Subchrub graphic file with name fx17.gif
Monolluma quadrangula subshrub graphic file with name fx18.gif
Sarcostemma viminale Herb graphic file with name fx19.gif
Ceropegia variegata Herb graphic file with name fx20.gif
Artemisia judaica Herb graphic file with name fx21.gif
Achillea fragrantisma Subshrub graphic file with name fx22.gif
Artemisia herba-alba Subshrub graphic file with name fx23.gif
Francoeuria crispa Subshrub graphic file with name fx24.gif
Loranthus acaciae Zucc. Tree graphic file with name fx25.gif
Capparis spinosa Subshrub graphic file with name fx26.gif
Oymbopogon citrates Subshrub graphic file with name fx27.gif
Lantana camara Subshrub graphic file with name fx28.gif
Ocimum basilicum Herb graphic file with name fx29.gif
Allium cepa Herb graphic file with name fx30.gif
Opuntia Ficus-indica Shrub graphic file with name fx31.gif
Lupinus albus Herb graphic file with name fx32.gif
Trigonella foenum-graecum Herb graphic file with name fx33.gif
Teucrium polium Subshrub graphic file with name fx34.gif
Salvia officinalis Herb graphic file with name fx35.gif
Cinnamomum burmannii Tree graphic file with name fx36.gif
Laurus nobilis Shrub graphic file with name fx37.gif
Punica granatum Tree graphic file with name fx38.gif
Syzygium aromaticum Tree graphic file with name fx39.gif
Sesamum indicum Herb graphic file with name fx40.gif
Nigella sativa Herb graphic file with name fx41.gif
Ziziphus spina christi Tree graphic file with name fx42.gif
Curcuma longa Herb graphic file with name fx43.gif
Cassia italica Subshrub graphic file with name fx44.gif
Zingiber officinale Herb graphic file with name fx45.gif
Tamarix aphylla Tree graphic file with name fx46.gif
Asphodelus fistulosus Herb graphic file with name fx47.gif
Dactyloctenuium aegyptium Herb graphic file with name fx48.gif
Panicum turgidum Subshrub graphic file with name fx49.gif
Cynadon dactylon Herb graphic file with name fx50.gif
Farsetia aegyptiaca Herb graphic file with name fx51.gif
Eruca sativa Herb graphic file with name fx52.gif
Emex spinosa Herb graphic file with name fx53.gif
Anabasis setifera Subshrub graphic file with name fx54.gif
Malva parviflora Herb graphic file with name fx55.gif
Reseda muricata Presl. Herb graphic file with name fx56.gif
Chrozophora oblongifolia Subshrub graphic file with name fx57.gif
Tribulus terrestris Herb graphic file with name fx58.gif
Grewia tenax Tree graphic file with name fx59.gif
Abutilon pannosum Subshrub graphic file with name fx60.gif
Acacia arabica Tree graphic file with name fx61.gif
Carissa edulis Tree graphic file with name fx62.gif
Olea europaea Tree graphic file with name fx63.gif
Adenium arabicum Subshrub graphic file with name fx64.gif
Catharanthus roseu Herb graphic file with name fx65.gif
Albizzia lebbeck Tree graphic file with name fx66.gif
Alkanna orientalis Subshrub graphic file with name fx67.gif
Arnebia hispidissima Subshrub graphic file with name fx68.gif
Achyranthes aspera Herb graphic file with name fx69.gif
Amaranthus caudatus Subshrub graphic file with name fx70.gif
Amaranthus viridi Herb graphic file with name fx71.gif
Anethum graveolens Subshrub graphic file with name fx72.gif
Anvillea garcinii Subshrub graphic file with name fx73.gif
Allium ampeloprasum Herb graphic file with name fx74.gif
Asphodelus tenuifolius Subshrub graphic file with name fx75.gif
Alhagi graecorum Subshrub graphic file with name fx76.gif
Astragalus spinosus Subshrub graphic file with name fx77.gif
Azadirachta Indica Tree graphic file with name fx78.gif
Belpharis ciliaris Subshrub graphic file with name fx79.gif
Cadaba farinose Shrub graphic file with name fx80.gif
Capparis cartilagnia Subshrub graphic file with name fx81.gif
Capparis deciduas Shrub graphic file with name fx82.gif
Anastatica hierochuntica Subshrub graphic file with name fx83.gif
Caralluma sinaica Herb graphic file with name fx84.gif
Argemone Mexicana Herb graphic file with name fx85.gif
Calligonum comosum Saushrub graphic file with name fx86.gif
Calotropis procera Shrub graphic file with name fx87.gif
Acalypha fruticosa Subrub graphic file with name fx88.gif
Acalypha indica Herb graphic file with name fx89.gif
Typha domingensis Herb graphic file with name fx90.gif
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3.3. Preparation method of plant drugs

According to our review report, the commonly used preparation methods of plant drugs in Saudi alternative medicine were decoction and infusion. Maceration at room temperature, powder mixed with honey-milk-oil, cooked, uncooked plants and external use were also documented with lower values.

3.4. Plant parts used

Leaves, whole plant, seeds, and aerial parts were the commonly used parts in natural preparation in Saudi traditional medicine with a percentage of 29%, 28%, 7%, and 5% respectively as reported in the present review work. Roots, stem, latex, bulb, fruits, and bark were also presented with a low percentage (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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Frequency of plant parts used.

Desiring to contribute to the conservation priorities of herbal knowledge of various medicinal plants of Saudi Arabia and to make it easy and familiarized with disease treatment, the present compilation was carried out.

According to previously reported data, the knowledge of traditional medicine could be facing extinction if it is not inherited from the previous generation to the upcoming. Several factors inducing loss of this knowledge associated with local culture, physical and biological environments such as lack of expertise of the modern people, acculturation, and rural exodus (Bourhia et al., 2019).

It was reported that ethnic and religious people throughout the world, to know the vegetal diversity of one another because a huge number of plant species have been facing extinction due to the pressure exercised by the consumers and environmental conditions. The phenomena of plant extinction could translate to lose at least one potential drug every two years (Robertson, 2008a). Each plant species lost due to extinction could represent not only the loss of healthcare saving cures for special diseases but also the loss of a probable primary metabolite liker protein-or vitamin-rich foods (Robertson, 2008b).

In order to protect the germplasm of plants and to ensure sustainability, the public should learn the importance of herbal medicine and all tools should be serving this inheritance. The people need to become acquainted with the medicinal plant uses, not that only but to cultivate the plants on the farms, gardens even in their houses if possible for enriching the plant diversity. Rational use of medicinal plants in medication minimizes the high cost of treatment with modern medicine and minimizes the side effects due to the use of modern drugs (Saganuwan, 2009).

4. Conclusion

All the medicinal plants reported in the current review work have been used in Saudi traditional medicine for the treatment of different human diseases. However, the investigated plants in the present review need further studies covering specific screening of natural products, pharmacological and biological activities as well as a safety control. These Data Open window for Researches to use it and develop new molecules as well as, to continue studying the effects of extracts and isolated chemicals derived from these plants for their health benefits, in important diseases.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for funding this work through research group No. 1441-341.

Footnotes

Peer review under responsibility of King Saud University.

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