Introduction: The use of medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of liver disease is traditionally used around the world. Herbal therapeutic agents with hepatoprotective action have been used in Bulgaria for a long time. Despite the popularity of some medicinal plants, in our country there are still no targeted ethnobotanical studies on the knowledge of local residents about the use of medicinal plants with hepatoprotective action.
Aim: The aim of the present study is to establish the knowledge about the use of medicinal plants as hepatoprotectors by the locals of Varna city and the region.
Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted through a face-to-face survey. A total of 171 locals from 10 settlements were interviewed. The obtained results are analyzed by a quantitative index for processing ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological information.
Results: Twenty-eightspecies of medicinal plants belonging to 27 genera of 19 families have been reported for use as hepatoprotectors. The most popular medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of liver disease among the local population are Cichorium intybus L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. and Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.
Conclusion: We report preserved ethnobotanical knowledge of the locals about the use of medicinal plants with hepatoprotective action. The choice of medicinal plants is most often consulted with a doctor. The data from this study can serve as a basis for research on Bulgarian species of medicinal plants in order to develop food supplements and pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of liver disease.
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