An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Kürtün (Gümüşhane)

XVIII. OPTIMA Meeting (2026), Nevşehir, Türkiye, 22 - 26 Eylül 2026, ss.225, (Özet Bildiri)

This research provides valuable insights into medicinal plants used in traditional folk medicine and their

ethnopharmacological applications within the Kürtün district of Gümüşhane province, located in the Eastern

Black Sea region of Türkiye. The primary objective of the study was to identify and document plant species

utilized by local inhabitants for therapeutic purposes and to record traditional knowledge related to herbal

remedies. The study is based on plant specimens collected during field excursions conducted in the summer of

2025. The families most frequently represented were Asteraceae (16.7%), followed by Lamiaceae (10.6%),

Apiaceae (6.1%), Rosaceae (6.1%), and Boraginaceae (4.5%). Furthermore, the Cultural Importance Index (CI)

and use report (UR) were calculated for each recorded taxa. According to the CI values, the most culturally

significant plants were Hypericum perforatum L., Urtica dioica L., Thymus longicaulis C. Presl subsp.

longicaulis var. subisophyllus (Borbas), Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz. BIP., and Plantago major L. subsp.

major. Analysis of preparation techniques indicated that infusion was the most common method (26.31%),

followed by direct use (17.54%), decoction (14.03%), poultice (7.01%), and various other preparation methods

(35.11%). Ethnopharmacological findings revealed that these medicinal plants are mainly employed in the

treatment of respiratory, digestive, skin, and musculoskeletal disorders. Overall, the results demonstrate that

traditional medicinal practices remain active within rural communities of Northeastern Anatolia and underline

the importance of preserving this valuable local knowledge, which continues to contribute significantly to

primary healthcare in the region.