An ethnoveterinary study on plants used in the treatment of dermatological diseases in Central Anatolia, Turkey

Aim: The aims of the present study are to determine the significant plant species utilized in ethnoveterinary medicine of Central Anatolia region (Turkey), identify methods used for different veterinary preparations, and to compare the plants used in the treatment of different animal dermatological diseases in other regions of Turkey and different parts of the world. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 173 individuals in total by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, between 2009 and 2013, for the purpose of recording traditional veterinary remedies and practices employed in animal health care. In order to evaluate the reliability and richness of the knowledge of medicinal plants in the area, quantitative indices, such as 'informant consensus factor (FIC),"' "use value (UV)," "relative frequency citation," and "fidelity level," were used for the data analysis. Results: The findings of this study have revealed about 26 species, including herbs, trees, and green algae belonging to 22 botanical families utilized in the treatment of veterinary dermatological diseases by breeders in Central Anatolia. In the present study, the highest FIC score (0.90) was identified for cracked nipples. It was determined that Pine tar and Cydonia oblonga were used for the above-mentioned purpose. The second highest FIC value (0.87) was identified for ringworm. A number of medicinal plants were very popular and utilized intensively in the present research area. In accordance with the calculation performed on the basis of the UV, it was determined that Pinus nigra (0.43) and Allium sativum (0.28) had the highest UVs. Conclusion: The current study has emphasized the ethnoveterinary knowledge of plants recently in use and their new usage in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.