Medicinal Plants Used for Neonatal Jaundice in Shahrekord: An Ethnobotanical Study

Abstract

Jaundice begins in the infants from the very early days of birth; the symptoms usually appear with yellow skin and sometimes eyes, jaundice first involves only the face, but it also affects the chest, abdomen, legs, and the soles of the feet and the lower limbs. In this ethnobotanical study, attempt was made to identify medicinal plants used in the herbal medicine of Shahrekord region to treat neonatal jaundice. This cross-sectional study was performed by collecting data through an ethnobotanical knowledge questionnaire from 21 April 2016 to 19 February 2017, through face-to-face interview with 29 traditional therapists. The results of the questionnaire were distributed among traditional therapists and information was obtained. The results showed that in the ethnobotany of Shahrekord,<em> Descurainia</em> <em>sophia</em> (L.) Webb ex Prantl, <em>Cichorium</em> <em>intybus</em> L., <em>Alyssum</em> spp. Stead. Ex Boiss., <em>Fumaria</em> spp., <em>Adianthum</em> <em>capillus</em>-<em>veneris</em> L., <em>Astragalus</em> <em>adscendens</em> (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Podlech, <em>Alcea</em> spp., <em>Vinifera</em> Spp. and <em>Rheum</em> <em>ribes</em> L. are used as anti-neonatal jaundice medicinal plants. The results shows that leaf (41%) is the most commonly used plant organ for jaundice in the studied region. According to the results of our ethnobotanical study, the plants reported in this study are traditionally used to prevent neonatal jaundice, and it is necessary to prove these effects in clinical and pharmacological studies.