Etude ethnobotanique d’oignon blanc d’Oulhaça Dans la région d’Ain Temouchent

Abstract

The ethnobotanical study has always been much more in medicinal plants compared to food plants such as certain vegetables which have both nutritional and therapeutic properties. In other words, there are rare studies carried out on food plants in Algeria. Our work focused on the ethnobotanical study of the Oulhaça white onion, which is an undisputed local product. It constitutes a basic ingredient for several culinary preparations and it is an important source of income for the market gardeners of the Wilaya of Ain Temouchent and particularly the territory of Oulhaça. The objective of our work is to conduct an ethnobotanical survey relating to the use of onions in traditional medicine. This survey was carried out in 12 municipalities of the Wilaya and targeted the population with different profiles. The results obtained show that women use onions much more than men, especially in different fields: medicinal, cosmetic and culinary. The bulb is the most used part with a percentage of 86%. The most common therapeutic uses are: cooked and, raw and poultice at 36%, 31% and 20% respectively. Most of the treatments are taken orally, ie 54% in the form of an extract and herbal tea and 29% poultice. Among all the diseases treated are dermal and gastric diseases are the most mentioned. The field of use of onion varies depending on its type and the culture of different people and region. These results are a valuable source of information for the wilaya of Ain Temouchent, which can serve as a database and which can be used as a working tool for a possible ethnobotanical study for other food plants. Although this study will strengthen the historical and current fame of the white onion of Oulhaça in the Wilaya