FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Journal of ethnopharmacology2006; 110(1); 130-147; doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.016

Ethnobotany of Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula): plants used in veterinary medicine.

Abstract: The present paper deals with plants used in veterinary medicine in Montseny. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the Montseny massif, which is situated in north-east Catalonia (Iberian Peninsula), covers 826 km(2) and has a population of 80,000. The information was obtained through 120 ethnobotanical interviews to 180 informants. Out of 584 species reported, 351 are claimed to be used in the health field (human and veterinary medicine), 280 in human and animal food and 236 have another kind of popular use. Medicinal species represent around 16.5% of Montseny's vascular flora. In a previous paper we addressed plant use in human medicine, and the present paper deals with veterinarian uses. As a reflection of the importance of rural life in the region, at least until recent times, a substantial number of medicinal plants (89 species, representing 6% of the flora of the territory and 6.4% of all medicinal use-reports in the region) is used in veterinary medicine. These remedies are mostly for cows, calves, sheep, pigs and horses, and secondarily, to poultry, rabbits and dogs. The main ailments treated are postnatal problems, intestinal troubles, wounds and dermatological problems. In many cases, the use of these remedies in veterinary medicine is fully consistent with their use in human medicine.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2006-09-23 PubMed ID: 17059874DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.016Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article focuses on the ethnobotanical practices of the Montseny biosphere reserve in Catalonia, Spain, particularly the use of local flora in veterinary medicine.

Research Context

  • Montseny biosphere reserve located in Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula was the geographic focus of this research.
  • Spread across 826 km(2) with a population of 80,000, this region boasts rich plant diversity.

Data Collection

  • Researchers conducted 120 interviews with 180 informants to gather local knowledge on the use of plants.
  • Information on the use of 584 species was collected as a result.

Plant Uses

  • Out of the documented species, 351 were reported to have health benefits and are used in both human and veterinary medicine.
  • 280 plant species are used for food purposes for both humans and animals.
  • 236 plant species are used for various other popular applications

Importance in Veterinary Medicine

  • Medicinal plant species make up approximately 16.5% of the area’s flora.
  • From the total medicinal species, 89 species are particularly used in veterinary medicine.
  • These are primarily used for treating postnatal issues, intestinal troubles, wounds and dermatological problems in animals like cows, calves, sheep, pigs and horses.
  • The lesser used species are for ailments in poultry, rabbits, and dogs.
  • The uses of many of these plant species in veterinary medicine are consistent with their applications in human medicine.

Implications

  • The study provides insight into the rich traditional knowledge of plant use in veterinary practices in the Montseny region.
  • Greater understanding of this could offer a valuable resource for the development of natural veterinary treatments in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Bonet MA, Vallès J. (2006). Ethnobotany of Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula): plants used in veterinary medicine. J Ethnopharmacol, 110(1), 130-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.016

Publication

Journal of ethnopharmacology
ISSN: 0378-8741
NlmUniqueID: 7903310
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Volume: 110
Issue: 1
Pages: 130-147

Researcher Affiliations

Bonet, M Angels
  • Laboratori de Botànica, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Vallès, Joan

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Data Collection
    • Ecosystem
    • Ethnobotany / methods
    • Ethnobotany / statistics & numerical data
    • Humans
    • Mediterranean Region
    • Phytotherapy / veterinary
    • Plants, Medicinal
    • Veterinary Medicine / methods

    Citations

    This article has been cited 28 times.
    1. Zeggar HS, Karbab A, Elhawary EA, Charef N, Arrar L, Sameh S, Elissawy AM, Singab ANB. Comparative UPLC/MS(n) study and multimodal assessment of the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties of methanol and aqueous extracts of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. Sci Rep 2026 Feb 26;16(1).
      doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-29765-xpubmed: 41741484google scholar: lookup
    2. Mustafa S, Tousif MI, Raiz N, Saleem M, Tauseef S, Zengin G, Hassan L, Hassan A, Nazir M, Muhammad S. Mapping the Chemodiversity, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Potential and In Silico Studies of Heliotropium europaeum. Food Sci Nutr 2025 Apr;13(4):e70119.
      doi: 10.1002/fsn3.70119pubmed: 40171559google scholar: lookup
    3. Türk Z, Leiber F, Schlittenlacher T, Hamburger M, Walkenhorst M. Multiple benefits of herbs: Polygonaceae species in veterinary pharmacology and livestock nutrition. Vet Anim Sci 2025 Mar;27:100416.
      doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100416pubmed: 39720831google scholar: lookup
    4. Khatib S, Sobeh M, Faraloni C, Bouissane L. Tanacetum species: Bridging empirical knowledge, phytochemistry, nutritional value, health benefits and clinical evidence. Front Pharmacol 2023;14:1169629.
      doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1169629pubmed: 37153781google scholar: lookup
    5. Romero B, Susperregui J, Sahagún AM, Diez MJ, Fernández N, García JJ, López C, Sierra M, Díez R. Use of medicinal plants by veterinary practitioners in Spain: A cross-sectional survey. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1060738.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1060738pubmed: 36590819google scholar: lookup
    6. Bhusal KK, Magar SK, Thapa R, Lamsal A, Bhandari S, Maharjan R, Shrestha S, Shrestha J. Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review. Heliyon 2022 Jun;8(6):e09717.
      doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09717pubmed: 35800714google scholar: lookup
    7. Rivera D, Verde A, Fajardo Rodríguez J, Ríos S, Alcaraz F, Cárceles C, Ortíz J, Valdés A, Ruíz-Gallardo JR, García-Flores A, Palazón JA, Obón C. Ethnoveterinary Medicine and Ethnopharmacology in the Main Transhumance Areas of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Front Vet Sci 2022;9:866132.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.866132pubmed: 35591874google scholar: lookup
    8. Contardi M, Ayyoub AMM, Summa M, Kossyvaki D, Fadda M, Liessi N, Armirotti A, Fragouli D, Bertorelli R, Athanassiou A. Self-Adhesive and Antioxidant Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/Alginate-Based Bilayer Films Loaded with Malva sylvestris Extracts as Potential Skin Dressings. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2022 Jun 20;5(6):2880-2893.
      doi: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00254pubmed: 35583459google scholar: lookup
    9. Pasdaran A, Butovska D, Kerr P, Naychov Z, Aneva I, Kozuharova E. Gentians, natural remedies for future of visceral pain control; an ethnopharmacological review with an in silico approach. Biol Futur 2022 Jun;73(2):219-227.
      doi: 10.1007/s42977-022-00114-7pubmed: 35318616google scholar: lookup
    10. Butnariu M, Quispe C, Herrera-Bravo J, Sharifi-Rad J, Singh L, Aborehab NM, Bouyahya A, Venditti A, Sen S, Acharya K, Bashiry M, Ezzat SM, Setzer WN, Martorell M, Mileski KS, Bagiu IC, Docea AO, Calina D, Cho WC. The Pharmacological Activities of Crocus sativus L.: A Review Based on the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities of its Phytoconstituents. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2022;2022:8214821.
      doi: 10.1155/2022/8214821pubmed: 35198096google scholar: lookup
    11. Farràs A, Mitjans M, Maggi F, Caprioli G, Vinardell MP, López V. Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Polyphenolic Profile, Cytotoxicity and Cytoprotective Properties in Different Cell Lines. Front Pharmacol 2021;12:727528.
      doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.727528pubmed: 34603041google scholar: lookup
    12. Fraga-Corral M, Otero P, Cassani L, Echave J, Garcia-Oliveira P, Carpena M, Chamorro F, Lourenço-Lopes C, Prieto MA, Simal-Gandara J. Traditional Applications of Tannin Rich Extracts Supported by Scientific Data: Chemical Composition, Bioavailability and Bioaccessibility. Foods 2021 Jan 26;10(2).
      doi: 10.3390/foods10020251pubmed: 33530516google scholar: lookup
    13. Hrichi S, Chaabane-Banaoues R, Bayar S, Flamini G, Oulad El Majdoub Y, Mangraviti D, Mondello L, El Mzoughi R, Babba H, Mighri Z, Cacciola F. Botanical and Genetic Identification Followed by Investigation of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities on the Scabiosa atropurpurea L. Stem from Tunisian Flora. Molecules 2020 Oct 29;25(21).
      doi: 10.3390/molecules25215032pubmed: 33138334google scholar: lookup
    14. Calzetta L, Pistocchini E, Leo A, Roncada P, Ritondo BL, Palma E, di Cave D, Britti D. Anthelminthic medicinal plants in veterinary ethnopharmacology: A network meta-analysis following the PRISMA-P and PROSPERO recommendations. Heliyon 2020 Feb;6(2):e03256.
      doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03256pubmed: 32055724google scholar: lookup
    15. Yang P, Li Z, Wu C, Luo Y, Li J, Wang P, Gao X, Gao J, Feng B. Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes Involved in the Molecular Mechanism of Pericarp Elongation and Differences in Sucrose and Starch Accumulation between Vegetable and Grain Pea (Pisum sativum L.). Int J Mol Sci 2019 Dec 5;20(24).
      doi: 10.3390/ijms20246135pubmed: 31817460google scholar: lookup
    16. Mertenat D, Cero MD, Vogl CR, Ivemeyer S, Meier B, Maeschli A, Hamburger M, Walkenhorst M. Ethnoveterinary knowledge of farmers in bilingual regions of Switzerland - is there potential to extend veterinary options to reduce antimicrobial use?. J Ethnopharmacol 2020 Jan 10;246:112184.
      doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112184pubmed: 31465817google scholar: lookup
    17. Bullitta S, Re GA, Manunta MDI, Piluzza G. Traditional knowledge about plant, animal, and mineral-based remedies to treat cattle, pigs, horses, and other domestic animals in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2018 Jul 20;14(1):50.
      doi: 10.1186/s13002-018-0250-7pubmed: 30029686google scholar: lookup
    18. De Vico G, Guida V, Carella F. Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle): A Neglected Plant With Emerging Growth Promoter/Immunostimulant Properties for Farmed Fish. Front Physiol 2018;9:285.
      doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00285pubmed: 29632497google scholar: lookup
    19. Baskaran XR, Geo Vigila AV, Zhang SZ, Feng SX, Liao WB. A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2018 Feb.;19(2):85-119.
      doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1600344pubmed: 29405039google scholar: lookup
    20. Zilani MN, Sultana T, Asabur Rahman SM, Anisuzzman M, Islam MA, Shilpi JA, Hossain MG. Chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Pisum sativum. BMC Complement Altern Med 2017 Mar 27;17(1):171.
      doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1699-ypubmed: 28347309google scholar: lookup
    21. Bartha SG, Quave CL, Balogh L, Papp N. Ethnoveterinary practices of Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2015 May 6;11:35.
      doi: 10.1186/s13002-015-0020-8pubmed: 25943542google scholar: lookup
    22. Disler M, Ivemeyer S, Hamburger M, Vogl CR, Tesic A, Klarer F, Meier B, Walkenhorst M. Ethnoveterinary herbal remedies used by farmers in four north-eastern Swiss cantons (St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden). J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2014 Mar 31;10:32.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-10-32pubmed: 24685062google scholar: lookup
    23. Brooks VJ, De Wolfe TJ, Paulus TJ, Xu J, Cai J, Keuler NS, Godbee RG, Peek SF, McGuirk SM, Darien BJ. Ethnoveterinary application of Morinda citrifolia fruit puree on a commercial heifer rearing facility with endemic salmonellosis. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2012;10(1):1-8.
      doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v10i1.1pubmed: 24082318google scholar: lookup
    24. Quave CL, Pardo-de-Santayana M, Pieroni A. Medical Ethnobotany in Europe: From Field Ethnography to a More Culturally Sensitive Evidence-Based CAM?. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:156846.
      doi: 10.1155/2012/156846pubmed: 22899952google scholar: lookup
    25. Carrió E, Rigat M, Garnatje T, Mayans M, Parada M, Vallès J. Plant ethnoveterinary practices in two pyrenean territories of catalonia (iberian peninsula) and in two areas of the balearic islands and comparison with ethnobotanical uses in human medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:896295.
      doi: 10.1155/2012/896295pubmed: 22829861google scholar: lookup
    26. Souto WM, Mourão JS, Barboza RR, Mendonça LE, Lucena RF, Confessor MV, Vieira WL, Montenegro PF, Lopez LC, Alves RR. Medicinal animals used in ethnoveterinary practices of the 'Cariri Paraibano', NE Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2011 Oct 10;7:30.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-7-30pubmed: 21985401google scholar: lookup
    27. González JA, García-Barriuso M, Amich F. Ethnoveterinary medicine in the Arribes del Duero, western Spain. Vet Res Commun 2011 Jun;35(5):283-310.
      doi: 10.1007/s11259-011-9473-ypubmed: 21461643google scholar: lookup
    28. Akerreta S, Cavero RY, Calvo MI. First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2007 Jun 6;3:26.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-3-26pubmed: 17553138google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 100,129 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.