Research Information System
Özgökçe F. (Executive), Ekin Z., Dede S., Başbuğan Y., Ünal M., Ekin S., et al.
Project Supported by Higher Education Institutions, BAP Guided, 2019 - 2021
As a
result of the Ethnoveterinary studies carried out in the province of Van
(Turkey) during the vegetation periods of 2019-2021, it was determined that a
significant portion of the local people engaged in ovine and bovine breeding as
a means of livelihood or additional income. For years, Van is ranked first in
terms of ovine breeding in Turkey.
The plants
used by the people living in Van and its districts against animal diseases from
the past to the present and the traditional usage information regarding these
plants were determined through face-to-face interviews with the public. 118
plant taxa including 99 genera belonging to 45 families, which the local people
use against animal diseases, were collected in the field together with the
users. These 118 plant samples collected were turned into herbarium material
according to herbarium techniques. After the identification of these plants,
the parts of 50 plants used against 40 animal diseases were collected in
sufficient amount and dried in the shade. It is then ground and stored under
suitable conditions for the determination of the active ingredients and finally
for the animal and / or in vitro trials to be carried out.
Ethnoveterinary
information of the plants used in the region against animal diseases was
compiled on-site, samples of these plants were taken, and the folkloric study
was documented with the sound recordings and videos of the plant usage
information. After the diagnosis of the flowering plant specimens in the field
with the information about the use, all the data on the diseases used by the
people in accordance with the versatile uses are given in the report in
alphabetical order.
With this
project, it was determined that the local people in the research area, which
has a rich vegetation, have not yet lost this cultural identity in the
ethno-veterinary area. 340 usage data belonging to this traditional usage in
the ethno-veterinary field were recorded. On the other hand, it was also
determined that as a result of the rapid migration from the village to the city
in our region, the knowledge of the people living in the rural areas about
plants is forgotten and lost day by day. It has been determined in face-to-face
interviews that animal breeders, especially in rural areas, have very easy
access to veterinarians and medicines recently, and when there is no new
generation to transfer this plant use culture from past to present, cultural
values in this area have begun to be forgotten. With this study, almost all
of these experiences and knowledge used by the public against 40 different
animal diseases that they have acquired for thousands of years have been
recorded as targeted in the project. Among 118 different plant taxa that were
used against these diseases, the parts of 50 plants used against animal
diseases, the most common use of the local population, were collected
separately and dried in the shade. The information on the use of diseases
belonging to these plants is brought to a scientific platform with the
contributions of Chemistry, Pharmacy, Molecular Biology and Genetics and other
disciplines and made ready to be presented to Veterinary Medicine.
According
to the animal breeders in the research area, none of the diseases they
encounter in the animals they breed pose a greater threat to animal health as
much as internal and external parasites. Internal and external parasites in animals
mainly result in a decrease in body weight, damage to tissues and organs, an
increase in diarrhea and anaemia, a gradual decrease in appetite and feed
consumption and eventually in mostly death. A large number of parasite species
have been identified in Van and its surroundings, settling on the internal
organs and tissues of animals and on the head and skin externally.
With this
project, animal diseases that constitute a very important problem in the field
of animal health in the region were also detected in the field. And traditional
natural treatment methods of the people for these diseases have been recorded.
Within the framework of the target of eliminating these diseases, integration
with the European Union's animal health and welfare legislation and the fight
against epidemic animal diseases with traditional and modern methods was also
harmonized with EU practices.
During the 210-day fieldwork
conducted in the field within the scope of the project, samples of the taxa,
whose use of Ethno-veterinaries against Animal Diseases in Van and its
surroundings were determined, were collected and identified. Field studies were
carried out in 210 neighbourhoods of 13 districts in the province of Van.
Traditional information on Animal Diseases in Van and its surroundings was
recorded personally from 277 people, 129 women and 148 men, and relevant
biological materials were collected. The family name, Latin name, local name,
locality information, gathering place and date of gathering, used part of the
plant, usage description and detailed information about the users of each plant
were recorded.
A total of 118 taxa belonging to 45 families
were reported as being traditionally used to treat animal diseases in Van. Asteraceae
(21 taxa), Apiaceae (10 taxa), Malvaceae (9 taxa), Fabaceae
(7 taxa), Poaceae (5 taxa), Lamiaceae (5 taxa), Scrophulariaceae
(4 taxa) ve Brassicaceae (4 taxa) were found as the most cited plant
families. The most cited medicinal plants were Thymus
fallax Fisch. &
C.A.Mey. (8), Rhus coriaria L. (8),
Olea europaea L. (7), Alcea calverti (Boiss.) Boiss. (6), Globularıa
trichosantha Fish. ex. C.A.Mey (6), Allium sativum L. (6), Arctium tomentosum
Miller. var. glabrum (Körnicke) Arenes (6), and Allium cepa L. var. cepa
(5) respectively. These
plants are frequently used to cure various animal ailments such as
dermatological, gastrointestinal, and parasitic diseases.
The goals of the
project, set out in the proposal phase, were fully (100%) achieved.
Key words: Animal Diseases,
Ethnobotany, Ethnoveterinary, Medicinal Plants, Van.