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Review Article

The plants traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory infections in the Balkan Peninsula (Southeast Europe)

By
Marija Marković Orcid logo ,
Marija Marković
Contact Marija Marković

Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Nis, Niš, Serbia

Dejan Pljevljakušić Orcid logo ,
Dejan Pljevljakušić

Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, Serbia

Jelena Matejić ,
Jelena Matejić

Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Niš, Serbia

Biljana Nikolić Orcid logo ,
Biljana Nikolić

Institute of Forestry, Belgrade, Serbia

Mirjana Smiljić ,
Mirjana Smiljić

Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia

Gorica Ðelić ,
Gorica Ðelić

Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia

Olivera Papović ,
Olivera Papović

Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia

Mrđan Ðokić ,
Mrđan Ðokić

Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Nis, Niš, Serbia

Vesna Stankov-Jovanović Orcid logo
Vesna Stankov-Jovanović

Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Nis, Niš, Serbia

Abstract

Our study's objective was to systematize knowledge and traditional usage of plants against respiratory infections among the population in Serbia, based on literature data, and compare these results with published ethnomedicinal studies conducted in other territories of Balkan region. The study aimed to produce a review that can be a basis for further investigation, which may eventually lead to anti-viral agents' development. The ethnobotanical surveys we comprised in this review include 18 localities dispersed across the Balkan Peninsula, including the rural regions of Greece, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. These surveys identified 213 plants from 57 families represented in the folk medicine of the studied region. The primary indications of reported plant taxa in ethnobotanical studies in the Balkan Peninsula were cough; common cold and cold prevention; pneumonia and pulmonary diseases, bronchitis, asthma, bronchial catarrh, chest pain; fever, headache, influenza; sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, and inhalation; respiratory infections and respiratory diseases in general, and tuberculosis. Presented knowledge on the traditional use of plants against respiratory infections may serve as a basis and helpful guide for selecting plants that deserve new pharmacological and clinical studies, which may eventually lead to the development of efficient antimicrobial and anti-viral medicinal products.

Citation

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 

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