Ethnobotanical uses of alien and native plant species of Yeşilırmak Delta

Abstract

Plants produce chemicals, known as secondary metabolites, have a variety of ecophysiological functions e.g. defense against herbivory/pathogen attacks and competitor plants, attracting pollinators and symbionts, protection against abiotic stresses, etc. These metabolites also have potential medicinal effects on humans. The Yeşilırmak Delta, Samsun, Turkey, is the second largest delta plain of Turkey. Among the plants distributed in different habitats of the delta, medically important species and their usage were investigated based on the literature. It has been determined 160 species and infraspecific taxa belonging 61 families and 141 genera which can be used for medicinal purposes in the research area. Our aim is to provide a database in relation to medicinal plants distributed naturally in such a region that 65.4% of which is assigned as agricultural area.