Medicinal and aromatic plants in Syria

The total area of Syria is 185 186 km². It is bounded North by Turkey, East by Iraq, South by Jordan and West by Palestine, Lebanon and the Mediterranean. The population of the country is about 16 million. The country can be divided into 4 climatic zones: the mountain region, with annual rainfall of 800 – 1200 mm; the Mediterranean zone, with annual rainfall less than 600 mm; the central zone, with 300 – 600 mm annual rainfall; and the desert area with 100 – 200 mm rainfall.

Syria has a diverse base of flora and genetic resources. About 3 459 species belonging to 865 genus and 131 families grow in Syria. The production of non-wood forest products (NWFP) in Syria during the period 1990 – 1995 is shown in Table (1).

The medicinal, aromatic and toxic wild plants constitute a high proportion of the flora in Syria. Many plants, such as Matricaria spp., Thymus sp., Artimisia, fungi and truffle, are collected directly from the wild by rural people to make traditional medicines. A research programme was developed to enhance the production of medicinal plants in the country. Under this programme the following important studies were carried out:

• Survey of medicinal, aromatic, toxic and ornamental plants in Syria;

• Preparation of a primary document on 400 plants species belonging to 72 plant families;

• Collection and storage of seeds for conservation of genetic resources;

• Identification of Myrtys spp species, their distribution and propagation;

• Survey of Rosa spp., and its geographical distribution. The study indicated that growing species are: Rosa canina, R. caninavar and R. degavensis, R. dumetorum, R. dumetorumvar, R. orientalis, R. sicula, R. glutionosa, R. phoenicia;

• Studies were carried out on some agricultural treatments such as the optimum planting time, distance between plants and fertilization on Matrieoria, Trigonella and Nigella crops.

Medicinal and aromatic plants are threatened by the flowing factors:

• Degradation of forest by fires, overgrazing, removal of trees for fuel and the lack of management plants;

• Urban expansion in forest areas;

• Scarcity of water;

• Unsustainable harvesting of wild medicinal plants.

CONSERVATION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC RESOURCES

The degradation of medicinal plants has a negative impact on the general health of people. Attempts are therefore being made by governmental institutions and the private sector to conserve the medicinal resources through:

1. Formulation of a clear policy for production, transport and marketing based on the local and international needs of medicinal plants raw material.
   
   
2. Coordination between all sectors (ministries, organizations, universities and research centers) concerned with medicinal plants.
   
   
3. Survey of medicinal and aromatic genetic resources and establishment of gene resource banks.
   
   
4. Establishment of pharmaceutical and insecticide industries based on medicinal, aromatic and toxic plants.
   
   
5. Support of research on medicinal plants, training of technical staff and improvement of production techniques.
   
   
6. Formulation of extension programs for rural people on the conservation and importance of medicinal and aromatic plants.
   
   
7. Cultivation of medicinal plants.
   
   
8. Protection of endangered species.
   
   
9. Creation of botanical gardens for medicinal and aromatic plants.
   
   
10. Implementation of breeding programmes for raising the productivity of the medicinal plants.
    
    

Table (1) : Production and value of non-wood forest products in Syria (1994)

SYP = Syrian Pound (1000 SYP = 47,62 US-$, average exchange rate in 1990-93)
Source: Wahbe (1997).

Table (2): Production of medicinal and aromatic plants in Syria (1994)

Table (3) : Prices of important plant species

Table (4) : Common Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Sold in Local Markets

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