Ethnobotanical research of medicinal plants in the sub-Mediterranean regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study explores traditional knowledge among local populations regarding the use of plant species in the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Ethnobotanical interviews were conducted in 22 rural localities be­tween 2022 and 2024. A total of 164 respondents, aged 18-87 years (41.46% male, 59.53% female), participated in the survey. For each cited plant species, usage forms, plant parts, local names, and applications were recorded. Plant uses were linked to the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) to evaluate their therapeutic relevance. Medicinal plants important to the local community were identified based on the frequency of their citation (FC) and use values (UV). Quantitative data were analysed using the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and fidelity level (FL) indices. In total, 65 plant species belong­ing to 35 families were documented, with Rosaceae (13 species) and Lamiaceae (10 species) being the most represented families. The most frequently cited species were Salvia officinalis (45), Teucrium montanum (45), Sambucus nigra (33), Satureja montana (32) and Hypericum perforatum (31). The recorded plant species were most frequently cited for digestive (Mentha longifolia, Foe­niculum vulgare), respiratory (Althaea officinalis, Hedera helix), and circulatory system diseases (Beta vulgaris, Ribes rubrum). The plants were predominantly used as infusions (22.5%), juices (16.5%), foods (12.6%), and fruit (9.3%), while the most commonly used plant parts were the leaves (35.2%), flowers (33.8%), roots (12.7%), and fruits (9.9%). Species such as Helichrysum italicum (“smilje”) and Nicotiana tabacum (“duhan”) were cultivated for economic purposes, reflecting traditional practices in Herzegovina. The study demonstrates the active preservation of knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in the sub-Mediterranean region of BiH, closely linked to local ecosystems. However, demographic changes and rural-to-urban migration pose challenges to the transmission and documentation of this knowledge. The findings support future conservation efforts, ecosystem protection, and the promotion of traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in the sub-Mediterranean region.