Browsing by Author "Aksakal, Ö."

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An Ethnobotanical Investigation on Medicinal Plants in South of Erzurum (Turkey)
(Ilia State University, Institute of Botany, Department of Ethnobotany, 2019) Karakaya, S.; Polat, A.; Aksakal, Ö.; Sümbüllü, Y.Z.; İncekara, U.
Background: This study reports the results of ethnobotanical research performed in Cat, Tekman, Hınıs, Karacoban, Karayazı situated in the southern region of Erzurum. The ethnobotanical results include quantitative data on the diversity of medicinal plants and other usages documented in districts. Methods: We quantitatively analyzed the diversity of medicinal plants and their uses in these districts. We collected this information through open and semistructured interviews and questionnaires. We also collected samples of plants with the informants which were deposited at the Herbarium of the University of Ataturk. Our results were analyzed quantitatively using ethnobotanical indexes ICF, FL, UV. Results: A total of 98 medical plants belonging to 34 families were identified in this study. Amongst these, 84 taxa are wild while 16 taxa are cultivated. The most common preparations were decoction. These 98 medicinal plants are used for medicinal purposes (we recorded 164 medicinal remedies) although, among these, 58 plants are also used as food or for other purposes. Conclusions: The traditional medicine was still extensive among the people in Erzurum. However, there is a gradual loss of traditional information to the usage of medicinal plants in younger generations. © 2019, Ilia State University, Institute of Botany, Department of Ethnobotany. All rights reserved.
An Ethnobotanical Study on Plants Used in the Treatment of Gynecological Diseases in Some Provinces of the Eastern Anatolia Region
(Sakarya University, 2023) Karakaya, S.; Kimişoğlu, Z.; İncekara, U.; Aksakal, Ö.; Sümbüllü, Y.Z.; Polat, A.
This work was supported by “The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.” It was carried out to document the plants used by people living in and around Ardahan, Iğdır and Kars provinces between 2020-2021 for gynecological diseases. For this purpose, medicinal plants used by the public for therapeutic purposes were collected and determined, their use, and parts used were reported, and herbarium samples were prepared. Regular visits were arranged to the regions where the research was carried out, and surveys were conducted by interviewing and speaking with the area's people. It was determined that 34 medicinal plant taxa belonging to 18 plant families were used in gynecological diseases among the people of Ardahan, Iğdır and Kars provinces and their surroundings. These plants include 26 wild species and 7 cultivated species. It has been observed that the most commonly used medicina plant families in gynecological diseases are Asteraceae (6), Malvaceae (5) and Lamiaceae (3). Although traditional medicine is widely practiced in the regions where it is studied, it is rapidly being replaced by modern medicine and pharmacy. © 2020, Historical and Geographical Institute of Rio Grande do Sul. All rights reserved.
Ethnozoological Documentation of Traditional Vertebrate-Based Practices in the Mountainous Regions of Eastern Anatolia from Erzurum, Ardahan, Iğdır, and Kars (Turkey)
(Smujo International, 2025) Karakaya, S.; Kimişoğlu, Z.; İncekara, Ü.; Polat, A.; Sümbüllü, Y.Z.; Aksakal, Ö.
Karakaya S, Kimişoğlu Z, İncekara Ü, Polat A, Sümbüllü YZ, Aksakal Ö. 2025. Ethnozoological documentation of traditional vertebrate-based practices in the mountainous regions of Eastern Anatolia from Erzurum, Ardahan, Iğdır, and Kars (Turkey). Asian J Ethnobiol 8: 57-78. The mountainous and moorland regions of Eastern Anatolia, particularly Erzurum, Ardahan, Iğdır, and Kars, harbor a wealth of traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal and cultural use of vertebrate species. This study aims to document and analyze local ethnozoological practices, emphasizing the cultural significance of vertebrates in traditional healthcare systems shaped by Turkey's diverse ecological and socio-cultural landscape. Between 2017 and 2021, an ethnobiological field survey was conducted across 180 villages (Erzurum: 60, Ardahan: 40, Iğdır: 30, Kars: 50), involving 600 participants, including traditional healers and knowledgeable community members. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, informal interviews, and participant observations and analyzed using the Fidelity Level (FL) index. A total of 28 vertebrate species from 26 genera and 23 families were recorded, yielding 249 distinct applications. These uses were categorized into culturally embedded domains: human medicine (135 uses), utilitarian practices (81), veterinary treatments (24), and plant-based remedies for animal health (9), reflecting the interwoven nature of cultural and medicinal knowledge systems. Notably, nine species exhibited high consensus in use, with FL values ranging from 94 to 98%. These results underscore the enduring relevance of animal-based remedies and the integration of zoological knowledge into local health traditions. By situating the findings within a broader ethnobiological framework, this study contributes to global discussions on biocultural heritage preservation. It supports the call for biodiversity conservation strategies informed by indigenous knowledge systems. © 2025, Smujo International. All rights reserved.