ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN AĞRI PROVINCE, TÜRKİYE: EXPLORING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL; [TÜRKİYE'NİN AĞRI İLİNDE TIBBİ BİTKİLERİN ETNOBOTANİK ÇALIŞMASI: GELENEKSEL BİLGİ VE TEDAVİ POTANSİYELİNİN KEŞFEDİLMESİ]

Objective: This study was conducted to systematically document the use of plants, plant parts and preparation methods used by people in eight districts and sixty villages in Ağrı province. Material and Method: The medicinal plant species employed by the indigenous population for therapeutic purposes were systematically gathered and identified. Comprehensive data on traditionally utilized information were compiled, and herbarium materials were prepared. These materials have been deposited at the Iğdır National Wild Life Museum (INWM), affiliated with Iğdır University. Result and Discussion: This research identified a total of 58 taxa of medicinal plants belonging to 31 families. Among these, 50 species were found to grow naturally, while 8 species were cultivated. The predominant plant families included Asteraceae (8), Apiaceae (4), Lamiaceae (4), and Rosaceae (4). Infusion emerged as the most widely employed preparation method. The practice of traditional medicine remained prevalent among the population in Ağrı. Nevertheless, with the increasing availability of health services in the region, herbal medicine appeared to be more closely associated with healthcare and illness prevention than with curative purposes. The influx of new immigrants also contributed to the erosion of traditional knowledge. Notably, there is a discernible decline in traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants, both among younger generations and due to migration. Furthermore, this research serves as a foundational resource for prospective scientific inquiries aimed at the development of novel commercial drugs derived from plant sources. © 2024 University of Ankara. All rights reserved.