title: Traditional use of the native medicinal plant resource of Mt. Rtanj (Eastern Serbia): ethnobotanical evaluation and comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study reports on the uses of medicinal plants and ethnobotanical significance of Mt. Rtanj, Eastern Serbia. The aim of the study was collecting information on plant utilization and creating the list of medicinal plants collected by local community in the region of Rtanj Mt. in Serbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of generally elderly people from the region were interviewed, asked to identify a certain number of plant taxa used against various human ailments. A quantitative ethnobotanical comparison has been performed in relation to other studies concerning the central Balkan Peninsula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is an inventory of 45 plant species recorded. At the family level, the most common in traditional usage were species of Labiatae (22%), Rosaceae (20%) and Compositae (13%). The results of the survey suggested that Hypericum perforatum was the most popular medicinal plant. Among the 7 different recorded types of preparation, the aerial parts of plants were the most popular (47.3%). The most frequently reported medicinal uses of herbal drugs include remedies for immune system (22.97%), respiratory system (15.77%) and digestive system disorders (15.32%). However, a comparatively small number of available plant species was used for medicinal purposes while the level of ethnobotanical diversity was lower when compared to adjacent regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethnobotanical knowledge in this area is decreasing due to high emigration rates during the last period. The historically developed ethnobotanical heritage should be preserved and promoted on the larger level, getting the special position in the future management plans for this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Višegradska 33, University of Niš, Serbia. Electronic address: bojanzlat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bojan K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Zlatković
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Association of Serbia, Dečanska 8a, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: stefan.bogosavljevic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stefan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bogosavljević
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Višegradska 33, University of Niš, Serbia. Electronic address: a.radivojevic@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Aleksandar R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Radivojević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Geogrphy, Studentski Trg 3/1, Univeristy of Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: mila.pavlovic2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mila A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pavlović
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D019448:Ethnobotany; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000145:classification*; D055771:Serbia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Balkan Peninsula; Comparison; Ethnobotany; Medicinal plant resource; Rtanj Mt.