title: Preliminary study of plants used in ethnoveterinary medicine in Tunisia and in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A survey relative to the use of plants for the cure of animals in Tunisia was conducted in order to make a comparison with the same species (or similar ones) in central and southern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  available bibliographical data both for Italy and for Tunisia were consulted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine plants, representing 22 families, used in Tunisia in ethnoveterinary medicine were reported, and comparisons made with close species used in Central and Southern Italy. Seven of the 39 species (about the 18% of the total) are not present in Italian flora. Fourteen of the 39 species (35% of the total) are also used in Italy. Camelidae (dromedaries and camels) are the most valuable types of domestic animals cured in Tunisia, but ovines, horses, bulls, dogs are also treated. Some uses coincide with those existing in different Italian regions. The plants used are the most common and most easily found in these areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirms the convergence in ethnoveterinary medicine between Tunisia and Italy, even if it appears less significant than in human ethnobotany. Further studies are required in areas of Tunisia that have not yet been studied, in order to get the possibility of an evaluation of active compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Botany Unit, Pisa University, Via L. Ghini, 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viegi
authors.affiliation: Université de Monastir, Faculté de Pharmacie, Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, Unité de Recherche "Substances naturelles bioactives et biotechnologie (UR12 ES12)", Rue Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghedira
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002417:Cattle; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004285:Dogs; D019448:Ethnobotany; D006736:Horses; D007558:Italy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D014416:Tunisia; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D019155:Veterinary Drugs
keywords: Ethnoveterinary medicine; Italy; Plants; Tunisia