KSU TARIM VE DOGA DERGISI-KSU JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURE, cilt.22, sa.2, ss.183-192, 2019 (ESCI)
Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used as a drug to prevent disease, maintain health and wellness in traditional and modern medicine for many years. Complementary medicine practices (Traditional, alternative, and supportive medicines) are still exist despite the developing modern medicine in the world at the present time. The patients have generally prepared their own formulations by using the medicinal plants obtained from herbalist. In addition, they can collect the medicinal plants from the nature or they can purchase it from the internet, tv channels, and call centers. In this study, 20 different herbal stores were visited in/around Adana. Overall, 142 different type of medicinal plant species was found being sold in these stores. The samples obtained from the herbal stores were examined under the stereo microscope to identify the scientific names and the using parts of the medicinal plants. We clarified that the samples have mostly been used to treat rheumatism, diabetes, heart diseases, urinary system diseases, cancer, and obesity. The results of the study showed that medicinal plants sold in herbal stores were kept under unsuitable storage conditions such as optimum temperature and humidity, without a standard packaging and label. As a conclusion, current conditions in the herbal stores and selling of the medicinal plants without any inspection are potential risk for public health.