Introduction: Ethnomedicinal studies indicate that herbal medicine can be used as a treatment alternative for skin disorders. Skin diseases have a significant influence on life quality. Medicinal plants are important in healthcare and have a major role in enhancing community security and health. Here for the first time, the potential therapeutic benefits and confirm the effectiveness of six medicinal plants used in Makkah to treat skin diseases are investigated. Therefore, the present paper aims to screen of 6 medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Makkah to treat skin, diseases for the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and tannins, and to answer the following question: Is the ethnomedicinal importance of medicinal plants used in Makkah to treat skin diseases conform to their secondary metabolite content.
Methods: Fieldwork took place in Makkah during May 2023. Six different plant species that are members of six families were identified. Using standard methods, six medicinal plants were screened for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids,glycosides, and tannins.
Results: As a result of this work, the components found in medicinal plants that are most frequently distributed were flavonoids (100%; 6 species). All the 4 groups of chemical compounds were found in leaves of Aloe vera, which is one flora of Saudi Arabia.
Conclusions: The existence of these groups appears to confirm the effectiveness of using these medicinal herbs in Makkah's ethnomedical practice to cure skin diseases. Moreover, ethnobotanical investigations require phytochemical screening in order to complete traditional medicine research, which results in the development of novel medications.
