Standard questionnaires were used in this study. Traditional therapeutic information about effective plants on depression and anxiety was acquired by questionnaires. The questionnaires contained the names of medicinal plants along with information about the organ used, the traditional effect of the plant and the traditional method of use. Also, the questionnaire included the demographic information of the participants. For this purpose, then the researchers of the study personally and face-to-face attended the interviews with the local people of the Arasbaran region. First, a written consent was obtained from the interviewees to participate in the study, then they were asked questions about the types of plants and the parts used in these plants and how they are used in the treatment of disorders such as depression and anxiety, and they were included in the questionnaire. After the end of data collection, the extracted data were analyzed by Excel software.

Results

According to the results acquired from the analyses of the questionnaire, it was shown that of 31 apothecaries, 68% (21 people) were men and 32% (10 people) were women. In terms of education, 4 people were educated and 27 people were uneducated and just answered questionnaires by experiential learning. Apothecary's age range was from 19 years to 77 years (the average age was 48 years).

Numerous types of medicinal plants have been used to treat depression and anxiety in the city of Azerbaijan (Table 1). According to table 1 and results that have been obtained from statistical analysis of questionnaires, twelve medicinal plants are effective in treating common psychiatric diseases and the Labiatae plant family with 4 were the most effective ones in this regard (Figure 2). The most widely used plant organs for the treatment of common psychiatric syndromes consist of aerial parts (36%), fruits (22%), flowering branches (each with 21%), and flowers (14%) (Figure 4).

Figures & Tables

Inadequate internal and international research has been performed on ethnobotany and psychiatric diseases including depression and anxiety all around the world. The findings of various research showed that Iran is a distinguished country with a high rank in terms of plant richness and biodiversity due to its geographical location and prevailing climatic conditions [19]. Many medicinal herbs have been recognized as having positive properties for dealing with psychiatric disorders. Generally, their main mechanism of action is because of the active components such as terpenoids and

polyphenols with anxiolytic and antidepressant properties [20]. Moreover, the antidepressant activity of most medicinal plants is due to increasing the level of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain by interacting with the serotonergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic receptors, relevant transporters or by inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase [21]. Hypericum perforatum is a plant whose antioxidant activities have been confirmed [22, 23]. Hypericum contains hypericin and hyperforin, which has an inhibitory impact on the monoamine oxidase enzyme, and by avoiding the degradation of serotonin and rising this neurotransmitter in the brain diencephalon section, also contains components which are agonists of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and receptors of sigma opioid, cause anti-anxiety and anti-depressant features [24].

As mentioned in Figure 4, the people of the region use different parts of these plants, such as flowering branches, aerial parts, flowers, fruits, and seeds for various diseases. The results of the study of Ramzannejad and Parishani, who introduced some medicinal plants of the Maymand region in Kerman province, show that among the plant organs used, leaves, seeds, and roots have the most medicinal uses among the local people [25, 26]. Meanwhile, the results of Mehrabani et al.'s research in Baft city of Kerman

province indicate that aerial branches, fruits, and seeds have the highest amount of use among local people [26]. Also, Maliki Khadrlou et al, in the study of ethnobotany and traditional uses of some herbs of Ajabshir city in Iran reported that the leaf organ is the most functional part of medicinal plants with 49% use [27]. The methods that Iranian people used native medicinal plants are often brewed, boiled, sweat, raw, and soaked in water [25, 28]. In this regard, the findings of Gholipour et al. in the ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Zarmarud Neka village (Mazandaran province) showed that the most common way of consuming medicinal plants in the study area is infused and boiled, and the least amount in the field of consumption is as a spray [29].

In the study by Hosseini et al., who identified and investigated the ethnobotanical selection of medicinal plants in Neyshabur city of Iran, the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Apiaceae plants were identified as the most effective medicinal plants in the treatment of digestive diseases, colds, and especially mental diseases. They have been used for centuries as painkillers and sedative drugs [30]. Based on Erfani and Shahsavari, 2012 study on the effect of the herbal extract on the anxiety of students in Karaj showed that Hypericum perforatum has a positive effect in reducing anxiety levels in students, and since the lack of side effects of this herbal extract it is suggested in the cure of Anxiety [31]. Cynodon dactylon is traditionally used as hypnotics, Heracleum persicum, Kelussia odoratissima, and Pimpinella anisum are effective sedatives, and Crataegus curvisepal as anti-anxiety and stress medicine in Khuzestan, which is located in the south of Iran [32]. For example, the Kashan region, located in the center of Iran, use Potentilla elvendensis to relieve headache [33]. Locals in Abhar (northwestern city of Iran) use several herbs for treating mental diseases such as Lotus corniculate and Herniaria hirsute for depression, Descurainia sophia and Cota tinctoria to relieve headaches [34]. Identifying and comparing different uses of plants in the study area as well as other parts of Iran prove the similarity of uses among similar plant species in different regions of the country. For example, Hypericum perforatum L., Origanum vulgare, Ballota nigra, Rosa canina, Papaver orientale & Lotus corniculatus, and Asperula odorata are used to treat pain, migraine, nerve weakness, insomnia stress in the Arasbaran district, Iran, respectively. Herbal medicines are rich in effective substances and antioxidants, and in this way, they are used in the treatment of many diseases [35-39]. The results of the present study show that some medicinal herbs are pharmacologically the same or have relatively similar therapeutic properties to those studied in other studies. These results confirm that most of the medicinal plants in different regions have almost the same edible and medicinal functions among local communities.

The anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties of the native plants which have been grown in the Arasbaran district of Iran were determined. The findings of this study show that the Arasbaran region has almost good richness in terms of diversity of plant species and especially medicinal species. Native medicinal plants of the Arasbaran region are traditionally utilized to treat common psychiatric diseases and can be applied as natural and effective treatments for disorders such as depression and anxiety. Due to the phytochemical compounds of medicinal plants and also lack of side effects they can be employed to produce nature-based, anti-anxiety, and depression drugs and antioxidants.

Author Contributions

AJ conceived idea and wrote most part of this manuscript; IHK did experimental work, contributed in paper writing and draw structures of the compounds; FAC did final editing; and MFHF monitored GC-MS analysis.w.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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