Abstract & Overview
Medicinal plants still remain a source of medical care in developing countries, in the absence of a modern medical system. The use of herbal medicine is deeply rooted in our culture, because Algeria is renowned for the richness of its medicinal flora which includes hundreds of plant species. Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich., the species reported in this study is traditionally used in Algeria for a wide range of illnesses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of it. Many herbalists (two hundred) in different regions in Northern Algeria (Tébessa, Khenchela, Oum El Bouaghi, Constantine, Skikda were questioned to recognize the toxicological concern of E. elaterium in Algerian traditional medicine in these regions.