The assessmenT of The level of knowledge and The use of planT-derIved preparaTIons among people reporTIng To The rehabIlITaTIon deparTmenT In lublIn

The use of plant-derived compounds in medicine arouses more and more interest. Most plants contain numerous active ingredients that may have therapeutic effects on the human body. For many years, herbs have been used as medicinal agents. However, it is necessary to learn about the chemical content of the plant as well as how they work on the human body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of preparations containing plant extracts and the assessment of respondents’ knowledge about plant resources with medicinal properties. The study group consisted of people who visited the Rehabilitation Department in Lublin. Respondents voluntarily filled out the questionnaire consisting of 21 questions. 33 persons were examined in total. More than 77% of those who participated in the study have ever applied preparations of plant origin. More than half rated their level of knowledge about medicinal plants as small. Respondents gained knowledge about data on herbs and herbal supplements from several sources. None of the respondents considers preparations containing plant extracts as fully safe for the body and no one would use it without consulting a doctor first. The majority of respondents (over 63%) rated the effectiveness of the plant-derived compounds as good. Over 90% of respondents noticed positive effects of the use of plant supplements. Most respondents did not use compounds of plant origin which might slow down the body’s aging process or improve memory and concentration. However, more than half of the respondents applied preparations containing sedative plant extracts. As seen in the studies and the discussion above, the prevalence of the use of plant-derived compounds among respondents is relatively large. Respondents do not have sufficient knowledge of these substances. Almost all respondents notice the positive impact of plant compounds on the body. There is a need for educational campaigns among society to enrich the knowledge on the use of herbal medicine and its side effects in details. key words: medicinal plants, herbal supplements 1 Student Scientific Society of Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Radziwiłłowska 11; 20-080 Lublin, Poland; zgkumlub@wp.pl 2 Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; zgkumlub@wp.pl 72 Modern Phytomorphology 8 (2015) well as how they work on the human body. In society there is a mistaken belief that natural products, and thus the plants, are harmless to our health. It is important to remember that incompetent use of herbs, contrary to the adopted recommendations, may cause very serious consequences, sometimes even leading to death (Drozd 2012). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of preparations containing plant extracts and the assessment of respondents’ knowledge about plant resources with medicinal properties. material and methods The study group consisted of people who visited the Rehabilitation Department in Lublin to treat trauma and injuries caused during the Winter Sports Camp. Respondents voluntarily filled out the questionnaire consisting of 21 questions and demographic data. 33 persons were examined in total. Not all respondents answered all questions in the questionnaire. Among the respondents, there were 21 women, representing 72.41% of those who reported their gender, and 8 men, which accounted for 27.59%. Research techniques that have been used to collect data in the context of this study is a questionnaire developed by the authors of publication. Questions related to the medicinal use of products containing plant extracts and checked the respondents’ knowledge on the most commonly used herbs. Interviews with respondents had the character of direct interview and were conducted personally by the authors of publication. The survey also included some metrical part, which contained questions about gender, education, type of work, place of residence. Respondents were also asked to subjectively rate their health condition and to identify their lifestyle.