Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 16(4), October 2017, pp. 562-567 Traditional use of Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz in two regions of southern Algeria and contribution to study the antioxidant activity Hamida Saida Cherif*, Rekia Ferrah, Amel Bennacer, Ghania Tail & Fairouz Saidi Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment and Health, Department of Population and Organismal Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Blida1, Route de Soumaa, BP270, Blida, Algeria E-mail: cherifhamida@yahoo.fr Received 04 May 2016, revised 10 April 2017 Algerian flora holds a rich diversity of medicinal and endemic plants, many of which are used in Algerian traditional medicine and have the potential to provide pharmacologically active natural products. The present study focuses on a spontaneous species of the central and Septentrional Sahara, Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz. The ethnobotanical survey of 122 people, among herbalists, town’s people and traditional healers took place in two towns; Tamenrasset and Bechar. Various informations were collected on the traditional use of the chamomile of the Sahara, its various vernacular names (Ouazouaza) and preparation methods, such as decoction (38.80 %). Similarly, it was proved that many diseases are treated by the use of Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz, such as joint disease (26.20 %), fever (17.50 %), cough (14.50 %), and asthma (11.70 %). Regarding the toxicity of the plant, the majority of respondents (96.70 %) reported the absence of side effects. The survey on the field was very profitable, therefore, the Sahara chamomile is a species to preserve and increase. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, coumarins, flavonoids and saponins, the antioxidant power of infused is put out by the iron reduction method (FRAP) and it proved good comparing with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Keywords: Matricaria pubescens (Desf.) Schultz, Ethnobotanical survey, Tamenrasset and Bechar (Algeria), Antioxidant activity IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00, C09K 15/00 In recent decades there has been an increasing interest in the study of medicinal plants and their traditional use in different regions of the world 1 . The ethnobotanical survey has proved one of the most reliable ways for the discovery of new drug approaches. The study was conducted in order to gather information on the Sahara chamomile and its therapeutic uses practiced in Tamenrasset and Bechar (South and south-West of Algeria respectively). Matricaria pubescens (Desf) Schultz (Asteraceae), which includes 1500 species 2,3 many of which are used in pharmacy 4 or conservation through their antioxidant properties 5,6 . Matricaria pubescens (Desf) Schultz is found throughout the northern and central Sahara 3 , it is an endemic North African species, more common in Ahaggar the sandy, stony and viscous wadis 6 , the steppe and desert pasture 7 . In addition, several biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities are attributed to the chamomile 8-10, and analgesic activity 11 . In some areas in Algeria, such as EL Goléa, Beni-Abbes and Ouargla, it has many traditional uses to treat rheumatism, aches, eye diseases, cough, allergy, dysmenorrheal, etc. 5 . This work contributes to the knowledge of an endemic species of the Sahara; our study fits into the framework of the biodiversity valorization of Algerian aromatic plants and their preservation and the enhancement of traditional medicine. To do so, an ethnobotanical research is important to collect information on the different uses of the Sahara chamomile, with herbalists, traditional healers and some populations of Tamenrasset and Bechar pursuit with a phytochemical screening and a test of the antioxidant activity. Methodology Ethnobotanical survey The ethnobotanical survey was conducted in two regions in the South of Algeria “Tamenrasset and Bechar” Fig. 1. Both of them have a hot desert climate, with a very hot summers and mild winters. There is a very little rain throughout the year; the rainfall is 46 mm for Tamenrasset and 100 mm for Bechar. Tamenrasset lies at an elevation of 1392.5 m and its coordinates are 22° 46’N for the North latitude and longitude 05°29’ E, however Bechar lies at an ————— *Corresponding author