| Abstract [eng] |
Final Master‘s thesis by A. Skomskytė „An Ethnopharmaceutical Investigation of Natural Product Consumption and Associated Knowledge in Naujamiestis, Vilnius”. Scientific supervisor prof. dr. J. Labokas; Institute of Biomedical Sciences (Pharmacy and Pharmacology Centre), Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University. Aim of the research: to assess the use of natural products, related knowledge, and consumption practices of natural products among older adults in the Naujamiestis district of Vilnius city. Research tasks: to identify which natural products are used by older adults for health maintenance and treatment; to determine for which health disorders natural products are most commonly used; to evaluate how knowledge related to natural products is acquired and transmitted and from which sources; and to compare the purposes of the natural products used by respondents with the indications described in scientific literature and EMA monographs. Research methods: a qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured in-depth interviews. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data were collected in March 2026 in the Naujamiestis district of Vilnius city. The study included 15 respondents over 60 years, of whom 86.7% were women (n=13) and 13.3% were men (n=2). Respondents were selected using purposive snowball sampling, where new participants were recruited through respondents already involved in the study. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and remotely, depending on the respondents’ availability. Research results and conclusions: the study revealed that respondents used 49 different natural products, the majority of which were medicinal plants and plant-based products. The most frequently mentioned products were chamomile, peppermint, linden flowers, thyme, calendula, ginger, honey, and rose hips. Natural products were most commonly used to relieve cold symptoms, improve digestion, strengthen the immune system, reduce nervous tension, and maintain general well-being. Most respondents acquired knowledge about natural products from family members, personal experience, and the transmission of traditional knowledge. Comparison of the reported indications for natural product use with EMA monographs demonstrated that many of the reported uses corresponded to officially described indications, especially in cases related to cold symptoms, digestive disorders, and urinary tract problems. However, some natural products were used based on personal experience and traditional knowledge, despite the absence of such indications in EMA monographs. Keywords: natural products, medicinal plants, ethnopharmaceutical study, older adults, Naujamiestis district of Vilnius city. |
