The present study was conducted in the province of Duhok (Northern Iraq) between 2011-2012. The study attempted to determine the use of certain indigenous and cultivated plants in Duhok province in alternative medicine and place of these plants in systematics. Thus, 49 taxa in 27 genera and 46 species were identified. Two taxa belonged to Coniferophyta, one belonged to Pteridophyta and 46 belonged to Magnoliophyta dividions. It was determined that the family with the most numerous taxa in the region was Rosaceae with 5 taxa, followed by the Fabaceae and Lamiaceae family with 4 taxa and Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae and Poaceae family with 3 taxa each. Certain ethnobotanical features of the identified taxa, such as systematics, habitats, flowering times, local names and alternative uses in medicine were presented.

Plants have been used for many purposes in different communities. Plants used in alternative medicine since ancient times have been the main material in the treatment of many diseases. In this context, it is very important to determine the biological potential of plants. In our study, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of Euphorbia eriophora Boiss. were determined. The aerial parts of the plant were extracted with ethanol in a Soxhlet device. TAS, TOS and OSI values of the plant extract were determined using Rel Assay kits. In addition, the free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was measured by the DPPH method. As a result of the studies, the TAS value of the plant extract was 5.390±0.227, the TOS value was 20.971±0.348, and the OSI value was 0.390±0.014. The DPPH activity of the plant extract was determined to have an inhibition value of 68.721±1.694% at 2 mg/mL concentration. As a result, in our study, it was determined that E. eriophora has antioxidant potential and can be used as a natural antioxidant agent in this context.