An ethnopharmacological study of plants used for treatment of diabetes in the Southern and Tribal regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: In the southern and tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reside mainly Pashtun ethnic cultures that preferably use local plants to combat various health issues. We conducted surveys in this terrain to make an inventory of plants used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes.Methods: A purposive sampling method was applied in the selection of participants, and semi-structured interviews were used for the collection of data. Voucher specimens of each plant species were preserved in the

Euphorbia candelabrum Welw. Euphorbia tirucalli L. Euphorbiaceae

“…In Madagascar, the species serves to treaty urine retention and gonorrhea (Razafindraibe et al 2013;Rabearivony et al 2015), and for bronchitis in infants, as well as premature closure of the fontanelle (Randrianarivony et al 2016). In Pakistan used to treat diabetes (Ullah et al 2019). Euphorbia royleana latex is used to treat arthritis (Kunwar et al , 2010a(Kunwar et al , b, 2013(Kunwar et al , 2016(Kunwar et al , 2019, for fractures (Singh et al 2019), and as antiseptic (Malik et al 2015).…”

“…Euphorbia dracunculoides is used against skin parasites, acne, snakebites, and epilepsy (Umair et al 2019). Euphorbia prostrata has traditional uses for diarrhea, hepatic ulcers, eczema, bladder stones, and is used as blood purifier (Umair et al 2019) and to treat diabetes (Ullah et al 2019). Euphorbia pilulifera serves for cough, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, indigestion, pain, burns, cuts, and wounds (Umair et al 2019).…”

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill Sonchus oleraceus L. Asteraceae

“…Sonchus asper: Used for wound healing (Muhammad et al 2019) and diabetes (Ullah et al 2019). Sonchus oleraceus: The roots are used as purgative.…”

Berberis holstii Engl. Berberidaceae

“…(Batsatsashvili et al 2017;Bussmann et al 2014Bussmann et al , 2016aBussmann et al , b, c, 2017Bussmann et al , 2018Fedorov 1984). Berberis lyceum is also used for forage, and widely sold (Ahmad Jan et al 2019;Ullah et al 2019;Wali et al 2019a, b), equally to Berberis balochistanica (Umair et al 2019). The leaf and bark powder of Berberis lyceum is given to livestock for internal wounds) (Ali et al 2019).…”