Use of Ethnomedicinal Plants by the People Living around Indus River

Abstract

The objective of present study was to document and preserve ethnomedicinal knowledge use to treat different human ailments by traditional healers of Dera Ismail Khan region, Pakistan. Field work was conducted between February 2012 and January 2013 using semistructured questionnaires. Data was collected from 120 traditional healers through questionnaire survey. Traditional healers in the study area use 70 plant species mostly herbs (57%) for ethnomedicinal and other purposes. The highest FIC values (0.80) were obtained each for gastrointestinal and kidney problems followed by respiratory infections (0.72) and skin infections (0.73). There was a significant correlation (r 2 = 0.950; p < 0.01) between the age and traditional knowledge of respondent. Direct matrix ranking indicated Morus alba and Dalbergia sissoo as highly multipurpose and threatened species in the study area. The results showed high dependency of local inhabitants on medicinal plants in meeting their primary health care needs. Moreover, the traditional knowledge has been restricted to elder people. Protection measures should be taken in order to conserve precious multipurpose species that are facing overexploitation. Medicinal plants treating major ailments in the region may be subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological investigations for the identification of bioactive compounds.

An ethnopharmacological evaluation of Navapind and Shahpur Virkanin district Sheikupura, Pakistan for their herbal medicines

“…F. benghalensis an important rubber yielding species could also be used for diarrhea while it was already reported in the study of Makerwal and Gulla Khel as blood purifier and for diabetes [49, 94]. F. religiosa is locally used for asthma, diarrhea, ulcer, molar pain and cardiac problem as in literature it was reported as laxative and wound healing [55, 95]. Local use of E. globulus is used for influenza and stomach disorder but in the previous study it was reported for respiratory disorders [48].…”

Ethnopharmacological Assessment of Medicinal Plants Used against Livestock Infections by the People Living around Indus River

“…D. I. Khan covers an area of about 7326 km 2 and is situated between 70°.11′ and 71°.20′ E longitude and between 31°.15′ and 32°.32′ N latitude [ 16 ]. D. I. Khan has mostly flat dry plains, commonly called Daman, about 80 percent of the total area [ 11 ]. Aquatic and xerophytic vegetations are commonly grown in the study area [ 17 ].…”

“…Acacia modesta , Calotropis procera , Acacia nilotica , Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Morus alba are the dominant vegetation of the study area. The maximum and minimum temperatures recorded during summer and winter are 27°C to 42°C and 20°C to 40°C, respectively [ 11 ]. Mostly rainfall occurs in the late winter and early spring while in monsoon in June and July.…”

Untitled

“…sissoo has been traditionally used for different medicinal purposes to cure various types of diseases 16 and is reported as an folk medicine and is used mainly as aphrodisiac, expectorant, emesis, ulcers, leucoderma, dysentery, stomach troubles, skin diseases 17 , anti-diarrhoeal 18 , stimulation of new bone formation 19 , anti-resorptive 20 , antiinflammatory 21 , anti-fungal 11 , anti-bacterial, antihelminthic, bronchodilator, abortifacient, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, expectorant, analgesic 22 , astringent, bleeding, piles, varicose veins 4 , osteogenic 23 , reversible suppression of spermatogenesis 24 , in heart problems 25,26 , menstrual disorders 27 as gastroprotective 28 , during jaundice 29 and also to treat sore throats, syphilis, gonorrhea and also showed anti-oxidant activity 30 which is almost two times higher than Selenium and Vitamin E. The tribal peoples of Odisha use the extract of D. sissoo for the treatment of scalding of urine 31 . Antibiotics: Ampicillin and Norfloxacin antibiotic discs were used which was purchased from Himedia, India.…”