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Medicinal plants from salt range Pind Dadan Khan, district Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
The paper presents ethno-medicinal information collected on 69 plant species belonging to 41 families from the salt range, Pind Dadan Khan, district Jehlum, Pakistan. The purpose of the study was to collect, codify and conserve indigenous traditional knowledge of local flora for the benefit of the community and its environment. The people have their distinct ways of life, beliefs and traditions; and have been using local plants for various purposes for generations. It was found that the community had a rich tradition of using plant resources for common ailments; and that it preferred plant based medicines, owing to their ready availability and low cost, with no stated side effects. It was found that the products, depending upon type, were formulated as powders, decoctions, leaf extracts or pastes, and were commonly used for prevalent disorders; and that the area is under intense deforestation, biotic interference and overgrazing. Consequently, valuable economic and medicinal plants are under threat of depletion at a rate that urgently calls for strategies aimed at sustainable utilization of these plants. As a first step, it is suggested that plant based industries and markets be better organized and promoted in such way that any plans for poverty alleviation are synchronized with those for conservation.
... This plant is a blood purifier and febrifuge whereas bark has vermifuge action (Phua et al., 2008). Crushed leaves in water are effective in skin infections (Iqbal et al., 2011); leaf extract is a blood purifier and painkiller whereas dry foliage is used to cure jaundice, allergy, constipation and leprosy (Mushtaq et al., 2012). Flowers and leaves are diuretic, emmenagogue and used to relieve headache and cold inflammation. ...
... Flowers and leaves are diuretic, emmenagogue and used to relieve headache and cold inflammation. Seeds are active in the treatment of rheumatism; seed powder is recommended for piles while seed oil is laxative, brain tonic and used in the treatment of earache and liver ailments Iqbal et al., 2011). Roots are astringent, effective against vomiting, belching, heart disease, headache, fever, leukoderma, blood impurities, ulcer and uterine pains. ...
... Seeds are identified to be carminative, emetic, anthelmintic, galactagogue, aphrodisiac, diuretic, antithrombotic, emmenagogue, phlegmatic, purgative and strengthening the vision (Aghili, 2009;Tonkaboni and Momenin, 2007). They are used for psychosis, epilepsy, loss of memory, kidney stones, chronic headache, dropsy, rheumatism, colic, jaundice and sciatica (Aghili, 2009;Iqbal et al., 2011). Mixture of P. harmala and flax seeds along with honey has been used for the management of dyspnea. ...
Traditional medicines implicate consumption of plant crude extracts, which may consist of extensive phytochemical diversity. Overall, the most biologically active extract of Peganum harmala (seeds) exhibited significant cytotoxic activity on Artemia salina with LC50 value of 61.547 µg/mL, while P. harmala (roots) [LC50 = 124.229 µg/mL] and M. azedarach (fruits) [LC50 = 147.813 µg/mL] showed moderate cytotoxic potential. P. harmala (seeds) extract also showed the maximum antitumor potential with 52.278 µg/mL LC50. Branches of P. harmala and Morus alba were not active in both bioassays. These outcomes were further reinforced by the levels of phenolics and flavonoids checked against gallic acid and quercetin equivalents, respectively, by standard curves. Current study aims to isolate, structurally characterize and analyze the bioactive compound from plant extracts by using chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques. Bioactivity guided isolation of extracts led to the isolation of PH-HM-16 from ethyl acetate fraction P. harmala seeds. Chemical structure of PH-HM-16 was elucidated by ESI-MS, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HSQC and IR spectrum. The results demonstrated significant positive anticancer activities against six human cancer cell lines assessed through MTT cancer cell growth inhibition assay. PH-HM-16 was most effective against prostate cancer cell lines [IC50 = 17.63 µg/mL] followed by breast cancer cell line MCF7 [IC50 value of 41.81 µg/mL]. IC50 value of PH-HM-16 against human myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60 and human colorectal tumor cells HCT-116 was observed as 68.77 µg/mL and 71.54 µg/mL respectively. The IC 50 value of PH-HM-16 compound was not significant against human gastric cancer SGC-7901 (111.89 µg/mL) and human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line A549 (176.04 µg/mL). Isolated bioactive metabolite PH-HM-16 possesses significant antitumor potential so this could be the first step to develop an effective anticancer agent. Hence, this compound represents a promising potential to be chemically standardized or developed into pharmaceuticals for the chemoprevention and/or the treatment of certain types of cancer, especially as adjuvant phytotherapeutics in conventional chemotherapy.
... Ethnobotanical trends showed use of the fruits of Ziziphus jujuba to cure GIT disorders and chronic diseases (Mussarat et al., 2014;Lev and Amar, 2002), while the market survey of Punjab found that the seeds and bark of Z. jujuba were also used as skin tonic and for the treatment of fevers and joint disorders. The wax of Cinnamomum camphora was reported in Iqbal et al., 2011;Mussarat et al., 2014 Mati and De Boer, 2011;Lev, 2006 Curcuma longa L. ...
... Asthma, eye sight, diabetes, weakness Liver tonic diabetes toothache, blood purifier, gas trouble, constipation, Yaseen et al., 2015;Iqbal et al., 2011;Qureshi et al., 2011;Noman et al., 2013;Mussarat et al., (continued on next page) Zahoor et al., 2017;Mussarat et al., 2014;Qureshi et al., 2012;Mati and De Boer, 2011;De Albuguerque et al., 2007, Camejo-Rodrigues et al., 2003Lev and Amar, 2002 Qureshi et al., 2012;Bibi et al., 2014;Xavier et al., 2014 Zahoor et al., 2017;Islam et al., 2014;Lev, 2006;Lev and Amar, 2002 Brassica compestris L. Mahomoodally and Muthoorah, 2014;Iqbal et al., 2011;Lev, 2006, Macia et al., 2005 Vitex negundo L. Headache, throat pain, wound healing, liver disorders, swelling of joints and muscle Digestive problems, urinary disorders, eye tonic, asthma, fever, Ahmad et al., 2011, 2014a,b, Jain et al., 2009Islam et al., 2014;Malla et al., 2015 Lawsonia inermis L. ...
... Asthma, eye sight, diabetes, weakness Liver tonic diabetes toothache, blood purifier, gas trouble, constipation, Yaseen et al., 2015;Iqbal et al., 2011;Qureshi et al., 2011;Noman et al., 2013;Mussarat et al., (continued on next page) Zahoor et al., 2017;Mussarat et al., 2014;Qureshi et al., 2012;Mati and De Boer, 2011;De Albuguerque et al., 2007, Camejo-Rodrigues et al., 2003Lev and Amar, 2002 Qureshi et al., 2012;Bibi et al., 2014;Xavier et al., 2014 Zahoor et al., 2017;Islam et al., 2014;Lev, 2006;Lev and Amar, 2002 Brassica compestris L. Mahomoodally and Muthoorah, 2014;Iqbal et al., 2011;Lev, 2006, Macia et al., 2005 Vitex negundo L. Headache, throat pain, wound healing, liver disorders, swelling of joints and muscle Digestive problems, urinary disorders, eye tonic, asthma, fever, Ahmad et al., 2011, 2014a,b, Jain et al., 2009Islam et al., 2014;Malla et al., 2015 Lawsonia inermis L. ...
The objective of the present study is to evaluate commercially important herbal medicinal plant products present in herbal markets in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Herbal medicine is undoubtedly a reliable alternative approach to healthcare delivery in this metropolis because it is economical, accessible, and efficacious. Ethnobotanical information was collected from approximately 300 informants including certified and uncertified herbalists. The sample size was determined by statistical formulation. The informative data was based on semistructured interviews, group discussions, questionnaires, and field visits. The data was analyzed by different quantitative indices, such as informant consent factor (ICF) and frequency of citation (FC). Availability of almost 96 plants belonging to 51 families was reported in commercial markets. The most frequently traded plant species were from the family Fabaceae (11 species). Herbs (30.20%) are sold more frequently than shrubs and trees. Leaves (22.11%) and seeds (17.58%) are being commonly sold in herbal markets as traditional medicines. The mode of administration for the majority of medicinal plants was through extraction (25.57%) and paste. Almost 12 species were found with different modes of administration as mentioned previously in the literature. Ten species were uncovered for new medicinal uses. Generally, herbal medicines were acquired from dried plant material, and their price per kg of plant species varied from Rs 20/- to 2000/- PKR. The species reported with the highest price was Buchanania lanzan Spreng, and the species with the lowest price was Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC). Papar Mandi (Lahore) is the largest trade center of herbal medicine in Punjab. Different symptoms of diseases and their traditional diagnostic methods were also explored.
... Due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties [65], powder of dried leaves is mixed with butter and layered on wounds and boils in both humans and animals [59,65,69]. Dried plant powder is also utilized against jaundice [61,63]. ...
... To our knowledge, apart from hispaninic acid (51) and hispanonic acid (52), isolated from B. hispanica [104,105], limbatenolides A (54), B (55), D (57), E (58) [107,109], and limbetazulone (53) [106], isolated from O. limbata and limbatenolide C (56), isolated both from O. limbata [107] and O. persica [108] tinjute Ethiopia stomach-ache, evil eye, fever [51] tinjute Ethiopia repellent of mosquito and house fly, antimalarial [52,53] tinjute Ethiopia Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus [54] chiendog Tigray, Ethiopia ectoparasites in livestock [55] chiendog Tigray, Ethiopia repellent of mosquitos [47] tungut Central Ethiopia evil eye [48] North Ethiopia vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, dysentery [46] North Ethiopia sterilization, ritual custom [56] O. limbata bui, phut kanda Northwest Pakistan treatment of childrenʼs gums and for ophthalmia in men, boils, wound, scabies [57][58][59] pishkand Battagram, Pakistan jaundice [60,61] spin azghay Malakand, Pakistan dental problems, wounds, cuts, narcotic, tonic, anticancer and goiter [62] bui Punjab, Pakistan treatment of childrenʼs gums and for opthalmia in man [63] sassa Chon. Karak, Pakistan treatment of childrenʼs gums and for opthalmia in man [61] chitta jand Jhelum, Pakistan acidity [64] chittakanda Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan antiseptic, antibacterial, wound healing, ophthalmia, gum diseases [65] spin azghay Dir lower, Pakistan hypertension [66] jand Azad Kashmir, Pakistan used to improve eye vision [67] Abottabad, Cherat, Mardan, Malakand, Kohat, Pakistan antiulcer, antispasmodic, antidepressant, opthalmia and gums diseases [68] koribooti Himalaya wound healing [69] O. persica golder Baluchistan, Iran diabetes, rheumatism, cardiac distress, reducing palpitation, hypertension, laxative, carminative, antipyretic, cold, hyper lipidemia, gastric discomfort, parasite repellent, sedative, headache [17] O. tomentosa North Ethiopia ascariasis, diarrhea [46] viburnumoside (from Viburnum cylindricum Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don) [122]. ...
... Clerodane diterpenods (▶ Fig. 3) showed, differently from labdanes, both a trans junction and a cis junction of the decalin moiety (64)(65)(66). Apart from ballodiolic acid (62) and ballodiolic acid A (63), all the other compounds showed the C-13/C-16 as furane ring (67,68) or γ-lactone. Common features to all compounds are the absence of functionalizations at C-1, C-2, C-7, C-11, C-12, Me-17, Me-19, and Me-20 and the presence of a carboxylic acid on C-18 that, in some cases, is lactonized with the hydroxyl group on C-6 (59,61,63,64,(67)(68)(69)(70). ...
The 2 genera Ballota and Otostegia, belonging to the Lamiaceae family, are closely related taxonomically and found mainly in the Mediterranean area, Middle East, and North Africa. Since ancient times, they have been largely employed in traditional medicine for their biological properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-malaria, etc. Phytochemical investigations of Ballota and Otostegia species have revealed that diterpenoids are the main constituents of the genera. A large number of flavonoids and other metabolites were also identified. This review, covering literature from 1911 up to 2018, includes traditional uses, chemical profiles (both of volatile and nonvolatile metabolites), and biological properties of all the taxa of these 2 genera studied to date.
... One cup of decoction of whole plant is given in case of painful delivery on daily basis. Khan et al. (2015), Iqbal et al. (2011, Gulshan et al. (2012), Shah et al. (2013 Amaranthus angustifolius var. silvester Thell. ...
... Root extract is mixed with egg albumin used for syphilis Shah et al. (2006), Ishtiaq et al. (2012 Malva parviflora L. Tikalai, Khubazi H Leaves Tehsil Birmal, S.W Agency, Jhehlam Used in menses. Khan et al. (2013), Iqbal et al. (2011 Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench ...
... Its seeds are also used to regulate the menstrual cycle. Khan et al. (2015), Alamgeer et al. (2013), Iqbal et al. (2011), Bahadur et al. (2013 Datura metel L. Barbaka S Whole plant Lakki Marwat It is used to treat gonorrhea. Khan et al. (2013) Datura alba Burbaka H Seeds, fruit, leaves, bark KPK It is used to treat hemorrhoids. ...
Edited by OM Grace Gynecological problems and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are greatly affecting women health especially in developing countries due to lack of modern reproductive health facilities, poverty and different cultural norms. Consequently, a large population of Pakistan turns toward ethno-medicinal healthcare systems due to accessibility , affordability, availability and an inherent trust in this method. The present review was framed by searching different search engines for the collection of fragmented literature on indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used by Pakistani women to treat gynecological complaints and STIs. In total, 116 plant species used in Pakistan to treat a variety of gynecological complaints and STIs. The dominant plant families used for the preparation of herbal remedies are Asteraceae and Amaranthaceae. Majority of the plants were reportedly found to be used against menses (46 plant species) followed by gonorrhea (30 plant species). The frequency of citation was also found higher for these two complications, which might be due to the higher prevalence of these problems in Pakistan. The highest number of plant species (59) was reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan due to more cultural resistance as compared to other provinces. Sørensen similarity index showed the highest consensus between Pashtun and Punjabi cultures of Pakistan in terms of plants and parts usage for species Convolvulus arvensis, Justicia adhatoda, Achyranthes aspera, Berberis lycium, Punica granatum and Withania somnifera. Interestingly, these plants were also reported to treat multiple reproductive problems indicating their high bioactivity. Thirteen plants including A. aspera and P. granatum have also been reportedly evaluated pharmacologically and found active confirming the efficacy of traditional medicines. Few plants (17% of total) were reportedly evaluated for toxicity, among which Nerium oleander, Euphorbia hirta and Acacia nilotica showed toxic effects on living systems. The present findings stress the need for further in-depth studies on the phyto-chemical, pharmacological and toxicological aspects of commonly important medicinal plants used for multiple gynecological complaints and STIs in different cultures in order to provide reliable information to the primary users and development of novel drugs.
... One cup of decoction of whole plant is given in case of painful delivery on daily basis. Khan et al. (2015), Iqbal et al. (2011, Gulshan et al. (2012), Shah et al. (2013 Amaranthus angustifolius var. silvester Thell. ...
... Root extract is mixed with egg albumin used for syphilis Shah et al. (2006), Ishtiaq et al. (2012 Malva parviflora L. Tikalai, Khubazi H Leaves Tehsil Birmal, S.W Agency, Jhehlam Used in menses. Khan et al. (2013), Iqbal et al. (2011 Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench ...
... Its seeds are also used to regulate the menstrual cycle. Khan et al. (2015), Alamgeer et al. (2013), Iqbal et al. (2011), Bahadur et al. (2013 Datura metel L. Barbaka S Whole plant Lakki Marwat It is used to treat gonorrhea. Khan et al. (2013) Datura alba Burbaka H Seeds, fruit, leaves, bark KPK It is used to treat hemorrhoids. ...
Gynecological problems and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are greatly affecting women health especially
in developing countries due to lack of modern reproductive health facilities, poverty and different cultural norms.
Consequently, a large population of Pakistan turns toward ethno-medicinal healthcare systems due to accessibility,
affordability, availability and an inherent trust in this method. The present review was framed by searching
different search engines for the collection of fragmented literature on indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants
used by Pakistani women to treat gynecological complaints and STIs. In total, 116 plant species used in Pakistan to
treat a variety of gynecological complaints and STIs. The dominant plant families used for the preparation of herbal
remedies are Asteraceae and Amaranthaceae. Majority of the plants were reportedly found to be used against
menses (46 plant species) followed by gonorrhea (30 plant species). The frequency of citation was also found
higher for these two complications, which might be due to the higher prevalence of these problems in
Pakistan. The highest number of plant species (59) was reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of
Pakistan due to more cultural resistance as compared to other provinces. Sørensen similarity index showed the
highest consensus between Pashtun and Punjabi cultures of Pakistan in terms of plants and parts usage for species
Convolvulus arvensis, Justicia adhatoda, Achyranthes aspera, Berberis lycium, Punica granatum and Withania
somnifera. Interestingly, these plants were also reported to treat multiple reproductive problems indicating
their high bioactivity. Thirteen plants including A. aspera and P. granatum have also been reportedly evaluated
pharmacologically and found active confirming the efficacy of traditional medicines. Few plants (17% of total)
were reportedly evaluated for toxicity, among which Nerium oleander, Euphorbia hirta and Acacia nilotica showed
toxic effects on living systems. The present findings stress the need for further in-depth studies on the phytochemical,
pharmacological and toxicological aspects of commonly important medicinal plants used for multiple
gynecological complaints and STIs in different cultures in order to provide reliable information to the primary
users and development of novel drugs.
... This evergreen herbaceous weed, typically found in temperate, tropical, or Mediterranean regions, can spread as thick mats on the ground, with stems reaching up to 2 m. Historically recognized as both a food source and traditional medicine since the 18th century [20], C. arvensis has been widely used in folk medicine for ailments such as rheumatism, skin issues, infections, diabetes, and digestive disorders [21]. ...
Background
The Convolvulus genus is distributed all over the world and has a long history in traditional medicine. As nanotechnology expands its reach into areas like drug delivery and biomedicine, this study intends to assess the potential of Convolvulus arvensis L. extracts as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents, along with chemical profiling of the methanolic (MeOH) extract active ingredients.
Methods
The chemical composition of an 85% MeOH extract was investigated by liquid chromatography with an electrospray source connected to mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). Both the 85% MeOH extract and n-butanol fraction of C. arvensis were loaded for the first time on alginate/chitosan nanoparticles. The 85% MeOH extract, n-butanol fraction and their loaded nanoparticles were tested for their cytotoxicity, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity (against pathogenic bacteria, E. coli and S. aureus).
Results
The chemical investigation of 85% MeOH extract of C. arvensis underwent LC-ESI-MS analysis, revealing twenty-six phenolic substances, of which 16 were phenolic acids, 6 were flavonoids, 1 glycolipid, 1 sesquiterpene and 2 unknown compounds. The FT-IR spectra confirmed the encapsulation of the 85% MeOH extract and n-butanol fraction onto alginate/chitosan nanoparticles and small size obtained by TEM maintained them nontoxic and enhanced their anti-inflammatory activity (the IC50 was decreased from 1050 to 175 µg/ml). The anti-cancer activity against HepG2 was increased and the cell viability was decreased from 28.59 ± 0.52 to 20.80 ± 0.27 at a maximum concentration of 1000 µg/ml. In addition, the MIC of encapsulated extracts was decreased from 31.25 to7.78 µg/ml in E. coli (Gm-ve) and from 15.56 to 7.78 µg/ml in S. aureus (Gm + ve) bacteria.
Conclusion
Both alginate and chitosan are excellent natural polymers for the encapsulation process, which affects positively on the bioactive constituents of C. arvensis extracts and improves their biological properties.
... Murad (Murad et al., 2013) also reported the plant parts used as cooling agents, painkillers, and for domestic use. A. barbadensis leaf extract was used for skin problems and joint pains in the study area. (Iqbal & Sher, 2011) reported using plant parts for diabetic patients with skin problems. The leaves and fruits of A. caudatus were used for diabetic patients, heart patients, and hypertension patients. ...
The current study investigated wild plant resources and health risk assessment along with northern Pakistan's mafic and ultramafic regions. Ethnobotanical data was collected through field visits and semi-structured questionnaire surveys conducted from local inhabitants and healers. Six potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were extracted with acids and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS, Perkin Elmer-7000) in nine selected wild medicinal plants. Contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were used to determine the health risk assessment of the studied medicinal plants. The results showed that the selected medicinal plants were used for the treatments of cough, joint swelling, cardiovascular disorders, toothaches, diabetes, and skin pimples by the local inhabitants due to their low-cost and easy accessibility. The concentrations of Pb (3.4–53 mg kg–1), Cd (0.03–0.39 mg kg–1), Ni (17.5–82 mg kg–1), Cr (29–315 mg kg–1), Mn (20–142 mg kg–1), and Zn (7.4–64 mg kg–1) in the studied medicinal plants were found above the safe limits (except Zn) set by WHO/FAO/USEPA (1984/2010). The Pb contamination factor was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in A. modesta (7.84) and D. viscosa (6.81), and Cd contamination factor was significantly higher in C. officinalis (26.67), followed by A. modesta (8.0) mg kg–1. Based on PTE concentrations, the studied plants are considered not suitable for human consumption purposes. Pollution load index values for A. modesta, A. barbadensis, A. caudatus, A. indica, C. procera (2.93), D. viscosa (2.79), and C. officinalis (2.83), R. hastatus (3.12), and Z. armatum were observed as 1.00, 2.80, 2.29, 2.29, 2.93, 2.79, 2.83, 3.12 and 2.19, respectively. Hazard index values were in order of R. hastatus (1.32 × 10–1) ˃ C. procera (1.21 × 10–1) ˃ D. viscosa (1.10 × 10–1) ˃ A. caudatus (9.11 × 10–2) ˃ A. barbadensis (8.66 × 10–2) ˃ Z. armatum (7.99 × 10–2) ˃ A. indica (6.87 × 10–2) ˃ A. modesta (5.6 × 10–2) ˃ C. officinalis (5.42 × 10–2). The health risk index values suggested that consumption of these plants individually or in combination would cause severe health problems in the consumers. Pearson's correlation results showed a significant correlation (p ≤ 0.001) between Zn and Mn in the studied medicinal plants. The current study suggests that wild medicinal plants should be adequately addressed for PTEs and other carcinogenic pollutants before their uses in the study area. Open dumping of mining waste should be banned and eco-friendly technology like organic amendments application should be used to mitigate PTEs in the study area.
... It is estimated that more than 5 million populations reside in the border areas. Similarly, the bordering territories of the Punjab province of Pakistan with India have been poorly investigated as compared to other areas for instance (Umair et al. 2017), (Gulshan et al. 2012), (Iqbal and Sher, 2011), (Ahmed et al. 2014), (Ahmed et al. 2015) etc. The study area possesses intriguing flora and vegetation and host considerable human population (Waheed et al. 2021). ...
Background: Ethnobotanical studies underpin the understanding of plant-people interaction in any geographical area along with the conservation strategies and priorities. The current study was carried out in the marginalized communities residing along the North Eastern Indo-Pak border of Depalpur and its adjoining areas of the Punjab Province, Pakistan.
... Around, six to seven hundred plant species have medicinal importance (Muhammad et al. 2019). From Pakistan, ethnomedicinal work has been done from various regions (Ishtiaq et al. 2021;Hussain et al. 2021, Iqbal et al. 2011, Iqbal et al. 2019, Parvaiz 2014, Rashid et al. 2015. Malakwal is a Tehsil of District Mandi Bahauddin which is located between two main rivers of Punjab. ...
Background: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the aboriginal knowledge regarding use of medicinally important plant species from Tehsil Malakwal, District Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan.
Methodology: A total of 120 inhabitants (75women and 45 men) were interviewed by using semi structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed qualitatively as well as by using quantitative indices of Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Jaccard Index (JI).Results: A total of 60 medicinally important plant species belonging to 35 families were reported from study area. Plant diversity showed that Fabaceae (20%) was dominating family. Herb (55%) was leading life form of plants and leaves (31.03%) showed maximum usage for medicinal purpose. Decoction (20.92%)was most common mode of utilization. RFC and UV ranged from 0.16-0.90 and 0.02 to 1, respectively.9 plant species showed 100% fidelity level. The highest ICF value was recorded for gastrointestinal disorders (0.96). The value of Jaccard Index ranged from 0.54 to 28.24%. Some of medicinal plants showed new medicinal uses not reported in previous studies. Conclusion: Study concludes that local inhabitants still prefer medicinal plants over allopathic medicine for treating various ailments. But this precious knowledge is restricted to old age people. So, awareness is necessary to conserve this knowledge.
... Convolvulus arvensis L. (family Convolvulaceae) locally known as Field Bindweed or Leli, is a persistent, creeping perennial weed with wide distribution in temperate and tropical regions of Pakistan (Khan and Hayat, 2015). In folk medicine, it is used as laxative and also found to cure in cough, flu, chronic ulcers and some skin diseases (Iqbal et al., 2011). Whole plant is employed as a sedative to treat the painful joints, inflammation and swelling. ...
... At moment, only a few botanical researches have been conducted in the salt range or western parts of the study area, and majority of these are linked to record the plant uses and/or ethnobotany (Ahmad et al., 2009;Ahmad et al., 2010;Iqbal et al., 2011;Bibi et al., 2014;Ajaib et al., 2021;Majeed et al., 2021b;Majeed et al., 2022). Similarly, only three vegetation studies (viz. ...
Vegetation composition and/or plant species coexistence is influenced by the environmental variations in any region. The ecological knowledge and order of importance of selected environmental variations is important in conservation and management of plant resources. Based on relevant knowledge gap, the study area of district Jhelum, Pakistan lying in an arid-tropical zone was selected to explore the vegetation types and their driving environmental factors by using latest multivariate statistical approaches. For this, the entire district was ecologically explored to collect the natural wild vegetation and environmental data from January 2018 to December 2020. The study area was partitioned into 171 grids (5 × 5 km 2). In each grid, three sites were randomly selected (i.e. 513 samples), and subsequently-nine plots were laid at each sampling site (i.e. 1539 plots). Different statistical tests including Monte Carlo permutation test, Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), hierarchical classification, ordination, and variation partitioning were applied to seek the potential number of vegetation types, plant species composition, classification of the studied samples, order of importance of the considered predictors and groups of environmental variables respectively. The findings of this study indicated that all the documented 291 plant species belong to five statistically significant (p < 0.05) plant communities. Out of thirty (30) considered environmental variables, canonical correspondence analysis suggested the significant role of distance from the river, altitude, latitude, slope, temperature, rainfall, distance from the cropland, grazing and deforestation pressure, and soil pollutants including chromium, arsenic and nickel concentrations. Similarly, plant diversity patterns were found strongly associated with the selected local environmental conditions. This study concluded that distance from the river (a potential leading proxy of ground water table depth) is relatively more important than the rainfall variability in this tropical arid area. Hence, the relative proportion of xerophytic plant species was found higher in the western parts compared to eastern parts adjoining the river Jhelum. Anthropogenic disturbances and potentially toxic metals were found disrupting the normal ecosystem functioning at the local scale in this arid tropical region, and need immediate attention to save the valuable local biodiversity.
... At moment, only a few botanical researches have been conducted in the salt range or western parts of the study area, and majority of these are linked to record the plant uses and/or ethnobotany (Ahmad et al., 2009;Ahmad et al., 2010;Iqbal et al., 2011;Bibi et al., 2014;Ajaib et al., 2021;Majeed et al., 2021b;Majeed et al., 2022). Similarly, only three vegetation studies (viz. ...
Vegetation composition and/or plant species co-existence is influenced by the environmental variations in any region. The ecological knowledge and order of importance of selected environmental variations is important in conservation and management of plant resources. Based on relevant knowledge gap, the study area of district Jhelum, Pakistan lying in an arid-tropical zone was selected to explore the vegetation types and their driving environmental factors by using latest multivariate statistical approaches. For this, the entire district was ecologically explored to collect the natural wild vegetation and environmental data from January 2018 to December 2020. The study area was partitioned into 171 grids (5 × 5 km2). In each grid, three sites were randomly selected (i.e. 513 samples), and subsequently-nine plots were laid at each sampling site (i.e. 1539 plots). Different statistical tests including Monte Carlo permutation test, Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), hierarchical classification, ordination, and variation partitioning were applied to seek the potential number of vegetation types, plant species composition, classification of the studied samples, order of importance of the considered predictors and groups of environmental variables respectively. The findings of this study indicated that all the documented 291 plant species belong to five statistically significant (p
... At moment, only a few botanical researches have been conducted in the salt range or western parts of the study area, and majority of these are linked to record the plant uses and/or ethnobotany (Ahmad et al., 2009;Ahmad et al., 2010;Iqbal et al., 2011;Bibi et al., 2014;Ajaib et al., 2021;Majeed et al., 2021b;Majeed et al., 2022). Similarly, only three vegetation studies (viz. ...
Vegetation composition and/or plant species coexistence is influenced by the environmental variations in any region. The ecological knowledge and order of importance of selected environmental variations is important in conservation and management of plant resources. Based on relevant knowledge gap, the study area of district Jhelum, Pakistan lying in an arid-tropical zone was selected to explore the vegetation types and their driving environmental factors by using latest multivariate statistical approaches. For this, the entire district was ecologically explored to collect the natural wild vegetation and environmental data from January 2018 to December 2020. The study area was partitioned into 171 grids (5 × 5 km 2). In each grid, three sites were randomly selected (i.e. 513 samples), and subsequently-nine plots were laid at each sampling site (i.e. 1539 plots). Different statistical tests including Monte Carlo permutation test, Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), hierarchical classification, ordination, and variation partitioning were applied to seek the potential number of vegetation types, plant species composition, classification of the studied samples, order of importance of the considered predictors and groups of environmental variables respectively. The findings of this study indicated that all the documented 291 plant species belong to five statistically significant (p < 0.05) plant communities. Out of thirty (30) considered environmental variables, canonical correspondence analysis suggested the significant role of distance from the river, altitude, latitude, slope, temperature, rainfall, distance from the cropland, grazing and deforestation pressure, and soil pollutants including chromium, arsenic and nickel concentrations. Similarly, plant diversity patterns were found strongly associated with the selected local environmental conditions. This study concluded that distance from the river (a potential leading proxy of ground water table depth) is relatively more important than the rainfall variability in this tropical arid area. Hence, the relative proportion of xerophytic plant species was found higher in the western parts compared to eastern parts adjoining the river Jhelum. Anthropogenic disturbances and potentially toxic metals were found disrupting the normal ecosystem functioning at the local scale in this arid tropical region, and need immediate attention to save the valuable local biodiversity.
... A decoction of this plant is used by local physicians to treat viral diseases. Medicinal properties of this plant include its use as a resolvent, diuretic, emmenagogue and abortifacient [21]. ...
Haloxylon stocksii (family: Chenopodiaceae) is a succulent halophyte shrub tolerant to environmental stresses making it suitable for cultivation in saline land of arid and semi-arid regions because it is tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought and high temperature. It has useful applications that contain fruiting tops and stem as animal feed, different plant parts for medicine, and re-establishment of tarnished lands. One major factor hindering its successful development and promotion is the inadequate and scattered knowledge available on these species. The purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of H. stocksii by summarizing information on occurrence, ecology, medicinal and other uses, cultivation and ethnobotany to stimulate interest to promote its domestication and commercialization for regional and global markets. Moreover, it also summarized reported phytochemistry and pharmacological activities.
... A literature review shows that the majority of ethnomedicinal studies in Pakistan are centered on the Himalaya range [18,19], some studies are reported from the Karakoram [20][21][22], Hindu Kush [23,24] and Salt ranges [25,26], while remote tribal areas of the Sulaiman Mountains are neglected. The present study, therefore, aims to investigate and document the traditional medicinal knowledge and approach, and the materia medica among a tribal community in the Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills. ...
Background
Little is known about the medical material and practices of tribes in the western border areas of Pakistan. The local population has inhabited this remote and isolated area for centuries, and gained medicinal knowledge with personal experiences and knowledge learned from forefathers. Due to the geographical isolation of the communities in the Sulaiman hills of Pakistan and their unique culture, the area is of importance for exploration and assessment.
Methods
A total of 116 informants were interviewed in five foothill villages and the associated migratory mountain villages during 2010–2012 and 2015. Information was gathered mainly through semi-structured interviews and freelisting. Local diseases were categorized based on symptoms and affected organs. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
Results
Depending on the type of illness, typically a pulse diagnoser or a religious specialist is consulted. Medicinal plant knowledge and use is mostly known and advised by elders within the family. A total of 44 plant species from 32 families (588 use reports), 7 animal species and 6 minerals and other sources (384 use reports) were documented as materia medica. Among the plants, the Lamiaceae is the most dominantly used plant family, followed by Pinaceae. The most frequently reported single species was Teucrium stocksianum . The most often mentioned diseases and treatments fall into the categories of gastrointestinal, ritual, and musculoskeletal diseases. The use of goat and sheep skin as medicine was pivotal in the local medicinal system. Remedies from animal parts and other biological and non-biological sources were mainly used for musculoskeletal ailments and ritual treatments. Overall, people rely on both traditional and biomedical medication and treatments and combination of these systems.
Conclusion
This paper provides insight into the pluralistic medication system of rural communities of northwest Pakistan. It highlights the materia medica most commonly in use. A considerable part of the documented materia medica and local practices is part of an oral tradition and cannot be found in written sources or scientific articles. The gaining of new medicinal knowledge in the area was the good sign of continuation of traditional medicinal practices.
... Besides, boiled infusions of A. maurorum act as a urinary disinfectant [16]. Moreover, A. maurorum is proven to be protective in various other conditions such as mercury poisoning and rheumatism [17] and is active against microbial and viral organisms [18]. Previously, the plant has also been reported for its phytochemical composition. ...
In this paper, we have established the biological, chemical, and in silico effects of methanol and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of Alhagi maurorum roots regarding antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and phytochemical composition. Total bioactive contents were determined spectrophotometrically, and the individual secondary metabolites composition of methanol extract was assessed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) analysis. Antioxidant capacities were evaluated using a panoply of assays including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant power (CUPRAC), phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and metal chelating activity (MCA) assays. Similarly, the enzyme inhibition potential was studied against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, urease and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes. The methanol extract was found to contain higher total phenolic (105.91 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (2.27 mg RE/g extract) contents which can be correlated to its more substantial antioxidant potential as well as AChE, BChE, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibition. However, the DCM extract was the most effective against α-amylase (1.86 mmol ACAE/g extract) enzyme inhibition. The UHPLC-MS analysis of methanol extract identified the tentative presence of a total of 18 secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, saponins, phenolic and terpenoid derivatives. Three compounds named emmotin A, luteolin 5,3'-dimethyl ether, and preferrugone were further investigated for their in silico molecular docking studies against the tested enzymes. The selected compounds were found to have higher binding interaction with AChE followed by BChE, α -glucosidase, α-amylase, and tyrosinase. The results of the present study have demonstrated A. mauroram to be considered as a lead source of natural antioxidant and enzyme inhibitor compounds.
... It was further investigated that Fagonia with fraction 90% dilution I and fraction 30% with dilution I and dilution II had shown significant activity against the urease. Previously Armando et al. reported that urease inhibitory activity of methanol extracts from ten Guatemalan Piper species [32]. Here, all fractions demonstrated significant correlation regarding anti-urease activity in comparison with the control, which conformed the already published data [33]. ...
... Rosa damascena Miller is member of the genus Rosa, family Rosaceae [17,18]. In ancient medicine, Rosa damascena has been utilized for many therapeutic effects such as curing chest and abdominal pain and digestion problems and reducing inflammation [19,20]. ...
The present study was proposed to investigate the toxicological and prophylactic potential of ethanolic extracts of Rosa damascena and Nymphaea alba and their mixture in albino mice. For toxicity study, three different doses of plant extracts were orally administrated to three groups of mice for 14 successive days. Blood biochemistry and histological examinations of liver and kidney revealed that these extracts had no harmful effects up to 1000 mg/kg. To determine the prophylactic effects of Rosa damascena , Nymphaea alba , and their mixture, an infection model of Listeria monocytogenes was established in a pilot study. Establishment of infection was confirmed by changes in haematological parameters and reisolation of Listeria monocytogenes from different tissues. Results showed that these extracts alone or in combination could restrict the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in different organs. Neutrophils were high in positive control group but remained in normal range in all treated groups. Listeria monocytogenes was recovered in low numbers from animals treated with extract of single plant but was negligible in group treated with mixture of extract of plants. Platelets count was increased in treated groups as compared to control. Results confirmed that these extracts are potent source of antimicrobial compounds and that they have synergistic effect in combined form.
... Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan is located at the southern side of the District Jhelum bearing an area of 875 square miles and lies between 32°27 and 32°50 North and 72°32 and 73°29 East. Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan is also known for its exceptional richness in some minerals including salt, gypsum, coal, fire clay and limestone [11] . For the purpose of the study of taxonomy of mosquitoes from tehsil Pind Dadan Khan, broad spectrum surveys of different localities of thearea were conducted in order to obtain a diversified collection of the specimens. ...
A total of 11 mosquito species were identified including Culex univittatus, Culex fuscitarsis, Culex gelidus, Culex hutchinsoni, Culex fuscocephala, Culex bailyi, Culex nigropunctatus, Culex bahri, Culex plantaginis, Culex flavicornis, Culex brevipalpis. Three of these identified species were an addition to the fauna of mosquitoes of Pakistan which are Culex bahri, Culex plantaginis, Culex flavicornis. The specimens were collected from the localities of Jalalpur Sharif, Jinnah Park, Hindu Temple, Khewra, Dharyala Jalap, Haran Pur, Lilla and Railway Station. The objective of this study was to collect and identify the mosquito specimens from Tehsil, Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum up to species level as well as description of the fauna of mosquitoes from the study area.
... Enhances cognitive function Improves the learning and memory Kumar & Gupta 2002 Neuroprotective effect in Alzheimer's disease Soumyanath et al., 2012 Prevents memory deficits & memory impairment Kumar et al., 2011 Whole plant Significant neuroprotective effects Protects brain against age related diseases Subathra et al., 2005 Neuroprotective effecs Enhance the cognitive functions Omar et al., 2011 Anti-Parkinson's action Improves learning and memory Protects the brain from age related oxidative damage Khotimah et al., 2015 Neuroprotective Elevates memory Iqbal et al., 2011Congnitive enhancement Krishna 2013Enhances learning Mohd Salim et al., 2013 Neuroprotective effect against PD Alzheimer's disease. ...
Ayurveda is one of the ancient traditional healthcare systems that originated in India. A number of herbal-based medicinal preparations have been used for the treatment of health disorders associated with the nervous system. According to Alzheimer’s disease Facts and Figures, millions of people around the world are suffering with cognitive impairment. Cognitive ailments and diseases are a group of disorders associated with mental health. The cognitive disorders mainly comprise of acute and chronic or reversible or irreversible conditions such as amnesia, delirium, and various types of dementia. These disorders primarily cause deficits in cognitive tasks associated with awareness, insight, knowledge, memory, and problem-solving skills. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that occurs due to excessive protein deposition inside and outside the neuron, oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and excitotoxicity. These neurotoxic mechanisms cause synaptic disturbance, alteration of neurotransmission leading to neurodegeneration. Centella asiatica is a well-known medicinal herb used in Ayurveda to improve cognitive functions since ancient times. In this article, we review the therapeutic potential of Centella asiatica in relation to its neuroprotective properties.
... It has long funnel like corolla, generally white to very pale pink. The microchemical screening tests bySher et al.,(2011)in different parts of the plant reported that its root contain alkaloid, mucilage, anthraquinone derivatives, saponins, tannins, starch, fat, protein and cellulose; stem part contains mucilage, anthraquinone derivatives, calcium oxalate, saponins, starch, fat, protein, cutins and cellulose; leaf consists of mucilage,calcium oxalate,tannins, starch, fat, protein, cutins and cellulose and flower contains alkaloid, mucilage, anthraquinone derivatives, calcium oxalate, tannins, starch, fat, protein and cellulose.Adams et al., (1986)reported the yield of plant species in hexane as 1.95% MeOH as 30.76% and total extract yield with 32.71% of dry weight. ...
... Moreover, mostly leaves were used for the preparation of herbal compositions [38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. This trend of plant part used is observed not only in NavaPind and Shahpur Virkan but throughout the province [45][46][47][48]. However, in other provinces particularly in KPK, whole plant utilization for curing various diseases is common practice [49]. ...
Background
The chief aim of this study was to enlist the ethnobotanical uses of wild plants in district Sheikhupura, province Punjab, Pakistan. Due to extreme geographical and climatic conditions, Pakistan has a great floral diversity. Plants have been used by the indigenous people for treatment of different ailments since long. They are still dependent on the plants for their domestic purposes. Moreover, plants are used as first aid to treat diverse ailments such as cold, cough, influenza, asthma, cancer, antidote, gastric and hepatic disorders. The traditional uses of medicinal plants lead to the discovery of natural drugs. This is first quantitative ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants in NavaPind and ShahpurVirkan district Sheikhupura, province Punjab, Pakistan. Methods
This ethnobotanical information was collected from about 400 informants including male and female. Sample size was determined by statistical formula. The informative data was based on semi-structured interviews, group discussions, Questionnaire and field visits. Then the data was analyzed by applying different quantitative indices such as Informant Consent Factor (ICF), Use value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), the Fidelity level (FL) and Jaccard Index (JI). ResultsAlmost 96 plants belonging to 34 families were reported. Most-frequently cited families were Poaceae (16 species) and Fabaceae (15 species). The most dominant life form was herbs (30.20%). The most-used plant parts were leaves (31.14%), followed by whole plant (24.59%), Most common mode of administration is extraction (81.25%). Generally herbal medicines were acquired from fresh plant material. Among all 54.16% plants were toxic, 31.25% were nontoxic, whereas the remaining 14.58% may be toxic or nontoxic because of their dual attitude. Almost 34 species were reported with their different medicinal uses as has been reported in literature. Conclusions
This ethnobotanical documentation revealed that the plants are still used by natives of rural areas in their day-to-day lives. This study provides basis for the conservation of local flora. Plants with high ICF, UV and FL can be further used for phytochemical and pharmacological studies. This documentation could provide baseline information which can be used to develop new plant-based commercial drugs.
... Moreover, mostly leaves were used for the preparation of herbal compositions [38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. This trend of plant part used is observed not only in NavaPind and Shahpur Virkan but throughout the province [45][46][47][48]. However, in other provinces particularly in KPK, whole plant utilization for curing various diseases is common practice [49]. ...
Background: The chief aim of this study was to enlist the ethno botanical uses of wild plants in district Sheikhupura, province Punjab, Pakistan. Due to extreme geographical and climatic conditions, Pakistan has a great floral diversity. Plants have been used by the indigenous people for treatment of different ailments since long. They are still dependent on the plants for their domestic purposes. Moreover, plants are used as first aid to treat diverse ailments such as cold, cough, influenza, asthma, cancer, antidote, gastric and hepatic disorders. The traditional uses of medicinal plants lead to the discovery of natural drugs. This is first quantitative ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants in NavaPind and ShahpurVirkan district Sheikhupura, province Punjab, Pakistan.
Materials and Method: This ethnobotanical information was collected from about 400 informants including male and female. Sample size was determined by statistical formula. The informative data was based on semi-structured interviews, group discussions, Questionnaire and field visits. Then the data was analyzed by applying different quantitative indices such as informant consent factor (ICF), Use value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), the Fidelity level (FL) and Jaccard Index (JI).
Result: Almost 96 plants belonging to 34 families were reported. Most-frequently cited families were Poaceae (16 species) and Fabaceae (15 species). The most dominant life form was herbs (30.20%). The most-used plant parts were leaves (31.14%), followed by whole plant (24.59%),Most common mode of administration is extraction (81.25%). Generaly herbal medicines were acquired from fresh plant material. Among all 54.16% plants were toxic, 31.25% were nontoxic, whereas the remaining 14.58% may be toxic or nontoxic because of their dual attitude. Almost 34 species are reported with their different medicinal uses as has been reported in literature.
Conclusion: This ethnobotanical documentation revealed that the plants are still used by natives of rural areas in their day-to-day lives. This study provides basis for the conservation of local flora. Plants with high ICF, UV and FL can be further used for phytochemical and pharmacological studies. This documentation could provide baseline information which can be used to develop new plant-based commercial drugs.
... Jan et al. 4 reported medicinal plants from Dir Kohistan. Iqbal et al. 5 documented 69 plants from Garhwal Himalaya, India. The present research is an attempt in compilation of data in that continuity. ...
A detailed study was conducted in flowering season of 2013 to investigate the traditional uses of some important medicinal plants taxa by local community in Maidan, Dir (L). Study revealed that 30 plant species belonging to 16 families are used for the treatment of various health problems. Out of these, 9 herbs are used as stomachache, 7 diuretic, 6 expectorant, 5 in constipation, 4 each as antispasmodic and eye sight. Ethnomedicinal information was mostly collected from the traditional healer, herbalists, elders and Pansaries by means of semi structural questionnaire, group discussion and interview. It was also observed that some species had single use whereas other had multiple uses.
... dysentery, diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, eczema, ringworm infection and leprosy (Ullah et al. 2013). The plant is also used as a deworming agent (Alyemeni et al. 2010), heart rate and temperature regulator (Khuroo et al. 2007), and as a vesicant and rubefacient for cattle (Iqbal & Sher 2011). The phytochemical screening of R. muricatus has revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, carbohydrates, coumarins, phenolics and phytosterols (Ibrar & Samreen 2012), along with cardioactive glycosides, tannins and saponins (Aslam et al. 2013). ...
Phytochemical investigation of Ranunculus muricatus L. (Ranunculaceae) led to the isolation of a new metabolite named as ranuncoside from the ethyl acetate fraction of the plant. Structure of the novel compound was elucidated through detailed spectroscopic analyses, using UV, IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR and 2D NMR in combination with EIMS and HR EI-MS techniques. The compound was evaluated for antioxidant activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Its inhibitory potential was tested against lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase enzymes. Ranuncoside potently scavenged the DPPH free radicals (IC50 = 56.7 ± 0.43 μM) and strongly inhibited the activities of lipoxygenase (IC50 = 63.9 ± 0.17 μM) and xanthine oxidase (IC50 = 43.3 ± 0.22 μM).
... The hepatoprotective effects of henna extracts are associated with the polar extracts and therefore most likely with the presence of phenolic compounds, corresponding to the ethnopharmacological use of decoctions for the treatment of jaundice and other liver disorders in India and Pakistan (Punjani and Kumar, 2003; Iqbal et al., 2011; Sharma et al., 2012). Polar extracts were demonstrated to have a protective effect against CCl 4 -induced liver toxicity in mice and rats (Anand et al., 1992; Bhandarkar and Khan, 2003; Jalalpure et al., 2003). ...
Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is applied to stain keratin, present in hair, skin and fingernails, a red-orange or rust colour. Producers of temporary tattoos mix the aromatic amine compound, para-phenylenediamine (PPD) into natural henna to create ‘black henna’ that rapidly stains the skin black. However, PPD may cause severe delayed hypersensitivity reactions following skin contact. This study proposes a rapid direct-analysis method to detect and identify PPD using an atmospheric pressure solids analysis probe (ASAP) coupled to a Q-ToF mass spectrometer (MS). Since laborious, multistep methods of analysis to determine PPD are undesirable, due to the instability of the compound in solution, a screening method involving no sample preparation steps was developed. Experiments were carried out to optimise the corona current, sample cone voltage, source temperature, and desolvation gas temperature to determine ideal ASAP-Q-ToF-MS analysing conditions. Eleven of the 109 henna samples, originating from various countries, tested positive for PPD when henna products were screened using ASAP-MS, without any form of sample preparation other than grinding. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-ToF-MS) was subsequently used to confirm the results from ASAP and to determine the concentrations of PPD in henna products. The allergen was detected in the same eleven samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.05-4.21% (w/w). It can be concluded that the sensitivity of the ASAP-MS technique is sufficient (limit of detection = 0.025% w/w) to allow screening of henna samples for the presence of PPD. This relatively new technique can be applied to commercial products without extraction, sample treatment or chromatographic separation.
... The anthropogenic activities like deforestation, urbanization, introduction of the exotic species, over grazing pose serious threats. Similar study was conducted in salt range Pind Dadan Khan for the conservation of the indigenous traditional knowledge for the benefit of the community and environment [16]. It is well predictable that the difficulties arising from conservation and development are connected, and so efforts should be made to tackle these problems [17].According to current conservation strategies like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) focuses on the need of human's efforts for the conservation of flora [18][19]. ...
Medicinal usage of plants is one of the superior characteristic on which mankind is dependent upon since ages. Plants are being used for the treatment of various diseases of humans and animals. The Changa Manga Forest is designated as National Park located in Kasur, District. It consists of vast biological panorama, constituting many plants of the medicinal values. The purpose of this study was to preserve native traditional knowledge of plant’s usage, promotion of awareness and its significance to the domestic and international entrepreneur, identifying the flora, density and conservation of species. Ethno-medicinal survey was conducted in the periphery of the Changa Manga. The survey identified many plants at study site. Some of them including their medicinal values are Ageratum conyzoid, Anaglis arvensis, Coronopus didymus, Cannabis sativa, Fumairia officianalis, Oxalis corniculata, Sonchus oleraceus, Rumex crispus, Euphorbia heliscopia, Prosopis cineraria, Mentha spicata etc .They are used by the indigenous people for the treatment of ulcers, dysentery, eye problems, burns, malaria, insomnia, hepatitis, cough, cholera, insect stings, gastric problems respectively. Plants like Capparis deciduas Cleome Viscosa, Suaeda Fruticosa, Malvastrum coromendelianum are present in few numbers, but surpassing medicinal values, highlighting the need of conservation. Responsiveness of the botanist is required to focus on the sustainable use, conservation and management strategies are required for valuable medicinal species so that sustainable production, with the balanced ecosystem and development may lead the country to sustainable income and other welfare.
This book series invites all the Specialists, Professors, Doctors, Scientists, Academicians, Healthcare professionals, Nurses, Students, Researchers, Business Delegates, and Industrialists across the globe to publish their insights and convey recent developments in the field of Nursing, Pharmaceutical Research and Innovations in Pharma Industry. Book series on Pharmacy and Nursing covers research work in a set of clinical sciences and medicine
Background
This ethnobotanical study in Dunyapur, District Lodhran, Pakistan, focuses on traditional medicinal knowledge, exploring 41 plants across 28 families. The research involves 496 informants from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, herbalists, housewives, teachers, and shopkeepers. The prevalence of herbs (68%) aligns with their accessibility and rapid regrowth, shaping the local medicinal landscape. The study investigates socio-demographic features, emphasizing the importance of considering the community's diverse perspectives.
Methods
The research employs quantitative ethnobotanical data analysis, introducing various indices like PPV, FUV, FIV, RFC, UV, and RI. The analysis of plant growth habits underscores the dominance of herbs, and the method of preparation evaluation identifies decoction as the most common (23%). Leaves (27%) are the most utilized plant part, and Resedaceae stands out with the highest FUV (0.38). FIV highlights the ecological and cultural significance of Poaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae.
Results
The RFC values range from 0.016 to 0.032, with Cucumis melo having the highest value (0.032), indicating its frequent citation and cultural significance. The study reveals specific plants like Melia azedarach, Peganum harmala and Salvadora oleoides with high PR values for skin issues, reflecting their widespread acceptance and effectiveness. Oligomeris linifolia emerges with the highest UV (0.38), emphasizing its greater significance in local traditional practices. Leptadenia pyrotechnica records the highest RI (9.85), underlining its exceptional importance in the community's traditional pharmacopeia.
Conclusion
The findings offer a holistic understanding of ethnobotanical knowledge in Dunyapur, emphasizing the role of local contexts and ecological factors in shaping traditional plant uses. The study contributes valuable insights into the diverse practices within the community, laying the foundation for sustainable integration of traditional knowledge into broader healthcare frameworks.
Convolvulus arvensis L. is an evergreen herb growing in various regions of Pakistan. Despite of several medicinal properties associated to this herb, it was not investigated scientifically for its bioactive compounds and detailed pharmaceutical properties. Therefore, its methanolic extract was divided into hexane (CA‐H), chloroform (CA‐C), ethyl acetate (CA‐E) and butanol (CA‐B) soluble fractions. CA‐H and CA‐C were found rich in phenolics (30.73±0.63 and 20.15±0.59 mg GAE/g of the extract respectively), and the same fractions exhibited significant antioxidant activities (DPPH: 5.23±0.11 & 12.34±0.17 mg TE/g extract, respectively; ABTS: 36.82±0.04 & 56.74±0.61 mg TE/g extract, respectively). Also in CUPRAC activity assay, CA‐H and CA‐C exhibited highest activities as 87.30±0.46 and 56.74±0.61 mg TE/g extract, respectively, while CA‐C was most active in FRAP activity assay with value of 40.21± 2.19 mg TE/g extract. Total antioxidant capacity (1.23±0.033 mmol TE/ g extract) was also found higher for CA‐C, while CA‐H activity was also comparable, however, CA‐H showed higher metal chelating activity (22.74±0.001 mg EDTAE/g extract) than that of CA‐C (17.55± 0.22 mg EDTAE/g extract). These activities clearly revealed a direct relation between antioxidant potential and phenolic contents of CA‐H and CA‐C. In AChE and BChE inhibitory assay, CA‐H and CA‐E showed better inhibition (AChE: 8.24±0.77 & 4.46±0.007 mg GALAE/g extract; BChE: 5.40±0.02 & 1.92±0.24 mg GALAE/g extract) as compared to other fractions, whereas, against tyrosinase, CA‐B was most active (37.35±0.53 mg KAE/g extract). CA‐H and CA‐C also showed higher inhibitory potential (0.98±0.08 & 0.58±0.01 mmol ACAE/g extract) against a‐Amylase; while against a‐Glucosidase, CA‐E was the most active fraction. UHPLC‐MS analysis of the methanolic extract of C. arvensis disclosed the presence of 62 compounds as sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, alkaloids and coumarins.. Docking analyses confirmed these findings, as identified compounds had high binding free energy and inhibition constants with the enzymes studied. It was finally concluded that C. arvensis is a potential industrial crop, which can be a component of nutraceuticals and functional foods, if evaluated for its toxicity.
The genus Ranunculus includes approximately 600 species and is distributed worldwide. To date, several researchers have investigated the chemical and biological activities of Ranunculus species, and my research team has found them to have antimalarial effects. This review is based on the available information on the traditional uses and pharmacological studies of Ranunculus species. The present paper covers online literature, particularly from 2010 to 2021, and books on the ethnopharmacology and botany of Ranunculus species. Previous studies on the biological activity of crude or purified compounds from Ranunculus species, including R. sceleratus Linn., R. japonicus Thunb., R. muricatus Linn., R. ternatus Thunb., R. arvensis Linn., R. diffusus DC., R. sardous Crantz, R. ficaria Linn., R. hyperboreus Rotlb., and R. pedatus Waldst. & Kit., have provided new insights into their activities, such as antibacterial and antiprotozoal effects as well as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of plants used in traditional medicine applications have been confirmed. Therefore, there is a need for more diverse studies on the chemical and pharmacological activities of highly purified molecules from Ranunculus species extracts to understand the mechanisms underlying their activities and identify novel drug candidates.
Convolvulus arvensis is used in Pakistani traditional medicine to treat inflammation-related disorders. Its anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated on hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts of whole plant on pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-activated murine macrophage J774 cells at the non-cytotoxic concentration of 50 µg/mL. Ethyl acetate (ARE) and methanol (ARM) extracts significantly decreased mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, COX-2, and iNOS. Furthermore, both extracts dose dependently decreased IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 secretion. Forty-five compounds were putatively identified in ARE and ARM by dereplication (using HPLC-UV-HRMSn analysis and molecular networking), most of them are reported for the first time in C. arvensis, as for example, nineteen phenolic derivatives. Rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, N-trans-p-coumaroyl-tyramine, and N-trans-feruloyl-tyramine were main constituents identified and quantified by HPLC-PDA in ARE and ARM. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid, tyramine derivatives, and the mixture of the six identified major compounds significantly decreased IL-6 secretion by LPS-activated J774 cells. The activity of N-trans-p-coumaroyl-tyramine is shown here for the first time. Our results indicate that ARE, ARM and major constituents significantly inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, which supports the use of this plant to treat inflammatory diseases.
Member of the family Zygophyllaceae are distributed in arid areas of the world and are traditionally used against various health insults ranging from skin lesions to lethal cancer. Particularly genus Fagonia are of great interest for Herbologist, Pharmasists Ethnobotanist, Scientist because of its efficient medicinal potential for anticancerous drugs. It is undeniable fact that medicinal herbs have been taken for their health giving properties for thousands of years. Present paper provide data that F. cretica were studied for their medicinal effect on breast cancer.
Background
Identification and repurposing of therapeutic and preventive strategies against COVID-19 are rapidly undergoing. Several medicinal plants from the Himalayan region have been traditionally used to treat various human disorders. Thus, in our current study, we intend to explore the potential ability of Himalayan medicinal plant (HMP) bioactives against COVID-19 using computational investigation.
Methods
Molecular docking was performed against six crucial targets involved in the replication and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. About forty-two HMP bioactives were analyzed against these targets for their binding energy, molecular interactions, inhibition constant, and biological pathway enrichment analysis. Pharmacological properties and potential biological functions of HMP bioactives were predicted using the ADMETlab and PASS webserver respectively.
Results
Our current investigation has demonstrated that the bioactives of HMPs potentially act against COVID-19. Docking results showed that several HMP bioactives had a superior binding affinity with SARS-CoV-2 essential targets like 3CLpro, PLpro, RdRp, helicase, spike protein, and human ACE2. Based on the binding energies, several bioactives were selected and analyzed for pathway enrichment studies. We have found that selected HMP bioactives may have a role in regulating immune and apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, these selected HMP bioactives have shown lower toxicity with pleiotropic biological activities, including anti-viral activities in predicting activity spectra for substances.
Conclusions
Current study results can explore the possibility of HMPs as therapeutic agents against COVID-19.
Salt range of Pakistan is a rich source of minerals and salts. It has great variety of flora and fauna because of its geographical significance. Alteration of seasons results in flourishing of seasonal flora as well as perennial one. Olea ferruginea, Acacia modesta, Cynodon dactylon, Justicia adhatoda and Dodonea visoca are few dominant plant species of this region. All of these species are best to fit in arid and dry climate of the Salt Range. Litsea, Neolitsea and Colchicin are the critically endangered species of this area. Over exploitation of plants to be used as medicines and overgrazing are major biotic pressure on the biodiversity and natural resources of this region. Cooperation between conservationists and local communities can be helpful for the conservation of Salt Range flora.
Ranunculus wallichianus is a rare medicinal plant endemic to Western Ghats, India. Nodal explants were inoculated on MS medium with 1.0 to 5.0 mg L−1 of 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN), or thidiazuron (TDZ) resulting in a low percentage of shoot regeneration. Coconut water (CW) was added to MS medium containing the above mentioned cytokinins to promote in vitro plantlet growth. Multiple shoots were regenerated on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1.0 to 5.0 mg L−1 BA, KIN, or TDZ in combination with 5%, 10%, and 20% CW. The highest percentage of shoot multiplication was observed from cultures incubated on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg L−1 TDZ in combination with 10% CW. The cut ends of well-elongated shoots were transferred to medium containing 0.5 to 3.0 mg L−1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to induce in vitro root induction. Half-strength MS medium with 2.5 mg L−1 IBA and 250 mg L−1 activated charcoal shows high frequency of root formation. The well-rooted plantlets were transferred to pots for hardening with survival rate of 93% after 30 d. The present work indicates the addition of CW with the cytokinins in half-strength MS medium is suitable for rapid micropropagation of R. wallichianus.
Ranunculus muricatus L. is a spiny fruit buttercup that is used in various traditional medicinal systems. In the current investigation of R. muricatus, the new chalcone 4-benzyloxylonchocarpin (1), the new anthraquinone muracatanes A (2), the new-to-nature anthraquinone muracatanes B (3), and the new naphthalene analog muracatanes C (4) were isolated, in addition to the three previously reported compounds, 4-methoxylonchocarpin (5), β-sitosterol (6), and β-sitosterol β-D-glucopyranoside (7). Their structures were elucidated using 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS. Chalcone 1 showed potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects with Ki of 5.39 µM and Ki' of 3.54 µM, but none of the isolated compounds showed inhibitory activity towards butyrylcholinesterase. Anthraquinone 3 illustrated α-glucosidase inhibitory effects with IC50-values of 164.46 ± 83.04 µM. Compound 5 displayed moderate cytotoxic activity towards ovarian carcinoma (A2780, IC50 = 25.4 µM), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29, IC50 = 20.2 µM), breast cancer (MCF7, IC50 = 23.7 µM), and thyroid carcinoma (SW1736, IC50 = 26.2 µM) while it was inactive towards pharynx carcinoma (FaDu: IC50 > 30 µM).
Objective: To evaluate acute oral toxicity and anti-arthritic activity of the methanolic extract of Convolvulus arvensis L. leaves.
Methods: Safety was assessed by acute oral toxicity (OECD 425) study. Anti-arthritic activity was explored by in vitro (inhibition of protein denaturation) and in vivo (Complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis and carrageenan-induced inflammation) methods. Antioxidant potential was determined by assessing ferric reducing power, DPPH inhibition, and H2O2 scavenging assays. Furthermore, molecular docking was done to check interactions between the plant constituents and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). Quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, and vanillic acid were quantified by HPLC and eight compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis.
Results: No mortality and abnormality in biochemical parameters were observed in the toxicity study. Histological analysis of vital organs also supported these biochemical results. The in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the methanolic extract of leaves of Convolvulus arvensis exhibited dose-dependent anti-arthritic and anti-oxidant potential. Molecular docking showed better interactions of plant compounds with cyclooxygenases as compared to standard ibuprofen.
Conclusions: Convolvulus arvensis exhibits strong anti-arthritic activity, justifying the traditional use of the herbal drug.
Muriolide (1), a new aromatic lactone, has been isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Ranunculus muricatus. The compound was structurally characterized with the help of UV, IR, mass, 1D- and 2D-NMR data. It was tested in vitro for antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory potential. Compound 1 showed good DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50=56.9 μM), however it was moderately active against lipoxygenase enzyme (IC50=68.3 μM).
The present research is preliminary biological screening of aerial plant of Ranunculus muricatus (Ranunculaceae). Dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the aerial plant were investigated for their antifungal, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities. Anti-fungal, cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity activities were performed by agar tube dilution assay, brine shrimp lethality bioassay and lemna bioassay respectively. Dichloromethane and methanolic extracts exhibited significant phytotoxicity against Lemna minor having Paraquat as standard drug and incubation condition (28±1ºC). None of extracts presented any significant cytotoxic activity having Imipenum and Etoposide as standard drug respectively. Both extract had non-significant antifungal activity but it has been noted that methanol extract showed 30% inhibition with linear growth at 70 mm, when compared with control; only against Microsporum canis. Ranunculus muricatus showed significant phytotoxicity. The phytotoxicty assay is a valuable major screen for weedicide investigation. Additionally, modern studies are currently carried out to identify the allelopathic constituents by isolation, purification and structure elucidation to find out as effective herbicidal.
Background:
Almost every region of Pakistan is stacked with a large number of medicinal plants. Due to high cost and unavailability of allopathic medicines for the neurological diseases, especially in rural areas, traditional healers prescribe phytotherapy for various neurological diseases like epilepsy, depression, anxiety, insomnia, Alzheimer, and migraine. Such treatments are considered to be most effective by the native people.
Methods:
The data was collected from articles published on medicinal plants of various districts of Pakistan, using article search engines like Medline, Pubmed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Also, information regarding various neurological uses and mode of applications of medicinal plants was obtained from traditional healers, folk medicine users, and local elderly people having knowledge of medicinal plants.
Results:
A total of 54 families were found to be used in various neurological diseases, of which the highest use was of Solanaceae (22.22%), Asteraceae (12.96%), Lamiaceae, Papaveraceae, and Poaceae, 9% each, and Caprifoliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Rosaceae, 5.5% each. According to districts, 15% of plants that were effective in neurological affections were found in Bahawalpur, 11% in Swat, 8% in Muzaffarabad, 7% in Malakand, and 6% in Bahawalnagar, Dir, Gilgat, and Sarghoda each, with 5% in Dera ghazi khan and Jhelum each. According to the plant's habit, out of total of 103 plants, 61.15% were found to be herbs, 22.33% trees, 11.65% shrubs, and 4.85% climbers. According to the part used of plant, whole plant, leaves, fruits, roots, seeds, and flowers were found to be used 32.03%, 24.27%, 20.38%, 16.50%, 13.59%, and 11.65%, respectively. According to disease's types, 45.63% were found to be effective in insomnia, 31.06% in epilepsy 12.62% in depression, 6.80% in anxiety, 7.77% in hysteria, and 5.88% in migraine.
Conclusion:
Taking into consideration this useful knowledge on medicinal properties of the plants for curing neurologic diseases, it is believed that research in areas of ethnomedicine and ethnopharmacology can bring auspicious results that have potential of adding value to the very rich natural resources of Pakistan. This study will help all the researchers from diverse backgrounds working on plants based medicine for neurological diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To pool data on ethnobotanical medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders in Pakistan.
METHODS: We reviewed 237 research publications based on data from the six provinces in Pakistan (Punjab = 85, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa = 65, Sindh = 15, Balochistan = 8, Gilgit Baltistan = 22, Azad Jammu and Kashmir = 42) published until June 2015 in various journals. This was achieved using seven online databases: ScienceDirect, Google, Google
Scholar, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, SpringerLink, and MEDLINE. Data were analyzed from different perspectives.
RESULTS: People from Pakistan made use of 371 plant species belonging to 263 genera and 99 families for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Plants from the Asteraceae family were used most often. Herbs were the dominant growth form. Leaves were the plant parts used most often. Decoctions were the main preparation method. Nine plant species were used most frequently in the dwellers of most regions of Pakistan. A total of 111 plants were shown experimentally to have neither anti-arthritic nor anti-inflammatory activities, and 148 plant species were threatened. Eighty-four species had commercial importance. Twelve plant species were imported, and 25 plant species were exported, from Pakistan.
CONCLUSION: This review provides baseline data for plant species in Pakistan that have potential anti-inflammatory/anti-arthritic activities.
OBJECTIVE: To pool data on ethnobotanical medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders in Pakistan. METHODS: We reviewed 237 research publications based on data from the six provinces in Pakistan (Punjab = 85, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa = 65, Sindh = 15, Balochistan = 8, Gilgit Baltistan = 22, Azad Jam-mu and Kashmir = 42) published until June 2015 in various journals. This was achieved using seven on-line databases: ScienceDirect, Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Springer-Link, and MEDLINE. Data were analyzed from different perspectives. RESULTS: People from Pakistan made use of 371 plant species belonging to 263 genera and 99 families for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Plants from the Asteraceae family were used most often. Herbs were the dominant growth form. Leaves were the plant parts used most often. De-coctions were the main preparation method. Nine plant species were used most frequently in the dwellers of most regions of Pakistan. A total of 111 plants were shown experimentally to have neither anti-arthritic nor anti-inflammatory activities, and 148 plant species were threatened. Eighty-four species had commercial importance. Twelve plant species were imported, and 25 plant species were exported , from Pakistan. CONCLUSION: This review provides baseline data for plant species in Pakistan that have potential an-ti-inflammatory/anti-arthritic activities.
The present research is preliminary biological screening of aerial plant of Ranunculus muricatus (Ranunculaceae). Dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the aerial plant were investigated for their antifungal, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities. Anti-fungal, cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity activities were performed by agar tube dilution assay, brine shrimp lethality bioassay and lemna bioassay respectively. Dichloromethane and methanolic extracts exhibited significant phytotoxicity against Lemna minor having Paraquat as standard drug and incubation condition (28 ± 1ºC). None of extracts presented any significant cytotoxic activity having Imipenum and Etoposide as standard drug respectively. Both extract had non-significant antifungal activity but it has been noted that methanol extract showed 30% inhibition with linear growth at 70 mm, when compared with control; only against Microsporum canis. Ranunculus muricatus showed significant phytotoxicity. The phytotoxicty assay is a valuable major screen for weedicide investigation. Additionally, modern studies are currently carried out to identify the allelopathic constituents by isolation, purification and structure elucidation to find out as effective herbicidal.
OBJECTIVE: The present research is preliminary biological screening of aerial plant of Ranunculus muricatus (Ranunculaceae). Dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the aerial plant were investigated for their antifungal, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities.
METHOD: Anti-fungal, cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity activity was performed by Agar tube dilution assay, Brine shrimp lethality bioassay and lemna bioassay respectively.
RESULT: Dichloromethane and methanolic extract exhibited significant phytotoxicity against Lemna minor having Paraquat as standard drug and incubation condition (28 ± 1ºC). None of extracts presented any significant cytotoxic activity having Imipenum and Etoposide as standard drug respectively. Both extract had non-significant antifungal activity but it has been noted that methanol extract showed 30% inhibition with linear growth at 70mm, when compared with control; only against Microsporum canis.
CONCLUSION: Ranunculus muricatus showed significant phytotoxicity. The phytotoxicty assay is a valuable major screen for weedicide investigation. Additionally, modern studies are currently carried out to identify the allelopathic constituents by isolation, purification and structure elucidation to find out as effective herbicidal.
Ethnopharmacological relevance:
Substantially, plants produce chemicals such as primary and secondary metabolites, which have significant applications in modern therapy. Indigenous people mostly rely on traditional medicines derived from medicinal plants. These plants have the capacity to absorb a variety of toxic elements. The ingestion of such plants for medicinal purpose can have imperative side effects. Hence, with regard to the toxicological consideration of medicinal plants, an effort has been made to review the elemental contents of ethno medicinally important plants of Pakistan and to highlight the existing gaps in knowledge of the safety and efficacy of traditional herbal medications.
Materials and methods:
Literature related to the elemental contents of ethno medicinal plants was acquired by utilizing electronic databases. We reviewed only macro-elemental and trace elemental contents of 69 medicinal plant taxa, which are traditionally used in Pakistan for the treatment of sundry ailments, including anemia, jaundice, cancer, piles, diarrhea, dysentery, headache, diabetes, asthma, blood purification, sedative and ulcer.
Results:
A majority of plants showed elemental contents above the permissible levels as recommended by the World health organization (WHO). As an example, the concentrations of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) were reportedly found higher than the WHO permissible levels in 43 and 42 medicinal plants, respectively. More specifically, the concentrations of Pb (54 ppm: Silybum marianum) and Cd (5.25 ppm: Artemisia herba-alba) were found highest in the Asteraceae family.
Conclusions:
The reported medicinal plants contain a higher amount of trace and toxic elements. Intake of these plants as traditional medicines may trigger the accumulation of trace and toxic elements in human bodies, which can cause different types of diseases. Thus, a clear understanding about the nature of toxic substances and factors affecting their concentrations in traditional medicines are essential prerequisites for efficacious herbal therapeutics with lesser or no side effects.
Background: Ethnomedicinal knowledge is highly significant for persistence of human health care. Different studies have shown that medicinal plants are considered as curing agent for digestive disorders in Pakistan. The aim of present review is to explore this ethnomedicinal information all over the Pakistan and to investigate the ecological status of these species in the country. Methodology: Online literatures on ethnomedicinal plants used to treat digestive complaints in Pakistan were searched and gathered using online bibliographic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Flora of Pakistan. Results: The review documented 178 medicinal plant species, belonging to 59 families, used for different digestive ailments. The majority of species were herbs (60%), used in drug preparation. The most frequent part used in preparation of these remedies is leaves (23%), followed by roots (19%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the study provides enormous ethno-medicinal knowledge and due to the unsustainable activities of the people of Pakistan, some medicinal plants need to be conserved for the future.
The Present Survey deals with ethno taxonomical observation of medicinal plants of district Attock. The study was designed to disseminate the dynamic of local knowledge, explore, conserve and document medicinal flora. During survey, traditional folk uses of medicinal flora were gathered via questionnaire, plant specimens were collected and photography was done for identification. Eighty medicinal plant species belonging to 64 genera reported to be used by local inhabitants for different diseases: asthma, piles, cancer, skin diseases, diabetes, cough, inflammation, kidney stones, Jaundice, as refrigerant, antidote and astringent etc. The medicinally important plants and traditional knowledge is going to be threatened day by day because of mortality of old experienced healers, overpopulation, overexploitation, deforestation, and modern agricultural practices. In this context conservation of medicinal flora and traditional folk knowledge demands serious attention. This study will be fruitful in future conservation strategies and will also assist plant scientists and other academic disciplines.
Background: Ethnomedicinal knowledge is highly significant for persistence of human health care. Different studies have shown that medicinal plants are considered as curing agent for digestive disorders in Pakistan. The aim of present review is to explore this ethnomedicinal information all over the Pakistan and to investigate the ecological status of these species in the country. Methodology: Online literatures on ethnomedicinal plants used to treat digestive complaints in Pakistan were searched and gathered using online bibliographic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Flora of Pakistan. Results: The review documented 178 medicinal plant species, belonging to 59 families, used for different digestive ailments. The majority of species were herbs (60%), used in drug preparation. The most frequent part used in preparation of these remedies is leaves (23%), followed by roots (19%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the study provides enormous ethno-medicinal knowledge and due to the unsustainable activities of the people of Pakistan, some medicinal plants need to be conserved for the future.
Abbottabad District has an interesting location of biodiversity, which serves a starting point for the great mountainous areas of Himalayan ranges. This survey was undertaken with an aim to document the indigenous knowledge of this area as new sources of drugs. The inhabitants of the area have always used medicinal plants for various ailments and have for a long time been dependent on surrounding plant resources for their food, shelter, fodder, health care and other cultural purposes. However, encroaching industrialization and the accompanying changes in their life styles are responsible for the declining of practice in the local use of plants for medicine. After thorough study, 47 plants were found to be ethnobotanically important. For each species the following information is provided: Latin binomial, relevant synonyms, voucher specimen number, vernacular names, flowering period, distribution, parts used and medicinal use(s). The important species of the area are Colchicum luteum, Cichorium intybus, Hypericum oblongatum, Ficus carica, Lactuca serriola, Justicia adhatoda, Otostegia limbata, Incarvillea emodi, Dodonaea viscosa and Cyperus rotundus. Dodonaea viscosa is an excellent remedy for toothache. Incarvillea emodi is vulnerable due to loss of habitats. Most of the reported medicinal plants are effective in antihelmintic, carminative, expectorant, stomachic and antiseptic activities.
Ethobotanical information were collected on 97 plant species from Ranyal Hills District Shangla, Pakistan. These plants were classified for their traditional medicinal and economic uses. Many of these plants have more than one local use. There were 37 fuel species, 37 forage/fodder species, 31 medicinal species, 18 edible species, 12 species used for making shelter, 10 vegetables species, 9 poisonous species, 7 ornamental species, 6 timber wood species, 4 furniture wood species, 4 species used for fencing, 4 honey bee plants, 3 species for agricultural tools, 2 species used as flavoring agents, 2 species for making mats and baskets, 2 species used with religious belief , 2 species for cleaning teeth, 1 species as tea substitute,1 fiber yielding species, 1 species as adhesive, 1 irritant species and 1 species for making pens.
Natural tropical thorn forests once formed one of the most remarkable landscapes of the Punjab plains in Pakistan. Before land reclamation following canal irrigation these forests were the main source of firewood supplies for urban and rural populations. They also contributed to the stability of the fragile areas and supported a thriving wildlife. The past distribution and gradual decline of these forests is traced by literature search. The present status of natural tropical thorn forest was appraised by surveying areas formerly under these forests. The comparison indicated that the natural tropical thorn forest system of the Punjab has almost disappeared. The last few remnants are also severely degraded due to overgrazing, felling, wind erosion, desertification, salinity and waterlogging. Although the main emphasis of this study was to identify and conserve the whole complex, Salvadora oleoides is given special attention because of its great ecological and ethnobotanical importance. It was envisaged that this approach would highlight the significance of preserving the indigenous forest as a whole rather than selecting some species and eliminating others.
The project area, Koh–e–Sufaid Range, falls in the upper part of Kurram Agency, FATA Pakistan. The objectives of the study were to enlist plant species of the project area which have medicinal value; to know an indigenous knowledge of medicinal and other economically important plants of the area; to explore the possible channels of trading medicinal plants; and to study the impacts of plants on the socio-economic conditions of the local population and suggest practical measures for conservation of flora under stress. The sources of fuels in the study area are gas cylinders, fuelwood smuggled from Afghanistan, trees in arable land and forest trees. During winter, almost all the people in the project area use Afghan fuelwood. Average daily fuelwood consumption in the area was 60 kg/household/day while total fuelwood consumption in the project area per year was 111.1 Million-kg. Fifty four medicinal plants were locally used by the local community for different diseases. Based on the market survey of medicinal plants, traded medicinal plants of the area were Morchella esculenta (Korkichoke) , Artemisia brevifolia (Tarkha) and Teucrium stocksianum (Mastyara) . Their estimated annual consumption, according to the local traders and collectors was 2,40,200 kg.
This paper is based on the results of a project carried out in the remote Hindukush-Himalayan region of Malam Jabba, in order to study the ethnobotanically valued flora of the area. Malam Jabba valley contains 187 plant species of ethnobotanical importance, belonging to 75 families. The plants were classified as medicinal plants (95 Species), agro forestry based plants (57 Spp.), vegetable and pot herb (39 Spp.), ornamental (32 Spp.) honey bee attracting (31 Spp.), agricultural tool making (32 Spp.), plants yielding edible fruits (30 Spp.), thatching and sheltering (27 Spp.), fencing and hedge plants (19 Spp.), poisonous (16 Spp.), and timber yielding plants (14 Spp.). The vegetation of the area is under high biotic pressure as a result of indiscriminate deforestation for different purposes and overgrazing as the locals are primarily dependent on the plant resources of the area. People utilize wood mainly as fuel and cut trees to make more land available for agriculture. Ruthless collection of medicinal plants in the area has threatened the existence of some indispensable and valuable medicinal plants like Paeonia emodi, Podophylum hexandrum, Valeriana Jatamansi and Acorus calamus in the area.
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 31 local Arab practitioners living in Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights and West Bank. Seeing that the Arabic traditional medicine is in danger of disappearing, a multilevel program is required, involving the training of local practitioners, an establishment of a regional medicinal plant botanical garden and a field gene bank for plant preservation.
An ethnomedicinal survey (1998-2000) was conducted in three villages of Shimoga district of Karnataka, India, using a questionnaire designed by [Sinha, R.K., 1996. Ethnobotany-The Renaissance of Traditional Herbal Medicine. Ina Shree Publishers, Jaipur, India, 242 pp.]. The herbal practitioners in the study area were interviewed and information on medicinal plants, their local names, habitat and their seasonal availability was collected. The survey revealed the utilization of 47 species of plants belonging to 46 genera in 28 families used to treat 9 infectious and 16 non-infectious diseases. Twelve new claims on ethnomedical knowledge were reported and there were formulations that were similar to that described already in the literature.
An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information on the use of medicinal plants in Southern Western Ghats of India (Madurai district, Tamil Nadu). Information presented in this paper was gathered from the paliyar tribes using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and interviews with questionnaires in the years 1998 - 1999. The informants interviewed were 12 among whom 4 were tribal practitioners.
A total of 60 ethnomedicinal plant species distributed in 32 families are documented in this study. The medicinal plants used by paliyars are listed with Latin name, family, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses. Generally, fresh part of the plant was used for the preparation of medicine.
We observed that the documented ethnomedicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin diseases, poison bites, stomachache and nervous disorders. The results of this study showed that these tribal people still depend on medicinal plants in Madurai district forest areas.
Ethnobotany deals with the study of total natural and traditional interrelationships between man and plants, and man's domesticated animals. Gathering jungle fruits or tubers, or hunting animals for food by the earliest man on this earth was the birth of ethnobotany and ethhozoology. The journey of ethnobotany from those early beginnings through ages has been long. This discipline became established as a genuine academic and research activity in the second half of the twentieth century. Until recently it was not appreciated that sustainable development could be achieved only through full understanding and integration of cultural aspects of biological diversity and participation of the indigenous people of any region. The interrelationships between man and plants can be first divided into material, and cultural (or spiritual) relationships, and then placed in one or more of the following four categories: (a) relationships useful both to man and plants, (b) relationships useful to man but harmful to plants, (c) relationships useful to plants but harmful to man, (d) relationships harmful both to man and plants. Some interdisciplinary topics, or subdisciplines of ethnobotany are : ethnoagriculture, ethnoarchaeobotany, ethnoecology, ethnogastrology, ethnohorticulture, ethnomedicobotany, ethnomusicology, ethnopharmacology, ethnopharmacognosy, ethnophytotaxonomy, ethnopteridology, ethnobryology, ethnoalgology, ethnolichenology and ethnoveterinary. Methods of ethnobotanical research depend on the objective or end product in mind. They are various, but can be put in two broad categories, viz. field research and literary research. For collecting large number of plants for biological screening, three broad approaches are possible, viz. random collection, collection of plants of families rich in active principles, or collections based on ethnomedicinal data. Results in India and other countries have shown that percentage of positive results is much more in ethnobotanically selected species. A review of recent work shows that over 30 books have been published with the term ethnobotany or tribal medicine in their title in the last two decades. Over 275 papers have been published on specific ethnic groups. A majority of papers deal with dozens of families and hundreds of species of ethnobotanical significance in any area. About 150 papers deal with only one or two particular species in detail. Most traditional practices help in sustainable use of bioresources. Faith and traditional practices also help in lesser damage to and better preservation of individual species and/or habitats, and thus of biodiversity in general. Traditional knowledge about those land races or wild relatives of crop plants and other economic species, which are more suited to local conditions and microclimates is useful in agricultural and horticultural programs. Identification of new or prospective herbal remedies on the basis of traditional knowledge helps in healthcare programs. There is also prospect of socioeconomic uplift of the indigenous communities through promotion of cottage industries based on their traditional unique tools, gadgets, arts, and crafts.
Wild plant gathering is an ancient tradition that has endured in many rural communities in Pakistan. In order to understand the pattern and uses of medicinal plants available in the first ever constructed motorway of the country, passing through three major geographical patterns of Punjab, Pakistan, this study was undertaken through literature survey and fieldworks. In the recent times, the practice of herbal medicine is diminishing. Thus in the way of revitalization of traditional herbal medicines, it is an effort to record the valuable ethno-botanical and ethno-medicinal knowledge. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in order to examine the present use of wild medicinal plants growing in and around Lahore-Islamabad motorway. The research process comprises a total of 81 plants belonging 44 families which have been recorded for their medicinal uses like fever, skin diseases, snakebite, jaundice, dysentery etc. Momordica balsamina, Evalvalvulus alsinoides, Salvadora oleoides are vulnerable plants in the area. Azadirecta indica, Fagonia eritica, Pegonia hermala are recommended for further cultivation and propagation in the surrounding area of motorway.
Present investigation confined to document medicinal uses of plants utilized by local
communities on salt range (kallar Kahar) Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to collect
information about the interaction of various communities of the area with plant wealth. The study
presents data on 29 species belonging to 18 families. It was found that local communities of the
area have rich tradition of using natural plant resources for their common day ailments. Local
inhabitants both men and women believe that these plants based medicines are easily available,
inexpensive and with no side effects. It was found that common disorders such as fever, cold,
cough and diarrhoea could be treated by simple herbal teas and herbal powders. The reason for
using medicinal plants by the local people of the area was that they are simple living, poor and
cannot afford expensive synthetic drugs and their knowledge about medicinal plants has been
passed on from their ancestor’s for generations. It was concluded that local authorities and other
funding agencies should promote the cultivation and conservation of such natural resources of
medicinal plants by involving the local communities of the area. It is also suggested that plants
based industries and markets should be promoted in the area to alleviate the poverty problems of
local communities.
Medicinally important plants are necessary for the production of the various drugs and curing diseases. The local people use 26 species of the vascular plants of the Mianwali district for medicine, furniture and agricultural implements and as the food. The local community is extremely knowledgeable about the local plants but unfortunately this knowledge is going to be lost as traditional culture is disappearing. The information obtained while studying the flora of Mianwali District, Punjab is presented here. For each plant its botanical name, family name, vernacular names and method of using this plant is given. Total of 21 species belonging to 16 families were recorded for the medicinal use and five species utilized for agricultural implements and for other purposes.
The study of local knowledge about natural resources is becoming increasingly important in defining strategies and actions for conservation or recuperation of residual forests.
This study therefore sought to collect information from local populations concerning the use of Nandi Forest medicinal plants; verify the sources of medicinal plants used and determine the relative importance of the species surveyed.
Data was obtained using semi-structured forms to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the medicinal use of specific plants. A total of 40 medicinal plants used locally for the treatment and/or control of human ailments were collected through interviews conducted with selected traditional doctors and professional healers.
This study demonstrated that local people tend to agree with each other in terms of the plants use and that leaf material form the major component of plant parts exploited. The other harvested materials consist of stem bark, the roots and the whole plant, though at a lower intensity for making liquid concoctions from different plants. Majority of the remedies were prepared from a single species. In most cases, the mode of administration was oral. In the forest, some of the plants collected were scarce. This scarcity was attributed to indiscriminate logging, overexploitation, poor harvesting methods and current agricultural trends.
Conservation procedures and creation of awareness were identified as the main remedies to the current situation.
Floristic and Ethno botanical study on some plants of Pirgarh Hills
- L Badshah
- F Hussain
- Z Mohammad
Badshah L, Hussain F, Mohammad Z (1996). Floristic and Ethno
botanical study on some plants of Pirgarh Hills, South Waziristan
Agency, Pakistan. Pak. J. Pl. Sci., 2(2): 167-177.
Folk Medicinal plants of Nushki, District Chaghi
- M J Durrani
- A M Malik
- F Hussain
Durrani M J, Malik AM, Hussain F (2003). Folk Medicinal plants of
Nushki, District Chaghi, Pak. J. Sci. Technol., 27(1and 2): 45-52.
Ecological study of some high altitude medicinal and aromatic plants in the Gyasumdo valley
- S K Ghimireet
- K K Shresta
- D Bafrachary
Ghimireet SK, Shresta KK, Bafrachary D (1999). Ecological study of
some high altitude medicinal and aromatic plants in the Gyasumdo
valley, Manang, Nepal. Ecoprint, 6: 17-23.
Ethnobotanical studies of Kurram Agency Pakistan through rural community participation
- S S Gilani
- S Q Abase
- Z K Chinaware
- F Hussain
- K Nargis
Gilani SS, Abase SQ, Chinaware ZK, Hussain F, Nargis K (2003).
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