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Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res. 12 (3): 199-211, 2006. ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES OF THE FLORA OF DISTRICT MUSAKHEL AND BARKHAN IN BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTANSyed Rehmat Ullah Shah[1], Gul Hassan[2], Abdur Rehman[3] and Imtiaz Ahmed3
ABSTRACT An ethnobotanical study was carried out during May to August, 2003 in the mountainous region of Districts Musakhel and Barkhan of Balochistan province. Plants of 18 different families were collected from mountains culturable waste, and agricultural fields to figure out the ethnobotanical perception among the local communities. Maximum plants were recorded from family Solanaceae. Many of the species are identified as medicinal for curing different common diseases like puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is useful in inflammatory conditions of urino-genital system and help relive calculus infection and uterine disorders. Rosa damascena is regarded as refrigerant, for the vital organs, stomach and intestines. Peganum harmala leaves are used for joint pain, seeds are antiseptic, also used as insect repellent when burnt. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is used as tonic, in fevers, vomiting, and diarrhea. Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is used as a pot herb and healing injuries. It is laxative, alternative, tonic & can be used in rheumatism, and skin diseases. Acacia nilotica is used as a mouthwash in cancerous and syphilitic infections. It is a useful local astringent douche or anemia on gonorrhea, cystitis, vaginitis, leucorrhoea, and piles etc. It is an effective tonic in chronic diarrhea and diabetes mellitus. Fried gum is a useful nutritive tonic and aphrodisiac in sexual disability. Mentha spicata dried leaves are used as tooth powder for toothache. Many species are used as forage for cattle like Chenopodium album. Some of the species are used as pot herbs like Solanum nigrum and Chenopodium album. Some of the reported species are used as fuel and for other domestic uses like Astragalus and Acacia species. Key Words: Medicinal plants, firewood, Cichorium intybus, Euphorbia prostrata.
INTRODUCTION
A plant in one place may be useful as food, feed, fiber and medicine, while at others it may be a weed. Thus, plant specie cannot be considered as weed under all circumstances. Pakistan is one of the few places on earth with such a unique biodiversity, comprising of different climatic zones with a wide range of plant species. Approximately 6000 plant species with medicinal properties are found in Pakistan. There is a dire need on the part of manufacturers of allopathic and herbal medicines to carryout systematic research on medicinal plants to save foreign exchange spend on their imports (Shinwari and Malik, 1989). Balochistan is the largest province representing 43.6 per cent of the land mass of Pakistan. The climate is arid to semi-arid, ranging from coastal; tropical to cool temperate in the north. This province is a native home of some herbal plants. In Balochistan, various wild herbs have been collected and sold in the local market by local communities. However, very limited scientific knowledge is available on the potential herbs, which can be cultivated and utilized for different purposes. The vulnerability of medicinal herbs and spices to over-exploitation and extinction need to be dealt pragmatically. The concerns and issues relating the conservation of these plants could be addressed through variety of activities involving pinnacle government and non-governmental organizations of sector (Khan and Aslam, 2004).
Present study is carried out in mountainous region of Districts Musakhel and Barkhan of Balochistan. This area has Semi arid with warm summers and mild winters with mean Annual rain fall is 514.6 mm (1993-1995). Major corps of the area are wheat, condiments, maize, pulses, vegetable, sorghum and fruits. It is situated at 30o-17’ to 31o-28’ North latitude and from 69o-28’ to 70o-15’ East longitudes. It is bound in the north by the Dera Ismail Khan, in the east by Dera Ghazi Khan, in south Kohlu Agency and in the west by Loralai and Zhob districts. The vegetation in Musakhel consists mainly of grasses and spiny shrubs (Faiz, 1997)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, spread from Kingri in district Musakhel to Rakni of District Barkhan, was frequently visited for collection of data during the summer 2003. The villages covered in the survey were Kingri, Gider Dog, Rara Sham, Sirati, Underpur and Rarkan in District Musakhel and village Rakni in the District Barkhan, Balochistan.
Local people of this area were interviewed for collection of information about medicinal and other uses of plants. The local uses of enigmatic specimens were also confirmed by elderly people having knowledge of local herbs. Questionnaire method was adopted for this purpose. The data obtained was then analyzed carefully.
Available literature on the activity of these ethnomedicinal plants was also surveyed in order to check the validity and authenticity of medicinal uses highlighted by the rural folk of the surveyed area, so as to establish possible rationale between the real life uses and available data on these plants. The individual plant species have been saved in pictures as well as mounted on the herbarium sheets. The botanical identification of weeds was done from the Department of Weed Science, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar and Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Plants of 18 different families were collected, out of which 20 plants from 13 different families are identified with their folk uses. The plants were classified as Trees, shrubs, herbs, medicinal plants, fodder plants and pot herbs. Much of the species were found to be used for multipurpose. Based on the utility, there were 18 medicinal plants, 4 fuel wood species, 2 species pot herbs and 3 fodder plants. The data on wild plants contains information on Botanical names, English names, Local names, Family, Locality, part used and medicinal uses with references.
1. Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Del.
Uses of Plant from Review: Strongly astringent, it is used to contract and toughen mucus membranes throughout body. Decoction of bark is used in diarrhea, for gargle and sore throat, a wash for eczema, for an eye wash. It is also recommended for chest complaints. The herb is also used as a douche for excessive vaginal discharge. In ayurvedic medicine, babul is considered a remedy that is helpful for treating premature ejaculation. Care must be taken that babul must not be taken for more than a few days at a time (Khan and Aslam, 2004).
2. Acacia modesta Wall.
Uses of Plant from Review: The gum obtained from bark is mixed with desi-ghee, almond and wheat flour and fed to the women after child birth as tonic to relieve her body weakness. (Humayun et al., 2003).
3. Achyranthes aspera Linn.
Folk uses
4. Calotropis procera (Willd.) R.Br.
Uses of Plant from Review: Plant parts are crushed with raw sugar (gur) to make a paste which is applied over to dog bites. Leaves are smoked to cure asthma and cough. Latix is utilized commonly in skin disorders. It is poisonous. Used in boils, and also to remove the thorn from the body. (Rai et al., 2000) Plant is bitter, having local irritant action. It is good tonic, expectorant, laxative. Plant is useful for treatment of asthma, cough, piles, ulcers, fever, headache, pain of muscles, joints and chest, healing of wounds, inflammatory and swellings. Milk is used in tooth powders. Leaves are mixed with rock salts and roasted in close vessels till reduced to ashes, these ashes are given with butter milk for ascites and enlargement of the abdominal viscera. Extract of leaves 1-5 drops is given for malarial fever and is more effective than quinine but is poisonous in large doses. Dry leaves are smoked in huka for remedy of asthma and cough. Fresh leaves slightly roasted and powdered bandaged to painful rheumatic joints and swelling. Flowers are tonic, stomachic and digestive, they are given in small doses in cough, cold, asthma, loss of appetite and cholera (Memon and Shahani, 1985.)
5. Citrullus colocynthus (L.) Schrad.
Uses of Plant from Review: The bitter pulp is used as strong purgative. Root is given in Jaundice, urinary disease and rheumatism. Fruit and root are considered as antidote to snake poison (Khan and Aslam, 2004)
6. Cichorium intybus L.
Uses of Plant from Review: Plant is excellent mild bitter tonic for the liver and digestive tract. Root supports the action of stomach and liver and cleaning the urinary tract. It is also taken (Khan and Aslam, 2004)
7. Convolvulus arvensis Linn.
Uses of Plant from Review: Used as poultice on painful joints (Ibrar 2003). Fresh fodder, purgative, also applied in skin disorders. The old women used roots of Convolvulus arvensis for washing hair to remove dandruff (Hamayun et al., 2003)
8. Datura innoxia Mill
Uses of Plant from Review: Leaves are applied externally in swelling of limbs. Extract of leaves is helpful in toothache, headache and epilepsy. Leaves extract effect the nervous system, overdose may induce vomiting, coma and even death. Seeds are antipyretic and narcotic. Dried leaves and seeds are used in treatment of asthma. Plant is commercial source of scopolamine used as pre-anesthetic in surgery, in ophthalmology and prevention of motion sickness (Purohit and Vyas, 2004).
9. Euphorbia prostrata L.
Uses of Plant from Review: The milky latex obtained from the plant is used to expel of ringworm. The whole plant is taken, crushed and eaten with bread as a useful remedy for kidney stone (Hamayun, et al., 2003).
10. Mentha spicata Linn. / Mentha viridus Linn.
Uses of Plant from Review: The leaves of Mentha sylvestris along with other vegetable and the leaves of Mentha spicata in the form of ketchup is used for stomach problems (Hamayun, et al., 2003). Niskyamishti (typhoid), khodur (diarrhea), indigestion.
11. Nerium oleander Mill.
Uses of Plant from Review: Plant is poisonous. Root and root bark is powerful diuretic, resolvent, attenuate and cardiac tonic. Externally applied to ulcer and cancer, oil is used in skin diseases and leprosy. Powder of root is rubbed on forehead to relieve headache (Khan and Aslam, 2004) The leaves and the flowers are cardio-tonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and expectorant. (Duke and Ayensu, 1985) A decoction of the leaves has been applied externally in the treatment of scabies (Chie, 1984), and to reduce swellings. This is a very poisonous plant, containing a powerful cardiac toxin. An oil prepared from the root bark is used in the treatment of leprosy and skin diseases of a scaly nature (Chopra et al., 1986)
12. Peganum harmala L.
Uses of Plant from Review: The seeds are aphrodisiac; used for relieving cough and asthma, for expelling phlegm and in brain or nervous disorders including insanity, loss of memory, sciatica, paralysis, and for imparting warmth to relevant organs. The decoction of leaves is used for joint pain, seeds are antiseptic, also used as insect repellent when burnt. Internally for stomach complaints, urinary and sexual disorders, epilepsy, menstrual problems, nervous and mental illnesses. Remedy for tape worms. Excess causes hallucinations and vomiting. Externally for hemorrhoids and baldness (Khan and Aslam, 2004).
13. Rosa damascena Mill.
Uses of Plant from Review: The rose flower is regarded as refrigerant, for the vital organs, stomach and intestines, has compound action of casing mild purgation as well as astringency, lessens the heat due to biliousness, gives fragrance in perspiration and reduces its excessive excretion (PARC). Petals are used as laxative. Anthers are used in diarrhea (Aawan, 1976).
14. Solanum nigrum.L.
Uses of Plant from Review: The leaves are plucked and crushed in green condition. These crushed leaves are used externally in skin diseases, usually when skin has small warts (Hamayun et al., 2003). The herb is alterative, diuretic, sedative and anodyne, expectorant, tonic laxative and leaves are used as poultice in inflamed joints. Berries are used in inflammation of liver and abdominal viscera, piles gonorrhea (Khan and Aslam, 2004)
15. Solanum xanthocarpum/ Solanum surratense Burm.
Uses of Plant from Review: Plant is bitter, digestive, expectorant, seed may relieve asthma and to clear bronchial mucous. The root is used for snake and scorpion bite (Khan and Aslam, 2004). Decoction of root with black pepper and honey is used for cough and flu. Sniff of ripped fruit is used to cure headache (Aawan, 1996).
16. Tecomella undulata Sm.
Plant is useful for treatment of urinary troubles, enlargement of spleen, leucorrhoea and. The bark possesses mild relaxant, cardio tonic and chloretic activities. The bark of young branches are used as remedy for syphilis, eczema, liver diseases and fever. Seeds are used in treatment of sores and abscesses (Memon and Shahani, 1986).
17. Tribulus terrestris Linn.
Uses of Plant from Review: Recommended in cases of spermatorrhoea, phosphaturia, dysuria & impotence. Administered in urinary diseases such as chronic cystitis, calculus affections, gonorrhea and painful micturition. It is useful in inflammatory conditions of genito-urinary system & helps relive calculus affection & uterine disorders. Roots are useful in strangury, sysuria, vitiated conditions of vata and pitla , Renal and vesicles calculi, anorexia, dyspepsia, cough, asthma, consumption inflammations, cardiopathy, haemoptysis, spermatorrhoea, anemia, scabies, ophthalmic, ulocace and general weakness. Seeds are useful in epistaxis, hemorrhages, ulcerative, stomatitis. Ash of whole plan is good for external applications in rheum arthritis (Purohit and Vayas, 2004).
18. Withania cougulans Dunal.
Uses of Plant from Review: It is used for chronic liver complaints, asthma, biliousness, dyspepsia and other intestinal infections. Dried fruit is used for coagulating milk in process of cheese preparation. Berries are best blood purifiers and infusion of leaves is useful for fever (Memon and Shahani, 1985).
19. Ziziphus nummularia
Uses of Plant from Review:
20. Ziziphus spp
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dr. Mir Ajab Khan, Department of Biological Sciences, (Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad) for his valuable help in identification of many plants collected from the study area. Dr. Rasool Bakhsh, Department of Botany, University of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan for his kind suggestion to explore ethnobotany of the study area.
REFERENCES CITED Aawan, M.H. 1976. Kitab-ul-Mufredat. pp 205-409 Chie, R. 1984. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald Press ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Covers plants growing in Europe. Chopra, R. N., S.L.Nayar and Chopra. 1986. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. Duke. J. A. and E.S. Ayensu. 1985. Medicinal Plants of China. Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 Faiz. 1997. Planning and Development Dept. Govt. of Balochistan, Quetta. http://northernareas.org.pk/hswebsite/docs/musakhel.pdf Hamayun, M., A.Khan and M.A.Khan. 2003. Common medicinal folk recipes of District Buner, NWFP, Pakistan. http://www.siu.edu/~ebl/leaflets/abid.htm. Ibrar, M., S.Hashim. and K.B.Marwat. 2003. Ethnobotanic study of the weeds of five crops in District Abbottabad, N-W Pakistan. Pak.J. Weed Sci. Res. 9(3-4): 229-240. Khan, A.M. and M.Aslam. 2004. Medicinal plants of Balochistan. Project on Introduction of Medicinal Herbs and Species as Crop. Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Qarshi Industries (Pvt) Ltd. pp 3-44 Memon, M.I.A.and N.M. Shahani. 1985. Survey and domestication of wild medicinal plants distribution in Sindh province of Pakistan. Annual Research Report Dec 1.1984 to Nov. 30, 1985. Dept. of PBG Sindh Agric. Uni. Tandojam, pp 43-148. Memon, M.I.A. and N.M.Shahani. 1986. Survey and domestication of wild medicinal plants distribution in Sindh province of Pakistan. Annual Research Report 1986. Dept. of PBG Sindh Agric. Uni. Tandojam, pp 191-193. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Islamabad, Pakistan. www.parc.gov.pk Purohit, S.S. and S.P. Vyas. 2004. Medicinal plant cultivation. Agrobios (India).pp. 399 538. Rai, M.K., A.K.Pandey, and D. Acharya. 2000. Ethno-medicinal plants used by Gond Tribe of Bhanadehi, District Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. J. Non-Timber Forest, 7(3/4): 237-241. Shinwari, Z.K. and S. Malik. 1989. Plant Wealth of Dera Bugti area. Progressive Farming, 9:39-42. [1] National Agricultural Research System in Balochistan, Arid Zone Research Center, Quetta, Pakistan E-mail: srusg@yahoo.com[2] Department of Weed Science, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar-Pakistan [3] Department of Horticulture, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar-Pakistan
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