A comparative ethno-botanical study of Cholistan (an arid area) and Pothwar (a semi-arid area) of Pakistan for traditional medicines

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Muhammad Mukhtar⁴  Shazia Anjum²  Muhammad Qasim Hayat¹  Imtiaz Ahmad²  Hafiz Muhammad Wariss²  Khurshid Alam²  Alia Sadiq¹  Saeed Ahmad³  Sadia Malik¹ 

[1] Medicinal Plant Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan;Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies (CIDS), The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan;University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan;Department of Biotechnology, American University of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

关键词: Cholistan;    Pothwar;    Traditional healthcare knowledge;    Medicinal plants;   

Others  :  1212443
DOI  :  10.1186/s13002-015-0018-2

 received in 2013-11-06, accepted in 2015-03-31,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

The present study is intended to compare and document the therapeutic flora, their remedial use, and the traditional knowledge used frequently by the residents of the Cholistan desert and Pothwar (Potohar) Plateau of Punjab, Pakistan. The old endemic remedies of these areas are diminishing due to lack of qualitative and quantitative research.

Methods

The data was generated by unstructured-interviews, informal meetings, open-ended conversations and group discussions with local people and traditional health healers of the study area. Reported literature was also utilized.

Results

The study recorded a list of various medicinal plants used as traditional medicines by local people. Total 86 numbers of plant species belonging to 38 families and 67 plant species belonging to 29 families have been reported in the Pothwar and Cholistan respectively. Only 10.5% of similar plant species were present in the studied areas.

Conclusion

The investigation revealed that the local people of study areas inherit a rich traditional knowledge but there is great danger of losing this wealth of knowledge in the near future. Documentation of the knowledge exclusively from desert area of Cholistan, Pakistan is unique information in its nature. The study presents the undocumented knowledge worth recognition that will not only help in conservation of medicinal plant species but will highlight the pharmacological capacity for improved human healthcare regarding many common ailments.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Malik et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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