Ethno-medicinal investigation of floral diversity of Bahawalnagar district, Punjab, Pakistan





Javeria Saleem
Asma Jabeen
Amna Butt


Department of Environmental Sciences,
Fatima Jinnah Women University,
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Correspondence:
Amna Butt
Department of Environmental Sciences,
Fatima Jinnah Women University,
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Email: ambutt91@yahoo.com

Abstract


The current study was intended to explore and document the local medicinal plants that are being utilized by local dwellers of district Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan. For this reason ethno-medicinal survey was conducted and information was gathered by hakims (herbalists) and local inhabitants through unstructured interview, open ended questionnaires and informal discussions. Plants with their correct nomenclature were arranged by family name, vernacular name, common English names, scientific name, parts used and ethno-medicinal uses. Taxonomic status and nomenclature of plant was identified using field guides and flora of Pakistan. This study revealed that currently 50 plant species belonging to 23 families were utilized by traditional people for curing fever, diarrhea, sore throat and various other health disorders. These plant species were effective against wounds and snake bites and also serve as antiseptic as well as blood purifier agents. It has been concluded that this traditional knowledge not only helps the scientific community and conservationist organizations in preservation and conservation of medicinal plants but also enlightens the pharmacological, anti-bacterial and anti-proliferative activity for improving the health care facilities. The study recommended that herbal markets should be encouraged in the study area for eradication of poverty.

Key words: Medicinal plants, ethno-medicinal investigations, conservation, flora,
ethno-botanical uses

Introduction
Ethno-medicinal knowledge is an invaluable cultural heritage of an area that encompasses information regarding the pharmacological utilization and management of floral diversity by man. WHO assumed traditional medicine as the combination of knowledge, skills, beliefs and practices experienced by any culture to cure illnesses (Buragohain, 2011). Herbal remedies have been used since pre-historic time as cures in the pharmaceutical industry; advancement in scientific knowledge has thrived due to herbal pharmacology (Thirulmalai et al., 2009). Use of herbal medicines as alternatives to conventional medicine has increased worldwide. Rural people depend on herbal remedies because these herb based medicines are easily accessible as they are found in close proximity to homes, are adapted to the native environment so there are less side effects, and they are cost effective (Cheikhtuossef et al., 2011). Increasing awareness regarding traditional health practices all over the globe have averted the attention of scientists towards ethno medicines and the use of herbal remedies in the present scenario (Ahmed et al., 2014a, 2014b, 2015). However, evaluation of these herbal medicines on scientific grounds is necessary to make them acceptable for modern allopathy by identifying their active compounds and mode of action. Therefore throughout the world, several ethno-botanical surveys have been published on Ethno-medicinal utilization of plants and animals with a purpose to preserve the beneficial species. It has been estimated that 50,000 flowering plants are used for medicinal purposes around the globe (Govaerts, 2001; Schippmann et al., 2002).

Pakistan is blessed with diverse flora due its variant climate and edaphic factors. Almost 84 % of the population of Pakistan consumes herbal medicines for curing diseases (Mahmood et al., 2011). Rapid urbanization, declining economy, scarce modern medical facilities and inflation has pulled the local community towards the traditional practices (Mahmood et al., 2013). People of almost every region of Pakistan have awareness about regional medicinal plants and this knowledge is being transferred among generations by formation of Tabbia Colleges and schools. Herbal remedies derived from indigenous knowledge are practiced on a large scale; however, there is no proper system for documentation of this precious knowledge. Therefore the present effort was made on the Bahawalnagar district of Punjab Province. The main purpose of the study was to document the medically important plants utilized by local people for treating illnesses and to convey information to the pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies to analyze the most valuable medicinal plants products to determine their antibacterial, antifungal pharmacological, and anti-proliferative activities.

Study Area
The Bahawalnagar district is spread over 8878 sq. km area with hot and dry climate and the minimum and maximum temperature recorded are 110C and 500C. It comprises five administrative units (tehsils) namely Bahawalnagar, Chistian, Fort Abbas, Haroonabad and Minchianbad and one hundred and eighteen union councils. It is situated in south east of Punjab between 20-51 to 30-20 North latitude and 72-17 to 73-58 east longitude and 130 meters above sea level (Figure 1). Main crops of the area are cotton, wheat, sugarcane, rice, tobacco, corn and mustard seed while citrus, guava and date are major fruits of the study area. Main vegetables include turnip, tomato, cauliflower, potato and onion (Ahmed et al., 2014a, 2014 b).

Figure 1: Study area map


Research Methodology
Research was accompanied by collection of both primary data and secondary data with a purpose to ensure a quality output. Primary data was acquired through field trips that were conducted in five tehsils of Bahawalnagar district. Field trips include informal discussions and conversations about the traditional medicinal use of wild flora with old people, randomly conducted unstructured interviews with 10 hakims and 30 open ended questionnaires were randomly circulated among local dwellers. Authentic publications were referred as secondary data for identification of taxonomic status and scientific nomenclature. Data gathered through primary methods were tabulated and further analyzed by applying computing frequencies, percentages, averages and then drawing pie charts to make the results more interpretative. The majority of the inhabitants interviewed were herbalist (hakim) and old dwellers who have good knowledge regarding the utilization of indigenous plants for treating various ailments. During the survey information about plant use, plant part used as drug, mode of preparation and vernacular name were recorded.

Results
Survey of the field reveals that the study area is diverse in natural flora and 50 plants species currently belonging to 23 families are currently being used by the inhabitants of Bahawalnagar. It was observed that the area is rich in natural flora and the inhabitants are dependent on these plant resources especially for their food, shelter, fuel, timber, fodder and health care. The plant species include grasses, shrubs, herbs and trees. These mentioned species are used as medicine, fodder, fuel wood, timber, furnishing material and food. Various plant species along with their ethno-medicinal uses, local names, common English names, family and the parts being used to cure different diseases are summarized in tabulated form (Table 1).

Table 1: Ethno-medicinal uses of floral diversity of Bahawalnagar district

Discussion
The District of Bahawalnagar has enriched flora that has significant Ethno-medicinal importance. 50 plant species have been identified that play an important role in human health. Drying of plant's parts to crush into the powder form, decoction like kawa (herbal tea) and making of murabba (jam) are the common method practiced by inhabitants of an area for curing disease. Common diseases of the district are headache, ulcer, piles, vomiting, fever, stomach disorders and sore throat. Ziziphus jujuba, Oligachaeta ramose and Achyranthus aspera are used as blood purifier while wounds and cuts are treated with Aloe vera chinensis, Ficus religiosa, Hibiscus roca, Rhynchosia minima, Euphorbia hirta and Gisekia pharnaceoides. As shown in Figure 2 most the dominant plant part used for medicine is leaves (41%), followed by flowers (16%), fruits (16%), seed (12%), root (6%), bud (3%), stem (3%) and bark (3%).

Figure 2: Plant's part use in medicines by indigenous population of Bahawalnagar District


Besides medicinal use, plant species mentioned in Table 1 also serve as shelter, fuel, fodder, vegetable, timber, construction material, animal fencing and furniture making is also done by these plants. Chorchorus depressus is used as a cooling agent and hair toner. Germicidal properties, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory actions are performed by Azadirachta indica. Among 16 families, Asteraceae is the dominant and popular family in the district. Rhamnaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae, Aizoaceae, Euphobiaceae, Lilaceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae, Amaranthaceae, Tiliaceae, Phyllantaceae, Malvaceae families are also being utilized by local inhabitants in the Bahwalnagar district (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Ethno-botanically significant floral families present in Bahawalnagar District


Conclusion
Ethno-botanical survey of floral diversity of the district Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan, gives a thorough depiction of natural wealth with which it is bestowed. Knowledge regarding the species diversity, taxonomic classification, ecological value, and ethno-botanical importance has been evaluated in the current study. The information presented in the study can be used as a beneficial tool for proper planning and conservation of significant plant species indigenous to the study area that are facing an over-growing biotic stress. This study can also serve as a useful piece of information for carrying out further work in the field of pharmacy, chemistry, taxonomy, and photochemistry.

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