Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, ISSN 2249 – 4340RESEARCH ARTICLE

Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 294-301, December 2011

*Corresponding author: (E-mail) adilqau5@gmail.com http://www.openaccessscience.com©2011 Open Access Science Research Publisher ijmap@openaccessscience.com

Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge of Medicinal Plants of Barnala area,

District Bhimber, Pakistan

Aqeel MAHMOOD1, Adeel MAHMOOD2*, Iradat HUSSAIN3, Waqas Khan KIYANI4

1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan2Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakis-

tan3 Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan4Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Article History: Received 23rd September 2011, Revised 15th November 2011, Accepted 16th November 2011.

Abstract: This survey was aimed to collect the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by the local community ofBarnal area, district Bhimber, Pakistan. A total 32 plant species belonging to 17 families were reported, as medicinallyvaluable among all the survived plant species and data is presented here. It is concluded that local authorities and otherfunding agencies should promote the conservation of this natural resource of indigenous plants with the help of localpeople; otherwise this treasure is in danger to lose.

Keywords: Ethnomedicines; Barnala; Traditional knowledge; Medicinal plants.

Introduction

Man has cultured the tradition of observingplants for thousands of years and had used themfor various purposes. Botany, in turn, originatedin part from an attention in discovering plants tohelp fight illness. In fact, medicine and botanyhave always had close ties (Mahmood et al.2011).

The term ethnobotany was first used by anAmerican Botanist Harshberger in 1895; studyof plants used by ancient and aboriginal people.Later, Jones (1941) and Ford (1978) polishedethnobotany by using current ecological term.According to Pie (1995), it is the study of directrelations between human and plant populationthrough its culture. They also learn the use ofplants impresses same precincts on them. Thesemixture-interactions are called ethnobotany. Itpromotes traditional culture, local remedies,forest management practices and traditionknowledge transformation to next generation. Itimproves self-confidence of minorities and en-hances their social and cultural values (Qureshiet al. 2003).

Traditional medicines have been defined as

a sum of the knowledge, skills and practicesbased on theories, beliefs and experiences indi-genous to different culture, whether explicableor not, used in the maintenance of health as wellas in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement ortreatment of physical and mental illness (Mah-mood et al. 2011c). In many developing coun-tries, a large part of the population, especially inthe rural areas depends mainly in traditionalmedicines for their primary health care.

Various botanists worked to explore the in-digenous knowledge of AJK. Shahad and Qure-shi (2001) investigated 31 plant species belong-ing to 18 families from Jatlan area, Mirpur,AJK, Pakistan. Mahmood et al. explored the 38plants of 22 families from district Bhimber,AJK, Pakistan. The present research survey wasconducted to save the indigenous knowledge ofNeelum valley, AJK, Pakistan, as modernizationis a big threat to this treasure (Mahmood et al.2011). Present research survey was aimed tounderstand the indigenous knowledge system,status of Medicinal Herbs, to identify the role ofpeople in the conservation & development ofagroforestry, the dependency of local people onmedicinal plants and to understand Traditional

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knowledge about Medicinal Plants among thevillagers of district Bhimber, Pakistan.

Materials and methods

The methodology was based on interviewsusing checklist and questionnaires of informa-tion. The interviewees in the villages were cho-sen at random. Total number of interviews con-ducted, were 135 (80 males and 55 females).The interviewers were mainly Government em-ployees and Government servants, who wereenough educated. Additionally, landholders(Zamindars), Agriculturists, Pansars, Hakimsand Farmers were also interviewed. In the firststep, detailed knowledge about the local and in-digenous people was collected. A regional studyon the epidemiology, traditional medicines andecology of the people and their environmentwas prepared. In order to prioritize plant collec-tors, a number of international data basis weresearched to obtain all the relevant ethno-medical, biological and chemical information onthe plant known to be used in that region.

Plants were collected from study area andfetched to the Department of plant sciences,Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan.Plants were identified by taxonomist and sub-mitted in the Herbarium of Quaid-i-Azam Uni-versity Islamabad, Pakistan.

Results

Following are the results of the present study:Allium sativum L.

Family: AlliaceaeLocal Name: ThoomEnglish Name: GarlicFlowering Period: May-JulyStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125478Description: Bulbs ovoid with 6-10 balblets,coating white.Uses: Bulbs are used in kitchen and medicinallyit is used for cough, colic, constipation, flatu-lence, asthma and cardiac troubles, carminativeand aromatic.

Allium cepa L.Family: AlliaceaeLocal Name: PiazEnglish Name: OnionFlowering Period: March-AprilStatus: CultivatedHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125479Description: A perennial herb bulbs clustered,ovoid or almost rounded with brown or pink pa-pery coating.Uses: Onion juice is administered in tobaccopoisoning. It is best for cold and cough. Bulb isslightly warmed and placed over inflamed partsof the body for healing. Besides condiments, itis used as an ingredient of much other medicinalpreparation. Used in diabetes, bronchitis, skindiseases, chickenpox and epilepsy.

Foeniculum vulgare MillerFamily: ApiaceaeLocal Name: SaunfEnglish Name: FennelFlowering Period: March-AprilStatus: CultivatedHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125120Description: A stout aromatic herb grows to aheight of 5-6 feet.Uses: Whole plant is used to cure digestiveproblems, gas trouble, female illness, and nerv-ous diseases. Seeds are carminative, purgative.It is used in sweet dishes and pickles. Fruit isused in diarrhea and used as laxative. Seeds areused for flue, fever cardiac problems and flatu-lence. The leaves are used as diuretic.

Coriandrum sativum Linn.Family: ApiaceaeLocal Name: DhaniaEnglish Name: CorianderFlowering Period: April-NovemberStatus: CultivatedHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125201Description: Plants to 60 cm high. Basal andlower leaves pinnate to 2-pinnatisect; petiole to13 cm, shortly sheathing at base.

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Uses: Whole plant to seeds are powdered andmade into paste with common salt and giveninternally to treat digestive problems. Wholeplant decoction is given along with sugar ormilk to treat bleeding piles, dyspepsia. Medici-nally used for flatulence, dysentery, diarrhea,cough, stomach problems, jaundice and vomit-ing.

Caralluma edulis (Edgew.) Bth. & Hk.Family: AsclepiadaceaeLocal Name: ChoonganEnglish Name: CarrionFlowering Period: December-MarchStatus: WildHabit: ShrubHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125146Description: A small erect, fleshy, un branchedor branched herb 15-45 cm tall, stem andbranches 4-grooved, nearly round.Uses: The herb is cooling, alterative, anthelmin-tic; used in leprosy and diseases of blood. Thedried powdered plant is mixed with cow’s ghee,which is used 4 times a day for treating diabetes.It is also used as vegetable and is considerednutritive and used for the treatment of rheuma-toid.

Artemisia scoparia Waldst and Kit.Family: AsteraceaeLocal Name: Lungi bootiEnglish Name: Worm woodFlowering Period: April-AugustStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125121Description: An erect perennial with thick rootsstock.Uses: The plant is also useful in heart problems.Aqueous extracts from flowering shoots isdrunk to treat malaria and also used as antihel-menthic agent in human and live stock.

Taraxacum officinalis WeberFamily: AsteraceaeLocal Name: Peeli bootiEnglish Name: DandilionFlowering Period: February-MayStatus: Wild

Habit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125125Description: A small perennial herb with milkyjuice.Uses: Leaves and roots effective against snakebite; leaves are also used for diabetes. Rootpaste is applied on swelling and joints. The de-coction of leaves is used for curing constipationas health tonic.

Trichodesma indicum (L.) R. Br.Family: BoraginaceaeLocal Name: Chota kulfa, Sindigaozaban, NilakaraiEnglish Name: TrichodesmaFlowering Period: August-OctoberStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125127Description: Small erect hispid annual herbsUses: Whole plant extract is mixed with sugarand is given to treat diarrhea, dysentery and uri-nary problems. Leaf paste is given as an anti-dote for snakebite and diuretic. Leaf paste is ap-plied to treat rheumatic swellings. Leaf juice isused as eye drops to treat eye infections. Rootpaste is applied to treat rheumatic swelling ofjoints. Root decoction is given to treat difficultand painful urination.

Haloxylon recurvum Bunge ex Boiss.Family: ChenopodiaceaeLocal Name: Khar/SurgalEnglish Name: HaloxylonFlowering Period: November-DecemberStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125143Description: A straggling gregarious shrub;branches opposite, jointed pruinose, joints 8.20mm long.Uses: The plant is poisonous.

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) OkenFamily: CrassulaceaeLocal Name: Zakhm-i-hayat/Pathar chatEnglish Name: Bryophyllum/Air plant/Lifeplant

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Flowering Period: Novermber-DecemberStatus: CultivatedHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 1251654Description: A tall erect glabrous perennial herb;stem 30-120 cm high.Uses: Leaves are used for bruises, wounds, boilsand insect bites. It is best against hypertension andkidney stones.

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf.Family: CucurbitaceaeLocal Name: DvanaEnglish Name: Water melonFlowering Period: March-AprilStatus: CultivatedHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125048Description: A creeping plant resembling verymuch to Citrullus colocynthis, but a great climber;young shoots woolly at the tips.Uses: Fruit is cooling and diuretic. Seed is aphro-disiac, Tonic cooling and diuretic seed oil is usedas a substitute for almond oil.

Cucumus melo var. agrestis NaudinFamily: CucurbitaceaeLocal Name: ChiberEnglish Name: Wild melonFlowering Period: July-SeptemberStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125209Description: A scabrous creeping herb.Uses: Fruit decoction is used to treat diarrhea,difficult and painful urination and leucorrhoea.Preserved fruits are fried and given to treat di-gestive problems. Leaf paste is applied to treateczema and other skin infections. The fruit ofplant is used as laxative. The plant is also usedas fodder for the cattle.

Momordica charantia L.Family: CucurbitaceaeLocal Name: KarelaEnglish Name: Bitter gourdFlowering Period: October-FebruaryStatus: Cultivated

Habit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125165Description: Hairy creeping herbs with simpletendrils, branches villous, commonly cultivatedfor its fruits which are used as vegetable.Uses: The fruit is stomachic and juice of fruit isused in snake bite. Fruit and leaves are anthel-mintic used in jaundice, Piles, Leprosy andvermifuge. Juice of leaves is purgative andemetic; it is given in bilious, affections andrubbed in burring soil of feet root is astringent,useful in hemorrhoids.

Euphorbia dracunculoides. Lam.Family: EuphorbiaceaeLocal Name: KangiEnglish Name: SpurgeFlowering Period: March-JulyStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125114Description: An erect annual weed of cultiva-tion, 15-40 cm tall, glabrous.Uses: Fruit is used to remove warts.

Euphorbia tircucali L.Family: EuphorbiaceaeLocal Name: SejEnglish Name: SpurgeFlowering Period: May-JulyStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125346Description: A large unarmed succulent shrubwith milky white latex. Branches smooth, slend-er, cylindrical, spreading, succulent, greenUses: Milky juice is rubifacient, purgative, vesi-cant, used in rheumatism neuralgia toothache,earache, cough and asthma.

Prosopis cineraria (L.) DruceFamily: MimosaceaeLocal Name: JundEnglish Name: ProspisFlowering Period: December-March.Status: WildHabit: ShrubHabitat: Terrestrial

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Accession No: 125090Description: A large shrub or a small tree armedwith short nearly straight somewhat compressedprickles which, on older branches, have broadand conical bases.Uses: Leaves are useful in leucorrhoea and me-norrhea. It is ground with Coccinia grandis,mixed with palm jaggery and given orally (or)ground with sugar and butter milk given orally.

Prosopis juliflora SwartzFamily: MimosaceaeLocal Name: Kashmiri KikerEnglish Name: ProspisFlowering Period: March-JuneStatus: WildHabit: ShrubHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No.: 125091Description: large shrub or tree, c. 5 m tall, gen-erally armed with stipular spines.Uses: Paste of leaves is laxative and carmina-tive.

Tamarindus indica L.Family: PapilionaceaeLocal Name: ImliEnglish Name: TamarindFlowering Period: February-AprilStatus: CultivatedHabit: TreeHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125437Description: A large evergreen treeUses: Fruit is carminative, laxative, refrigerant,digestive, and useful in diseases of bile; infusionis used as a drink in fibril diseases.

Pongamia pinnata (L.) MerillFamily: PapilionaceaeLocal Name: SukhchainEnglish Name: Mullikulam Tree, PongamFlowering Period: MarchStatus: WildHabit: TreeHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125287Description: A medium sized, evergreen tree;leaves imparipinnate; rachis 4-15 cm long,swollen at the base.Uses: The decoction of leaves and bark is used

as bath for fever. The oil is used for the cure ofskin diseases and rheumatism.

Cymopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.Family: PapilionaceaeLocal Name: GowaraEnglish Name: GynanaFlowering Period: April-MayStatus: CultivatedHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125009Description: A robust medium-sized annualherb covered with appressed white hairs; 50-100cm tall.Uses: The fruit is laxative, used in biliousnessand night blindness also used as vegetable.

Indigofera linifolia (L.f.) Retz.Family: PapilionaceaeLocal Name: TorkiEnglish Name: Wild IndigoFlowering Period: April-JuneStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 124908Description: A small prostrate or procumbent,silvery velvety perennial herb; stem many,much branched.Uses: Plant is given in febrile eruptions andused in amenorrhea.

Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC.Family: PapilionaceaeLocal Name: Wan WerhiEnglish Name: Burn-mouth vineFlowering Period: June-AugustStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125110Description: A small twining annual herb, mi-nutely pubescent to nearly glabrouscent, up to 2meter long with long with trifoliate.Uses: Leave is used as abortifacient.

Crotolaria burhia Buch.- Ham.Family: PapilionaceaeLocal Name: SunnEnglish Name: Rattlepod

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Flowering Period: December-JanuaryStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125234Description: A small, apparently leafless, shrubwith numerous, stiff, branches ending some-times in spines.Uses: The plant is solid by medicinal herbs andis claimed to have cooling properties.

Pennisetum cenchroides Rich.Family: PoaceaeLocal Name: DhalmanEnglish Name: African Foxtail GrassFlowering Period: February-MarchStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125065Description: Perennial, often forming mats ortussocks; culms 10-150 cm high, ascending,wiry or sometimes almost woody.Uses: It has cooling effects for animals, purga-tive and stomachs

Saccharum bengalense Retz.Family: PoaceaeLocal Name: KanaEnglish Name: Sweet caneFlowering Period: May-SeptemberStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: Terrestrial/AquaticAccession No: 125133Description: Tall caespitose perennial; culms upto 4 m high.Uses: Stomachs, toothaches and diuretic.

Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones) Schult.Family: PoaceaeLocal Name: LanjakFlowering Period: July-OctoberStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: Terrestrial (Swamps and besidesstreems)Accession No: 125468Description: Perennial; culms erect or genicu-lately ascending, up to 150 cm high

Uses: The grass is aromatic, tonic, stimulant,blood purifier, cough, fever chronic rheumatism,gout and in dyspepsia.

Polygonum plebijum R. Br.Family: PolygonaceaeLocal Name: DrunkEnglish Name: PolygonumFlowering Period: March-AprilStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125141Description: A diffusely branched, prostrate,glabrous annual to biennial or perennial herb.Uses: Plant decoction is used for colic com-plaints. Plant ash mixed with oil is useful foreczema. It is a good fodder plant.

Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. f) Wight &Arn.

Family: RhamnaceaeLocal Name: Beri, MallahEnglish Name: ZizyphusFlowering Period: March-AprilStatus: WildHabit: ShrubHabitat: Terrestrial (Hot)Accession No: 125142Description: A thorny shrub; branches flexuous,divaricated at right angles.Uses: Fruit is laxative. Paste of leaves is used inscabies. Fruits are tonic and digestive.

Rosa indica L.Family: RosaceaeLocal Name: GulabEnglish Name: RoseFlowering Period: Throughout the yearStatus: Wild/CultivatedHabit: ShrubHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125296Description: A glabrous, evergreen shrub; sti-pules very narrow.Uses: The fruit is used as an application towounds sprains injuries and foul ulcers. Theroot is better and astringent used as tonic andanthelmintic. The leaves are considered a goodvulnerary.

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Trapa bispinosa Roxb.Family: TrapaceaeLocal Name: SingharaEnglish Name: Horn nutFlowering Period: March-AugustStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125298Uses: Nuts have cooling effect, bilious affec-tions and in diarrhea.

Peganum harmala L.Family: ZygophyllaceaeLocal Name: HarmalEnglish Name: Syrian rueFlowering Period: MarchStatus: CultivatedHabit: A wild herbHabitat: Terrestrial (Mostly)Accession No: 125100Description: Perennial, 25-60 cm tall, corym-bosely branched, glabrous herb.Uses: Seeds are used in abdominal pain and col-ic pain. Whole plant is useful for defects in ute-rus. Seeds are placed on fire and its smoke isused for allergy treatment, patients feel com-fortable. Smoke of seeds is one of the best anti-septic.

Tribulus camalendulensis L.Family: ZygophyllaceaeLocal Name: BhakraEnglish Name: CalatropFlowering Period: May-AugustStatus: WildHabit: HerbHabitat: TerrestrialAccession No: 125094Description: A prostrate, procumbent herbdensely covered with minute hairs.Uses: Seed is used for gall bladder illness andkidney allergy. Leaves are used in cough. Thefruits and rats are used for heart diseases seedsare used locally in bleeding from nose. Stem isused as miswak for brushing teeth. It is also asfodder for the cattle and sheep.

Discussion

Most helpful method to study the natural re-sources, their conservation and management byindigenous communities is ethnobotany. Eth-nobotany enables us to do work with localcommunities and to discover the importantknowledge that based upon their experience. InPakistan, there is no supervision to conserve thisknowledge. A few scientists or legal profession-al environmental, non-governmental or evenhuman rights groups are taking pain to save thisknowledge in black or white (Martin, 1995).

Medicinal plants are playing a key role inrural and sub urban areas in the traditionalhealthcare system. Various herbal medicinesare being used as household remedies againstdifferent diseases as ailments (Qureshi & Ghu-fran, 2005). In the present research work 32plant species were surveyed, among which Ar-temisia scoparia Waldst and Kit., Tribulus ca-malendulensis L., Bryophyllum pinnatum(Lam.) Oke, Trichodesma indicum (L.) R. Br.,Taraxacum officinalis Weber Peganum harmalaL., Polygonum plebijum R. Br. , Cymbopogonjwarancusa (Jones) Schult., Pongamia pinnata(L.) Merill and Tamarindus indica L. are founghighly medicinal and are frequently used in thestudy area. Allium sativum L., Foeniculum vul-gare Miller are used for cardiac problems whileAlliumcepa L. is used to treat diabetes in localcommunities. Foeniculum vulgare Miller, Co-riandrum sativum Linn., Trichodesma indicum(L.) R. Br. are frequently used against diarrhea.Caralluma edulis (Edgew.) Bth. & Hk., Artemi-sia scoparia Waldst and Kit. has antihelmenthicproperties and Taraxacum officinalis Weber,Trichodesma indicum (L.) R. Br. are commonlyused as antidote mostly against snake bite.Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken is a mostfrequent plant to break the kidney or bladderstone and this plant is cultivated at homes atlarge scales.

Study area is rich with medicinal plants andit is common trend to use these plants species inlocal healthcare system. This area has rural cul-ture and the inhabitants of this area are depen-dent upon medicinal plants. Old people andwomen prefer to cure themselves with herbalmedicinal. It is a dare need to preserve this tra-ditional knowledge, as, it will helpful for phar-

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maceutical industries to further pharmacologicalscreening.

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