medicinal plants used in indigenous therapy by...

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

Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 47-54, March 2013

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Medicinal plants used in indigenous therapy by people of Madyan

Valley in district Swat, Pakistan

Nisar AHMAD1*, Shazma ANWAR3, Hina FAZAL2, Bilal Haider ABBASI1

1Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320 Pakistan

2Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Laboratories Complex, Peshawar 25120, Paki-stan

3Department of Agronomy, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Agriculture University, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan

Article History: Received 20th November 2012, Revised 24th February 2013, Accepted 25th February 2013.

Abstract: Medicinal plants are small natural factories that produced valuable secondary metabolites which can be usedfor the treatment of various ailments. The present study was carried out to investigate the Ethnobotanical uses of medici-nal plants by the locals of Madyan valley, District Swat. During the studies 100 plants of the area were found to be diu-retic, tonic, astringent and carminative, purgative, laxative, stimulant, narcotic, expectorant, anthelmintic, emetic, demul-cent, antipyretic, antiseptic, sedative, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, emollient, anticancer, antispasmodic, aromatic. Someplants are specially used for respiratory diseases, stomach diseases, fever, skin diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, heart diseas-es, jaundice, toothache, kidney diseases, hypertension, rheumatism and epilepsy.

Keywords: Medicinal value; Madyan valley; Swat.

Introduction

Human beings from ancient times are de-pendent on medicinal plants directly or indirect-ly. It has been reported that 35,000 to 70,000plant species are used in folk medicine world-wide (Fazal et al. 2010; Ali and Qaiser, 2009).About 70-80% of the world population use tra-ditional medicine for curing their illness andailments. 75% population in Pakistan is depend-ent on traditional medicine (Siddique and Khan,1991). In mountainous regions of Pakistan, peo-ple are unable to afford allopathic medicine duehigh cost and less access to health facilities, lo-cal people are compelled to rely on medicinalplants as safe alternative to synthetic medicines.District Swat is situated at the Northwest cornerof Pakistan. It lies from 34° 34' to 35° 55' Northlatitudes and 72° 08' to 72° 50' East longitudes.Madyan valley is one of the beautiful valleys ofdistrict Swat. God bestowed the valley with avariety of medicinal plants, which are used asfolk remedies by local people (Fazal et al.2011a; Shinwari and Khan, 1999). Mountainousregions such as Madyan valley provide natural

growth environment for medicinal plants (Khanet al. 2006). According to the literature cited,most of the drugs have been isolated from theflora of Swat but Madyan valley has not yetbeen fully explored. The aim of the current sur-vey is to document the traditional knowledgeand exploit the natural resources of this medici-nally important valley on scientific lines.

Material and methods

The valley was visited several times during2007 to explore the valley for plant natural re-sources. Questionnaires were prepared contain-ing the information about the local names, partused, traditional uses, locality, frequency, col-lection times, post harvest treatments and appli-cation of various recipes of the medicinal plantsof this area. Local people especially plant col-lectors gave valuable information about plantsabundance, distribution and localities of theirmaximum availability. Plants were collected,and preserved following the method of Fazal etal. (2010), identified by local people then con-

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48Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Local uses of medicinal plants in Madyan Swat

Ahmad et al. http://[email protected]

firmed through Flora of Pakistan (Nasir and Ali,1989) and deposited in the herbarium, PCSIRLaboratories Complex, Peshawar (PES) asvoucher specimen for future reference.

Results

The present work is the first report from theMadyan valley specifically, however generallythe flora of District Swat is exploited by severalworkers before (Ali et al. 2003; 2005; Hamayunet al. 2005; 2006; Sher et al. 2010a; 2010b).This area has rich diversity of medicinal plants;literacy rate is very low here, so people rely onmedicinal plants for their health related prob-lems. More than 70% collection is performed bywomen and children, 25% of the collected mate-rial gets wasted during the process of collection,harvesting and marketing. 90% of the naturalforest habitats have already been lost in the area.

The brief summary, pictures and percentageof uses of these medicinal plants are given inTable 1 & Figure 1 and 2. Acacia modesta andAcacia nilotica are used for dysentery, diarrheaand also used as demulcent, tonic, stimulant. Asimilar effect of these plants was also docu-mented by Jan et al. (2011). Whole plant ofAchillea millifolium is used as stimulant and di-uretic. Such medicinal importance of Achilleamillifolium was also reported by Fazal et al.(2011b). Like Achillea millifolium, the wholeplant of Achyranthus aspera was effective aslaxative and diuretic as reported by Jan et al.(2011). Aconitum violaceum are used for rheu-matism. The dried and fresh rhizomes of Acoruscalamus are used for diarrhea as shown in table1. Similar affects of Aconitum violaceum andAcorus calamus was also reported by Fazal etal. (2011b) and Jan et al. (2011). Two species ofAdiantum (A. incisum and A. venustum) are usedfor skin diseases, respiratory diseases, fever, andexpectorant, emetic and diuretic. Similar obser-vation was also documented by Ahmad et al.(2011) and Barkatullah and Ibrar (2011).Aesculus indica are used as purgative. Ahmad etal. (2011) also observe similar effect ofAesculus indica. Ajuga bracteosa and Ajugaparviflora are used for respiratory diseases,jaundice, hypertension, astringent and as tonic.Similarly Khan et al. (2011), Ahmad et al.

(2011) and Barkatullah and Ibrar (2011) alsoreported related uses of these Ajuga species.Amaranthus viridis and Ammi visnaga are usedas emollient and for respiratory diseases. Jan etal. (2011) reported similar effects ofAmaranthus viridis while Ahmad et al. (2011)reported similar effect of Ammi visnaga. ThreeArtemisia species (A. brevifolia, A. scoparia, A.indica) are used for respiratory diseases and aspurgative and anthelmintic. Such effects of the-se three Artemisia species were reported by Janet al. (2011), Ahmad et al. (2011) andBarkatullah and Ibrar (2011).

Asparagus officinalis, Atropa acuminate,Berberis lyceum, Brassica compestris andBunium persicum are used for jaundice, stomachdiseases, diarrhea and also used as sedative,narcotic, diuretic, expectorant and carminativeas reported by Ahmad et al. (2011) andBarkatullah and Ibrar (2011). Buxuswallichiana, Calendula arvensis, Calotropisprocera and Cannabis sativa are used as purga-tive, diaphoretic, anthelmintic, tonic, rheuma-tism, and narcotic and also used for skin andrespiratory diseases as shown in table 1. Sameeffect of these plants was also documented byAhmad et al. (2011), Barkatullah and Ibrar(2011) and Jan et al. (2011). Celtis caucasica,Chenopodium album and Cichorium intybus areused for respiratory diseases, skin diseases,jaundice, fever, and tonic and also used as an-thelmintic, laxative and purgative. Similar ef-fects are also documented by Jan et al. (2011),Ahmad et al. (2011) and Barkatullah and Ibrar(2011). Convolvulus arvense, Coriandrumsativum, Crataegus oxyacantha, Cuminumcyminum and Cuscuta reflexa are used for skinand heart diseases, and also used as purgative,astringent, aromatic, stimulant, tonic, anthel-mintic and diuretic. Same effect of these plantswas also documented by Ahmad et al. (2011),Barkatullah and Ibrar (2011) and Jan et al.(2011). Datisca cannabina and Datura innoxiaare used for epilepsy, narcotic, and toothache,antipyretic and purgative. Debregeasiasalicifolia, Dodonaea viscosa and Diospyruslotus are used for skin diseases and also used asastringent, aromatic, purgative and carminative.Elaeagnus angustifolia, Equisitum arvense,Eryngium coeruleum, Euphorbia prostrata andEuphorbia wallichii are used as stimulant, tonic,





carminative, and laxative and also used for skinand heart diseases as shown in table 1. Similar

findings were also reported by Ahmad et al.(2011) and Barkatullah and Ibrar (2011).

Figure 1: Medicinal plants collected from Madyan Valley, Swat.





Table 1: Medicinal Plants Profile of Madyan Valley, District Swat, Pakistan.

S.No Plants Family Local name Part used Uses Vou. No1. Acacia modesta Wall. Mimosaceae Palosa Leaves, gum Demulcent, Dysentery, Tonic, Stimulant 101352. Acacia nilotica L. Mimosaceae Kikar Leaves Diarrhea, Dysentery 99393. Achillea millifolium L. Asteraceae Jarai Whole plant Stimulant, Diuretic 101364. Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Gishkey Whole plant Laxative, Diuretic 98575. Aconitum violaceum Stapf. Ranunculaceae Zahar mora Root Rheumatism 101466. Acorus calamus L. Araceae Skhawaja Rhizome Diarrhea 101477. Adiantum incisum Forssk. Pteridaceae Sumbal Leaves Skin diseases, Respiratory diseases, Fever 101488. Adiatum venustrum D.Don. Pteridaceae Sumbal Leaves Expectorant, Emetic, Diuretic 101499. Aesculus indica Wall. ex. Camb. Hippocastanaceae Jawaz Leaves, fruit Purgative 10137

10. Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex. Bth. Lamiaceae Khwaga bhootey Whole plant Respiratory diseases, Jaundice, Hyperten-sion

10138

11. Ajuga parviflora Bth. Lamiaceae Shorgari booti Whole plant Astringent, Tonic, Jaundice 1015012. Amaranthus viridis L. Amaranthaceae Ganhar Stem, leaves --- 1009513. Ammi visnaga L. Apiaceae Spairkai Fruit Respiratory diseases 1002814. Artemisia indica Willd. Asteraceae Tharkha Aerial part Anthelmintic 1015315. Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit. Asteraceae Jawkey Aerial part Respiratory diseases, Purgative 1015216. Asparagus officinalis L. Liliaceae Tendorhai Shoot, root Anthelmintic, Tonic, Dysentery, Diarrhea,

Demulcent10096

17. Atropa acuminata Royle Solanaceae Bargak Leaves Sedative, Narcotic, Diuretic 1015418. Berberis lyceum Royle Berberidaceae Kwarey Whole plant Jaundice, Expectorant, Diuretic, Diarrhea 1007719. Brassica campestris L. Brassicaceae Sharhsham Leaves, seed Stomach diseases 979720. Bunium persicum Boiss. Apiaceae Thoora zeera Fruit Carminative, Stomach diseases 1015521. Buxus papillosa C.K. Schn. Buxaceae Shamshad Whole plant Purgative, Diaphoretic 1015622. Calendula arvensis L. Asteraceae Zhiarh golay Leaves, flower Anthelmintic, Tonic, Diaphoretic 1009723. Calotropis procera Willd. Asclepiadaceae Spulmay Whole plant Skin diseases, Respiratory diseases 1009824. Cannabis sativa L. Cannabaceae Bhang Aerial part Tonic, Rheumatism, Narcotic 988625. Celtis caucasica Willd. Ulmaceae Tagha Leaves, fruit Blood purifier, Colic 1015726. Chenopodium album L. Chenopodiaceae Saarmey Whole plant Anthelmintic, Laxative, Jaundice 975527. Cichorium intybus L. Asteraceae Hann Whole plant Tonic, Respiratory diseases, Jaundice, Fever 1013928. Convolvulus arvensis L. Convolvulaceae Prewathai Shoot Skin diseases, Purgative 1014029. Coriandrum sativum L. Apiaceae Dhanyal Seed, Leaves Astringent, Aromatic, Stimulant 1014130. Crataegus oxyacantha non. L. Rosaceae Barhsinga Fruit Tonic, Heart diseases 1015831. Cuminum cyminum L. Apiaceae Zeera Seed Astringent 1015932. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Cuscutaceae Maraz bootey Shoot Anthelmintic, Skin diseases, Purgative,

Heart diseases, Diuretic10142

33. Datisca cannabina L. Datiscaceae Bangyala Whole plant Purgative 1016034. Datura innoxia Mill. Solanaceae Mangazai Leaves, Seed Antipyretic, Toothache, Narcotic, Epilepsy 1014335. Debregeasia salicifolia D.Don. Urticaceae Ajlai Fruit Skin diseases 1016136. Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. Sapindaceae Ghwarhaskey Leaves, Seed Astringent, Aromatic 1009937. Diospyros lotus L. Ebenaceae Toor amlook Fruit Purgative, Carminative 1014438. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Elagnaceae Ghanam ranga Fruit Stimulant, Heart diseases 1016239. Equisetum arvense L. Equisitaceae Bandakey Shoot Tonic 1010040. Eryngium coeruleum M-Bieb. Apiaceae Manzari panja Shoot Stimulant, Carminative 1016341. Euphorbia prostrata Ait., Hort. Euphorbiaceae Warmaga Whole plant Skin diseases 1000842. Euphorbia wallichii Hook. Euphorbiaceae Arghamala Latex Laxative 1016443. Ficus carica L. Moraceae Inzar Fruit latex Expectorant 1010144. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Apiaceae Kaga Seed Stimulant, Laxative, Diuretic, Aromatic,

Aphrodisiac10102

45. Gentiana kurroo Royle Gentianaceae Sitara bootey Corms, Root Tonic, Astringent, Antispasmodic 1016546. Geranium collinum Steph. Geraniaceae Sra zela Whole plant Antipyretic, Tonic 1016647. Geranium wallichianum D. Don Geraniaceae Sra zela Whole plant Dysentery, Diarrhea 1016748. Hedera nepalensis K. Koch. Araliaceae Wano kaley Leaves Anticancer 1010349. Hyoscyamus niger L. Solanaceae Dewana bang Leaves, Seed Tonic, Sedative, Respiratory diseases, Nar-

cotic10134

50. Lespedeza juncea (L. f.) Pers. Apiaceae Oormarhey Shoots Skin diseases 1016851. Malus pumila Mill. Rosaceae Mannha Fruits Purgative, Expectorant 1013352. Melia azedarach L. Meliaceae Bakyanha Fruits Emetic 1010453. Melothria heterophylla (Lour.) Cucurbitaceae Desi kakorha Whole plant Purgative 1016954. Mentha longifolia L. Lamiaceae Villaney Whole plant Stomach diseases, Stimulant, Aromatic

Dysentery, Diarrhea10125

55. Mentha spicata L. Lamiaceae Podina Whole plant Stimulant, Carminative 1012656. Morus alba L. Moraceae Spin thoot Fruits Emollient, Astringent 1012757. Morus nigra L. Moraceae Toor thoot Fruits Emollient, Astringent 1012858. Nerium oleander L. Apocynaceae Ganderay Leaves, roots Skin diseases 1012959. Olea ferruginea Royle Oleaceae Khona Fruits Toothache, Astringent 1013060. Origanum vulgare L. Lamiaceae Shamakey Shoots Tonic, Diuretic 1013161. Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Tarookey Leaves Stomach diseases, Fever, Dysentery 1013262. Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle Paeoniaceae Mamaikh Seeds, Rhizome Tonic, Purgative, Heart diseases, Epilepsy,

Emetic10170

63. Peganum harmala L. Rutaceae Spailanay Leaves Narcotic, Emetic 1013464. Pinus roxburghii Sargent, Pinaceae Nakhtar Gum Skin diseases, Heart diseases 1010565. Plantago lanceolata L. Plantaginaceae Jabai Fruit, seed Laxative, Dysentery 1010666. Plantanus orientalis L. Plantanaceae Chinar Bark Toothache, Diarrhea 1010767. Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Lamiaceae Burtus Leaves Antiseptic 10171





68. Podophyllum emodi Wall. exRoyle

Podophyllaceae Kakorrha Rhizome Purgative, Emetic 10172

69. Portulaca olearacea L. Portulacaceae Sperdaar Leaves Kidney diseases 1017370. Potentilla nepalensis Rosaceae Kunachi Root Stomach diseases, Heart diseases, Fever 1017471. Prunus domestica L. Rosaceae Alucha Fruit Laxative 1011072. Prunus americana L. Rosaceae Khobanai Fruit Laxative 1011173. Punica granatum L. Punicaceae Anangorhey Fruit, leaves Heart, Respiratory diseases, Antipyretic,

Laxative, Expectorant10108

74. Quercus baloot Griff. Fagaceae Banj Fruit Diuretic, Diarrhea, Astringent 1017575. Raphanus sativus L. Brassicaceae Moolai Leaves root Jaundice, Diuretic, Carminative 1010976. Rheum australe D. Don. Polygonaceae Chotial Whole plant Tonic, Heart & Respiratory diseases, Purga-

tive, Laxative10176

77. Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Arhanda Seeds Purgative, Narcotic, Emetic 1011278. Nasturtium officinale R. Br. Brassicaceae Talmeera Shoots Stomach diseases, Diuretic, 1011379. Rosa webbiana Rosaceae Zangali gulab Flower Aromatic 1017780. Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiacae -- Leaves Diuretic, checks bleeding, control cough-

ing, kidney stone10178

81. Rubus fruticosus Rosaceae Karwara Fruits Fever, Diuretic, Diarrhea, Carminative 1017982. Rubus ulmifolius Rosaceae Goraaj Fruits Carminative 1018083. Rumex dentatus L. Polygonaceae Shalkhey Leaves Diuretic, Demulcent, Astringent 1012384. Rumex hastatus D. Don Polygonaceae Tarookey Leaves Stomach diseases, Astringent, Purgative,

Diuretic, Carminative10124

85. Sarcococca saligna (D.Don) Buxaceae Ladan Leaves fruits Laxative, Heart diseases 1018186. Solanum surratense Burm. F. Solanaceae Manraghoney Whole plant Stomach diseases, Respiratory diseases,

Fever, Expectorant10118

87. Taraxacum officinale Asteraceae Booda boodai Leaves, Flower Tonic, Jaundice, Diuretic 1011988. Taxus baccata L. Taxaceae Banhya Leaves, Fruits Respiratory diseases, Epilepsy, Antiseptic 1012089. Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. Lamiaceae Kwandi bootey Leaves Expectorant 1018290. Thymus serphyllum L. Lamiaceae Spaikai Fruit Respiratory diseases 1018391. Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophylaceae Markondai Fruits, Root Aphrodisiac 1012192. Trigonella foenum-gracecum L. Papilionaceae Malkhwazey Leaves, Seed Tonic, Stomach diseases, Demulcent, Car-

minative, Aphrodisiac10122

93. Valeriana jatamansi Jones Valerianaceae Mushk-e-baala Rhizome Dysentery, Carminative, Aromatic, Anti-spasmodic

9960

94. Verbascum thapus L. Verbinaceae Kharghwag Whole plant Narcotic, Antiseptic 1011795. Viola serpense Wall. Ex. Roxb Violaceae Banafsha Flower, Leaves Antipyretic, Anticancer, Purgative, Diapho-

retic, Demulcent10116

96. Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Marwandai Leaves, Root Anthelmintic, Diuretic, Astringent, Tonic 1011597. Vitis jacquemontii R. N. Parker Vitaceae Gedarh kwar Fruit Laxative 1018498. Xanthium strumarium L. Asteraceae Ghat gishkey Leaves Fever 1014599. Zanthoxylum armatum DC., Prodr. Asteraceae Dambara Seed Toothache, Stomach diseases, Fever, Car-

minative, Aromatic10083

100. Zizyphus jujuba Lam. Rhamnaceae Markhanai Leaves, Fruit Astringent 10114

Ficus carica and Foeniculum vulgare areused as expectorant, stimulant, laxative, diuret-ic, aromatic and aphrodisiac. Gentiana kurrooare used as tonic, astringent and antispasmodic.A similar use was also reported by Jan et al.(2011). Two species of Geranium (G. collinumand G. wallichianum) are used as antipyretic,tonic, dysentery and diarrhea. Hederanepalensis, Hyoscyamus niger and Lespedezajuncea are used as anticancer, tonic, sedative,narcotic and also used for respiratory and skindiseases. Similarly, Malus pumila, Meliaazedarach, Melothria heterophylla, Menthalongifolia, Mentha spicata, Morus alba andMorus nigra are used as purgative, expectorant,emetic, stimulant, aromatic, carminative, emol-lient and astringent and also used for dysentery,diarrhea and stomach diseases. Similar observa-tion was also documented by Ahmad et al.(2011), Jan et al. (2011) and Barkatullah andIbrar (2011). Nerium oleander, Olea ferruginea,

Origanum vulgare and Oxalis corniculata areused skin diseases, toothache, astringent, tonic,diuretic, stomach diseases, fever and dysentery.These plants and there uses was also document-ed by Fazal et al. (2011b) and Ahmad et al.(2011). Medicinal plants of madyan valley suchPaeonia emodia, Peganum harmala, Pinusroxburghii, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago ma-jor, Podophyllum emodi, Portulaca olearacea,Potentilla nepalensis, Prunus domestica,Prunus americana and Punica granatum areused as tonic, purgative, heart diseases, epilep-sy, emetic, narcotic, skin diseases, laxative, dys-entery, toothache, diarrhea, antiseptic, kidneydiseases, stomach diseases, fever, respiratorydiseases, antipyretic, expectorant and astringent.Similar uses of these plants were also docu-mented by Fazal et al. (2011b), Fazal et al.(2010) and Khan et al. (2011). Quercus flori-bunda, Raphanus sativus, Rheum australe,Ricinus communis, Rosa webbiana, Rubia





cordifolia, Rubus fruticosus, Rubus ulmifolius,Rumex dentalus and Rumex hastalus are useddiuretic, diarrhea, astringent, jaundice, carmina-tive, tonic, respiratory diseases, purgative, laxa-tive, heart diseases, fever, narcotic, emetic,stomach diseases, aromatic, expectorant, checksbleeding, control coughing, reduce inflamma-tion, antibacterial effects, kidney stone and de-mulcent as given in table 1. These medicinalplants with similar uses was also documented byFazal et al. (2010), Fazal et al. (2011a), Fazal etal. (2011b) and Khan et al. (2011). Sarcococcasaligna and Solanum surratense are used as lax-ative, heart diseases, stomach diseases, respira-tory diseases, fever, expectorant and diuretic.Taraxacum officinale, Taxus baccata, Teucriumstocksianum, Thymus linearis, Tribulusterrestris, Trigonela foenum-graceum are used

as tonic, jaundice, diuretic, respiratory diseases,epilepsy, antiseptic, expectorant, aphrodisiac,stomach diseases, demulcent and carminative.Valeriana jatamansi, Verbascum Thapsus, Violaserpense, Vitex negundo, Vitis jacquemontii areused for dysentery, carminative, aromatic, anti-spasmodic, narcotic, antiseptic, antipyretic, an-ticancer, purgative, diaphoretic, demulcent, as-tringent, anthelmintic and tonic. Xanthiumstrumarium, Zanthoxylum armatum, Zizphussativa and Zizyphus jujuba are used for fever,tootache, stomach diseases, carminative, aro-matic and astringent. Similar uses of these me-dicinal plants was also reported by Fazal et al.(2010; 2011a; 2011b), Ahmad et al. (2011),Barkatullah and Ibrar (2011) and Khan et al.(2011).

Figure 2: Percentage of medicinal plants used for different diseases.

Discussion

Herbs are staging a comeback and herbal ‘re-naissance’ is happening all over the globe. Pres-

ently the herbal products are thought to be safe,as comparing to the synthetics that are regardedas insecure to human health and environment.Since time immemorial the herbs had been val-





ued for their various characteristics includingmedicinal, aromatic and flavoring. With the pas-sage of time the synthetic products of the modernage surpassed the value of herbal products. How-ever, this era was covered soon and people start-ed going back to the naturals with hope of safetyand security. Population increase, inadequatedrugs supply, unaffordable cost of treatments,side effects of synthetic drugs and developmentof resistance to currently used drugs for infec-tious diseases are few of the reasons for adapta-tion of traditional system of medicine. In this theemphasis on the use of plant materials as asource of medicines for treatment of a wide vari-ety of human ailments has tremendously in-creased. According to a global review 80% of thepopulation cannot afford or have no access to themodern health system, so they have to rely uponthe use of traditional medicines systems that aremainly of plant origin.

The primitive people acquired the knowledgeof medicinal plants as a result of trial and error,that knowledge is still alive generation after gen-eration. Hundreds of plant species are used inpreparation and formulation of herbal remediesin indigenous system of medicines. Medicinalplants collected by the local inhabitants are usedto cure various ailments such as leaves decoctionof Ajuga bracteosa is used for jaundice, hyper-tension and sore throat. Roots of Adathodavasica L. is used in rheumatism, pneumonia andcough, while leaves are used as antiseptic, expec-torant, antispasmodic and demulcent. Some ofthe highly valued medicinal plants e.g. Acacia,Berberis and Oleo are unsustainably used as fuelwood. Due to lack of any legislation in the area,valuable plants are vanishing rapidly. Old peopleof the area had some mythetical concepts aboutsome plant species like Oleo and Ziziphus, whichare considered sacred plants in the area and con-sidered it as an evil act to cut these trees whichmay cause them to lose ones lives and property.These concepts have played an important role inthe conservation of these plants. Overgrazing isanother issue in the said area; local people sug-gest that grazing is a natural source that ensuresthe regeneration of the fodder species for nextyear.

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