Appraisal of ethnobotanical uses of the wetland plants of Punjab, Pakistan

Aa Sardar,A Perveen,Z Khan,A Zereen

doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v12i4.2

Aa Sardar, A Perveen + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v12i4.2

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Abstract

Background: Aquatic and semiaquatic plants have a multiplicity of traditional and ethnopharmacological uses ranging from medicinal, famine food to fodder and others. Therefore, the present study was carried out during the years 2008-2011 to document the locally used medicinal, ethnobotanical and traditional data of aquatic and semiaquatic plants of the Punjab, Pakistan.Material and Method: Various visits of the study area were made to collect the data of these plants included local name, habit and habitat with special emphasis on their therapeutic uses against different human ailments. The local elderly, knowledgable people and herbal healers were also interviewed during the visits.Results: A total of thirty-four aquatic and semiaquatic plants were collected and out of these, eighteen plants belonging to the three monocotyledonous and fourteen dicotyledonous families were reported to medicinal and food value as well as found useful in making ropes, mats, baskets and soil binding.Conclusion: The wetland of Punjab (Pakistan) possesses a variety of medicinal plants that are being utilized against various human diseases, e.g.Respiratorial, dermatological, gastrontological, neurological and cardio-vascular diseases.Key Words: Ethnobotanical uses, wetland plants, and herbal medicines.

Highlights

The substances in plants are used to cure common diseases and their relationship with the ethnic/local people is known as Ethnopharmacology
Medicinal plants are commonly used for survival, home therapies, trade and helpful in lessen human suffering/poverty (Kunwar et al, 2006)
In the developing countries of the world which do not have modern health care facilities, medicinal plants play a vital role in the existence of rural peoples (Ahmad, 2003)

Summary

Introduction

The substances in plants are used to cure common diseases and their relationship with the ethnic/local people is known as Ethnopharmacology. Holmstedt and Bruhn (1983) consider it as "the interdisciplinary scientific investigation of biologically dynamic agents used or observed by men conventionally ". The substances in plants are used to cure common diseases and their relationship with the ethnic/local people is known as Ethnopharmacology. Pistia was found to be useful in treating skin diseases, Mentha in curing digestive problems and Polygonum sp.

Results

Conclusion